All posts tagged: Denver chiropractor

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

What is your standard?  A standard is a level of quality.  It reflects how well you act, perform, and behave, as well as what is acceptable or not for you.  A restaurant that serves poor food with poor service has a low standard.  Conversely, a business that pays attention to details, takes time to hire great people, cares about how they treat customers, and provides a great product or service shows an obvious high standard.

I think it is a worthwhile exercise to ask yourself how someone would answer this question for you.  Do you feel the actions you display show that you care about a high standard? 

Attributes that indicate to me a person has a high standard for themselves are being humble, punctual, respectful, good at listening, willing to learn, physically fit, and able to admit when they’re wrong.  Conversely, when people want more than they’re willing to give, are not concerned with how things turn out for others, are not punctual, are unwilling to admit to or correct mistakes, and are lazy; they convey a low standard.  Consider all your actions and behavior and that will encompass the standard you convey to others.

Something I saw that resonated with me.  I watched a YouTube video of a Marine that started his own business, grew it from nothing into a large, profitable venture and competes in various running and triathlon challenges across the country.  Something he said that appealed to me was having a “let’s get one more” mindset.

This type of mindset involves going a little further in everything you do.  It can be something in a physical endeavor like doing another rep, running another mile, or taking on a more challenging event.  Other times it might be studying a little longer or devoting more time to a business-related matter.  Sometimes it’s being dead tired and saying “yes” when your child asks if you’ll play with them at the end of a long day.  The point is that you train yourself so that no matter what the issue or situation, you are willing to go just a little bit further regardless of circumstances to get a better result.

Something I’ve learned from coaching.  In general, it is easy to point out when things are not working.  This is especially true in sports.  I’ve had many times coaching where the score has quickly gotten away from my team and things have gone exactly the opposite of what we’d expected.

What this has taught me is that identifying a problem is the easy part.  The harder but more necessary aspect is coming up with solutions.  For example, if we’re getting beat on deep passes, my job (and assistant coach as well) is to find something we can implement to help create a better result.  Complaining about it or criticizing our players gets us nowhere, only fixing it does.

Far too often, people love to point out what’s wrong but offer nothing in the way of answers.  I believe that if you’re going to complain or point out problems, you should have potential solutions to offer.  To me, that is what a leader does.  Coaching has driven this home for me by forcing me to figure out what isn’t working and then figure out how to change that.

Something my mentor taught me.  I worked with an excellent doctor and businessman for 6 of the first 7 years of my career.  He taught me a ton and I use his advice daily.  I remember a day where it was mildly snowing, and our office phone was ringing consistently.  About half the calls were of people cancelling appointments and the others were people scheduling.  He remarked that the people canceling were ducks and the people scheduling were hawks.  I asked what he meant, and he explained that in life you are either a duck or a hawk.

A duck waddles around slowly without much purpose quacking all the time.  This is analogous to a person that talks a lot about nothing of importance while regularly complaining about the weather, their job, whatever.  A hawk on the other hand is a proud bird, soaring high above, searching for opportunities, attacking, and controlling their destiny.  This is the type of person that faces adversity, does not complain, refuses to quit, and attains the result they want no matter the circumstances. 

Since my mentor told me that years ago, I constantly ask myself whether I am behaving like a duck or a hawk and strive for the latter!

Some quotes I love.

“Be consistently good rather than occasionally great.”

“Act like you can’t afford the bread until you own the bakery.”

“The true man is revealed in difficult times.” – Epictetus

“Every day, stand guard at the door of your mind.” – Jim Rohn

“What matters most is what you think about yourself when you are by yourself.” – Tom Bilyeu

“The most convincing sign that someone is truly living their best life, is their lack of desire to show the world they’re living their best life.  Your best life won’t seek validation.”

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

A simple and important piece of advice.  I’m a fan of making things less complicated and simplifying whenever possible.  Therefore, one of the best pieces of advice I think anyone can follow is this, don’t be lazy.  Tasks performed to a low standard, ignoring details, low effort, and not caring about quality or outcomes are all good examples. 

Laziness is a habit that works its way into all aspects of life.  If you’re lazy at work, you’ll bring it home.  If you’re lazy in completing a task, you’ll tend to carry that into other areas as well.  I believe the saying “How you do anything is how you’ll do everything.”  Go an extra step, do a bit more, and try to never leave feeling like you could have done more.  If you can do that, you’ll never be lazy.

An analogy I like.  I have conversations with patients and friends alike about health and business where they’ll mention things they’ve tried, but how they gave up because it “didn’t work. “Rarely is there talk of anything they’ve done consistently.  This is common, because we like instant gratification, so if something doesn’t work immediately, we often consider it a failure.  Most people view success in any endeavor as a win or lose event, I view it like a garden.

If you plant something and then neglect it, it won’t grow.  However, if you provide it the right soil, nutrients, water, and sunlight it is likely to blossom.  However, it will not do so instantly.  You’ll go many days without seeing anything happen before finally something sprouts.  Whether you are building a business, a relationship, trying to get healthier, or any number of other things; it will take time and consistency.  You will need to apply effort, gain knowledge, adapt, and remain diligent.  That is what it takes for anything to grow in a garden or in life. 

A piece of nutritional advice I give often.  Food dyes are commonly used in food and hygiene products to make them look more appealing.  What most do not realize is these dyes are made from petroleum.  The same petroleum used to make gasoline, diesel fuel, plastics, and even asphalt.  This is not something you want to ingest. 

When taken in, food dyes can cause inflammation, hyperactivity, attention issues, decreased immune function, and more.  There are long term concerns as well when taken regularly.  With four children of my own, I’ve seen my kids go to birthday parties, have foods with dyes and become so hyper and weird that they’re like different people (children are far more sensitive to dyes than adults).

My advice is to not use or eat anything with artificial coloring/food dyes and especially not to let children have them.  When you read labels, look for blue dye #1, red dye #5, etc. and if it’s something you enjoy eating, look for an alternative product that doesn’t utilize them. 

An important business question.  I had multiple conversations this week with people that own their own businesses.  The businesses all varied but the question they asked was “What do you do when your business slows down?”  Whether due to the economy or something else, these owners had been experiencing slow downs and wanted to know if I ever had, and how I’d dealt with it. 

My business stays very steady, however there are periods when I’m slower than I’d like to be.  In these instances, I simply devote the extra time to improving my business.  This can be as simple as cleaning an area that had become neglected or as complex as implementing or changing a major system.  The point is that I never dwell on a slight downtick in business and become negative.  I stay positive, stay active within the business, and soon it always picks back up; often to the point where I miss when it wasn’t as busy!

Some quotes I love.

“You either quit or you keep going.  They both hurt.”

“The storm hasn’t come to stay, it’s come to pass…you just gotta last longer than the storm.” – Ash Dykes

“You are in danger of living so comfortable and soft, that you die without realizing your true potential.” – David Goggins

“Never say ‘that’s not my job.’  That oozes arrogance and laziness.  Chip in to help with what needs to be done, even it’s not your responsibility.  Do what needs to be done or help someone find the solution.  Period.  Even when nobody’s watching.”

“I prefer peace.  But if trouble must come, let it be in my time, so that my children can live in peace.” – Thomas Paine

“Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.” – Plato

“What progress, you ask, have I made?  I have begun to be a friend to myself.” – Seneca

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

Is having a routine boring?  I had an enjoyable conversation with a patient who reads my 5 Spots and he asked me if I was a man of routine and if so, was it boring?  My answer was that I am, and it never gets boring but not for the reason you may think. 

The routines I have crafted throughout the years include how I eat, how I exercise, where I devote my time, my process for getting things done and more.  These are my list of non-negotiables, things that absolutely must get done and the way that needs to happen. 

What makes this so beneficial for me is that these things go on autopilot for me.  I don’t think about them or give myself the option to forego them.  They are accomplished every day regardless of my motivation, mood, or current circumstances.  By staying committed to my routine, I have far more time and energy to devote to doing things I’d like to do, and in the manner I strive to do them.  I am never frazzled, rarely struggle with time management, keep my stress to a minimum and this all frees me up to be more present as a doctor, father, husband, etc. 

A show I enjoyed.  My wife and I just binge-watched all four seasons of Yellowstone over the past month.  There was a lot I liked about the show, but one thing stood out for me.

The show features many cowboys and I loved how they interacted and behaved amongst one another.  They do a hard, thankless job but they have a code amongst themselves.  That code involves how the job is done, expected behavior, and what is/isn’t allowed.  Sub-par work is not accepted, behavior that does not help the group is not tolerated, and any breaches of the code are managed within the group.

This appeals to me, because it is how I strive to live my own life, and what I teach my children as well.  The goal is to live by a set of guiding principles, and in good times and bad, that code must be followed.  When it is, you will rarely struggle to know what’s right or wrong.  Furthermore, you will feel at peace with your behavior, decisions, and the outcomes they generate. 

A book I’ve been enjoying.  I’m currently reading “Imagine Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God’s Promises, and the Exhilarating Future That Awaits You” by John Burke.  I received it as a gift for Christmas and it makes me think about my brother-in-law that passed away in August of 2020 at only 32 years old.

The book is interesting because it delves into near-death experiences by providing direct firsthand accounts, religious implications, scientific findings and more.  What has made this book far more fascinating to me as a chiropractor, I’ve dealt with about ten patients in my career that were technically dead for a period of time.  The accounts they gave, have never left me because of how remarkably vivid and similar they all were.  Reading this book, the firsthand accounts sound exactly like what my patients have told me.  None of us know for certain what awaits us after death, but this book makes me feel even better about it.

A piece of advice I give regularly.  I am not a huge fan of microwaves in general, but I understand that for convenience they may sometimes be necessary to use.  However, something that should always be avoided is microwaving anything in plastic or a plastic container like Tupperware. 

The heat of the microwave causes the plastic to melt, and it will leach into your food.  This process results in chemicals going into your food and then being directly ingested into your body.  Obviously, this is something you do not want, and it can be easily avoided by simply warming things up in either glass or ceramic containers.

Some quotes I love.

“Men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.” – William Wallace in Braveheart

“Don’t look back.  You’re not going that way.”

“Most people will choose unhappiness over uncertainty.” – Tim Ferris

“Alone we go faster, together we go further.”

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

A workout I loved.  For those of you that follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the workout I put myself and my oldest sons through on New Year’s Eve.  We completed what the military calls a “downed pilot/casualty carry” exercise.  This simulates having to carry a wounded teammate to safety. 

For our workout, I wore a 40-pound weighted vest, and my sons wore weighted backpacks (about 20 pounds each).  Our objective was to carry a boxing heavy bag (weighing about eighty pounds) to the top of a large mesa, one and a half miles up and back down.  The heavy bag was big and awkward, and we took turns carrying it alone and as a team. 

My sons carried it together at times while myself and oldest son also took turns carrying it on our own.  It was a challenging workout that we began just as the sun rose and took us about 75 minutes to complete.  What I enjoyed about it was that it required determination and teamwork to complete and was something different that we’d never done before!

Another workout I loved.  A patient of mine told me about something called the Chad Wilkinson Memorial Workout, which is a CrossFit workout used to honor this veteran while raising awareness and money for veteran suicide. 

The workout requires the use of a weighted vest or pack (35-45 lbs.) and then calls for one thousand step-ups performed onto a 20-inch box or stairs.  The goal is to complete it as fast as possible.  I did it in about 50 minutes and my youngest children had fun interacting with me (and harassing me!) as I performed it.  I enjoyed this workout because the high number of repetitions always challenges your mental aspect as well as the physical.  It can seem daunting when you have nine hundred reps left to go but it’s rewarding once completed. 

Something that has stuck with me.   During my last 100-mile race I ran about forty of those miles with a guy who has now become a friend.  As we ran, we discussed someone we both looked up to that has a list of accomplishments a mile long.  I made the comment that I was nowhere near his level and my friend said something that has stuck with me. 

He told me that people need to be inspired and encouraged seeing someone they know do extraordinary things is far more powerful than seeing it from someone they don’t.  His belief was that someone would see something I did and that would lead them to do something they had never dreamed they could.  Then someone would see that person and do something of their own, and on and on it goes. 

I believe that advice to be true.  We live in a world where it can seem like we don’t matter at times.  There is a tendency to think that we’re not important because we don’t make enough money, aren’t successful enough, aren’t a super athlete, etc.  I do not believe this to be true.  When you do the right things in the correct manner, someone will notice, and they will emulate you and the cycle will continue.  We can all be an example to those around us and though it may not seem so, that makes us all incredibly important. 

Something I like to see.  There is a building next to my office that was a restaurant that closed years ago.  I can see it through the window near my adjusting table and recently I’ve begun to see people going inside and viewing it with realtors.

I love to see this because it’s a reminder to me of a spirit I admire.  It’s great that even during challenging times someone is willing to try and create and build something, in this case a potential new business.  People that do this often attain success when others see it as an impossibility.  In my own experiences, I’ve found that the will to succeed is far more crucial than circumstances or other issues could ever be.

Some quotes I love.

“Never sacrifice what you know is right for what is convenient.”  – Admiral Eric Olson

“If you can’t defeat your demons if you’re still enjoying their company.” – Eric Thomas

“The government is not our parents.  They are our employees.” – Bryson Gray

“To see a man not beaten by a better opponent, but by himself is a tragedy.” – Cus D’Amato

“Many will start fast; few will finish strong.” – Gary Blair

“I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” – Carl Jung

“If the plan doesn’t work, change the plan, but never the goal.” 

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

A lesson I’ve taken from my races.  I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and she asked me a lot of “what if?” questions.  What would my family do if I died, what would happen to them, who would take over my practice, etc.  What I told her is that I treat life as I do my 100-mile races.

When I prepare for a long, grueling race I control as many variables as I can.  First, I make sure that my training allows me to go into the race as ready as possible.  From there, I try to factor in things like weather, nutrition needs, logistics and more so that I can have a workable plan to meet these needs.  From there, everything will go perfectly, right?  Never.

The lesson I’ve learned, even after you work hard, prepare and plan; things will inevitably not go as planned.  When things go wrong (and they will), be prepared to make an adjustment.  It does no good to think about what could have or should have been, you just simply play the cards you have and keep moving forward.  Control what you can, then expect that at some point you will have to deal with something you didn’t plan to happen. When it does, do not quit or feel sorry for yourself, just find a way to overcome.

A saying I use often.  “They don’t give you points for complaining” is a phrase I use to remind myself never to whine or complain.  I might say this in the middle of a race or when I encounter something difficult in my business or personal life. 

Complaint is one of the worst uses of our energy.  Rather than wasting that energy, we are far better off assessing the problem and taking action steps to correct it.  Ultimately, no one want to hear anyone complain, while it can feel good in the moment, it gets us nowhere and should be avoided. 

Something I love.  Most mornings I get up with my 16-month-old daughter about 4:30 am. It’s a quiet time of day and I enjoy sitting and cuddling with her, playing with her, and enjoying her company.  What I really enjoy however, is that every morning after she has had her fill of relaxing and playing, she goes to the garage door, points to it, and says “dada” or “daddy.”  This is where my home gym is and that is her way of telling me to get going.

After she prompts me to the door, I put on her coat and shoes, and she comes into the garage with me while I work out.  She plays with toys, walks around me, laughs, smiles and it’s fun for both of us.  My wife and I joke that of everyone in our house, the littlest person is the one that likes to keep me accountable and make sure I’m staying in shape.  I like to believe that even at the age of one, she understands the importance of keeping a good routine and staying active!

An important concept.  Have you ever been around someone that tells you what they’re going to do or plan to do?  Do you notice that in most cases these people don’t ever follow through?  Too often people spend inordinate amounts of time telling others their plans and don’t follow it up with action.  This can be something major like a new career or a move to a new state.  It may also be something smaller such as making a phone call you’ve dreaded or getting in a workout. 

So how can you solve this?  Very simply, just go! Don’t think about the call, pick up the phone.  If you’re dreading the workout, just begin it.  Don’t allow yourself to talk yourself out of anything you know you should be doing.  Likewise, never waste valuable time talking a big game only to do nothing.  Don’t allow excuses or procrastination to become a factor, just get going!

Some quotes I love.

“Everyone wants to ride the train.  But few are willing to lay down the tracks.” – Bedros Keuilian

“You’ve only got three choices in life:  give up, give in, or give it all you’ve got.”

“No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training.    What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.” – Socrates

“Motivation gets you going, and habit gets you there.” – Zig Ziglar

“The merit of a man is not in the knowledge he possesses, but in the effort he made to achieve it.” – Gotthold Ephrain Lessing

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic

Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot

On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way.  I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.   

Three interesting statistics I saw.  In our country, heart disease kills 17.9 million, obesity kills 2.8 million and diabetes kills 1.5 million people annually.  These conditions are all linked to poor diet and exercise and are preventable.  As a chiropractor, I will also tell you that as a person’s weight goes up, the health of their spine declines, and the symptoms associated with that increase.

The important thing to remember is that if you or someone you care for are obese, it is not a question of whether it will affect your health.  The question is how soon and how badly?  So, what can you do?  Get started!  You do not need a personal chef or perfect home gym.  Start moving more right away.  Be honest with yourself about what you’re putting into your body and find a few healthier solutions for some of your habits.  Better nutrition and regular exercise benefit every human being and will help avoid some of the long-term consequences I mentioned above.

Something I’ve learned in my races.  The races I run are usually held on a weekend and offer several distances.  For example, there might be a 100-mile race as well as a 50-miler and a 50k (31 miles).  Runners are sometimes given the option ahead of time to drop down during the race if they feel they want to run less than planned.  In other words, someone that signed up to run 50 miles can decide to end at 31 instead.  What I have found fascinating is that when this is given as an option, people often take it.  When it’s not, they just keep going and complete what they set out to do.

Our minds are an amazing thing.  They make us capable of far more than we can imagine but also work hard to always protect us.  Often, these two aspects are at war with one another, and your mind usually defaults to try and get you to take the easiest, safest options.  The problem is, this limits your growth in business, athletics, personally, health-wise, and more. 

What I have found effective, is not giving myself a choice.  For example, I work out every morning regardless of how I feel or if I’m motivated.  I write this 5 Spot every week whether it comes easily or it doesn’t because I’m committed to having them published.  In other words, it’s best to make things non-negotiable for yourself.  When you eliminate options that allow you to seek comfort over results, your productivity and success will be far greater.

Something I teach my children.  A lesson I drill into my children is that being obedient is not noble.  Some of the greatest atrocities and poorest decisions the world has ever seen have occurred when people just went along.  Conversely, some of the most amazing accomplishments have come by people that refused to go along and did or created something different instead. 

I like to teach my kids that everything can and should be questioned.  There are no sacred cows and, it’s up to them to become informed and then make decisions based upon their morals, principles, and research.  Being accepted for following the crowd is not something I want them to covet or value, I want them to be free thinkers and have the guts to do what they feel is right whether it’s commonplace or not.

A saying I do not like.  “Must be nice” is a phrase often muttered about people that have become successful in something.  The implication being that they’ve somehow been blessed in a way that you haven’t or are luckier than everyone else.  This might be said when someone pulls up in a nice car, has a magnificent home, high paying job, whatever.  I always hate hearing this.

The reason is for every success is a ton of challenging work and sacrifice.  They don’t give out wonderful things and situations to people that do nothing.  Most of the things we aspire to, must be earned and do not come easily.  Waving it away with “must be nice” is a jealous response that demeans that kind of effort required to achieve remarkable things.  When I see someone with nice things and/or succeeding, I am happy for them.  I’m certain it took a lot to get there and it’s a nice reminder to myself to keep working as hard as I can, so that I can maximize my potential as well. 

Some quotes I love.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

“It is better to know a little of what is really good and worthwhile than a lot of what is mediocre and unnecessary.” – Leo Tolstoy

“Everything you learned late in life, teach your kids early.”

“Building muscle is hard, so most are physically weak.  Starting a business is hard, so most work jobs they hate.  Saving money is hard, so most are always broke.  Being hungry is hard, so most are overweight.  Reading books is hard, so most are glued to screens.  Do the hard things.”

Want more?

• Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
• To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com
• Check us out on Facebook under New Body Chiropractic