Other people's maelstroms are bumping into my rainbows, lately. There are a handful of folks having very bad days of varying degrees, seemingly all around me. Some are having melt downs. Others are dealing with years' worth of faulty decision making bearing its sickly fruit. One, in particular, is doing all they can, righteously (ironically), to make sure that the dreams they so strongly elaborate on, will never become reality. Others are caught in loops of stagnation that have gone on years, regardless of the open conversations we have about this phenomenon being a known entity amongst us. (Actually, this is one of my favorite go-to ways of shooting myself in the foot too.) And I am connected to all these people in a way that directly effects my own wellbeing, yet I have zero power to help them So, where does that leave me? Right where I am. Cool, calm, and collected. Not at all times. But my own frustrations with these situations do not lead to any lengthy melt downs of their own. Why? Because I refuse. If my life is to become the way I want it, then I must remain focused on my mission and its work, while doing my best to not cause any harm to those who are hurting all around me, through any well intended missteps. I have to interact with them without coaching too much (or at all), and just let them get to wherever it is they may be headed on their own. As a leader, this is just how it goes sometimes. You lead by example. Stay calm and soldier on. I have blown up a tad over some of these situations. But I keep it brief and force myself to refocus on the more important, bigger issues the moment I realize I've wallowed in anger long enough. I simply get back to work. Building this. Being with you. Doing all I can to make my horse shit into a positive learning experience for all. That's the hope, anyway. Subscribe To OJ Podcast! Sponsors: Family Network Chiropractic in Kingston, NY: The only providers of NSA Chiropractic in the Mid-Hudson Valley Maximum Results Fitness w/ Mike Romano: Online Training with Individually Customized Support Key Points: Even if you are your only follower, pursuing your mission makes you a leader of you! To be a good leader, you'll often be forced to choose between the less shitty of two options and that's the best that that particular situation will get During times of stress, stay in the moment, feel the emotions but don't let the emotions affect your decision making I have only recently become any sort of good at doing the above Just the other day, the "Old Kenny" wanted out but I don't let that happen, and it's no longer a struggle as it once was; it's simply my default state of being when heavy shit hits I'm no angel, in sometimes thought or deed, but I strive to grow the better part of myself at all times and am constantly on the lookout for more resources to help me do just that, as well as constantly making better use of the resources I already have When leading yourself: life's gonna trip you up. How well you handle it and your ability to grow from it, will depend on how hungry you are to continually learn and stay aware of the need to always change for the better The Four Stages Of Competence/Awareness: Unconscious Incompetence: Blissful Ignorance (not knowing that you don't know something) Conscious Incompetence: Painful Awareness (realization that you don't know something) Conscious Competence: Educated Individual (you learn from others) Unconscious Competence: Second Nature (when it's all so obvious really!) Links: Human Design: Lead yourself better and you'll be a better leader of others Network Spinal Analysis: Mind-Body Connection Samuel L Jackson shares his dream: Near the very bottom of this article is where Sam states how he'd lose everything if he went back to drinking Kolbe: Conation Skills: You will be more competent in more areas when you better understand the reasons you act as you...