Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike

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“Many situations in life are similar to going on a hike: The view changes once you start walking.”

—James Clear, author of Atomic Habits

mage from Unsplash by Holly Raven (Mandarich)

Life often feels overwhelming when we stand at the trailhead, staring at a challenge that seems too steep or uncertain.

Yet much like a hike, the view always changes once we start walking! The first steps might be slow, the path uneven- but with each stride, new perspectives unfold.

What once looked impossible begins to take shape as progress and clarity replaces hesitation.

The magic isn’t in reaching the summit — it’s in discovering how the journey reshapes how we see ourselves and our world.

So, when the road ahead feels unclear, take that first step — let the view evolve as you move forward.

EXERCISE:

Embrace gradual progress in your efforts today. Notice how each step — no matter how small —builds momentum.

Celebrate milestones and resist judging your journey by distant peaks.

Imagine the ocean as your life and its waves as your opportunities

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Imagine the ocean as your life and its waves as your opportunities. Which ones will you ride and which ones will you let pass you by?

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Jeremy Bishop

Life is a vast ocean, filled with endless waves — each one an opportunity rising and falling before you.

Which waves will you choose to ride?

Some crash unexpectedly, threatening to pull you under with their power. Others roll in gently, inviting you to glide and grow.

If you spend your days anxiously watching the horizon for the “perfect wave” you risk missing the ones already forming at your feet.

Every wave offers lessons, momentum, and change. Will you dive in, ride its energy, and discover where it takes you? Or will you sit on the shore and wonder what might have been?

The real adventure begins when you leap into the waves of life, unafraid, open, and ready for whatever comes!

EXERCISE:

Where in your life are you waiting for the perfect wave?

How can you use your best judgement and courage to ride a few more forming at your feet to realize many more opportunities that await?

Friday Review: Failure

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Friday Review: Failure

How do you define and react to failure? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever face in life is choosing whether to walk away or try harder.”

 

 

 

 

“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulus. The Digitalis of Failure.”

 

 

 

 

 

“If you call failures experiments, you can put them on your resume and claim them as achievements.”

 

 

 

 

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

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“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.”

—Cicero, ancient Roman statesman, lawyer, and philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Nguyen Tau Hoai

Cicero’s nugget of wisdom isn’t just a gentle suggestion — it’s a challenge!

In a world hungry for validation and overwhelmed by stuff, what if fulfillment is far simpler than we imagine?

The garden calls us to put our hands in the dirt and watch life emerge from the smallest seeds, reminding us of creation, resilience, and hope.

The library, meanwhile throws open the doors to ideas that outlive empires, empowering us to think, grow, and transcend. Together, they demand that we redefine abundance — not as consumption, but as cultivation.

Are you bold enough to choose roots and pages over endless scrolling and shallow distraction?

If so, everything you need might already be within reach.

EXERCISE:

Take one of your favorite books outdoors and read under a tree or besides your plants.

Combining nature with reading heightens joy and reduces stress while letting intellectual curiosity and serenity grow side by side.

“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”

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“Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.”

—Simone Weil, 20th century French philosopher, mystic and political activist

Image from Unsplash by Abby Dinosaur

Giving someone your undivided attention is like offering a rare and beautiful gift — one that costs nothing but means everything.

In a world so busy and distracted, when we truly pause to listen or notice another person, we show the purest form of generosity: we make them feel seen and valued.

Our time — unlike money or possessions — cannot be returned or replaced; it’s a precious resource.

By being present —even for a moment — we create a ripple of kindness and connection in someone’s life. The simple act of attending to another is the heart of compassion.

Today, share your attention generously, it’s a gift that can brighten any soul.

EXERCISE:

Where and with whom do you listen deeply letting others know they “matter” to you.

Where and how can you expand and grow this rare capacity within your communities?

“What we learn to do shapes how we learn to think.”

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“What we learn to do shapes how we learn to think.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood blog

Image from Unsplash by eleonora

What we practice doesn’t just fill our time; it rewrites our minds.

When you train as a marketer, you start to see stories in every product.
When you learn to coach, you begin to listen for the question beneath the question.
Learn spreadsheets, and the world turn into columns and rows.
Learn to paint, and suddenly light, shadow, and color shout for your attention.

The danger is living on autopilot, letting old habits do your thinking for you.

The invitation is to choose your practices on purpose because every skill you rehearse is secretly a rehearsal for how you will think.

EXERCISE:

Consider reading Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman to examine how two powerful thinking systems shape judgement, bias, and decision making to better your life.

Watch the children in your life and let them teach you

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Watch the children in your life and let them teach you how to regain the playful innocence and joy of your youth

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by eleonora

Children have a way of chasing bubbles as if they’re priceless treasures, and turning cardboard boxes into rocket ships — never once worrying about their to do list or inbox.

When your little ones requests that you “come play” it’s really an invitation to remember the part of you that still believes in wonder.

Let them lead today. Put your phone down, say YES to the silly game, draw with crayons, or dance in the kitchen for no good reason at all. As you delight in their laughter, you may discover your own never really disappeared — it was just waiting to be invited back out.

EXERCISE:

Today and throughout this holiday season make a point of letting your little ones lead you in many more playful activities.

Feel free to reply to this post regarding the ways you rediscovered more of your childhood innocence.

Friday Review: EXPERIENCE

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Friday Review: EXPERIENCE

How do you view the experiences (good or bad) of your life? Here are a few related posts you may have missed.

“Traveling: it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

 

 

 

“One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.”

 

 

 

 

“When you are young, you have raw smarts; when you are old, you have wisdom.”

 

 

Clients will pay more for something useful than something that was difficult

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“Clients will pay more for something useful than something that was difficult.”

—Seth Godin, American author, marketing expert, entrepreneur

Image from Unsplash by Austin Distel

Why do clients choose one service over another?

It’s tempting for providers to highlight the sweat, hours, and struggle poured into their offerings, but that’s not what truly matters.

Clients will pay more for solutions that work — not for stories of how hard it was to build them. If your advice or product solves a real problem or unlocks new potential, it commands premium value.

Don’t fall in love with your effort — fall in love with your impact. The most difficult thing to create might only be impressive to you — the most useful thing creates results for them.

Invest your energy in serving needs, not showcasing difficulty, and watch loyalty and profits grow.

EXERCISE:

Which of you client activities produce the greatest value for the effort applied?

Consider using The 80/20 Rule to discover more high impact results you can create without having to break too much of a sweat.

Not every half-baked idea deserves tossing

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“Not every half-baked idea deserves tossing. Some just need more time in the oven.”

—Stephen St. Amant, author of the Savenwood Blog

Image from Unsplash by Alex Lam

Not every half-baked idea deserves tossing. Some just need more time in your ideation oven, and Voila! – they are golden!

Think of your wild notions like a tray of cookies: sometimes the gooey middle turns exactly right with a little patience.

Instead of abandoning an idea for being “underdone” give it a chance to rise, reshape, and surprise you.

History is full of quirky inventions and creative projects that started half-formed, but a dash of persistence helped them become something special.

If a notion keeps popping into your mind, don’t be shy — stick it back in the oven and let inspiration do its slow-cooking magic.

You might end up with a creative treat that delights everyone!

EXERCISE:

To test which of your ideas deserve more time in the oven, try to summarize your idea in one clear sentence. If you can’t, it might need more focus or rethinking.