superSIXX/Learn to Live: Recent Episodes
David Ripley
You live in an increasingly complex world in which you're less and less prepared for. Our public education system did not prepare you to effectively compete in this new paradigm. The superSIXX podcast is designed to help you understand your world and learn to compete at the highest levels, find happiness, and develop a game plan that will allow you to succeed.
As the world becomes more and more complex; especially considering the mounting number of negative influences, preparation becomes more important. Few people are prepared for the trials and tribulations life brings. If you want to be successful, you must be prepared for the probable events which become part of your life. After that, you can concentrate on the possible events which could impact you.
In this episode we'll consider six important keys to help tip the odds of success in your favor.
There are a lot of things in life worthy of your anger; and, in truth, anger is a good thing. If you've been following this podcast, you may think I just lost my mind because I continually caution about anger and encourage you to be very wary of its expression.
However, anger can be a good thing if it's channeled properly; and that's the topic of this episode. Join me as we consider how to deal with anger in order to turn it to your advantage..
There's no shortage of topics to be angry about in this world. But you must be smart and learn to master your anger and use it as a powerful tool in order to achieve a life of success.
I served on a jury a few days ago for a criminal trial involving a young man who had been charged with several felonies. Though we did find him guilty of the most serious charges, I found that I kind of felt sorry for him to some degree. This young man isn't evil. He's just simply adrift in life.
It got me to thinking about all the other people I know of who are adrift in their lives, and the serious consequences that can result from that.
It isn't only young people who are adrift. People further along in life can also find themselves adrift as the result of a divorce, the loss of a child, the loss of a job. Even many retired people find themselves adrift due to a loss of purpose and focus.
In this episode we'll consider how to keep yourself from getting adrift in life. Join me as we dive into this situation, which can affect anyone.
I encourage you to share this episode with anyone you know who may be experiencing the pain of finding themselves adrift.
How much time do you spend worrying about things? It's not like their isn't a lot to worry about. The question is, does it do you any good to worry; or are there better places to put your focus?
Join me in this episode as we consider the effect worry has on the quality of your life and your ability to lead a successful life.
I recently re-watched a movie called The Martian, starring Matt Damon. If you haven't already seen this movie, it's about a Mars mission that has to abort due to a storm, and the crew has to leave behind a crew member they think has been killed.
Unfortunately for him, he's just injured, not dead. Now he's alone on Mars and has to figure out a way to survive until a rescue mission can be sent.
The great thing about this movie is that it centers on the ability to survive an almost impossible situation through knowledge, wisdom, determination, and guts. The same thing you need to survive your life here on earth.
In this episode we'll consider what it takes to not only survive, but to thrive in life, regardless of all the trials and tribulations facing you. Join me as we explore this important key to your success.
Life is difficult for all of us. There always seem to be problems; obstacles in our way, problems to be overcome. Because we're worn down by life's daily trials and tribulations, it's easy to get in the habit of taking the easier path. Mainly because the thing we really want most is comfort.
How this tends to manifest in your life is the tendency to focus on things that seem more easily achievable. Taking the path of least resistance, as it were.
In this episode we'll consider ways to overcome this tendency, and to what degree. After all, monetary wealth isn't the only path to success, or necessarily the optimal goal.
Join me as we consider another key to achieving your goal of a successful life.
When you entered this world you inherited, among other things, certain rights and privileges. You have an obligation and responsibility to at least preserve, if not add to or improve, those rights and privileges.
In today's world, many of those rights and privileges are being attacked. Are you going to be a passive bystander and allow it, even if you don't agree with it? Even if you can clearly see the damage that is being done, and how the future is being changed for those coming after you?
In this episode we'll consider why it's important for you to stand with reasonable, caring people and offer whatever resistance you can to this destruction of personal rights. The privileges you enjoy came at a cost to those who came before you. I would really hate to have to face those people from the past and try to explain to them how I did nothing to preserve and honor their efforts. Even worse, I would hate to have to face my grandchildren and explain to them why they can't live as free as I did.
Join me as we take a look at this difficult subject.
Each day, life assails you with all kinds of things that compel you to react. How you react, and whether you react, is extremely important. Being aware that you are reacting, and being in control of how you're reacting will make the difference between a life of success and a life of frustration.
In this episode we'll consider this important skill. If you want to live your life deliberately, with purpose, you must be aware of these influences and tailor your responses in ways that give you the advantage.
Those who master this life skill will see tremendous success!
The normal progression of human development is basically, childhood, adolescence, adulthood. Unfortunately, our recent crop of new adults seem to be stuck in adolescence. They don't want to grow up. We've coddled these young people to the point that they are dangerous to society in general. When they don't get what their immature minds think they should get, they throw a fit. They destroy things, threaten people, and burn things down. This won't work for them, and it won't work for us in the long run. The past couple of years have shown this reality, and we should take notice. Join me as we consider the consequences of failing to move from adolescence into adulthood, and the role you play in fixing this problem.
The normal progression of human development is basically, childhood, adolescence, adulthood. Unfortunately, our recent crop of new adults seem to be stuck in adolescence. They don't want to grow up. We've coddled these young people to the point that they are dangerous to society in general. When they don't get what their immature minds think they should get, they throw a fit. They destroy things, threaten people, and burn things down. This won't work for them, and it won't work for us in the long run. The past couple of years have shown this reality, and we should take notice. Join me as we consider the consequences of failing to move from adolescence into adulthood, and the role you play in fixing this problem.
One of the major advantages of being a human being, as opposed to being a member of the animal kingdom, is the ability to think in a precise and logical manner. From this ability to exercise thought came language, and from that, the written word.
The use of the written word allows you to share a bond with amazing people from times long gone; to experience their reasoning, their experiences, and quite possibly, absorb some of their wisdom.
Those who have come before you are the vanguard of human thought and understanding. But, they are not the only source of potential wisdom. There are those who live among us today who can also guide you on your journey as you travel the road of life.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of taking advantage of the experiences and wisdom gained by others. For thousands of years this experience and wisdom has accumulated for you to make use of.
In this episode we'll consider the points in your life which show you a better direction. The interesting thing is, life gives you feedback all the time. How you respond to that feedback will determine your outcomes; good or bad.
Join me as we contemplate those major points in life that give you the most profound lessons, and how to take advantage of those opportunities.
Get this right, and your life will improve by leaps and bounds. Get this wrong, and your life could become a living hell.
As I contemplate the world we currently live in I see fewer and fewer people achieving success. I think the biggest problem is that they're so embroiled in all the nonsense going on; feeling all the frustration that goes along with that, that they feel somewhat hopeless.
However, there really is a great deal to be hopeful about; even today. Join me as we consider a few things for you to focus on in order to achieve success in your life.
At the beginning and end of each day you should spend a few moments reflecting on what you want your day to be and whether or not you met your goals.
In this episode we'll consider six important questions you should ponder in this regard. Keep in mind that the person who lives life with purpose is more likely to live a life of meaning; and of success.
Investing the time to develop this simple habit will allow you to reap major rewards. It only takes a few minutes at the beginning and end of each day, and it's one of the best investments you can make.
Every person on this planet is engaged in an ongoing inner conversation with themselves. The quality of that conversation, or self-talk, can and will have a major impact on your life's outcomes. Though you cannot control the outside world, the one thing you can control is your own mind. For that reason, the self-talk you engage in is important. Through self-talk you can empower yourself or you can destroy any hope of ever achieving success.
Learning the importance of this discipline is vital. In reality, what it boils down to is mastering your critical thinking skills.
Join me as we consider the effects of your inner self-talk, and how you can improve the quality of that conversation.
In last week's episode I talked about the things you should do in order to achieve success in life. In this episode we'll consider the six most important things you must not do in order to keep yourself on course and not sabotage your success.
Achieving success in life is a balance between doing the things you should do, and refraining from doing things you should not do. Knowing the difference is important. It's not that complicated, and these six don'ts have been proven over time.
Join me as we consider the six things you must not do in order to master the game of life.
If life is a journey, what's your destination? Where is your journey taking you? Do you have any control over your end destination? In this episode we'll consider the role you play in reaching your destination.
The fact is, where you end up is a matter of what we call destiny, but you do have some control in setting your course, and in keeping yourself on course.
The important thing to remember though, is that the journey is more important than the destination. And, ultimately, we're all heading for the same destination regardless of how much wealth and power we gather for ourselves. That should be a driving factor as you determine your own course.
We live our lives in a very strange world; full of mystery, pleasure, and pain. You have inside you a small flame that is goodness, and only you can be the keeper of this flame.
In this episode we'll consider the role you play in pushing back the darkness of evil by the light you bring into this world. Though we'll never eliminate evil in this world, you can help keep it at bay. We'll consider six ways in which you can ensure your contribution to a more positive world, both for yourself, and for others.
We live our lives in a very strange world; full of mystery, pleasure, and pain. You have inside you a small flame that is goodness, and only you can be the keeper of this flame.
In this episode we'll consider the role you play in pushing back the darkness of evil by the light you bring into this world. Though we'll never eliminate evil in this world, you can help keep it at bay. We'll consider six ways in which you can ensure your contribution to a more positive world, both for yourself, and for others.
If you want to succeed over the long haul, it's important that you become dangerous. That may sound kind of strange, but it will make more sense when you understand the reason behind it.
We don't live in a world that favors docile, weak, people. The whole idea of this podcast series is to help you understand the philosophical concepts underlying the success of western culture so you can make you best effort toward a successful life. This takes effort and strength to accomplish.
Some things in life are so dangerous to you that, in order to keep them at bay and reduce their threat to you, you must become dangerous to them.
That's the point of today's episode. Join me as we consider when, why, and how you should be dangerous to those people and ideas that would injure or destroy you.
I don't think anyone with even a moderate amount of common sense would argue with the premise that we currently live in a broken world.
The highest rate of inflation we've seen in over forty years, massively increasing violent crime, the constant pounding of media and politicians loudly and forcefully demanding you accept deeply flawed ideas. And most heartbreaking, the loss of hope that is leading so many to despair, drug abuse, and suicide.
In this episode we'll consider how you can thrive in our current world. In some regards, it's more difficult to thrive. In other ways, however, it's even easier. While all around you are drowning in hopelessness and despair; and even though more and more roadblocks are placed in your path, you have the power to thrive and grow. The key to success is choice, attitude, and your ability to discipline yourself to stay your course.
Join me as we consider your path to success in a world so broken.
In this episode we'll consider the effort being made by others to make you responsible, or hold you accountable, for things that are not of your doing. If good people roll over and allow this to happen, the generations who come after us will be impacted; not to their benefit.
These are difficult times and they require strong men of character to resist the ploys of dishonest and disreputable people. This episode will give you food for thought when it comes to what level of responsibility you should, or should not, accept in life.
The world is giving you feedback all the time. From that feedback, you can adjust your thoughts and actions in a way that creates better personal benefits and brings you more in harmony with your desire to be a positive benefit to the world.
In this episode we'll explore some of the ways you receive feedback, and the importance of recognizing and reacting to feedback properly.
Corrective feedback is neither a gift, nor a curse. It's a tool which allows you to fine tune your approach to life. What you make of it is entirely up to you. The choice you have is to either allow it to help you create a better life, or you can choose to react to it as if it's a personal attack. It is, in reality, only what you choose it to be.
Join me as we take a look at developing this important skillset.
While a lot of things in life are important, arguably, the pursuit of wisdom should be among your highest priorities. As you gain wisdom, you gain the power to see reality in greater clarity. The more clearly you see reality, the more effectively you're able to direct your course through the choices you make.
superSIXX/Learn to Live has its roots in Wester Philosophy in our pursuit of wisdom. However, only a fool would refuse to see wisdom, regardless of its source. To that end, this episode is bases on wisdom originating in Easter Philosophy.
Join me as we take a journey with four monks; learning a bit of wisdom along the way.
The content of this episode has been on my mind for some time. I've been reluctant to cover this topic because I don't like calling people stupid. However, the effects of the actions of undeniably stupid people in society, not just in America, but all over the world, have grown to a level of dominance that must be recognized and resisted.
In this episode we'll consider the Five Basic Laws of Human Stupidity as posited by Carlo Cipolla in a paper he wrote and published in 1976. Though he may have originally written this a little tongue in cheek, the truth of these five laws has become undeniable.
Join me as we consider the impact and danger of stupidity on our lives. These impacts and dangers are growing every day. Those who face this uncomfortable reality will be best prepared to deal with it in a way that provides benefit, not just to themselves, but to humanity in general.
Should respect be given before it is earned? Or, should respect be given until it is lost? In this episode we'll consider this question; plus we'll consider the six most important expressions of respect that you should pay particular attention to if you want to build a successful life. I would add that it's not only important for you to build a successful life, but by doing so, you're participating in your culture and having a positive influence in it's overall success.
Lack of respect is at the root of the turmoil we see in the world today, both locally and internationally. Losing sight of the role respect must play as we interact with each other is setting mankind on the path of destruction.
Join me as we consider the important role respect plays in your life.
In this episode we'll consider the destructive nature of allowing your emotions to drive your actions, which may result in unwanted permanent outcomes.
In order to master life you must first master yourself. This means that you must master your thoughts and emotions so they don't work against your desire to live a successful life full of meaning and purpose.
Join me as we consider how the quality of our lives depends greatly on the quality of the control we have over our emotions.
Every human being, including you, is a mix of imperfections and virtues. How your imperfections and virtues relate to your own personal success is an interesting story. Understanding that story (your story) is powerful and meaningful.
As you focus on your own story, it's imperative that you understand the fact that perfection is rarely achievable; and, in many cases, actually undesirable.
In this episode we'll consider your perspective on your own imperfections and how they relate to your virtues. The secret here is to concentrate on building and strengthening your virtues and not worry so much about your imperfections. After all, imperfections are mostly just an opinion.
As you continue your journey in life, you're going to find that life is full of intense battles. Some of those battles are against outside forces and some are against your own inner character and nature.
In this episode we'll consider the foundations of your personal martial prowess; how, and when, you do battle. Your mastery over your inner self will determine your level of success in life, and will not only impact you personally, but will also impact many other people.
An entire book could be written on this topic alone, but we don't have that kind of time here. So, we'll concentrate on overcoming and controlling your inner impulses in response to your sense of reality.
The key to success here is to recognize the mental battles going on in your mind so you can develop a strong strategy for overcoming the impulses which prevent you from achieving your goals in life.
Join me as we dive into this vital topic.
For the past sixty years there has been a societal push to elevate the individual. This well intentioned, but critically flawed, initiative has resulted in the ME generation. Putting yourself first. We've lost sight of the important fact that no man is an island. We must live lives of service to something greater than ourselves. To do otherwise is to create a world of chaos and misery.
No society can survive if greater emphasis is placed on the individual than on the whole of society. A life well lived is full of sacrifice; done willingly, driven by a heart of service.
However, there must be a balance between self and service. You are a unique individual and we never want to lose sight of that fact. Serving a greater purpose does not mean giving up your uniqueness. It just means having the maturity and wisdom to recognize that it's not all about you.
Join me as we consider the role a person of value plays in order to create a great society that offers purpose and meaning to the individual.
One of the most difficult realities to deal with on your life's journey is the inevitability of decline. As you age, your reflexes, strength, and stamina will naturally decline. Your energy, and desire to take on huge projects will decline. Your body's ability to heal quickly will decline. Your cognitive abilities will decline. As a result, your relevancy in the world seems to decline.
You know by now that the surest way to fail at anything is to ignore reality. So, if decline is inevitable, and if you are not serving your best interests by ignoring it, what do you do? does your life have to be defined by decline?
That's the topic of this episode, and I hope I can point you to a more positive path for your own personal journey of adventure as you travel through this mysterious experience called life.
You've heard the old axiom that life is pain. While true to a point, life doesn't have to be just pain; and for most of us, it isn't. But, pain is still there, even in the best of times, lurking in the nearby shadows.
Keeping pain to a minimum is a reasonable goal. the older, and hopefully wiser, you become, the more salient that goal becomes. One of the big problems, however, is that many seeds of pain have been planted long ago; in your past. It may not bear fruit until later in life.
That's the topic of this episode. Understanding how past actions, or inactions, condemn your future to one extent or another. Certainly, everything you've done in your past will send ripples out into the future; not only impacting others, but yourself as well. Your future self is out there somewhere, waiting for that ripple created in the past to reach you.
One of the first rules of success is that you must be aware. Awareness is a fusion of observation and differentiation. Most people do very poorly at this; if they even try.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of observing yourself, the sphere of influence you're subject to, and the broader landscape (national and world events) which may have an impact on your life.
The first step at any level is to pay attention to the things which you can see might impact your life and your goals of success. The second step is to differentiate between those things that are likely, and things which are not likely. Also, you must differentiate between things you have control over and those things which you have no control over.
Join me as we take a closer look at how to be a master at observing and differentiating all that life throws at you.
How much impact do you think lies have had, or do have, in your life? The truth is, you've been being lied to since early childhood. Many of those lies were unintentional; told to you by people who actually do care for you and want the best for you. The problem is, they were lied to and are just passing on the lie because they don't realize it's a lie.
Seemingly innocent lies, like "you can be anything you want to be", or, "you're special", were told to you by good meaning people. The problem is, these supposed truths are actually lies.
In this episode we'll consider just some of the many lies you have been, or are being told. The reason you must learn to understand and recognize when you're being lied to is because, until you do, you don't really understand how life works. If you don't understand how life works, your chances of success are slim, at best.
Join me as we dive into this fascinating subject and develop a better understanding.
There's an old saying you may have heard before...It's hard to find a black cat in a dark room; especially when there's no cat. The dark room is a metaphor for ignorance, and the black cat is the object a person is trying to find in ignorance, that doesn't exist.
How many black cats have you searched for in your life? How many are you looking for right now? If you take a little time to give this serious thought, you may realize that you too are looking for nonexistent black cats in a dark room.
In this episode we'll consider those things we're wasting our time searching for that don't exist. The cure for being in the dark room (ignorance) is to bring light (knowledge). The more light you bring to bear, the easier it is to see that there is, in fact, no black cat; and therefore, no need to place your focus on things that don't exist.
The most horrible thing about searching for a black cat that doesn't exist in a dark room is that the very act of searching for it can ruin relationships and your chances for success.
Sui Generis; a Latin phrase you've probably never heard before. This term should be familiar to attorneys. In their world it's used to describe a situation that is unique and cannot be compared to anything else. Terms use to describe Sui Generis include being the only example of its kind, unique, in a class of its own, one of a kind, by itself, of its own. When describing a person as Sui Generis, you're describing a person who is outside the norm; special and unique.
I believe that description could probably be applied to you by virtue of the fact that you are trying to mold yourself in a way uniquely separate from the majority of society. You're pursuing excellence, which puts you at a higher level than the common man.
That's the topic of this episode. The entire purpose of this podcast is to help and encourage you to set yourself apart from the crowd. To mold yourself into what could be called a superior, or more evolved, human being; more akin to the ideal, productive human being. I believe that without these kinds of people, society and culture is unsustainable. Sui Generis people show the way. They demonstrate that a person can be more. They pull us forward toward a better tomorrow.
Join me as we explore the unique qualities of the Sui Generis person.
If you think you're going to make it through life without conflict, you're sadly mistaken. Although the most prevalent reaction when faced with conflict is to not engage, that may be a mistake in many cases.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of not being shy about engaging in conflict, when it's necessary. The key phrase here is When It's Necessary.
Understanding when conflict is necessary, and when it is not, is an important skillset, which will serve you well over the course of your life.
Join me as we take a look at understanding when conflict is necessary, and how to deal with conflict through six simple steps.
Each generation tries to forget the traumas it has endured and, in so doing, becomes more likely to inflict trauma on the next generation. This is a quote from Pattrice Jones, author of Aftershock: Confronting Trauma in a Violent World.
Look all around you and you'll see ample evidence of suffering, violence, and trauma. Of course, that's not the only thing you'll see. You'll also see examples of joy, peacefulness, and beauty.
In this episode we'll consider the question of whether life is your teacher or your master. If your interaction with life is as teacher and student, great! You're on the right track toward a successful life.
If, however, your relationship to life is as master and slave, you're in a terrible position; one you must extract yourself from if you hope to have any chance at a successful life.
Join me as we consider these two paradigms of life and learn how to position yourself to make life your teacher and not your master.
Have you ever been rejected? Even though I may not know you personally, I can, with confidence, answer for you...Yes, you have experienced rejection. The fact is, we all experience rejection over the course of our lives. The possibility or potential of rejection lurks at the edge of our lives virtually every minute.
Carrying that thought forward, it would be reasonable to expect that you will experience more rejection in your future.
In this episode we'll consider the effects of rejection, how it motivates your actions, and how to turn it to your advantage. Rejection weeds out the weak in inferior. The advantage for you is that because you're not weak and inferior, it opens up the field and gives you a competitive advantage if you know how to use rejection to your favor.
Rejection is a two sided coin. You can be rejected, or you can reject. Learn to use rejection in both ways and find the kind of success that alludes others.
A successful life doesn't happen by chance. It takes planning, effort, and time. Having a plan is your vital first step toward success. Plans are created through intent and design. Taking the time to design a plan that works for you, that you can follow, and is within your capabilities means that it's tailored specifically with your strengths, weaknesses, and other resources in mind.
Just like success takes many forms, the vehicle used to take you on your journey can take many forms. In this regard, one size fits all just doesn't work. Human beings are too unique; your plan for success must be designed specifically to take advantage of your unique talents and abilities.
Join me in this episode as we consider how to design a plan for your personal success.
Most people don't want to accept this, but success does not happen overnight; it takes time. In truth, if success didn't take much time and effort, it wouldn't be worth all that much. One of the primary measures of success is the time and effort that goes into achieving it.
We tend to think of success as an end goal. The final achievement of some noble idea, or the end product of some worthwhile endeavor. However, there is a much better way to think of success. Success can be measured by small, incremental achievements; the path you're on day by day.
The fact is, reaching your end goal is the reward; success is all those small achievements that led up to the reward. In this episode we'll consider what it takes to succeed; what your focus should be if your goal is to be reached successfully.
Reality is unchangeable. You can change your perception of it, but you cannot change it. Fortunately, if your perception is off by a little, you still may function fairly well. However, the underlying truth is, reality is reality; and if you don't understand it reasonably well, you are going to seriously struggle to find success in life.
How many people do you know who reject reality and substitute their own? How many of these people are actually succeeding in life? The answer to these two questions is this...Most people seem to reject reality and substitute their own version truth. For that reason, most people lead very unsuccessful lives.
In this episode we'll consider six harsh truths that you must acknowledge and understand in order to achieve success. Now, remember that my definition of a successful life has nothing to do with wealth and status. It has everything to do with finding your own true purpose and deep fulfillment.
Though these six truths may seem to be harsh; once you understand them you realize that reality really couldn't work any other way. Learning to flow with reality instead of trying to fight it, is the first important step on your journey in life.
In this episode we'll consider the creation of wealth from the perspective of living a masterful life. There are basically three aspects to true wealth. Money is, of course, a prime aspect. However, true wealth must also take into consideration the quality of your relationships and your lifestyle.
Join me as we take a look at the first aspect; money. Your greatest roadblock to acquiring great monetary wealth is overcoming all the misinformation and myths you've been fed your entire life. Until you're able to see how you've been fooled about money you'll never be able to accumulate large amount of it, or manage it properly.
This episode will help set you on the path of success when it comes to creating a life worth living.
As you begin this new year it's worthwhile to set the stage for the coming months. What do I mean by "set the stage"? It's all about setting yourself up for success. By this I mean take control, set your direction, define the landscape, know what your goals are.
I think you'd agree this is a worthwhile endeavor. The question is, how do you do it? First, understand that I'm not talking about New Year's resolutions...those are a waste of time. I'm talking about establishing your game plan. After all, how do you expect to succeed if you don't know what your goals are?
In this episode we'll consider six key areas for you to focus on as you determine your strategy for a successful 2022; or for that matter, any year. The important thing is this...You don't have to wait until the beginning of a new year to do this. The important thing is to start, and to be committed to your own success.
As we get ready to wrap up 2021 and prepare for 2022, I'd like to talk about how to deal with what may be your greatest challenge: change.
If you're expecting things to improve in 2022 I think you may be in for a rude awakening. These past two years have been full of change, much of it negative. 2022 will probably be no different. The question is...Are you up to the challenge that 2022 may present?
In this episode we'll consider some of the changes you'll see next year, and the years to come, and how to deal with them. Facing the challenge is your only path to success. You can't hide from it, ignore it, or refuse to acknowledge it if your goal is to succeed.
I encourage you to embrace change unless it's truly harmful. Learn to anticipate change and position yourself for success.
In this episode we'll consider the three things you must do to up your game and increase your chances of achieving success in life. Success does not favor the lazy, ignorant, or stupid. If you truly desire to live a life you can consider to be successful, you must up your game. Put simply, that means you must level up, look up, and bear up.
Join me as we consider these three actions, which sound so simple, but are very difficult to execute.
Trust is a belief that someone, or something, is reliable; can be counted upon. If it's a someone, trust is a reliance that the person will either do or act in a way that matches the promises they make to you. Or, it may be an expectation that a person will respond in a certain predictable way. If it's a something, trust is a reliance that it will perform its function as expected.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of trust; how to be strategic in how you offer or restrict your trust. Not trusting when we should, or trusting when we should not; either way will cause serious problems in your life. Join me as we learn how to navigate this mine-field and reap the rewards you deserve.
As we get close to the end of 2021 I'd like to spend some time discussing the term reinvention. For me, the big question is this...When does it benefit you to reinvent yourself? The answer to this question is predicated on the understanding that as you travel through life, your circumstances will change. If you don't respond effectively to those changes, you will never succeed.
This is not the same as adapt and overcome. The idea of adapt and overcome is more related to overcoming challenges. Reinvention is more related to positioning yourself for success through rebranding.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of understanding when and how to rebrand as you move through life in order to maximize your chances of successfully reaching your goals. Rebranding, or reinventing yourself, may be tied to a change in direction driven by new goals. Without a doubt, certain goals will require you to reinvent yourself. This is how you adapt as the world changes.
I'm writing this episode during Thanksgiving week, and so I've been thinking a lot about turkeys. I was reminded of a story I once heard about a turkey. This turkey had a pretty good life. He was comfortable, had all the food he could eat, and there were plenty of hens around to keep him occupied. As time went on, he got fatter and fatter and life was perfect as far as he was concerned. Then, late November rolled around and the farmer came and chopped off his head.
In this episode we'll consider whether or not you're seeing the obvious signs of danger, or just oblivious; living a comfortable life, content to be fat and happy. The truth is, the signs are all around you, and the world ten years from now will not be what you expected. If you're not getting ready for it now, I guarantee you're setting yourself up for some serious suffering.
Join me as we take a look at what may be coming your way, and how to prepare for it.
In this episode we'll consider the idea of dominion and explore the two powerful forces you wield...Influence and control.
We'll begin with a definition of dominion. In the context of this discussion, we'll define dominion as your sphere of influence or control. The question to consider is this...How much influence do you have over yourself and over the reality you move in? Your answer to this is going to be the most reliable predictor of your success or failure in life.
Join me as we consider how you can take control over your domain, your dominion, and achieve a successful life.
In this episode we'll consider the term Compulsory Fractional Slavery. I would imagine you've never heard this term before because, as far as I know, I just invented it. What do I mean by Compulsory Fractional Slavery? It's the situation where you are compelled (by threat of jail and loss of property) to give someone else the fruits of your labor; your effort and hard work. It's the situation where you are obligated to pay a portion (or fraction) of a debt that someone else incurred, but expects you to pay. It's the situation where you have no rights (as in a slave) in regard to this.
This is an extremely important concept for you to get your mind wrapped around. It should become the frame of much of what you do; how you conduct your personal business; how you discharge your responsibilities and obligations.
Join me as we consider this concept, which is a framework of your reality, whether you know it or not.
On your journey of achieving success in life, one of the most powerful enemies you face is the big but. I'm talking about big but with one t, not the one with two t's, as in big rear-end.
You know the but I'm talking about..."I would like to be successful, but." "I was going to do that, but." "I would like to do this, but." Your world is full of big buts that get in the way of your success.
In this episode we'll consider all those big buts that prevent you from achieving success. The ones that cause you to not take an action that could benefit you. The ones that cause you to take an action that will be detrimental to you. And, most importantly, we'll consider the biggest, most powerful, but that can change your life for the better.
Join me as we look at the world of big buts.
The most basic question anyone can ask themselves is...What's the point? Allied with this question are many others surrounding it. Why am I alive? What's the purpose of my life; is there a purpose? Who decides what my purpose is? How can I understand my purpose? Where does purpose come from?
In order to find the right answers, you must first ask the right questions. From this perspective, if you accept the dichotomy, the foundation this question rests upon is this...Either life is totally random and, therefore, has no point; or life is not random and , Therefore, does have a point.
Join me as we consider the reason to believe that there most certainly is a point to your life. In this episode I'll explain why it makes sense to believe there is a point to your life and how you can figure it out.
If you want to add momentum to your journey in life, there are six powerful actions you can take right now which will provide extra boost.
In this episode we'll consider six powerful things you can do to get you heading closer to the successful life you're striving for. Each step is easy (with discipline), doesn't cost any money, and is tried and true.
These six actions have been known for centuries and, in fact, you cannot achieve lasting, quality success without them. Join me as we consider these six powerful actions you can take right now.
We all live in the shadows. What do I mean by this? When I say shadow I'm using it as a metaphor for influence. In other words, we're swimming in a sea of influence. The past casts a shadow over us (influence). In our present moment, events and people cast a shadow over us (influence). Even the future can cast a shadow back toward us and influence us.
Learning to identify and understand the shadows; the influences that overshadow you, is an important skill-set. Join me as we take a look at the influences we're all subject to, and how to deal with them.
In this episode we'll consider the advantages of being a gray man. When I say gray man I mean woman as well. The term gray man comes from the tactical and survival world but is applicable to much more than just the tactical or survival situation. This concept can be effectively applied to your normal everyday life, and your overall strategy of achieving success in your life.
In general, the definition of gray man is a person who does not stand out if they don't want to, or until they're ready to be seen and recognized. They don't attract attention, especially unwanted attention. They blend in. the reasoning behind this concept is that you don't want to be seen either as a threat or a victim. Being the gray man allows you to move about, unnoticed and unmolested.
Join me as we delve into this fascinating skillset.
Life will always be full of challenges. If your goal is to live a life without challenges, you're living in a dream world. Challenges and difficulties are part of life; you can't avoid them...At least not all of them. In truth, you shouldn't really want to avoid many of them because learning to deal with them makes you stronger; and that's a good thing.
So, if you cannot stop the challenges, the only choice you have is in how you deal with them. Choice is power; it's your super-power. It's a power you can control.
In general, there are four main ways in which people tend to respond to challenges in their life. In this episode we'll take a look at these four possible responses and consider which one you should adopt if you want to have a successful life.
In this episode we'll consider all the people around you who are trying to make bold statements about a variety of things, but it's getting them nowhere. Hopefully, you're not one of them.
A few days ago I was driving back from a leadership development conference I co-host each year in Ruidoso, New Mexico. As I was driving behind a pickup I noticed a bumper sticker that simply said "Boldly Going Nowhere". That bumper sticker rolled around in my head for a while and I began noticing people all over the place who could be the poster child for that thought.
Being bold has its place, but it's usually best applied, or visible, through what you accomplish. It should be a driver, not a statement.
Join me as we consider how to avoid boldly going nowhere.
The most powerful tool you have at your disposal is your mind. Your mind controls much of your physical body and allows you to perceive, understand, and respond to physical reality. But, there's another, more powerful, aspect to your mind which you can use to virtually ensure you live a successful life.
That aspect is your mind's ability to create what I call an engineered model of possibility. If you observe your mind, you quickly realize that your mind is constantly creating models. Another way to put this is your mind is continually playing out different possibilities. This allow you the opportunity to test ideas and responses that you may take in the real physical world.
You must understand how powerful this is if you put it to use. You can build entire complex empires in your mind, which allow you to practice things you may end up doing in reality. It will allow you to play out a multitude of scenarios so you can test their effectiveness. It allows you to build effective plans, which contribute to your success.
Join me as we consider how to effectively create and use empires of the mind.
There are many things that can boost your chances of success in life. Many are completely out of your control; others are not. Learning how to respond and adapt to things that are out of your control will increase your chances of success. Learning how to mold yourself to make use of the things that are in your control will not only increase your chances for success, but it will also allow you to shape your life.
In this episode we'll consider six important character traits that are vital to achieve success. These are not the only important character traits, but they're an excellent start. If you already possess these traits, you're ahead of the game, but your work is not done. You must work on creating depth; increasing strength. If you don't posses these character traits, or are very weak on some, this is the time to start working on it.
Join me as we discuss more ways to improve and enhance your successful life.
As our world becomes less and less tolerant, you're expected to become more tolerant. The intolerant demand that you embrace all kinds of ideas that you know should not be tolerated because they are destroying society.
Tolerance of others is a key requirement for society to exist; for cultures to thrive. Yet, the most emotionally compromised and corrupt expect you to sign on to their brand of tolerance, which means you're expected to compromise your ethics and morals; your integrity.
Join me as we explore the paradox of tolerance and identify six things you should never tolerate.
In this episode we'll consider the term Free Range Slaves. Have you ever heard of this term? It is something you should understand and confront, because it can help you build your frame of reference when it comes to considering your choices in life.
The term Free Range Slave comes from the idea that you're normally allowed a great deal of freedom and think that you're a free person with certain rights, but, in reality, those freedoms and rights only exist as long as the people that own you allow it.
This past several months have shown the truth to this idea. All of a sudden your owners (the government) decided (in an unprecedented way) to limit your freedoms. Your right to assemble, your right to free speech, your right to make your own health decisions either have, or are, disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Understanding this reality; pulling the curtain aside as it were, gives you an opportunity to plan your future in a way that takes these roadblocks out of the way, or makes them less effective.
Most people lead very shallow lives. In this episode we'll consider the importance of gaining depth in all aspects of your life.
Whatever you do in life there are certain specific areas in which you must create depth if you truly want to succeed. These areas include your philosophy, your faith, and your relationships. This also applies to every else you do in life. If you vote, be an informed voter. Study history. Develop new skills or improve current skills. Be a person with depth.
This episode should encourage you to set aside some time to really evaluate your life. Do you spend most of your time in the shallow end, or the deep end? You're free to choose mastery or mediocrity. You're free to choose understanding or ignorance. You're free to choose significance or insignificance. It's all about choices; your choices.
Mastering the art of the possible will lead you to a successful life. Understanding the possibilities in your life begins with understanding the power of choice. With each choice you make you point your future to certain possibilities. The range of possibilities is virtually infinite.
In this episode we'll consider the wealth of possibility that exists in your life regardless of your current situation. The most important thing to understand is that your choices, and the actions you take as a consequence to those choices will either open new paths of opportunity, or they will slam the door shut. The amazing thing is this...You're in total control.
If you want to have a successful life, you must become a master in the art of the possible.
If you want to fail in life, arrogance is your path. Arrogance will prevent any real success in life. Instead of success, arrogance will set you up for massive failure, pain and disappointment.
People sometimes mistake arrogance for confidence. There's a huge difference between arrogance and confidence, but the line between them is very thin. Because of this, arrogance can look like confidence, and confidence can look like arrogance.
In this episode we'll consider the differences between arrogance and confidence. This is very important for you to fully understand because it will influence you level of success in life. Join me as we take a deeper look into the differences between these two attitudes and frames of reference.
What does it mean to be well-grounded? In this episode we'll consider the importance of understanding the answer to this question. We'll also consider the reasons you should want to work on becoming as grounded as possible.
First of all, being well-grounded insulates you from the storms of life and the negative emotions that can well up inside you and overwhelm your reasoned thought. Being well-grounded is related to resilience and the ability to withstand hardships. Being well grounded provides a path for renewal and tends to stabilize your emotions.
Becoming well-grounded will provide a solid anchor point in your life so you're not blown off course in your quest for success. Without a solid grounding, you'll be unable to achieve lasting success.
It has been said that nature has placed man under the governance of two masters; pain and pleasure. I agree that pain is a major influencer in our lives. I also agree that pleasure plays a major role. These two masters cause us to move in certain directions. We move away from pain and toward pleasure. To an extent, both can be a serious trap to fall into. However, fear is more debilitating than pleasure and has a more negative influence in people's lives than pleasure.
In this episode we'll consider how much of your life is driven by, and the result of, fear and pain.
In this episode we'll consider equality. What is equality? Equality certainly doesn't mean same outcomes; even though there are people who try to push that narrative. Equality means that people should be treated the same without consideration given to race, gender, age, and so on. Equality should be applied to the law. In other words, all people should be subject to the same laws without favoritism. Another way to put that is that all people should be held accountable in the same way to the same degree.
While the U.S. Constitution alludes to all men being created equal, the sad reality is that we are not equal, even from birth. Some are predisposed to higher or lower I.Q. than others. Some will be better at sports, while others will be better at academics. We're all different and unique, and that's a good thing.
The word equality and the concept of equality is used too broadly in today's society. The truth is, we're only equal, as a concept, in a very narrow way. And, again, equal does not mean equal outcomes regardless of talent or effort.
In early man's history the daily focus was on the task of surviving. Virtually everything done during the day was related to survival. Life was that tough. In fact, tough doesn't do it justice; life was brutal.
However, over time, the challenge of survival from day to day was overcome through analytical thought and cunning. In today's world no one living in a first world country is giving daily survival any thought at all.
While life is now easier and daily survival no longer the issue it had been, we tend to feel a void in our lives. The way to fill that void is to live a life of meaning and purpose. The question is, how do you do that; what does it take?
In this episode we'll consider the need for meaning in your life and how to achieve it. Success in this area means living a rich, rewarding life.
There's an old saying that it's easier to cross a river at tis source. This sage wisdom was first recorded about 2600 years ago and is attributed to Zeno; one of the original wester philosophers.
What did Zeno mean by this? The river is a metaphor for life's difficulties. What is meant by this is that it's easier to solve problems when they're small, as opposed to waiting until they've grown so big they become virtually unsolvable.
That wisdom applies to how and when you deal with problems, address habits, or how and when you face any other challenges life throws at you.
In this episode we'll consider six essential strategies to help you learn to cross the river at its source. These six strategies, for those wise enough to employ them, will smooth your path as you move forward toward living a successful life.
If you've been following this podcast, or if you are a longtime student of western philosophy, you understand the importance of knowing what you stand for. The idea of having clearly defined morals, ethics, and values.
The foundation you build success upon is created using these standards. They must be rock solid and able to withstand the inevitable assaults which will come from all corners of society.
In this episode we'll discuss the danger of having soft edges around your morals, ethics, and values. The idea that your foundation for success can be undermined by people and culture if you don't hold fast to your morals, ethics, or values is important to understand. It can be so easy to take a series of tiny steps which seem to be harmless. But, before you know it, you've compromised yourself and allowed what you stand for to become corrupted.
In this episode we'll consider your legacy. We'll begin with a short quote from Marcus Aurelius. "What we do now echoes in eternity". What Marcus Aurelius meant by this was a recognition that everything we do has impacts. Each impact sets in motion a series of actions; not only in our own lives, but in the lives of others as well. Most people don't take the time to really consider how their thoughts and actions create their legacy; the trace they leave in the world. They should. Even seemingly small, unimportant things, can cause major outcomes later on.
Join me as we take a hard look at understanding why this is so important in determining whether or not you've achieved a successful life.
If someone challenged you to justify your existence, what would your answer be? What does it mean to justify your existence; how would you determine whether or not your existence is justifiable? Should you be concerned about justifying your existence?
In this episode we'll consider the answer to these questions. Let's being with a definition. Justification in the context of this discussion is...To prove or demonstrate that you bring value to the world (or to those in power) and that there is a positive return on your consumption of resources. Another definition could be...To prove or demonstrate that your presence in life validates an expectation of your value.
This is actually a good exercise for you to contemplate because in doing so you can put the meaning of your life into focus. Without meaning, your life has no direction; no clear purpose.
Join me as we consider the question of whether or not you can justify your existence in this world. You'll be better for it in the end.
As far as we can tell, the universe existed long before you and I came onto the scene. Life is a mystery, and part of that mystery includes the question of...why are we here? We may never know the answer to that question. One thing we do know is that nature abhors a vacuum. For that reason, we tend to fill in the blanks with our own answers.
It would have been nice if we would have been given an instruction sheet the day we were born that explained why we're here, what to expect, what our purpose is, what the goal is; and maybe some direction on how to reach the goal.
But, therein lays the proverbial vacuum...that space in thought where nothing exists unless you create it. Your ability to fill that void with something of value will have a considerable effect on the quality of your life; as well as, the quality of life experienced by other through your actions.
In this episode we'll consider the choices you make that impact, not only your life, but the lives of others. You can choose to be a sheep, or you can choose to be a GOAT. Join me as we consider the quality of person you want to be.
Living a successful life is based in certain rules. Success means different things to different people. Yet, regardless of the different outcomes people may consider as success, they are all bound to the same basic rules; the same magical ingredients if you will.
There are six universal rules you must observe in order to achieve a goal; any goal. Join me as we consider these six vital rules. Failing to follow these rules, or not putting your full energy to accomplishing the requirements of these rules will guarantee failure.
Most people never achieve their goals because they don't understand the importance and absolute role these rules play in the game of life. Learn them and give them your full attention and energy and you will succeed.
What is wisdom? It isn't something you're born with; it isn't innate. It is something you may gain through experience and knowledge, but not all people will gain the same level of wisdom from the same experience and knowledge. Wisdom is a virtue which is actually somewhat difficult to define.
One definition is...The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. Another definition is...The soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
My personal definition of wisdom is...The ability to sense true reality, and from that determine right action or opinion, based on understanding they why (or reason) underlying an event, potential, or situation.
Join me as we consider the true nature of wisdom and how to grow this attribute in yourself. After all, wisdom will smooth your patch to success and make your life more fulfilling.
This episode may be somewhat controversial. I encourage you to hear me out before you decide whether I'm right or wrong. Remember, personal growth often requires you to re-evaluate your knowledge, values, and priorities.
The question I want to address in this episode is whether or not people, including you, are by nature good or evil. This is, in my mind, a very important question for you to consider. We may be on the brink of testing this theory in ways that will shape, not only your, future, but the future of the generations that come after us.
Join me as we consider the evil that exists in all people and how you can navigate your way through life aware of the potential for evil that exists in everyone.
What does it take to be, or become, successful? A lot of people flail around like a person without sight trying to find that answer. In truth, it isn't all that complicated.
If you were to map it out, it would begin with desire; the desire to succeed. Your desire fuels your drive. The stronger your desire, the stronger your drive. Desire and drive gives you the power to take action. In its simplest terms, success cannot happen without some sort of action. Of course, it has to be the right action. Action not focused properly will result in chaos and destruction.
However, there are some barriers that sit between each of these steps. Barriers that must be overcome. First of all, your desire to succeed must be powerful enough to really light your drive. A super strong drive is what will cause you to take action.
In this episode we'll consider the question of what could be stronger than your drive and, therefore, prevent you from triggering action. This is the barrier that prevents many people from achieving their goals.
Life is not a game. It's serious business. Take a wrong turn, make a wrong decision, lose control for a moment; and your life can, and will, be turned upside down.
From a tactical and strategic perspective, life is war, and you're in a constant, never-ending battle. One of the most critical considerations when planning a battle is to choose your ground. By that I mean give yourself the advantage. Don't let your enemies lure you into fighting on the ground they prefer, which gives them the advantage.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of being smartly tactical and strategic in deciding what battles to fight, and when and how to fight them. Another way to pout this is...It's important to know what your goals are and figure out the best way to achieve them.
In today's world we seem to like to put labels on people. While a lot of those labels are either B.S. or are weaponized to oppress or discriminate against certain people, some labels are useful; especially when self-evaluating.
As an example, consider the labels of Alpha, Beta, or Sigma. When using labels, the pitfall you want to avoid is considering these labels to be absolutes. People, including you, are too complex to be able to define them with just a single label.
With that understanding in mind, let's take a few minutes to consider how these labels may help you understand yourself.
In your journey toward creating a successful life, it's important to understand the distinctions between successful people and unsuccessful people.
Life is full of difficulties. One of the most important distinctions between successful people and unsuccessful people is in how they see those difficulties. Unsuccessful people see difficulties as problems. Successful people see these same difficulties as opportunities.
What's the difference? It's a matter of perspective. There are a lot of definitions of problem, but the most simple and straight forward is this: A problem is a task or situation that seems to be unsolvable or overwhelming.
In this episode we'll consider how and why you must see difficulties in life as opportunities that can propel your success forward, as opposed to problems that can hold you back.
In this episode my goal is to encourage you to recognize how much you have to be grateful for and to experience the healing effects of forgiveness in you life.
As I observe our current social condition; the absolutely insane rage and hatred; the sickening and ignorant rush to act as foils for our enemies and our destruction as a nation; the senseless devastation of the hopes and dreams of so many good people. It's easy for me to feel like my soul is being crushed; my future destroyed.
Yet, in a quiet corner of my mind, a small, calm voice, reminds me that, If I'm willing to look, there is still so much to be grateful for, and that my bruised soul can be healed by the simple act of forgiveness in your life.
Join me as we explore the power of gratitude and forgiveness as a key activity in your search for a successful life.
In the opening of the western movie Appaloosa there's a line I really like. It goes like this..."Life has a way of making the foreseeable that which never happens, and the unforeseeable that which your life becomes."
Not matter how much you plan and maneuver in your life, you always have to take into account the reality of randomness. Everything in your life may be going as planned; and then, all of a sudden, something completely random and unexpected happens. A car accident, a criminal act, a disease, a death, an ENP, a sudden economic crash, some crazy person bent on killing people and you're in the wrong place at the wrong time.
All kinds of things happen in our lives that we may know could happen, but don't expect to happen. Consider your life right now. Are you where you expected to be at this point? What random events have influenced a change in the course of your life?
In this episode we'll consider the major role randomness plays in your life.
One of the greatest disservices we do to each other in today's culture is act as if we're great mind readers. We always seem to know (or think we know) the motives behind everything others say or do. The reason this is a disservice is that human beings are lousy mind readers. To a large degree, that's why everyone seems to be at each other's throats right now.
In this episode we'll consider the negative effects of combining your mind reading talents (or lack thereof) with your built in confirmation bias. There is real danger is not understanding how your mind deals with information that either supports or invalidates your predispositions.
Character is the product of strength. It's the aggregate of distinctive qualities that make up the composite attributes of what I'd call an ideal personality. I've never met a weak person who had strong character.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of character as a key distinguishing attribute of a successful person. If you want to be a person of quality, you must understand that character is not an act; it's a habit. It's your default reaction to life's trials and tribulations. Either you're a person of character, or you're not; and in my opinion, if you're not, you're living a shameful life.
What does it mean to own your life? In this episode we'll consider the implications of knowingly and purposely owning your life. What I mean by own your life is to take full responsibility for your life outcomes. In other words, personal accountability. A person who truly owns their life is the master of their destiny. Your outcomes in life, then, become something you guide and control; and the results produced by your actions and inactions belong to you. In other words, you've earned them; good or bad.
Intelligence, knowledge, and wisdom. A successful life is built on this foundation; these attributes. In this episode we'll consider the unique qualities of each of these attributes, and reflect on the manner in which you can understand, cultivate, and apply them as you proceed on your mysterious journey called life.
While IQ is an indicator of your ability to learn ability to learn and comprehend, it is somewhat malleable. This means that there are things you can do to raise your IQ, which I discuss in this episode.
As you travel through life you should be acquiring an ever increasing store of knowledge. However, intelligence and knowledge will not lead to sustained success in your life. You must develop wisdom.
Wisdom comes from experience and knowledge, but only if you apply it. In other words, if you have intelligence, and have acquired knowledge, understanding how to apply it is key; this is wisdom.
You want to have a successful life; otherwise, you wouldn't be listening to this podcast. What does success mean to you? Success can actually mean many things, and it's different for each of us. Regardless of the different definitions we put on our version of success, there are six super truths you must observe if you want to see success. There is no negotiation on these truths. Everyone who has ever had a successful life has had to master these six essentials.
Join me as we take a deep dive into each of these the six super truths. If you understand and apply these six super truths to your life you will see success. I encourage you to give serious thought to how you can apply these truths to your own life. You are capable of so much. You can be an amazing force in this world. If you stay on the true path and master these six essentials you can't help but change your life for the better; and in the process, you will change the lives of others for the better.
This episode is a discussion about what it means to bear your burdens. We all have burdens to bear. Many of the burdens we bear are the same as most other people. However, some are called upon to bear even heavier burdens than the average person. Regardless of the size or weight of your burdens, it's important that you carry them with humility and nobility.
As far as I know, you didn't ask to be born into this world. But, here you are. The minute you're born, the burdens begin to stack up. How well you bear your burdens will have a major impact on the level of success you're able to accomplish in your life.
Your attitude about your burdens will impact your ability to carry the load. One important aspect of bearing your burdens is the importance of not making a big display about all your burdens. Being a martyr is not helpful to you, or anyone else. Making sure that others know how heavy your load is will not gain you any respect.
Join me as we consider the question of how to bear your burdens, and how you benefit by bearing your burdens well.
Recently Punzutawney Phil made his appearance and predicted six more weeks of winter. That got me thinking about the movie Groundhog Day; and that got me thinking about how easy it is for our lives to be like Groundhog Day...Just repeating, day after day.
Is your life the equivalent of Groundhog Day? Is today much like yesterday; and will tomorrow be much like today? Think about this...How is your life going to improve if each day is pretty much the same as the day before it?
In this episode we'll explore some of the reasons you may be experiencing your own Groundhog Day.
In this episode you'll learn how and why you should think from a first principles perspective. This is a major element of critical thinking and is a skill that you can develop in yourself that will create clarity in your life. Learning to think for yourself sets you free and prevents you from becoming someone else's tool.
First principles reasoning is one of the most effective and powerful strategies you can use to break complicated problems down to their most basic elements. From this, you can then develop a reasoned approach to determining solutions. Basically, what you're doing with this technique is reverse engineering a problem in order to see what it's made of. You're breaking it down into its most basic components.
One of the first references to this kind of thinking come to us from the great ancient western philosopher, Aristotle. Aristotle's view was this: Start with beliefs that are known to you, and then work backwards to find the underlying truths that those beliefs are built upon.
In this episode I deviate from my normal track of teaching based in western philosophy and delve into eastern philosophy; specifically, Buddhism as a philosophy, not a religion.
True wisdom can come from many sources. Only a fool would ignore wisdom just because its source is outside their normal scope of focus.
What we'll consider in this episode is the Buddhist teaching of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. These four noble truths are the first teachings given by the Buddha and are considered to be the most important lessons learned in the study of Buddhism.
Join me as we learn that truth is truth, and wisdom is wisdom regardless of its cultural framework.
Everything in life is in a constant state of tension. In fact, I don't know how you could experience and understand life without these tensions. The Orientals call this Yen and Yang. The ancient Greek Philosophers called this the Unity of Opposites.
Hot v. cold. High v. low. Good v. bad. Life v. death. Light v. dark. Heavy v. light. How would you know what hot is if you had nothing to compare it to; i.e. cold? How would you know what life is if you had nothing to compare it to; i.e. death? How would you know what light is if you had nothing to compare it to; i.e. darkness?
In this episode we'll consider the dynamic tensions between one extreme and it's opposite. What I hope you'll learn is that these tensions are vital to life and must be kept in balance. Recognizing when something is out of balance is a skill that will drive your success in life.
Words are powerful. They can trigger people to experience happiness. They can trigger people to become angry. They can cause confusion. They can start or end relationships. They can comfort, or they can cause great pain. If you want to influence someone, words are your most powerful tool. Words are a catalyst for emotions and actions. The same applies to words you speak to yourself.
So, what do you think is the most powerful word you could ever use? Some might think the word love is the most powerful. Some might think the word hate is the most powerful. These are powerful words.
However, there is one word which stands above all others; one that is the most powerful, and that word is the word WHY. While the words love and hate describe emotions, the word why digs deeper in search of understanding; looking for an explanation.
In this episode we'll consider the power of the word WHY. Learning how to use this word will determine your success or failure in life.
When you think about yourself, your life; what story do you tell yourself? What's your version of the story of your life? Are you the hero, or the victim? Are you successful, or are you a failure? Are you strong, or are you weak?
In this episode we consider the stories you tell yourself about who you are, and the stories you tell yourself about the world. It's important to understand that you are the author of your stories.
Life can knock you down; and at that point, as the author of your story, you can decide to tell the story about why you're down; or you can tell the story about how you got back up and continued the fight. It's up to you.
I would love to hear from you and hear your story. You can email me at DaveRipley53@gmail.com. Share your thoughts with me and I'll make every effort to respond back to you.
If you're serious about forging your own life in a way that lets you set your own terms, you must learn to not allow yourself to be someone else's tool, unless you also benefit in a useful way. When you do truly benefit, you're getting into the realm of the commerce of relationships, which we'll cover in an upcoming episode.
The definition of tool we'll use for this discussion is: A derogatory term for a person who is used or manipulated by another person or group. The inference is that a person is being used or manipulated in a deceptive way in order to server the goals of someone else, and at the expense of, or to the detriment of, the person being used.
In this episode we'll consider the many ways people all around you are trying to manipulate your thinking, your values, and your dreams, and get you to serve their needs or goals. Through this understanding you can minimize your role as a tool for someone else's benefit.
As we wrap up 2020 I'd like to set the stage for 2021. While many of the negatives of 2020 will bleed over into 2021, so will the positives; and there are many positives. As you prepare for the new year this would be a good time to consider the positives you will carry over into 2021.
The positives might include things like stronger relationships, a stronger, healthier body, or skills you've developed which will help you reach higher levels of personal and professional success. The positive might be a stronger resolve to take charge of your life and do what you can to lessen the ability of others to have negative impacts on your drive for success.
I do know that 2020 has been devastating for a lot of people. From the loss of a business or employment to the loss of a friend or loved one. The best revenge for the wrongs done to you, and the most respectful thing you can do to honor those you may have lost in 2020 is to not let it hold you back from achieving your dreams in 2021.
In this episode we'll consider the ways this next year could be your best so far. We'll reflect on lessons learned and the options available to you as you begin your new year.
One of the most important skills you can develop in yourself is the ability to recognize red flags. What's a red flag? A red flag is a warning sign. It's an identifier that something is wrong, or is a danger. A red flag may be something you can easily identify and define, or it may be more subtle, like a gut instinct.
In this episode we'll explore the world of red flags. Just recognizing red flags isn't enough however. You must also learn to take appropriate action. That action can range from avoiding the issue, to laying the groundwork to lessen it's impact.
Red flags all around you every day. It's easy to miss an important red flag, especially if you're not on alert. After the fact, you may be completely surprised that you missed all the obvious warning signs. The problem is, the damage has already been done. You're now forced to deal with the consequences knowing that if you'd been more alert you could have avoided the situation altogether.
Developing this skill takes self-awareness and discipline. Take some time to think about the red flags you've missed in your life. What did you learn from it? More importantly, did you learn anything from it? That's the difference between success and failure in life.
Have you ever considered the health of your mind? What is a healthy Mind? In this episode we'll define healthy mind and identify the essential six pillars required for a healthy mind.
The six pillars of a healthy mind are:
1) Awareness
2) Connections with others
3) Insight about yourself
4) Purpose
5) Clarity
6) Discipline
As we go into detail about each of these pillars you'll begin to have an understanding of the role you directly play in ensuring your own mental health and in developing your mind into a powerful tool to help you achieve a successful life.
What exactly do you want out of life? What should you want? Happiness/a great body/amazing health even far into old age/financial comfort/a fantastic relationship with the person of your dreams?
Whatever it is you want out of life I can guarantee you it's not going to just happen. You must take action; and there are no shortcuts. It'll take time and effort on your part to accomplish whatever goal you're going after. No one is going to take you by the hand and do it for you. Although I do believe that you can, and should, open yourself up to the opportunities life presents to you, I don't believe that just meditating and asking the universe to give it to you is going to work. Mediocre effort never causes amazing results. Another way to put this is...Extraordinary results require extraordinary effort; and, again, you must be open to the opportunities life will present to you. In this episode we'll consider the false notion that shortcuts will be your vehicle to success.
If you don't show respect for yourself, why would anyone else show respect for you? But what does self-respect mean? What is it?
In this episode we'll consider the importance of being respectful toward yourself. This is a foundational trait that is crucial for leading a successful life.
Logically, the first question to answer is why would you not show respect for yourself? What would drive a person to not be inclined toward self-respect? It could be the result of words or actions by others toward you. It could be the result of negative inner conversations driven by lack of confidence. Lack of confidence can come from a variety of sources ; not only the words or actions of others, but it can also be driven by your own flawed perceptions of things like your appearance, or abilities.
Respect for others, and for yourself, comes from character. Character is the willingness to take responsibility for your own life. It's the source from which self-respect springs. Being honest with yourself is the highest form of self-respect.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of controlled aggression. The preface of this episode is a discussion about the dangers of labeling inappropriate male behavior as toxic masculinity. This is a term cooked up by left wing liberals as a tool in their ongoing war on manhood. In truth, what they're labeling toxic would be more properly termed immature behaviors.
I encourage my female listeners to also listen to this episode because you have an important role to play in the success of men.
The core topic of this episode is a discussion of the importance of controlled aggression and why it's important. Aggression is usually associated with anger. What I'm talking about here is controlled aggression, which has nothing to do with anger. It has everything to do with powering your assertiveness and ability to move forward in life in a positive way. Harness the power of aggression and you will find tremendous success in life.
Life is change. Your world is constantly changing. Your body; your position in life; your relationships; technology; politics, and weather. Everything is in a constant state of change.
Some of these changes don't require any meaningful adaptation on your part, but most do. In reality, most of your failures in life have been due to the fact that you either resisted change, or you weren't strategic in your response to change.
What won't change is the certainty that change plays a significant role in your life. How you respond to those changes will determine your level of success in life. These responses are resiliency and adaptability. I've already spoken about resiliency in a previous episode. In today's episode we'll consider the important role adaptability plays in your life.
What patterns can you recognize in your life? Do they lift you up, or do they drag you down? You receive the amazing gift of 24 hours each and every day. Are you using that gift to create a successful life for yourself, or are you engaging in patterns destructive to your goals of success?
The patterns of your habits and behaviors define your character. However, there is a lot of difference between habits and behaviors. In this episode we'll explore those differences and consider the patterns you've established in your life. These patterns are fully in your control. You cannot live a successful life unless you understand and recognize your patterns. You must replace negative patterns with positive patterns if you want to succeed.
The foundation of your true success in life is the acquisition of wisdom. This is something you should pursue with all your effort. Wisdom lives in the realm of decisions; and as I've said before, your decisions will determine your outcomes.
Wisdom should be a never ending pursuit. You can never have too much and it can never hurt you. Most (average) people think that just becoming wise enough to get through life day by day is all they need. That works if all you want is to be average. But, if you want to be extraordinary, focus your efforts on attaining the highest degree of wisdom you can.
Laconic. A word you may not be familiar with, but it represents an approach to communication that is valuable for you to consider. The definition of laconic is: Using, or involving the use of a minimum of words. Concise, to the point of seeming rude or mysterious.
The word laconic comes from the Greek capital city of Sparta, which was called Laconia. The Spartans were well known for their terseness of speech (direct and to the point).
the laconic style of communication is just that; direct and to the point. Using this style of communication means that you only say what is needed; no extra fluff. How many times have you said more than you should have? What was the impact of that?
The laconic style also means that you don't express your opinions. When you think about it, your opinion really only has value to you; and you should be humble enough to consider that your opinion may be flawed and may change over time.
You'll see much more success in life if you spend most of your time observing the world, taking action when needed, and never giving your enemies anything they can use against you.
In this episode we'll consider a simple three step strategy for improving your odds of having a successful life. What is a successful life? I can't determine that for you; you must create this definition for yourself, and that definition may very well change as time and circumstances influence your direction.
What I can say about the definition of a successful life is that it requires a mastery of several different aspects of your life, not just one single aspect. What I mean by this is that your life is very complicated by nature. Would you consider someone to have a successful life it they're wealthy, but unhappy? Of course not. Success in just one aspect of your life does not create a successful life.
As you go through each day, how many obstacles to you encounter? When it comes to big goals or long-range plans, what obstacles do you anticipate encountering? We know that we can't necessarily control certain obstacles, which means that we must face them. How do you do that?
In today's episode we'll consider the importance of and the methods for dealing with the obstacles you face every day of your life. The ability to overcome obstacles is an important life-skill.
The first thing you must understand is that most of the obstacles you face each day are surmountable. Depending on the nature of a particular obstacle, you may be able to overcome it quickly and easily. Other obstacles take much more time and effort to overcome.
By the end of this podcast I hope you will understand the power of embracing obstacles. They are not things to fear. They are challenges that help you grow and become stronger and more effective in your life.
Right now we seem to live in a world where facts don't matter. Joe Biden was on a rant last August and made a statement I don't think he intended, but was actually true. What he said was "We choose truth over facts". That really sums up what's going on in this country right now.
In this episode we'll consider the dangers of the disconnect between truth and facts. All human beings have a natural tendency to cling to what they consider to be their own truth. Often, these truths are not grounded in actual fact. If you try to demonstrate to a person why their truth isn't based in fact, they'll often get angry with you, and they don't want to listen. It's as if you're trying to invalidate them as a person. The response is emotional, not logical.
Taking great care to ensure that your truths are grounded in provable facts is key to success in your life. This is a skillset that few people seem to have. Developing this skillset will launch you ahead of your competition and help you avoid many mistakes.
You'll find a lot of so called experts on personal development telling people to follow their passion when it comes to career decisions. they say things like "Do what you love and love what you do". I'm sure this advice comes from a desire to be encouraging and positive, but it's actually horrible advice. In today's episode we'll consider the importance of not letting your passions rule your life and why it's vitally important that you temper your passion with logic when it comes to career choices. For most people, a career should provide economic abundance along with personal fulfillment. If you're chasing a passion, especially when it comes to career, be reasonable in your assessment about your chances of achieving it. The world isn't all rainbows and unicorns; and career success takes more than just passion. It also takes talent, skill, and ability.
"The unsuccessful person is burdened by learning, and prefers to walk down familiar paths. Their distaste for learning stunts their growth and limits their influence." - John C. Maxwell -
Your level of success in life will be determined by, among other things, your power to influence others, the influence you allow others to have over you; and to great extent, your power to influence your own behaviors (consciously directing your decisions, mood, and your emotions).
Influence is tightly bound to persuasion. From security a mate or partner, to getting a job or promotion. From dealing with your children to negotiating a contract. Your ability to influence the decisions of others through persuasion will determine your level of success in life.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of developing and increasing your level of influence. We'll also take a look at the battle for your mind as others try to influence you to their will.
How many times in your life have you made a decision and done something that you later regretted? In hindsight you can easily see that it wasn't going to turn out well, yet, at the time, you seemed to have no clue about the disaster you were creating for yourself. In today's episode we're going to consider the importance of developing consequential thinking to the point that it becomes a habit. The consequential thinking process is deeply imbedded within critical thinking. With everything you do it's vitally important that you go through a process in your thinking that supports making good decisions that result in positive outcomes. Each day of your life you are tasked with making a variety of decisions. One misstep can wipe out much, if not all, of your progress. Successful people are critical thinkers. You need to be one too.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of validating your perceptions so that your sense of reality is as accurate as possible. Fine tuning your critical thinking skills in this regard will help you to make decisions less flawed than they would otherwise be.
Your perceptions mold your reality, and you and I perceive things differently. In other words, we have different filters because we've experienced different things, have differing levels of education, and different brain wiring. We also have different biases. Because of these differences in perception, our realities are also different.
So how do you know whether or not your reality, based on your perceptions, is actually anywhere close to accurate? Two people can experience exactly the same thing, yet have a different perception of reality of it. How you perceive something will color your sense of reality, which will influence your attitudes and reactions.
Right or wrong, your perceptions will cause you to make decisions, and these decisions will impact your level of success in life. For that reason, it's imperative that you be very cautious in your actions, or reactions.
Where you are in life right now. Most of the things that have happened to you over the course of your life. These are the results of the choices you've made. Poor choices result in poor outcomes; good choices result in good outcomes.
I wish it really was that simple, but you and I both know there's more to the equation. Once you make a choice, you must then take some sort of action. That action will usually involve actually doing something, though refraining from doing something can also be considered an action.
The actions you take, including the action of refraining form your behaviors. In today's episode we'll consider the importance of your behaviors. Your behaviors can lift you up to higher levels of success, or they can sink you into utter failure. Being aware of your behaviors and is massively important to your success.
Since the beginning of mankind's history people have belonged to tribes. Tribal membership was vital for support and security. The worst fate you could suffer was to be banished from your tribe; no longer receiving any support. In today's modern world we no longer need tribal membership for our survival. However, tribalism is deeply ingrained in our psychology. As a result, we tend to seek out groups to belong to. This is actually a good thing because, though we no longer need a tribe to survive, they are, non the less, important for our success over the course of our lives. In this episode we'll consider the important role tribes can, and should, play in your life. If you want to achieve a successful life, tribal membership is key
If you want to have powerful, long lasting success in your life, you must be, or become, a high value person. Let's begin with a definition of High Value Person: A high value person is someone who displays strong character. Character can be defined as: The foundational attributes of a person's personality. Character is a personality structure with many components.
In this episode we'll explore those many personality components and contemplate why you would find it worthwhile to become a high value person, or to become an even higher value person than you already are.
Understand that this discussion has nothing to do with determining the value of a human being. I'm not saying that some people are valuable and others are not. This discussion is rooted in considering the value a person brings, through their actions, to themselves and to society in general.
Breathing is life. If you're not breathing, you're dead. If your breathing is impaired, you're not in peak health. Breathing has a major effect on your mood and overall health. As important as breathing is, I think most people take it for granted. After all, breathing is something you do without having to give it any real thought; It's automatic. We breath even when we're unconscious. At the same time, breathing is something we can consciously control, up to a point. In today's episode we'll consider the importance of proper breathing technique and the value it can have on your life. Most people know that they should use their diaphragm to breath, but they use their chest muscles instead. This results in ineffective shallow breathing; robbing their body of the most basic powerhouse needed for top health and performance. Therese's more to breathing than meets the eye.
Resilient...What does this word mean to you? The ability to recover, to pull through, to regain composure or stability? To you the word may mean psychological or emotional strength. The ability to take a hit and bounce back.
You're a very small part of what appears to be a very large, chaotic and uncaring universe. It can be hard to keep moving forward when the entire universe seems to be working against you, uncaring and inconsiderate. After all, what have you done to deserve the strive, agony, and turmoil you've been forced to experience at one time or another.
No one gets through this life without taking at least a few hits. 2020 in particular has kept the idea of resiliency at the front of my mind on a daily basis.
If you want to succeed in life you must develop the ability to roll with the punches life throws at you. So how resilient are you? Do you have the ability to face the turmoils of life with strength?
In this episode we'll consider the importance of resiliency and how to develop it.
In today's episode we'll consider the effects of habits. Your habits are central to who you are. Studies show that up to 50% of what you do daily is by habit. These are things you do without really making a conscious decision about it; it's just what you do. In this context the term for habits is routines. Other terms for habits you could use are rituals or behaviors. You probably do a lot of things every day just by habit, without really giving it much thought.
It's important for you to take the time to evaluate your habits. I'm not talking about those little mundane things you do by habit like putting your socks on. I'm talking about the bigger things you do that are either helping you be more successful, or are causing you problems.
A simple habit in this context might be not remembering someone's name right after you've been introduced to them. Changing that habit with conscious effort can be a major boost to your long-term success.
In today's episode we'll consider the toll fatigue takes on your success. What I'm referring to primarily is mental fatigue and its effects on your mental and physical well-being. The choices you make each day will determine whether or not you're fully prepared to combat this killer of success.
In a fatigued state your mood is altered, you're more likely to feel depression, anxiety, and lack of hope. You're more likely to accept unwise risks because your judgement will be impaired. You're more inclined toward anger and lashing out. Your mind will gravitate more toward the negatives in life as opposed to the positives.
Your physical health will be impaired, which can lead to everything from reduced levels of performance to serious health problems. You can't have a successful life if your mind and body are not performing properly. The solutions are not difficult. It just takes some basic knowledge and a willingness to have the discipline to apply them.
Everything you do in life; ever decision you make; every action you take, has a price. The first level of wisdom attained in life is this understanding. Developing the skill of considering the price of everything you do is the first step toward a successful and fulfilling life.
When we're young we tend to make decisions without really considering the consequences of our actions. This can lead to very serious outcomes that can haunt us throughout our lives. I've often lamented the sad fact that we tend to make decisions when we're young and least prepared and qualified to make these kinds of major decisions because we have to suffer the results for years, if not throughout our lives.
At some point, the light comes on and we realize that we've been our own worst enemy through our choices. This is when life starts to get better. True wisdom is reached when we've mastered the ability to clearly think things through before we act on a decision and when our decisions are focused on things that will benefit us.
Controlling your focus in life is a critical skill that will impact your level of success in life. One key component of focus is mindset. There are many different mindsets you can adopt. Mindsets of power, or mindsets of weakness; an abundance mindset, or a scarcity mindset...These are just a few of the many mindsets each of us have, or can adopt. Mindsets are important because they are a filter of our perceptions of life and of the world we live in. They color our reality.
The most important thing you must understand is that your mindsets, whatever they are, are a choice; fully under your control. Choose wisely and experience a successful life. Choose unwisely and your life will be one painful experience after another.
The definition of mindset we'll use in this discussion is: The established set of attitudes held by someone. Another useful definition is : Habits of mind.
In this episode we'll consider the importance of knowing how to apply your self in order to achieve your goals. Many people mistakenly think that being busy will eventually equate with success. It doesn't. You must be thoughtful in how you use your time.
Understanding the value of knowing how to apply yourself is essential if you want to succeed in life. This includes how you manage your relationships, your finances, your health and fitness, your education and skills development, your time, and your reputation.
Just being busy, or getting many things done will not necessarily lead to success. Knowing how to produce what needs to be produced for success, in other words, working smart as opposed to working hard, will lead to success. Failure to understand this basic life rule will lead to dead ends or complete disasters in your life.
If you've been listening to this podcast you know that your choices determine your outcomes. Choose to be smart in how you apply yourself toward achieving your goals. It's not hard; it just takes a commitment to excellence.
In today's world it seems like certain people find themselves having to apologize for almost everything they do. In fact, some people are expected to apologize for things they had no hand in; such as events that occurred before they were even born and were carried out by people they never knew.
I think this whole apology thing is getting completely out of control. In this Episode I'm going to discuss the use of apology as it's normally used (in a world not gone crazy), and I'm going to talk about the use of apology as it applies in today's world of, quite frankly, the outlandish expectations of people incapable of using any kind of critical thinking ability.
Knowing when, and not when, to apologize is important. Understanding the fallacy of giving in to get along and why it's detrimental to your future success is critical.
Abraham Lincoln said "Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt". If you're an American you have a constitutional guarantee in the First Amendment of the Constitution to free speech. However, just because you can doesn't always mean you should. In today's world we see relationships and careers destroyed everyday by what people say. Words taken out of context or twisted in ways never intended by the speaker. Even when someone is right in what they say, their words can be used to destroy them. Learning when and when not to remain silent is an important modern skill. In this week's episode we'll consider the reasons to speak and the reasons to remain silent.
You may not understand this but you're in a battle every day of your life. The battle is between your spirit and your mind and the battlefield is your brain. In this episode I'll pull back the curtain on this secret battle and expose your enemy.
Each day your mind and spirit do battle. Your spirit knows what you should do, but your mind makes up all kinds of reasons why you should do something else. It will often convince you to wait for a better time.
What do your battles look like? What does your mind try to talk you out of when you know the right thing to do? Your mind is full of tricks. It knows all the right buttons to push.
In today's episode we'll consider the role emotions play in our lives. What I find fascinating about emotions is that they can completely overpower the fundamental motives that drive our lives. Our current scientific understanding lists our strongest human motivations as the drive for sex, hunger, and the will to survive. Nearly as strong for some is the drive to excel at something, the drive to dominate or possess, or the drive to be accepted or have approval.
As strong as these drives or motivation may be, they can be easily overcome by emotions.
This episode is follow-up to last week's episode on attention. As previously discussed, it's vitally important for you to learn to focus your attention on thoughts and activities that will move you forward in life in a positive manner and to not focus on things that distract you from achieving your goals.
This topic is so critical to your ability to create a successful life for yourself that it's worth drilling down a little deeper.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "You are what you think about all day long". What do you think about? What are your inner thoughts?
The things you pay attention to in your life are key to your success and happiness. With so many things vying for your attention in our modern world it's vitally important for you to be aware of where you're focusing your attention. You must be in control, and you can be. Think of your attention as a limited resource, because it is.
Moment by moment what you attend to, in other words where you place your focus or attention, will determine the quality of your life. Your level of happiness, your contentment with your place in life, your assessment of reality, and your success in achieving goals are all governed by where you place your attention.
We sense much of our world in terms of opposites. Open v. Closed, Up v. Down, Hot v. Cold, Day v. Night, Light v. Dark, Soft v. Hard, Clean v. Dirty, Big v. Small, Full v. Empty, and so it goes. Understanding opposites helps us define and communicate many things in our reality; and though the tipping point between the two may vary by person (such as what is hot as opposed to what is cold), in general, these are common understandings and the values don't change.
Where things tend to get off into the weeds is when we try to define opposites in emotional or judgmental terms or through values. Good verses bad is an example. Good and bad are not definitions we can all agree to all the time.
Considering the current situation in our country and in the world, this might be a good time to step back and get some perspective to help you focus on what's important in your life.
First of all, remember that placing your focus on things you have no control over is a waste of your time. Focusing on things you have no control over will have negative physical and emotional health effects. It also takes time away from focusing on the things you do have control over.
Are you a leader? The answer is absolutely yes. leadership is all about influence. If you influence no one but yourself, you're still a leader; and that's a good place to begin a discussion about leadership.
If you look for the definition of leadership in most common dictionaries you be disappointed because they seem to have a hard time coming up with a definition. They mainly just give examples. the definition we'll use for leadership is: Influence.
"Live long & Prosper". A parting sentiment expressed by Vulcans. Hopefully you know what I'm referring to. As a child of the 50's and 60's my favorite TV program was Star Trek (the original version with Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock). I loved that character both for his intelligence and for his emotional control, which is a central theme of Vulcan culture.
Maybe I saw Mr. Spock as a role model because (being a teenager at the time) my emotions were on overdrive. I felt completely out of control and I could see that my emotions were getting the better of me and causing problems.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. A simple phrase but full of wisdom.
In this episode we'll consider the role failure plays in your life. From your earliest beginnings, failure became your constant companion. As a small child you didn't go from crawling to walking without many failures. But you didn't put yourself down or consider yourself a failure; you just kept on trying until you succeeded.
This is true with most of the things you've learned in your life.
In this episode we'll reflect on the importance of working your plan. Most people go through life as what I call "Pinballs". They don't have a plan, they just react to outside forces as they're driven first in one direction, then another; just like the pinball in a pinball machine. Living a life solely of reaction to outside influences will never benefit you. That's not to say that your life won't be influenced by outside forces that demand your reaction, it will. But you can limit the degree of reaction you're required to take, and improve the speed of your reactions by thoughtful planning.
In this episode we'll consider your obligations. What is an obligation? The definition we'll use is "Something by which a person is bound or obliged to do certain things, and which arises out of a sense of duty, or results from custom or law, et.". An obligation may also exist in the form of a promise, or as the result of a contract.
Some words related to obligation are: duty, responsibility, or social contract.
Our politicians, the news media, advertisers, family members and friends try to manipulate you every day. They work on your inclination to be giving or loving, your sense of obligation, your greed, your lust, your desire for prestige or status, and your fear. Their success depends on your level of awareness.
How you perceive yourself determines you behaviors. If you perceive yourself as being as capable as anyone else, you'll behave accordingly. I you perceive yourself as the type of person who has limitations on your abilities, you'll behave accordingly.
Have you ever said, or heard someone say "this is who I am"? Like you, I've said this about myself, and I've heard probably thousands of others say it about themselves. What are you really saying to yourself and others when you say this?
You may have heard the old quote that goes, "Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely".
It's important to understand that you yesterdays were the launch pad that moved you to today but are now gone and unchangeable. You must let go of everything that has happened in your past, including even the good, because now you're in the present, and the present is the only place you truly can live.
What would your life be like if you truly subscribed to a life dedicated to the pursuit of virtue and knowledge? Virtue keeps you out of trouble and focused on your goals and knowledge put into practice leads to wisdom.
Think about this quote from Dante..."Consider your origins, you were not formed to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge". I would change one word in this quote. I would change the word follow to pursue. Following is too passive; you must pursue the things you seek. The new quote would be "Consider your origins, you were not formed to live like brutes, but to pursue virtue and knowledge".
In this podcast we'll consider the importance of deciding how you will choose to approach the challenges presented to you each and every day of your life. When things don't work out or go the way you wanted them to, do you look for who or what to blame? If you do, you're not only wasting your time, but you're also preventing yourself from excelling and succeeding.
Finding blame when things don't go your way will not solve your problem or help you achieve success.
One of the most important decisions you can make in your life is whether you will be a victim or a victor. Hopefully, you'll choose to be a victor, not a victim.
What is victim thinking? It's a state of mind. Seeing the glass half empty instead of half full, taking the pessimistic viewpoint instead of the optimistic one, easily losing hope.
In this podcast we'll contrast the differences between victim thinking and victor thinking. Learning the difference will set you on the path of success.
I've always felt it's unfortunate that so many of the choices we make as young people (when we're least prepared to make profound life-changing decisions) can have such profound impacts on the rest of our lives. However, that's life: and it's never too late to make different choices to change your direction. It's obviously easier to build on successes and achievements in our lives than it is to overcome the mistakes we've made, but in most cases it's not impossible.
In this podcast you'll learn the importance of developing goals and how they impact your choices. You'll learn that having a goal without a plan for achieving it is actually a dream, not a goal. We'll talk about short-term and long-term goals and the importance of ensuring that your choices compliment and support your goals.
What we're going to cover in this podcast is the role rationalization plays in your decision making process. This is an extremely complex subject with many different layers. The definition we'll use for rationalization is: A self-deception that allows you to distort reality in order to justify an emotion, belief, or action that is inconsistent with your core values, beliefs, and goals in life.
If we were to boil this down to its essence, the definition we could use is: Making excuses for our beliefs or actions.
In the context of this discussion we'll consider rationalization as we use it in the process of forming a belief, or giving ourselves the "green light" to take an action, or to not take an action.
In this episode we discover the importance of forming solid beliefs. Our beliefs color our attitudes, which drive our actions. The skill of understanding how strong or weak a belief you hold is, and whether or not it's strong enough for you to form an attitude and take action that will benefit you is a skill you must develop if you want to succeed in life.
Do you want to take control of your life and learn how to make decisions that will improve your financial and emotional well-being, or are you willing to let others control your thoughts and emotions for their benefit?
If you're willing to take control of your life, the next few minutes will give you important tools that you can use to prevent others from manipulating your thoughts and emotions.
The course of your life has been determined by the complex interplay between choice and chance. Every outcome in your life has been the result of these two potentials.
You have no control over chance; it's completely random.
However, you do have complete control over choice. Specifically, the choices you make. The ancient philosophers encouraged us to put our focus on the things in our lives we can control; our thoughts and actions.
How do we make choices; especially, good or right choices?
This series of podcasts will begin with reflection on that very process. Mastery of the skill of making effective choices is fundamental to having the kind of life you dream of.
Do you want to take control of your life and learn how to make decisions that will improve your financial and emotional well-being, or are you willing to let others control your thoughts and emotions for their benefit?
If you're ready to take control of your life, the next few minutes will give you important tools that you can use to prevent others from manipulating your thoughts and emotions.
The course of your life has been determined by the complex interplay between choice and chance. Every outcome in your life has been the result of these two potentials.
You have not control over chance; it's completely random.
However, you do have complete control over choice. Specifically, the choices you make. The ancient philosophers encouraged us to put our focus on the things in our lives we can control; our thoughts and actions.
How do make choices; especially good or right choices?
This series of podcasts will begin with reflection and that very process. Mastery of the skill of making effective choices is fundamental to having the kind of life you dream of.
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