Category: Mind

Boxing Ourselves In

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity. How our identity is shaped. Should we box ourselves into only one?

What happens when everything changes and we lose that identity we worked so hard to create?

Trying to figure out the answers to these questions has been on my mind, mainly because of all the transitions many of the people around me are going through right now.

It seems to me that most of us, first and foremost, find our identity through the career that we are in. Of course, this would make sense.

Inspiration Mind

Life Without Television

I’m just wrapping up my first month without television. Am I feeling deprived? Not in the least.

I’ll admit, the first week was a little tough. Before I go to work, I usually try and catch about 30 minutes of the Today Show. On the weekends, I’d enjoy a bit of Fox and Friends. Then there was an occasional college football or Orioles game. And I’d have to throw Top Chef in there. No more.

Mind Personal Development

A Young Person’s View on Education

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 06/01/2011
1 Comment on A Young Person’s View on Education

In my day job, I have the wonderful opportunity to work with a lot of young people. Some I lose contact with when they get older, others continue to connect over the years and friendships develop. Today’s guest post is from John Michaels, recently graduated from college and filled with great ideas on how to tackle the world.

John has also become a friend, and it’s a lot of fun to bounce ideas/concepts/dreams off one another. He just started his blog, Better Than Getting By, and I know his posts will give you plenty to think about. Please check it out.

Inspiration Mind Prayer Spirit

The Truth Will Set You Free

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 05/20/2011
No Comments on The Truth Will Set You Free

Graduations are in full swing, with all the parties to follow. Tomorrow, the seniors I’ve been working with for the last four years at Mc Daniel College will receive their diplomas and head off into the world. Time flies.

One soon to be Mc Daniel Alumnus will be doing missionary work on college campuses through FOCUS. Another is trying his hand at developing an on-line business or two. 🙂 I wish them nothing but success.

I’ll also be attending several graduation parties tomorrow. All these activities has given me pause to recall my own “big” graduation, when I received my Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins, twenty years ago this week.

Inspiration Mind Travel

Where Do You Go To Escape?

Sometime tonight, one of my coworkers and her family will be arriving at the Grand Tetons. To say that I’m envious would be a gross understatement. I’ve only been there once, but it was one of those epic trips that I will be dreaming about the rest of my life.

Whenever I’m having a tough day, I easily close my eyes and remember my first glimpse of this mountain range, which seemed to rise out of nowhere, as we traveled down from Yellowstone. It certainly is one of the most beautiful spots in the United States.

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Living A Life Of Virtue

Last night, my men’s group began to study ways we can live virtuously. As a society, we don’t talk much about the virtues, which are basically the skills needed to live a moral life.

In our culture today, we do a lot more talking about values than we do virtues. Although values can be a good thing, they are subjective and don’t necessarily help us over the long haul. Our understanding of virtue goes all the way back to Plato and Aristotle, with further development in the New Testament.

Just what is a Virtue? A good definition is: an habitual and firm disposition to do the good, which allows a person not only to do good acts, but to give the best of him/herself. Being virtuous means that you should do good with ease, promptly, consistently and with joy. Sounds like a tall order…

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Life Happens To Everyone

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Todd Burrier of toddburrier.com

I realize that because I blog on topics related to living a better life, and with a positive perspective, that I could easily be seen as someone who is either wearing rose-colored glasses all the time or just doesn’t have to deal with anything difficult.

Nothing could be further from the truth. I admit that my glasses are rose-colored more often than not…but that is a choice. And one that ANYONE can choose. There is a positive and negative to everything, why not choose to look at the positive? It is generally a healthy way to view things and it sure feels a lot better! As I have related in past blogs, written in my books, speak about in my seminars, and share with everyone I coach and mentor…it has taken me years to grow from someone who could always point out the negatives and why things are bad for me, to someone who sees the world the opposite way.

Life Happens to me just like it happens to you. I don’t ignore the challenges and adversities in life…THAT would be unhealthy. I do however, focus on how to overcome. It is true that it is not what happens to us that matters, it is what we do about it, and with it, that really matters. I was just overseas on an amazing trip. One in which I received a major award, saw tremendous fruits from my efforts and spent time with incredible people. I left home on a great note as well. While I was away, there was a major “life happens” event in our family. It was handled incredibly well by my wife and my sister, but it is not something that will go away any time soon. It will require adjustments. This is what you do…when things happen, you deal, and then you adjust. You don’t spend time wallowing or wishing it wasn’t so…this is how things get worse, not better.

As I write this, I am using my wife’s computer. Mine crashed the morning after I got back. This cost me many hours of productivity yesterday and will over the next several days. I have to admit…I was a little…upset…yesterday for a few minutes…but after I realized the situation, I have no choice but to work around it. Life Happens.

The key to dealing with “life Happens”, is mental outlook and living a balanced and productive life. When you feed your mind positively you are more up to the task when something confronts you. Balanced productivity means that you are never in neglect in the important areas, so a temporary interference won’t cause you too much issue. These are bigger topics and not for today’s blog.

Inspiration Mind Personal Development

Public Speaking

Do you have a fear of public speaking? I’m amazed at how many people do, so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re one of them. In fact, three-quarters of Americans rate speaking in public as the thing they’re most fearful of. It even surpasses death.

After reading Dale Carnegie’s books, I realized that, although I’m not afraid to speak in public, I could do a much better job with it. I simply don’t spend enough time preparing, which sometimes leads to poorly executed presentations.

So, I went to a Toastmasters meeting tonight. This international group, which has been around since 1924, meets to help its members improve their speaking and leadership skills. The little chapter that meets in Westminster seemed nice enough, and I enjoyed listening to the various presenters give a talk, which was followed with a critique.

Inspiration Mind

Focus

Post author By seedthrower1
Post date 04/20/2011
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Whew, I just wrapped up another crazy day. Sorry I haven’t been as consistent in my postings lately. 🙁 These days leading up to Easter are even busier for me than right before Christmas, but I enjoy every minute of it.

As with any busy time, a person can accomplish a lot if they focus on the task at hand. A friend just mentioned a tip that helps him keep on target and focused.

Inspiration Mind Prayer

Isolation

After being gone almost two weeks, the adjustment back to work has been tough. These days leading up to Easter are always busy for me, but at the same time filled with rich meaning.

On Saturday, we held a retreat for all those who will joining our church at Easter. During the course of the day, I had the chance to speak to a small group of guys about how to be a man in today’s society.

We all had similar experiences, and we agreed that it’s hard to be a man of faith today. With so many competing forces, most of us are pulled, almost to the breaking point. Some guys do break, falling into all kinds of difficulties.