Getting recharged

Hectic lives. Weighty responsibilities. Multiple roles. Work and family unending issues. The press of life can take it's toll on our lives as we negotiate it day after day, month after month.

Vacations are good and necessary if we are to recharge the battery of our life. Seen as an unnecessary expense and waste of time, most people running at a fast pace will eventually lose their sharp edge in living life to the max as it relates to overall success. Not only have I observed that in my peers who neglect vacations, but I observe that in our own family as well.

So here we are on vacation, away from most of the normal pressures of life in a different city, on the coast of Florida. The boat has had electrical issues, requiring the recharging of the battery and other issues requiring repair and maintenance -- alternators, fuel filters, etc. (Doesn't it seem like sometimes we exchange some of our normal pressures for other pressures while we are on vacation?)

Recharging our mental and emotional batteries by getting away from the norm is incredibly healthy. Reading a new book, living temporarily in a new place, seeing new sites, journaling fresh thoughts, and "feeling" relaxed is an amazing balm for healing the soul. That word "recharge" really is descriptive of how I feel right now.

Take time to vacation. Your body, your mind, your heart, your family and your co-workers will thank you!

Do what you need to do, so that you can do what you need to do

Three days ago I went on my annual retreat. It is a personal audit time I have with God and myself each year. This year I got up early, packed my notebook, pen, Bible, journal, iPod, laptop and lawn chair, and drove to Cypress Grove Park in south Orlando.

While at the park, I saw a water skier on the lake – and it is cold (remember it was December 30)! It was in the low 40 degree range. The skier had a wet suit on, but the thought hit me that he was determined to do what is in his heart to do. He just made preparations with the wet suit and boots so that he could accomplish what he set out to do, which was become a great skier apparently.

There are so many obvious parallels in many areas of life. Unexpected circumstances arise; bad conditions of one type or another happen; life just doesn't play out like we hoped or expected. So what do you do if you want to succeed? Do whatever it takes!

Successful people in any realm of life, realize that success is not easy and that obstacles will arise. So they plan for situations, develop methods and resources to press through those circumstances, and then they press forward.

Do what you need to do, so that you can to do what you need to do.

Capturing Your Thoughts

Everyday great thoughts come and go – they escape, and we lose them.

Like a “traffic speed trap” set by police, we need to be on the alert for speeders (great thoughts) and stop and detain them, then arrest them and take them captive. These speeders are the thoughts and ideas that have great potential to help us and others, but they come and go at a time when we think we just don’t have time to do anything else but note they occurred and hope we can remember them later.

From now on, stop them! Step one is KNOW that they WILL be coming and probably at the most inopportune time to capture them.

Next develop a quick way to arrest them and “handcuff” them – meaning take them captive in a temporary fashion. Maybe it is carrying a small 2”x3” notepad in your pocket or purse. Merely jot down a quick note of the general idea, but enough to jog your memory later (temporary captivity). Maybe you have a memo section on your phone, or a small digital recorder, and you quickly make a small memory-jogging verbal notation. 95% of the people will not do this critical step for success, I have found.

Now probably 75% of the people who did take temporary custody of that wonderful idea don’t do step two – move the note from “temporary captivity” to “permanent incarceration.” Daily have a quick method of moving the note from the notepad or verbal message, to a computerized add-to list of GREAT THOUGHTS!

Once you have this computerized master list, you have made it to the elite few in life. From this list great ideas will come for, books, income generating, relational growth, child rearing, business development and so on. Now categorize and prioritize the list as to both importance and timetable for further development.

Last make an appointment with yourself to regularly review this list, asking yourself when is the time to commit to development of that idea – from concept to completion. Do this, and succeed in any avenue of your life!