Jackie

Rise to the Challenge in Front of You

In your life right now, there’s a challenge you’re avoiding. Actually, there’s probably a lot of challenges you’re avoiding. Day-to-day life can feel exhausting. Work, obligations, home duties, friends, relationships, family, hobbies, kids… The list of things to do each day is a mile long. However, for every single person who has so much to do,Continue reading “Rise to the Challenge in Front of You”

How to Focus When Everyone Seems to Be Farther Ahead

Ah, social media. It’s brought about some of the best in humanity but also brought about new challenges we have to deal with. Before, we only heard about all the things our friends are doing through catching up with them or by hearing it through other people. Now, you just flip on your phone andContinue reading “How to Focus When Everyone Seems to Be Farther Ahead”

100% is Easy, 99% is Hard as Hell

“100% is Easy, 99% is Hard” is a quote I came across recently that took me quite some time to absorb. The essential premise is that when you’re 100% committed, everything becomes easy. When you’re just 1% hesitant, that hesitancy can destroy your productivity. This has been a year of a lot of 99%. AndContinue reading “100% is Easy, 99% is Hard as Hell”

For A Successful 2017, Audit Yourself And Find A Purpose

There is a lot to be said for planning out a year. (If you still need to plan your year: this guide will help.) At a certain point, though, you can only add so many things into your life before you need to start subtracting to make room for all the new. One of theContinue reading “For A Successful 2017, Audit Yourself And Find A Purpose”

Is this associated with AofM?

Hi everyone! Since our little team has received a ton of e-mails about if this site is associated with The Art of Manliness’ Strenuous Life program, I wanted to be clear that it’s not. This blog was started years ago. We wish we were because AofM is one of the best blogs on the planet, but no, this is anotherContinue reading “Is this associated with AofM?”

Black Friday, Consumerism, and Character

It has always amazed me how America goes from being grateful for everything we have (Thanksgiving) to immediately feeling like we need to spend money to fill some void in our souls for the next few weeks until Christmas. (Actually what I’ve really realized is that people barely spend any time actually being grateful andContinue reading “Black Friday, Consumerism, and Character”

Don’t Find Yourself, Create Yourself

Everyone seems to be on a mission to figure out who they are. With the rise of self-help books, magazines, tv shows, and seminars, there’s a lot of hype around “finding yourself”. They make all kinds of money on the idea that you’re not good enough and if you buy their book and go to their seminars you’llContinue reading “Don’t Find Yourself, Create Yourself”

Build Your Stamina For Life

When you want to get in shape, you’re aware that you must build your body through baby steps. You lift weights, do cardio, and make it progressively harder. But when it comes to the mind and our lives, we forget these principles. We think we can just wake up and be disciplined, committed, and focusedContinue reading “Build Your Stamina For Life”

Staying Hungry When Life Is Tough

Life is tough. Period. Even people with vast amounts of privilege still have their battles. Buddhism has the rule of Dukkha, often translated to suffering. When you accept that suffering is a part of life, you can move forward. If you think everything is supposed to be “easy” and all forms of pain are “bad” thenContinue reading “Staying Hungry When Life Is Tough”

What Deserves Your Attention?

Everything wants your attention, but what deserves your attention? Everything in today’s world wants our eyeballs. The news makes us all terrified. Social media makes us afraid that we’re missing out. Another inflamed argument on Facebook grabs your attention. This is a never-ending loop we all fall into: reading things that don’t enhance our lives. Sure, it’s important toContinue reading “What Deserves Your Attention?”