John Harrell's Blog, page 26

LE CAFE Interview

Recently, I was privileged to be a guest on LE CAFE Podcast where we discussed the charity I serve on the board of, Rachel’s Challenge. We discussed how the organization creates safer, better-connected schools where students are free to learn. Stories connect us, and Rachel’s story has been changing and saving lives for over 25 years. Please click on the link to listen and learn more:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/le-caf%C3%A9/id1734295609?i=1000683769867

Outta Time

You once had great dreams for your life. Then the harshness of life happened. A failure here, a heap of pain there and, poof, they’re gone in an instant. But here’s a little secret: your dreams still live, they have just gone dormant.

Every experience, every success and every sensation over the course of your life has been stored in your subconscious mind. This includes all of the wonderful, even outrageous dreams you had for yourself. They are available for you to recall any time you want.

Go somewhere quiet that brings you peace. Turn your phone to silent. Be still and listen to your breathing. See yourself as you want to be, succeeding beyond your wildest dreams. Feel it and believe it to be true. It will happen if you believe.

Your mind will work for you when you allow it to. Thoughts are powerful.

Start today. One day you will be outta time…

Do It Anyway

You are here for a purpose, a great purpose. God advances His Kingdom agenda on earth through us. Each and every one of us has a part to fulfill. If you search your heart you know this to be true.

Things constantly get in our way which can throw us off course. By things, I mean diversions, hurdles, setbacks, distractions, people and just life itself. Fear of the unknown can stop people in their tracks. Yet, consider this: all of life is unknown. So, embrace whatever you may fear and move through it.

Keep the people who encourage you and challenge you close by. Eliminate noise and negativity from your life. Push yourself when you don’t feel like it. Be patient with yourself and remember you are growing.

Always encourage those who are trying. Leave the naysayers behind…

Seeking God

One of my favorite Scriptures is Jeremiah 29:13: “You will find me when you seek me with all your heart.” But what does it look like to seek God, an unseen Spirit?

One thing I ask God for, is to show me His vision for my life. I want what God wants for me. I’m certain it’s better than anything I can dream up on my own. Way better. God sees things I cannot. If I was allowed to see my life as it will be in ten years, I wouldn’t understand how I got there.

This isn’t about religion. It’s the other “R” word, relationship. God doesn’t want us to picture Him as some distant, unconcerned deity. No. He is a loving father who cheers us on even during those times we aren’t cheering for ourselves. When I’m fulfilling the purpose I’m on earth for, I’m aligned with God and I will see God in the purpose.

Try meditating on Jeremiah 29:13. Ask God to show you His vision for your life. Keep asking and keep seeking until it becomes crystal clear…

False Information

There’s so much false information on the internet nowadays. No one has the time to separate facts from fiction because of the sheer volume that hits us.

Most of the lies are designed to get us riled up about something. Oftentimes it’s political posting, but there are mainstream lies as well. For example, someone recently posted a meme that Aunt Jemima would be returning in 2025. Not true, yet I wish she was. Stuff like this is such a waste of people’s time.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Question everything…

Worriers

Are you a worrier? In 2024, according to the American Psychiatric Association over 70% of adults in the United States were worried about current events. That’s a lot of worrying, most of it being wasted energy.

Worry can paralyze you if it gets out of hand. Over 45 million Americans have been diagnosed with anxiety at some level. This number comes from pharmaceutical prescription data which suggests the real number is higher. Many people haven’t sought treatment and they are just “gutting it out.”

Mental health was shredded due to isolation during the pandemic. If you are one of the many people who have had increased anxiety post-pandemic, here’s some encouraging news: you can lessen or eliminate your worries. Here’s how.

Start an exercise routine, read great works rather than watching television, go to an art museum, get outside for some natural Vitamin D, and have meaningful conversations with your friends. Be patient in your progress. A true change takes time, but it will happen if you stay with it.

As a society, we have grown accustomed to seeking help from drugs rather than natural remedies. We are wired in our DNA to live and thrive, not to be full of anxiety.

And don’t worry, the pharmaceutical companies will be fine…

Do More

Are you going the extra mile as you live your life, or just doing the bare minimum? Here are a few thoughts on giving more of yourself.

People are expected to work, typically, eight hours per day. This is what they are paid for. From my observation, many people are not working a minute more than the minimum, and they aren’t even working all eight hours. Many people are simply going through the motions, trying to get by. Not only are they cheating their employers, they are cheating themselves.

Doing more than you are expected to do will pay great rewards in the long run. Payback is rarely immediate, but it will happen. Someone will notice and someone will recognize your efforts.

There’s a caveat: you must be doing work that engages you, inspires you, and you would do it for free if you could. If this isn’t your current situation, it’s in your hands to take a leap of faith and do what turns you on. Make the change and experience life more fully.

There will always be ups and downs. Yet, when you are fulfilled it makes the downs sustainable.

Make your move…

Do It For You

In this column, I often write about self-work and how worthwhile it is. But why do we do it?

We do the work for ourselves. Personal growth is about growing yourself. Personally. Most people want to be better than they were, say, ten years ago. When I look back at who I was a decade ago, I can see how much I have progressed. Then I get excited thinking about where I will be ten years hence!

Growth is a slow process. I encourage you to be patient with yourself. Hold yourself accountable about sticking with your plans, but give yourself some margin if you fall back. Your life will hit plateaus and the occasional valley. Whatever you do, stay with it. Remain focused on where you’re going.

And remember, the better you are mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, the better you are for other people. And you will attract more healthy people into your life.

Guaranteed…

Winter

It’s winter in Texas. This means we will have about ten days of cold weather and then we will be back in short sleeves. You gotta love it.

Personally, I like winter. I believe it’s because we don’t have a winter here like much of the rest of the world. Winter can be a difficult period for some. People don’t get out as much and socialize. Mental health can take a further hit.

Isolating ourselves from others puts us inside our own heads more than we should be. Podcasts are great to listen to and learn from, but we need interaction with other people.

If you have a friend who hasn’t been seen or heard from in a while, I encourage you to reach out to them. It will be good for both of you…

Rare Like No Other

Do you take the time to consider how rare you are? Since the beginning of mankind walking the Earth, you are the only you who has ever been, or will be. We are talking about over 100 billion people, yet only one you has ever existed or ever will exist.

God loves variety, no doubt. If you need evidence, just look around. People come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Then take a moment to look in the mirror. I hope you like who you see, because there was nothing random in creating your life. You were planned before the planet and the stars existed.

Think about this every day. Let it seep deep into your subconscious mind where it will change how you feel about yourself.

God didn’t create you and then forget about you. No! He wants you to grow and thrive. The only limitations you have are those you place on yourself.

Go show the world who you are. And remember, you are working for an audience of one…