We all face resistance!  Use any variety (internally or externally sourced) it to your advantage. How does this transition us to the next chapter on SOCIAL PROWESS?

This is the last episode of the Chapter of SPIRITUAL VIGOR. Starts with a recap of the chapter so far, and an introduction to the concept of resistance, which we will inevitably face...  [Not to worry! This episode will get polished eventually... In the meantime, enjoy!]

Spiritual Vigor is highly depending on having a purpose in life Purpose is fueled by aligning passions with values Passionate work is the result of leveraging our unique talents and leading strengths.  We've all heard the term "play to your strengths," right?     It may seem obvious, but what does that actually mean?  Well, let's take a look at that.     Talents, Strengths, and Skills Talents - Natural ability that can be nurtured and grown, dependent on an individuals God-given capacity for it. Strengths - "soft" abilities (character traits/tendencies)  that are universally present in all people, but uniquely leveraged Skills - Ability that can be cultivated, practiced, and leveraged by anyone regardless of experience or natural talent.  In order to determine your leading or "Signature" Strengths, I highly encourage you to go to: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register ...for a free ~10min assessment designed to identify your unique values-leveraging tendencies.  feel free to post your findings to the Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/GMQpodcast

This is PART III of the episode on PURPOSE. Thank you for joining me on the journey so far.  When designing our ideal life, having an answer to the following three questions is crucial in determining what will ultimately keep pulling you forward, and how you are going to stand up to the task.  What do you want? Why does it matter? Who must you become? Our hope is to find a purpose that we can use to say:  If all else is lost -- “At least I have _____”  Then double check your reasoning by asking:  “Can ___ Be lost?” After you BEGIN to articulate what you want, or at least the direction you want to go,  …create IMMEDIATE, SHORT-TERM, and LONG-TERM goals that are all oriented with your VALUES Over time, we will have clearer and clearer idea of what our purpose is, and as such it's important to reevaluate whether or not the goals we created are still in line with our values, and whether the outcome of those goals will contribute toward our clearer definition of our purpose.  ID your beliefs   ID your Values Define your direction Align your actions Assess results Define/Refine Purpose along the way But remember to constantly LIVE in purpose

PART 2 OF PURPOSE Purpose isn’t a destination, it’s a journey of growth. Yes, every journey begins with a step, but we need provisions along the way. As much as some people will claim otherwise, you can’t “grind”/ “hustle” your way to fulfillment. When you live in purpose it isn’t a “someday”-type thing. It’s an EVERYDAY thing. Be careful to identify YOUR values and purpose, or else you may simply adopt those with which you are most exposed (family, occupation, surrounding community). A conflict of values will always lead to strife (both internally and between peoples…) Values are the “why” behind your WHY. 🗝 Passions are the lifeblood of your WHY.  💪 Passion is defined as a strong liking or desire FOR or devotion TO some activity, object, or concept. It is also attributed to the willingness to suffer for said devotion.  As the saying goes, “Find something you are willing to die for, and live for it” Passions, when expressed in alignment with values, will feel like an extension of your spiritual wellness. It’s that righteous feeling in your chest when you know you are doing the right thing, even if the circumstances are uncomfortable.

This Episode is the first of 3 in the series on PURPOSE.  Purpose isn't simply given; Purpose is accepted In order to live in PURPOSE, one must first decide that THIS is what they want. Once you WANT to live in purpose-- (opposed to how you are CURRENTLY living) -- Then you recognize that changes must be made. Discontentment, Boredom, and Exhaustion from the grind... --> All indicators that positive CHANGE is needed. But in order to justify the desired changes, and limit any cognitive dissidence: You must first begin your transformation into the person who CAN live in purpose.  Purpose is a journey, not a destination. Every journey begins with the first step.  ONCE/WHEN you begin to get an idea of the first steps you want to take, in ANY direction you know requires improvement,   …you start to clearly see WHAT you want,   …which allows you to begin understanding WHERE you are going,   …WHY it matters, and   …WHO you need to become.

The Good, Morning Quarantine Podcast is now 2 months old! (Yes, I'm a little slower on tying a bow on this project, but nevertheless we aren't out of the Age of Quarantine just yet!) 2020 is shaping up to be an.....extra-ordinary year, to say the least.  Establishing, and agreeing upon, common values provide an anchor for the discussion to rest, even when differences of opinion arise. For those of us actually looking for solutions, we are more similar than we are different. Honestly, leading with values is something we already do, we just don’t recognize it. Why not articulate the value you are expressing?     Yes it seems a bit tedious and overly detailed.     But isn’t that what we need right now? We need a sturdy foundation from which to build relationships, community, and a better world for all. #leadwithvalues #Ivalue_weValue If you, like me, think this kind of content can improve the world, one person at a time, please share. At least try and be a fellow voice of the message behind this content. But again, in my humble opinion, sharing the podcast itself is the easiest option.  https://anchor.fm/gmq http://facebook.com/GMQ-Podcast The first step to making the world a better place begins with you choosing to take that first step.

The first step in any spiritual growth journey is to determine the our values vs what we value. Once we understand our values, we can: Seek answers.  Direct our attention with intention, Recognize, associate, and establish connections to our values, Align our actions appropriately,  Realize our purpose and our passion This episode deals with the second and third pieces of this puzzle. Prayer is a powerful tool because it is a form of communication.     Even if we overlook the association with a higher power, practicing prayer combines the benefits of affirmation and meditation, Observing the flow of attention Putting words to concerns and ambitions Recognizing boundaries of control Recognizing trust where it needs to be If you have any thoughts, please share them either publicly or in a direct message on the associated Facebook Page!

The second segment of the episode on VALUES. This part digs into ways to actually determine your values. If what you value (the values you live) are not what you aspire to, true introspection and evaluation of beliefs is required to assess the validity of the existing beliefs that are driving those values.  With the right values in place, the foundation of your spiritual growth is sturdy, regardless of what disruptions come your way. 

Like any of the other domains, spiritual growth requires having a well established foundation.  The roots of our spiritual wellness, resilience, and vigor are our beliefs and, subsequently our values.     (Link to the Facebook Page, which has a list of values to reference: However, our perceived values, and what we value may be two different things.     It's important to recognize that our actions reflect our true values, independent of what we claim to support.  Once we have a clear understanding of the values we are living right now, we can CHOOSE whether or not we agree with them, and begin to systematically redefine the kind of life we are going to live.  Ultimately, what we value, BECOME our value, for better or for worse.