My Riffs

Love has to be a verb. Otherwise it’s not love. If there’s no action, there’s no love. Love is more than words and feelings. 

If it’s easy it’s of little value. If it’s hard it has potential for much more value. 

The better definition of success is how you make others better. Success that only elevates us isn't truly success, it's selfishness.

When change isn't happening, you have to try something else. More of the same is gonna dig the ruts in deeper. Sometimes change is necessary for better quality life. Could be as simple as a job change or a new skill learned. But embrace change as it's the door to the future and fighting in only makes it worse. Embrace change as an avenue to become better.

My Apple Watch reminds me every morning that I’m starting at zero again. Zero steps, zero exercise and zero standing. It’s a good reminder that every day is an opportunity to wake up and start over again. To start fresh again. We don’t have to stay stuck in the same ruts, habits and cycles. Wake up tomorrow and start new, start at zero. The day is before you to unfold how you want. 

It’s the merciful that will obtain mercy. We all need mercy from time to time. When we give mercy, we receive it. So be liberal with mercy, it will be there for you when you need it in return. 

The things we look at as strength are so often misguided. Strength doesn't really have much to do with muscle or getting your way. Strength has much more to do with discipline, gentleness, patience, love.

Here’s a huge red flag, when someone makes everything about themselves. It generally means they have an inflated sense of self or they take everything personal. Both of which are distorted views of oneself. Those who think of themselves less don’t make everything about themselves. They make everything about others. And that would be in a good way. 

Many talk about doing something but few actually do.  So just do it and go for it! If you don’t get it the first time, try again. And if that doesn’t work, try a different way. But the only real failure is to not go for it. 

I’ve heard it said quite well, don’t think less of yourself, only think of yourself less. Meaning think of others first. Put others first. You don’t have to think less of yourself to think of yourself less. 

Too many are putting other on blast. When does putting someone on blast work? Does it ever? How about being kind and loving them? That’s the better way to help correct someone. 

Sometimes the best way to help those around you is to help yourself. By becoming a better person you can better help those around you. So invest in yourself without becoming self centered. Invest in yourself so you can help others. 

Bitterness eats the person holding bitterness.  It doesn’t hurt the person I’m bitter towards, it hurts me.  Letting go of bitterness helps me and it helps those around me. 

It’s never too late to change. We can become something else tomorrow if we want. Don’t give into that myth that “this is just who I am”. 

We want more. But not usually more of what's important. The things we want more of are the least important. Usually more materials, more stuff, more status, etc. What we should want more of is more contentment, more patience, more kindness, more character, more compassion, more empathy, more love. Don't get more stuff, get more valuable things.

Here's a big mistake that's easy to make: thinking we are better than someone else. This is such an easy mistake to make, but it's so wrong. We choose a particular metric and say we're better than someone else. But forget, they are better than us in other areas. As soon as we think ourselves better, we make ourselves far worse. In fact we set ourselves up for a fall. Pride precedes a fall.

How often do we fancy ourselves mind readers? We seem to know every bad thing people think about us, simply by reading their minds. But maybe we're wrong more often than we know. Nobody can read minds, and so why assume the worst? In reality, most times, people aren't probably thinking about us. They're likely wrapped up in their own challenges.

If you're gonna do it. Do it good. Half baking isn't worth even doing. 

If you’re going to speak or write, make sure it adds value. Constructive criticism can add value. But just criticism doesn’t add a thing. Add value and you will be valued and valuable. 

A man without values is a man without an anchor. Values ground you. Without values you will stand for nothing and be constantly blown about by the wind. Find some values and stick to them. 

It’s the reaction that matters. Stuff will happen to us. We will feel strong emotions. People will lie about us. We will be misunderstood. It’s the reaction that matters. In most of these cases, let your actions prove yourself. You don’t have to follow every single thing that is said or done to you or about you. Choose you reaction. You can’t always choose what happens but you can choose how you respond. 

Often the difference between successful people and others is simply they’re doers. They just put into action their idea or their words. Sometimes it’s a real simple formula to success. 

The difference between fluff and substance is results. Fluff is big talk. Results is substance. 

The closer you act in public how you act in private the more honest you are. Those who act in public something other than they are in private are dishonest. Being dishonest with yourself is probably the hardest dishonesty to fix. 

Liking something is easy nowadays. You click a heart or thumbs up icon. And you may not even like it. You may like the person who posted it. Or you maybe clicked it by accident. But really liking something comes with a cost. When we really like something it will take our time and our energy in some way. Social media has made the liking process quick, easy and cheap. But our interests, hobbies and relationships require much more than a click.

The old saying is, say what you mean and mean what you say. That is unfortunately not the norm. It's a lot harder than it sounds. 

Nobody has time to waste. One of the biggest mistakes of young people, and people in general is thinking they have time. Time is the most precious and fleeting resource. Life is way to short to do things you hate. There's times and places to do things you dislike, but life it too short to waste time doing things you hate. You don't have time to waste, use it as if it's a precious, rare resource.

If you do your due diligence you likely won't make a mistake. Or the mistake will be must less. When we cut corners we inevitably make a mistake.

It’s the idle words that get us in trouble. Our speech needs to be precise and efficient. That’s how we get in less trouble. Precise, clear and efficient speech is powerful. Watch your idle words they make you weak and get you into trouble. 

Fear paralyzes. The more we listen to fear, the less we live. We can be fearless and smart. You don't have to throw away all smarts when you're fearless. Most fears aren't even rational or likely. But they render us as if they were. Overcoming fear can be a long process but is worth it. Keep moving in the direction of love!