Tag: personal-growth

Thankful for Opportunities to Hone My Practice (aka Minding the GAP)

Day 3,656

Sometimes life can be rough, dishing out things we really would prefer not to have to deal with. We don’t have a choice in these events that happen, but we do have the choice of how we will respond to them. Will we face them with a positive attitude or will we let them cause negativity?

As I drove home tonight I was very frustrated, the government shutdown is particularly maddening – for a variety of reasons. I caught myself getting worked into such a lather that I couldn’t focus on my audiobook. As I sat in anger and silence I realized that I was missing something. I am not in control of what is happening, but I can control how I respond to it. My response was lackluster, if only I had already started working on a way to get my mindset in the right place 😉

With that stroke of insight I literally chuckled to myself and decided it was time for me to hone my own practice. The following is where that took me. Fun fact, it just follows the same blog order I do each day.

Growth (What can I learn from this?):

This is an opportunity to control my emotions, to choose intentionality over emotion. Rather than responding with worry to what I cannot control why not take a moment to appreciate how I can grow through this. This is a chance for me to learn to relinquish control, to accept what is happening and then choose how to respond correctly. Rather than being angry how can I channel this into growth? I can learn to better control my emotions, I can learn to accept reality, I can learn to find ways to best make an argument, I can learn how to better help others see the error of certain actions, I can help people see how fear leads to hate and how love is the real answer (which means accepting others – all others). I can pause and consider how so many of our greatest humans heave thought – how would Jesus, Buddha, the Dalai Lama, and Muhammad handle this situation? What would their advice be?

This is a unique opportunity to get outside of myself, consider the wider perspective, and then determine how to act accordingly. This is an opportunity grow into the person I should be, to close the gap a little.

Appreciation (How can I be thankful, even in this challenge?):

If I can find a way to grow through this I’ve already started to find a way I can appreciate this moment. I am certainly not grateful that this bad thing has happened, but I can be thankful for an opportunity to learn and grow. I can pause and think about all of the past difficult times I’ve gone through in my life and see how each of those – even though they’ve hurt in the moment – have led to some of the greatest moments of growth in my life.

Difficult things suck, no question, but they are the furnaces our souls are forged within. This challenge is an opportunity to grow into a better version of me, an opportunity to work through the discomfort to see what I am truly made of. I can be grateful for anything, including and especially this frustration.

Presence (How can I stay focused in the moment, even when it is difficult?):

It would be so easy to gloss over this, to say it really isn’t so bad. I could numb myself with distractions and just not think about it. I could choose toxic optimism (which is really a thing) and delude myself into thinking this is not a big deal. All of that would be so easy, but it would be a complete waste of an opportunity.

If I know I can learn from this, if I know I can grow through this, if I know I can be thankful even in this challenge, I can be present in the moment. I can soak in all of the anger, pain, hurt, frustration, all of it, and then transform it into something truly beautiful, into growth, into a display of love over hate. I can only really grow in this moment if I am present in it, an active and intentional participant. If I am strong, I stay intentionally focused, and I choose to be completely present it will hurt, for sure, but that is where I know I will actually grow. In that pain I will find growth, I will find appreciation, but only if I am present in it.

And that was how I worked myself through this. I took it apart, I worked through the circle of Growth to Appreciation to Presence and back around. By the time I got home I was still very frustrated, but I was able to find joy in moments of growth, in moments of appreciation, and in the present moment.

In moments of frustration we all have a choice to make. Choose to mind the GAP, choose Growth, Appreciation, and Presence. Choose joy and love.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Turning the Obstacle Into the Way, Clarity, & the Black River Mirror

Day 3,508

Growth:

In an homage to The Obstacle is the Way I found way to turn a frustrating construction induced traffic jam into an engaging use of the “bonus” time… Nothing like reconnecting with my little brother when our work and life schedules have kept us apart for a while! Rather than wasting energy on stressing over the delay I was able to spend time laughing hard, shooting the bull, and taking a moment to find much needed levity on a heavy day.

Appreciation:

We always have a choice to make, how we will respond to whatever hand we’ve been dealt. These choices aren’t always easy, we often have to choose between the difficult or more difficult decision.

In either case, we must first start with a sense of reality and acceptance of what is happening. We must pause, observe it for what it is – simply an action / issue / challenge – and withhold judgement on whether it is good or bad. The issue is simply what it is, we choose the perspective to attach to it (or choose not to). Once we see it clearly, as it is without our filter applied to it, we can then determine the action to take, the choice to be made.

Throughout this year I’ve been focusing on seeing with clarity. As a natural optimist it is so easy to get an unrealistically positive impression of something. I must focus more on seeing with reality first, and then applying the positivity to the decision. Adding positivity to the challenge itself doesn’t help, it actually hurts. See the issues with clarity and without judgement first, make a decision, and then maintain positivity in the potential outcome while still preparing for failure.

Today I lived into that and it made all the difference.

Presence:

The Black River was sublimely calm this morning as Becky and I struck out on our early morning run. The pre-sunrise painted sky was reflected perfectly in the mirror glass of the water. We were able to look out and see exactly where five fish had jumped almost at once, their ripples all emanating from the launching points. So chill, so calm, so perfect a start to the day.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Beginner’s Mindset, an Engaging Client Meeting, & a Shared Moment

Day 3,423

Growth:

An old though came back in the midst of yoga class this evening. While working on a pose I have never quite been comfortable with our instructor offered up coaching and an opportunity to try the pose again. I hesitated for a moment, went into a learner’s mindset, and then took her advice. Next thing I knew I was into it! So many times before I was afraid of failing, not trusting my body, not thinking like a learner.

When we are in a learning mindset we’re open to coaching, we take advice, and we are willing to try even though there’s a high likelihood of failure. When we are in an expert mindset we are often afraid of making a mistake, less tempted to try something different as we already know what works. At any moment we can choose either mindset. Why don’t I choose a beginner’s mindset every single time like I should? Definitely a gap I can work on closing!

Yoga for the win yet again!

Appreciation:

This morning I had an absolutely engaging client meeting! The conversation was a nonstop thrill ride of ideas, insights, and thought exercises. So many strategies were discussed, excellent questions asked by all parties, and a perfect example of how similar cultures in different industries can help each other via the common ground of shared values. Super excited to see where this leads in the future!

Presence:

This afternoon my teammates and I shared a handful of moments as we walked through our values, purpose, and what drives our business. During a specific part of our conversation I shared the story of my last hug with Dad. The love and support they shared as I shared my full emotion warmed my heart and was greatly appreciated. It was a moment I’ll remember for sure!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Atomic Progress, Gratitude Themes Spanning a Decade, & a Gripping Story

Day 3,402

Growth:

While I’ve been tracking many things to start the year I am far from putting up a perfect score for a week, let alone a single day. What’s been most important to me is the pausing to be aware of my thoughts, my emotions, my actions, and my mindset. While there’s a very long way to go I’m seeing the little bits of progress like walking by the Butterfingers bars in the candy dish over half a dozen times rather than grabbing one or two every other trip by. That alone is not going to get me to the fitness standards I want to get to for my backpacking trips, but it certainly helps a little bit each time. Small changes that will all keep adding up over time with daily tracking to keep each action at the top of mind. Even when I fail I’m able to learn from the mistake and figure out a different plan for next time.

Appreciation:

I often mentioned the benefits of writing a blog post each day. The unintentional tracking of life, events, adventures, trials, triumphs, and everything in between has become a wonderful tool for reflection and growth. Sometimes I pull up a random post and read the posts that follow, so many memories are quickly rekindled. This has become a gift to myself, the bread crumbs my mind will need to bring back memories when I want to savor them.

Additionally, there’s another interesting benefit when I couple them with an AI tool, ChatGPT. I had ChatGPT review my blog posts, scour them for their content, and then asked a simply task: Review each calendar year of posts and write a tagline / theme for each year based on what I blogged about. The results were uncanny and certainly thought provoking! Not perfect, but interesting to see what a completely unbiased outside observer thought of my posts 🙂

2015: “Embarking on a Journey: The First Steps into Daily Gratitude.”

2016: “Building Foundations: Establishing a Habit, Discovering Joy.”

2017: “Trials and Triumphs: Choosing Gratitude Amidst Life’s Tests.” – This was the year I lost Dad

2018: “Deepening the Practice: Unveiling Layers of Thankfulness.”

2019: “Embracing the Everyday: Finding Beauty in the Mundane.”

2020: “Resilience in Reflection: Gratitude During Global Uncertainty.”

2021: “Renewal and Growth: Gratitude Fuels Personal Evolution.”

2022: “Strengthening Connections: Thankfulness in Relationships.”

2023: “Mindful Moments: Savoring the Present Through Gratitude.”

2024: “Less is More: Appreciating Simplicity and Presence.”

2025: “A Decade of Thanks: Reflecting on Ten Years of Gratitude.”

Presence:

One of the books I’m currently reading, The Humans by Matt Haig has totally wrapped me up in itself. Time seems to fly by as I get completely lost in the story. I find myself laughing out loud at the humor, having my emotions deeply moved by certain themes, and have to stop for a moment to soak in the concepts just shared. So much fun getting completely enthralled in great stories!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for a Moment of Kindness Generating a Cascade of Growth

Day 3,329

Over the past couple of years I’ve worked towards splitting my blog into three parts – Growth, Appreciation, and Presence – an homage of sorts to one of my first mentors who goes out of her way to find one thing that is beautiful each day. When I first learned of her practice it helped me see that I would benefit from finding one way I grew one thing I appreciated, and one moment of true presence each day. This practice has increased my awareness of those three categories more than expected and has led to growth through introspection.

That said, when I started blogging daily almost ten years ago I focused on one specific thing I was thankful for each day and I went deeper into that singular topic. Occasionally I had “list days” in which I had to go through an entire list of what I was grateful for as there seemed to be blessing after blessing after blessing. For sure, they weren’t all initially seen as “blessings,” some were very challenging moments in which I was able to grow, but they were moments that shaped and molded me, hence I was grateful for them even though they hurt. As another of my mentors once said, “‘Joy’ isn’t the same as happiness, and it is often the opposite of comfort.”

Lately I’ve been a fan of breaking the blog into smaller bite sized pieces as it provides the opportunity to not go too deep into too many categories, especially the ones I need to write about but don’t want to go deep into because they hurt. What’s interesting is that it is in exactly those moments in which I need to go a little deeper and work through my thoughts and emotions. In processing all of life, the blessings and the frustrations and the sufferings, gratitude helps transform all the experiences into growth. It is in that vein that I am opting to go “old school” tonight and dive a little deeper.

Whew – and that was all just the intro! 😉

Today has been a difficult day, one filled with emotion, one in which I can’t help but pause, take a step back, and feel incredibly discouraged. Due to compounding of mistakes and missteps there are challenges I need to face in business and they have a large impact. By the end of the work day I was feeling drained and questioning my ability to live into the purpose I feel called to live into, to brighten lives through shared experiences. In short, I was feeling like a failure. There were bright spots throughout the day to be sure, but the biggest challenge just kept pulling me down and it seemed to be the only place I could focus my attention. I felt defeated.

As I tried to put it behind me for the night and spend time focused on my family and being home I kept drifting back to that challenge. I could feel the weight of it on my shoulders and my soul.

Out of the blue I received a phone call from someone I had not spoken with in over four years. They were reaching out to ask me to be a reference for them as they considered a path towards a dream they want to live into. As we spoke they shared the positive impact I’d had on their life at a pivotal time. The thoughts and appreciation I shared for them helped them out with providing the right message at the right time and they are still grateful for that interaction. My eyes were watering up as they shared the positive impact I’d had. In a sentence, they shared that I had lived into my purpose – to brighten lives through shared experiences.

What a dichotomy! In one case I was feeling as if I was failing at my purpose, yet in the other I’d lived into it without intention. Two distinct moments of the day, both overshadowing all the rest, both focused on purpose, and yet both going in polar opposite directions.

As I spend time reflecting on today and both of those interactions I can’t help but remember a handful of nuggets of wisdom others have taught:

  • The question we should be asking ourselves isn’t “What should I do?” rather, it should be “How can I be useful?” In that question we find the direction we should really pursue.
  • Each day we should ask ourselves, “How have we impacted the lives of others?” This question will also help us see the positive, but it can also cut deeply and help us learn from our mistakes. Asking myself this question has led to tremendous insight into whether or not I’m living into the best version of me.
  • Never underestimate the power of small gestures. This was advice I’ve learned from many others, but Jim Collins summarized so concisely. Don’t hesitate to reach out and share what a positive impact someone has made on you – you never know when that is exactly what they needed at the right time. The conversation this evening was an exquisite balance of sharing my gratitude four years ago when the other person needed it and their sharing of their gratitude exactly when I needed it. The Universe dances so beautifully and moves us all exactly where we need to be if we allow it to. Never hesitate to share our gratitude or kind words, those small gestures may have an enormous positive impact on the other person and cause a ripple of positivity which will grow and grow.
  • Control what you can control. This was what started the conversation with my friend and I a handful of years ago and I chuckled as I re-read what I wrote for them back then. Little did I know how much the world would change and how much difficulty and challenge that phrase would get me through. Even tonight I can’t help but be reminded of how much this is a guiding light in my life – when I remember to seek the advice out for myself.

As I finally wrap this all up I can’t help but smile. My challenge still lies in front of me, but I feel more bolstered to figure it out while also remembering that there are ways to live into my purpose while doing so. I’m reminded of, and grateful for, the small gestures which help us see the world more clearly when we’ve let it get hazy. The clarity provided this evening was truly stunning and moving. If it were my story to share I would get into more detail, but that is for them. At least I can share that their motivation, selflessness, gratitude, passion, and integrity are inspiring to me, in many ways they have had a very positive impact on me.

To my friend – thank you for the incredibly positive impact you’ve had on me today. The writing of my blog was cathartic, and inspired by you. Thank you for reminding me that one misstep doesn’t define us, we have the opportunity to live into our purpose daily, and inspiring me to live into my dreams – especially when it isn’t easy.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Matching Growth Mindsets, Play and Plan, & a Moment of Sunlight

Day 3,049

Growth:

When two people are actively working together in a growth mindset the results are very productive. There is no judgement, no frustration, no ego, or any other types of obstacles. Only possibility, open dialogue, open and constructive conflict, and productive dialogue exist. So much positive progress when the growth mindsets are aligned.

Appreciation:

There’s a balance to be found between play and planning. Over the past 6 weeks or so I’ve been working out in the gym quite often and it’s been a wonderful mix of all types of new exercises. I’ve had the opportunity to focus on lifting for strength, for muscle, and for endurance in an extraordinarily wide array of all kinds of exercises focusing on pretty much all major muscle groups. This was exactly the play I needed to help me see weightlifting as fun again. There’s not really a clear goal other than just getting back into the habit and stoking my passion for fitness again. I’ve already seen some awesome results and have been feeling great! 

Now it is time to focus on my long term goals. I want to be in the type of physical condition so I can be a 94 year old dude hiking and backpacking eight plus miles per day in the mountains. To get there I’ve got to get myself in fantastic backpacking shape now complete with a very solid base of skeletal muscle mass to keep me moving. Now is the time to take what I’ve learned from play, set a clear objective for the short term (3 months) and then set the clear path to get there.

Without play I wouldn’t have been motivated to work on the long term plan and would not have had so many more exercises to choose from. Without the plan all the play is great, but I would likely keep gaining muscle mass in places I don’t need for backpacking and hiking and would have a lot more weight to carry – all of which actively hurts progress towards my goal.

Today is all about balance – play and plan – a dichotomy that leads to success.

Presence:

Lots of road time for Becky and I today! Not only our long car ride, but we also had road time on our morning run. Throw in some trail time we had while we took Leia for a walk and it was a day of many moments shared together. I’m grateful for the extreme moments of presence shared together today – especially when we had exactly two seconds of sunlight peek through as we neared the exit for Lewiston. Even when we are doing some not so exciting adulting we can still be present and enjoy time together – and plan future vacations 😉

This was from a trip to San Francisco – we happened to catch a sunset in a low tide on the ocean!

Thanks!!!

Thankful for Maximizing Impact, Stories and Journaling, & Heightened Presence

Day 3,045

Growth:

What is the one thing that would make the biggest impact? If there was only one thing to focus on in a given situation what would give us the greatest traction? How could we leverage that one piece the most while ignoring or minimizing the trivial which may be disguised as important?

Over the past week my thoughts keep coming back to this. I usually try to enact several solutions and add new things in an effort to improve a challenging situation. I’ve been reminded of a story working with Dad when we were remodeling our kitchen and he taught me the power of thinking about the one most important point to focus all the energy – when he easily moved something I’d been sweating and busting my butt on for well over fifteen minutes.

With that mindset the world has looked very different today. I’ve paused, considered, and thought through some challenges to find the most impactful piece of the equation. Once I found it I’ve started working on it to move the dial in a positive direction and I’m seeing fairly quick and significant progress.

What a wonderful reminder for Future Mike – pause to make sure you are focusing on the one most impactful thing. You can’t do it all, not all action will have a return, put all the energy in one unified direction rather than spreading it out.

Appreciation:

Tonight I’m grateful for two similar but different things – journaling and stories. I’ve been reminded several times of how important they both are to my life recently.

Journaling is such a simple yet powerful way to organize thoughts and experiences. The memory of a journal is flawless so long as we populate it immediately. Having the ability to “time travel” back to a specific day and re-live something important and relevant to our lives is priceless. Taking the time to unpack an experience and apply thought to it also helps us process the world around us and our experiences in it so much more deeply.

Stories have the power to ell us exactly what we need to hear from the safety of being 10,000 feet away while being packaged in an easy to open box we can carry with us for years to open and re-experience when we need it. A simple parable will stick with us in ways that bare wisdom will not. 

Both of these tools have been of huge benefit to me recently and I’m grateful for them.

Presence:

Throughout the day my awareness has been at a higher than normal level – and I haven’t done anything to force it. I’m not sure if it has to do with getting a better than usual night of sleep (quality and quantity) or with the solid action plan for the day or the mix of several different activities which all hit on different strength sets. From my run to work to my lifting to dinner at home to yoga to riding with Gavin while he drove on a spare tire for the first time I’ve been tuned in very well. Not sure how to replicate it, but thinking the more I pause to be aware of presence the more well grounded I will be more often.

Thanks!!!

Thankful for 3,000 Days of Gratitude: Lessons Learned and Beyond

Today marks an incredible milestone—3,000 days of introspection, appreciation, and growth. As I reflect on this remarkable journey, I’m compelled to share the invaluable lessons these daily reflections have bestowed upon me.

The Genesis of Gratitude

It all began on September 29, 2015, a decision to pause, reflect, and document at least one thing I was grateful for each day. What started as a year-long commitment grew into an integral part of my life, shaping my perspective and mental landscape.

Embracing the GAP: Growth, Appreciation, Presence

The ethos of Growth, Appreciation, and Presence became my guiding compass. Through daily musings on personal growth, moments of profound appreciation, and the power of being present, I’ve nurtured a deeper connection with myself and the world around me.

Top 10 Lessons from a Million Words

  1. Daily Practice Builds Consistency: Small, daily goals culminate in significant achievements. How can we harness the power of consistent, incremental efforts in our own lives?
  2. Create Space: By minimizing “dead time” and dedicating moments to reflection, I found ample time for gratitude amidst the hustle.
  3. Reflection Soothes the Soul: In silence, clarity emerges. Time spent introspecting has been invaluable in navigating thoughts and emotions.
  4. Give Myself Grace: Imperfections aren’t stumbling blocks but stepping stones for learning and growth.
  5. Journaling is Timeless: These daily entries are a gift to my future self and loved ones, an autobiography woven with gratitude.
  6. Appreciation of the Mundane: The mundane holds profound beauty when seen through the lens of gratitude.
  7. Proactive Gratitude Creates More: Actively seeking moments of gratitude amplifies their presence in our lives.
  8. Appreciation in Adversity: Choosing gratitude amidst life’s storms empowers resilience.
  9. Appreciation Creates Intentionality: Observing recurring sources of gratitude helps shape a life aligned with joy and purpose.
  10. Choose Growth, Appreciation, Presence: This triumvirate fuels an upward spiral of fulfillment even in life’s toughest moments.

The 11th Lesson: Endless Gratitude

There’s an abundance of gratitude in the world waiting to be acknowledged. It’s not just about seeing these moments; it’s about pausing to embrace and appreciate them.

Embracing Choice and Intent

Amidst life’s uncertainties, our response remains within our control. Choosing intentionality, growth, appreciation, and presence allows us to bridge the gap between who we are and who we aspire to be.

Join Me in This Journey

To all who have supported this odyssey, your encouragement has been the wind beneath my wings. As I look forward to continuing this voyage, I invite you to share your own stories of gratitude and embark on this journey together.

Let’s choose joy. Let’s choose gratitude. Here’s to 3,000 days and the countless moments of appreciation that lie ahead.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Mike

Thankful for Shutting Down Ego, Awareness of Direction, & Ghosts of Vacations Past

Day 2,990

Growth:

I met with a personal trainer today and he was asking a bunch of questions to help me build the right exercise plan. As we were talking I caught myself talking about how much I already know about weightlifting. In a stroke of divine awareness I realized what I was doing and apologized. I shared that the reason I was there was because my past workouts never quite did exactly what I’d wanted, and that was why I was talking to an expert – for THEIR advice. As soon as I flipped the switch from thinking I needed to not sound like I didn’t know what I was doing to thinking that I am a beginner and need all the help I can get everything changed for the better so quickly. I was picking up on things I’d never realized and was seeing a more clear and accurate picture of how everything works together.

Ego is such a bastard sometimes. In trying to not “look bad” I get in my own way of learning, the exact opposite of the growth mindset I work to cultivate. Here’s to realizing when the ego need to be shut down (almost all the time!).

Appreciation:

When I pause to take time to listen to the vibes the Universe is sending I’m surrounded by so many positive reaffirmations of heading in the right direction. Recently a couple of common themes have been slowly percolating to the surface and are helping me see how I really should shift in a couple of very positive ways – focusing more letting go (ego), remembering to take care of my physical health as I have nothing without it, and remembering to keep my purpose in mind as I choose actions. As I pause and listen (maybe observe is a better word for it… ?) the awareness really kicks in and helps me see the right line. Without diving too deeply into the details, I’m grateful for the awareness of the right direction.

Presence:

Over the past 24 hours there have been many ghosts of vacations past coming to visit! Gavin shared his treasure trove of vacation knickknacks last night. I dreamt of trips to Iceland and New Zealand. Gavin mentioned our trip to Iceland in a different conversation. During two different conversations I talked about two different vacation experiences. All around me were moments of presence in a conversation as a direct result of a past vacation experience.

If anyone reading this is questioning whether or not they should take a vacation – the answer is YES!!! Schedule a trip, it will blow your mind on so many levels, open your mind to so many new things, AND provide so many moments of presence in the future.

Thanks!!!