From Chad

Reading on an iPad suppresses melatonin production by 50%, delaying sleep onset and reducing sleep quality. I have fallen prey bad habit of scrolling on my phone before bed. I try to prioritize bedtime and getting good sleep.

Breathing is a fundamental practice that can help balance the nervous system, counteracting the stress of modern life.  Simple breathing exercises, like inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling slowly, can activate the parasympathetic nervous system and promote relaxation.

Criticism, though often false and harsh, can be a valuable source of learning if approached with an open mind.  By recognizing the potential for truth in criticism, one can turn it into a tool for personal and professional growth.

People, like ships, have a universal desire to fulfill their potential and a unique call or destination.  Only you can chart your unique course, influenced by others but ultimately responsible for your journey.

The ultimate goal is to close the gap between who we are and who we can be, striving for eudaimonia or flourishing.  Each day is an opportunity to improve and become the best version of ourselves.

There are two types of people: those who do and those who procrastinate. Develop a sense of urgency by repeating a simple mantra to yourself, as suggested by W Clement Stone.

Feeling resistance is normal. This is message 407 and day #61 in the 8-C Challenge and this message is dedicated to the amazing Taylor Whitacker.One of my heroes is Fred Rogers aka Mr. Rogers, you know, from the neighborhood. I have a picture of him on my hero wall and am reminded of his gentleness, presence, and creativity several times each day. He is my mentor for my mantra "Focus where my feet are." He was a master of being present and in the moment. If you haven't seen the video of his acceptance speech for a Lifetime Achievement Award in television search for it immediately. I'm serious, stop listening to me right now and look it up on YouTube.His work did not come easy. He faced internal resistance and self-doubt just like you and me. He is a great reminder that feeling resistance is normal. Sometimes you have to coach yourself, believe in yourself, give yourself a pep talk. Over the course of THREE DECADES(!!) he created over 900 episodes. However, about 10 years into his Mr. Rogers Neighborhood career, he still faced resistance. Not from critics, but within himself. We have a memo he wrote to himself from 1979. This journal entry is his own words he typed out on yellow legal paper in April, 1979."Am I kidding myself that I’m able to write a script again? Am I really just whistling Dixie? I wonder. If I don’t get down to it I’ll never really know. Why can’t I trust myself? Really that’s what it’s all about… that and not wanting to go through the agony of creation. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS IT’S JUST AS BAD AS EVER. I wonder if every creative artist goes through the tortures of the damned trying to create.?. Oh, well, the hour cometh and now IS when I’ve got to do it. GET TO IT, FRED. GET TO IT… But don’t let anybody ever tell anybody else that it was easy. It wasn’t."Fred was 51 (!) years old when he wrote this little memo to himself. He had started his show 11 (!) years earlier!!! It is never easy showing up to do your work. Building a masterpiece life entails showing up day-to-day attempting to make masterpiece days. Motivation is a myth. You will not feel like doing what you need to do. You have to act differently than you feel. You won't be in the mood to get to it. What's mood got to do with it. Get to it.Get to it.Get to it.Get to it.

The power of compounding, illustrated by a penny doubling daily, demonstrates the value of incremental, patient growth in various aspects of life. Consistent investment in health, relationships, and habits yields significant benefits over time.

CS Lewis advocated for a daily quiet time to seek God’s guidance, even if divine communication is unclear.  Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages trusting in God and acknowledging Him in all decisions, even if it’s just a moment of reflection.

Change often requires personal initiative, as waiting for others to act can be futile.  Plato’s quote emphasizes the importance of self-movement in effecting change.