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 share these in the hope that you might find value in them and have something that resonates with you in your life.
A great reminder. My oldest son and I both love to cook, so on Saturday night we took a class with a professional chef. We prepped and prepared an appetizer, full main course, and dessert which was a ton of fun. None of the ingredients were extravagant, nor were the techniques overly complicated. The chef simply imposed upon us how to take basic ingredients, prepare them well, and make them amazing. This same basic principle applies not only to food, but life as well.
We live in a society where many covet the latest and greatest, always want more, and become easily distracted with shiny and exciting things. While there is nothing wrong with wanting cool stuff, this often comes at the expense of ignoring the basics. I like to tell people that I am the simplest guy they’ll ever meet. My tastes are not fancy, but I love to put time and effort into the essentials of my life. Enjoying time with my wife and children, challenging myself physically each day, expanding my faith, loving what I do for a career, and relaxing with simple forms of recreation are all examples. Just like food, when we carefully treat the basics in our life with love and enthusiasm, they become so much sweeter and rewarding.
Something I’ve learned. One of my favorite sayings is, “you are either coaching it or allowing it.” “Coaching it” means that you’re actively trying to make something happen like being a better parent, spouse, or employee. The “allowing it” portion gets trickier. This category often contains things that you may not desire or want, but which you are either too weak, lazy, comfortable, or unmotivated to deal with. The problem here is that before too long, what you have allowed, magnifies.
In any relationship or endeavor, what you tolerate tends to multiply. Examples include kids without discipline acting up more often, and businesses with poor practices paying for it down the line. The problem with tolerating bad behavior is that as we allow things we know we shouldn’t, we begin to lose respect for ourselves. Furthermore, as someone else’s actions get more out of control, it is far more challenging to deal with them than it would have been at the start. Be mindful of what is going on in your own life. If it is a blessing to you and others, coach it. If not, be aware that what you allow and refuse to face today will come back as a greater problem later.
An important concept. Compound interest means that you have an initial principal of a loan or deposit, which then gains interest on interest. This can be great when it’s a deposit because your money grows faster. Conversely, money that you’ve borrowed can quickly get out of control as debt swells. This is something that should be taught to all kids and adults alike to help guide their financial decisions. However, as a chiropractor, I also think it should be imparted in terms of how it pertains to health.
We are all given a body with certain characteristics and genetics, which can be considered our “principal.” What we do with that, however, is entirely up to us. Solid health decisions such as good nutrition, consistent exercise, mental strength, positive and supporting relationships, and more take what we were, and make us greater. As those things continue, we rise to even higher levels just as money can grow when invested. On the other hand, bad decisions work the same. If we are trapped in vices, eating terribly, being sedentary, and hanging with the wrong crowds; our lives suffer. Worse, what starts out poorly can eventually become terrible if allowed to continue. All the consistent, daily decisions we make will compound over time. Therefore, try to make the best choices you can so that the quality of your life grows like an investment rather than debt.
Something that helps me. Though I love what I do, there are occasionally days and times that are less enjoyable for assorted reasons. Sometimes when I feel my stress or annoyance level rising, I think back to a job I had as an annuities specialist years ago back in Boston. I hated everything about that job from the work itself, to the commute, to the customers I dealt with. My toughest day at my chiropractic office is still a million times better than the best day I experienced at that job. Thus, when I’m going through a tough moment or day at my job now, I tell myself, “Well, it’s better than working at that place.” This is an example of a simple mental exercise that really helps me.
Sometimes to appreciate where you’re at, it helps to remember how far you’ve come. This is not dwelling on the past or being negative, rather it is a personal pep talk. In 100-mile races for example, it becomes daunting to still have 30-40 miles left to run. However, I’ve been able to boost my spirit and finish those distances by reminding myself of how far I’ve already come and completed. This simple trick can be effective at recalling all you have overcome in the past while serving as a reminder of all you have to be grateful for in the present.
Some quotes I Love.
“You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft, that you will die without ever realizing your true potential.” – David Goggins
“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” – John Maxwell