-
Before. After. Progress.
If you’re reading this, congratulations, you’ve made it to 2024. That alone is a blessing. I hope you have goals you’d like to achieve this year.
I see today and the beginning of this year as the “before” picture. A “before” picture is a photograph taken prior to a specific event or transformation, serving as a visual reference for comparing changes or progress.
Whether you embark on a fitness journey or pursue something else this year, I hope the end of this year looks significantly different from the beginning. For the better, of course.
So, take that “before” picture of your life (or body) right now, whether it’s literal or metaphorical, and go out and do all the things to make that “after” picture look completely different. Happy New Year and congratulations in advance.
-
Evolving Through 2023
The motto for 2023 was “Make 2023 look like 5 years,” and that’s exactly how it felt.
Many monumental events happened to me this year, like turning 30, starting this blog, and becoming a father.
I accomplished a lot, learned a lot, and grew a lot. Many things were done that made 2023 look like 5 years, but there’s still much I didn’t do. So the goal is to make 2024 look like 10 years. I hope you set out to do the same thing. Let’s get it.
-
Embrace Knowledge, Thrive
Ignorance is not bliss; what you don’t know can hurt you.
Just because you don’t check the nutrition facts on the food you eat doesn’t mean that food isn’t affecting you.
Just because you don’t know the consequences of certain actions doesn’t mean you are excluded from those consequences.
Knowledge isn’t power until it is applied, so learn as much as you can. Be conscious of the things you should know and the areas where you may need to learn more, then apply it. It’s honestly one of the best things you can do for yourself and a sure way to set yourself up for success.
-
Energize Your Goals
I recently purchased a cool new toy for my daughter that lights up and makes a lot of noise. However, when it was delivered, I realized that the batteries were not included. Without the batteries, the toy was pretty useless. Thankfully, we had some extra batteries on hand that I used for the toy.
In life, we often come across gifts, great ideas, goals, or even relationships that have great potential but require batteries – which represent energy and effort. These gifts, ideas, goals, etc. have the potential to bring us success and happiness, but they may never materialize if we don’t invest the necessary energy and effort into them. Without that energy and effort, they are just as useless as the toy without batteries.
So, it’s important not to just have the idea or goal, but also to put in the effort and see it through. That’s where you’ll find fulfillment, happiness, and truly discover your capabilities.
-
Preparing for a Powerful New Year
I have a few New Year’s resolutions for 2024, as well as some new habits I’d like to start.
To increase my chances of accomplishing these resolutions and establishing these habits, I should start right away. At the very least, I should begin mentally preparing myself and equipping myself with the necessary items and ideas to achieve what I’ve set out to do.
I can’t simply wait until January 1st and expect things to magically change. That’s akin to quitting a habit or addiction cold turkey, which is possible but challenging. It’s much easier to gradually ease off.
Therefore, I will gradually initiate my New Year’s resolutions and new habits now so that when January 1st arrives, I’ll be fully prepared to hit the ground running without any issues.
-
Habits of Excellence
One of my favorite quotes is, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
This quote reminds me that I can achieve just about anything if I consistently work at it. I don’t get caught up in the moment; I simply consistently do what needs to be done, knowing that the results will eventually come.
I know that if I speak to my daughter in Spanish every day and introduce her to other Spanish-speaking activities daily, one day she’ll speak and understand Spanish herself.
I also understand that there are bad things that we may repeatedly do. We must be aware of those things as well. If you drink alcohol every day, you may be an alcoholic. If you yell at others or something every day, you may have anger issues, etc.
So, whatever it is you want to be in life, do something daily that will lead you to become what you want. Also, if there are negative things that you do daily, stop doing them immediately, and you’ll also see results.
-
Embracing Flaws, Unlocking Potential
We all possess strengths and weaknesses. The key is to ensure that our weaknesses do not lead to our downfall or hinder us from realizing our full potential.
Athletes should always be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on improving the latter during both the off-season and the regular season. Neglecting to do so may result in missed opportunities for growth.
Similarly, individuals may possess numerous positive qualities, but without acknowledging and addressing their flaws, they may never reach their full potential in life or their careers.
In some cases, this failure to address flaws can have severe consequences, as seen with individuals who find themselves in prison. It’s not always as extreme, though; flaws can lead to the loss of relationships or jobs.
There is always room for improvement for all of us. When facing challenges in life, it’s essential to reflect and determine if there’s something we lack that we can work on. Even if we have many remarkable strengths, we should not overlook our weaknesses, as they are equally, if not more, important.
-
Christmas: Lessons and Love
Christmas is one of my favorite holidays, if not my absolute favorite, because it has taught me so much.
It has taught me that Jesus is the reason for the season. His life story has taught me valuable lessons and guided me through many challenges in life.
This holiday has also taught me the importance of family and loved ones, and how precious our time with them is.
Additionally, it has shown me that one of my love languages is gift-giving, and how expressing appreciation through presents can truly convey our feelings. Furthermore, it has taught me to stay present and appreciate the day for what it truly is.
Choosing happiness is often within our control, and Christmas makes it easier to make that choice. Merry Christmas to all those reading this blog post. I wish you a day filled with love and joy, and I hope you remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Much love to you all.
-
Time: Valuable & Priceless
Time is money, but it is also priceless.
Time represents a valuable resource, and wasting it is equivalent to squandering potential earnings and missed opportunities.
Time holds immense value and cannot be assigned a monetary figure since it is irreplaceable and finite.
Never waste your time on trivial matters, yet do not underestimate the significance of the precious time spent with loved ones and pursuing your passions.
-
Embracing Your Worth
Never feel guilty for knowing your worth and not settling for anything less than that.
Knowing your worth and not settling for anything less can result in the loss of relationships or opportunities, but it’s worth it because it’s empowering. It brings confidence and strength.
Some people don’t want you to know your full worth because they know you might realize that they shouldn’t be around or that they shouldn’t treat you the way they do.
And knowing your worth is just good for self-esteem. When outside circumstances aren’t going your way, it’s easy to get down on yourself and think maybe you’re the problem. That may not be the case at all.
A lot of things are just out of your control. That’s when knowing your true worth comes in handy.
