Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays, I like to share experiences from my week—both with patients and in my personal life—that have left a meaningful impact. My hope is that these reflections offer you something of value, a bit of insight or encouragement that resonates with your own journey and inspires you in some way.
Something I believe. When your favorite sports team wins a championship, the celebration is unforgettable. Fans pack the streets in any weather to honor the players and coaches who achieved something rare and difficult. However, no one throws a parade for a team that finished near the bottom of the standings. Mediocre performance isn’t celebrated, because deep down we all understand that meaningful results require exceptional effort. Yet in our own lives, we sometimes expect applause simply for making a brief attempt.
Real progress doesn’t happen that way. Half-hearted, inconsistent effort rarely produces extraordinary outcomes, no matter how badly we want it to. The biggest wins in life mirror championship seasons because they take time, discipline, setbacks, and sustained commitment. If you’re working to change something in your health, career, relationships, or mindset it’s best to focus less on immediate recognition and more on staying consistent. The parade, if it comes, will be earned quietly long before it’s ever seen.
Something that helps me. Like everyone, I face challenges, difficult people, and big decisions where the right path isn’t always obvious. In those moments, I’ve learned to pause and ask myself a simple but powerful question: “What would the best version of me do?” This shifts my focus away from reacting emotionally and toward responding intentionally. It invites perspective, objectivity, and responsibility which tend to produce better outcomes no matter the situation.
What’s interesting is that the best version of me usually wants to do the opposite of what feels easiest in the moment. It means exerting more effort, staying calm instead of snapping, apologizing when pride says not to, and choosing discipline over comfort. While this approach isn’t perfect, it consistently leads to decisions I respect rather than regret. The next time you’re unsure how to proceed, ask yourself what the best version of you would do and then commit to that choice. Often, that’s the path that builds character, confidence, and growth.
An analogy I like. Have you ever gone to a nice restaurant where a basket of fresh bread is placed on the table before the meal arrives? Most of us struggle to resist it, and before long we’ve eaten far more than intended. The problem isn’t the bread itself; it’s that filling up on it dulls our appetite for what matters. When the main course arrives, we’re less excited, less satisfied, and often left feeling regret instead of enjoyment. As a rule, I remind myself: don’t fill up on bread. This same principle applies to life.
Too often we consume our time and energy with distractions such as social media, noise, attention-seeking, and low-value habits that leave us full but unfulfilled. When we do, we have less capacity for what nourishes us: our relationships, our work, our health, and our personal growth. If you notice your focus drifting or your time being absorbed by things that don’t move you forward, pause and ask what you’re really feeding yourself. From there, choose more intentionally and don’t fill up on bread.
Something to consider. A powerful question to ask yourself in any pursuit is, “Am I coming to win, or am I coming to play?” This forces an honest evaluation of intent. Are you committed to doing what’s necessary to achieve the outcome, or are you simply showing up and hoping things work out? Just as you wouldn’t want your favorite team entering a championship game satisfied merely to participate, you shouldn’t approach meaningful goals with casual effort or half-hearted belief. Any goal worth having deserves preparation, focus, and intent.
Many people want better results financially, physically, or personally and expect them to appear without sustained effort. That mindset is “coming to play.” “Coming to win,” on the other hand, is a decision. It’s a commitment to learning, adjusting, working through discomfort, and persevering when things inevitably get tough. Winning doesn’t mean perfection; it means ownership of the process. Therefore, before you commit to a goal or opportunity, decide how you’re showing up. Either choice is valid but only one leads to growth, pride, and lasting results.
Some quotes I Love.
“You may fall 60 times, fail 100 times, but those instances will not be what keeps you from succeeding. … The truth is, the reality is, you fell and didn’t get up.” – Les Brown
“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King Jr