Is it okay to take a break for one day, or one week, from this need to produce? Consistency pulls. It tells me that if I don’t do this thing which I have arbitrarily told myself for so long makes me: 1. productive, 2. on the path to success, and 3. me, that I am […]
I remember recognizing the significance of distractions early in my journey toward bettering myself. Today, about a year later, I am starting to receive tangible external blessings for my toils. Yet once again, distractions seem to surround my tasks and work space. They are calling out to me. They are poised to test my resolve […]
Closed-minded people write karma off as some new age-y foofoo. They see those of us who believe in it as dumb snowflakes. Yet, even when they’re intelligent, closed-minded people are indeed the dumb ones. Karma is real, and it is everywhere! The poor as well as the good choices we make each play out in […]
Recently I had the privilege of writing a few pieces for a weight loss company out of Boulder. I was especially blessed because they allowed me to write about whatever I thought would fit. One of them was my first person account of climbing two of Colorado’s 14,000 foot peaks. Here’s the link: Grays and […]
The human brain is an odd thing indeed. A quick internet search on the phrase how many thoughts per day reveals a number of “experts” stating that human beings have between 18,000 and 70,000 thoughts each time the Earth spins. Even at the lowest of those estimates that’s a whole lot of thinking. Nobody is perfect. Not […]
A positive mindset is the difference between a successful person and a victim. If you’re reading this, then you’re probably open-minded and it isn’t new news. Still, it’s good to be reminded. And if you are a victim you’re probably ready to argue the point, blaming anyone and anything but yourself, for how much life […]
I don’t own my possessions. They own me. I think I’ll sell it all. Grand collections of albums I never listen to Just collect dust on shelves. Books and comics stacked away; Movies and games the same. It’s strange. How can having so much Cause me such pain? I never read or watch any of […]
At times I become lost. I ask myself What’s the point of it all? During those times I want to just take a nap, or play some mindless video game. I wish I could then just fade away and disappear. But that’s just my bipolar demon returning once again to remind me that he will inevitably […]
Recently I’ve been catching myself being a jackass. I’m doing something I’ve always done, but only now am I realizing how arrogant it makes me look. Whenever someone informs, shares, or directs me and I believe I already know what they are telling me I say, “I know.” I may know what the other person […]
What happens when people are forced to wait? There are those inevitable times when one finds themself sitting at the DMV, in the waiting room at the dentist office, or in line waiting for a stall to clear out at the car wash. Many people think Oh jeez! or What the heck?!?…And maybe they don’t […]
Greed and want are themes previously addressed here at Moving On Upwards. (¹, ², ³) For a moment, consider the benefits of minimalism and decreasing expenditures, as well as the value of relationships and experiences over material items. The universe has an interesting way of balancing the scales. Often those who want less, and those who are […]
In contemplating the decision of whether or not to create something, or to take action, one must weigh the options. The first option is always inaction. It’s much easier to blow off inspiration than it is to act on it. It’s far simpler to ignore a commitment one previously made to themself than to do […]
Everyone has experienced bitter partings. Sometimes disagreements and disappointment can lead to resentment or other negative feelings. These emotions are so strong that we want to throw up our hands and walk away, or hang up on the other person. Don’t do it. Don’t ever leave a conversation angry. It’s natural to become frustrated. Once […]
A good morning routine is a ritual that sets a precedent for a spectacular day. It’s a must. I feel that I’ve dialed in a “good morning routine” that really works. I wanted to share it so people could cherry pick elements that will help get themselves off to the best possible start each morning. […]
I’m filthy rich! or I’m so poor! I’m sick! or I’m uber-healthy! I hate him. He’s mean. and She’s so nice. They’re all just words, or more precisely, just labels… But then again, perception is reality. One day that ‘nice’ girl had just received some news from her home inspector that she had mold in the walls in her home. […]
Some people say, “You have to take the good with the bad.“ The way our impulses and urges work confirms this statement. Sometime I feel an urge to eat a handful of cookies or chocolates. Other times I feel a similar impulse to go get in an intense workout. Oftentimes the two are not interdependent. I […]
Let’s do things a bit differently today. Under normal circumstances I provide helpful tidbits, tricks, and life hacks. Never do I intend to tell anyone that they must do anything I suggest. They don’t. I cannot force them. It’s entirely each reader’s own choice whether or not to take my words to heart, or to […]
Don’t do it. You’re staring at your phone’s caller ID as yet another unknown number, or worse yet, a restricted phone number is staring back at you. You may not know exactly who it is, but really, you know exactly who it is. It’s no one you know. It’s a robo-call or some scam. It’s […]
People seek out ways to improve themselves. They create changes in their habits and routines with hopes of becoming better versions of themselves When doing so, it’s equally important to evaluate those changes to ensure that they are producing the best possible results. That process is called calibration. Precision machines require calibration. Scales, lasers, and […]
Last week I released a piece about the Two Birds One Stone method of hacking a busy schedule or to do list. Finding hacks like that is necessary for the productivity output of the modern entrepreneur or family man or woman. Inversely, when we slow down, and even stop, sometimes we gain valuable perspective and […]
You’re doing it! Alright, that’s only half of the truth. You have worked incredibly hard on getting your commitments and daily schedule whittled down to productive and constructive tasks. There’s a solid foundation set. Be sure to take a moment to celebrate the win. With the exception of the increasingly rare time to relax and […]
It’s impossible to downplay what my network has done for me, and it goes far beyond professional networking. Assuredly, professional networking is important to one’s business and financial success. It may possibly be the most important skill any professional attains. Personally, I haven’t commenced working for an employer through the cold application process since I […]
What scares people? The fear of failure is high on the list. It’s such a common fear that it has more than one term to describe it. Atychiphobia and Kakorraphiophobia are two of the names to choose from. What about speaking in front of crowds? Twenty-five percent of people claim to be afraid of public […]
Recently, a friend and I were discussing the advice we’d give to our younger selves. I’d thought about this countless times before. Although this has been a recurring concept in my thoughts previously, in this particular moment I’ve decided how negative such thinking was. Considering what advice you’d give yourself in the past seems too full […]
It’s an incredibly liberating to do away with want. Want sucks money directly out of our wallets, bank accounts, and the mattresses and coffee cans we hide it in. In modern times it’s too simple to say, “I want this!” Whether we’re looking at a large 4K television strategically placed at eye-level at Costco, especially […]
Birthdays come every year. They are inevitable like trips around the sun and years passing by. At a very young age many people in the United States of America are conditioned to view birthdays as special days. We celebrate birthdays similarly to Christmas, except it is far more individualistic. Showering gifts and additional attention on […]
Simplicity Parenting may not have stacked up in the category of best books I’ve ever read, but it was one of the the most important books I’ve consumed. It will be a long while before I read a book with a message that is as powerful and resonate. Simplicity Parenting is a guidebook for parents. […]
How many thoughts go through our heads throughout the course of a day? It’s a ridiculous amount. Could anyone possibly know what we’re thinking about at any given time? Even with all the fancy technology available in today’s world, the answer is a resounding no. It’s not even remotely possible. When it comes to […]
I hate to break the news. You don’t know anything! The good news is that’s a good thing. The faster we acknowledge this fact, the more proficient we’ll become at learning and improving ourselves. Unless, of course, we are satisfied with our current level of knowledge and expertise. It that’s the case, then go ahead […]
How often do you tell a friend that you love them? It’s probably not often enough. There are those friends that we love tremendously, and yet the sentiment goes unspoken. The love I speak of is not the type one feels toward a a child, a parent, or a sexual partner. Nevertheless it is […]
Moving On Upwards was created with the vision of making personal development and self-improvement accessible and fun. Who doesn’t like becoming a better version of themselves? However, much of the content available in the aspirational and inspirational landscape comes in excessively long-form. All too often, these drawn-out works include only a small percentage of substance. […]
It’s the thought that counts. Is there another blatantly more misleading phrase in the English language? The phrase embodies the difference between saying and doing. If I want to help someone out, is it actually as important, or more important, to them that I am thinking about helping them than actually helping them? Should I […]
Why is it that people want so much? People want bigger houses. They want stuff to fill their houses with. They desire an unnecessary abundance of food and clothing; much of which will spoil and inevitably get discarded as refuse. People want luxuries. They’ll say they work hard and should be allowed nice things. They […]
It’s common knowledge that to create change in life, one needs to want to change first. Nobody is going to be able to make anyone else change. It just doesn’t work. When someone resists change and continually put up barriers that prevent them from changing, then there is no point in even trying to help. […]
It’s common for people to start out their lives believing what will happen to them, and more importantly what they are capable of, is outside of their individual control. This fatalistic view of life leads to self-victimization. This paralyzing paradigm relies on luck and so much to go in a person’s favor that it becomes […]
A friend recently asked me what people get from reading my writing. I had to ponder this. I started listening to the book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie shortly after hearing that question. In the early chapters of the book, Carnegie spends quite a bit of time talking about message. He […]
In these waning days of 2018 I feel it’s important to reflect on the year that is passing. It’s of equal import to consider the new year that is about to commence. In my life, 2018 has been a year of transition. It was the year I decided to step off the hamster wheel and […]
My alarm buzzed this morning at 5:52 am. I hit the snooze button knowing the back-up on my phone was set for seven minutes later. I drifted back to that light NREM sleep that doesn’t really have any positive benefit for the body. It kind of just makes you more tired. You know the saying […]
You get a job to get paid, but you gotta work lots of hours each day. Divide up those hours by how much you get paid. It’s not a lot by the hour. The fact is it’s a fraction after taxes. Still you’re there early and after hours; sometimes on your day off. They should […]
I’m an ambitious Ares. Essentially that means I have tendencies built into my personality that I have to be cognizant of, or else those tendencies get me into trouble. Being an ambitious Ares means I exhibit a considerable amount of intensity as well as a desire to attain greatness and achievement. Inversely, that tremendous energy […]
It is impossible not to recognize that moment. Isn’t it? It’s the moment where you realize you are doing the wrong thing with your life or you’re on the wrong path. That moment stares you right in the face and screams your name. It calls you to it with an intense magnetism. These moments of […]
Children are strange little beings indeed. At their best they are smiling rays of light and life that uplift us in our darkest moments. At their worst they are snotty, obnoxious little people. Regardless of your general outlook on children, as a community we are all responsible for being good examples and mentors to the […]
Just yesterday I completed reading the novel Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach. It was an unusual but compelling story that makes for a fast fulfilling read. A fellow wanderer, who has been a confidant in my recent personal journeys, as well as a partner in my learnings, shared a story with […]
It’s a tight window, This duration of time. Three thousand or so years since the expanse of civilization. The Earth remembers… The time before; The quiet time near forgotten. She longs for a period of silence And of rest and peace. The Earth wishes… For growth without sentience, For terrain lacking so-called intelligent fauna, So […]
I would like to share the story of my weight loss journey in hopes that it may inspire others to do the same. You too, can gain control of your physical being and become the person you’ve always wanted to be. It will not be easy, but it is definitely not as hard as you […]
I don’t know where I’m headed, but I walk ahead sure I’m going somewhere. I walk toward the light. Onward toward the sound of laughter and good spirits. I leave all the negativity in my wake. I cannot predict how my story ends, but when it does I hope my eulogy is delivered to the […]
A smile is the look of attraction. It is an action that needs practicing. A muscle that needs to be worked out. At a minimum, a smile will earn a smile back. It is disarming and charming. When not expected it can be weird or even alarming. I practice my smile and try to make […]
Jim Rohn, famed American author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker, said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Think about that. If your five closest friends are bad at managing their finances, or their idea of what they should do every night is getting drunk, smoking weed, watching TV, […]
We travel down this path, tired, sore, but still moving on. I try to recall why we initially embarked on this journey, but my memory is unclear after so long. It may have just been our wanderlust. It may have been our curiosity to find we are truly capable of. The immensity of what lays […]
The “Why” is the common denominator that author, speaker, and thinker, Simon Sinek, has concluded separate most uber-successful businesses and leaders from their counterparts and contemporaries. Hence the concept Start With Why. However, “Why” is not enough. It was not enough for Martin Luther King Jr. It was not enough for Steve Jobs and Apple, […]