A new way of thinking

The other day I was reminiscing about a fun past time I used to take part in. In my early twenties, some friends and I would take our four wheel drive trucks and head for the mountains. We would then find some old logging roads and trails to drive on and go do a little exploring. Combine that with a little skeet shooting throughout the day and all of us would have a great time! Sometimes, we would find ourselves on dirt / mud roads and our four wheel drive would be a must.

I recall back to a certain time when our small group came across a steep muddy. Several of us tried to climb the hill but had very little luck because it was just to slick. After about fifteen minutes or so, I noticed a friend of mine was letting some of the air out of his tires on his Ford Bronco. As several of us witnessed this, we began to laugh at him asking him why he was letting the air out of his tires? He said he was flattening his tires. He took our criticism well and just told us to watch him.

Minutes later, we were in shock and awe as he was the only one able to climb that steep muddy hill and, he did it with ease! I have to admit, I was in a bit of disbelief. There was no way he could have just done that... he made it look easy! Several of us tried the hill again but still could not get up it. In our way of thinking and what we knew to be true, simply letting some of the air out of your tires could not make that much difference.

Even though a handful of us witnessed this, we still could not believe it. Primarily (looking back on it) because it did not line up with what we believed to be true. We had never tried this, nor had we ever heard of it. To the majority of us, this just could not be true. Quite the opposite though… this was in fact a great way to get more traction, we had just never known it.

Today, as I look around our society, I see many people who hold the same old belief day in and day out. They are going by what they have always known and continue to do things the way they have always done them. Truth be known, often times, there is a better way out there but very few people are open minded enough to entertain a new idea. This was me back then. I thought I knew the best way. In my mind I had all the answers, so why consider knew ones? After all, my parents always did things the same way over and over again. So I was just going off of what my parents taught me.

Aside from principles, morals, values and ethics, a new way of thinking or doing things is not very far out of reach. In fact, often it is lurking just around the corner. Being willing to listen, consider or entertain a new way of thinking can very well be the seed towards living a more fulfilling life. It is those old ways of thinking that like to hold us captive and keep us from a higher level of understanding. If you and I can allow ourselves to listen more and resist less, we might just find that we don’t have all the answers.

Like the old saying goes: “Your mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open” could very well be the gateway to getting more of the things we want in life and I personally, believe that having an open mind is the best way to go through this life. Then, let your gut feeling or your discernment be your guide to what you should believe.

Have a great Friday everyone.


Scott Stewart

Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness

scott@lovelossandgrowth.com

Kids and Gifts

The more I watch my daughters with what they say, how they act and how
they respond to others, the more I realize how much I am blessed. Just
watching kids be themselves and interact with other kids and adults can
say a lot about them. Currently, my oldest is seven and my youngest is
four. Both are obviously at different places of learning and interaction but
there is one thing that just touches my heart that they both do at this stage
of their young lives and that is, what and how they give gifts to those they
care about.

Children this age are so pure and innocent. They do not understand this
big old world could very well one day beat them up and spit them out.
Because of this, their actions and thoughts mostly follow the same way. I
am not counting sibling influence here or the influence of other kids but
they really do not know yet about materialism or what money can do. (Last
year, though, I did start teaching my oldest about money.)

As adults, we tend to give gifts to our spouses or family members that
usually cost money. Of course this is not a bad thing. This is the way of
our society. Kids, who do not yet understand about our society and how it
works, use their natural God-given abilities - their hearts and imagination.
My girls can create the most amazing homemade cards for my wife and
me. The time they spend on them, the colors, their imagination, the way
they think and see us as a family. All of these things they use to draw on
an "I love you card." Anyone who has or has had young kids understands
what I am talking about.

They just know how to make you smile with these
kinds of gifts. I have to admit, after receiving several of these, I did find
myself becoming a bit numb and almost irritated. But I think the main thing
we have to remember here is that this is the most pure, heartfelt gift a child
could give! There is no ulterior motive behind the gift and it is simply
because they want to. I believe little things like this are also a way in which
God reminds us not all gifts need to be big and expensive. Even the
smallest things sent from the heart, can have the most meaning in showing
someone how we feel about them. Grandmas and Grandpas also know
what I am talking about here when they receive these gifts.

Yes I know eventually, we as parents will have boxes full of things that our
kids have made for us. I am one of those parents. I also know those items
my daughters share with me or make and give to me show they love me
and they are happy. Kids don't always know how to voice how they feel,
that is something they have to learn along the way. But to make something
from scratch and give it as a gift could very well be the highest form of
showing love.

Have a great Friday everyone and an even better weekend.


Scott Stewart

Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.

scott@lovelossandgrowth.com

541-343-3614