John Harrell's Blog, page 84

Words

Your words matter. People might misinterpret them but that doesn’t change the underlying meaning behind what you say.

Even more important, listen to what you are saying. Anything and everything you speak comes from within. Examine your heart to find any impurities. Work on yourself to remove them. Then listen to the new and improved you!

Here! Have Another Bite

Have you ever had someone try to cram their politics or religion down your throat? I believe we all can answer that question with a resounding yes!

Trying to convince others to believe what we believe through force doesn’t work. People have their own reasons for their convictions, right or wrong. It’s none of our business, actually.

The best way to communicate our faith is through our actions, not a bunch of religious talk. People might respond to our political beliefs by asking questions of why we believe the way we do. Then, and only then, we can begin a dialogue.

Let’s focus on our actions, not our words. Find out who you are, then stay true to yourself, but keep an open mind to the beliefs of others. We are better together…

Compromise

Compromise is a dirty word. It makes people think you gave up, you didn’t stand your ground. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Compromise is essential if we want to get along in this world. You can stand by your principles without giving up, while recognizing the principles of your counter party. It should not be all or none.

Our culture needs more compromise and communication. Without it we will separate even more…

Second Class

Airlines have a class system. So do societies. And we have people who think they are better than others because of their influence, money, talent or education.

Some people will always be better off than others, financially or otherwise. The parity some wish for isn’t possible, and I’m glad we have it the way it is. The desire to better ourselves is built into us. We strive to learn because we want to advance. If this is removed because we are all a bunch of identical robots, we will drift aimlessly through life.

And I want you to remember that in Gods eyes, we are all first class. Always give your best, no matter where you are in life…

Fathers

Today is Fathers Day in the United States. People celebrate their dads and their great memories with them.

Fatherless homes are one of the fastest growing family demographics of today’s culture. Over 90% of homeless people come from fatherless homes, as well as 75% of rapists and 69% of youth suicides. If you ever think that good fathers aren’t necessary, just consider those alarming statistics.

To all the solid men who are dedicated dads, enjoy your day…

I Don’t Know

I cannot count the number of times I’ve made assumptions without knowing the facts. As I have gotten older and, hopefully wiser, my assumptions have become less frequent.

Those three words, “I don’t know,” are powerful. They give you freedom from believing you should know everything. Further, those three words open up a world of curiosity. You make yourself available to learn. Learning about things keeps our minds alive with wonder and awe.

Try it! Admit when you don’t know something, and then go learn about it. Curiosity reigns…

Activity

Our culture has become addicted to their screens. We constantly have our heads buried in a phone or a laptop. I’m not just talking about adults, either. Kids are doing it, too.

Our minds and bodies aren’t meant to be totally absorbed in information. We need interactions with other people, and we need physical activity.

Technology is a necessary component of our lives. Yet it should not dominate our time. I encourage you to get outside, enjoy some sunshine every day and get physically active. Pay attention to how different you feel afterwards. Try it for 21 days and let me know what happens…

The Last Time

Yesterday I saw a motorcycle accident that killed the rider. It was instantaneous, and the man didn’t suffer.

The man who died had no idea that yesterday would be his last. There are no more weekends in his future, no family events and no celebrations. He got all he ever would prior to yesterday.

I believe it’s important for us to remember today may be our last, too. We don’t know how long we will be here. Only God knows that. But I do know this: we have an opportunity to make the most of every day we have. Let’s do it…

Numbing The Pain

People are carrying trauma, hurt and pain in them. Facing those things requires a lot, and sometimes people aren’t ready. That’s okay.

Unresolved issues can manifest unhealthy behavior such as alcoholism, drugs, pornography etc. These outward manifestations are simply representations of the underlying pain. They are what we see, yet to the one holding onto the pain these are their coping mechanisms.

If any unhealthy behaviors are present in your life, I encourage you to seek help with them from a psychotherapist. Bring the inner darkness into the light where it will lose its power over you. You will be uncomfortable in the short term, but your inner light will no longer be dimmed…

Perfection

Perfectionists drive themselves crazy with any little imperfection they find. And imperfections are everywhere!

Why do we strive for perfection? Can we actually measure it since we, no matter how great we do, will never reach perfection? I say you gotta strive for something, so let’s strive for doing our dead-level best.

There’s nothing like the satisfaction you feel when you have done a good job. The sense of pride is not permanent, but we want to feel it again. As a writer, I know when to stop. Artists know when their painting is complete.

Always give your best, whether it’s in your work or in conversations. Engage fully and eliminate distractions. It is possible to experience that sense of pride every day, even without reaching perfection…