Will Bowen Audio

JumpStart - The Ultimate Problem

There are things in life that, let’s be honest, really frighten us.

And some of these things are super silly.

The other day I faced one of these ultimate, “OMG, what if THIS ever happened?” problems, and I was surprised at how easily it was resolved.

Have you noticed that problems are the INVERSE of mountains?

Mountains look small from a distance but HUGE when you get close; whereas, a problem is exactly the opposite -- it looks huge from a distance but up close it’s not so big.

Today, let’s talk about this silly ultimate problem I faced as well as your own problems and how we can relax knowing that everything will be resolved.

JumpStart - Trying

Here’s one of my pet peeves: hearing someone say, “I’ve tried everything.”

In almost every case, “I’ve tried everything” really means, “I tried one, maybe two things, and they didn’t work so I gave up. BUT, I don’t want to admit to being a quitter so I said I tried ‘everything’ while sighing exhaustedly for emphasis.”

If you tried and the problem still exists, you need to keep trying -- FULL STOP!

Today, let’s talk more about holding ourselves accountable for the outcomes we desire in live.

JumpStart - Known Acquaintances

Consider this: researchers have found that fear in a society is directly proportionate to the number of “unknown strangers” perceived in that society.

In other words, the more people around you that you don’t know, the more anxious you feel.

This is why people in small towns where everyone knows each other are less fearful than people in big cities surrounded by people they don’t know.

Today, walk over and introduce yourself to one of your neighbors, a coworker, or someone you see around town.

Notice how simply introducing yourself and making a connection makes you feel safer and less anxious in all areas of life.

JumpStart - Compassion By Proxy

The other day, I heard a snippet of a sermon about The Good Samaritan given by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King said, “The Samaritan chose not to do good by proxy.“

Wow, “chose not to do good by proxy.” That blew my mind.

How often are we guilty of “doing good only by proxy”?

We do great, noble, and wonderful deeds in our minds but when a real need arises, we have an excuse.

Be open today to opportunities to do good deeds – – however small, and see how it improves your enjoyment of life.

JumpStart - Ethics

I just read about an amazing study that took place in Morocco.

Researchers gave local merchants money and told them that they could either keep the cash or give it to charity.

Remember, Morocco is an Islamic country and five times a day the call to worship bellows loudly on loudspeakers throughout the country.

Here’s what the researchers found: first, the merchants were far more generous than anyone expected, giving as much as half or more of the money to charity.

Second and most significant, whenever the Muslim call to worship could be heard ringing out, the merchants gave 100% of the newfound money to charity.

The takeaway is that simply being reminded of one’s religion causes one to act more ethically.

This is yet another reason to become an active part of a spiritual community – – it reinforces ethics within society.

Today, let’s remind ourselves of the universal good that exists and let it drive all of our decisions, knowing that we will impact those around us.

JumpStart - Crashing Your Pity Party

Occasionally, I will get someone who challenges one of my Facebook posts.

They don’t challenge its logic; they challenge its universality.

They claim that they are an exception to whatever I have posted, and they always have lots of reasons as to why.

These people simply don’t try, and their lives are one excuse after another, leading to self-pity and unhappiness.

Today, let’s crash your pity party so that you can stop making excuses and start making a life that is, wait for it – – legendary!

JumpStart - Etch-a-Sketch Do-overs

I learned something interesting the other day about the classic toy known as an Etch-a-Sketch.

When you draw on an Etch-a-Sketch you’re not actually drawing on the glass surface.

What you are actually doing is ERASING the glass surface line by line.

Here’s what I mean: when you shake an Etch-a-Sketch, you’re not shaking all the little particles off the screen, you are actually filling in the particles that you removed while drawing.

Life is like an Etch-a-Sketch -- there are lots of do-overs.

Today, let’s shake up your Etch-a-Sketch

JumpStart - People Focus

I’ve mentioned before that my daughter Starr is the most popular person I know.

I’m not bragging--I had nothing to do with it; I just love sitting back and seeing how she magnetically draws people to her.

The other day, she again demonstrated superpowers for me, and she didn’t even realize it.

Today, I’m going to share with you what I learned from watching her and how you can apply it to your own life to make BIG changes and STRONGER connections with others.

JumpStart - Shedding Your Burden

Many people like to play the game where they ask, “If your house were about to be destroyed and you could take out only one thing, what would you keep?“

Perhaps it’s a good idea to play that same game with our responsibilities.

Let’s say your life is about to change dramatically – – a loss, an illness, or perhaps something else pretty serious is just about to happen. What responsibilities that are currently weighing you down would you take with you to the other side of that change?

In other words, what can you let go?

I recently read that one of the reasons Elvis took drugs was to manage the stress of having to pay salaries and give lavish gifts to hundreds of unnecessary people languishing on his payroll.

If the members of the Memphis Mafia truly were Elvis‘s friends, they wouldn’t need to be paid.

So, what responsibilities can you shed?

Today, let’s weed out some of the things that are making life more of a struggle and less of a joy so you can feel lighter and happier.

JumpStart - Zombies

What if someone else took over your body for 30 days?

How would you then look, dress, move, feel at the end of that 30 days?

Your life is like a ship and you are the captain of your ship -- you direct its course.

Another captain might take the same ship to richer and brighter lands than you’d ever dreamed. Yet another captain might sink the same ship years before it had fulfilled its purpose.

Here’s a life success tip: become a zombie.

Let your life be overtaken by someone you admire.

If there is someone you admire, imagine that person taking over your body and your life – – see how this person might act, react, exercise, eat, work, and relax as you.

The next time you journal, play the zombie game and discover how freeing and inspiring it can be.