Are You Here for a Reason? Or Just Along for the Ride?
Not just here, here, but anywhere, here.
You will need to create yourself a ‘culture’. A set of values, beliefs, and practices that influence behavior and decision-making in your life.
Otherwise you’re just going through the motions, being pushed this way and that, by the tides of today’s fashion and trends.
What is your life based upon? What do you stand for? What will you fight for? How do these beliefs impact my daily life?
Religion, family tradition, philosophy, have been used to create a ‘personal culture’ in the past. But today, more than ever, it’s important to start with your own personal culture.
It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Try simple. Try complicated. Try whatever feels right for you. And understand that it doesn’t have to be permanent. Permanence creates a level of pressure that is not beneficial. You can always change. And, as you grow and live and learn, your personal culture should change.
New issues may arise that you feel passionate about and feel must be addressed. Your beliefs may change and evolve from your experiences, from new discoveries, from new trends and developments.
Adapt and change could be a personal credo.
It could be to bring joy and fun into your life and the lives of others.
A personal credo will guide you on your every day actions and beliefs. Do you believe in honesty? Then align yourself with honest people and honest groups. Align your internal beliefs with your external communications and interactions. This will help in your daily decision making.
Self reflection is critical to developing and building a personal credo. Try these questions to help you develop your own personal culture:
What are my core values? - Honesty? Family? Education? Self-education? Or is it creativity? Or beauty? Or just work? Pete Carroll, Head Coach of the Seattle Seahawks has worked hard to develop a winning culture built around a core value of ‘Just Compete"‘. Compete in practice, in film study, in games.
What are the moments in my life that I have felt teh most pride or fulfillment? - These moments may be ways to determine what truly resonates with you as an individual.
How do I react to a punch in the face from life? - recognizing your instinctual reactions in life may help you to understand your weaknesses and your strengths. Are you proud of the way you have responded? Are you using the best approach? Do my actions/responses align with my core values?
Who do I admire and why? - the ‘why’ of it is important. What traits are you drawn to and can you emulate them in your own life? Understanding why you like someone may help you understand the traits you want to develop yourself. Or you could spin this into an anti-admire (don’t like the word hate) type thing. What traits do they have that you despise? Then do the opposite.
What legacy do you want to leave behind? - Do you want to make the world a better place? Our actions have an impact. Our children learn by watching. They model behaviors and emotions. What impact do you want to have on your environment? On your family? On your friends? On your happy-hour buddies?
Think About It…
Laird Hamilton rides big waves. And falls off of big waves. He has a deep and all-encompassing love of the ocean. When you love your daily endeavors, because they are aligned with your core values, you are emotionally mature. You are a master of yourself.
This is important when you are getting crushed by a 70’ wave.
Hamilton says:
If you’re there because it’s what you want, what you believe in, if you’re there for pure reason, you will respond correctly. Then you’ll be like, well, this is part of what happens, this is what you do, and so you’re prepared to take the consequences. And if you’re not, if you are there for any other reasons, then you will wish you weren’t, and you’ll freak out and want to get out of there. - Laird Hamilton
From the book; The Right Call by Sally Jenkins
Are you ‘here’ for the right reasons?
Do It…
I’ve been working on my personal credo. I want to keep it simple. Here are a couple I’m working on that I will continue to evolve this weekend:
Don’t react, think.
Listen. Learn. Be adventurous in thought and action.
Eat right. Sleep right. Exercise right.
Body. Mind. Spirit. As one.
Have fun, Evolve. Teach by example.
Enjoy the weekend.
Ciao!
Stuff for the secret jock inside of everyone…
NFL: (as usual, if you use this for betting purposes, you’re probably going to lose.)
Last Week’s Record: 9 - 7
Season’s Record: 28 - 20
Week 4:
Lions vs. Packers - Lions, Lions need to win this if they are a legit playoff team.
Falcons vs. Jaguars - Jags, they don’t lose overseas.
Dolphins vs. Bills - game of the week. I’m going Bills. Dolphins can’t be that good, can they?
Vikings vs. Panthers - Vikings, they’re good at winning games that are critical. And the Vikings may already be out of it.
Broncos vs. Bears - Broncos, not sure why.
Ravens vs. Browns - Ravens
Steelers vs. Titans - Steelers
Rams vs. Colts - Colts
Buccaneers vs. Saints - Buccaneers
Commanders vs. Eagles - Eagles
Bengals vs. Titans - Bengals, getting on a roll
Raiders vs. Chargers - Chargers
Patriots vs. Cowboys - Cowboys
Cardinals vs 49ers - 49ers
Chiefs vs. Jets - Chiefs
Seahawks vs. Giants - Giants
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