The Daily Disturbance

You’ve got several energy tanks, whether you realize it or not! So, start measuring, expending, and filling them up! No one else can do it for you! Others can remind you, assist you, frustrate you and tempt you, but you will have to decide and use them on your own. “Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.” — Carol Burnett

How much energy do you have as you start this week? What if it is low, can you still hack it? In the end, its really realizing how much you have and how best to leverage it. “Some people are walking around with full use of their bodies and they’re more paralyzed than I am.” – Cristopher Reeve

Your family experience is already a meaningful one. The question is: what kind of meaning are you seeing as your experiences unfold in your life? It can mean nothing, “a bit of something,” or everything, depending on what perspective you choose. May we all choose to see that our family experiences – good, bad, and ugly – all together bend, break and make us the total person we are “as of today,” w...

By not allowing that someone to get into your nerves! It’s a choice my friend. Hold it! Delay it! Allow it to pass. Nerve tissues are mostly skin deep; weather the storms and crisis by going deeper into our hearts. Our hearts have a greater capacity to love and be patient compared to our nerves. Go to the root to manage the root. Sometimes problems don't require a solution to solve them; instead t...

It's not the many things you share together; its what you together share about each other! Indeed, in the beginning you all act like one, dress as one, go about life as one. But as you mature, you see less and less similarities among family members and, not surprisingly, more and more differences as a each carves out his or her own niche. What I am most thankful for, amidst a wide range of fruits,...

Very! “Pick a dysfunction and its a family problem.” - Robert Downey, Jr. I think every family should embrace authenticity and accept that just as the fiercest form of love will be seen in a family setting, so will be the most horrific cases of abuse. Isnt the greatest enemy ultimately discovered within?

Don't avoid it, anticipate it. Your family will struggle, if not yet. Does this disillusion you? This is actually good. An illusion isn’t real, is it? So, technically, to be disillusioned is to be freed from illusions, and isn’t that Good?! Accept it. Believe you can go through it. Create the steps to make it happen. The ABCs of the overcomer.

One who expects simply won’t settle! And why settle when we were designed for so much more! “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”- C.S. Lewis. Listen on for an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. life of expectation!

Don’t give up expecting, but do give up expectations not worth keeping! To lessen your amount of “thinking,” here’s a listing of 6 kids of expectations you should have E.N.O.U.G.H. of! Some expectations are simply not worth it, and not a few are downright toxic! I hope none of you embrace this: “I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea.” - Fyodor Dosto-yevsky.

But hey, what if it is taking longer than anticipated? What if there is a chance the expectation won’t be met but only after a long investment of time and effort? Is it worth it? Proverbs 13:12: “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

What constitutes a healthy from a toxic expectation? Here are 7 guidelines covering ability to deliver, the power of a process, fairness and justice, and a commitment to one’s conviction. Note that a heathy expectation has the power to yield amazing results! . “Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he can and should be and he will become as he can and should be.” - Steph...

Should we? Shouldn’t we? As Alex Pope declared: “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.” But can we even help it? I think not. But two issues remain: what will I expect? And from whom? Regardless, it’s good to note what this legend had to say about expectations: “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”...

We need to be reminded. The energy to lose it is just so powerful that unless there is a much greater force controlling us, the pursuit of gentleness will be less than encouraging. It’s not the amount of time we put in something that show what we value most, it’s what controls us and what is most overwhelming….so know why it is worth and remember it!

There is absolutely no situation where you can’t hold it and keep your calm. But put them all situations together, and amidst your constantly challenged emotions and evolving dispositions, without a doubt, sometimes you’ll “down and out!” I think we call become more chill when we think less of what we are entitled to, and more of what we are responsible for.

“It is the weak that expresses aggressiveness to show strength, but real strength, is in the gentle.” - Nurudeen Ushawu. “It’s in the gentle,” and consistently gentle at that! Let’s go beyond just wanting to make it happen to actually getting it done! It’s gentle habit forming day today and everyday!

Sometimes we change because of the gains behind the change; sometimes, we change because we can no longer stand the losses without changing. So, here’s a listing of eight (8) losses when we don’t quit losing it! “If you have been brutally broken, but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a badass with the heart of an angel.” - Keanu Reeves

“It has been well demonstrated that you can change your life by changing your attitude toward it. People ask, “How is life treating you?” A better question is, “How are you treating life?”- James K. Papp. So, my friend how are YOU treating life, and all its chaos within? The “chill” is not to change the situation; it’s to alter our disposition.

It is time to chill! Toxicity around us – and within us – will be an occasional reality. How can we grow - and glow - amidst toxicity - as individuals, and as a community? Why and how can we leave a legacy of being “lights in darkness” inspiring and equipping future generations to come?

It’s inevitable, eventually, you are “It!” At such times, the key is to humble thyself and to A.C.T. on it! No spoilers, so sit back and take a few moments to do what is needed to overcome those moments you are the “weakest link.” Learn the habit, because it will happens several times over your lifetime!

C’mon, go beyond survival, level up! Living with toxicity doesn’t have to rule out productivity! Here are 9 concrete ways to get things done – and done well – amidst an environment of toxicity.

Stepping away from unnecessary toxicity is, of course, your best option! Why is it even call “Good”bye if there can be no good in it?! It isn’t always a bad thing you have to walk away from; sometimes it’s a good thing whose time is up! Too much of a good thing is bad. Even worse, an overextended blessing is an double curse! Is it time to face a situation of toxicity by walking away?

Because you’re stuck with certain friends and family, and avoiding toxicity means avoiding all of them completely! And besides, until Elon Musk resettles us in Mars, we all live in what scientists have already declared is a “toxic planet.” So, instead of avoiding, are you ready to engage?

Well, community was always what was meant to be! “No man is an island,” especially is he wants wifi installed! But this isn’t really a question, as much as it is an invitation. “Together Everyone Accomplishes More” as the words behind the acronym T.E.A.M? When well organized, yes. But what excites me more is “Together Everyone Achieves Meaning,” especially when we allow ourselves to support, help...

“When going through hell,” Winston Churchill declares, “keep going!” Stop making sense of everything. That is a futile undertaking. Some of life’s realities we know much about, other will be but a glimpse, and there are those we going through in pitch darkness. But being in the dark is not a necessarily bad thing. There are songs that are best sung by birds only at night. You still can benefit fro...

Strengthen your Core Best Self. Not weaken, strengthen. Not your “many,” but “Core.” Not the “acceptable,” but the “Best.” And certainly not someone else’s, but yours. Prepping the ship and its captain are the best ways to whether upcoming sea storms. Take time to do this now, before the next storm of your adventurous life!