​Did you know that it used to be, uhm, illegal to say the word "God"?
 
Also…
 
Did you know that is used to be illegal for people of color to join certain faiths?
 
Absolutely true:  Up until 1978, certain religions enforced a policy that forbid the ordaining of people of color priesthood. Though certain churches professed an open membership policy for all races, some did not allow people of color into the leadership positions.  Then, as abruptly as it was inane, in 1978, new trailblazers within the church’s senior ranks announced an earth-shattering revelation: They had been instructed (by god) to allow men of color into the “clergy” of the religion.
 
                    Really?
 
               I mean really?!
 
Okay, the headline of this e-course is “Two Little Words.”  
 
And, to be sure, I have pressed us all to dig deep, reach far, and push ourselves into a far-out place called reality.  Moreover, this e-course is brought to you by The PIE Group – an organization dedicated to sharing (and exchanging) positive information.
 
So why this?
 
Why this latest e-note on the touchy subject of religion (and race)?
 
Well… I’m glad you asked.
 
As the two-word title suggests, today, I encourage you to focus your hard-earned efforts on an entity that we don't see… yet we know is here... and there.
 
Am I talking about God?
 
Or am I talking about the belief in God?
 
Actually... I’m talking about your attention.
 
Attention is the literal definition of NOW.
 
In case you don’t believe me… Ask yourself what you are doing right NOW.
 
You are paying attention to these words.  Period.
 
A few hours ago, you were paying your attention to (fill in your activity here).
 
And tomorrow, you will pay, pay, and pay some more attention to whatever your heart desires.  But make no mistake: When you pay attention, you spend NOW.
 
So why the racial and religious reference to kick off a note about attention?
 
Well, if I need to paint that picture for you, consider this:
 
Religion, race, and personal politics have accounted for more deaths than just about any other form of war.  
 
                  Why?  
 
Who decided which religion was best; which race was worst; and whose politics were superlative?
 
Ironically, you and I pay penance into a painful pot of purported preferences.  
 
But those preferences are just that: inclinations toward inklings; preferences for preaching a certain way; and legislation that leans toward corporate welfare of social welfare, both or neither of which have their merit.
 
And in the final analysis, we are broke, bankrupt, and ruined as a (human) race… all because we didn’t pay attention… we simply gave it away to the pandering people who seek not just your attention… but also all of your SELF, including your mind, body, and (dare I say) soul.  Oh… and your hard-earned money, too.
 
But today, I ask you to step back from the fray… and see life for what it is.
 
Life is... Now!
 
Life is… Wow!
 
Life is… How?
 
Life is not made by a god who changes his or her mind about who can be a leader in the church. 
 
Life is however you make it, mold it, mend it, and send it.
 
Life is made up of whatever you pay your attention to.
 
Just don’t give it away.
 
PAY attention.
 
Oh, and…
 
Accept what is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®

​How does a plan become a "Dream Come True"?
  
As you might suspect, achieving your dreams will literally change your life.  

Accordingly, as crazy as this may sound (given our current situation) let’s start now.  

In other words: As soon as you read this, immediately combine these 5 aspects of your life into a single entity that fully uses each of these precious resources as if you KNOW they are within your total control: Acceptance, Attitude, Response, Vision, and Commitment.
 
ACCEPTANCE  This is the #1 factor needed to make plans, set goals, and subsequently achieve your dreams.  The $100,000 question is “HOW”? 
 
Much more than a fancy way of saying, “Don’t cry over spilled milk,” I offer “4 Little Questions” as the basis for a strategic and tactical plan out of almost any scenario:  

1. So, what if it is true? 
2. What CAN I do about it?  
3. What WILL I do about it?  
4. What AM I DOING about it?  

 
I’ll touch more on acceptance later.  For now, I will foreshadow this one little phrase: “As if.” 
 
The truest application of acceptance is when you view a particularly unsettling event and act as if you personally had planned it that way.  Try it; after all, there’s not much you can do to un-do what has already happened.  You can, however, refer to those “4 Little Questions.” 
 
ATTITUDE:  Our attitude is the single most important event governing our lives.  If I have said it once, I have said it a thousand times: A little bit of attitude goes a long way. As a vehicle for your soul along this path in life, you are the only driver.  People don’t push your buttons…
 
You push your own buttons. 
 
People don’t drive you crazy.  You do. 
 
The $100,000 question is how do we maintain a good attitude?  
 
I cannot stress this enough. 
 
One of the best ways to maintain an AWEsome attitude is to GET CLEAR on two things: forgiveness and gratitude.  During your 20-minute morning routine, find some time to think about those two bottomless cups of gold that hold forgiveness and gratitude.  
 
RESPONSE: Isn’t it great to be able to say and do almost anything you want?  Of course, there are rules and laws about what we can and cannot do.  Ironically, as much as you love saying and doing whatever you want, the people you see every single day like doing and saying whatever they want.  
 
The $100,000 question is how do we deal with their ridiculous, offensive, hurtful, or thoughtless behavior?  
 
Two free answers: 
 
(1) Be glad you are not as ridiculous, offensive, hurtful, or thoughtless as they are.  Forget about teaching them a lesson.  They know what they did, and they’ll likely do it again. 
 
(2) Accept the fact that you cannot change them.  Adapt to their behavior by simply forgiving them.  Believe me: it’s the best possible thing for you and them.
 
VISION:  Every week, I tell my daughters that all things are created twice… once in our mind, and then again in the physical world. This concept also applies to the re-creation of self… and the fulfillment of our dreams. 
 
Chefs are great at mental design.  A great meal does not simply mesh together from numerous ingredients and utensils.  It begins with a visual picture, a mental description of what could be. Interestingly, some chefs will forbid the tasting of their products until the very final stage.  Even then… we may say the final product tastes marvelous, but it is only the chef who knows how close the final product comes to the original plan. 
 
Similarly, only you can visualize where you want to be and when you want to be there. And once you learn to focus fervently and frequently on your vision, you can do almost anything.  See it in your mind.  Discuss your success with your self – repeatedly.  Capture your random thoughts and keep them in A Special Dream Book… not as some sort of galactic or cosmic wish-book, but as a thought repository for your seemingly random thoughts.  Newsflash: Those thoughts are not random.  Those thoughts are solutions generated from your conversations with your self.  Listen!
 
COMMITMENT: When I left my hometown at the age of 18, I became committed to succeeding at becoming something different.  I became committed to getting up early; doing what others told me to do; going different places; learning new systems; and, in general, doing things I had not normally done.  
 
You must cheerfully make a similarly same type of commitment to your plans.  
 
You must see your plans as a requirement, and not a choice.  
 
Your plans have to be part of your daily requirements; part of your weekly routine; and every bit as a part of you as are your short and long-term goals.  You must literally commit (and re-commit) yourself to being a new person.  This new person has a different style of life.  She has a different way of eating, drinking, and living. Most importantly, he has a different way of thinking. He is no longer focused on “them and they.” He is focused on his plan, his goals, and his dreams.  
 
Her?  

She is a changed woman.  After today, she sees how her dreams are interconnected to her goals, and how her goals are linked to her plans, and how her plans are united with her hourly routine, daily path, week ahead, and the month that follows.
 
Bottom line:
As we go through this challenging time of uncertainty, we can and SHOULD still plan. First, let's accept the reality of the current situation; denial will get us nowhere except, perhaps, in a worsening situation.  Then, underscore your acceptance with efforts to keep a good and realistic attitude. Subsequently, think of the possible responses to your plan (this is called sensitivity analysis – how would your plans change **IF** this, that, or the other happened?). As you go through the process of creating goals and plans, be sure to obtain information from a variety of sources and create a vision for WHAT to do and HOW to achieve the goals for the next four weeks.  
 
And finally, be committed to doing what you need to do to succeed at following your plans.
 
Your mission for today is to use a plain sheet of paper and plan for the next four weeks.
 
Week #1: 

1. What is the primary GOAL of this upcoming week?
2. What are the PLANS to accomplish the goals next week?
3. What are the ACTIONS required to achieve the plans?
4. What do you NEED to complete the actions to achieve the plans to accomplish the goals?

 
Week #2: 

1. What is the primary GOAL of the next week?
2. What are the PLANS to accomplish the goals for this week?
3. What are the ACTIONS required to achieve the plans?
4. What do you NEED to complete the actions to achieve the plans to accomplish the goals?

 
Week #3: 

1. What is the primary GOAL of the following week?
2. What are the PLANS to accomplish the goals this week?
3. What are the ACTIONS required to achieve the plans?
4. What do you NEED to complete the actions to achieve the plans to accomplish the goals?

 
Week #4: 

1. What is the primary GOAL of the fourth week?
2. What are the PLANS to accomplish the goals for that week?
3. What are the ACTIONS required to achieve the plans?
4. What do you NEED to complete the actions to achieve the plans to accomplish the goals?

 
Lastly, remember this: People change. Circumstances change. Accordingly, plans will change.
 
And by investing a few minutes planning the next four weeks, we can bring back a little bit more sanity and, perhaps, a tad bit more certainty into a whole new world that might appear to be less and less certain with each passing day.

Today, I ask you: MAKE PLANS.

Oh, and…
 
Accept what is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®​

Do you remember what it was like the first time you jumped into a swimming pool?

For some people, it was refreshing.  For others, it was, perhaps, a tad bit frightening.

Learning how to swim can be one of life's most challenging events.  This is true for adults.  And it's especially true for children; they often see their friends having so much fun splashing around. And they  want to join in with all of those other children sailing unafraid through the water.

And, yet... the water presents a real-life challenge: how do they learn how to master their fear while being literally covered and surrounded in the one thing they fear the most?

Similarly, how do we, as adults, master our fear amidst these challenging times?

Today's Two Little Words are actually a re-posting of a Dare I posted online about a year ago.  

Today, I ask you to HAVE FAITH.

Of course, in a time of great uncertainty, many people ask HOW can one have increased faith (?)

Before reading the next line, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and then let out a slow, stress-relieving "Ahhhhhhh."

In reality, if you accepted my advice and took "a deep breath, closed your eyes, and then let out a slow, stress-relieving "Ahhhhhhh," you are already in a better position than you were before reading this post.

Moreover, you actually expressed some sort of faith in doing what I suggested.

What's my point?

In times of increased uncertainty, we all need to appreciate little, seemingly insignificant stress relievers.

We need to increase our faith. In fact, the greater the uncertainty, greater is the need for increased faith. 

For example, consider the stock market.  After all, the wild swings in the stock market have commanded a portion of the news segment the past few days.
 
What is this place of so much prestige, power, and peculiar pangs of price, probability, and prized payments?
 
I’ll tell you what the stock market is: one big, fat, lie.
 
       Or is it?
 
In a nutshell, the stock market is a place where belief not only outmaneuvers reality; it’s also a place where belief actually CREATES an entirely different realm of reality.
 
In psychiatry, when one creates a different realm of reality, that person is said to be psychotic, or at least having an episode of psychosis. And yet, there we were in 2008, witnessing the historic downfall of our splendid financial systems: billion-dollar banks were being swallowed up by other bigger-billion-dollar-banks; governments crammed subsequent billions of bucks into the commercial marketplace; and the stock market inspired yet another break from reality.
 
How does this continually happen? Why does it repeatedly occur?
 
And what does the stock market have to do with you, he, she, and me anyway?
 
Quite simply, the stock market is a place where, if enough people think, believe, and act like a stock is worth more (or less) than it is currently valued, then (guess what?) the stock is worth more (or less) than what it is currently valued.
 
If more people desire said stock, the price of that stock goes up.
 
And if more people desire to get rid of that same stock, the price goes down.
 
Now this may be a simplistic explanation of the stock market, given the vast sums of money that flow through the various world exchanges on a daily basis. Nonetheless, it is an accurate description (except for the fact that billion-dollar hedge funds contort the market and actually usurp and undermine the marketplace concept – but that’s for another blog, on another day).
 
So, ask yourself: What happens if and when people are wrong?
 
What happens when people think the stock will appreciate in price, but it subsequently goes down? 

 And vice versa: 

​What happens when people speculate on a decrease in the price of a stock, but the value of the stock actually goes up? 

Quite simply: one person’s loss is another person’s gain.
 
Therein lies the magic of making money in the market.
 
It’s all based on the outcome. Or, more specifically, it’s based on the outcome of the person who gains the most benefits from the trade.
 
But let’s not forget one critically important fact: Regardless of the outcome, the entire transaction started with an expressions of individual BELIEF.
 
And, truth be told, if enough people simply believed that all the stocks were worthless, every stock would become worthless. If enough people believed the American, Australian, or Canadian dollars were worthless, each of those currencies would immediately become worthless.  
 
FACT: Our financial system is based almost entirely on faith. 
 
Likewise, the same is true of life outside the world’s stock markets.
 
Right where you are sitting or standing, your ultimate outcome is heavily influenced by your very own beliefs. 
 
“Outcome to what?” you may ask. 
 
Well, that’s your question to answer. 
 
My purpose, for now, is to provide you with yet a small diversion.  
 
And today, I ask you to HAVE FAITH by utilizing the acronym F.A.T.E.
 
I am also asking you to get a little crazy and give yourself a break from reality. Yes: join me as we go through our very own path of psychosis. 
 
Don’t worry… this won’t hurt a bit. But like the various stock markets (which seems to control the world), this little journey will, indeed, require your profound ability to sincerely believe what I am sharing with you.
 
[And, by the way, in case you haven’t noticed, we have already inculcated ourselves in daily rituals of psychosis, or “breaks from reality.” We now afford ourselves a break from reality every time we tune in to the television, turn on our favorite radio station, or scroll through the smooth little screen on our smartphone (not really “here,” but “there”; not really “there,” nor “here”).  And if you don't think this type of behavior is at least a little bit crazy, then you might want to reference one of my previous challenges: (Dare #7) and “Know Your G.P.A.”] 
 
But I digress; we were discussing how you can HAVE FAITH by utilizing the acronym F.A.T.E.
 
I guarantee you: regardless of what you have been told about this word “fate,” today is the day it gains a better meaning for you and for everyone who knows you.  
 
This little four-lettered word has so much meaning, and yet it remains mired in so much misunderstanding. To be clear: the textbook definition of “fate” centers on the idea that life is (somehow) predetermined. And perhaps it is.
 
But for me, the word "fate" is a very specific algorithm for achieving blissful balance. And in a connected, yet seemingly disconnected world of, shall we say, wonderful people, I find myself using this algorithm more and more with each passing day.
 
As an author, I am an avid wordsmith. And I enjoy some words more than others.
 
The word “fate” has allowed me to set my daily sights upon a belief that has literally changed the world. I’m not worried about being redundant. So, for emphasis, I will repeat that last sentence: This word “fate” has allowed me to set my sights upon a belief that has literally changed the world.  
 
Yes: this one little word has changed the world.
 
For you see, for the purpose of today's blow, FATE is an acronym:
 
~  Faithfulness And Thankfulness Everyday ~
 
Notice the insistence of these four separate yet integrated words:
 
|| FAITHFULNESS || When you are faithful, you are not just full of faith toward your committed ideal.  You are actually devoid of hopelessness toward the same. You literally have no room for decreased commitment; you are all in on what you believe.  The question is: To what are you committed? What are you full of?

​|| AND || Yes, this little word “and” is a very important part of the acronym FATE. No matter where you go or what you do, there is at least one other person who needs you… or who YOU will need.

Period.  
 
Moreover, You are not just You.  
 
By the mere act of reading this, You are now You **and** Me.  
 
By my sharing of this essay and its precepts across Facebook, LinkedIn, and several other sites… for days, weeks, moths, and perhaps years to come, You and this newly defined interpretation of FATE are now linked with untold other readers.
 
It is the AND that makes us THIS (whatever “this” may be).
 
It is the AND that makes You much more than who you were.
 
It is also what makes our human problems global, if not universal.

​|| THANKFULNESS ||  Of course, the simple definition of thankfulness is “full of thanks.” 
 
A better definition is found in the act of being “expressive with gratitude.” 
 
After all, being thankful is not just about saying, “Thank you,” and then moving on. 
 
Being thankful is more about “being the thank you” and then passing it on in the form of being a more appreciative You.  
 
And, much like faithfulness, when you are full of thanks -- when you are BEING the thank you -- there’s very little room for any action that is remotely dissimilar or opposite to the action of a person who lives a life of gratitude.
 
I’ll try to be overtly clear:  
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 
When we are thankful, there is absolutely no room for apathy toward our fellow humans; no room for criticism concerning **our** Creator’s creatures; not enough space for dishonoring our friends and enemies; no extra leeway to disregard human rights; no spare contempt for disrespecting different tribes; no ready reservoir for hatred to be hurled across the aisle, street, or kitchen table; no excess capability for issuing ignorance in place of insight; no idle time for exhibiting indifference to known injustices; no unused hate to fuel insensitivity to the less (or more) fortunate; and certainly no extra room for an overall misunderstanding of men and women by other respective men or women.
 
Take a step back intellectually, and a step forward spiritually to realize that, when we are full of thanks, we are empty of enmity, because we are far too busy counting our blessings, showing our light, and increasing the value of our personal stock.

​|| EVERYDAY || And finally, the last word of this powerful acronym is a tall but accessible timetable for you to follow. I won’t belabor this straightforward point of expectation except to say this: When the day for which you are less than thankful arrives, your fate might already be sealed.

So… what is my overall point?
 
After all, I started this essay with a nod toward the stock market, and wound up asking you to commit a tiny but powerful acronym to memory. FATE: Faithfulness And Thankfulness Everyday!

​(As an author, I tend to be a bit wordy. On the bright side, this post is free! You don’t have to spend cold hard cash buying any of my books!)  Anyway… here’s my point:
 
In the final analysis, our existing prosperity is not based entirely upon what we have, but rather on what we believe. To wit, the smartest person in the world is actually senseless without a firm belief in self - and a true application of that belief.  
 
Prior to these past few weeks, it seems most people equated prosperity to economic wealth. To be sure, there is significant economic uncertainty in the world today. And there has been a severe decrease in the prosperity and wealth represented in the massive increase in the value of the stock market over the past eleven years.  

Yet, the phrase "health is wealth" has never been more accurate.
 
Interestingly, in Latin, the word “prosperity” has the root words of “fortune” and “hope.” 
 
So… to be prosperous is to be “fortunate and full of hope.”
 
Are you, he, she, and me actually fortunate?  Yes. 
 
And if you’re not, flip the switch and watch your fortunes turn. 
 
This is to say that, in reality, when we appreciate certain things, those same things ultimately appreciate in value – to us. 
 
Thus, we are as fortunate as we are thankful; if we can somehow be continuously thankful, we can more easily see just how fortunate we really are. And if you are grateful for every moment - including the (perceived) good, bad, and ugly moments, then you are most appreciative, most grateful, and most fortunate. 
 
Perceptions are important because, in the reality of today (now - this very moment), there seems to be not enough "good" in this world, and far too much "bad." In reality, YOUR world is how YOU define it and how YOU plan to leverage your assets and your health in the very near future.
 
And that brings us to the little thing called hope… a parallel to “faith.”
 
Faith is the substance of things hoped for. It is the assurance of things not seen.
 
And the truth of the matter is: Going forward, everything is not (yet) seen.
 
So again, the central question is, “What do YOU think; what do YOU believe?”
 
More precisely, “What do you CHOOSE to believe?”
 
If everything forward is unseen (and it is ALL unseen and unknown), shouldn’t we CHOOSE to be prosperous – full of thanks and appreciation for what was - and full of hope for what can be?
 
To choose anything else is proactively setting up our personal stock for future failure.
 
Instead of setting our personal stock up for failure, let’s invest ourselves wisely:
 
Every single day, we must be full of faith toward our commitments.
 
Every single day, we must be full of thanks. 
 
Actually, we must BE the thanks.
 
If we can do this, we can truly begin to design our F.A.T.E.
 
Designing such a F.A.T.E. is perhaps more simplistic than easy.
 
It’s not easy having faith in me, this writer whom you might not know…
 
Moreover, it’s not easy having faith in…
 
…your president, prime minister, or powerful political opponent…
 
…the liberals… the conservatives;
 
…the neighbor whom we do not know; and...
 
…the neighbor whom we might not love.
 
But if we could somehow extend a little faithfulness and a little thankfulness, every single day, I believe we would all do well to accept just such a fate.  And, like the little child in all of us, as we learn to swim upstream through a strong current of uncertain times, with a tad bit MORE faith, we could very well determine our very own glorious global fate.
 
Today, I ask you: HAVE FAITH.

Oh, and…
 
Accept what is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®​

Let's begin today's discussion with a bit of trivia.

How does a seed become a flower?

Did you know that a baby shark is called a pup?  
 
Equally interesting is the fact that armadillos, bats, and prairie dogs are also called pups.  
 
Calling a prairie dog a “pup” is understandable.  
 
But a baby bat just doesn’t seem like a pup.  To me, a baby bat should be called a brat, a pat, or even a tat - but not a pup.  Did you know that the baby koala and the baby kangaroo are both called a joey?  Interestingly, a baby ape is called a baby, while the baby monkey and baby gorilla are referred to as infants.
 
Here’s another question for you:  How does a kitten become a cat?  
 
And, of course, there is the puppy changing into the dog, and the calf turning into the ox.
 
Here’s the answer for you:  All of these baby animals become adult animals by simply being nurtured via their external environment.  Quite simply, if a baby animal eats food, receives water, and stays safe from predators, the baby animal will probably grow into a fully functioning adult.
 
On the other hand, the human infant requires quite a bit more in its quest to become a fully functioning adult.  More specifically, you and I require goals.  
 
               That’s right: we NEED goals. 
 
In the grand scheme of things, perhaps we need goals as much as we need food, clothing, and shelter. Does that sound a little too crazy for you?  Well, look at it this way:  Where would we be if our early caretakers had not set the goal of no longer using diapers?  Laugh if you want.  But my point is still valid.  Someone set that goal for us, and we reached it (hopefully a long time ago). 
 
Later, as each of us went off to school, a new goal popped up every day, every year, for the next 12 years.  Some of us may have taken, shall we say, a less-traditional path (I opted to leave high school, shall we say, “a little early,” but subsequently earned a BBA and MBA).  But again, my point is this: Goals are necessary to achieve almost anything and just about everything.
 
Reaching back to yesteryear again, think of what it was like to take your first physical step as a toddler.  Can you imagine what it must have been like to be a tiny infant, crawling around amidst that sprawling world of giants?  Can you imagine what it felt like when someone first offered you their two thumbs, one in each of your tiny little hands, and lifted you to a standing position – setting another goal for you?  Of course, at the time, you were probably still excited about being able to crawl across the room and grab a toy that was purposely set up as the previous goal to get you moving.
 
And when you took that first physical step, the people of your world held their collective breath in anticipation.  Of course, knowing what they knew, the adults in your world back then were anticipating your first fall on your tush, not your first trot across the living-room floor.
 
When you took your first step, despite not having any experience in the act of walking, you instinctually knew it could be done.  So, you literally took a faithful step, probably knowing full well that the initial attempts would not be pretty.
 
That first attempt at a full step, I assure you, was completed off-balance and with complete ignorance of the laws of physics.
 
When you took your first successful step, it was probably scary, exciting, different, challenging, and, yes, one heck of a life-changing moment.  But you did it!
 
In reality, you accepted the challenge presented by the goal.  The goal was to simply learn how to walk.  Ahhh… but to simply learn how to walk is not such a simple goal, especially if you’ve never, ever done it before.  And, as a toddler, even after you achieved such a life-altering goal, you undoubtedly stumbled around until you got it perfect.
 
Today, I will wrap up this short note with one long explanation of why I started with seeds, pups, and infants… and will end with a crystal ball:
 
Flowers grow from seeds without any thought of their own (I think).  Puppies, kittens, and all those other animal babies grow up with no regard for their future self (I’m pretty sure puppies don’t ponder what a great dog they will someday see and be).
 
But today, just like every other day of your life, you need goals.  You need to nurture and grow yourself from the inside.  Just like the flower that will perish without external stimuli, we will begin to hasten our own decay if we do not nurture our own self with a sense of challenge and personal accomplishment (internal stimuli).
 
And just like your first successful step forward when you learned how to walk, your goals should challenge you and help you experiment with your life in ways that will probably be scary, exciting, different, puzzling, and, yes, potentially life-changing.
 
In fact, I need you to understand one far-reaching fact:

And, like the unbalanced first step of the little tot from which we all came, our next steps as adults may be appear to be unbalanced, risky, and seemingly doomed to fall or fail.  But guess what?  Literally every footstep we take is actually a calculated exposure to a purposeful fall forward. 
 
But we don’t fall. 
 
As adults, we know how this walking thing works.  As we step one foot forward, we are unbalanced for mere microseconds, and then the next foot makes a heroic appearance, saving our aging bodies from a horrific fall to the ground.  You may not view your daily steps as a continuum of perpetually heroic acts on behalf of your feet.  But you should know that walking is actually a literal application of stepping out on faith.
 
Likewise, our goals project us forward in a similar dance with calculated risks… falling, failing, and subsequently succeeding where and when we can.  
 
Yes… where and when we can. 
 
Don’t believe the crappy line that “failure is not an option.”  Unfortunately...

But if we are failing at one thing or another… or fifteen things… those failings do not brand us a failure.  Thomas Edison went through thousands of failed light bulbs before he changed the world with the one that actually worked.  And, as successful as he was, Thomas Edison did not invent the spaceship, space savers, or space makers.  His strength was not in those areas.  His dreams were not about space; his dreams were about light.
 
He followed his dreams.  He composed goals based on his dreams.  And he changed his life - and our lives, too - by achieving his goals. 
 
You, too, should base at least one of your goals on your dreams.  Clearly, the practice of goal-setting is something we need.  The practice of goal-setting helps us proactively craft exactly how we will change our lives – and the lives of others.  In other words...
 
Goals actually help us predict the future.
 
And that, my friend, is an awesome power to have.
 
As we restrict our movements over the next few weeks, consider investing an hour or so setting a few NEW goals.  With a few extra hours in our schedules, many of us can at least consider doing one or two things that we couldn’t or wouldn't previously do. 
 
Those things could be starting a new hobby; improving our skills at a certain talent; or starting something as simple but significant as learning how to meditate.
 
Just remember: 
 
Goals should be:
Specific
Measurable
Action-oriented
Realistic
Time-based
  
Oh, and…
 
Accept what is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®

​Over the last year, I authored a series of challenges called “I Dare You.”
 
The “I Dare You” series is a set of increasingly challenging, but easily attainable, Dares to prod my fellow neighbors (like You) to understand how You, she, he, and I can become more engaged in creating The Ideal Life that each of us can potentially live.
 
Dare #25 was titled “Clean Your Glasses - Congratulate.”
 
In that final Dare #25, I stated, “There are emotional, spiritual, professional, familial, local, international, natural and, yes… supernatural attachments that link you with me, us with them, and everybody, everywhere on some level of inter-connectedness.  Our links can cause seemingly unrelated and remote actions in one part of our world to affect the lives of people in an area geographically distant... but supernaturally close.  We are never that far apart.”
 
The evolving events of this past month have made those words retrospectively prophetic.  
 
We are now in a real-life manifestation of The Twilight Zone, far beyond what many of us thought possible (aside, perhaps, from a horror movie or a mass-casualty drill for those of us who work in the affected industries).
 
Nonetheless, through it all, I remain an optimistic realist.
 
Accordingly, Lord willing, I shall continue to blog; it calms my anxiety.  And I sincerely hope my words can help others in a manner that reflects the very real connectedness I referenced in Dare #25 on December 5th, 2019.
 
Today, I shall begin the optimistically realistic path of “40 Days and 2 Little Words.”  Beginning with today’s straightforward instruction “GET CLEAR,” over the next 40 days, I will share a potentially mind-altering foundation from which we can launch an expanding base of freedom from stress and strife… and perhaps alleviate some of the anxiety associated with our current life-threatening challenge.  
 
With daily reports indicating the total number of worldwide infections, along with the associated number of deaths, the next few weeks could pose not only a physical and economical challenge to our previous way of living… but it could also exact an emotional and spiritual toll on how we feel about ourselves, each other, and life in general.
 
Today, and over the next 40 days, I am initiating a quick 5-minute post – beginning with 2 Little Words - to assist with offering a small-but-potentially significant reprieve from the daily blitz of news.  
 
Why?
 
Well, we have found ourselves in a bit of a dilemma.  We want (and sometimes need) the latest news.  Yet, too much of this steady stream of numbers, negativity, news, and naysaying can have a devastating effect on our emotional well-being.
 
I will begin today by referencing the obvious – this obscure, but very real virus.  But, after today, I will seek to refrain from mentioning the latest facts, figures, and “failings” related to the current pandemic.

Today, I will recommend the first of these 2 Little Words:

​~ GET CLEAR~

Let’s GET CLEAR on one thing: ALL IS NOT LOST. ​

Indeed, for those of us old enough to remember, the events of September 11th, 2001, are forever etched in our minds. And yet, here we are with something seemingly far more insidious.  In reality, as more data becomes available, the “fog of war” on this pandemic will be lifted, and the path forward will begin to become clearer.
 
For us (you, he, she, and me), today we must be absolutely clear: we have HOPE.
 
And, as long as we have HOPE, we have unlimited wealth.
 
Here’s the Good, the Bad, and the Great…
 
THE GOOD: Despite the unprecedented disruption of our lives, we have much for which we can be grateful. Social media, cell-phone technology, Government services, and community-based volunteers and organizations are providing much-needed information and support.
 
THE BAD: The very nature of a novel (new) and evolving viral pandemic implies a high degree of uncertainty. Initial data sets seem to indicate that our family and community elders are the demographic most affected by this pandemic. Notwithstanding their lower rates of affectedness, younger members of the worldwide community must be better at giving serious consideration to how their social behavior can potentially infect and affect grandparents, pregnant women, and younger people with underlying health conditions.
 
THE GREAT: As information continues to evolve, we are beginning to see a pattern of solutions that, if nothing else, serve to slow the infection rate. Social-distancing seems to be the “order of the day,” as well as a general reminder that we need to be especially vigilant in our everyday hygiene habits.  We still have HOPE!  And as long as we have HOPE, we have the beginnings of something even greater than what we have now.
 
Your mission for Day 1 of the 40-day Challenge is to GET CLEAR by…
 
PAYING ATTENTION TO YOUR SELF for the first 20 minutes of the morning… every morning.
 
We need YOU to be here for you and everyone else.  Accordingly, let’s start by taking care of YOU first.
 
It is overwhelmingly important that you partake in a 20-minute morning launch time.  In fact, tonight, before going to bed, set your alarm for 30 minutes earlier. Do something entirely different: move your alarm clock to another part of the room (or, if you use your cell phone as an alarm, set your cell phone somewhere else).  The point is this: Your 2 Little Words, 40-day challenge starts now.  Setting yourself up for a successful tomorrow starts with setting up a successful morning.
 
When you proactively self-invest the first 20 minutes of your day, you are getting clear on exactly who runs YOUR show.  You are saying to yourself, everyone, and everything else…
 
            I set the tone for this day.
 
            I set the map.
 
            I start the drive.
 
More importantly, when you continuously, consistently, and persistently start your day with your own 20-minute launch time, you create a solid foundation upon which can build several more successes throughout the day.  
 
If you can do the following 5 things during the first 20 minutes of the morning, you will not only set yourself up for success, you will also create a reservoir of much-needed mental, emotional, and spiritual strength to fuel your efforts of everyday life. 
 
And only you know how much true effort is required of you.  So... here is a roadmap of your first 20 minutes of the day, beginning tomorrow.  GET CLEAR...

1. WAKE UP AND MOVE!  Seriously… yawn, splash water on your face, and then move!  Do something as simple as a few jumping jacks, push-ups, or, if you have the stamina and time, a quick walk or run-in-place.  Then… find a quiet place, sit down, and take 20 long, slow, deep breaths.  Breathe in through your nose and then breathe out through your mouth.  Try to do these 20-30 times.  

2. BE THANKFUL.  Focus on thoughts of thanks.  Need help in this area?  Try these:

• I am thankful I can read!  There are millions of people who can’t.
• I am thankful I can breathe.  Many people suffer from serious lung issues.
• I can have a glass of clean water when I want.  Some people can’t.
• I have fingernails! Some people don't. (I think you get the point. If not, send me an email)

3. BE PATIENT.  Allow yourself to fully enjoy this small portion of time at the beginning of the day.  If you have arisen a tad bit earlier than usual, you have no reason to hurry through the next 5, 10, or 15 minutes.  Focus on breathing slowly and deeply as you allow the essence of gratitude to enter your world.  In the overall scheme of things, you are WHERE you need to be, WHEN you need to be there.  Perhaps equally important, be patient with others, too. More on this later...  

4. BE ENCOURAGED.  Remind yourself that every journey starts with the space that’s under you right now.  This 40-day course on 2 Little Words is a wonderful journey that you have already started.  Regardless of what you may have done before this day, you are already one step forward in the right direction.  And, if we do this right on day 1, we will all have awakened to deep breaths, thoughts of thanks, patience, and encouragement.  And a day that starts off with these golden nuggets will soon have us soaring beyond the dark clouds of negativity, news, and naysaying.  

5. BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT FOR OTHERS. Some people say, “misery loves company.” But did you know that it is a scientific fact that acts of kindness not only make the giver and receiver of the good acts feel better, but those same acts of kindness also make others who witness and/or hear about the acts feel better, too?  Accordingly, let’s make it our mission to share a good news story or two with each other.  This is a time when we NEED to “make” each other feel good… or at least feel better. **WE** can do it!  

By the way, tomorrow's 2 Little Words post will be much shorter.  
 
Until then…
 
Accept reality for what it is.
 
Adapt to a changing landscape.
 
Achieve the best possible outcome.
 
Aloha,
John
 
~ Accept. Adapt. Achieve. ®