Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Tools and Keeping it Simple

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Apps, KISS, Monday, motivation, Resistance, simplicity, Simplify, tasks, Techniques, Tools

Have you ever found yourself using an app or some other tool to add some efficiency to your day? What happens when you find out that the app or tool is much less efficient than you initially thought?

There are some great apps and tools out there to help us become more efficient at what we do. Calendars, to-do lists, time-tracking, you name it. But sometimes these apps cause more work for us. I used to use an app called Any.do. Initially, it was terrific. My tasks were laid out each day and I check them off as I go. Then, suddenly, the app stopped working with Chrome and I could only access my to-do list through my phone or iPad. You already know where this is going. I dropped the app.

Whenever a tool becomes more of a chore than the actual doing of a task, it’s time for that tool to be gone. Take some time to reevaluate the tools you use. Do you suffer from the same thing, but didn’t realize it? It’s easy to do.

Keeping things simple is another aspect of motivation. When things become too complex or difficult to deal with, we tend to shy away from the doing. We resist it. This resistance can cause us to procrastinate or avoid the task altogether. Whenever this occurs in my life, I simply look at what the task involves and begin picking it apart for smaller things to do. The key to tackling this resistance is simplification. Simply reduce the complexity and you’ll find like I have that the resistance dissipates.

Another way to simplify a task is to take some time to learn more. Each month I have a report I have to kick into my organization. This report is in an MS Excel format. I decided that I needed to relearn MS Excel so I could put together better charts, create a better presentation, and take less time putting these together. I simplified the task by learning the tool I was using. Yet another way to simplify what you are doing. Simple translates into less resistance.

Well, that’s it for today. I hope all of you have a terrific Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Monday Motivation – Learning New Skills

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Books, Do it yourself videos, how-to manuals, Learning, manuals, Monday, motivation, Tools, Udemy, YouTube

One of the biggest pitfalls to gain motivation is an inability to do something, particularly when we don’t know how to do what we are tasked to do by someone else or decide to do something. What do we do?

One of the steps we may need to take is to actually get out there and learn something about what we are tackling by learning from someone else who has already done it. Makes sense right? Why reinvent the wheel, when someone has already done it?

Some of the things I have had to learn are Microsoft Office. I needed to learn how Word works so I could write all the papers I had to write in school, and now as part of my official duties for the missionary role I hold for the Michigan Satsang Society. I also needed to learn Excel so I could complete the necessary monthly and semi-annual reports that are due to my boss. Besides these things I’ve had take course on graphic design, digital marketing, and statistics. I haven’t finished all of these courses, but these are the ones I’ve purchased. I’m going through an Excel course now.

What is holding you back? Is it typing? Is it reading more quickly? Or is it something that requires you to do some research and learning before you tackle that new thing you are about to work on. When you have the skills to do something, it is much more easy to be motivated to get that thing done. When you are struggling or resisting something, it is likely there is a little fear involved. I don’t know how to start. I don’t know how to do x, y, or z. Make it easy on yourself and get out there and learn what you need to know before you kick off that project. You’ll pick up a new skill(s) and it’ll be much easier to tackle that project when you have all the tools you need.

Well, folks, I hope all of you are having a great week so far. We got snow over the weekend, but today its in the high 40s and most of the snow we got is all melted away. This is common this type of year. There are probably a few more snow storms coming, but they tend to melt away very quickly.

Happy Monday, all!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Unbreakable

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Dedication, Discipline, Drive, Games, Gaming Your Work, Motivation Monday, Techniques, Tenacity, Tools, Tricks

Today’s the day you stand up and tell the world, “Nothing you throw at me will break me.” I included this inspiring sound track from YouTube, titled “Unbreakable”, and hope you find it as inspiring as I did. It’s long (about 48 minutes), but worth it. Music has always been a great source of motivation and inspiration to me. I listen to different types of music to work on different things. When I am reading, I listen to quiet music. When I’m in the gym or working out, I listen to Rock. When I am just sitting in my chair with my eyes closed, I listen to classical or jazz.

If you’ve never used music to exercise, think, or knock out your daily tasks, give it a whirl. It really makes a huge difference.

My workout routine will involve full body with exercise bands this week. I’ll do this Monday-Friday. For cardio it’ll either be a walk around the block, my supine bicycle, or doing some stairs in my home.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday/Sunday – Book Discussion Series

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Dreams, ECK Wisdom Series, Eckankar, Fear, Healing, health, Inner guidance, Karma and Reincarnation, Life After Death, Meetup, Sould Travel, Spiritual Freedom, spirituality, Tools, wisdom

I will be hosting a 9-session book discussion on a series of books in ECKANKAR’s Wisdom Series. These will be hosted and run on ZOOM. If you would like to attend, join my Meetup. Here’s the link: https://www.meetup.com/the-path-of-spiritual-freedom-eckankar-port-huron/ I will be posting these events on my Meetup one at a time. Each event will require you to register, but do not cost any thing, other than the .99 cents the books cost on Amazon. Here’s a link to them: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08M38HNZ6?ref_=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_tkin&binding=kindle_edition

These events will be 100% online via ZOOM and are open to the public everywhere on the globe. The dates and topics are below:

Conquering Fear – Mar 18, 2021
Solving Problems – Apr 15, 2021
Health and Healing – May 20, 2021
Inner Guidance – Jun 17, 2021
Life After Death – Jul 15, 2021
Karma and Reincarnation – Aug 19, 2021
Dreams – Sep 16, 2021
Soul Travel – Oct 7, 2021
Spiritual Freedom – Oct 21, 2021

I wanted to make sure everyone of you knew about my upcoming book discussions. You’ll get to see and hear me live. You can connect via ZOOM or just call in. These will be posted on my Meetup, advertised on Facebook, and I will continue to notify all of you as the book discussion dates approach. I hope some of you can make it.

You do not have to be an ECKist to attend these events and there will be no solicitation whatsoever to join ECKANKAR. These books were written as a public service and offer real tools to help you in many areas of your life. If you are interested in any of these topics, I highly recommend coming. These books will offer you some real benefits, and provide you with some tools you can apply right away.

Hope to see some of you there!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Daily Quote – Attitudes

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Attitudes, Choices, Contentment, Gratitude, Happiness, Obstacles, Tools

“We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.” – William Arthur Ward

What obstacles are in your way? What challenges are you experiencing? Are they really challenges/obstacles?

This quote deals with our attitude. Everything we deal with in our reality and the way we react to these things render our lives happy and content or unhappy and discontent. It is interesting when you can really take account of what is going on in your life and simply say “It’s all good.”

I think the biggest challenge we face is accepting reality for what it is. There are certain things that are just out of our control. You can be angry about them, sad about them, or happy and content. It really is a choice.

It took me a very long time to figure this out. Like many, if I wasn’t making the money I wanted, had the gal I wanted, lived in the place I wanted, etc. life sucked. Then I began to realize that the endless pursuit of “things” was fruitless. That certain part of me that had a hunger for this nonsense would never be satisfied. It would always want more. It would always be demanding and unsatisfied.

Then, one day I came to the realization that we have all we need. I began minimalizing my life. Why did I need a computer, laptop, tablet, and phone, when I only needed one computer and a phone? Why did I need all the clothes I had, when I could only wear one outfit a day? Slowly, but surely, I donated, sold, and got rid of a lot of stuff. Now, I could literally move at a moment’s notice without too much fuss. I don’t have a lot of things to take care of, because I don’t own a lot of things. Life became simpler. Life became easier. I was happier. I was calmer.

I think much of our wants, our needs, our goals, are driven by society and our social relationships. We compete silently to get the same car or nicer one, the same house or bigger one, the same computer or a faster one, not realizing that the companies selling these products influenced us into this never-ending race of purchasing and needing and desiring.

When I decided to “make my own rules”. I began to realize how simple life is and how happy we can be with very little. I have a roof over my head. I have enough food. I have a place to sleep. My health is good. I also realized that the goals I was pursuing were not mine, but society’s.

I don’t need a lot of money. I don’t need a snappy new car or a lot of clothes. I only need the basics to survive and thrive. Now, I wake up each day fresh and ready to go. I reflect on what I am grateful for—and I am grateful for everything. But you know, I could live with even less if I needed to and still be happy. I am happy because I choose to be.

When you wake up and come at life with happiness and gratitude in your heart, nothing can throw you off course. The rocks in your path really do become the tools you use to build the road with.

You have a choice.

Until next time…

Dave