Eric Nordhoff - The Eternal Optimist

Drive Yourself Further

"The man who will drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win." - Roger Bannister (the man who first broke the 4-minute mile mark)

Wisdom and Thanksgiving

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. -- Epictetus

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. -- Albert Schweitzer

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. -- Marcel Proust

None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.
-- Fred De Witt Van Amburgh

The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best. -- Wallace D. Wattles

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it--would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have. -- Ralph Marston

Joy

I have a couple of guys I meet with on a regular basis. We've been checking in lately with each other with an emotion that we're feeling right then.  The emotion choices are: Fear, Joy, Anger and Sadness.  We have to pick one and explain why.  We get right to the heart of the issues of our lives.  Needless to say, I'm grateful for these guys and the conversations we have usually impact me for hours or days afterwards. 

Today, I felt joy.  When you say 'joy', usually not much more needs to be said after that.  This time the guys asked me why I felt joy?  I said I was joyful because I was happy with the decisions I had been making lately.  I went on to describe that I felt joyful also because I was letting more things go and not putting too much pressure on myself.  I have fewer goals and that's helped me. 

As I thought about it later in the car on the way home, I began to ask myself.  What is real joy? Is it the joy we feel about ourselves?  Or is it the Joy of the Lord, as mentioned in the bible?  What is true joy?  I can't say that I've felt true joy very often.  Rare.  When I do, it's usually full of love, not a care in the world and an overall burdenless or light feeling.  I can say what I'm feeling is on the path to true joy though.  On the way to joy.  I'd rather be on the way to joy than anger, sadness or fear. 

Goodbye 2008

Well, it's one of my favorite times of the year.  I reflect on the year gone by and look forward to the possibilities of the new year to come.  I'm always amazed how short a year really is when it's all done. I usually take the day to reflect on the year and then the first day of the new year to set goals.  This year, I have 14 family members here and I won't have time.  But that's okay, I'm so grateful to have them here.  I'll make room for all of that next week.  

Besides, there are too many personal memories to list in one day.  And, since I don't have time, I'm going to make this short.  

At the core of 2008, I'm grateful for God's grace, for my marriage, for my children - including our girl to join us in 2009, and our many family and friends that support and encourage us along the way.  

Here's to an outstanding year to come! I'm so thankful to be living this life with you.

Where do I want to be at age 35?

12 years ago (1996), for New Year's (I think), I wrote a list of where I'd like to be at age 35. Well, at age 37, my wife found this list and it's amazing how much of it actually happened. I guess it is true that when you write our your goals, you improve your chance of accomplishing them. Here is the list and my comment for each one...

The Year 2006:
My Parents will be in their 60's
Omi will be 87. (thankfully all are still alive and healthy - Omi turns 90 in April!)

- I'd like God to be smiling down on me. (pretty generic, but I still have an active prayer life - now more than ever.)
- I want to have a wife that will be my partner. (check)
- someone that loves to laugh...(oh yeah).
- I'd like to grow together (what does this mean? I guess so...)
- I want to be passionately in love (I won't go there in this blog :)
- I'd like to have 2 children (check)
- I want to be a loving, caring father (check)
- I want to be thinking positively (see title of my blog for the answer)
- I want to be improving (again, see title of my blog for the answer)
- I want to be educated about personal finances (Krissy and I just finished Financial Peace University this year and I'm always learning in this area. Thank you Dave Ramsey)
- I want to own my own marketing/consulting business (check - see www.goglobalentertainment.com, www.myquietime.com)
- I want to be setting my own business and personal schedule (check - although sometime Krissy sets it for me).
- I want to be financially independent (not quite there yet)
- I want to have a healthy, manageable lifestyle (well, I'm healthy, but I could be more balanced)
- I want to have washboard abs (nope. Not even close. I'll make a commitment to have those when I'm 40 - nothing like a little procrastination...)
- I want to still be on a disciplined workout schedule (I try).
- I want to take lots of weekend trips to the beach (define 'lots'? 2-3 times per year, but they are longer than a weekend).
- I want to go snorkeling in the ocean. (done)
- I want to go hiking in the mountains. (did a lot of that this summer).
- I want to have close friends (check).
- I want to be playing lots of golf and tennis (again, define 'lots'? Tennis 7 or 8x per month, Golf 1x per month if I'm lucky).
- I want to be challenged mentally and physically (a little too general - c'mon Eric! What did I know, I was only 25).
- I want to go on a missions trip (nope. Disappointed I haven't been on one yet).
- I want to make smart, well thought-out decisions - not impulsive one. (half a check for effort on this one).
- I want to make my parents proud. (Maybe they will comment on this one, but I think they would say they are).

My Personal Vision Statement

Vision Statement

Christ and His glory is my sole purpose for living.  My soul feels a joy like no other when I realize He has given me the free gift of eternal life.  I desire less of me and more of Him everyday.  In Him, I am strong.  Without Him, I am weak.  He gives me the strength, joy, encouragement and purpose to press on toward this vision.  My confidence in Christ is unwavering and firm.  I am inspiring others toward Christ with my sincere love, patience, encouragement and devotion to Him in all that I do, with all that I am.  I extend the same grace that he give me to everyone around me.  I am quick to forgive as He has forgiven me.  My faith and trust lies in Christ alone so help me God if I should do otherwise.  God alone is my judge as He is the judge of everyone else in this world. He has granted me my wife and life partner to cherish and serve.  He has granted me children to raise and nurture, love, lead and, eventually, give away.  I alone am responsible for leading our family to Christ.  I must die daily to myself, so that Christ can be made great and for the benefit of my family.  In whatever I pursue, may it be of no worth to me as great as Christ.  My life will be about a pursuit of Christ over money, fame and power.  In all of my pursuits, the greatest goal will be for Christ to be glorified, magnified and freely enjoyed.