BLOG MOVED…

I recently moved the RockStar Way™ blog to my own web host for greater security, flexibility, and reach.

The new address of this blog = http://tomleu.com/blog/

All future writings will be posted there.

Please update subscription, bookmarks, and visit often!

Thanks,

Tom \,,/

enduring uncertainty

The ability to endure through uncertain situations or unpredictable times of life demonstrates the necessary amount of faith and belief in ourselves that transcends circumstance. A seemingly invisible, yet undeniable drive underlies all attitude, effort, and action. It’s this consistent focus that harnesses hesitation, produces action over apprehension, and capitalizes on chaos with a solution-oriented perspective.

Sticking with things after we’ve stuck our neck out is a virtue that reveals character. To endure means to face with courage. Though giving up seems like the easier, softer way at times; the long-term consequences of quitting often far eclipse any apparent short-term gains in certainty and stability. Enduring uncertainty requires an attainment of presence in the present. Presence is recognizing the now today… by accepting yesterday… while embracing, not fearing tomorrow.

©2008 Tom Leu

the difference

Are you good enough to be replaced? Or are you valuable enough to be irreplaceable? Being good at something and valuable for something is not the same thing. Sometimes simply being good isn’t good enough. You can be good, even very good, yet not good for something or someone at some point in time… there is a difference. And real wisdom lies in knowing and acting on this difference.

©2008 Tom Leu

as you are

One of my old mentors used to tell me that the world is as you are, not as it is…

It’s an interesting observation that has stuck with me.

How we “see” things influences how we “feel” about those things.

How you think = How you are.

So… since (our) perception is (our) reality, doesn’t it make sense to change our perception when our reality is in need of change?

But how? How does one go about changing their perceptions?

Two ways:

1) Get honest about any long-held perceptions that may not serve you anymore. Fall out of love with the notion that your way of seeing things is the only “right” way. It rarely is. If you don’t have the objectivity to do this yourself, ask someone else who really knows you to help.

2) Become willing to consider another viewpoint. Being willing doesn’t mean blindly agreeing. Do some homework and investigate other viewpoints for yourself. Sometimes the very act of trying to challenge or disprove another perspective exposes new information that was unseen before.

No one likes to change. Change makes people defensive. Change is hard. But change is necessary for growth.

Think back one, five, even ten or more years ago… how much have you changed?

Is “as you are” today really the way you want your world to be tomorrow?

If not, then keep what’s working and get rid of the rest. Your world depends on it.

©2008 Tom Leu

fantasy football

Fantasy Football is an extremely popular recreational activity for footbal buffs and sports junkies everywhere. The rules are simple: You select and assemble a “make believe” NFL team consisting of real players whose performance on your fantasy team is based on their real-life football statistics. The better your team’s players perform during their actual NFL games, the better your collective artificial team does. Kinda cool… Part reality; part fantasy. Sort of like real-life isn’t it?

Don’t we take real people and their real actions and behaviors, and then assemble them into our own new reality? We pick and choose who we want on our “team,” and then base the success of our team on our people’s performance (their actions and behaviors). If they do well (in our opinion), we are happy. If their performance is not up to our standards, or does not meet our expectations, we get upset. The irony of all this is that we have absolutely no control of the outcome though we try very hard to control our success by playing the odds based on other people’s past performances.

Of course yesterday does not always equal tomorrow, but history can and should be a consideration of future performance. The quality and content of our lives is certainly more important than football games, but living in reality rather than in fantasy can be far more challenging at times than we care to admit. If you consistently find yourself making excuses while pursuing “escape mode” with any number of vices, devices and distractions, it may be time to have a heart-to-heart with your “head” coach. Game on…

©2008 Tom Leu