101 #77

I just finished my 1,000 piece puzzle. And of course missing the proverbial one piece so can’t officially finish it. I am trying hard to find a hobby. I want to watch less movies and have something to entertain myself. I thought maybe setting a puzzle would be it. But I got too frustrated because it took long and I wanted to be done.

Oh well back to the drawing board.

July 23, 2009 Posted in: 101 in 1,001 No Comments

Reprogramming the mind

In an earlier post I talked about the idea that our minds are the real key to this idea of transformation. If you can change your mind you can change your life. I am convinced of this. I mean by nature we are lazy, selfish, and mean people. That is what comes natural to us. Our minds crave what we have built in our lives as naturals. Many people have in some ways learned to discipline the mind but too many of us let our minds control us. So how do we go about reprogramming our mind.

They say that it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. Our minds mainly go on reflexes that eventually we define as habits. Therefore if you can build or destroy a habit your mind will begin to change and then you will begin to see your life transform one habit at a time. So step one is begin to build in your life the positive habits you either need or want to see. It could be eating healthy it could be losing weight. It could be not going on spending sprees to “ease your pain.” Most of these habits were formed in my opinion as comforts to cover a hurt. Hence, I call them band-aids.

Myself, I am building a habit of fasting in my life. I have researched it and a regular time of fasting has so much health and emotional benefits in your life. As well for myself it has enormous spiritual benefits that I am seeking. So what I have begun is every Thursday at 6:00 pm I begin a drinks only fast until 6:00 pm on Friday. I have been done it for 4 weeks now and it is hard. My mind fights it so hard…however the benefits I am seeing in my life it is something I recommend everyone trying. Now obviously if you have a physical ailment that prevents you from doing this don’t but if you can it is amazing how hard it is is but how worth it it is.

Isn’t that how life is. The things that are hardest to do are the things we receive the most benefits from. Try it and let me know how it goes for you.

July 9, 2009 Posted in: Transformation No Comments

Sweet Band

I am currently addicted to a “local” band right now that is found on itunes. They are called “weaver at the loom.” You should go to itunes and check them out. I am just starting to research them don’t know where they are from yet but check out their music it is great in my opinion. More updates as I research them.

July 9, 2009 Posted in: music No Comments

Book 3 – Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Crazy Love by Francis Chan again falls under the category of very easy reading. It is hard to say that everyone should read a christian book. I know that this is a very focused book in many ways and may cause people to not give value to this list. However, their is one chapter in this book that I think everyone should read. I found a lot of value in this whole book but there is one chapter in this book that sets it apart to me.

The chapter is entitled “profile of the lukewarm.” Chan takes the time to really challenge us in our lives and the way we live them. In my opinion he is saying that too many of us live our lives just good enough and challenges us to pursue a life of meaning and purpose. He is able to communicate in such a way that really brings light to how lazy many of us are.

I challenge everyone to read this and add it to your list. Take a risk, read it. Let me know your thoughts.

July 7, 2009 Posted in: Top Ten's No Comments

The D-word

I was thinking about the dread d-word today. You know discipline. It really started when I watched the movie “shooter,” starring Mark Wahlberg. I started thinking about how much discipline it would take for someone to accomplish that ability with a gun. I than started reading espn.com and was thinking about how the only real difference between the athletes that are involved in the major sports and me is discipline.

I know the first thought to that is, “yeah and a whole lot of skill.” I don’t want to take away from the skill that many of the athlete’s have, however I really believe most of the difference is discipline. I mean the hours they put in in training and working out. On top of that, the discipline they take in their eating habits and routines. Finally, the discipline to say “no” to so many things to keep them from the distractions of life.

I then realized on this journey of transformation that I am on, if we want to be successful in life it is going to take discipline. So, I began evaluating all areas in my life and what actions I could start doing to build some discipline in my life to see this transformation happen. The whole food pyramid experiment is one of these ideas I came up with to start the discipline process.

So, I ask you how successful do you want to be in life? Whatever your answer is you need that much discipline. Take some time and figure out some actions you can do to build some discipline and put yourself on the path to success.

July 6, 2009 Posted in: Transformation No Comments

The greatest obstacle to transformation

“The great obstacle is simply this: the conviction that we cannot change because we are dependent upon what is wrong. But that is the addict’s excuse, and we know that it will not do.” - Wendell Berry

I recently read this quote and that about sums up for me the obstacle for transformation. If you apply that to any area of life it is so true. For instance, health, I always tell myself i should stop drinking soda, the problems it causes to your health are well documented. However, when I try to cut it out i get headaches, and I crave it, and blah, blah, blah. I convince myself I can’t live with out so then I pretend like i will slowly cut it out but 30 years old today and still drinking soda.

How about financial? As soon as I tell myself to stop spending I immediately “need” a ton of stuff. It is so crazy. The true path to transformation I am convinced is all in the mind. We are an overweight society because we eat to much and we eat the wrong things. If we are honest with ourselves we are not hungry but our minds tells us we are so we eat even though we are not hungry.

So the battle in my opinion is overcoming the mind. You have to reprogram your mind from how thinks now to what it should think. I know that is easier said then done but the reality is it is the greatest key to the whole transformation process. If you can change your mind your actions will follow.

July 5, 2009 Posted in: Transformation No Comments

Book 2 – The richest man in Babylon

The 2nd category of books I would recommend including in your reading is that in the financial genre. Unfortunately, this world runs by money and those who have knowledge in this area have a better chance of success than others. I know that knowledge doesn’t guarantee success but as the cartoon G.I. Joe taught us “knowledge is half the battle.” The problem, with this category of books, for me is that I don’t understand half the books, the terminology or the areas they cover. Obviously, that can’t keep me from the genre but that is one of the reason I love this book.

The richest man in Babylon by George S. Clason is one of the easiest books to understand and grasp in this genre. Yet, the material covered in this book is so profound and can be life changing. Again like the first book in this series this is a very easy read so you don’t have to enjoy reading to get through it. One of the major factors I look for in a book that everyone should read.

The premise of this book is the seven cures for a lean purse. I believe everyone should know these cures and apply them to your lives. This is a good book to not only read but to re-read at least once a year just to keep you on track financially. read this book and begin to apply these cures to your life.

July 5, 2009 Posted in: Top Ten's No Comments

Happy 4th of July

I just want to wish everyone a happy 4th of July. Enjoy being an american and have a great day.

July 4, 2009 Posted in: 101 in 1,001 No Comments

Food Pyramid

Today begins the week long eating according to the food pyramid as set-up by the US Department of Agriculture. One of my goals with in this whole idea of transformation is to improve my health significantly. I want to lose 20 pounds and just eat healthier. So I figured that I would start with a week eating exactly what is recommended for me.

So I went to www.mypyramid.gov and entered my height and weight and poof I got the recommend amounts of food to eat within the different categories. It was recommended for me to eat 2400 calories. I went grocery shopping and now am ready to make this thing happen.

I am not a fan of vegetables nor fruit so this will be a challenge for me. However, I am determined to make this happen. We shall see how the experiment goes. I am excited and anxious.

July 3, 2009 Posted in: 101 in 1,001 No Comments

Book 1 – Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership

We begin with a book which in my opinion is the best book in the leadership genre. If anyone wants to grow and be transformed then you must include the leadership genre at least once a month. The books in this class will help you immensely further your growth and development. Therefore, the first book in our series of the top ten books that everyone should read is The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership by Steve Sample. I am a big reader of leadership books. I have read most of the greats like, Collins, Buckingham, Maxwell and the like. This book is refreshingly different. Most of the wisdom in this book goes against conventional wisdom, hence the title. I believe this is one of the best books in the leadership genre.

When I read a leadership book I am looking for a book that stretches me and brings stuff to the table that I can practically use in my everyday work life. This book fulfills both of these qualifications. This book is a very easy read, which many books in this genre can be very difficult. The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership is broken in such a way that you can read a chapter in the book, and then sit and meditate on the information you just consumed.

Steve Sample starts the book off first chapter by saying, “Contrarian leaders think differently from the people around them.” This is the premise of this book, Sample tries to get us to see the world differently, from “thinking grey” all the way to “you are what you read.” Steve Sample is the president of USC and teaches a leadership class at the school, which gives him great practical insight to the world of leadership.

Pick up this book and read it. You won’t regret it.

July 2, 2009 Posted in: Top Ten's No Comments