🔥🌍 WHY WAKE UP AND LIVE
Choosing Vision Over Circumstance
Henry James once wrote:
“Live all you can, it's a mistake not to.
It doesn't so much matter what you do in particular, so long as you had your life; if you haven't had that, what have you had? What one loses, one loses make no mistake about it. The right-time is anytime that one is still so lucky to have, LIFE!”
Dear Why Team member,
By the creation of our smartphones and internet, more than ever before in history, our lives are filled with more choices from the minute we wake up. The amount of information we receive, willingly, or unwillingly, is colossal - that’s why a healthy selection process is key.
Better Trades Better Life
Consider your morning start:
How do you choose to start your life when you wake up in the morning?
Do you pick up the phone, read the news, then get up and live more in circumstance or do you wake up, read, and add to your gratitude list and live your new day more in vision?
This question is often asked by Dr. Kevin Elko. Isn’t it wiser to choose to live in vision than in circumstance, especially when circumstances are often not positive?
No one asks for character building experiences, but in hindsight we can see how challenging moments in our lives have come to serve and mold us. So, during rough times, we need not look back to the moment we got hurt, but forward, to the opportunity to improve the situation for ourselves and everyone involved; yes, even the ones that hurt us. Consider being more a leader of your life, leading your life with more of a positive and humble attitude.
"Leaders think differently, believe differently, and challenge the status quo". - Simon Sinek
One need only observe what the majority is thinking and challenge the status quo to be more in the mindset of the leader. The leader knows there is a way and it's often the road less traveled. The leader will dare to take the challenge because the leader has and believes in the vision of a better outcome.
What do you lean into during difficult times? Where do you place your faith and confidence? And do you develop these qualities to serve others when they need them most?
As members of the Why Team, we are each called to lead, especially in times of uncertainty - be it for a given individual or for a larger collective.
If you have the ability to comfort just one other person, you are in a position of leadership. When What-and-How questions appear to fail us in the short term, let us lean into our "Why".
Consider your past moments of doubt, and your developing self-efficacy, how effective you have become. You have been through tough times before. What did you learn? And how may those lessons serve you and others today?!
Consider your abilities to bring meaning and hope to the lives of others. Life is always to be celebrated.
"Where there is life, there is hope"
- Stephen Hawking.
Don’t be the shadow, but the one in whose shadow others want to be. In figure-skating, we see couples match each other’s moves almost perfectly that each might be the other’s shadow. Bring forth your hope, confidence, and belief in the face of adversity and you will find a greater purpose in your life. Be the one that projects optimism and gives hope to the ones around you, encourage them to be your partner, and follow you, just like in figure-skating.
Serving another in their time of need is a healing balm, both for them and for you. Fewer things reveal the meaning of our lives more than those times when we can be of support and encouragement to our fellow man.
The Why of our lives is best found in the most trying times of our lives.
As we are starting this New Year, consider working on paying more attention to your everyday choices starting with your morning habits. If you are the person who unsuccessfully tried to unwind the habit of getting on the phone before getting out of bed, try writing in your Notes app a thing you’re grateful for today before you look at the news. By the end of the week, consider making it a point to read all the gratitude’s you’ve written before looking at the news.
Better Trades Better Life
In this New Year, consider more than ever, living in vision, not circumstance. See more the possibilities and opportunities that adversity has revealed - and maybe most importantly - to appreciate even more how life has developed you to be more of what others need now.
Live, Love, Revive, and Thrive in 2025. Our BEST YEAR EVER!
Make it a great week,
Steve Luckenbach