With the advent of the Internet, Dr. Phil show, and EZ checkout lines, you'd think that our lives would become easier and simpler. However, we know that’s just not the case. Instead, it seems that the more technologically and psychologically advanced we become, the more we battle increasing rates of stress, complexity, overload, debt, and meaninglessness.

So how can we protect ourselves from the mayhem? How can we safeguard ourselves from burnout and exhaustion? How can we stay centered?

Here are five suggestions that may ease the demons in your life and help you find some of that much desired solace:

• Value simplicity – Sometimes less is more. And sometimes you can go farther just by slowing down. Easier said than done though, right? With the extraordinary demands our society imposes, it might seem impossible to cut the clutter, ease the pace, and de-complicate your life. But let me assure you, IT IS POSSIBLE! You may just need to adjust your philosophy a little. Sure, we live in a culture that exalts being overworked, being in debt up to your ears, and being unreasonably interconnected to everybody and their brother, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be that way, too. It’s your choice. Understand, the more wicks you burn, the less candle you can handle. Learn to be content with less “stuff” and to limit your energies so you can focus on the things that matter most.
  
  Also, on a side note, just because the technology is out there, doesn't mean that you absolutely must have it or that you must always employ it when you do have it. Restrain the impulse to get every gadget under the sun that promises to save you time and provide you that extra convenience. In most cases, they don’t work.
  
  
• Defend your boundaries - When you feel the onslaught of demands encroaching, defend your boundaries against the turmoil they can cause you and your family. Lay ground rules. Establish a “No Exceptions” policy. Schedule family nights. Turn off the phone during dinner time. Learn to say “No” when it’s appropriate. Don't compromise your sanity or your family's well-being for the sake of unnecessary interruptions and demands. Learn to disarm whatever is stealing your time. Prioritize your values and then protect them vigorously.
  
  
• Limit negatives – First of all, stop the negative self-talk. It only brings you down, not up. And stop hanging around those other negative people, too. When you perpetually subject yourself to negative environments – meaning unproductive, destructive, and menacing atmospheres – you set yourself up for stress. Studies show that listening to negative talk – whether it’s coming from yourself or from others - can cause you to perceive things as more stressful. On the other hand, putting a stop to negative thoughts, talk, and environments and creating or inhabiting positive atmospheres can reduce stress and empower you.
  
  
• Establish stability zones – Define a place, time, or activity where you can stabilize the chaos. Sometimes a moment of meditation can calm the fiercest storms. How about a walk in the park? Or a round of golf? People generally benefit greatly from having areas in their lives that they can rely on for the protection of their mind and spirit. Maybe it’s a prayer closet, talking with a friend, turning off the radio, or taking a much needed nap. Find whatever it is that can bring you back to normal when the stress levels get high. Take time to breathe. Take time to concentrate. Take time to clear your head. Sometimes it’s these little things that help you put more control in your life.
  
  
• Decrease your debt – You will NEVER experience the freedom you desire if you do not get a handle on your debt. As you may already know, debt is a noose that will choke the life out of you. Yet, often we’re unwilling to search deep enough into our anxiety to really find the root of the problem, which, many times, leads to our dismal money situation. Start being honest with yourself and stop digging yourself deeper. Resist giving in to the consumptive lifestyle, avoid impulse buying, and establish a plan to stabilize your checkbook. If necessary, de-accumulate. Realize, everything we own also owns us, insomuch that each possession we acquire must be cared for, maintained, and paid for. Shed some of this weight and you will experience liberation from much of the stress you battle.

Whatever you are, be a good one.

- Abe Lincoln

It's been said before, "There is no success without a successor." Perhaps the most meaningful endeavors are the ones we cannot accomplish in our own lifetime, but must pass on to another. It is a tremendous task, even a phenomenal blessing, to have those on your dream team whom you can mentor and develop. These are the ones who will one day pick up the torch and will grip it with a new passion and carry it farther than what you ever could. However, it's easy to fear your successors. Understand, they do not symbolize the ending of your life's work or the hijacking of your personal ambitions. Rather, they are the evidence of a purpose-driven life, the fruit of a worthy endeavor, and the testimony of a noble dream.

Every personal dream worth pursuing is tied to a mission and purpose that others will share with you. Therefore, the key to seeing these plans and goals reach fruition is knowing how to build strategic partnerships. Your partners are the ones you can directly build with. They are your well-matched team mates. They may possess different abilities, personalities, and philosophies than you, but they bring resources and success that is equal to your own. Value their worth and the diversity they bring. Together, the collective force of your network will create an environment and synergy where things happen and dreams thrive.

These are the people who often go unseen by others. They are the ones who dream with you behind the scenes. They meet with you over coffee, they listen to your ideas, they offer insight when needed. You can trust them, insomuch that you confide your emotions and ambitions to them. You can count on them to celebrate your victories and mourn your defeats. They are your true friends. And you need them to fulfill your purpose and dreams. They will offer the support you need to sustain the rocky pathway to your life's fulfillment.

They are not always as beloved as our heroes. They push us. They get in our faces. They drive us crazy! For this reason, there is the temptation to run from these relationships. But these are your life coaches. They are the ones who turn your inspiration into perspiration. They believe in you enough to push you to your limits. Definitely not the most comfortable relationships, but certainly some of the most impacting. In fact, they are probably the most important link between your aspirations and your achievements. So, to be a purpose-driven achiever, learn to recognize, value, listen, and capitalize on your life coaches.

A hero is anyone who inspires you. They are the fire starters - the special catalysts to destiny. Every dreamer needs a hero to plant seeds of passion into the soil of their heart. People like Billy Graham and Mother Theresa inspire us to live lives of greater integrity and compassion. Athletes like Tiger Woods or Lebron James compel us to excellence and commitment. Even those who may not be as well known, like a mother, a father, a teacher, or a pastor - they are all important to the process of discovering purpose and accomplishing dreams. Usually, we are most inspired by those we see are excelling in areas that we, too, are called to do in life. Pay close attention to them. Draw from them, allowing their example to provoke you to action.

This is probably the strangest blog I'll ever write. Strange, because I'm not sure why I'm even posting it.

Here is my and Dona's dream house. I want it. It's cute. It's cuddly. It has a big back yard. It also has a price tag that is light years away from our capability. So, why do I even entertain the thought? I really have no idea.

I guess maybe because I have people in my life like Donna B. She says, you have not because you ask not. So, okay, I asked for it. I literally got down on my knees yesterday and asked the Lord for it. Do I deserve a blessing like this? Not at all. Will I receive it? I have no idea. I'll be honest, it stretches my faith to even fathom that it could come to pass. But I did ask for it anyway.

The hard thing for me, I guess, is that I am not a fan of "name it and claim it" or "blab it and grab it". It's not that I don't have faith, it's just that when it comes to things like this, I apparently have a hard time excersing it. Call it a weakness. Or maybe it's because I'm just not used to experiencing God in this way. Do I believe He can perform it? Absolutely. I just don't know if He's going to perform it for me. I'll have to wait and see. In the meantime, I've asked the Lord to reveal some things to me - in a way, I'm laying out the fleece - to know if He is truly working this out.

I know that God can orchestrate absolutely amazing things. And after hearing personal testimonies from people like Donna B., it reminds me that anything is possible when God is in control. As for the dream house and the future, I don't know what God has in store for me and my family. But I have placed it all in His hands. In the grand scheme of time, if this house belongs to us, I trust that a miracle will happen. If it's not supposed to happen, it won't. And I'm okay with that, too. As long as I know He is in control.

The simplest and clearest definition for leadership you'll probably ever find is this: Someone who leads.

Sounds elementary, I know. But in its simplicity, it's profound. Oftentimes, the self-proclaimed leader fails to ever realize that leadership requires actually "leading" people somewhere. Some leaders may possess a title or a position, but they ostensibly lack the ability or direction to really take people anywhere.

So how do you know if you’re a leader – or just someone pretending to be one? To answer that question, I would start by asking a few other questions.

First of all, who's following you? If the sand behind you only shows one trail of footsteps, then perhaps you’re not really a leader. Leadership necessitates a following. More importantly, it implies that those following you actually desire to be following you. Just because you’re a textbook leader won’t necessarily cause people to affirm your leadership. However, it might place you in positions of influence where they are obligated to. If that’s the case, and all you see behind you are deep ruts (resulting from those being drug by you), perhaps you’re more of a boss than a leader.

Secondly, what do you have to offer? By looking at your life and evaluating the fruit you are bearing, can someone glean something from you? When people want your leadership, it should not take coercing or pep-rallying or flaunting of talents to draw their attention. When you bear fruit that is attractive and beneficial to others, they will naturally be drawn to you. Therefore, work harder on bearing fruit than on getting people to follow you. They will want to observe you, listen to you, and even emulate you, not because you’re the biggest tree in the woods, but because you possess something on your branches that can truly make a difference in their life.

Finally, where are you leading? And is it somewhere worth going? Your life will reveal a lot about where you’re going and even more about what kind of direction you can actually provide. If your past reveals a sloppy trail of poor decision making and sluggish behavior, you’ll probably have a hard time convincing others of your leadership. To be a leader, you must know where you’re going yourself. And you have to know how to get others there, too. But when people see that you are heading nowhere worth going, most likely, they will not follow.

So, is it in you? Do you have what it takes to be a real leader? Some may argue that they were born to be a leader, but that doesn’t guarantee that they actually know how or where to lead. The Bible warns, "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." (Matt. 15:14) That is why it is so crucial that the man or woman who leads people does so with as much wisdom and caution as they can. To lead frivolously or deceitfully will only jeopardize those that follow them.

Ultimately, the evidence of your leadership will reveal itself in how well you have affected those who have followed you. When those around you are advancing, growing, and bearing fruit themselves, when their lives are becoming bigger and better because of you, then – and only then – will you know that you have effectively carried out the immense responsibility of leading people in a way that is healthy and promising. This, indeed, is the clear-cut proof of true leadership.

Questions to Ponder:
Do you possess the character or lifestyle that is worth emulating?
Are you demonstrating the qualities of a true leader every day?
Do you possess the passions, insight, and vision that are worth pursuing?
Can people trust that you're leading them where they need to go?
Are you making a difference?

Last weekend, my dad urged me to watch the movie, Peaceful Warrior, starring Nick Nolte. I really didn't know what to expect, especially since I'm not really a fan of Nick Nolte. Nevertheless, I'm so glad I watched it. The film was awesome. I'll even go a step further and say that it has forever impacted the way I think and live my life.

I won't bore you with the details of the storyline, you'll just have to rent it yourself. The movie is a bit Rocky-esque, but the real point of the movie isn't about some underdog gaining the victory against all odds. It's about the power of mentorship. The power of being tuned in to the moment. The power of paying attention to the purpose behind every situation. The power of enjoying the journey - not just holding out for the destination. The power of letting go of the junk you allow to take residence in your mind. The power of finding yourself.

Again, highly recommended. Just check it out. http://www.thepeacefulwarriormovie.com/

SNAKES!!!