by Gary Mintchell | Jul 2, 2025 | Personal Development
Learning is not compulsory…neither is survival—W. Edwards Deming, quality master
There are people who have a set of things they know and judge all events and actions against that set. There are people who have the continuous unease of not knowing. The former can be typed (perhaps too rigidly) as “FJ or Feeling Judgmental” on the Myers-Briggs Types Indicator. The latter as “TP or Thinking Perceptive.” Anyone who has read more than a few of my thoughts can easily figure out which type describes me.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.—Matthew 18
As with all spiritual texts, this can be open to numerous interpretations. I choose in this context to reflect on “beginner’s mind.” Wisdom about as ancient as humans in community recognizes that if our heads are full of knowledge or “stuff,” then there is no room for growth, for learning.
Unless we change and become as little children, that is, unless we are open and fascinated to learn more, we will be stuck where we are.
Seth Godin remarked, “Learning is the difficult work of experiencing incompetence on our way to mastery.”
Unless we become like children—stumbling until we suddenly walk; needing an adult to keep the bicycle up until suddenly we are riding; stumbling over pronouncing a new word until suddenly we are fluent.
Where do you feel the tension of unease of not knowing that will entice you into trying until you learn?
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 30, 2025 | Personal Development
From Shane Parrish of Brain Food. The entire self-help industry in one sentence: Do what makes mornings exciting and nights peaceful. Will this make me excited to wake up? Will this let me sleep in peace? Everything that fails both tests is noise.
Health begins with good sleep.
Meaning comes from getting up excited to serve others according to your talents.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 27, 2025 | Personal Development
Some of us cannot move our thoughts beyond what happened, could have happened, or should have happened in the past.
Some of us dream only of the future, relationships to come, jobs and wealth we could acquire, places to visit.
Seth Godin has pointed out, “The best reason to think about the past is because it gives us the opportunity to improve the future.”
Most important—we live only in the present. This decision of what to do right now, in this moment, that is where life exists.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 26, 2025 | Personal Development
Arnold Schwarzenegger observing fitness behavior. The people who find joy in the gym are the most likely to keep showing up to the gym. Fitness is supposed to make us feel better, but many people decide to stress about it.
I see the same thing on the nutrition/weight loss side of the equation. People look at “dieting” in order to lose weight as punishment.
That won’t work. Maybe short term. But not for life.
Best is to find the joy of eating wholesome, tasty food in smaller portions. Thousands of recipes exist. One needn’t feel deprived. Heck, have an occasional ice cream.
These practices form the foundation for further spiritual practices. When we feel better, we are more awake to study or finding God’s voice in our prayers and service.
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 25, 2025 | Personal Development
Ancient wisdom—You become what you think about.
Shane Parrish writing in Brain Food, updated the thought. You become what you scroll.
Don’t be like the loser in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade about whom the Last Crusader remarked, “He chose poorly.”
by Gary Mintchell | Jun 6, 2025 | Personal Development
Still in the “books I’ve read recently” mode. This is a rare business book worth reading all the way through.
Guy Kawasaki earned his reputation as the first technology evangelist promoting the original Apple Macintosh to developers back in the day. He’s been an author, entrepreneur, and lately podcaster with his Remarkable People podcast. He consolidated teaching from the many guests on his podcast into an informative and readable book, Think Remarkable: 9 paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.
These chapter headings reveal the ideas in brief:
- Make the world a better place
- Keep on growing
- Do good shit
- Plant lots of seeds
- Raise the tide
- Trust the dots (looking back at them)
- Find your ikigai—life meaning
- Make yourself valuable & unique
- Keep at it
- Take the high road
Defining the term: Remarkable means you are making a difference and making the world a better place.
Want three key takeaways: Growth—Grit—Grace
This lesson should be our companion: Replace “why is this happening to me” with “what is this trying to teach me”.
