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Tune out the noise

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Watching the US Men’s Team match against Iran this week illustrated some good points for all of us.  Key among them to tune out the noise.

Leading up to this match was a hot bed of controversy and high emotions.  You have human rights protests, and acts of support for the actions against women.  Not to mention political pundits and media trying to elevate this over the match itself just to draw a reaction.  Tune out the noise

Prior to the match Captain Tyler Adams was pressed hard by an Iranian reporter on the issue of discrimination.  At 23 years old he handled himself better than a lot of people twice his age could have.  He talked about educating yourself, assimilating and seeking progress each day.  He showed what a true leader is.  It’s not about him, it’s about his team, his country and their goals.

So how did that end on the pitch, well as most know by now the US won 1-0.  What was impressive is not only their level of attack early but their level of patience in the end of regulation and through a ton of stoppage time.  They were able to tune out the noise and focus on what it important.  Their strategy, their execution, and their desire to continue on in the World Cup.

What is important to you?  I encourage you to tune out the noise that is trying to drag you in the other direction.  Focus on the progress and moving forward such as Tyler did in that heated press conference.  In the end the goal or dream is yours and no one else’s so tune out the noise and focus on that and how you will achieve it.  Shine Bright and Much Love!

~JMAXX

Why?

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Why is such an interesting word.  It can be the answer to a question or the annoying word a young child repeats to everything you say.  It can also be quite philosophical when you add a few other words to it.  Why?

How’s that you ask?  What if I add the words what, is and your to the word why?  What is your why?  Ok, wow things just got deep.  Yes, you could take this into a whole lot of deep meaning discussions as to our greater purpose or why we are here.

I’m not thinking that deep, or at least I don’t think I am.  I am using this question of “What is your why?” more personally.  Why do you do what you do?  This could be your job, your relationships or what you are passionate about.

Let’s face it in this era of over sharing and crazy loads of information it can be easy to get lost.  To feel buried so deep you don’t even remember what you are supposed to be doing let along why you are doing it.

When that happens take a step back and try and remember or refresh yourself on your why or quite frankly whys.  Most of us can have more than one or they are interconnected.  If you stop to think about why you have that job or why you are running around trying to do 100 things at once it might help clear out some of the clutter and overload.  Refresh your energy and purpose so that your life is leading you to or by your why.  When you do that, you can’t help to shine bright and the world likes to see you shine.  Much Love!!

~JMAXX

Hate to break it to you

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I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you aren’t done learning.  Wait what?  You thought I was going to say that you aren’t always right, didn’t you?  Well, they might go hand in hand at some point if we think about it.  However, breaking it to you that you aren’t done learning is far more important.  Hate to break it to you

For 18 to 20+ years our main focus is to learn.  First, we learn the basics then we start to streamline to advanced concepts and what we want to do with them.  Basically, how we are going to turn that education into a living.  However, so many folks think that once they have that diploma or certificate in their hands, they are done learning.  Hate to break it to you but you are not in fact done, or at least you shouldn’t be.

I think the fact that many think they are done learning might be at the root of a lot of problems our world is having.  It leads to an I’m right and you are wrong philosophy because hey the way I learned it is correct so you must be wrong.  Right?

Wrong?  One of the most wonderful parts of the world we live in is how diverse it is.  That diversity is of course going to have people learning different ways to do things.  Does that make them wrong, no, just different.

So how does learning come into play?  Am I saying you should forget how you learned or what you learned?  No of course not.  What I am saying is learn from the people that might do things differently instead of shutting them down as wrong and battling.

Let’s take a simple example, someone has a different way to make bread.  Instead of shutting them down as doing it wrong or telling them their bread is less than yours or gross maybe ask them how it is made.  Ask why those certain ingredients are selected or why it is blended how it is.  You might just learn some new techniques or at least find something new to try instead of closing it off as different.

So, keep that mind open, learn things, grow and Shine Bright!!  Much Love!

~JMAXX

The reflection across the room?

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I think sometimes we hear something from someone else that kind of surprises or even shocks us relative to our own experiences.  We can often then find ourselves being worried about the reflection across the room instead of the reflection in the mirror.  The reflection across the room?

The reflection across the room?  What in the heck to I mean by that??  Simply that you start thinking of your experiences relative to what they said and contemplate that it somehow makes you inadequate, wasteful, or bad in some way.  We do that without even thinking about the differences in our lives relative to theirs.

That fact alone can mean so very much.  It is a dangerous path to start down comparing your own experiences to someone else without a whole lot of context.  There could be serious reasons they did or did not do something.  Situations they were placed in where they did not have control over why they were there.  So, taking a situational story or fact they gave from their life and comparing it to yours may have you comparing apples to oranges.  You are not the same person, nor did you live the same life.

So back to those reflections.  The reflection across the room can be helpful to grow and maybe find new ways to do things.  Learning from others is usually a very good thing.  The more important reflection however is the one in the mirror.  You are the one and only person who has 100% lived your own life in your own skin.  You know what it took to get where you are at so be proud of that.  Grow with that so that when you are looking in that mirror that reflection shines bright!  Much Love!!

JMAXX

Muffins and Choices

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Isn’t it funny how most every time you are offered muffins you are excited no matteMuffins and Choicesr the choice of flavor?  Most of us have one or two “go to” choices but we are most likely ok with trying something new as well.

Muffins have come a long way since the standard flavors, people have added twists and tweeks to traditional options and often most people are good with trying them because I mean c’mon it’s a muffin!  Muffins are yummy treats, right?  If you don’t like muffins, just work with me here on the point I am getting to, haha!

So, the question is why we are so open to try the twists and tweeks of different muffin flavor options, but we are not so open when it comes to twists and tweeks of learning new things or opinions.  Sure, we most likely learn new things every day and that is a great thing, but now it seems we turn things down before we try.

A lot is in the delivery of the offer or information, not every twist presents itself like a yummy muffin but maybe a portion of that presentation is our reception of the information.  Think about it, someone says, “want a muffin?” and your mind pictures a delicious baked good, so you are good to go.  Even if it isn’t a flavor that you have had or is a twist on a favorite flavor you are pretty sure you will like it, so you try it, right?

So maybe when someone presents some information or a question that makes you angry, anxious, or ready to reply without thinking you can create an image in your head as you receive that information that kicks in your urge to learn more.  If your reception of the information they give you has an engaging image to learn more, your reaction might be more positive even if you don’t agree with them.

If your reception to information whether it be “YAY! muffins, yum!!” or “I am not quite sure I understand can you break that down for me?” you are activating areas of your brain that are positive and engaging and want to learn more.  Whether that be a minute of a good tasting treat or engaging your brain in discussion, debate and information gathering you are the better for it.  It also furthers the person that is on the other side of these equations.

First is easy, they are pleased they made you happy with the treat.  Second, if someone is presenting information passionately, they are really into it and would love to tell you more.  Even if you don’t agree with them a positive and healthy debate can educate both of you, widen mindsets and further education.  All good things.   So, create those positive reception images in your brain so you can just enjoy or dive deeper to positively grow.  Shine Bright and Much Love!

-JMAXX

 

Own Up to It!

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It is super easy to own it or own up to something when it is good.  I mean heck who does not want to do that when it means praise, acknowledgement and what ever other positive vibes you get.  It makes you feel great!  People see you and what you have done in a wonderful way.  Well, I think the other end of that spectrum has been lost.  I hear you why in the world would I want to “own it” when it’s bad..crazy right?   Own Up to It

Well not so much, let us face it NO ONE is perfect, repeat NO ONE!  So that means you are going to make mistakes, and everyone knows it.  Sure, we work hard and put in our best efforts not to but inevitably occasionally, it is going to happen.  After all we are human, and we get tired, distracted, and overwhelmed.  We can put in practices to help when those emotions come up but in this busier as ever world something will slip.

The key is what do you do about it.  It seems more and more evident today that the tendency is becoming to blame other people or circumstances or even worse to try and cover it up.  Let me tell you these practices lead to no good.  It is either going to compound the problem or end up putting others in bad situations and well that is just not cool.

Bigger than that it will cost you long term.  You may think you have “gotten away” with what ever it is but people will know or find out who was at the root of the problem or issue.  It is going to affect people’s perceptions and trust factor with you and that is not something you want.  What goes around comes around and bad vibes from trying to cover something up or lie about it is not what you want coming around ever.

I get it is SCARY to own up to a mistake you made.  Maybe it causes bad feelings, time or even money to fix and you are afraid to let people know.  However, the people you need to let know have also made mistakes in their life so as soon as you see something is wrong own up to it.  Be honest, be sincere and acknowledge that you made a mistake and ask for help.

I can guarantee you that while initial feelings might not be positive the fact that you owned up to it and asked for help will pay dividends in the end.  The mistake will get fixed, and the trust factor will be bigger in the end.  Who ever you had to own up to will see that you learned from your mistake and will grow from them.  They know you did not let the situation get worse by trying to cover it up and with that comes trust.

Know that while you are killing it a mistake or two will slip in and that is OK!  Own up to it, ask for help and learn from it.  You do that and the future will be BRIGHT!  So, shine bright and much love!

-JMAXX