Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 86 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 86 of our Trek. Yesterday we began our exploration of the 7 principles in order to put more life in your years. We are equating these principles to our hiking trails. We explored the first two trails yesterday, so today we will continue on our exploration of additional trails.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. Today is day two of our Anniversary Week #36. For many years I certainly did not focus on how important it is to celebrate these special moments of life, so three years ago I committed to make the week of our anniversary a special time. Since we are going on a cruise the first week of November this year, we decided to make this year’s anniversary week a staycation where we would relax and take some day trips.

Today we did have some work to take care of (the joys of entrepreneurship), but it was scaled back a bit. We went for a nice walk, had a special dinner at home alone, and enjoyed watching a movie. Although I am a bit too focused on business most of the time, I am working at taking the time to pause, reflect on what is truly important, and enjoy taking time to enjoy the special moments of life.

So, let’s head out today and explore some additional trails on how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. We should fill our life with joy each day, as the Apostle Paul reminded the Church in Philippi in Chapter 4 verse 4, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!”

Today we will explore trails three and four.

3.   Leave your mark. You only have one chance at each day. Make it count.

· Personal Growth

Leaving your mark starts with knowing yourself. The ability to leave your mark also requires you to know what your mark is all about. Personal growth can begin with taking time to outline your intentions and desires in this life. Ask yourself who you are, who are you really, what is your living legacy today, and what will it be when you die? Your thoughts become your actions and your actions are what leave your mark in this world. Spend time in personal growth and understand your life’s focus.

· Find Your Voice

It’s okay to talk to yourself. Journaling is a great way to have a discussion with yourself about what is upsetting you and what matters to you. It is also a great way to find your voice, understand what you stand for and how you want to make an impact on the world. Another critical piece of finding your voice is telling others about your ideas and insights. Remain open to constructive feedback and practice non-judgmental behavior when others don’t see your point of view or disagree with you. Life is full of diversity — there is room enough for everyone’s voice. Don’t forget to circle back and reread your journal entries. We all come up with exceptional and very exciting ideas, but they can fade away if they are not cultivated. Returning to read your past journal entries can rekindle an idea whose time is now!

· Give Back

Be someone’s sunshine! People need to seek sunshine and strength from others during their darkest times. One of the best ways to live your legacy each day is to give back to the world. A few ideas that might fit your journey are praying for others, being a mentor, or volunteering. Legacy building does not require financial resources. It requires time invested in others. If you have the capability to invest financially, mentor, volunteer, and pray, then that is your responsibility to do so. Each one of us can pray for others and support them every day. Being a mentor or volunteering takes more of a commitment, and if your life allows for you to make that type of commitment, building those relationships can be very rewarding.

Legacy building does not require financial resources. It requires time invested in others.

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4.   Stop and take notice. Pay attention to others for we are all connected.

· It’s All About Love

Many popular songs and screen plays have documented the fact that love is the center of all that is positive and good in the world. Stop and reflect on how you are interacting with those around you. Is it all about love? Are you an example of love’s three “A’s”: Attention, Affection and Appreciation? It seems so simple, yet one of the hardest things to do for so many people is to show their love. Paying attention to what matters to someone else, giving affection in a time of need and saying thank you for the little things are what matter. Practice “Love’s Three A’s” today!

Love’s three “A’s”: Attention, Affection and Appreciation

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Love comes from God, and as his children we are to reflect this love.  The entirety of Scripture is summed up in one paragraph as written in Mark 12:30-31, “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

· Hugs for All Occasions

I grew up in a family that gave and received hugs as a show of appreciation and affection. Even if you are a macho man or woman, don’t resist a heartfelt embrace of another person. If there is an apparent kinship, even with someone that I have just met, an appropriate hug is okay. Certainly with family members, I feel that it is essential. Research shows hugging therapy has a powerful positive effect on people’s minds, bodies and spirits. The Scripture is full of examples of hugging or, as it is referred to as, embracing.

There are welcoming hugs and departing hugs. There are hugs of affection and hugs of sorrow. We are even to embrace wisdom as is mentioned in the following verses.

Proverbs 3:18, “Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.”

And Proverbs 4:8, “If you prize wisdom, she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will honor you.”

Be sincere with your hugs, and don’t be afraid to do so. Life is short. Hold tightly to those things and  people that are important.

· Connect

Although we are all connected by a life force, meaningful connections don’t happen without our conscious effort. One way to connect to someone is called active listening. Think of having a discussion with someone and leaning forward, actually leaning into the person as they talk. Be sure to engage in eye contact as well. Listen to what the person is saying, how he is expressing his words, and what body language he is using. By actively listening, you can connect to the individual’s emotional side rather than only hearing the words.

It is also important to have balance in your life. All giving and no receiving can wear down a person’s positive energy. Give from the heart of your time and your talent and allow others to give to you as well. Part of the joy you feel when you give is the same joy others feel when you receive their help. Remember to send a “thank you” card. Not just because you receive a gift, just because you are thankful. It is not the size of the gesture, but rather the acknowledgment that someone is thinking of you and connects at the level of gratitude. It may seem old fashioned, but kindness and gratefulness never go out of style.

Contemplate these two trails today and join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will continue to explore starting with trail #5 and focus on living each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

 As we take this Trek together let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 85 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

It Is the Life in Your Years That Count

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 85 of our Trek. Yesterday we finished our Trek through 10 waypoints, which contained practical wisdom on when it is best not to speak or to at least keep our speaking to a minimum. Saying 10 wise words is so much more effective than saying 100 words without substance. For the next few days, we will explore 7 principles in order to put more life in our years.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. I am creating the journal for today’s podcast on our trip back home to The Big House. This morning we worshipped at Center Point Baptist Church in Lancaster, Ohio, where one of my nephews Eli Chamberlain was ordained into the ministry today. Afterwards we had a meal and fellowship with Eli and his wife Alyssa, her parents, my brother Martin and his wife Wanda (Eli’s parents), and five of their seven children and their families. It was a great blessing to be with family once again and to celebrate life.

After that time of celebration, Paula and I kicked off our anniversary week of activities. Since Hocking Hills State Park was nearby, we went on a nice trek this afternoon and hiked from Old Man’s Cave to Cedar Falls and back. A total hike of about six miles, some parts of it were very challenging. It is the most beautiful state park in Ohio with thick woods, steep rolling hills, two small waterfalls, and a stream flowing through the gorge. The day was beautiful, and we had a great time enjoying God’s creation, talking, and spending time together outdoors.

As I mature and grow wiser, I am realizing how important these times together outside of our daily routine are. My encouragement to younger couples is don’t be so wrapped up in living life that you put off or miss these special moments. You don’t have to spend much, if any money, to create great adventures together. It is not about spending money to go to an event; it is about spending time together loving life.

As we head out on our Wisdom-Trek for today, the previous statements tie into the seven trails that we will explore over the next few days. We will explore how to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

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Jesus desires us to live a life that is lived with abundance, a life lived fully. This is not in reference to material abundances but internal abundance through Him. He does not want us to be robbed of the joy that is found in Him. In John 10:10 Jesus proclaimed, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

Today we will explore the first two trails.

1. Your attitude is a choice. You are in control. Create a positive attitude.

You might say,”Yes, I hear you Guthrie, but how can you choose a positive attitude each moment of each day?” As with anything worthwhile, it will not be easy. It takes consistent persistence to create this habit. Here are three tips that may help.

· Wake Up and Pause

Each day when you open your eyes you have a choice. Choosing the path of a positive mindset empowers you to move through the day with a sense of joy, even on the bleakest of days. Love yourself and be thankful. Find one thing that is positive about waking up. It could be the mere fact that you did. Each day choose to be positive about the day ahead. You are exchanging a day of your life for what you fill those 24 hours with, so make it positive. Read something to start your day that inspires you, like a daily devotional. Where your attention goes energy flows. Fill the beginning of your day with conscious choices that nourish your mind, body, and spirit in a positive way.

· Smile

Pick something that makes you smile. It could be the sound of the birds singing, or a babbling brook. It could be a smell that impacts your mind, whether it is real right in front of you or just a memory at the back of your mind. Close your eyes and think about a happy time full of pleasant scents – maybe a kitchen full of the sweet aromas of fresh coffee and sizzling bacon or a cool fall day or field of wild flowers. A smile might even happen through touch. Perhaps a soft blanket or a furry friend from the animal kingdom brings a smile of comfort and belonging. No matter what it is that makes you smile – an image, a situation, a place or a person – smile when you think of it and then just keep smiling.

· Practice Conscious Breathing and Gratitude Reminders

Create a list of everything in your life that you are thankful for. It does not have to be long, but change it and add to it when you think of new items.  This should be done ahead of time and kept near your bed, so it is the first thing you look at each morning. After you wake up and pause, think of something to smile about and then take three deep breaths, inhale as deep as you can, hold it a moment, and exhale. Make your attitude choice for the day, choose to be positive, and as I mentioned in the last point, force a smile on your face even if you don’t feel like it. Then read or pray through your gratitude list each morning before doing any other activities. Commit to yourself to carry that positive mindset with you all day long. Any time during your day when you feel your positive mindset is waning, repeat this step.

2. Embrace the moment for you may never pass this way again.

· Live Today Fully and Be in the Present

Being present in the moment is something I continually work at on a daily basis. With so many competing priorities, the moments that matter can get lost in the noise. Learn how to slow down and embrace the “now.” As I mentioned in the beginning of this podcast today, allow yourself time to honor the moments you are spending with family and friends. Practice being in the present by taking a walk or hike and be consciously aware of what you see, hear, smell, touch or taste. If walking is not an option, use your imagination, and walk a path to the top of a mountain in your mind. 

· Make a Memory

Proactively engage in making a memory. Time may not be on our side, so surprise someone with a call or send them a letter telling them how important they have been to you in your life or how proud you are of them. Be sure to take a picture in the midst of all the chaos, to capture those moments that document the love and the life that surround you. Be sure to tell stories to those who will carry on the family traditions. Story-telling is a strong tie between generations and will live in the memories of our loved ones forever.

· Do Something You Have Put “On Hold”

We all have those things we will do “someday.” Make someday today! It doesn’t have to cost a fortune or be extravagant. It can be simple but rewarding. Read that book you have wanted to read or sign up for a class and learn a new skill or hobby. Make the choice to travel, if only outside to a local park. Taking the first step is the hardest thing to do. Be courageous to know that you can choose to do something for yourself, and do it now before the time is gone.

We all have those things we will do “someday.” Make someday today!

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Paul reminds of this in his letter to the church in Ephesus Chapter 5 verse 16, “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”

Ponder these first two trails today and join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will continue to explore starting with trail #3 to live each day to the fullest because in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

 As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 84 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Learn to Shut Up (Part 2)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 84 of our Trek. Yesterday and today we are stopping by 10 clearings on our trail and studying practical applications for our lives in order to gain wisdom and incorporate the discernment needed to know when to speak and when not to. To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more. When it is necessary to speak, what you say and how you say it are also very important.

To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more.

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We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very pleasant trip driving up. The weather was nice, and the traffic was not too heavy. As I am creating the journal for this podcast, Paula is driving which allows me to take advantage of the time in the car. We will switch off at our half way point, so that I can drive part of the way. We met Paula’s sister Lois on the way up and Mom Jarvis will be spending a couple of weeks with her. Paula and I have several day trip activities planned for this next week as it is our 36^th wedding anniversary week. We are looking forward to a little time away from our usual workload and routine to enjoy some focused time together.

Yesterday on our Trek, we came to an understanding of just how difficult it is to control our tongue. As mentioned in James 3:7-8, “All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”  It has been over 2,000 years since this was written, and still we have not come up with an effective way to tame the tongue.

As part of our Trek, we are focusing on 10 waypoints or clearings that will at least help to minimize the potential negative impact that our tongues may have. Unless you are a ventriloquist it all boils down to the fact that we need to think before opening our mouths to speak. We will continue on to clearing #3 today, and for each of these points we need to know to say “keep your mouth shut when…”

Clearing #3 – You want to gossip.

When you want to say something negative about someone behind their back, don’t. Just don’t. There is almost never a good reason to do this. It makes you look petty, childish and mean-spirited. It might get back to the person you’re slandering. Never gossip, and if someone does something truly terrible, that will significantly harm someone or an organization, you might need to discuss it.  If you are in an appropriate position, discuss it with that person privately first . If it is unresolved then discuss it with an appropriate person to decide what course of action to take.

Clearing #4 – The details of a plan or deal are not complete.

Look to that old adage “Never count your chickens before they’re hatched,” or “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”  If you’re making plans for some big activity, or making a deal of some kind, never announce it until the crucial details are worked out, or the paperwork is complete. You’ll feel embarrassed or stupid if things fall through.

Clearing #5 – You’re mad or upset with a person or situation.

When someone annoys you, don’t respond right away, as you are likely to blow up and/or say something you will regret. And, you can’t take it back. A word spoken cannot be unspoken. Even if you apologize, people will not forget. You’re weak when you’re angry. Don’t act in a moment of weakness. Even if they’re wrong and you’re right, you won’t come out of it looking good.

Clearing #6 – You have had too much to drink.

While I do not drink alcohol myself, I know that most people do. It’s really hard to keep your mouth shut when you’re drunk. Even small amounts of alcohol lower inhibitions and make you far more likely to say something inappropriate. If you are drinking, be aware of how it affects you. If you are able to keep quiet after a few, do so. Or, cut yourself off before you get to the point of brutal honesty. It is hard enough to control our tongues when we are sober. Be very careful when drinking.

Clearing #7 – You’re about to ask a question that isn’t really a question.

If you are at a gathering or meeting and you feel that you just have to interject into the conversation, to tell some story from your past, or to ask a question that does not add to the conversation, be careful.  So many times we try to shift the focus to ourselves, instead of allowing others to speak.

Clearing #8 – You’re about to complain.

If you are getting ready to speak, check yourself to see if you are about to complain about something. You might be thinking that it’s hot, you have too much to do, something smells, or that person is mean or stupid. All of these may be true, but keep it to yourself. Nobody likes a whiner.  If you must speak, look for only positive things to speak about.

Clearing #9 – Someone else is being a jerk.

When someone else is being stupid, rude, belligerent, or an idiot in some other way, let them. Don’t call them out, get mad, insult or embarrass them. First, they could just be having a bad day, or they do not know how to handle themselves in whatever situation they’re in. Be kind, and you’re likely to diffuse things far quicker than if you react in a like manner. If the person really is just a horrible jerk, they’ve got enough to deal with in life and will eventually pay the price without your help. “Everything is its own reward.”

Clearing #10 – You’re about to talk to fill the silence.

Silence can be awkward, but there are a couple of reasons you shouldn’t necessarily rush to fill it. The first is that some people just like to think before they speak and aren’t as freaked out by pauses as others. So, when you jump in to fill the void, you’re actually cutting off their thought process. Wait a while and make sure they’re not preparing to speak. Another reason is that, if you’re both uncomfortable with silence, sometimes you can learn a lot by letting the other person fill it. We often tend to overshare when we want to impress and overcome any sort of awkwardness.  We may think that it could be perceived as our fault for not holding up our end of the conversation. This tactic is particularly useful when conducting interviews, managing meetings, or even hosting sales calls. Many a sale has been lost because the salesperson did not know when to shut up. Some people actually like periods of solace and silence in a conversation. Allow for extended periods of silence and just bask in the benefit of being with another person.

When you’re talking, you’re not listening. And listening is the most important thing you can do.

Always remember, you cannot learn when your mouth is open.

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We have come to the end of our trail today, so I will leave you with four proverbs that deal with talking too much.

Proverbs 10:19, “Too much talk leads to sin.  Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”

Proverbs 17:27, “A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17:28, “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”

Proverbs 21:23, “Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.”

Please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will begin a series on the seven principles for living life.

Well that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

 As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 83 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Learn to Shut Up (Part 1)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 83 of our Trek. Yesterday we determined that all of the magic happens between our comfort zone and the danger zone, which is call the learning zone. In order to gain wisdom, one of the most important habits we need to learn is to know when to not talk, or as I like to refer to it cure the dreaded disease called “diarrhea of the mouth.”

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we come to the end of another day, we have much to be thankful for. We had a good day of work, a positive eye exam, and a small group of friends over for dinner as we celebrate a major victory and blessing in the life of a close friend who has come through a major trial over the past 19 months. Although the trail ahead for our friend still has many twists, turns, steep climbs, and precarious slopes in the next few weeks and months, our celebration together this evening had us praising God for his leading during these many months.

Many of the outcomes of our trek of life are determined by the choices that we make each day. While we cannot always control the path that lies in front of us, as we take one step at a time, we can make choices that will help us to navigate through trails successfully. As we take each step, we can learn the lessons which each new trail brings to us.

One of the most difficult areas of our life to control consistently is the use of our tongue. We need to learn when to keep our mouth closed. Have you ever been with a group of people that you respect and you find yourself saying something completely out of place?  Have you ever spoken to a loved one or associate in a way that cuts them to the core, and as soon as it comes out of your mouth you think to yourself, “How foolish it was to say such hurtful words!”?  Our words can lift someone to the heights of heaven or plunge them into the very depths of hell.

On our trails today and tomorrow, we will first explore just how difficult but important it is to control our tongues, and then weave in 10 practical suggestions on when it is best just to shut up.  As mentioned from Day 0 of the Wisdom-Trek podcast, as a Christ follower, much of the wisdom that I have gained throughout my life comes from God’s Word, the Bible. It has much to say about how important it is to choose our words wisely and to limit our words to those that are helpful to others. Christ’s half-brother James wrote several paragraphs about how difficult it really is to control our tongues, in his letter to the Jews that were scattered across the Roman Empire. In Chapter 3 verses 1-12 he wrote,

“Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.  Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.”

Wow! If we just read this snippet of James’s letter, it would seem like it is impossible to control our tongue. If you think about unwise words that you spoke just this week, there is clear evidence that we all suffer from the dreaded  diseases known as “diarrhea of the mouth” and “foot in mouth disease.” Fortunately, what is impossible with humans is possible with God.

While hiking, if you want to see amazing wildlife and birds, you need to be very quiet, which means keeping your mouth shut, even when you want to go on about how much you know. So, as you trek through today and tomorrow, you will arrive at 10 clearings along your trail where you will be able to gaze through the trees and see some amazing sites. These are examples of 10 times when you should just shut up. We will visit the first two clearings today and finish up with the remaining 8 tomorrow.

Knowing when to open your mouth and when to keep it shut is valuable wisdom.

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We all sometimes don’t speak up when we should and do speak when we shouldn’t. But, wise people speak less because they know the value of keeping quiet.

Clearing #1 – Keep quite when you want to correct someone.

This is particularly important when that someone is a new acquaintance or a superior. If you correct them, you might embarrass them, and you’re not actually going to gain anything. They might not believe you, and you could wind up in a dumb argument about it, taking out your phone and finding sources that prove you’re right until you shut them down. Sure, you’ll have demonstrated your superior knowledge, but a lot of people actually hate that. In many cases, if someone misspeaks, there is no need to correct them because what they have said is not of importance. If it is really important, meet with them in private and discuss the incorrect information and give them an opportunity to correct it.

Never miss a chance to keep your mouth shut.

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Clearing #2 – Never miss a chance to keep your mouth shut when you have set a big goal.

You might think that announcing your intentions to others will increase your chances of achieving your goals, but research suggests the opposite is true. NYU psychology professor Peter Gollwitzer found in four different studies that people who kept their intentions to themselves were more likely to achieve them than those who made them public. The reasoning found in this study was that once a goal is announced publicly, our subconscious leads us to believe we have already completed that goal. Confiding in one accountability partner that will make sure that you reach your goal is a much more effective way of meeting that goal. Another reason for not trumpeting your big plans is that if you don’t follow through, you’ll be seen as flaky.

Please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will finish up with 8 more clearings on our path of when we should just shut up.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 82 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Where the Magic Happens

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 82 of our Trek, and now that we know and understand that we need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, we will expand this concept so that our legacy building will be strengthened and enhanced.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and today finds us making some preparations and finishing up details here as we will be heading back to Marietta and The Big House on Saturday for another three week stay.  In addition to more renovating work that I hope to complete while we are there, we have several other activities planned.

We have a nephew that is getting ordained on Sunday in Lancaster, Ohio, Tuesday is our 36^th wedding anniversary for which we have several relaxing day trips planned, and Saturday will be my 59^th birthday. Also, I will be speaking at the church we used to attend on September 6^th and 13^th, and the annual Sternwheel festival is held on the weekend of September 12^th. The fireworks display they have at the festival every year is the best we have ever seen, and it draws a lot of people to our small town. It is quite magical.  It will be a busy but enjoyable three weeks, and we are looking forward to it.

As we begin our journey today, we want to continue on the same trail from yesterday but venture out of our comfort zone. When we leave our zone of comfort, although it may appear to be intimidating and less secure, most of the time it proves beneficial for us and our long term growth because outside of our comfort zone is where the magic happens. When we force ourselves outside this comfort zone it allows us to stretch and grow to become all that God has destined us to be.

There are actually three zones where you can live.  However, only one of these zones is optimal for your life in that it will have the most positive impact and allow you to grow and flourish.

Let’s explore these three zones of life in detail.

1. The Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone is a psychological place where you feel safe and in control. You experience low-anxiety, and you’re using a limited set of behaviors. This means you’re not growing or developing any new skills. Essentially you’re stuck on autopilot, and you’re just going through the motions. Clearly this is not the place that fosters growth. It’s in our comfort zone that we feel safe and secure. It’s the zone of routine and the place where we do those things we find safe, comfortable, easy and familiar.

The comfort zone is a place where nothing particularly challenging happens.

Growing up on an apple orchard, I can certainly relate to this quote from Will Rogers,

“You’ve got to go out on a limb sometimes because that’s where the fruit is.”

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Scientists have researched the role anxiety plays in performance. They have found that too little anxiety results in poor performance while increasing anxiety increases performance. At the other extreme, too much anxiety reduces performance. The findings from this research show that if we want to maximize our performance, we need to be in a state of optimal anxiety.  Take a look at the visual bell curve example of this below.

The optimal level of anxiety then is found in the learning zone, just outside the comfort zone, but before heading into the danger zone.

Although it may not be very evident, there are significant dangers that lurk in the comfort zone.

Denis Waitley puts it this way, “Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing.”

You know you’re in a comfort zone when you feel no anxiety, no pressure, and no stress. You’re doing things that are easy, comfortable, and familiar. You’re in control and doing things that you know how to do. They don’t take much physical or emotional energy. It’s dangerous to stay in your comfort zone for long periods of time, as it leads to mediocrity, stagnation, and a lack of growth. If you spend too much time in your comfort zone, you’ll end up bored and unchallenged.  To recap:

• Comfort zones limit your goals and dreams
• Comfort zones limit your potential
• Comfort zones encourage mediocrity

2. The Learning Zone

“We need a place of productive discomfort, if you’re too comfortable, you’re not productive. And if you’re too uncomfortable, you’re not productive. Like Goldilocks, we can’t be too hot or too cold,” Daniel H. Pink.

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It’s the place where growth happens, success is built, and goals are attained.

If you’ve ever pushed yourself to get to the next level in a sport, fitness or learning, you know what it’s like to step outside your comfort zone. You know what it’s like in the learning zone.

It’s like going to gym for the first time. The exercises are difficult and you struggle. They take a lot of energy and concentration to complete. However, each week you grow stronger, the exercises become easier and they require less energy to complete. However, as the exercises become easier, you get less physical benefit. Soon you find yourself becoming used to your exercise routine, your heart rate no longer rises and you’re not sore in the mornings. When this happens you’re no longer growing stronger. You’re in a comfort zone. What’s the solution? You need to change your exercise routine. You need to switch to a new set of exercises. The same principle holds for other areas in our lives.

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new,” Brian Tracy.

Unless you spend time in your learning zone you’ll fail to grow.

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You can go to the gym every day doing the same exercises for months and months and gain no benefit. If what you’re doing is comfortable and easy, you’re not in the learning zone. And, if you’re not in your learning zone you’re not growing.

3. The Danger Zone

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly know how far one can go,” T.S. Elliot.

At the end of your learning zone, you enter the danger zone. This is the place where you start to lose focus. You begin to panic and performance declines.

You need to ensure that you don’t push yourself too hard too quickly and thereby land in the danger zone. Going back to our gym example, if you try to lift a weight that is too heavy, you’re likely to damage your tendons or tear a muscle.

The lesson is to remain in the learning zone and stay out of the danger zone.

You can stay out of the danger zone by taking regular breaks. Place yourself in the learning zone for a period of time and then retreat back to your comfort zone for a short time to take a break. Once rested, prepare for the next push into the learning zone. Gradually spending more time in the learning zone will be comfortable and allow you to grow to a new learning zone.

The Apostle Paul in his 1^st letter to the church in Corinth understood the concept of getting out of your comfort zone as he compared his preparation to that of an athlete in Chapter 9 verses 24-27,

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.”

Try something new each week. If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.

Please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. Tomorrow we will begin a series on how a wise person understands when not to speak.

Well, that will finish our podcast for today. If you missed any of our previous podcasts, please check out Wisdom-Trek on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud, Spreaker, YouTube, or Wisdom-Trek.com.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage you to take the time to invest yourself.

1. Invest in improving Wisdom-Trek by leaving your name, email address, and a comment on our website, so we can provide you with wisdom and insights that best fit your needs.
2. Invest in yourself by listening to our 7 minutes of wisdom each day.
3. Invest in the lives of others by encouraging your family and friends to journey with us on our Wisdom-Trek.

Thank you!

The journal from this podcast can be found at Wisdom-Trek.com, where we also have pictures, tweetable quotes, wisdom nuggets, and free resources.

Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day. 

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy the Journey, and Create a Great Day! See you tomorrow!