NEGLECT is when we don’t do what we can do and what we know we should do. We all fall into patterns and habits of neglect, and that is how we learn the importance of not neglecting certain things in our lives. There is beneficial purpose in all things, including the lessons that come from experiencing the contrasting results from neglect.
OUR ACTIONS EXPRESS OUR PRIORITIES.
One neglect leads to another neglect, which leads to another. When neglect becomes a habit in one area of our lives, it spills over into the other areas of our lives as well. Habitual neglect can become a personality trait. Habitual neglect becomes a part of our character if we let it. The magic in knowing this is: The opposite is also true.
When we replace an unhealthy addiction with a healthy addiction, we will be able to feed something that we want to flourish. Replacing the habit of neglect with the habit of discipline is the key to personal progress and success.
When we neglect our health, our health declines. It isn’t rocket science. That is just the way it is. Through neglect, a consistent lack of nutrition, not knowing any better, lacking the knowledge and know-how, lack of desire, laziness, etc. we become physically unfit. I’ve fallen into this habit of neglect in my own health practices, and I’ve paid the price for it. I’ve found, in my own experience, that habitually neglecting my health led to neglect in other important areas of my life as well.
Momentum doesn’t discriminate-it expands exponentially in the direction WE choose.
It is the same with our mindset, our emotional health, our spirituality, our friendships, our love life and closer relationships, etc. If we don’t use it we lose it. All of these things take daily, consistent, repetitious practice, attention, and cultivation, in order for us to maintain our effectiveness, or even to simply maintain what we have.
Best to be clear on exactly what we want for ourselves to know what we no longer want to be neglectful with. Once we are clear on exactly what we want for ourselves and take care of those needs and put all of our attention and focus into those things, we become more fulfilled and purpose-driven. We are energized. We begin to live again, as all that we are no longer focused on dies off and disappears out of our lives completely.
ENERGY FLOWS WHERE ATTENTION GOES.
A great example of this comes from my youngest son. Frustrated, distraught, and overwhelmed by the time he had to spend on his school work, life was really getting him down. He decided to change his focus. He decided that he would wake up a little earlier and do something for himself to start his days. He began working out, first thing in the morning, and fell in love with it. Once he decided to meet his needs first, before meeting the needs of others, a different sense of purpose filled his life. He was energized, waking up hours earlier each day, and accomplishing much more. Life began to have meaning again.
I have been practicing doing the same thing in my own life since 2014. Replacing neglect with discipline in just ONE area of my life, spilled over into EVERY area of my life. This has changed EVERYTHING for me, energizing me, and empowering me to live a purpose-filled, meaningful, fulfilling life. I now wake up at 3:20, begin an incredible and well-designed morning routine, quickly building momentum, and truly enjoying each day, having started it by doing things for myself, first, lighting me up for others the entire rest of the day. By doing so consistently, I am a better father, a better husband, a better employee, a better man, and a better creator.
IT’S NOT THAT YOU ARE TIRED OR EXHAUSTED. IT IS THAT YOU DO TOO LITTLE OF THAT WHICH LIGHTS YOU UP!
Today’s challenge for myself: Today I will be mindful about, and ponder upon, what I may be neglecting in my own life. I will focus on what will benefit me and energize me the most. I will take care of myself first thing every day, in some way, before focusing on the needs of others, remembering that when I fill my own cup up, the overflow will benefit others. While I am doing this for myself and for my own benefit, I will remember that by doing so, everyone around me will also benefit.
Here is a great video by one of my favorite mentors and teachers, Jim Rohn, on the subject of neglect:
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Remember: Mindset matters. Character counts. That which we choose to consistently focus on is what EXPANDS in our lives. WE CREATE our realities.