Praise

Went on a retreat this weekend, and there was a talk that dove into an interesting way of looking at things. Instead of doing things so that I have and I can then declare what I am, we look at what I am, so therefore I have some things, which mean that I do things. To me it was an intriguing way of looking at life, that as a christian I am loved by God, that being loved I have security to know that I am empowered by his love to do things which are aligned with his mission. 

I do --> I have --> i am

vs

I am --> I have --> I do

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Are You Climbing the Wrong Ladder? The Power of Being Before Doing

We’re taught from a young age that success follows a simple pattern: Work hard (Do), get the rewards (Have), and then you’ll be happy (Be).

It sounds logical.
It even seems to make sense.

But what if that ladder we’ve been climbing is leaning against the wrong wall?

Chasing Success, But Feeling Empty

A friend of mine once poured everything into getting a promotion. Early mornings, late nights, checking emails at all hours—he was doing everything he could to climb higher. And eventually, he got it.

The title. The raise. The corner office.

But something strange happened.

He wasn’t any happier. In fact, he felt… the same. A little emptier, even.

Because deep down, he realized he had spent years chasing something he thought would define him, instead of defining himself first.

Flipping the Script: Be → Have → Do

Most people live by the idea that if they just work harder (Do), they’ll get what they want (Have), and only then will they feel like the person they want to be (Be).

But the truth is, it works the other way around.

Be → Have → Do.

• Who you are determines what you have and what you do.
• When you start with identity, the right actions flow naturally.
• Instead of waiting for success to define you, define yourself first.

Success isn’t about climbing faster—it’s about making sure your ladder is against the right wall.

The Power of Identity

Think about it.

If you see yourself as a leader, you act like one.
If you believe you’re confident, you carry yourself that way.
If you know you’re disciplined, your habits reflect it.

But if your identity is tied to external validation—titles, money, or approval—then you’ll always be chasing something outside yourself, never truly arriving.

Call to Action: Start With Being

Here’s the challenge: Flip the script.

1. Decide who you are first. Instead of waiting to feel confident, choose to be confident. Instead of chasing success, start with the mindset of someone who already has it.
2. Let identity drive action. When you focus on being, the right habits follow naturally.
3. Trust that the results will come. The right identity creates the right actions, and the right actions lead to success.

Final Thought: Who Are You Becoming?

At the end of the day, it’s not about what you achieve—it’s about who you are.

So instead of asking, “What do I need to do to be successful?” ask:

“Who am I becoming?”

Because when you start with being, the doing and having take care of themselves.

And maybe—just maybe—you’ll realize you don’t need to climb higher.

You just need to make sure your ladder is leaning against the right wall.

How did we get to a point where we’ve lost our sense of wonder?

Ever asked the question of what happened to wow? Welcome everyone! Today, we’re talking about rediscovering wonder in everyday life. We live in an incredible time, yet we often take things for granted, and that the smallest actions can have lasting impact. Let's explore how shifting our mindset can change that.

This morning, my Fitbit buzzed on my wrist, waking me up right on time. This tiny device is packed with sensors that track my steps, heart rate, and movement—constantly processing data to give me insights about my life. It tells me where I’ve been, where I am, and even gives clues about where I’m headed.

That’s incredible.

Not too long ago, I had a simple watch that had to be wound up—and it didn’t even show the date. Later, I upgraded to a digital watch that beeped when the alarm went off. And now? My smartwatch does things that would have been mind-blowing to my younger self.

It doesn’t just tell time; it syncs with my phone, vibrates when I get an email, reminds me to stand up, and even helps track my health.

And yet, instead of being amazed, I barely think about it.

Why is that?

Perspective Shift: Everything is Amazing, But No One is Happy

I heard a quote recently:
"Everything is amazing, and no one is happy."

It reminded me of a conversation I had with someone who was complaining about their last business trip.

They were frustrated that their flight was delayed by an hour, they got stuck in a middle seat, and—can you believe it?—they weren’t even offered a meal!

But let’s pause for a second.

They were traveling across the country in a few hours, something that, just a century ago, would have taken months, if not years. And if you even survived the journey, you might never see or hear from your loved ones again.

Now, we sit in a pressurized metal tube, hurtling through the sky at 500 mph, sipping orange juice from a plastic cup, probably browsing the internet... and all we can think about is how annoying it is that the guy in front of us reclined his seat.

We've lost the wonder.

The world isn’t lacking in amazing things—it’s lacking in people who recognize how amazing it all is.

Choosing Gratitude & Kindness

We have access to more information and technology than ever before. My Fitbit doesn’t just track numbers; it recognizes patterns. It can even detect irregular heart rhythms. When that happened to me, I looked at the data, I started investigating, and I turned to AI—ChatGPT—to learn more.

I asked: What is this? Is it serious? What can I do about it? Where did I go wrong?

And as I kept asking, I got better at asking better questions.

This is the world we live in—one where information, insights, and even solutions are at our fingertips. But instead of using these tools to expand our curiosity, we often get caught up in the small frustrations of life.

We let the little things annoy us. We get impatient. We forget how incredible it is to be alive in this time.

But here’s the thing—just like a rose needs to be pruned to bloom beautifully, sometimes we need to let go of frustrations to make space for gratitude.

A while ago, I was at the grocery store when a stranger offered to buy my groceries. It wasn’t something I needed, but the kindness of it made my day. Actually, it made my year.

Imagine if we all lived like that—choosing kindness, choosing gratitude, rediscovering the wonder in the things we take for granted.

Call to Action: Find Your Wonder & Pass It On

So here’s my challenge to you:

• Pause and notice—find one thing today that amazes you, no matter how small.
• Shift your perspective—when something frustrates you, flip the script and think about what’s incredible about it.
• Choose kindness—do one unexpected act of generosity for someone else.

Because here’s the thing—small actions don’t just stop with you. Kindness has a ripple effect, like a pebble dropped in a pond or a butterfly flapping its wings on one side of the world and causing a breeze on the other.

Think about it: A stranger once offered to buy my groceries. It wasn’t something I needed, but it made my day. Actually, it made my year. And because of that, I was inspired to pass that kindness along to someone else. Who knows how far that simple act has traveled?

That’s the power of rediscovering wonder. That’s the power of perspective.

So today, take a moment to appreciate the incredible time we live in. Do something kind for someone, no matter how small. You never know how far it might spread.

Because at the end of the day, we only get one shot at this life. Let’s not waste it being annoyed. Let’s make sure we see the wonder in it.

And most importantly—let’s pass that wonder on.