self improvement

Unleashing the Restful Warrior: Conquering the Frustrations of Resting When You’re Accustomed to an Active Lifestyle

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Resting when you’re sick is often recommended for a speedy recovery. However, for individuals who are used to being active and productive, the idea of resting can feel frustrating and unsatisfying. I’m writing this today because I’ve been sick the last 2 days and I’m trying to get myself into a place where I can embrace the downtime. It’s hard. My meditation is physical activity and I’ve been stuck inside! In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why it can be challenging to embrace rest when you’re accustomed to an active lifestyle and provide insights on how to navigate this struggle effectively.

  1. Reduced Physical and Mental Stimulation: When illness strikes, our activity levels naturally decrease. The reduced physical and mental stimulation can leave us feeling restless and bored, particularly if we’re used to being engaged in various activities. The lack of stimulation can magnify the perception that resting “sucks.” To combat this, explore alternative ways to stimulate your mind, such as reading books, listening to podcasts, or engaging in light creative activities that don’t strain your body.
  2. Break in Routine: Being sick disrupts our regular routines, which can be unsettling for those accustomed to a structured lifestyle. Suddenly shifting from being active and productive to resting and recuperating can feel disorienting and leave us with a sense of unproductivity. To cope with this, establish a modified routine that incorporates elements of rest, self-care, and low-intensity activities. Having a semblance of structure can help alleviate the discomfort of a disrupted routine.
  3. Loss of Control: Illness often forces us to slow down and rely on others for assistance. This loss of control over our activities and the feeling of dependency can be frustrating, especially for individuals who value their autonomy. It’s crucial to recognize that accepting help and allowing ourselves to rest is not a sign of weakness, but rather a necessary step toward healing. Embrace the support around you and use this time to practice self-compassion.
  4. Fear of Falling Behind: If we have responsibilities or commitments that need to be put on hold due to illness, the fear of falling behind or not meeting deadlines can weigh heavily on our minds. It’s essential to communicate with those affected by the situation and prioritize self-care. By focusing on your recovery, you’ll be better equipped to tackle your obligations once you’re back to full health. Remember, your well-being should take precedence over any temporary setbacks.
  5. Impatience for Recovery: Active individuals often have a strong desire to bounce back quickly. Resting can sometimes feel counterproductive, leading to impatience and a temptation to push through the illness rather than allowing ourselves the necessary time to heal fully. It’s important to recognize that rest is an integral part of the recovery process. Embrace this period as an opportunity to nurture your body and mind, knowing that it will ultimately facilitate a faster and more complete recovery.

Conclusion: While it may be challenging to embrace rest when you’re accustomed to an active lifestyle, it’s crucial to prioritize your well-being during times of illness. By understanding the reasons why resting can be difficult and implementing strategies to navigate this struggle effectively, you can embrace the healing power of rest without feeling frustrated or unproductive. Remember, allowing yourself the necessary time to recover fully will not only benefit your health but also contribute to your long-term productivity and overall well-being.

The Power of Perseverance: How These Great People Overcame Adversity to Achieve Success

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We all face challenges in life, but what sets great people apart is their ability to push through adversity and come out stronger. In this post, we’ll explore the inspiring stories of Alexander the Great, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Nelson Mandela, and sports legends like Michael Jordan and Drew Brees, who overcame obstacles and achieved greatness.

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great was a Greek king and military commander who conquered much of the known world in the 4th century BC. Despite the challenges he faced, Alexander remained a fearless and determined leader who was able to inspire his troops and overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some of the challenges he faced include:

  • His father was assassinated when he was 20 years old.
  • His army had to endure extreme temperatures, dangerous wildlife, and difficult terrain as they made their way across vast distances.
  • His conquests took him through harsh and unforgiving environments, including deserts, mountains, and swamps.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States and is widely regarded as one of the greatest American presidents in history. He led the United States through some of its greatest challenges, including the Great Depression and World War II. Throughout his presidency he launched Social Security which was a safety net for older folks, a work program that put millions of people back to work and the FDIC which helped protect people from bank failures. Despite his achievements, Roosevelt faced significant challenges throughout his life, including:

  • Contracting polio at the age of 39, which left him paralyzed from the waist down.
  • Facing skepticism from many Americans who believed he couldn’t effectively lead the country from a wheelchair.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison as a political prisoner fighting against apartheid in South Africa. He endured brutal imprisonment and isolation, confined to a tiny cell and forced to do hard labor in the blazing sun. Raised in a regime that removed black people from their homes in mixed-race neighborhoods and resettled them in townships on the outskirts of cities, he fought tirelessly to end apartheid and bring about reconciliation and unity in South Africa. 

Sports Legends

There are tireless examples of people in sports who overcame adversity. Michael Jordan didn’t make his high school team and went on to lead the Bulls to six rings and lead the conversation as the greatest of all time. Drew Brees tore his shoulder in San Diego and it was thought he’d never play football again. He went on to win a Super Bowl and was one of the greatest quarterbacks of this generation. Muhammad Ali lost 3.5 years of boxing because he refused to fight in Vietnam. Mario Lemieux came back and led his team to the Stanley Cup after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

No matter what obstacles you’re facing, remember that you have the power to overcome them. Take inspiration from these great people and never give up on your dreams.

Mastering the art of Self Control

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Self control makes life easier. Once you have mastered self control, you have the power to take command of your emotions, mental processes, and behaviors. A strengthening ability empowers one to move forward to a brighter future. 

If it’s meant to be, it’s up to me.  Self reliance makes things easier.. When it comes to developing self control, you will need to find inner strength, visualize yourself in the scene, and affirm that you can accomplish your goals. Most people would agree that self control can be hard.  I was a young man in Los Angeles once, I get it, it’s tough! 

It still stands, if we keep pushing, hustle will be rewarded. We must continue to consider all aspects of our life. We all must strive to expand our skills and abilities. Self-development is the starting point of building self control. It is a continuous process. 

We must set goals in order to achieve a higher state of awareness. 

Attaining success is hard.  You have to be willing to do what others are not.  It’s easier to party instead of hustle.  It’s easier to not do than do.  It’s easier to sit back and wait for the right time.  However, the right time is always now.

The key to developing the inner you, is to make consistent decisions and keeping your goals in sight. See it and believe it, you can point your mind in the right direction of finding that inner self. That inner self is your plane ticket. 

You have inner strengths. Sit down and visualize your inner strengths. Take some more time to put your visualization in perspective, so that you can use this power to help you work through self-development. Move to use affirmations to assist your visualization with pushing your toward reaching the ultimate goal and on through self-development.  Don’t let up.  Control yourself and control your life!

10 Benefits Of Travel – Get Out There

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  1. The more people you meet around your country and around the world, the more you realize how similar we are and how different we aren’t.  People are people around the world.  They want to take care of their families, have positive relationships with others and typically enjoy good food and good times.  We aren’t that different. 
  2. The world is full of magical and diverse landscapes.  The more you see, the more you’ll value this planet’s beauty.  Blue warm waters, volcanoes (live and dormant), canyons, animal species, natural formations and night skies that light up green, blue and purple.  The world is a magical place
  3. Pushing your comfort zone makes you a stronger individual.  Traveling to new places forces you into the position of being an outsider.  When you return to your present place, you’ll have more empathy for the outsiders close to you.  EQ is a driver of personal growth and professional success. 
  4. If you travel to a foreign country and learn the language, you are lowering your risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s in the future.  Learning new languages can also help you better understand your own language!
  5. Traveling increases your creativity.  You’ll be better able to “think outside of the box” because you’ll be spending time outside of yours!  This will make you automatically more creative.  
  6. Traveling boosts your confidence.  As you navigate new and strange situations, they become normal.  As you have events happen in life that could be outside of the norm for some folks, there’s a better chance you’ve experienced it!  The more familiar strange situations become, the more confident you will be in these situations.
  7. Traveling exposes you to more personalities.  If you have to deal with people for any part of your professional life, understanding personalities is a HUGE benefit.  As you travel, you begin to understand how culture drives people to act as they do.  This will help you in your future negotiations and relationships.
  8. Traveling gives you interesting stories to tell!  As you go through life, you’ll find interesting people like to be surrounded by other interesting people!  If you have a random story about riding an elephant through the bush or navigating a school of fish while snorkeling in Thailand, that’ll make folks want to hang out with you!
  9. Traveling allows you an opportunity to reflect internally.  How do you respond to being an outsider?  How are you navigating these new situations?  How are your nonverbal communication skills in a land where you don’t know the language?  Self recognition is an important part of self development, travel opens this part of your brain.
  10. Travel forces you to get out there.  You have to get on a plane or in a car and go somewhere.  You have to plan.  You have to create action to make the travel happen and then create a plan to make the travel worthwhile (site seeing, going out to eat, activities).  A body in motion stays in motion.  Start traveling and you may keep that action in your everyday life!

5 Books that have greatly influenced my life

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It’s often said the average CEO reads 60 books a year, while the average worker reads less than one!  I don’t know if this is true or not, but personally, I try to read or listen to 25 – 30 books a year.  I wish I could do more, but alas, time doesn’t always permit me to.  The 5 books below have influenced my life and how I think.  I could make this list 10 – 15, but for the interest of time, I’ll keep it pared to 5!  Next time I’ll create the 20 books that everyone should read.  Until then, please do yourself a favor and check one of these out for your next read.  

Side note, the links below are not affiliate links, I don’t make a commission for checking these out.  Seriously, they’re just great books!

Atomic Habits – James Clear – The 1st law (Cue): Make it obvious. The 2nd law (Craving): Make it attractive. The 3rd law (Response): Make it easy. The 4th law (Reward): Make it satisfying.

Tools of Titans – Tim Ferriss – Tidbits of information from Tim’s long form interviews on his podcast in the areas of Health, Wealth and Wisdom.  Tim’s podcast was my gateway drug into podcasts and was instrumental in how I think about learning and asking quesitons.

David and Goliath – Malcolm Gladwell – There’s always a story behind the story and Malcolm teases these out like no other.  For example, did you know that shepherds were experts with slingshots?!

Kitchen Confidential – Anthony Bourdain – This book taught me that butter and fats make everything better.  It also gave me a whole new perspective on food, chasing goals and grit.

When Genius Fails – Roger Lowenstein – The first hedge fund that failed and was saved by the government, in my life, was Long Term Capital Management.  The smartest people in the room were right all the time, until they were wrong.  Ego is the enemy (which would also be book 6, but this list stops at 5!)