by Tim Hooper | Mar 10, 2017 | Igniting Energy
Have you heard the proverb, “The dew drop is the ant’s flood”?
It’s all about perspective!
Perspective is a powerful word! Synonymous to mindset and attitude, your perspective defines your point of view – the way you look at life.
Changing your perspective can literally change your life!
Out walking with the kids yesterday, we were just about to peak a small hill in the road when I shouted, “Grass!” Grass is our code-word for stepping off the asphalt into the grass and waiting for daddy due to an automobile sighting.
My son, eager to keep running, steps into the grass and quickly replies, “Daddy, there’s no car…may I run again?” As I caught up, we squatted there together in a “wait for it…wait for it” moment. Then, there it was coming over the rise – a car.
Why spend the time telling a simple story? Here’s why.
My six-foot height versus Jeremy’s three-and-half foot height made all the difference when it came to that hill.
Similarly, a slight change in perspective can shift your entire purpose and motivation in life.
A plane ride will change your perspective pretty quickly. Seriously! We spend thousands of dollars on a speck of real estate? Well, it’s all about how you look at things.
Everyone sees things at different perspectives! How is your perspective on life?
What meaning and purpose do you find in your life? Constantly seek to gain a little better perspective. Welcome different perspectives!
Change your perspective and literally change your entire life dynamic!
igniting energy…tim
by Tim Hooper | Mar 3, 2017 | Igniting Energy
What’s the first thing you do when you walk into a dark room? You turn on the light switch. Deciding to stumble around and feel your way through would be senseless in most cases.
Consider sitting behind the wheel of your car. Until you turn the key in the ignition, that powerful V-6 (or VVT-i 4-cylinder) engine won’t do you a ton of good.
See, our energy works much the same way. It’s stored up waiting to be switched on. We can read all the motivation and know exactly what we should be doing to grow in life, but until we make the choice to make a move, we lie dormant.
I’ve watched team members trudge in to work on Monday, but as soon as Friday arrived, they were charging for the door. Energy switched “ON” at 4 p.m. Friday! What? Yes, our corporations are filled with employees showing up, but not truly engaging.
Many powerful warriors sit on the sidelines of their homes, their churches and their communities for various reasons. Perhaps they truly lack physical energy. Maybe the thought of what will happen (success or failure) paralyzes them. Maybe they don’t believe their leadership role is that important or has a significant impact on others. Maybe they don’t know how or where to begin and “elephant-sized” anxiety overwhelms them.
To switch energy and passion on in our lives, we have to make a mental choice to activate. Attend the meeting and sit on the edge of your seat. Take ownership of a task. Take notes. Give feedback. Engage. Pick up the phone and call someone just to say, “I love you.” Smile. High five some random person. Make energy happen inside so it can flow outside. Ignite your energy and show up with your best! Give your best!
When you get home for the evening, take five minutes to write your notes, finish social posts or call a client back. But baby, when you step in that door, get yourself a big glass of water and switch that energy right back on for your best clients – that wife and kid(s). Play, cheer them on, listen to them recount their day, ooh-and-aah over their homework and be fully present. This is switching on your energy!
Just like pushing yourself in the gym, you’re often surprised at your own strength. Start asking more of your energy reserves and you’ll be surprised how much engagement and passion is stored up inside. Believe in others and know that by showing up with energy for them, you make lasting impact!
Switch it on! Let it flow.
igniting energy…tim
by Tim Hooper | Mar 2, 2017 | Igniting Energy
Recently I added some insulation to the crawlspace of our house. The leaking of heat in winter and conditioned air in summer are examples of lost energy.
There are plenty of areas in life where we lose energy. We can insulate these areas and save valuable energy instead. It starts with mindfulness as it’s easy to miss an insulation gap between the floor joists of life.
Here are a few common instances:
- Situations over which you have little/no control – don’t give your energy to these. ie. memed political post tempts you to share? Think about how many others’ energy will be wasted as they analyze the same. This doesn’t solve anything. A letter or phone call to your representative would be much more beneficial.
- Toxic relationships – these can come back over and over if you don’t make peace with them. Write the forgiving letter, make the phone call or break up with someone from your past who continually tries to pull you down.
- Excessive TV and social media – massive mental processing energy spent surfing channels or scrolling endlessly through social media. Limit your consumption and be purposeful. Setting calendar times for social media or DVR-ing a show can save tons of mental energy!
- Procrastination – can drain you so fast. Not only do you end up thinking about the task over and over; but, by not taking a small action step and getting started, delay forms a pattern of delay and makes starting even harder. Every time you get an assignment or take on a task, complete a small action item immediately. Then spell out the next small step so you can plug right back in.
- Bad habits – we all have our nemesis. This is the habit will-power has proven time and time again to be insufficient against. Get vulnerable. Ask someone for help. Be accountable and take steps to overcome hand in hand with a coach or accountabuddy.
Your energy and vibrance in life can be spent doing so much good. Save it from leaking out and being wasted in meaningless energy drains. Insulate today!
igniting energy…tim
by Tim Hooper | Feb 27, 2017 | Igniting Energy
The most basic elements of physics are often the hardest to explain. Let’s simplify.
Energy is in everything and everyone.
It’s potential (stored up), or kinetic (in motion).
Kinetic energy which is “movement” may be miniscule or gargantuous!
Science defines energy like this, “The ability to do work.” Think of a fire (thermal energy). The bigger and hotter the fire the greater amount of wood can be burned (or the more work can be performed).
Note: a roaring fire can even burn wet wood. The ability to do work is greatly increased.
Question.
How’s your energy? Is your passion red hot? Is your fire and fervor for life blazing?
Take inventory today. Consider some possible obstacles that are reducing your fire to a few glimmering coals.
Let’s go on a journey together of exploring some of the best ways to increasing and sustaining your energy!
Why?
Simple!
The world needs your fire! You have the potential of being a force for so much good! A force to be reckoned with!
igniting energy…tim
by Tim Hooper | Feb 24, 2017 | Igniting Energy
What creative idea do you have that will change your world and the world of those you care about?
Do you believe you can change the world by changing YOUR world?
Does the proactivity of changing from the inside-out and working in YOUR center of influence excite you?
See, changing you is manageable and has huge ripple effects!
Believe you can and you’re half-way there; however, there’s still the other half. Unfortunately, we get bogged down here too often.
We were created with a desire to create. That’s right. From birth we’ve been busy putting things together: blocks, trains, Legos, ABCs, words, sentences, relationships, life, etc.
Figuring out how to put together our basic needs comes most naturally. The dreams of life, the passions of our hearts, our dream jobs, or better life conditions on the other hand somehow seem to evade our ability.
We’re curious about doing something. We think maybe the diet will help us, maybe going for a daily walk will increase our clarity, or perhaps prayer time will reach the hurting friend.
Our creativity kicks in and we start considering, ruminating and thinking. We put ideas together in our minds, we build the house in our minds, we start the diet in our minds, we make the career change in our minds, and then – we shelve the idea.
Couple reasons:
- We get overwhelmed with all there is to do to achieve this goal.
- We relive a past failure and fear facing the same failure again.
- We’re afraid of what people will think.
- We procrastinate because the urgency isn’t there.
Making the leap from creativity to actual creation is key! Like Mr. Incredible says, “It’s show time!” Take a step of faith.
You’ve planned, and you know you can make a difference! Like my son said, “Dad, I gonna build train.” A minute later, “Dad, I builded train.”
Do this! Comment on this post, or text a trusted friend:
“I’m going to create ____________!”
Say it. Say it over and over. Do it. Create it! Change the world!
Now, comment or text this, “I’m doing this _________ (small, maybe tiny action item) today!” World changers create by daily taking action no matter how small!
igniting energy…tim
