New Year's Goals or a New Year’s Theme?

I am not really a fan of New Year's resolutions or goals. I feel like that brings about a pressure that is unneeded when the real goal is personal growth and general life improvement in some way. Instead, I like the term mile stones. I also believe that goals without a larger vision will struggle to take root. Without a vision, why bother with goals anyways?

I feel like people use goals in place of vision. If life is a journey, let's use the analogy of a road trip. If I am traveling to Mount Rushmore from Portland, Oregon, I know what Mount Rushmore looks like, and my vision is to see it in person. With a little bit of pre-planning I even know exactly where it is at. So I pack up, hop in my car and drive off. As I am traveling, I can only see so far ahead. Clarity will vary at times. Sometime I see vast miles of landscape, other points along the way I only see the semi in front of me. But that doesn't stop me from driving, from traveling. I have a vision of where I want to go and where I am at now. That vision feeds my journey. If I run out of gas, or get a flat tire, or perhaps I take a wrong turn, it doesn't matter. I am delayed, but the vision is the same, and I'll hit my milestones sooner or later. Without the vision though, none of that would happen. I would still be right where I was at, sitting at my computer in Portland, Oregon, denying myself the experiences and rewards that come from any journey.

An example of resolutions would be setting a goal for a certain weight limit. It is an all-right idea if it motivates you. However, what happens after you hit that weight goal? Do you then quit caring? Set a new goal? Is the goal your weight or your health? I feel by building a habit of health, benefits like weight loss will be a natural byproduct of your change in focus, a focus brought about by vision. Hyper-focusing on a number on a scale creates a tunnel-vision on just that, and blinds you to other avenues you should or could have taken to achieve the results you wanted. A narrow focus also means a lack of flexibility and an increased likely-hood of failure. Repeated failure will then often lead to discouragement and frustration. There are just too many negative aspects about goal setting for me to want to partake in it. It works for some, but by taking the vision & journey route you'll meet less resistance, and find more forgiveness for imperfection.

Let’s take the example kicking a tobacco habit. Having kicked a tobacco habit myself, I know the struggle. I actually quit many times. It was not uncommon to hear someone say “You’re quitting again? Good for you!” Each time I attempted to quit, it felt like the habit grew. If you walk into the new year with a goal to stop smoking or chewing, you'll probably fail. (Sorry!) However, if you have vision of personal health, start with eating better. The better food choices will make getting a cardio workout easier. When you’re working hard to build up cardio, you'll find that the allure of tobacco just isn’t there. Eventually, by focusing on health in general, you'll erode the foundation of the tobacco addiction. For me, the motivation was financial and health. I couldn't believe the amount of money I was spending on it. Combine that with my increased health awareness due to some minor health issues I was experiencing, and better stress management (exercise!), the allure of tobacco subsided.

Last year, I decided to have a theme for 2017 instead of a list of goals. The theme for 2017 was getting a solid handle on life by taking care of my daily responsibilities, essentially becoming more functional as a member of society. It sounds simple, but I was a rather dysfunctional individual. Now that my life is arguably a lot more stable, I find myself walking into 2018 with a new theme. The theme for 2018 will be building a health-driven life style, starting with physical health. I believe there are four pillars of health: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. All of these will be a priority, but by having physical health as a priority, the others should fall place in life much easier. The And since I no longer have the stress of a borderline dysfunctional life, I should experience less resistance in building a gym habit (and other habits!).

Discipline is the Bridge Between Goals and Accomplishments

I think we all have those words or phrases that define us in the various phases of life. Mine come of much surprise to me: Organization, Structure, Discipline, and Commitment. Those that know me know that these were concepts and values that I despised as a child. There is a feeling of freedom that comes from doing what I want, when I want. To have structure, and to be disciplined was a slap in the face of the freedom I craved. The lack of discipline, fear of commitment, and phobia of responsibility were the road blocks of success in life. The illusion of freedom soon became the anchor of progress and the fog that plagued the mind when clarity was needed.

Growing up I was told that there were two kinds of people in this world. Dreamers, and Doers. Everyone dreams, and so we all really are all dreamers. The qualities that separate the dreamers from the doers are many. But the most important is Discipline. Discipline is doing what I need to do, when I need to do it. Upon that, organization and structure are easily created. As someone who despised these concepts, the initial battle of doing what I didn't want to do was difficult. Eventually though, a rhythm is developed. Upon that rhythm I can finally fit time and energy into the pursuit of the very thing that was the catalyst for my pursuit of these concepts: Goals.

One statement I hear often is “Don't let your dreams be dreams.” Goals are built upon these dreams. One of the biggest and unnoticed crimes against your life you can commit is the act of not dreaming. The next largest crime is telling yourself you can not or are incapable of achieving something. Or perhaps you do dream, but feel like a dream is unreachable and therefore not worth pursuing. You couldn't be more wrong. If you feel that way, you've missed the point entirely. A phrase I heard recently was “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss at least you will be land among the stars.” So dream. Pursue your goals, and maximize your velocity. Crank up the intensity that you bring to life. But first, water the seeds of discipline and commitment.

-Jacob

The quote "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss at least you will be land among the stars" is by Norman Vincent Peale

To Go Wrong in One's Own Way is Better Then To Go Right in Someone Else's

We live in a world were there are so many things that are competing for our attention. So many ideologies and faiths telling us that they are right. So many people telling us they know the truth. TV programs telling you that they know something you don't. You have doctors telling you how to raise your children, you have scientists telling you how should live your life and what you should believe. Even family members competing for our minds attention. 

And in that world there are two distinct kinds of people. We have those that are independently minded and those that are dependently minded. The dependently minded individuals need someone to tell them what to think. They need to someone to tell them how to react. How to live their life. A good example of this I think is in a religion setting. I have known people who scour the the internet, purchasing books, actively looking for mentors, watching videos, and just looking for someone to tell them how to live their life. The dependently minded individual will accept someone else's view point without merit or reason, and based solely on the fact that they are “more educated” and share a common belief with said individual. In this particular case, they look to something other then what they should. So what are the benefits to being dependently minded you may ask? It's easy. Thinking is a challenge. Especially if your not used to it. Its easier to ask someone else what to think, and why, than it is to figure it out yourself. You don't have to analyze, research, or compare. I believe that is the biggest reason more people are dependently minded. 

The independent individual obviously has a mind of his/her own. They know why they believe what they believe. They don't have a group mindset. They don't follow the herd. They are not sheep. They come to conclusions all on their own, and through their own means. An independent thinker thinks different when something feels wrong. An independent thinker is different. Sometimes an independent thinker can be down right offensive with their ideas. But hey, the value in being an independent thinker is not something to be taken lightly. They go against the grain. They create change, and push others. Their belief system they adhere to is well thought out. Even if they are wrong, like most of us are, they continue to adapt and change. They don't hold themselves down to certain stereotypes and ideologies. It seems that breaking from the meta is their method of operation.

But in the end, I think being a dependently minded individual is actually harder then it seems. It costs you in the long run. The ability to fight through the fog of life and see clearly is something that is lost on you till you decide to change it. Neither class of individual is superior to the other. Its just a mindset. A mindset that, with a little work, can be changed. 

The fog of life is a lot thinner when you think for yourself. 

Your absent minded friend, Jacob

Who does not Thank for Little will not Thank for Much.

Today's post will probably dip into more of the political sphere. So you've been warned.

The funny thing about having an easy life, is that it breeds entitlement. People, especially young, begin to feel like they are owed something. Usually that something is yet an even easier life. They begin to feel like they deserve it. They feel special, so they whine, mope, and complain when things aren't as they “should be.” Society isn't giving them what they worthy of. Hopefully you get my point.

So imagine you've just been stranded on an Island. You can take 2 of the next 5 people with you. An Engineer, a Mechanic, a Farmer, a Soldier, and last, but not least, an Artist. Me, I'm taking the Engineer and the Farmer with me. Why? Because an Engineer is smart. He is worth something on this Island to me. And the Farmer. He is worth something to me as well. And what do both bring to the table? They both increase my chance of survival for what, I hope, are obvious reasons. On an island nothing is easy. Nothing is free. Everything has to be created in order to survive. Nothing is given to you, nothing is owed to you. What you put into it is what you get out of it.

So what is my point with that illustration? I'm ascribing worth to people in an economical and survivalistic way, and in that way only.(I'm not referring to worth in a spiritual way.) Basically a persons value is ascribed to them based on their knowledge, skill, and ability to work. The Mechanic and the Artist do not have nearly the worth as the two I chose for surviving on a desert island.

In this age of modern technology, life here on earth for most people, at least in the United States, is extremely easy. Well, my life is easy anyways. If you disagree with me, think about what life was like 100 or 200 or even 300 years ago. Our Generation has life way easier then any generation in all of history prior. Our lives may not be very simple, but it is easy. It is convenient. 

 

An entitled individual lacks worth for the general growth of society. A generation of entitled people will eventually ruin a society. Entitlement, I feel, springs from a lack of understanding. A lack of a sense of reality. A lack of the sense of the need to survive. Entitlement breeds Socialism. If history has anything to say on the matter, a move towards socialism is the downfall of any great and comfortable society. When people switch their focus from survival to create a Utopia, that society becomes worthless. But that is my perspective anyways. Take it for what you will.

-Your lazy and somewhat overweight friend, -Jacob. 

But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content - 1 Timothy 6:8

I'm a content person. So don't get me wrong, there are things in life I want, but I am content. Being content is better than being disgruntled, but at the same time contentment can be dangerous to our future and our happiness. At least I feel like it can be. Sometimes contentment can make us complacent. Contentment can suck our drive to do more and better ourselves. 

 So is being content a bad thing? Absolutely not, any sane person will tell you so. It keeps us from disgruntlement and perhaps bitterness. Its keeps us from being negative. But it should not be confused with happiness. Happiness is part of the word happening. It is possible to be content, and even joyful, when a lot of the things life is throwing at you aren’t what you’d like or how you'd you like. I feel like contentment is being ok with the things life is throwing at you. Like me, I'm content. I have a wonderful job that pays me decently, not the job I want to have forever, but one that is stable and provides good life experience. 

So what is the dangerous side of contentment? It can lead to being complacent. It can suck your drive to better yourself, and potentially suck the joy out of your life. Sometimes you can be so content to just let life pass you by that you miss out on the great things life offers. These great thing are usually unique to every individual. But if you're not careful, eventually this kind of contentment could lead to comfortability . Perhaps that is where it actually gets dangerous. People become comfortable with their place in life, perhaps they even become comfortable with letting go of their dreams and goals. They become comfortable with their weight, or even comfortable with their low end job. People become comfortable with staying exactly where they are. 

 And maybe its just me, but I find that I get the most joy from life when I push myself, when I progress, grow, learn, do, and just live. That is hard to do when you're so content, that you're comfortable.

-Your friendly couch potato, Jacob.



photo taken from:

Coyote Free Art & Photography's Photos

https://www.facebook.com/coyotesiphotography

Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them

I'm pretty sure we all view time differently. I've found with my life that I watch the clock like a hawk. When I'm at work(or church. Lol.), I watch time float by in an agonizingly slow way, waiting for my next break, and my next break, until it is time to go home. Then when I'm home, I watch the clock, hoping that Ill have enough time to do what I want before bed(And I never do). Bed time rolls around, and I, somewhat dismayed, think "Where has time gone?!?" well I should know, shouldn't I? after all, I've been watching it so intently all day. And so I watch time, but I don't take advantage of it. After all, we all have plenty of it, right?


So here I am, almost 21. And it seems like just yesterday, I was 17/18. Thankfully I'm not, but it makes me sit back and think about where time has gone, and how much of it have I wasted. I watch as people I know pass away, some young, some old, and some not so old. I notice as people frivolously run about trying to accomplish their dreams, or just trying to survive. Some don't have the luxury of pursuing their dreams. Or are just to lazy too.

I'm content with my life, but strive for more. I have hopes, dreams, goals, ideals, and wants. But time? Time is funny. Time says they'll always be there. But one day you wake up and ask, “Where has time gone?” Pretty soon you're too old to pursue some of your dreams. You see people accomplish things you'd like to have accomplished, but didn't. The difference between them and me? How they spent their time.

 Time feels like it can drag on, but in reality, its short. Just ask anyone over the age of 30.

 -Your not so sympathetic procrastinator, Jacob.