Fear can be our Enemy or our Friend

Posted on January 26, 2017 by willieryder

“Fear can be our enemy or our friend.”

Regardless of who we are, where we are from, or what we have accomplished or experienced in life we are each afraid of something. What we are afraid of may be similar or different from each other. However, we all have our own fears in both our personal and professional lives.

Some of these fears have the potential to hold us back and keep us from becoming the person we dream of being.

“Fear is our enemy when it keeps us from following our dreams or doing the things we want to in life.”

Instead of letting our fears keep us hostage we need to embrace them in order to learn from them and grow. We need to recognize what we are afraid of, try to identify the best way to overcome it, and then work to do so.

If we leverage our fears in order to help us learn, grow, and improve we can do some pretty amazing things.

“Fear becomes our friend when it motivates us to appropriately prepare so we can overcome the challenges we are faced with in life.”

We must also remember that without fear we cannot have courage. For us to live the lives that we dream of we must do so with courage and not let our fears keep us from doing the things we really want to.

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The Gifts of Words

Posted on January 4, 2017 by willieryder

My whole life I have heard that it is better to give than to receive.  I agree and I also believe that gifts come in all sizes, shapes, and forms. Some are big and some are small. The things we do for others can be considered a gift at times and so can the words we use.

The words we use? Really? You may be asking yourself how can words be considered as a gift. It really depends on the words we use, how they are used, and who we share them with. The right words have the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of the recipients and could be considered one of the greatest gifts of all.

I will share some words with you as an example. However, before I do I have one small request. That in turn you will promise to share the words with someone else. Particularly someone that is special to you.

The first set of words I will share with you are “I Believe In You!”

Do you remember when you were younger and you first tried to ride a bike.  What about your first spelling test or learning to read.  The first time you played on a sports team.  Getting behind the wheel of a car for the first time.  That first job interview.

Throughout our lives we have been faced with a lot of challenges and we are sure to be faced with many more.  We all get nervous at times and need to know others believe in us. My hope is that each time you have been faced with a pretty big challenge you have had someone there to support and encourage you and tell you “I Believe In You!”

In the next two weeks I want you to be on the lookout for the opportunity for you to tell others that you believe in them.  When you find someone you know faced with a challenge or appear nervous about some task take the time to encourage them.  It could be as simple as telling them “no sweat, you have this.” Or if they are really scared you may need to stop them from what they are doing, put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eye, and with confidence in your voice tell them “You can do this! I Believe In You!”

The next set of words I will share with you are “I Am Proud Of You!”

Remember going home and telling your mom and dad you got a really good grade on a test or your report card.  Accomplished some very challenging task you were nervous about.  Did well in a sporting event.  Passed your driver’s test. Received that first job.

Isn’t it great when someone you respect and care about tells you they are proud of you.  It usually comes after you have done something that was challenging for you or when you have accomplished some sort of task that has made a positive impact on others.

In the next week I want you to find a reason to tell someone you care about that you are proud of them.  I am sure the people you spend time with are doing things that warrant your praise.  Hopefully you are already doing it.  However, if not you need to start and I want you to do so within the week.  When you find out about what they have done go up to them, look them in the eyes, and with pride in your voice tell them “Great job! I Am Proud Of You!”

The final set of words I will share with you today are the most valuable and they are “I Love You!”

Those three words are the one’s every child wants and needs to hear from their parent.  Every parent from their children. Every spouse from their significant other. From our blood siblings and those that we love as we would any true brother and sister. Our immediate and extended family alike. Those that have been like a father or mother figure for us. Those that have just made such a huge impact on our lives, who we are, and that we could not imagine what our lives would be like without them in it.

There should not be a single day that goes by where we don’t have a conversation with someone special enough in our lives to deserve us telling them that we love them. Whether it be in person, over the phone, through email, a text message, or a hand written note. We all should have someone in our lives that we interact with and care enough about that deserve to hear us tell them, “I Love You!”

Today I want you to think of someone that you care about and let them know. You could go into detail and let them know how much they mean to you if you want. Or just simply look them in the eye and with sincerity in your voice tell them “I Love You!” However you choose to do it you must be authentic and mean it though. These words are not ones to be taken lightly and come with a lot attached to them. But if we truly care about someone in our lives these words are too important to go unsaid. We all deserve to hear the words “I Love You” from those that care about us and must share them with those we care about.

I have shared with you three different sets of words. Each of them have their own meaning and to some people they may be just words. To most they are much more than words though. They are considered to be very valuable gifts to both the person sharing them and the one receiving them. If you sincerely share them with those you care about on a regular basis you will have a huge impact on them and the relationships you have will be stronger for it.

“Three meaningful statements children want and need to hear from their parents. I believe in you, I am proud of you, and I love you.”

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The Best Place To Work Is

Posted on December 20, 2016 by willieryder

Early into my Marine Corps career I learned a very valuable lesson.  One that had a big impact on me and how I thought going forward.

At the time I had only been in the Marine Corps for around 18 months and was currently at my first duty station. I was at work doing my daily tasks when everyone was called together to wish farewell to one of the senior Marines in our platoon. He was being transferred overseas and prior to leaving he wished to share a few words with us. Little did I know what he was about to share would have a profound impact on me and how I would approach things going forward.

“Every person we meet has something they could teach us if we would just be open to learning from them.”

During his farewell speech he asked us “Can anyone tell me where the best place to work is?”

After several moments of silence he continued.

“Right here! Because this is where you are and where you are able to make the biggest impact. Not where you have been or where you are going.”

When I heard this I immediately started thinking about the work I did, my role in the organization, and the potential difference I could make if I really applied myself.

His words helped me to focus my thoughts and efforts on trying to do my best work in my current role and not be distracted by thinking about past jobs or the ones I hoped to one day have.

Too often, especially during times of struggle in our workplace we find ourselves wishing things were the way they used to be, thinking about past jobs we really enjoyed, or dreaming about that perfect job we hope to eventually get.

Spending too much time focusing on thoughts like this could keep us from doing what we are capable of to improve things for us and those around us though.

We can only live off the past for so long and our vision of the future will only take us so far. However hard work, determination, a positive attitude, and by striving to do the best we can at everything we do today could make all the difference in the world.  Regardless of the company we work at or our job title.

“Remember your past, Plan for your future, and Live for today.”

Because the best place to work is right where we are. That is where we have the potential to make the biggest impact for us and those around us.

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Having Purpose and Seeing Value in What We Do

Posted on December 14, 2016 by willieryder

It was still dark outside, probably a couple of hours before the sun would rise. As I got out of bed and started getting dressed my wife woke up and asked, “How do you do it?”

“How do I do what?” I responded as I continued getting dressed.

“Get up so early just to workout. Aren’t you tired?” she said.

“Yes, however I have a purpose and that helps me get up early and do what I believe I need to do, even when I am tired.”

“It’s a lot easier to get up in the morning when you have a good reason to.”

After I finished getting dressed I went downstairs to our workout room and did 20 – 30 minutes of yoga and ran just over 3 miles on the treadmill. Very shortly after starting my workout I no longer felt tired. However, I found myself unable to stop thinking about the question my wife had asked me or my response.

Why did I get up so early each morning and what was my purpose? It’s not just to do yoga and run. It goes beyond that. My purpose is to be healthy. But why is that important and why do I have to get up so early to do that?

As I wrestled with all these questions and thoughts in my head I found myself thinking about how I have usually felt, both on the days I got up early to work out and the days I didn’t.

If I slept in and did not workout I typically felt more tired and at times struggled to get much done first thing in the morning, even though I got more sleep. However, when I got up and worked out I was always more energetic, got more things done throughout the first half of the day, and felt great.

“No matter how tired I am I always feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally after an early morning run than I do if I sleep in.”

What I realized that morning is my true reason for getting up so early to workout is based on my desire to be healthy. Because I see the value in how it makes me feel and the impact it has on how I live my life. Especially when I start my day with a good workout first thing in the morning.

When we see results and recognize the value from the activities we spend our time on we will do them with intention and purpose. Whether it is working out, spending quality time with the people we care about, doing our jobs, volunteering in our community, or any other area of our lives.

“Having a strong purpose will motivate us to rise early and be excited to face what the coming day has in store for us.”

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Time

Posted on November 30, 2016 by willieryder

Time

To accomplish everything we hope to in life we can’t wait for the perfect time to take action. We have to start right where we are now.

There is nothing we can’t do when we put our mind to it and we’re willing to dedicate our time and energy to see it through.

Most significant and worthwhile goals take a lot of time, effort, and commitment in order to accomplish them.

Letting our self be distracted at the wrong time may cause us to stumble and fall. If so we must get up, refocus, and finish what we started.

The world is waiting. It is time to wake up and do the things today that we are each meant to do.

Our time is one of the most valuable resources we have. We must spend it wisely on the things we care about the most.

There is usually not enough time to do everything we want each day. We must identify what must get done and plan our time wisely.

When we don’t take the time to plan our day we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of what needs to be done.

Spending too much time stressing over the things we don’t have time for will keep us from focusing on accomplishing the things we can.

When we focus too much time and attention on identifying the things we can’t do we run the risk of overlooking the things we can.

Instead of complaining about not having enough time to do everything focus your efforts on using what time you have to do what matters most.

We all feel overwhelmed at times. Sometimes all you can do is prioritize and focus on the things that are the most important at the time.

Focusing our thoughts, time, and energy on the things we can do instead of the things we can’t is more productive and feels a lot better.

There are times in our lives we are faced with difficult situations that scare us. The sooner we face them the sooner we overcome them.

All things that are meant to be will. Some things just happen in their own time regardless of how hard we try to help them along.

Life is a long journey and along the way we learn, grow, and at times have to change in order to become the person we are meant to be.

The people we are and the lives we live are determined by the decisions we make at key times throughout our lives.

We will make the greatest impact in the areas that we give the most attention and time to.

A little bit of time and attention focused in the right area could make a big difference in our efforts to grow and improve.

Spend a little bit of time each day working on improving in an area of your choosing.

Take the time to do at least one thing today that will help you grow and develop in an area you want to improve in.

Take advantage of the slow and quiet times to prepare for when things are happening at a much faster and busier pace.

Habits are created by small actions taken repeatedly over a period of time.

The habits we create can hold us back or help us springboard towards the life we want to live depending on the ones we invest our time in.

When faced with a problem and doing what we normally do to resolve it is no longer working it’s time to try something different.

From time to time we have to make the choice to go in a different direction than we’re used to in order to explore new territory.

Giving too much time and thought to worrying about what others think will keep us from being ourselves and living the lives we are meant to.

The decision we must often make is whether we want to spend the majority of our time looking back or moving forward.

As each year comes to a close we should take time to acknowledge what we did last year and plan for what we hope to do next year.

To see the path we need to take sometimes we must slow down and take a closer look before continuing on our journey.

Taking the time to consider what may be ahead for us helps to make sure we appropriately plan and prepare for it.

It’s good to think before we act. We must be careful not to get lost in our thoughts and keep from acting in a timely fashion though.

There is a time to think and a time to act. We have the challenge of trying to figure out which time it is in the moment.

To gain clarity sometimes we have to intentionally step away from our busy daily routine long enough to clear our head.

Regularly taking the time to reflect on what matters most to us is very important for our well being.

Many of our best ideas are lost because when they first come to us we don’t take the time to capture them and they are eventually forgotten.

When you think of an idea that you feel is worth pursuing take the time to write it down so you have it to reflect on later.

Often when faced with a problem we either already know what needs to be done or we are capable of coming up with a solution. We just need to take the time to think it through and may also need to talk it through with someone else.

There are times we need the help and support of others to face the challenges in front of us and there are times we must face them alone.

To perform at our best we can’t go it alone. We need people we trust to support, guide, and hold us accountable at times.

Just like our relationships with others and the people we spend most of our time with has an influence on the person we are.

We can influence how good our day is by the thoughts we have, the activities we participate in, and the people we share our time with.

The secret to feeling young is spending a lot of quality time with our children and taking an interest in what they like to do.

Our children want our attention, need our time, and deserve to know we value and care about them.

Life is not only work, chores, and responsibilities. This weekend do something fun, try to relax, and spend time with friends and family.

Being extremely busy all the time can be physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. It is important to take time out to recharge.

We can only carry a heavy burden for so long before we become physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. We all need a break at times.

Adequate rest and time to recover are very important in order to perform at our best in all areas of our lives.

Sometimes in order to gain a little balance we have to take a time out and get a break from our normal daily routine.

When we don’t have to be anywhere or doing anything at any specific time we are free to just be and enjoy the moment.

Very pleasant surprises come at unexpected times in the most unlikely of places.

My favorite times to be outside are when the sun is rising in the morning and when it’s setting in the evening.

To gain and maintain good balance between our personal and professional lives we have to consider where we spend our time on a daily basis.

Life seems so much greater when we can effectively balance our time between our family, work, church, and hobbies.

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Support

Posted on November 4, 2016 by willieryder

Support

To perform at our best we can’t go it alone. We need people we trust to support, guide, and hold us accountable at times.

We all need people in our lives that see us for who we truly are, recognize the potential we have, and push us to be our best.

Everyone needs someone in their life they trust to help keep them grounded or to change course depending on the situation.

We all need someone to help push us towards reaching our full potential.

No one can go through life and accomplish everything they are capable of without the help, support, and guidance from others along the way.

Everyone needs someone in their lives that recognizes when they are struggling or upset and really need a hug.

The people we need to lift us up especially during very challenging situations usually show up when we need them the most. Often they were already there and we just didn’t realize it.

There are times we need the help and support of others to face the challenges in front of us and there are times we must face them alone.

Some paths are meant to be traveled with others and some by ourselves. However as long as we believe we are never truly alone.

As long as our faith is strong and we believe then we are never truly alone and have all the support we need to overcome any challenge.

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Purpose

Posted on November 1, 2016 by willieryder

Purpose

We all deserve to live a life full of happiness and purpose.

Every day is a blessing and should be started with a purpose in mind.

It’s a lot easier to get up in the morning when you have a good reason to.

Every day should start with a purpose. Each morning we should ask ourselves what we hope to accomplish that day and then go out and do it.

Having a strong purpose will motivate us to rise early and be excited to face what the coming day has in store for us.

Waking up with a purpose motivates us to get up and face what life has in store for us that day.

A strong purpose can motivate us to get up in the morning and face the challenges ahead of us even on the most difficult of days.

Any day spent doing what we believe we are meant to is a great one.

Everyone wants to believe in and feel like they are a part of something much bigger than just themselves.

When we do something that leaves us exhausted physically and mentally while also satisfying us emotionally we have found our purpose.

A person with a clear vision of what they want to achieve and determination can accomplish anything they put their mind to.

We cannot run or hide from doing what we are meant to do or being the person we are meant to be.

You can only delay from doing what you are meant to for so long before fate steps in and nudges you towards your destiny.

We each start the journey towards our true purpose at different stages of our lives. The most important thing is to start.

Our lives are meant to be lived with purpose.

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Priority

Posted on October 28, 2016 by willieryder

Priority

If we are not careful we could allow what appears to be urgent to keep us from doing what is important.

Sometimes you have to remove all of the noise going on around you and get really focused on what is the most important in the moment.

The longer we put off doing something we know we need to the more it weighs us down.

When we’re overextended and have too much to do the smallest of tasks can seem overwhelming. To overcome this we have to prioritize.

We all feel overwhelmed at times. Sometimes all you can do is prioritize and focus on the things that are the most important at the time.

There is usually not enough time to do everything we want each day. We must identify what must get done and plan our time wisely.

Instead of complaining about not having enough time to do everything focus your efforts on using what time you have to do what matters most.

No matter how busy we are we still have to find a way to do the things we are the most passionate about.

We must make sure we are spending our time and effort on the things that we believe will help us become the person we want to be.

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Potential, Learning, and Growing

Posted on October 21, 2016 by willieryder

Potential, Learning, and Growing

As the sun rises a new day begins and with it comes the potential for many new and wonderful possibilities.

Today is a new day! No matter what happened yesterday, last week, or last year today is what we make it and has the potential to be great.

Every day has the potential to be a great one.

Most significant achievements have the potential to be a sign of completion and or the beginning of something new and possibly greater.

To make a significant growth we have to be able to recognize where we are starting from and imagine what we are capable of accomplishing.

We are each a representation of 3 different people. The person we were, the person we are, and the person we have the potential to become.

We each have the potential to do really great things in life as long as we believe it, always do our best, and never give up.

To work towards reaching our full potential we have to be willing to step out of our comfort zone.

Everyone has limits. Most of the time they are self imposed.

We all need someone to help push us towards reaching our full potential.

Every person we meet has something they could teach us if we would just be open to learning from them.

When we are open to the thoughts and ideas of others the things we may learn have the potential to be very impactful for us.

A teacher is only capable of sharing all of their knowledge when the student is interested in receiving it.

The best teachers are also the best students because they learn from those they are teaching to. So they continue to grow and improve.

Reading is a great way to gain knowledge from others and learn from their different experiences.

In order to reach our full potential we must try to learn from every experience we have. The good ones and the not so good ones alike.

Recognize the value of everyone, lift others up, and learn from every situation.

In every adventure we must strive to experience and learn something new.

There are opportunities to learn and experience new things all around us. We just have to look for them and be ready to take action.

Every positive and negative experience we have is another opportunity for us to learn from as we strive to become the best person we can be.

We should do our best to learn from every experience we have in life. Whether the initial outcome appears to be a positive or negative one.

With most things that are new to us there is usually a lot of trial and error before we really understand them. That is how we learn.

Some of the unexpected and difficult challenges we are faced with in the moment are often later viewed as valuable learning experiences.

Some of our greatest learning’s are gained from dealing with very difficult situations.

We all make mistakes at times. When it happens we must acknowledge it and do our best not to make the same mistakes again.

In order to continue learning and growing we have to be willing to experiment and try something new every so often.

Growing and learning’s gained through life experiences often brings discomfort, fear, and some level of pain. These life experiences help to mold us in to who we are and will become.

Life is a long journey and along the way we learn, grow, and at times have to change in order to become the person we are meant to be.

As we explore new paths we learn and grow from the experiences we encounter along the way.

In our effort to get to where we want to go we must not forget where we have been or where we come from.

To fully understand and truly appreciate just how far we have come we have to be able to look back and acknowledge where we started at along with the effort and learning’s it took to get where we are.

We should always strive for perfection, never put a limit on what we can accomplish, and remember to recognize what we have achieved.

Remember your past, plan for your future, and live for today. On a daily basis we each should be working towards becoming better.

Spend a little bit of time each day working on improving in an area of your choosing.

Take the time to do at least one thing today that will help you grow and develop in an area you want to improve in.

If we are serious about growing a skill or working towards the next role in our career we should dedicate 30 – 60 minutes a day to it.

In order to grow we have to be willing to stretch ourselves by stepping out of our comfort zone and not being afraid to make mistakes.

If we want to grow significantly we have to be willing to step outside of our comfort zone.

In order to reach our full potential we should always be looking for opportunities that will stretch us and help us to grow.

The smallest steps forward will still eventually get us to where we want to be.

With every breath taken, every step forward, and every challenge overcome we are a little closer to becoming the person we are meant to be.

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Plan

Posted on October 6, 2016 by willieryder

Plan

As each year comes to a close we should take time to acknowledge what we did last year and plan for what we hope to do next year.

Taking the time to consider what may be ahead for us helps to make sure we appropriately plan and prepare for it.

It’s easier to rise up early in the morning when we plan to do something we want to instead of what we feel we have to.

In order to get the results we hope to we should always prepare how we plan to perform.

Preparation, confidence, execution, and faith all add up to results we can be proud of regardless of what we are working towards.

A good routine, repetition, and consistency are important. They help for when we’re faced with stress, nervousness, or the unexpected.

Even with the most well thought out plans the unexpected can happen. That is why it is so important to always be flexible and willing to change if needed.

Many of life’s most precious moments cannot be planned or predicted. They just happen and usually when we least expect them.

A wrong turn at the right time may still take us to exactly where we really need to be.

Choosing whether to focus on the difficulty of a challenging task or the opportunity it presents will impact how we feel about it.

Making the choice to be solution focused instead of problem focused is almost always better.

To make a change or accomplish a goal of significance the decisions we make and actions we take must be done with intention.

In order to improve at something we must be able to identify the improvements we want to make, create a plan to do so, and take action.

Most significant and worthwhile goals take a lot of time, effort, and commitment in order to accomplish them.

Having a plan that includes clear milestones that build towards your desired end result is important when working to accomplish big goals.

The greatest of plans are only effective when we follow through and execute on them.

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