Wisdom-Trek ©

Creating a Legacy ™

Day 81 – Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

by 1 Comment

podcast_channel_artwork.jpg

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 81 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 81 of our Trek, and now that we have traveled the 6 trails of overcoming mediocrity, we are in the position to excel at a greater pace on our path as we create and build on our living legacy.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Today has been a busy but productive day, and we were able to make some headway on a couple of projects.  We did receive some very good news about a friend that has been going through an extended time of trial, and we are very thankful for that. As we learn additional details and with his permission, I may be able to share his story on a future treks.

The trails of life can be unknown and unpredictable at times. We need to understand that life is not always how we would like it to be, but it is always how it is.  We may become very uncomfortable with the paths that we travel, so we need to choose to enjoy those journeys even in less than ideal conditions. Change makes all of us a bit uncomfortable, even if the outcome of that change is beneficial long term. As our global community rapidly changes, as we eluded to yesterday, we must learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  That is the trail that we will travel together today.

d5aahe82n8ycq75bwpdu
Navy Seal Training

This inspiring principle is actually taken from the Navy SEALS as one of their mantras is “Get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Why is this so important? In your businesses and in your life, if you want to learn, grow, and succeed, you will have to go through a process of being uncomfortable to achieve growth. Anyone familiar with farming knows that in order to have a crop, the original seed is destroyed through the growth process.  Also Jesus confirms this principle in John 12:24, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels — a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

Growth and success in life only comes after you have pushed and challenged yourself.

Tweet This

Let’s look at three practical examples:

If you want to be physically fit, if you want to be healthy, or if you want to be somebody who’s got a lot of energy, what is required?  You must exercise and work out on a regular basis.  Many people go to a gym so that they have the proper equipment and are able to stay focused. But, the gym is not somewhere you go for comfort. It’s somewhere you go to get really uncomfortable for an hour, or a half an hour, or maybe for some of you, a couple of hours. And, you are going to push yourself. You’re going to see how much weight you can lift, how long you can run, or how hard you can push your body. And, during that time it’s going to be wildly uncomfortable. But, on the back side of that discomfort is better health, better energy, and a better physical appearance.

Tied to being physically fit, if you desire to be healthy, you must eat what is good and healthy for you, which will mean preparing your own meals using fresh, healthy, and whole foods. You’ll also have to turn away from comfort foods and other food items that may taste good as you are eating them but do major damage to your body, including the horrible side effect of gaining weight. You have to be comfortable with feeling hungry and being uncomfortable until your body adapts to the new types of food that you consume.

To be successful in business requires hard work, dedication, and, at times, long hours with very little reward. You have to stretch yourself and learn. You have to be willing to risk the rejection and receive a lot of “no” in order to get to the potential for a “yes.” The success is only going to come after you’ve stepped out of your comfort zone.

comfort-zone

So, how do we prepare ourselves? How do we train to be uncomfortable so that we can actually get comfortable with our discomfort?

Learn Something New

Always push yourself to learn something new in any area of life. Maybe try learning how to cook differently or gradually work up from walking to running.  Any time you push yourself, you’re stepping outside of your comfort zone in a particular area of life and starting to build success. And, as you start to have some success in that area, you can take what you’ve learned there and apply it to other areas of your life.

try

Recruit the Help of Others

Maybe it’s a coach, trainer or an accountability partner. It’s somebody else who can help push you and who can help keep you accountable so that you don’t slip and fall on this new trail in your life. That person can also be right alongside of you learning that same sport or that new hobby or that new skill at the same time as you so you’re pushing and motivating each other.

Proverbs 27:17 says:

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Tweet This

Break It Down

Sometimes when we step outside of our comfort zones, we can get really overwhelmed with everything we need to learn and everything we need to do. It can start to weigh us down, it can overwhelm any of us, no matter how adaptable to change we are.  Navy Seal Mark Owen talks about this in his life when he got into the Navy SEAL boot camp. He says, “Man, I was so overwhelmed. But what I did is I broke everything down into small little bite-sized chunks. It was like, “If I can make it to breakfast, I’ll be okay.’” And when he got to breakfast, and he survived breakfast, he said “Now I just need to make it to lunch.” And then, “Now I just need to make it to dinner.” And then after dinner was over, “I just have to do it again tomorrow.” He took it one day at a time, one step at a time. You don’t have to do it all right away.

4481954-256-k8128d1f5

Go For It

At some point, you just have to go for it. You’re just going to have to go all in. You can’t try this. You can’t keep going, “Well, I’ll just do a little bit here, a little bit there…” At some point you’re just going to have to say “I’m in! I’m going to make this happen. I’m going to risk discomfort because this is something that I want and that is so important to me.” And when you do that, you’re going to find that you’re actually capable of so much more than you ever believed.

bbfac8631033767280f418292173b76d

As we make progress on the uncomfortable trails of life, let’s follow the Apostle Paul’s words in his letter to the church in Rome in Chapter 5 verses 3-4, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.”

So here’s what I want to leave you with. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. If you want to be successful in business and in life, get comfortable with your discomfort.

Please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy. We will extend today’s trail and learn that all the magic happens outside of your comfort zone.

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!

Day 80 – 6 Trails to Overcome Mediocrity

by 1 Comment

podcast_channel_artwork.jpg

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 80 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

6 Trails to Overcome Mediocrity

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 80 of our Trek. Yesterday we took the 10 trails to overcome complaining, and today we want to focus on the 6 trails to overcome mediocrity.

10. Franconia
The Trails to Overcome Mediocrity

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. While Paula and I have been working on the front edge of technology for over 30 years and have always been acclimated to rapid changes in the market, it appears to me that we are just on the front end of the most rapid and radical change in world economics than in any time in history. This change will provide a lot of opportunities for individuals and small businesses to compete on a global market. I see a rise in entrepreneurship throughout the world that was unimagined just a few years ago.  There will be a lot of individuals that are very successful, but there will be a lot of casualties also.

The bar to enter the market is becoming lower, but as with any time in business, it will take skill, forward thinking, and dynamic flexibility to survive. Many very large and established businesses and industries will also become casualties to this rapidly changing global economy. We must all be prepared for it both from a consumer and from a business perspective. We are making plans now to pivot our Venture Consulting business to focus on entrepreneurs and small businesses with online tools and training to assist this radical transformation in the market. It is in the early planning stages at this point, but if you would like more information as it becomes available, please email me at guthrie@venturecg.com. And, I will keep you informed as we move forward.

ACCA_Top_430_World
Global Economic Change

On our trek in life, we need to be prepared to effectively hike through these radical and ever changing landscapes that we will be forced to traverse. None of us can afford to be stuck in the ruts of mediocrity as the rest of the hikers in the world rapidly pass us by. We need wisdom and hope to make the journey. Today we have six trails to hike from the valley of mediocrity to the summit achievement and success as we scale to new heights in our lives .

With today’s global change no one can afford to be stuck in the ruts of mediocrity.

Tweet This

In order to grow in wisdom and prepare for these changes that will impact all of us, we need to understand that hope is the foundational principle for all change. People change because they have hope for something better, and if you do not have hope, you will not change.

You are responsible for the changes that you make in your life.

Tweet This

Where does our hope come from?  As a person of faith, my hope comes from the Lord, as is mentioned Psalms 37:34, “Put your hope in the Lord. Travel steadily along his path. He will honor you by giving you the land. You will see the wicked destroyed.”

So, let’s get started on our hike through the six trails out of the valley of mediocrity to the summit of positive change.

Trail #1: Changing your thinking leads to changing your beliefs.

Change begins with the mind. Beliefs are nothing more than a byproduct of what you have thought about long enough or something that you have bought into — always remember that. What you believe and what you think are just a collection of continual thoughts that have formed themselves into a conviction or value. When you break down the process of thinking into a manageable number of steps, you reduce the perceived risk associated with change.

399685524_640

Trail #2: Changing your beliefs leads to changing your expectations.

A belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It is the inner feeling that what we can undertake, and we can accomplish. For the most part, all of us have the ability to look at something and know whether we can do it. So in belief there is power. Our eyes are opened, our opportunities become plain, and our visions become realities. Our beliefs control everything we do. If we believe we can or we believe we cannot, we are correct.

download

Trail #3: Changing your expectations leads to changing your attitude.

Your expectations are going to determine your attitude. Most people get used to mediocre; they get used to second best. Nelson Boswell said, “The first and most important step toward success is the expectation that we can succeed.”

expectation

Trail #4: Changing your attitude leads to changing your behavior.

When our attitudes begin to change or when we become involved with something, our behavior begins to change. The reason that we have to make personal changes is that we cannot take others on a hike that we have not yet made.

128000814379780740_tqmONAO5_c

Trail #5: Changing your behavior leads to changing your performance.

Most people would rather live with old problems than new solutions. We would rather be comfortable than correct; we would rather stay in a routine than make changes. Even when we know that the changes are going to be better for us, we often don’t make them because we feel uncomfortable or awkward about making that kind of a change. Until we get courage and get used to living with something that is not comfortable, we cannot get any better.

behaviour-change-BIG_1

Trail #6: Changing your performance leads to changing your life.

It is easier to turn failure into success than an excuse into a possibility. You can fail and then turn around and understand your failure to make it a success. But, if you make excuses for everything, you will never truly succeed. You know some people who just have an excuse for everything? Why they could not, should not, did not, would not, have not, or will not. When you excuse what you are doing and excuse where you are, and you allow the exceptions to overtake the situation, you fail to reach your potential. It is impossible to turn excuses into possibilities.

370d9-performance-evaluation

To successfully travel on all six of these trails, you do not need to be a superior person but, rather, a person with superior self-discipline as quoted by one of my mentors Bryan Tracy,

“With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as his talents and intelligence can take him. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity.”

The changes we face in our lives and the trails that we will need to travel in the rapidly changing landscape of the world over the next few years will not be easy, but we can persevere to reach the summit. God’s Word gives us this assurance:

Proverbs 21:5, “Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.”

Galatians 6:9, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give 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. Tomorrow we will learn why it is wise that we all must get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

So, please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage each of 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!

Day 79 – 10 Trails to Overcome Complaining

by Leave a Comment

podcast_channel_artwork.jpg

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 79 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

10 Trails to Overcome Complaining

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 79 of our Trek, and the past two days we explored how to perform random acts of kindness each day because each day is unique and we will never have a second chance to live that day. Today we want to focus on the 10 trails to overcome complaining.

long_trail_2
10 Trails to Overcome Complaining

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. As we start out on life’s trek with its uphill slopes and downhill paths for another week, let us be resolute to make the most of every situation that we face. We may encounter smooth or rough trails, but regardless we have a destination to reach for this week and that is to make a positive impact on everyone that we meet. The destination is never as exciting or important as the journey itself. It is on the daily journey that we are creating and building that living legacy that will last for eternity.  Let’s make it a great journey.

As we set out on our trail today, we run into a very rough trail that is narrow and scattered with rocks and loose dirt. It makes getting solid footing very difficult, but we must continue on our 20 mile hike. It certainly will be difficult.

Under the adverse conditions of life, it is very easy for each of us to start grumbling and complaining. We are all tempted to do so. We have to ask ourselves, “Is this grumbling and complaining going to help us along our Trek today?”

This reminds me of a time about 35 years ago when Paula and I would pick up an elderly lady Mrs. Borne every Sunday and take her to church. She was significantly crippled with arthritis, and it was difficult for her to walk and even get in the car. But, she faithfully came each week.  We would ask her how she was doing each time we picked her up, and she would go on about how difficult it was to get around and talk about her husband who had died many years before. But, she would always end her story with, “I’m not complaining, mind ya.” Paula and I still jokingly use that phrase when we catch ourselves grumbling or complaining about something. As with most complaining, it is usually over something quite trivial.

life-quotes-for-inspiration

Certainly complaining and grumbling are as old as mankind itself. One of the greatest leaders of all time, Moses, had to deal with a nation of complainers as they trekked through the wilderness for over 40 years because of their lack of belief that God would take care of them. This was the case with the children of Israel as indicated in Exodus 16:6-8 when they were complaining to Moses about his leadership and the lacking food and water, “So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, ‘By evening you will realize it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt. In the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your complaints, which are against him, not against us. What have we done that you should complain about us?’ Then Moses added, ‘The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for he has heard all your complaints against him. What have we done? Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.’”

If we are really honest with ourselves, when we find ourselves complaining, we are no different than the Hebrew nation. Ware actually complaining against God because we feel that our lot in life is unfair, which also shows a lack of faith on our part.

As we continue on our rough trail today, let’s look at 10 attitude adjustments that we can make in our thinking.

When you choose to change your attitude you switch your thinking from a defeatist mentality to one of achievement. Achievers have a “can-do” attitude that sets them apart from complainers. Achievers are sold out to accomplishment and success — no matter the obstacles — and are willing to put forth the effort and pay the price of success.

fc4a09b1459e984a2efde45fb0374e7a

Here are 10 milestones you can reach on your trek today that will allow you to turn an attitude of complaining into an attitude of accomplishment or “can-do.”

  1. Overcome helplessness with solutions.

Can-do people aggressively pursue solutions, and, in the process, uncover creative solutions others never even try to find. Rather than wallowing in helplessness, can-do leaders search diligently to overcome the obstacles in front of them.

  1. Take responsibility and then take action.

Can-do people are fearless. They go straight to the source of their problem. Their very effort commands attention as they wrestle a problem to the ground with expediency. They don’t wait; they initiate.

  1. Live in the “No Complaining Zone.”

Can-do people abstain from complaining. They recognize its futility and guard their minds and mouths against indulging in this time-wasting activity.

  1. Look through the eyes of others.

Can-do people empathize with others. They attempt to see any predicament from the other person’s perspective in order to make the best decisions.

  1. Embrace and grow your passion.

Can-do people are immune to burnout. They love what they do because they’ve learned how to fuel the fire that keeps them moving. The prize is not given to the person who is the smartest, nor to the person with the advantages in resources and position, but to the person with passion and persistence.

  1. Hike the second mile.

Can-do people exceed expectations. While others settle for an acceptable solution, can-do people aren’t satisfied until they have achieved the unimagined. They set expectations for themselves higher than what is dictated by the people or situations around them.

  1. Remove the shackles and take action.

Can-do people take action. While others are crippled by worry, fear, and anxiety, they have the fortitude to press forward. The perfect moment when all is safe and assured may never arrive, so why wait for it?

  1. Continually pivot.

Can-do people can adjust to change. They don’t get caught complaining about an unexpected curve on the trail. They accept transition with an optimistic outlook.

  1. Don’t quit until it is finished.

Can-do people not only initiate, they finish. They are self-starters and self-finishers. They stick with the process and have the capacity to close the deal.

  1. Expect results based on commitment.

If you make an all-out commitment with a can-do attitude, expect a return. Passionate commitment is contagious, and resources follow resolve. Committed individuals will reap rewards and find open doors as others are drawn to the excitement and energy emanating from them.

9a47221b74ca5bd4b4e7a3c26cac62d8

On our trek of life, we need to put away our excuses and complaining. When we complain it shows a lack of faith in our life. A faith without works is a dead faith. Instead of being a complainer or a “can’t-do’ person, be a “can-do” person of accomplishment.

tumblr_np5xt0kXh91sm7ec6o1_500

Take to heart the exhortation the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Philippi in Chapter 2 verses 13-15, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”

clip_image002

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. Tomorrow we will take the six trails to overcome mediocrity.

So, please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

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!

Day 78 – I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 3)

by Leave a Comment

podcast_channel_artwork.jpg

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 78 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 3)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 78 of our Trek. Yesterday we looked at steps 1-6, and today we will explore steps 7-15 of how to perform random acts of kindness each day because we will never be able to relive this day on the trek of life again.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. This morning we were able to worship and fellowship at church, which was a blessing. We have been out of town so much this year that we miss the time together with our local fellowship. We have come to appreciate our faith community each week, regardless of where we are on a particular Sunday.

After church Paula and I ate at a restaurant that that we had not tried before. It was a Genghis Grill where they have you select all the ingredients from the serving line, and the cooks grill it on a massive round grill. The food was good, and the staff was very helpful. Paula and I do not eat out very often because we like to prepare and control what we are eating at meals, but we will probably revisit this location on occasion.

After lunch we did a little shopping, including our weekly grocery shopping. We love to spend time together regardless of the activity.  This is a good thing since we work together every day in the same office. We certainly do count this a blessing.

So, let’s continue on our trail today looking for ways that we can show kindness to others. Sometimes the trails of life can be very rough and steep, and we don’t really feel like being kind. I certainly understand that. But, we have to realize that being kind is usually easy, and it benefits both the person that we are being kind to and us as we are kind. Never pass up this opportunity.

Today we will finish with steps 7-15 providing examples of random acts of kindness. Kindness is an essential part of creating a living legacy. As we practice kindness, even when we may not feel like it, we become kind people. It cannot be prevented.

Being kind is a choice that we make. Look for opportunities at all times to be kind. As you practice these acts of kindness with no expectations of return, you will be showing from within that you are kind.

Here are the last 7 steps on our trail for encouraging others with our random acts of kindness.

Step #7

Volunteer by offering helping hands.

  • Do you ever see homeless people and feel overwhelmed by your inability to make a difference? Even if you can’t help them all or change their long-term situation in life, you can do a lot with one small act. Buy a pair of gloves, provide a spare blanket, or make up food parcels for someone who is living on the cold streets, or provide them to any organization that serves the homeless.
  • Another way to volunteer is to clean up trash in public places without being asked. The next time you see someone littering,don’t just shake your head and look the other way. Be kind, pick up the litter, and throw it away. While you’re at it, look around the street for any other trash that needs to be removed. If you take a walk, take a plastic grocery bag so you can collect the trash that would otherwise just make you unhappy, and know that you’re doing a random act of kindness for the people who will come through after you!

Homeless-Problem-in-Durbanville

Step #8

Shower a coworker with kindness. Offer to take them out to lunch or provide them with money for a dinner they can take home with them after work. Finish off some of their work for them so they can go home early for their kid’s birthday party or after school activity.

  • If your coworker has had a horrible day, buy him or her some flowers or give him or her a warm hug (if appropriate) to make him or her feel better. Everyone needs just a little extra compassion and love sometimes.
  • If you like to cook or bake, take freshly baked muffins or cookies in to work and share them with your coworkers, staff, and others.

24587a8198e286645f99c37826f73947

Step #9

Share a little wealth around. Why not surprise a complete stranger by paying for something they were expecting to pay for? Here are some fun suggestions:

  • Pay for the coffee and cake for the table next to yours at the local cafe.
  • Pay for the movie tickets of the people in the line behind you.
  • Pay for the entrance fee for some children and their parents waiting to get into the zoo.
  • Pay for the parking for the car next to yours. Feed the meter if it’s allowed to stop someone from getting a ticket!

maxresdefault (3)

Step #10

Give your family a break. There are lots of kind things you can do for your loved ones. This can include something as simple as giving them a break from the more mundane chores around the house so that they can do something different for a change.

  • Make them breakfast in bed.
  • Wash their car(s).
  • Do the weeding while a family member is at work.
  • Do the dishes for a week without complaining!
  • Print out a photo of them and write exactly why it’s so special to you or why they’re so special to you. Tell them how that moment shows how important they are to the whole world.
Smiling-Man-Doing-Dishes
Give the family a break.

Step #11

Hold a friends night-in. Have your friends or church group in just for fun.  Order pizza for everyone and play board games or watch movies together. Treat them to a special cake at the end in honor of the friendships that each of you share together.

PhillyCarMovieNight2
Friends Night In

Step #12

Send a message. Write down your favorite inspirational quote, wise saying, or scripture, and leave it somewhere for a stranger to find. You could also leave a message in a favorite book you’ve enjoyed, letting someone else know they can have the book to read and hope that they love it as much as you did. Then, leave the book somewhere for them to find.

2fcc406562142159f029d90ba772b974

Step #13

Forgive somebody. You’d be amazed at the ripple effect an ounce of forgiveness can have in your life and in the lives of others. Unburden yourself of the past and think kind thoughts again about a person who hurt you. Reach out to them with kindness, even if you feel that you were wronged. Life is too short to carry grudges and burdens.

forgive-300x200

Step #14

Share a smile. When meeting a new person or even chatting with an old one, express joy. Show that you’re happy to be with them, and that they make you happy.

  • On the flip side, if you meet someone grumpy and frowning, give them your smile. Ask them if they’re having a hard day, commiserate with them, and wish them better luck from this point on. Don’t see it as their bad mood reflecting negatively on you; instead, make it about how you can help them to feel better.

6033f3bb87aa9009dfd3d665ee682dc5

Step #15

Expect nothing. The greatest act of kindness is the one that is freely given because you care about another person and want them to be happy and don’t expect anything in return. The thing about kindness is that it has its own rewards and will improve your sense of well-being and happiness. What more could you possibly want?

Kindness has its own rewards.

Tweet This

Kindness is the ultimate manifestation of love as the Apostle Paul’s 1st letter to the church in Corinth wrote in Chapter 13 verses 4 and 5, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

As we conclude these 15 steps to show random acts of kindness, I want to remind you to make each day count for we shall not pass this way again.

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. Tomorrow we will look at 10 ways to quit complaining.

So, please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage each of 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!

Day 77 – I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 2)

by Leave a Comment

podcast_channel_artwork.jpg

Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 77 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.

I Shall Not Pass This Way Again (Part 2)

Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 77 of our Trek, and yesterday we looked at how important it is to make sure that our impact on others through our spoken word is always good, helpful, and encouraging. Today and tomorrow we want to put our words into action through practicing both planned and random acts of kindness.

16-random-acts-of-kindness-that-will-restore-your-2-8673-1416003498-9_big
Be prepared and practice random acts of kindness.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was nice to be able to sleep in a bit this morning, as this was our first time in several weekends that we have been able to. I am not sure about you, but for me I need to occasionally have a day or two of sleeping in later than usual to recharge my batteries. I realize that it would be best if I got the proper sleep every night, which I am working toward, but sleeping in this morning was greatly needed. Weekends are also good for me to get caught up on some of the miscellaneous work related projects that seem to slip by during the week.

So, let’s start out on our trail today looking for ways that we can show kindness to others.  Kindness, as we looked at way back on Day 6 of our Trek, is such an important attribute that we should have in our lives. Being kind to others is a powerful way to put our talk into actions and is one of the fruits, or outward manifestations, of a loving heart toward others.

Kindness should be planned, when possible, but performing random and unplanned acts of kindness to others each day should also be part of who we are as people. At first, completing random acts of kindness may not be natural for you, but the more times you do it, the easier it will become until it becomes a habit in your life.

So, as we hike on up our trail today and tomorrow, we will explore 15 steps that we can take on our trek of life to set these habits in place. Think about how kindness can be a fundamental part of creating a living legacy. Indeed it needs to be woven into the very fabric of our lives, so it is part of who we are.

Being kind is a choice that we make. Look for opportunities at all times to be kind. This is so important that Proverbs 3:3-4 puts it this way, “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.  Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.”

Random acts of kindness are a means by which we make a deliberate attempt to brighten another person’s day by doing something thoughtful, nice, and caring. Kindness is a way of showing others that they are special and important. Even when the world is unkind, we need to be known for our kindness to all. Our kindness should not be dependent on if a person deserves it but rather our desire to be kind.

Here are the first 6 steps on our trail for encouraging others with our random acts of kindness.

Step #1:

Be kind. Kindness as an attitude is infectious. When you’re willing to share your kindness, others will be inspired by your example and think about doing something kind themselves. Fan that flame by being kind to everyone.

78774-Be-Kind-For-Everyone-You-Meet-Is-Fighting-A-Hard-Battle

Step #2:

Be thoughtful. Random acts of kindness can be shown through thoughtfulness about the needs of others. How many times do you wish someone could have been more thoughtful before they did or said something? Try to be an example of this for others to follow.

  • Put someone else first. If you get to the grocery store check-out line at the same time as someone else, smile and wave them through first.
  • When you’re stuck in traffic and the last thing you want to do is let a car get in front of you, just remember that somebody else had to let you in and repay the favor to the next person!

be-thoughtful-copy

Step #3:

Use your manners as a form of kindness. Manners aren’t dead. They’ve just been forgotten in many ways. Yet, manners are the bedrock of courteous and kind relations and their use is an indication of respect for others. Hold doors open for others, hold an umbrella over someone in the rain, and be on time for everyone you’ve promised to meet.

  • Say thank you, and whenever anyone does something for you, be grateful and let them know it.

photo2

Step #4:

Give out compliments generously. There’s usually an awkward silence when you’re stuck in an elevator or waiting in a queue with a stranger. Instead of staring at the floor, find something you like about the other person and compliment him/her on it. Not only will it make him/her feel good, it just might kick off a conversation with a new friend.

  • Surprise your neighbor by telling him or her how pretty he/she looks today.
  • Tell your boss how truly clever he/she is and mean it!
  • Tell your assistant how truly clever he/she is and mean it. Praise any subordinate who’s stayed late or done anything extra on the job honestly. Notice those things.
  • Praise your child for her/his skills and good thinking. Make it something out of the blue that you’ve noticed rather than run-of-the-mill schoolwork or chores.
  • Write a handwritten note to a friend or family member telling them how much you care about them.

CD6m7w5W0AAOR_-

Step #5:

Think about people who quietly make a difference in your community and thank them. Think of all the people in your life whose faces and names you’ll never know but who serve and protect you day after day.

  • Send some prepackaged treats to your local police station, paramedics, or fire department, with a card letting them know how much you appreciate their service to the community. But make sure to also acknowledge the people we take more for granted that make things “tick.” Consider thanking your garbage man or janitor.
  • Send your child’s clean and good condition toys and books to a local preschool. Say thank you to the early childhood caretakers and teachers who do so much for young children.
  • Pop over to your neighbor’s house with a freshly baked cake. Yes, your neighbors are an important part of your community, and they make a difference just by being about. Acknowledge their importance and role in your life.

We-must-find-time-to-stop-and-thank-the-people-who-make-a-difference-in-our-lives.

Step #6:

Cheer up the lonely. Lonely people are everywhere, in all walks of life, of all ages. Helping lonely people feel wanted is a hugely rewarding random act of kindness.

  • Write a letter or send a card to a stranger. It only takes a few minutes to write, but a letter or card can make someone else’s day or even their week. Think of all the people who are lonely, isolated, or just in need of cheering up – soldiers fighting overseas, kids in juvenile detention centers, or elderly people in nursing homes. Do a simple search online, and you’ll find services that will provide you with lists of people who’d love to hear from you.
  • Pay for someone else’s coffee in the line. If they’ve got time, offer them a chat.
  • Visit a retirement home and spend time talking to the residents. You could offer to read to them, sing for them, or even get them involved in writing poems, reading stories, or playing a game.

National-Cheer-Up-the-Lonely-Day

Being kind also implies that we will get rid of the unkind attributes in our lives, as mentioned in the letter that Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus in Chapter 4 verses 31-32, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”

Make each day count for we shall not pass this way again.

Tweet This

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. Tomorrow we will continue with our examples of Random Acts of Kindness with steps 7 – 15.

So, please join us at our “camp” tomorrow for another day on our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

If you enjoy our daily doses of wisdom, I encourage each of 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!