It's Easier to Hear the Jerk than the Ally

It's generally true. And it takes a lot of practice along with the creation of mental and physical habits to ignore the jerks around us and focus on those supporting, cheering and partnering with us on the journey.

Yes, learn from the jerks. Like, how not to live. And, of course, if they have an important point worth pondering then take it and leave the jerkiness behind.

Remember, it takes half a dozen positive words and experiences to cancel out one from a jerk. So, cut through the jerky and go live out these positives. Create them. Offer them. Build up your account and fill others along the way. Be the encouraging ally, after all, it's easier to be the jerk and we all know the easier road is rarely worth taking.

Words build up and tear down. Leave the jerk to his own pile of rubble.

Shifty View

Every morning, after brewing coffee and exercise and getting dressed, I sit down at my dining room table.

I sit in the same seat with my back to the windows, facing a watercolor painting hanging on our wall, and I begin. For years this is where I've sat. I write in this seat, back to the window. I read here. I journal. I've even settled into this seat during family meals, like an old man claiming his territory.

Today I didn't.

This morning I shifted one seat to the left. It's a round table, so no matter where I sit, like King Arthur, I'm on equal footing with myself. But this view is totally different. Straight ahead is a small, high window looking out over some crab apple trees and sky. To my right are the windows glowing with the sunrise out of the corner of my eye. I feel different.

This is a key experience in our creative habits, to shift perspective once in a while. To move a quarter turn in our heart, mind and body in order to view the world, our creativity, our input with just enough change to be refreshing but still comfortable enough to be fully engaged.

This is how life coaching works, by the way. This is my role in working with creatives and family dudes. We shift perspective time and again in hopes of discovering and creating and moving and engaging.

Give it a try. Shift a habit tomorrow, not too much, but enough to notice a different view. Take note and try again in another area of life: reactions, responses, scheduled meals, adventures with your kids, prayer, writing position, recording location...

Get shifty.

Happy Through Poverty

Those of us who live in poverty here in America, a family of four making around $25,000 / year, our lens of happiness is dramatically impacted by our income. Even with an active faith in Christ, serving others, discipling our kids, tithing and leaning on the love and truth of Jesus daily... we believe we would be happier with a healthier income.

Those of us hovering in the middle class, $45,000 - 130,000, and actively engaged in our faith, our view of happiness runs parallel to our financial comfort.

And those of us in the upper crust of society are in a happiness ball park of our own. Our uber amounts of money (to the poverty-man this is anything above $25,000) doesn't necessarily make us happier and outside of faith we may even be equal to or less happy than those in poverty.

Why write about this in a snapshot blog post? As a creative and as a parent, happiness connects all sorts of dots in life and faith and creative pursuits.

The other day it struck me that most people who write, blog, speak and preach on happiness are comfortable in their wealth. They aren't working for their daily bread, literally, on a check-to-check basis. They don't continuously think about daily money issues, maybe retirement, but that's a luxury to the poverty-man.

Personally I'm learning to be not only content, like Paul, with my status, but more than that I am eager to practice a rhythm of happiness. Aren't you? Wouldn't it be amazing to witness a resurgence of happiness in the face of growing suicide rates, income divides and culture clashes? To see the 'least of these' rise each day with a growing sense of joy and blessed attitude above and beyond financial success?

To celebrate success beyond 'making it rain.'

No, I'm not vying for socialism, that's as big a lie about satisfaction and happiness as any. I am hinting at putting our faith into action, serving others, holding doors, saying hi, making eye contact, providing meals, sharing resources and talents and gifts and, yes, even finances. Pressing into our creative outlets, hard work and exciting seasons in parenting.

I'm not washing over the impact a healthier wallet has on our attitude, it means something. But it shouldn't mean everything.

What are your goals? What do you find most difficult about chasing after a dream or healthy desire or opportunity?

Sometimes we just need to talk it through from a fresh perspective. See our world from the outside again. Be reminded that while some dreams die, others spring up with a fresh start and kick in the a$$.

Shoot me a message or give me a call. Coaching is the art of asking questions, let me throw some at you. Maybe a little investment in what could be will be enough to engage where you are with a renewed motivation to keep moving forward in happiness. Let's talk!