Daily Gratitude: Since everyone is considering (at least…between shopping lists) some sort of change for the new year, think about this quote.

I never really thought about discipline in my life….until I kept having to switch to “crewed” status at vol state. I finally realized it was a mental thing and then I accepted that I didn’t have the mental discipline I needed.

As a result I spent a year studying and practicing the art of mental discipline and the following summer I was able to finish the race without switching.

The other area I’ve had to apply discipline in is in my daily hotline call. I don’t always have topics that I think are pertinent. But I have to come up with something. That’s a challenge but since I’ve committed to it, I find something to talk about. Doing that has taught me almost as much as doing Vol State uncrewed.

What are some (or at least one) area in your life that you want to get better at (in)?

Once you answer that question, then ask yourself what it will take to achieve that. Break it down into tiny do-able steps so you don’t bite off more than you can chew. Figure out how you can ensure you can do these tiny steps on a CONTINUOUS basis. That is the key to all success. Doing the same things over and over, knowing that mastery of the foundation is required to build the rest of the pyramid (for example). If your foundation isn’t solid, the rest of your project may come crumbling down with the smallest of winds of adversity.

Decide these things now before you declare that you’re going to do x, y, or z. Take your time. There is no rule that says you have to start something on the 1st of January. That is not the 11th commandment.

Last year I started my hotline on the 13th of January. People were probably wondering (if they thought about it at all) “who the heck starts something in the middle of the month?” I do.

Why? Because I was going to be at a 6 day race over the 1st and then when it was over i had to drive home and get ready etc. Why would I have wanted to set myself up for failure just to start on the 1st when I knew things just wouldn’t be ready.

Think of all your variables before you make your plans. Then nothing can stop you! You’ll have no regrets even if that one thing doesn’t succeed. You will have developed the skills (and yes you will have also worked out your discipline muscles) for your next endeavor.

Daily Gratitude: I love this quote. You could replace it with something mundane like “I’ll be happy when…..”, or “I’ll be happy if….’

So many times we think it will make all the difference in the world if just this or that changed (oh and changed to how we want it to be. Ha ha. Like we’re in charge). Then and only then will we be happy.

But being happy is something that isn’t dependent on outside variables (the new landscapes). It’s dependent on our inner thoughts and beliefs (the eyes). When we decide we want to be happy, we can be. That’s not something that’s dependent on external factors. We may have grown up thinking that happiness is dependent on that but it is just a way of thinking.

Wouldn’t you prefer to develop a happiness button or switch where all you had to do was push it or flip it and you’d feel happy ? You can do that. Ask yourself why aren’t you feeling happy right now?

As I am writing this I’ve had vertigo and a headache and fatigue for 36 hours causing me to stay in bed and sleep almost the entire time. Do I feel great? No. Am I happy? Yes. Because I know that this, too, shall pass. And I know that I have so much beauty and wonder in my life. And I don’t want to miss any of it. Why populate my brain circuits with negativity when I can simply flip the switch so the positivity flows along those very same circuits.

It takes some practice if you’re not used to doing it but it’s well worth it.