priorities

Unleashing the Power of Habits: The Significance of a Morning Routine

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We often underestimate the influence of our daily habits and routines on our overall well-being and productivity. Mornings, in particular, provide a unique opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the day. Establishing a morning routine is like laying a strong foundation for success and personal growth. Today, we will delve into the importance of habits and explore the transformative effects of a well-crafted morning routine.

Building the Framework for Success:

Habits form the framework that guides our actions, thoughts, and decisions. By consciously designing a morning routine, we proactively set ourselves up for success. Rather than starting the day in a rushed and reactive manner, a well-planned routine allows us to approach each day with intention and purpose. It creates a sense of control over our time and sets the stage for a productive and fulfilling day ahead.

Harnessing the Power of Consistency:

Consistency is the key to making lasting changes and achieving long-term goals. When we establish a morning routine and stick to it consistently, we cultivate discipline and commitment. Over time, these habits become ingrained in our daily lives, making it easier to maintain our momentum and avoid falling into unproductive patterns. Consistency also builds confidence, as we witness the positive impact of our routines unfold over time.

Enhancing Physical and Mental Well-being:

A well-crafted morning routine can significantly contribute to our physical and mental well-being. Incorporating activities such as exercise, meditation, or journaling into our mornings helps us prioritize self-care and set a positive tone for the day. Physical activity boosts endorphins, improves focus, and enhances overall energy levels. Meanwhile, meditation and mindfulness practices cultivate mental clarity, reduce stress, and promote a sense of calm. By dedicating time to nourishing our bodies and minds, we cultivate a strong foundation for optimal health and personal growth.

Maximizing Productivity and Efficiency:

One of the most significant benefits of a morning routine is its ability to optimize productivity and efficiency. By identifying and prioritizing the most important tasks early in the day, we harness the power of our peak energy and mental focus. Completing essential tasks early on creates a sense of accomplishment and momentum that carries throughout the day, increasing our overall productivity. A morning routine allows us to start each day with a clear purpose and a roadmap, eliminating decision fatigue and setting us up for success.

Cultivating Mindfulness and Gratitude:

In the midst of a fast-paced world, a morning routine provides us with a valuable opportunity to slow down, cultivate mindfulness, and practice gratitude. Whether it’s through meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few moments of solitude, a morning routine encourages us to connect with ourselves and our surroundings. By setting aside time for self-reflection, we become more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and desires. This awareness enables us to make conscious choices throughout the day and fosters a deeper sense of gratitude for the present moment.

The significance of habits and a well-crafted morning routine cannot be overstated. By establishing intentional habits and routines, we take charge of our lives and pave the way for personal growth, success, and overall well-being. Embrace the power of consistency, prioritize self-care, and unleash the potential within you through a mindful and purposeful morning routine. Start each day with intention, and watch as your life transforms one morning at a time

Because People Matter-

-K

Unlocking Your Potential: Essential Tips for Personal Growth

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Personal growth is a lifelong journey that allows us to evolve, learn, and reach our fullest potential. It is an ongoing process of self-discovery, self-improvement, and self-awareness. Today, we will explore essential tips that can help you embark on a transformative path of personal growth and unlock new levels of fulfillment and success in various aspects of your life.

Cultivate a Growth Mindset:

A growth mindset is the foundation of personal growth. Embrace the belief that you have the capacity to learn, change, and develop your skills and abilities. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, see failures as learning experiences, and view feedback as constructive guidance. Embracing a growth mindset opens doors to continuous learning and improvement.

Set Clear and Meaningful Goals:

Goal-setting is a powerful tool for personal growth. Set clear, specific, and meaningful goals that align with your values and aspirations. Break them down into smaller, actionable steps to make them more achievable. Regularly review and adjust your goals to ensure they remain relevant and motivating. Setting goals gives you direction, purpose, and a sense of accomplishment as you make progress towards them.

Embrace Continuous Learning:

Never stop learning. Seek knowledge and experiences that expand your horizons. Read books, take courses, attend seminars, and engage in activities that challenge you intellectually and emotionally. Cultivate curiosity, ask questions, and be open to new perspectives. Embracing a lifelong learning mindset enhances personal growth and keeps you adaptable in an ever-changing world.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone:

Growth occurs outside of your comfort zone. Challenge yourself by taking calculated risks and embracing new experiences. Pushing beyond familiar boundaries opens up opportunities for self-discovery and personal development. Whether it’s trying a new hobby, taking on a leadership role, or speaking in public, the growth that comes from venturing outside your comfort zone is invaluable.

Nurture Self-Care and Well-being:

Personal growth goes hand in hand with self-care and well-being. Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. Prioritize activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul, such as regular exercise, sufficient sleep, healthy eating, and mindfulness practices. Engage in activities that bring you joy and reduce stress. When you prioritize self-care, you create a solid foundation for personal growth and overall well-being.

Surround Yourself with Positive Influences:

The people you surround yourself with greatly impact your personal growth journey. Seek out relationships and connections with individuals who inspire and support your goals. Surround yourself with positive influences, mentors, and role models who uplift and challenge you. Engage in communities and networks that foster growth and encourage personal development. Their support, guidance, and feedback can accelerate your growth and provide valuable insights.

Reflect and Practice Self-Reflection:

Regular self-reflection is a powerful tool for personal growth. Set aside time for introspection, journaling, or meditation. Reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Celebrate your achievements and acknowledge areas where growth is needed. Self-reflection helps you gain self-awareness, make better choices, and cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself.

Personal growth is a continuous journey of self-discovery, learning, and improvement. By cultivating a growth mindset, setting clear goals, embracing continuous learning, stepping out of your comfort zone, nurturing self-care and well-being, surrounding yourself with positive influences, and practicing self-reflection, you unlock your potential and embark on a transformative path towards personal growth.

Embrace the journey with enthusiasm and patience, for the possibilities for growth and self-improvement are limitless. Each step you take towards personal growth brings you closer to living a more fulfilling, purpose-driven life.

Because People Matter-

-K

Parallels between Golf and Productivity: A Hole-in-One Approach to Living a Fulfilling Life

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Golf, often hailed as a gentleman’s game, is not only a sport but also a microcosm of life itself. Beyond the well-manicured greens and competitive spirit lies a multitude of lessons that can be applied to our pursuit of living a productive and fulfilling life. Let’s explore the remarkable parallels between golf and productivity, highlighting how the principles and mindset cultivated on the golf course can positively impact our daily lives.

1. Goal Setting and Strategy:

Just as a golfer assesses the course and strategizes before each shot, living a productive life requires setting clear goals and formulating strategies to achieve them. Golfers visualize their shots, plan their approach, and adapt to changing conditions. Similarly, by defining our aspirations, breaking them into manageable steps, and adjusting our plans as needed, we can navigate life’s challenges and make progress towards our objectives.

2. Focus and Mindfulness:

In golf, concentration and mindfulness are essential for success. A golfer needs to be fully present in the moment, focusing on each swing with precision. Similarly, living a productive life requires us to cultivate mindfulness, directing our attention to the task at hand and minimizing distractions. By immersing ourselves in the present, we can enhance our productivity, make better decisions, and fully engage with our surroundings.

3. Resilience and Adaptability:

Golfers often face unpredictable elements such as wind, rough terrain, or unexpected hazards. Similarly, in life, we encounter unforeseen obstacles and setbacks. Golf teaches us the importance of resilience and adaptability. A golfer must maintain composure, analyze the situation, and adjust their strategy accordingly. Likewise, approaching life’s challenges with resilience, flexibility, and a growth mindset allows us to bounce back, learn from setbacks, and forge ahead towards our goals.

4. Patience and Perseverance:

Golf is a game of patience and perseverance. It requires a golfer to endure numerous swings, setbacks, and missed shots while remaining focused on the ultimate goal. Likewise, living a productive life demands patience and persistence. Success rarely comes overnight, and setbacks are inevitable. By embracing a patient and tenacious mindset, we can maintain our motivation, learn from failures, and steadily progress towards our desired outcomes.

5. Balance and Well-being:

Golf emphasizes the importance of balance and well-being. A golfer’s performance can be greatly influenced by physical fitness, mental clarity, and emotional well-being. Similarly, living a productive life involves maintaining a harmonious balance between work, personal life, self-care, and pursuing passions. Prioritizing our physical and mental health, nurturing relationships, and finding time for rejuvenation enhances our overall productivity and satisfaction.

The game of golf offers valuable insights into living a productive and fulfilling life. As we navigate the fairways and hazards of life, the principles of goal setting, focus, resilience, patience, and balance serve as guiding beacons. Embracing the mindset of a golfer can empower us to approach challenges with grace, adapt to changing circumstances, and consistently strive for improvement. So, tee up, take a swing, and discover how the game of golf can shape your approach to living a productive life.

The Power of Making Your Bed: Why It’s the Most Important Task of the Day

/ Kris / 1 Comment

Making your bed is often seen as a mundane and insignificant task, easily overlooked in the rush of the morning routine. However, what if I told you that making your bed is the most important task of the day? Let’s explore the profound impact that this simple act can have on your mindset, productivity, and overall well-being.

  1. Setting the Tone for Success: Making your bed each morning sets a positive tone for the day ahead. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and starts your day with a small win. By completing this task, you create a foundation of order and discipline, signaling to your brain that you are ready to take on the challenges and tasks that lie ahead. It sets a precedent for productivity and success in other areas of your life.
  2. Cultivating a Sense of Control: In a world full of uncertainties, making your bed is a task that you have complete control over. It is a deliberate action that allows you to take charge of your immediate environment. By making your bed, you create a space that is tidy, organized, and visually appealing. This sense of control and order can have a positive impact on your mental well-being, reducing stress and creating a sense of calm.
  3. Creating an Organized Environment: A neatly made bed contributes to an overall organized environment. When your bed is tidy, it inspires you to keep the rest of your space clutter-free. It sets a precedent for cleanliness and organization, making it easier to find what you need and reducing distractions throughout the day. An organized environment promotes focus, productivity, and a sense of peace.
  4. Developing Discipline and Routine: Making your bed is a simple act that cultivates discipline and routine. It reinforces the importance of consistency and attention to detail. By incorporating this task into your morning routine, you develop a habit of following through on commitments, no matter how small they may seem. This discipline spills over into other areas of your life, enabling you to tackle larger goals with dedication and perseverance.
  5. Enhancing Sleep Quality: Believe it or not, making your bed can even impact your sleep quality. Research suggests that individuals who make their bed consistently tend to have better sleep hygiene. The act of making your bed in the morning helps air out your sheets, allowing any moisture to evaporate and preventing the accumulation of dust mites. Climbing into a freshly made bed at night promotes a sense of comfort and relaxation, enhancing the overall quality of your sleep.

Making your bed each morning is far from a trivial task. It sets the tone for the day, cultivates a sense of control and discipline, promotes an organized environment, and even enhances sleep quality. By incorporating this simple act into your daily routine, you create a foundation for success and well-being. So, embrace the power of making your bed and experience the transformative impact it can have on your mindset, productivity, and overall happiness.

Do you make your bed everyday? If not, commit to today to start making it each morning once you get up.

Because People Matter,

-K

Quit Being Lazy

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Men….I am talking to you. I know that 2020 was an unprecedented year, unlike anything we have been through. But that is no excuse. I know because I have fallen in that trap as well. The truth is that our wives need us. They need us now probably more than ever.

Over the next several days, maybe weeks, I want to share about marriage. Last year, I committed to Jessica that we would attend a marriage retreat at least once every quarter. Not because we needed it but because we wanted it. There is something about attending an intimate weekend marriage retreat with your spouse that can not be replicated.

Unfortunately, we were not able to attend any last year due to the pandemic. I am not sure about Jess but I know that I could feel it. I could actually feel the effects of not attending a conference last year. But we are finally able to attend a conference this month. We are excited to attend Romance Uncovered this year and hope to make it one of our yearly conferences to attend.

Leading up to our conference in a couple weeks, I want to share 10 tips to effectively date your spouse. These are tips that I have learned and believe they can greatly improve your married, dating life. I hate to admit it but I struggle with effectively dating my spouse as well. I will share 1 tip a day for the next 10 days.

  1. Do not be lazy. Think. Prepare. Act. Dating your spouse takes planning. It takes thoughtful preparation. Think back to before you were married, How much time and effort did you put into planning each and every date you went on? I would venture to bet that you have not put that much planning into a date night with your spouse since you have been married.

The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
    because his hands refuse to work. – Proverbs 21:25

When it comes to working on our marriage relationships so they grow stronger, too many of us treat it with a “whatever…” attitude. But realize:

“Love is a choice. So choose to love your spouse well. Remember that they are not the same person they were when you met them. Nor are you. So while you may think you know a lot about them, there may be new things to discover if you have the courage to go there.” (Mark Merrill)

And it does take courage. It also takes gumption and grit to challenge yourself when you’ve let yourself fall into the trap of marital complacency. Additionally, you will need to get to a place of “mindfulness.” You will need a “made up mind” in order to fight a lazy marriage attitude.

“Dr. John Gottman states that ‘couples often ignore each other’s emotional needs out of mindlessness, not malice.’ So, if you absentmindedly leave laundry on the floor or dirty dishes in the sink, it most likely isn’t with malicious intent. In fact, there probably isn’t any intent on your part, but rather a lack of mindfulness about your partner’s needs to have a clean house, which could lead to a conflict. To minimize or avoid that conflict, practice daily mindfulness about what your partner needs from you.” (The Gottman Institute

So this is a wakeup call to all of us. Are you (are we) ready to mix things up a bit? Look for ways to bless your spouse. Ask him or her if there is anything you can do within the next few days that will bless them.

That will certainly wake up him or her. It could actually introduce excitement. They may be confused for a few moments. But after they shake off the confusion, they could get quite excited. It’s like, “What do you mean? Is this a trick question? Do you mean I didn’t have to nag, or push at you to do this?” THAT’S a blessing in itself, but don’t stop there. Actually do what they ask of you.

And then look for other ways to take your marriage to a new level. Flirt with your spouse. Keep in mind that your marriage CAN be crippled by apathy. It can also die from boredom. Don’t let this happen. Look for ways to stir things up (in pleasant ways). You did this when you were dating each other. Just make a point of looking for ways to do this now that you are married.

There is still time to sign up to join us in Branson at the end of this month for Romance Uncensored. Click on the link here to sign up.

Because Your Spouse Matters

Kris

Men…Lets Be Honest.

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Men…Let’s be honest. 2020 was not our year. We made excuses as to why we could not complete our goals. We failed in our priorities. We failed to lead as we were called to do. As we look back, we can see that in nearly every aspect of our lives, 2020 had some sort of impact, mostly negative I am sure. What is ironic about last year being 2020 is that 20/20 signifies perfect vision. When it comes to our vision and eye sight, we all want 20/20 and we want to be able to achieve that without any sort of corrective lenses. But the truth is that many of us still need corrective lenses to achieve 20/20 vision.

My goal for 2021 this year is to grow in many facets of my life this year. I hope to grow more as a

husband

father

entrepreneur

friend

mentor

In order to achieve that growth, I am developing a Growth Plan for 2021. I am not sure yet what it will look like. I hope that it will include some type of mentorship with other men for accountability.

A growth plan is a kind of a guideline, that helps to show the skills one needs to acquire and the goals one needs to achieve by changing the way of your life in a positive direction. Besides, planning about the future gives you better control over their life. Also, it helps to guide them on days when they feel demotivated and down. Having a personal growth plan helps in finding out how effective one is in their everyday life. 

If you would be interested in being a part of a mentorship/accountability group, let me know.

Because People Matter,

Kris

Influential Generation

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Books

Just food for thought-

In Thom and Jess Rainers’ book “The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation,” They suggest that the Millennial Generation (those born between 1980-2000) has become the most influential generation.  Over 78 millions births occurred between 1980-2000.

What does this mean?  This means that people from the ages of 11 years old to 31 years old have surpassed the Baby Boomers and have become the leading influence in America today.

What are you doing to reach this generation?  Churches can not afford to miss out on the opportunity to reach this generation.  I believe that if we are going to reach the world for Christ, we must start with reaching the Millennial Generation.

 

Share your thoughts!!!

 

Because People Matter-

Kris

Spiritual Markers

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Markers 

 

We are getting ready to start the second half of the year. 

As I think about the fact that we are almost to June, I look back over my life to reflect how my life is different now than what it was at the beginning of the year.  I look back at the "Spiritual Markers" in my life to be able to see where I have grown and where I have not grown.

What is your spiritual growth plan? 

How is God using you this year?

Will your life be any different at the end of the year than it was at the beginning?

What are the spiritual markers in your life?

Do you know how to recognize them?

How are you keeping track of your spiritual growth?

 

Because People Matter,

Kris

32,000ft above!!!!

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As I am writing this post, I am 32,000 feet above somewhere between Incirlik Airbase, Turkey and Ramstein Airbase, Germany. It was a little less than a year ago that I was in the same area only headed in the other direction. A lot has gone on over the last year. I have been in Afghanistan since 18 December 2010. I have traveled all over Zabul Province in Southern Afghanistan. I have made many new friends and seen a lot of interesting places. This trip was a little bittersweet as I knew that it would be the beginning to the end of my 12 year military career. My contract is up in early 2013 and I have decided that I will not re-enlist for a 3rd time. I have spent 3 years in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past 10 years of serving in the military. I am excited to see what the future holds and I am also excited to announce that for the first time ever, I have developed a Game Plan for Life. This plan includeds aspects of where I am at now in my life and a direction and guidance on where I want to go and be in as much as 3 years. I have developed a Vision Statement for my life in 2012 that will help my to stay on track with my Game Plan. I have also developed 7 Core Values that I believe are a neccessity in my life. I have also enrolled in school full-time for the first time ever and look forward to furthering my educational knowledge. I will share my Vision Statement and Core Values later in another post. I just wanted to share these things with you while I was 32,000 ft in the air.

Blessings
love God.love people
Kris

Influential Genereation

/ Kris / Leave a comment

Books

Just food for thought-

In Thom and Jess Rainers’ book “The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation,” They suggest that the Millennial Generation (those born between 1980-2000) has become the most influential generation.  Over 78 millions births occurred between 1980-2000.

What does this mean?  This means that people from the ages of 11 years old to 31 years old have surpassed the Baby Boomers and have become the leading influence in America today.

What are you doing to reach this generation?  Churches can not afford to miss out on the opportunity to reach this generation.  I believe that if we are going to reach the world for Christ, we must start with reaching the Millennial Generation.

 

Share your thoughts!!!

 

Because People Matter-

Kris