The following bullet points include concepts I am hitting with a hammer in my mind. They have peaked my interest.They have jumped out at me, phenomenologically. They are either fascinating or “true,” perhaps both. When I say I am hitting them with a hammer, I mean I am questioning their validity and wondering the power they possess.
Every thought someone has ever had was likely thought by a previous person or philosopher in history; therefore, these are not my ideas. They are ours.
As I hit them with my hammer, I hope you will consider how they relate to your experiences, too. I hope there is at least one that you deeply like, perhaps adore. I hope the combination of these concepts make you want to know more. I certainly know they do for me. It was difficult to choose just these 25.
Enjoy, Merry Christmas, and happy holidays!
- MG
We do not want motivation as much as we crave clarity. Anxiety and complexity are essentially one and the same. Vagueness causes stagnation, in many ways. The clearer we see, the more we strive to be…
If you give your all every day, your gifts will make room for you. Originally stated by Jim Rohn and then Tony Robbins, this thread sheds like on the capacity of consistency. We drastically overestimate what we can accomplish in a day, and we drastically underestimate what we could achieve in a month, year, or decade. Our gifts will be realized when we do our best daily.
Autoimmune disease is correlated with healthy suppressed anger. Highlighted by Dr. Gabor Maté, our bodies attack themselves when we refuse to express ourselves. This is about boundaries, not aggression. It’s hard to imagine, yet even harder to deny that too much niceness could lead to illness.
Beliefs, repeated thoughts charged with emotion through extreme experiences and or repetition, become our behaviors. This is arguably the most remarkable realization I’ve had inside the field of Sport & Performance Psychology — we act out the stories we tell ourselves. Like the saying, “Be careful what you say out loud, you’re listening”… we must also carefully challenge our own limiting beliefs because they shape our actions. Empowering beliefs put us in power.
Once we develop a belief, we will look for evidence that supports it; how we perceive depends on what we believe. Why do we so often fight to be right and limited rather than to be wrong and better for it? If we believe the world is dangerous, we will scan the news to find excuses to stay inside. When we believe the world is full of possibilities, we will playfully adventure and joyfully explore. Are we the captains or the captives of our beliefs?
A good life comes from rightly ordered love. Popularized by Saint Augustine, this line reminds us to prioritize our priorities. Whatever we put most high is what we worship. The acronym for ego is Edging God Out; whereas God could be understood as the highest conceptual Good. What do we love the most, second, and third? Keeping the main things the main things is the main thing.
Mentors are meant to tour us through life. By learning from the lived experiences of successful people, mentees are able to become wise beyond their years. Success leaves clues. It’s up to young students, athletes and professionals to seek, discover, and put those clues into action. Every one-in-five Nobel Prize winners had mentors who also won Nobel Prizes.
Wisdom, which begins with fear of the Lord, is choosing the next right thing to do when it matters. Not all knowledge can be retrieved from an article, a book, or a research paper. Oftentimes, imperative information comes from the individuals who also give us inspiration. Who are our role models? Who is the best role model? There used to be a popular motto that’s less popular now, “WWJD?” I believe that’s the next right thing to do…
The best innovations come from iterations. I heard this from Jesse Cole, who learned it from studying Walt Disney, who was inspired by the work of P.T. Barnum. New methods and products are the byproducts of constant tinkering. Disney always wanted to “plus” the show, which meant improve its quality and its ability to provoke positive emotions. The greatest performers are obsessed with who they could become, not just what they do now.
Presence is the highest form of authenticity. When I ask people, “How do you know when someone is being fake or inauthentic?” They oftentimes reply, “I can feel it.” We can feel when someone is being truly themselves because he or she is not distracted nor thinking about the past or future. Authenticity is like the sun, radiant and warm. It rises through presence and sets through insincerity.
Unless you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you’ll call it fate. Stated by Carl Jung, this idea encourages awareness. We cannot change what we are not conscious of. We cannot enhance what we do not first accept. We cannot evolve until we adopt personal responsibility. BCD: Blaming, Complaining, and getting Defensive are impediments to growth. Instead we must Triple A: Acknowledge, Accept, and Articulate where we are and where we want to go. From a stance of self-ownership, we become victors instead of victims. Dare to be aware?
Resiliency is measured by how much time it takes to return back to baseline behavior. Baseline behavior refers present-moment-focus combined with intentional action. It’s not overly emotional, like a person becomes in celebration or from frustration. It’s not reactive. It’s the opposite of volatile. It’s composed, deliberate, and even-keeled. A resilient person allows feelings to flow while maintaining self-control. Feelings are fully felt, such as a fist-pump or a deep sigh, and then it’s right back to focused engagement. One who is resilient bounces back quickly.
We imitate the close, the many, and the powerful. Alongside immediate rewards and progress-monitoring, social comparison is a natural motivating factor for humans. The key is to compare ourselves to appropriate individuals, such as our prior selves and our role models. We must stave off an innate tendency to judge ourselves solely on those who are in close proximity, within many social media platforms, and those materially powerful; instead, let’s emulate those with bright minds, kind hearts, and giving spirits.
Incentives start a habit; identity sustains a habit. This quote comes from James Clear, who states that every action we take is a casted vote for the kind of person we wish to become. To begin a new habit, we need a strong enough reason to avoid pain or to seek pleasure. To maintain a habit, we must perceive ourselves as an individual who consistently embodies it. Identity means “repeated beingness.” In many ways, our daily habits shape our core beliefs, which in turn, solidify our identities. Why start a habit? Who sustains that habit? Find strong, life-giving reasons, and then continually be that strong, life-giving being.
Don’t ask God to take you out of it. Ask God to guide you through it. Here are two essential doctrines in mental performance training: honest dialogue with someone we trust is curative & voluntary confrontation with our fears cultivates bravery, capacity, and courage. A world without problems is too unrealistic; wishing problems would just go away is too idealistic. When we pray and meditate, with others or alone with God, a plan is whispered to us. With that plan comes faith to take on the uncertain future. “If it is to be it’s up to me.” A brighter tomorrow relies on the light we use today through intentional, voluntary action. God, through the Holy Spirit, guides us — it’s our choice whether or not to listen to that guidance. Let’s not wish our problems away; let’s become problem solvers and seize the day.
We love those who, in their presence, allow us to be the best version of ourselves. Other people, similar to different environments, invite us to be more open or confine us to be more restricted. Do we invest enough time with the people who make us feel like we can do anything? Or, do we settle to be with individuals who stifle our passions? We get to choose our closest relationships. We get to protect our energy. We get to value those who, through their mere presence, lovingly say to us, “You are valuable!”
Higher status is reflected in one’s ability to say, “No.” Peak performers set boundaries through assertive communication. Not passive. Not aggressive. Assertive: self-assured confidence, which derives from knowing oneself. As a child, teenager, and young adult, it’s harder to say, “No,” because experience and knowledge must be accumulated via, “Yes, yes, yes.” Once evolved, an adult must protect his or her energy and time in the same way a bank safe protects his or her money. Both energy and time are finite resources. Each time we say, “No,” to others, we say, “Yes,” to ourselves.
The pathway appears when the aim is firmly in mind. Life will consistently ask us, “How much do you want it?” Roadblocks are stepping stones when we truly desire something. Matthew 7:7. We receive what we specifically ask for with determination. One of the most important questions we must truthfully answer: “What do you really want?” Because when we want something badly enough, there’s a 100% chance we get it — perhaps not how we imagined, probably even better!
Mind = possibility; Mindset = set of possibilities. The most powerful computer we will ever have is our own brain. We must program it with the thoughts and words that enhance our play rather than constrict our performance. Negativity works negatively 100% of the time; moreover, negative self-talk links and syncs nerves that cause nervousness. Adoration wires and fires connections in our brain that allow us to know our value, to tune out insults, and to thrive under pressure. It’s up to us to upgrade our software with powerful programming. What’s possible depends on the thoughts and words we choose.
One obstacle that hurts humans most: self-centeredness. Anger, fear, and overwhelm are common issues; however, maniacal attention on oneself is at the root of anxiety. “Why is this occurring to me?” “Why do they do that to me?” “Why does this always happen to me?” These self-centered questions run a person into ruin through rumination. Insecurity means “to care too much.” An insecure individual cares too much about themselves. It’s good to be introspective… just not too much nor all the time. When we take care of others, we relieve ourselves of doubt. Service is both selfless and selfish — it’s selfless because we alleviate pain for others and it’s selfish because we unshackle ourselves from the chains of worry.
All problems are interpersonal relationship problems. Coined by Alfred Adler, perceived struggles stem from how we view ourselves relative to other people. If we were all alone on this planet, would we have the problems we think we have? Most of our hesitations are downstream from what we think others might say about us. Do we care too much about what other people are doing, saying, and thinking? Imagine what we could achieve if we cultivated the courage to overcome the fear of rejection. Whose opinion really matters?
One of the greatest skills is being in a good mood in the absence of things to be in a good mood about. Stated by Alex Hormozi, this phrase points to ebullience as excellence. A skill is anything that can be understood, practiced, and mastered. A good mood is transferable because energy is caught, not taught. Metaphorically… Are we thermostats or thermometers? We are faucets or drains? Is our perspective half-full or half-empty? Optimists live fuller, longer, and healthier lives.
We do not experience life; we experience the life we focus on. Where we place our attention is where we give our love. Where focus goes, energy flows… for better or for worse. Do we concentrate on failure or feedback, losses or lessons, breakdowns or breakthroughs, obstacles or opportunities, being furious or being curious, getting bitter or getting better? See: “benefit finding.” Appreciations, not expectations, bring us peace.
All humans want to be heard, helped, and hugged. This line comes from Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg… my takeaway is that everyone was to be listened to, led, and loved. Not solely during the holidays, give others the gift of being seen, heard, and validated. All feelings make sense with enough information. The more connected we are, the more protected we feel. Are we mentally present for others or physically existing? Let’s not be in our relationships; let’s be into our relationships!
A winner is invited to more of games; some which they will lose and most they will win; nevertheless, a winner is often invited. This notion was derived by studying Jean Piaget… To be winners, individuals must compete and cooperate. Are they the best at their role? And, are they someone their teammates can count on? Are they trustworthy and reliable, or are they less competent and double-minded? True winners instill confidence in others; therefore, despite outcomes, they are invited back. Study, train, and live in such a way as to be invited to the most amount of games.
Which one resonates with you most, and why? Email: mark@markglicini.com