Three Books On How to Eat an Elephant

     Hey There!  You know the old expression, "How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time." Ever think the little things in life don't really matter?  It's easy to feel like our small daily decisions don't really make that much of a difference. After all, we don't usually see the results of one day of working out or one healthy meal.  But it's the effect of these habits over time which can make a huge difference in our lives.  

    Maybe you're like me.  I spent a lot of my life saying, "Tomorrow I'll be perfect."  Guess what?  There is no perfect tomorrow.  We have to move ahead one step at a time.  We don't just wake up one day having arrived at success.  

    About 7 years ago, someone introduced me to a book called, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.  If you haven't read this book, I'm going to recommend you get a copy immediately.  Why?  Because it literally changed my life and my thinking, and I believe it can do the same for you.  In fact, this book has had so much of an influence on me that I reread it every year!  The Slight Edge taught me that our success comes from things that are "easy to do", like taking a few extra steps a day or choosing a salad over a hamburger.  But our failure comes from those same habits which are "easy not to do."  You don't notice the effects of these choices right away, only over time.  Jeff says that time will either expose you or promote you.  I realized then and there that I wanted my choices to compound for success, not for failure.  

    And speaking of compounding, if you want to really kick start and streamline your habits, The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy is the next book you should pick up.  This book takes the principles from The Slight Edge and kicks it up a notch with real world examples and practical steps you can use to fine tune those small daily choices.  Remember, success is a mindset and a journey, not a one stop shop.  

    Ok, so you've discovered that success comes in small steps taken consistently over time, and you've been practicing and tracking your habits like a pro.  Now what?  Is that it?  Is there any room left for improvement?  I want to introduce you to the king of all books on habits.  Atomic Habits by James Clear.  If your already a habits master, this book is for you. Atomic Habits breaks down the science of habits and shows you how to get more and better results out of everything you do.  If you're looking to squeeze every bit of goodness out of everything you do, this book will give you the inside scoop.  I've been a dedicated habits person for 7 years, and this book took what I knew to a whole new level.  

    What am I saying?  If you are wondering how your life got to be where it is, or why you aren't getting the results you hoped for, these books can help you set the record straight.  You have to stop waiting for some big event to change your life.  You change your life by small steps compounded daily. "The slightest adjustments to your daily routines can dramatically alter the outcomes in your life." -Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect. No more waiting, wishing, and hoping.  Take the first step toward the life you want today.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.

Purpose?

     Have you ever asked yourself the questions, "Why am I here?  What am I supposed to be doing with my life?"  These are some of the big, pressing questions in life that we all wrestle with, and while I can't answer these questions for you, I do believe that each and every person was put here with a unique purpose that only he/she can fulfill.  Your purpose may be broad, like to love others so well that the ripple effect impacts generations down the line.  Or your purpose may be very narrow and focused, like designing a cure for a specific disease.  If you're still scratching your head and trying to figure it out though, here are a few things I believe will help.

1.  Get to know the One who gave you your purpose.

    Ephesians 2:10 assures us, "We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."  This should bring us comfort in the fact that we didn't get left out or passed over.  God created you with a unique to-do list.  If you don't know for sure what's on that list yet, it's ok.  Start spending time getting to know God, and He will start to put ideas in your heart.  

2.  Learn and Grow

    Proverbs 4:5a tells us to "Get wisdom." And to "Get understanding."  Once we have an inkling of what we are called to do, we must learn as much as we can so that we can excel at our calling. And even if you aren't sure what your purpose is yet, you can still begin to grow yourself.  As you grow personally, you will open doors to opportunities in your life, and you may just find that one of those doors holds the answers you are looking for.

3.  Take Action

    John 17:4 records Jesus as He is praying, and He tells God, "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do."  We cannot complete the work we were put here for unless we take action.  Just thinking about, studying, or knowing our purpose does nothing unless we begin to act on it.  You may not know all the steps yet or how you will get it done, but can you figure out the next step and take it?  Life is a journey.  We are meant to make progress.  Don't stay stuck in one spot.

    This year has caused many of us to take a step back and question the way we do work, school, relationships, and life in general.  If you are taking the time to think about your life and your priorities, take some time to get to know God and what His purpose is for you.  Invest in learning and growing towards your purpose, and take action so you can live fulfilled and be all that you were made to be.  You were put on this earth with a unique purpose.  I can't wait to see you find it and succeed!

~K.L.W.

Chaos or Character

   "Discrepancies between values and practices create chaos in a person's life." John C. Maxwell says this in his book, Today Matters. Reading this struck a chord with me. You see, I am a person of strong values.  I hold to my values like a dog to a bone, and those who know me best know that I am not afraid to leave a job or an organization if my values are not in alignment.  However, our values are not just tested by these large, rare, major life decision moments. Although, that is where they are demonstrated most noticeably.  Our values, however, are reinforced and come in to question most with our actions every day.  Our values are not just the final destination, they are the lamppost, lighting the way for us to take each step. 

    Our core values must be lived out daily, or we risk creating chaos in our souls.  And in fact, many of our internal struggles could be eliminated if we learned to live true to what's most important. Our core values must shine through in our habits if we are to truly be at peace with ourselves.  Too often we are impatient and angry and we place the blame on those around us, when in reality, the ones to blame are ourselves.  Let me explain... perhaps one of your core values is commitment, and you may be excellent at keeping your commitment to your job, your local community organizations, and your spouse.  But are you keeping your commitments to yourself?  What about the decision you made to work out three times a week?  Or to stay on track with your budget?  If you are letting yourself down in the commitment department, you are failing to hold to your values, and you are creating inner turmoil which will manifest itself in all sorts of negative ways.  

Here are three ways to make sure you are minimizing chaos by staying in alignment with what matters most to you.  

1.  Know what you value

    If someone asked you what your core values were, could you list them out?  I hope that you could name at least a few without even thinking about it, and if you can't, I encourage you to think hard about what's important to you and put it down on paper.  Then, start using those values to guide your actions daily.  Not knowing your core values is like trying to take a trip without knowing where you are headed.  Figure out your coordinates and move in that direction.

2.  Don't forget the small things

    Reaffirming our values through small daily actions is how we can most clearly demonstrate what is important to us.  For example, let's say you value your health.  It may be logical for you then to avoid smoking cigarettes or taking illegal drugs, but those are the major decisions.  What about holding to your values by eating healthfully and exercising? If you are not choosing those small daily health practices, you are creating discord in your life.  You say you value being healthy, but you are not taking the steps to do so.  This causes you to be frustrated with yourself for not living in alignment with what is important to you.  Make a decision to get yourself in agreement with the small daily habits that confirm your values. 

3.  Don't compromise

    Holding to your values when others are watching is usually pretty easy.  After all, if there are witnesses, you probably aren't likely to steal from someone or to do something questionable.  But what about when no one is watching, when no one will know except you?  Do you hold to your values then?  If you choose to disregard your values when there is no audience, you will create guilt, shame, and fear which will hold you captive and keep you from living freely.  Make the choice to stick to your values, even when no one will know but you.  

    Living your values is a decision that must be made daily.  Choose today what your values are.  Then make a commitment to those values even in the small things, and hold to your commitment when no one knows but you.  This will help you to live in harmony with yourself and to be at peace with your life.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.

Back to School

   Hi Friends, it's that time of year again.  The time when our morning commute is now made longer by school busses, our evenings are cluttered with homework assignments (if you have kids or are in college), and our routines are shaken up by change.  Whether you're going back to school yourself, have a child going back to school, or are in the blissful childfree years, fall can be a great time to evaluate your routines, see what works and what doesn't, and build new habits that suit your life and propel you forward.  

  I have a particular love for seasons, because I love fresh starts.  I love being able to clean out my wardrobe, change up my day, and celebrate a new holiday.  And as we go through seasons in life, we have to keep this perspective if we hope to transition smoothly.  If you are starting a new phase, or if you hope to soon, here are three tips for making the switch.

1.  Dress for Success - Sometimes it's easy to get stuck in a routine, with what we wear, what we eat, where we go, who we talk to, and while routines can be great, if you're feeling stuck, it may be time for an outfit change.  Maybe literally, or just mentally.  Have you heard the expression that you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have?  It comes from the idea that you should always dress and carry yourself with excellence, even if you aren't the CEO yet.  If you are feeling stuck, try evaluating your routines.  Would the person you hope to become eat that for lunch?  Would he/she hang out with that crowd after work?  What would the better version of you read, listen to, or wear?  Asking yourself these questions can help you to start behaving like the best version of yourself.  James Clear says in Atomic Habits, "Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become." What type of person are you becoming today?

2.  Maximize your Efficiency - Have you ever tried to start a new habit, and you just couldn't make it work?  Sometimes our problem isn't with doing the habit itself, but with finding the smoothest way to include the habit in our lives.  Play around with your schedule and find the best times to accomplish things.  Maybe you need to move your workout to the evening, or read that book on your lunch break.  Perhaps you know you don't accomplish anything after work (ahem... me) so you need to get up early to get everything done.  Just because someone else does their habits in a certain way at a certain time doesn't mean you have to.  It's your life, design it the way you want.  

3.  Celebrate - I don't know about you, but I get a palpable feeling of joy when I think of fall and the holidays:  Halloween (pumpkin carving, apple cider), Thanksgiving (visits with family, so much food), or Christmas (gifts, time off work) and New Year's (new beginnings, champagne).  But we can also find that holiday feeling when we build habits and routines we love.  I look forward each morning to my cup of coffee and reading.  There's nothing better than my afternoon chocolate cookie dough keto bar at work.  And the peacefulness of doing my yoga practice after the stress of getting my kid off to school is a reward in itself.  While you're changing things up and finding what works for you, remember to build a life you love.  You only get one after all.  

  Whatever you find yourself doing this fall, I hope you take the time to give yourself a refresh, find the best routines for you, and celebrate the little things each day.  Back to school or just back to usual, make the most of this time.  I can't wait to see you succeed!

~K.L.W.