To Serve well

Serving with Excellence for a Life of Excellence

Energy

Your energy: What exactly is worth yours?

Our energy is a finite resource. We have 24 hours a day and only so much energy to invest. As we contemplate a life of serving well, it’s a thought to capture and spend some quality time with. The term “energy management” found it’s way into my thought world about a year ago and based on the fact that it keeps showing back up, may be it’s telling me something.

Most of us know the term “time management,” and there is no shortage of productivity hacks and resources on the topic. I was an old-school fan of Franklin Covey and his systems have carried me along quite nicely for the last three decades. What takes me into the next five decades may be better classified under “energy management.” Just where can I optimize my mental and physical game?

A bit of research tells us the story that makes sense as to how we got to where we are today. The notion of time management and the universal 40-hour work week was based on factory laborers primarily, and the sheer fact that after 40 hours, workers became less productive. Makes perfect sense.

Today’s reality is quite different, as well as our knowledge that flexibility in recognizing work and personality styles are central to our happiness and… the ability to flat out “get things done,” aka productivity. We need to know what drives us and when we are more likely to get in “the zone” in order to be our best.

Since I generally focus on brief insights, I won’t list out the many directions we could go with the conversation, but one thing that I felt was super powerful upon researching this topic, sends us back to time management. Truly tracking for a few days, when you are at your best and what you are doing when you are in that space gives us the clues we need. What gives you energy and what sucks the very life out of you? (Okay, maybe that’s drastic. But maybe not…) Once you do this exercise, then protecting your calendar is the next step. The focus: Identifying and securing your best “zones” and driving your life in that direction. Have a strong wrap to your week! (And as the picture illustrates… I think moving in the great outdoors is most definitely an energy builder for me! What do you know for sure gives you energy?)

Energy is not unlimited. You have to decide where to invest it.

One of my great friends shared this with me last week. Such a powerful thought that I immediately put it in my phone to blog about.

So, how are you investing your energy? Are you feeling refreshed and energized still at the end of the week? I always start with the “people factor,” meaning, do you feel like your relationships are flourishing (at least those that you would like to nurture right now)?

How is your health? Are you proud of your recent exercise level? How about your food choices? Do they align with what makes you feel the best? Have you been able to enjoy summer (long walks at night, getting on the water, etc.)?

How about your spiritual health? Are you spending enough time diving into what your soul needs – where you thrive?

This could go on. Your career, for example. But it’s a start when it comes to asking yourself, “Am I spending my energy in the right places?” Truly investing, so I get the most out of it? Hmm… Food for thought as we go into the weekend.

Have a strong wrap to your week my friends! Invest wisely!

Simple Thoughts Sunday: The personal power in refreshing others

Re-fresh-ment: “The giving of fresh, mental or physical strength or energy.” Synonyms: Invigoration, revitalizing, restoring, strengthening, regenerating

Isn’t that great? I particularly love the part about giving. We actually have the power to GIVE someone strength and energy. Amazing. What if everyone you ran into knew that and acted upon it positively? What if our inner circle, family, friends, etc., received this reminder today? Would it be a game changer for the environment around us? I sure think so! (Heck, even the enthusiasm around March Madness elevates the energy in the conversation.)

One thing I’ve known for a long time is that if I’m having a bad day, the surest way to reverse course is to focus on someone else and help to fill a need if possible.

ELooking back, this makes sense. Before I actually read the Bible through, I used to read the Psalms and proverbs year after year. These short messages provide the best guidance I know of on how to live life well. I loved that in my daily reading this week, that I came across the powerful Proverb above. What a simple, yet profound thought that comes directly from God’s word.

As we go into this week, I plan to keep this top of mind. What are some ways we can “refresh” others this week? Let’s fill the world around us with all kinds of crazy good. Be refreshed my friends.

Leave every conversation with energy

Being an energy GIVER versus an energy TAKER is a goal that we should have.

When people interact with you, be it on the phone (yes an actual call), via text or in a meeting, do they leave noticing that they have more energy than when the communication began? Another way to say it, is do they feel better… more inspired, excited or hopeful?

This isn’t the kind of energy a cheerleader brings – although that is great energy. This is the kind that LIFTS the atmosphere. The kind that heightens your awareness of life itself and how we can accomplish and achieve so much more together. No matter if it is holding someone’s pain with them, challenging them to level up in a specific area, or encouraging them to develop a plan to achieve their personal goals… this ENERGY brings the mood of the room up a notch.

We all need energy transfusions. We all need to be more aware of how we “leave a conversation.” Are we elevating the ENERGY, or can we do better? I for one, can always do better by being more aware of even the most simple transactions…

I hope you’ll join me in raising the POSITIVE ENERGY in our world! We certainly need it!

When you don’t know what to do… Bless’M

(Photo Courtesy of Twitter/Cleveland Browns)

Jarvis Landry – now wide receiver for the Cleveland Browns – has become a household name in the short time since his now-famous “rant” on the HBO reality show, ‘Hard Knocks.’

In the show, he  launched into a “tirade about guys not giving it all on the field,”  His point was for everyone to rise above how they feel or whatever their current situation may be, for the sake of the team and the goal at hand. His messages underline a theme: whether we are negative or positive, it is contagious to those around us.

His tagline, “Bless’M,” is a reminder to us to have the attitude to “Bless’M.” In other words: be thankful for whatever and forge ahead with a positive spirit.

I absolutely love football season. The energy in the stadium, on the field and even in the house, inspires me. Unified fans cheering for a common goal is what America is about to me.

Guys like Landry are the fabric of that energy. Even if you aren’t a football fan, I hope you find yourself getting caught up in the passion. And if you get a chance, watch Jarvis Landry. He is fun, and his “Bless’M” response calls us to be better. I kind of love that!

Let’s GO CHIEFS!

Why I do the Daniel Fast every January….

(Photo Creds: We Heart It. One of my all time favorite activities was going dogsledding in Colorado. It is not only beautiful but watching the dogs do what they love is incredible. I want to have the energy to pull through and achieve my 2017 purpose, which is why this photo appealed to me so much! If you make it out to Colorado or anywhere where there is snow this winter, please try to find somewhere to dog sled…it’s an incredible adventure.)

I started out on Sunday with the “paths” that God may take us down this year… knowing fully that “whatever” they may be that we are covered. He is with us and surrounding us at all times with just who and what we need to not just survive, but to serve well.

About 5 years ago, I became friends with a group of wonderful people that introduced me to the Daniel Fast. Now, before you freak out and think I am not eating at all, please be assured, I AM and if you join me, you will actually enjoy it! (That was for you mom.)

The Daniel Fast is focused on the Old Testament scripture where Daniel refuses to eat the “rich food and wine” and despite that, he and his friends end up healthier and stronger than their fellow soldiers. The idea is that we should turn our focus to eating primarily plant based foods (no sugar, white flours, dairy nor meat) for 21 days and, at the same time, our attention should be on hearing what God may have in store for us. I do this every January usually from the 1-21st. There are many that do this starting the 8th, so it’s really just like anything else, a personal decision.

So why did this intrigue me and why might you want to consider it? Since I’ve trialed it for you and many ask me over the year, I thought it may be a worthwhile blog topic. Here’s the main reason:

The fast allows me to REFOCUS and, at the same time, RESET my physical health.

  • REFOCUS: By turning off social media for the most part and my attention on books, podcasts and other opportunities to learn and grow personally, I am able to remove the distractions that limit me from being my personal best.
  • RESET: You may be one of those people that eat healthy 24/7, 365 days a year, but I’m not. I try to go for the 85/15 rule, but it’s probably closer to 70/30 and that may be generous. This fast removes anything bad and allows my body to have time to recover and reset. Over the pasts 5 years I have given up any soda and sweetened tea or coffee and have a much higher knowledge and palette when it comes to sugar in general. It is truly amazing how much sugar is in everything. This RESET is AWESOME and the best thing I do all year for my mental and physical health. (As a side note, there have been a few years that I have done this again midway through the year… it’s just that good.)

For those of you who want more information, by all means please message me. There are books, blogs, websites, pinterest, etc. that offer us recipes and other inspiration focused on the Daniel Fast. A simple Google search goes a long way!

I’d love to hear any stories you all may want to share, and also if you do something like the Daniel Fast, please let us all know!