Who doesn’t like Fridays, right? We’ve reached, for most, the end of the work and eagerly look ahead to respite from the daily grind and, let’s hope, a little weekend fun.
Fridays, at least for this simple dude from Missouri, also mean gathering, eight o’clock in the morning, in a room full of knuckleheads. We challenge, encourage and cajole one another to strengthen our faith.
This past week about a dozen of us were pondering the following question: “What are you holding onto that needs to be poured out so others can have their vision of God expanded?” While the conversation flowed back and forth around me, I couldn’t get my mind removed from altering the question a bit. Cranium was fixated on this: “What am I holding onto that needs to be poured out so I can have my vision of life’s possibilities expanded?”
What holds us back? Personally, I believe the biggest barrier is the six inches between our ears. Last week I wrote about Harlan “Colonel” Sanders and his recipe for success. He just wouldn’t give up. It wasn’t until the Indiana native was 65-years-old and had endured several setbacks - childhood beatings, divorce, business failure to name a few - before Kentucky Fried Chicken was born and prospered. Sanders didn’t hang on to past disappointments and their offspring: fear and self doubt.
When given the joy and honor of speaking to others about effectively handling adversity, sharing the importance of letting go of fear and self doubt and allowing courage and wonderment to win, is always explored. The words of Shakespeare come to mind: “Our doubts are traitors that make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt.”
I have a favorite keepsake a friend gave me years ago that states: “Don’t let fear get in the way of your dreams. Instead, remember courage is the soul of your dreams.” Amen to that.
As I write this Pep Talk, it’s a Saturday morning about 20 minutes before departure to join other men and women for a robust 12-minute workout at a Maximized Living location in the Denver metro area. In partnership with three doctors and their locations in the area, Victory Productions is encouraging others, and ourselves, to maximize life and live like champions. Part of that mission is weekend workouts devoted to fitness, nutrition and wellness. I so admire the participants who are letting go of past unproductive habits. They’re inspiring me to do the same. Like-minded people, gathering together and giving hope and confidence to one another in healthy and productive ways - rarely a bad thing, right?
What about you? Where is it time to ask the question: “What am I holding onto that needs to be poured out so I can have my vision of life’s possibilities expanded?” Perhaps it’s centered on something physical, emotional or spiritual? An issue at home, work or elsewhere? The venues and circumstances don’t matter nearly as much as our attitude toward them.
For me, answering the above question means having the guts to continue to figure out a way to earn a living centered on what truly warms the marrow and is Victory’s mission: exalting, inquiring and encouraging others to play like champions - home, work and elsewhere. When a marketing client is lost, speaking opportunities become sporadic, book sales slow to a trickle, an inner voice - fear - does try and dominate the self chatter with something like, “Go get a real job knucklehead!”
But then, usually, there will be a sign. These days it seems, I’ll be driving around town and lo and behold, I’ll see a billboard - a sign - advertising Kentucky Fried Chicken. I’ll see the Colonel’s smiling face and receive a powerful reminder of a fellow human being who rose above the fray, despite great hardship, and refused to relinquish a dream. He remained joyful for the present, optimistic about the future and courageous despite the past.
Joyful, optimistic and courageous. Let’s pour that terrific trio into life this week and see if it expands our opportunities. Trust me, the effort will not harm us.
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