My Riffs

Narrow minded people are challenged and challenging to be around.  Nobody intents to be narrow minded, but it happens. And one way it happens is by having a narrow knowledge base.  So expand your knowledge base. Doesn’t mean you have to subscribe to everything you learn and know. But have a broad knowledge base so you can handle a diverse array of people and situations. And you can relate to them better. You can draw upon that knowledge to communicate your different audiences.  Broad knowledge will help one with being relatable. 

Most of the time, they just need a good listener.  People don’t need you to fix all their problems.  They just need someone who can listen.  Both so they can feel understood but also so they can just get their feelings out.  Practice actively listening. Practice giving your attention to someone. 

The quality of your life is directly proportional to the quality of relationships you have.  Find great people, spend time with them and you’ll have a better life. 

One basic and easy way to make friends is simply to be friendly. Being friendly will attract friendly people.  Being miserable will have the opposite effect.  So to have friends, learn to be interested in other people and friendly. 

Don’t leave unsaid. I’m primarily talking about positive things. Say them. Give the compliment. Say the positive thing.  Also, find a way to say the difficult things, just say them the right way. 

When you don’t feel like doing something is when the time it really counts. Because if you stop then you’re not being consistent. And consistency is how you make gains.  Of course the task has to be aligned with your goals.  When it gets difficult is when it really matters and makes a difference. You can’t level up when it’s easy. 

How do other people and situations get us mad and frustrated? For most of us, it could be far too often.  One life hack to slow down on the frustrations at others is to learn to get curious.  Here’s an example, someone cuts you off in traffic. Get curious, ask what could be going on in their life that would cause them to be so inconsiderate. Or maybe how could they have learned to be so inconsiderate.  Somebody doesn’t communicate with you or not how you wanted? Get curious. What could have been going on in their day or their life that caused them to treat you that way? Come across an angry person? Wonder about what could have happened in their life to make them this way.  If you stay curious, it makes things less personal and more about the person or situation you’re dealing with. Not to shift blame or responsibility, but to help yourself get less frustrated or angry.  Everybody is dealing with more than we know. If we give them that grace, we will make dealing...

To have a good perspective, you have to have a good range of knowledge and understanding.  Otherwise our perspective is our small, narrow viewpoint. A good perspective is one that is informed and balanced, one that’s well rounded.  The more you learn the more you can shape your perspective into a more balanced one. 

I’m leaving a trail behind me.  So are you.  Are we leaving a trail of casualties or are we leaving a trail of beneficiaries? 

Do good. Do good wherever you go.  It doesn’t have to be extravagant. It can be small acts of kindness. But leave a trail of goodness. That’s a legacy worth leaving. 

Leaders take the brunt of criticism.  Some deserved and in good leaders, most undeserved. Leaders of character don’t let the criticism get to them, they continue to lead and inspire. They don’t become what their attackers are.  Good leaders accept criticism that makes them better and let the rest roll on off. If you’re gonna lead something, learn to handle criticism. 

How good is your foundation? And what is it made of.  It will be tested. When and how we usually don’t know.  But it will be tested! So do what you can to strengthen your foundation. It will need to be strong to survive the test of time. 

Remember in terms of gratitude. Forget in terms of being wronged.  Look back in Gratitude, but don’t look for the hurts and pains. 

There’s too much darkness in the world. Be a light.  The good news is that light is so much more powerful than dark.  Be a light and be powerful. 

Knowing what’s right but not doing it is a great injustice. If someone needs a hand and we don’t lend it, we’re now sharing responsibility for their plight.  Lend your hand, it not only lifts those who need it, but it lifts yourself as well.   

If you have to do something, do it with joy! Joy makes everything better. So if you’re gonna do something, do it with joy! 

How can we make the burdens of life lighter? By voluntarily doing hard things. The easier we try and make life, the harder it gets. It seems easier to avoid hard work. It seems easier to not discipline yourself. It seems easier to spend rather than save. It's easier to avoid than confront. It's easier to take shortcuts than do it right. But taking the easier path makes life harder. Maybe not immediately but eventually. The more things you voluntarily take on and face, the easier life gets. 

Life will be what you make it.  It doesn’t mean it’s easy or things are fair. But it will be what you make it.  You can’t change what happens to you. But it will be what you make it. 

The best day is when you've connected with people. When you're accomplished something necessary and when you've bettered yourself in someway. Humans have different areas that require time and attention. We need to be conscious of our minds, our souls, our body and our environment that affects all those things. Tend to these things and you will be a complete, healthy person.

We’ve been given life.  Make sure you live it to the fullest.  Try things. Make lots of connections. Have lofty goals, and actually try to reach them. Laugh a lot. Love deeply. Find your purpose and live it passionately. That’s how you truly live. 

Being fair doesn’t always mean being the same.  It means treating everyone with the same love and respect.