May was Mental Health Awareness Month. I want to take a quick minute to talk about the significance of our mental stress and offer fifteen strategies that can help you and others stress less.

First - let's be honest.  Each of us deals with some level of mental stress. A quick search on Google will reveal some common symptoms of mental stress.

• Over-burdened or overwhelmed
• Irritable, frustrated, or impatient 
• Anxious, nervous, or worried
• Racing thoughts that you can't switch off
• Uninterested or unable to enjoy life  
• Feeling sad or feeling depressed
• Feeling like you've lost your sense of humor

If you're like me, you've likely experienced one of these at some point in time -- likely many times. These are real conditions - real struggles for millions of people. You are not alone. It's why we have a Mental Awareness Month each year. Even Jesus experienced Mental Stress. (Think 40 days in the...

Here's a cool idea with Chap GPT.  What if you could use it to get summaries of a book you want to read?  How good is it?

I recently asked Chat GPT, "What are the Big Takeaways that you got from Paul Gustavson's BOOK Imagine which is available on Amazon?"

Here's what she said, which I thought was pretty good.

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As an AI language model, I do not have personal experiences or emotions, but I can provide some general takeaways from Paul Gustavson's book "Imagine," which is available on Amazon.

1. Creativity is a learned skill: The author emphasizes that creativity is not just an innate talent, but a skill that can be developed and improved through deliberate practice and experimentation.

2. Imagination is essential for innovation: The book argues that imagination is a crucial component of innovation, and that fostering a culture of creativity and imagination is essential for organizations to stay competitive and thrive in today's rapidly changing business...

On PI day - March 14, we also celebrated the birthday of Albert Einstein. He amazing life.   Despite his challenges, he found a way to make a different.

I asked Chat GPT another question recently about Einstein that's very revealing. "If Albert Einstein read the book IMAGINE by Paul Gustavson, what would he say about it?"  

Here's her response.

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It is difficult to say what Albert Einstein would say about the book "Imagine" by Paul Gustavson, as he passed away in 1955, and the book was published in 2016. However, given Einstein's interest in creativity and innovation, he might find the book insightful and useful.

Einstein was known for his creative and unconventional thinking, and he believed that imagination was more important than knowledge. In his famous quote, he said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution."

The book "Imagine"...

This is funny.  I asked Chat-GPT for a review of my book "IMAGINE".  Here's what she said. :-).  

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Christmas is a big build up.  It starts Black Friday and then for four plus weeks it doesn't stop.  Holiday Music. Lights. Parties. Santa. Shopping. Sweets. Presents. Glitter Cards. Then we get to Christmas Eve and Christmas and it's Magic! But the day after Christmas, it suddenly stops. 

What happened to the magic?

On Facebook and Instagram.  We might see pics of what was. Smiles. Presents. Trees.  But the trees are coming down. The Party is over. Christmas is now in the rear view mirror. 

It's that lull between Christmas and the New Year -- that's a weird state.   Can we just fix that?

The question of the day is how do we recover?

I have some tips.  But be warned, these aren't tips that come easy.  I deal with the after math of the post Christmas blues myself every year.  It takes me a bit to remember how to recover.  Here are my tips.

Tip #1 - Rewind

I call this my "Go Back" Tip,...

I want to share why I wrote the book IMAGINE -- why the message is important to me.

In my early days as a child I struggled with what others thought of me -- what I thought of me. You see, when I was younger, I was the kid with the buck teeth. The blond headed toehead, who may have smiled on the outside, but -- can I be honest? I wasn't smiling about myself on the inside. I struggled.

The reality is that there are people all around us who are struggling too. They silently struggle with thoughts about themselves, about what they are perceiving from others, and that just isn't healthy thinking.

People are hurting. Maybe lonely. They might even be questioning their worth, and the value they bring to the table.

Their imagination might be taking them to some pretty dark places. They need hope. A light. A path.

That's the message of the book. You see, when I was 13 something finally shifted for me. It's when I first realized the value of imagination.

Imagination can be a friend or a foe....

In this blog I share on why I write and something helpful for writing that I call "The Write Mindset." If you want to be a better writer -- or just have more clarity on what you do as a leader -- or maybe even write a book one day -- I encourage to consider the ideas shared in the short blog.  They have made a difference in my life, and I have a feeling they might have an impact for you too. Enjoy!

I have a new book that I am excited to share that will be released on Tuesday – Dec 20th.  It’s titled IMAGINE, a book about hope and this powerful tool we have upstairs called imagination. 

Imagination, to me, is like our own personal multiverse.  It lets us see endless what-if possibilities.  It can also take us back in time or even forward in time.  And in the present, we use it as an instrument to make decisions. It’s driven by primarily two things hope and fear.  The key to making...

My Mom just turned 90 years young. Imagine reaching that milestone in your life.

For me, this means I am over 12,000 days shy of that mark. Presuming I have those number of days ahead (hopefully more), what am I going to do with the rest of those days?  Like my mom, I want to make those days count. 

I thought it would be fun to share a piece I wrote for my mom about how she has made her days count in the time I’ve known her. I hope you enjoy this. It’s meant to be lighthearted but also a reflection of a person who has made a difference in the life of others.

8 Days That Changed My Life

Happy Birthday Mom – I am so excited to celebrate your 90^th birthday.

I want you to know how much you have meant to me – and really all of us. The best way I can share your story is to recount some of the incredible moments you have made – at least from my perspective. Enjoy.

“Make everyday count” That’s a mantra that I...

Let me ask you a question. What makes you strong?

Is it in avoiding challenges, or is it in facing them head-on?

The Resilience Pattern

I’ve read countless books and thousands of stories. In doing so, I’ve stumbled on one common pattern for those that achieve success. Everyone's story of strength is coupled by enduring a season of struggle. The secret to success is not in avoiding failure, but in getting back up when you do.

Think of the stories of Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Susan B. Anthony. All three changed their nations for the better – they didn’t just find success, they found significance. Part of that journey was enduring challenges along the way.

You may be familiar with the story of Mandela and Gandhi, but have you ever peeked at the real-life story of Susan B. Anthony?

Susan B. Anthony

I remember being curious about Susan B. Anthony as a young child in the late 70s when the U.S. Mint fashioned a new coin with her likeness....

Let me ask you a question.  Would you drive your car if it wasn't properly aligned? 

Let's say it pulls hard to the left.  Are you okay with taking it on the road knowing that it could swerve into oncoming traffic?  I bet not.

So, if you wouldn't drive a car with proper alignment, then why do people live their life without proper alignment?  

It's a fascinating question. I think the reason is that most people don't even know that they are out of alignment. They live life with off kilter and wander. Eventually those who wander are those who get lost. 

There's perhaps an even better word picture to describe the challenge.

The Challenge

Every six weeks or so, I drive about a hundred miles from my home to see Dr. Mike, a chiropractor in Charlottesville.  Dr. Mike is one of the best in the country when it comes to physiological alignment. When I arrive, he measures me to see how far I'm off, and...