by Tim Hooper | Jul 6, 2017 | Blog
Affirmations are powerful in a couple of ways. Not only do they affirm something – like their name indicates, they can also be used to overcome fear and past hurts, replace negative voices or limiting self talk, and also stretch one’s faith and vision!
Affirmations are fun to create and can be uniquely customized around what you’re going to conquer for the day. Remember three important aspects as you train your mind to affirm your vision and goals:
- Positive – always write in a positive tone. Instead of writing “There is too much negative in the world, I’ll try not to be negative today,” you can write it like, “Today, I’m turning up the light; my positive vibes are attracting positive people and things.” The absence of negative in your affirmation is teaching your mind what to focus on and what to shut out.
- Personal – keep them personal. Say them in the first person; they are your affirmations and not just general statements or quotes. Your subconscious mind will listen up when you address yourself; and, the same phenomenal mind can only answer, “Yes!” More on that later.
- Present – write them and say them in the present tense. That’s right. Put your mind on the lookout for them right away. Also, watch how you start turning doubt to faith. When you say, “I am going to do…” your mind is waiting for a date and time. Without this, there is no decision. When you state, “I am doing…” your mind says, “Oh, I am? … Sure, let me start right away on that…” See the difference? Today, is also a great starter word for an affirmation.
Your affirmations don’t have to be perfect and no one is grading you on this, so let go of those fears. Just start and you’ll get better and bolder as time goes on. What do you have to lose? Take a minute to create and share one in the comments. Here’s mine for today:
“Today, I’m planting good seeds! Every thought, prayer and action WILL be reaped – sometimes immediately; most times at a future date. My life is a field of the best and most fertile soil; I’m the farmer. It’s understanding this irrefutable principle that causes me to plant with more fervor than ever before! I WILL reap if I simply keep planting.”
igniting energy … tim
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 | Mar 1, 2017 | Igniting Energy
Do you remember Y2K? The predictions? The run on the stores and shortage of milk, bread and other necessities?
I remember my brothers building an entire room of train batteries, backup generators, power inverters and solar panels.
Like many, we considered our energy sources should a large-scale power outage happen.
Power outages happen in life, too. We wake up sick or just feel off kilter some days. Perhaps a super-busy, stressful stage of life pulls more energy than we’re used to expending.
Considering your sources of energy is critical because there are healthy and unhealthy sources.
5-Hour Energy shots are not a great choice, unfortunately. Not knocking them, Monster or Red Bull per se. Grandma always said, “If it comes easy it’s probably not worth it.”
Quick fixes aren’t going to give lasting energy. When the power outage strikes, we could light the house by setting it aflame. Light and warmth would result – for a short time.
Lasting energy starts with the right sources:
- Proper amount of rest (different for everyone. Saying no to TV and not staying up too late pay huge dividends).
- Picking some positive, motivational reading, listening and viewing sources (still should be limited as information overload can actually hamper application to our lives).
- Exercise (increases blood flow to the brain, strengthens your lungs and heart and releases natural feel- good chemicals in your body.
- Proper nutrition (so much to say here. Visit Dr. Josh Axe for so much more. Eating less and better is an over simplification but the evidence is overwhelming this would benefit our fast-paced, fast-food society in amazing ways.
- Taking time to help others (even a simple smile, calling a waitress by name, paying it forward or giving a hug will crank up the generator inside of you).
- Taking time to plan and write down goals and to-do lists (allows you to focus on the present and actions important to moving you forward).
- Reflecting (whether you journal, pray or just sit quietly before bed, reflecting on the day allows your brain to defrag and also cognitively think through how you did).
Grab one thing that stood out to you above and slowly, gradually and consistently work on getting some quality energy sources hooked up to your “house.”
igniting energy…tim
