Direct Life Coaching

Recently my wife and I got settled in to a new home. When it comes to having a harmonious relationship with my wife - I have no complaints. Yet, when there have been times when things aren't clicking the way they should, I have often asked myself the question, "why?"

Over the past year, when my wife and I have had a riff, or an argument, or we're annoyed with one another - once the dust has settled I have tried to look back and figure out what happened.

I think I figured it out!

Stay with me - I am a pretty simple guy, and I think I have found the simple solution, and it looks like this:

When our relationship is working it is because we are in a spirit of "cooperation" with one another. When it is not working, it is because at least one (maybe both) of us is in a mode of "competition."

That's it!

Peace and Harmony = COOPERATION
Combatative and Annoyed = COMPETITION

Case in point. I was left in charge of unpacking and organizing one room in our new place. As I started to unbox everything I got overwhelmed. I didn't know what to do with everything. Plus, my wife had already begun to organize everything in a specific way, but I didn't know the system. I felt flustered, anxious, and helpless. I pictured myself collapsing into the pile of things and making agonizing "stuff" angels. Calgon take me away!

By the time my wife came in to check my progress I had already passed my breaking point. It didn't take much before I focused all of my frustration on her, blamed her for my plight, and behaved so embarrasingly immature that I humiliated myself. Yeah, it was pretty sad.

Once I got some distance from my tamtrum, I asked myself the question, "What happened?" The answer was clear. All of this moving my wife and I had done, as soon as I had a project that wasn't going well, I looked for a scapegoat. Instead of asking my wife for help, and treating the project as a cooperation - I mentally turned her into the enemey. In doing so I tried to make a case for myself of how this was unfair, and comparring the amount of work we were each doing. I was making lists in my head of who has done what, and trying to convince myself that my behavioir was justified. I was viewing our relationship as a competition that somehow involved a scoreboard of "who" and "how much" each person does.

Either way, I was still the loser.

Once I got my head out of my...well...you know...I apologized and explained myself to my wife - who graciously accepted my apology. As I moved forward I couldn't help thinking how simple this concept of cooperation vs. competition really is.

To put it this way, when we are in a mode of cooperation - we are actually thinking: "What can I GIVE in this situation?"

When we are in a mode of competition, we are thinking: "What can I GET in this situation?"

Cooperation vs. Competition is the same as Giving vs. Getting.

If I look back at all of the speed bumps in my marriage - I can honestly say it is because one or both of us were competiting. We might compete over who does the most housework, or who has more responsibility with the kids, or who spends the most money?

When one person feels this way, it is difficult for the other person not to be offended and get on the defensive. When the other person jumps into the fight, it becomes a trial of who does the most? Or, who neglects the other? Or, who gives the most love?

Yeah, it can be pretty ugly.

Now, think of your relationships when things are perfect. When there is harmony and peace. For me, that is when both of us are appreciating one another, or going out of our way to help the other person out. It also means that you or your partner are not feeling "needy" or "left out." Both of you are in a mode of giving, not getting, so your focus, attention, and love is on the other person - not yourself.

Think of any relationship in your life - and is it good or bad? Either way, I truly believe you can narrow it down to whether or not your relationship with that person (or thing) is in cooperation or competition. As I think about all the things in my life that I am in relationship with - this idea works. Think of your relationship to your friends, family members, or co-workers - it works. Now, think of your relationship to your health, or the enviornment...

The idea still works!

So, when you are feeling inharmony in a relationship - maybe it is as easy as making a simple shift in attitude. Maybe you can talk to the other person and see if they are interested in agreeing to a "Non-compete clause."

And you thought those contracts were just for the business world ;)

Have a great day everyone!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: counseling, life coaching Travis Thomas, non-compete clause, relationships, self-help, therapy, travis thomas

Recently I was on a flight from Florida to St. Louis when I struck up a conversation with the guy sitting next to me. We got talking about Disney World and he told me how he spent a semester in college working there as part of the Disney University college credit program. Having had a cousin who also participated in the program, I was really curious to know how they split people up into the different positions.

He explained how you basically choose one of the different employment areas, such as entertainment or hospitality. Once you choose the area, one of the Disney U facilitators places you with a specific job. He said the process was a little misleading though, and then told how his roommate wanted to work in hospitality thinking he would work in one of the hotels or at a customer service station. During this placement interview, it went a little something like this...

Interviewer: You like hospitality?

Roommate: Yes.

Interviewer: Do you like helping people?

Roommate: Yes.

Interviewer: Do you like talking to people?

Roommate: Yes.

Interviewer: Do you like being outside?

Roommate: Yes.

Now - here is the kicker. His roommate then said the interviewer described his job in this way.

Interviewer: "You like talking to and helping people, and you like being outside. So, for your job, you are going to be 'playing the role' of a street sweeper. You are going to walk around the park carrying a broom and dust pan. If you see any trash on the ground, you sweep it up. But here is the thing, people in the park are going to have questions, and you are going to be one of the first people they see. So, you will be playing the role of a street sweeper, but you'll actually be doing customer service."

Wow, how is that for selling the position of a street sweeper? Well, his roommate didn't feel great about the job - but that line of reasoning from the Disney interviewer really got me thinking.

Do you see where I am going with this?

In one light, you could look at that reasoning and feel that the guy is being totally misleading and full of B.S. - or you can really think about the thought behind that reasoning and ask yourself...

"What role am I playing?"

Think of your job for a second. Technically, you have a job title, and it may be a prestigious title, or maybe it's not. Under this rationale, it really doesn't matter. Do you see that under that job title, you are basically just playing a "role?" With each position that we have comes certain attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that are expected with each title. Most of us fall into these roles pretty easily, and we let others fall into theirs as well.

Yet, if you looked at your work from the Disney line of reasoning, it could really shift just how you view your work. As the street sweeper, you could view your job as lame and valueless, and walk around the park all day with your head lost in self-pity. Or, you could truly see yourself as being the front line of customer service. You could approach every interaction with a customer as an opportunity to serve - an opportunity to bring joy and help to someones day.

Isn't this the opportunity we all have?

So, whatever your job is - you are really just playing the "role" of that position, and you still need to do all the responsibilities that job requires - but maybe your bigger job - or higher purpose - IS TO SERVE?

Maybe?

Imagine how your day might change if you took that approach to your work? If you have been feeling stuck in a rut, or wanting to do more with your job, or maybe you are unhappy with your position all together - perhaps this is the opportunity to SHIFT your thought of how you view your work.

But wait - there's more!

Think about the different relationships in your life - your role as a spouse, parent, friend, son/daughter, etc. Is the opportunity to serve and bless any different in these relationships? Yes, you still have your duties to get done - but what impact are you leaving on the people around you? Are they feeling your love?

In one of my favorite books/films "The Peaceful Warrior," there is a scene when Dan (the lead character) is chastising his mentor (known as Socrates) for working in a gas station.

Dan: If you're so wise, than why do you work at a gas station?

Socrates: It's a service station!

So, I dare you to find me a job that doesn't serve. Whether it's a customer or co-worker - or family member - we are all in the service industry.

"So, on a scale of 1 to 10...1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest - how would someone rate your last interaction with them?"

Do you like the role that you are playing? Maybe it's time to change your script.

Have a great day!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: customer service, Dan Millman, life coaching Travis Thomas, Peaceful Warrior, role playing

I was talking to a friend of mine recently about buying quality items instead of always buying the cheapest option. I am big fan of "a good deal," but I have also been burned when trying to cut corners too closely. My friend shared with me some advice a mentor shared with him, "Buy cheap. Buy twice." (Thanks Dave J.)

I like that. It is resonating with me on lots of different levels right now.

For the past few months I have been the assistant basketball coach for a boys high school team. I use the word "coach" loosely due to my lack of basketball knowledge. It has been a humbling opportunity for me to take on a new challenge that I have very little expertise in - so I guess I needed a dose of more humility ;)

It's a great bunch of kids. My relationship with them isn't so much the basketball side of things as much as it is noticing their mental approach and overall attitude to their performance. I admit, it has been frustrating at times. I wish I could be contributing more, but I have tried to pick and choose my spots when I can talk with the kids more 1 on 1.

Our record right now is 5-4, and there have been a couple games that could of gone either way. In thinking of the outcomes of these games, I thought of my friends quote, "Buy cheap. Buy twice." For my purposes, I have adjusted the quote to read,

"Start wrong. Start twice."

There have been a few games that we have started awfully. Games we had no reason winning, yet we would find a way to battle back. Just when we get back into the game, we would find away to give away. On the flip-side, their have been games that we have started well, suffered a let-down along the way, yet still managed to pull out the victory in the end.

So, the way we start the game has been important. If we can start the game on a good foot, doing things the right way, and laying a solid foundation for our play - it seems easier to get back to that play when things go bad. Conversely, when we crawl out of the gate with a bad start, no matter how hard we battle - closing the deal is a lot tougher.

So, it seems to be a case of in order to be successful - make sure you have a good start.

To expand this analogy a little larger, I think this approach holds true to most things in life. A relationship that begins with a solid foundation has a much better chance of surviving when things get tough, compared to a relationship that begins under questionable circumstances.

Being it's the new year, many of us commit to things we want to improve in our lives, yet the success of these changes often goes back to how closely these changes really connect to our core. For me, whether talking about basketball, relationships, career, or hobbies - the most important aspect of its success is based on our motives.

A mentor of mine, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "To begin rightly is to end rightly."

If your motives for doing something are pure, inspired, and connected to your highest sense of right - the end result will reflect these qualities. It doesn't mean the end result will always manifest what we want to happen, but it will definitely represent growth and progress that we can build from. Growth in the right direction.

If you find yourself taking something on that really doesn't have the best motives - be prepared to start twice. Man oh man - could I write a book on these lessons!!! For now I will keep it to a blog ;)

I hear people all of the time (sometimes myself included) talk about how they just keep trying and trying to make things better - yet the end result is always the same. Some people might call that effort perseverance, yet Einstein called it insanity. He writes,

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

I can relate to that. If you were a golfer and you were working on your swing, improvement is more than repetition. You want to introduce repetition once you start doing something right, yet how many of us think that if we just keep knocking on the same doors, practicing the same routine, or believing the same beliefs - that eventually all will work out? Well, that's kind of insane.

Start wrong - start twice...three times...four times...five...six...seven...eight...

It doesn't matter. As long as our motives and foundation are off center - we will be doing a lot of restarting. For me, I am sure I have been pretty insane over the past few years. When it comes to some things, I have definitely caught myself thinking that if I just keep doing what I am doing - the same way - it will eventually work out. As for my motives, those haven't changed - I am sticking with them - but a whole lot of humility and self-reflection has given me the ability to be open to new approaches and solutions. I am still a work in progress.

What about you? Are you feeling insane? Do you feel like you are banging your head against the wall - or feeling like the results always come out the same?

If so, be real honest with yourself and think about how you are starting. What are your motives? Are they connected to your center - your highest sense of right? If you are a real honest with yourself - you might only have to start twice. If you're not honest - people might start to think you're crazy.

And, if you are just not sure - give me a call - and I will help you make sure you are beginning rightly.

The end result is worth it.

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: Albert Einstein, direct life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, mary baker eddy, Science and Health, self-help

I spent about 10 days home in Flint, MI over the holidays. I don't know where you are from, or where you call home, but Flint, MI is my home. I have lived in St. Louis, Boston, and Palm Beach over the past 15 years, but whenever someone asks me "where I am from," the answer is always Flint.

If you are from Flint but have lived elsewhere, you are familiar with the opinions or associations people have when you mention Flint. They either know Flint because of the documentary "Roger and Me" by Michael Moore or they have heard Flint mentioned in the statistics as one of the most violent places to live in the country. Neither option is necessarily too appealing.

For me, growing up in Flint was nothing but good. If Norman Rockwell would have painted his pictures in the 1980's, my childhood would of captured it perfectly. I had amazing neighborhood friends, and we would spend our days riding our bikes to 7-11 (I had a Slurpee fetish) or Dairy Queen. Then we would spend hours playing baseball, soccer, football, street hockey, and basketball - and when it got dark we switched to "Kick the Can" or "Hide and Go Seek." We never had a shortage of things to do, and we always felt safe.

I felt especially close to Flint because my dad owned (and still does) a chain of fast-food hamburger restaurants called Halo Burger. They are a Flint staple to this day, so I had a tremendous amount of pride growing up with that heritage. It is a family owned and operated business, and there are still employees working there who have been doing so for 30+ years in some cases. It is not glamorous work, but these are good people who care about what they do.

For the past 20 or so years is when Flint really began to have its image tarnished. When General Motors started having hard times it inevitably hurt the whole city. A town built around one company had no choice but to ebb and flow with its successes and hardships. To me, this is the biggest problem with being so dependent on one company. If you take away General Motors from Flint, what is left? I am sure this is the same story that could be told for towns built around coal mines or steel mills, shipping yards, or Silicon Valley.

It is sad. There is no other way to express my general overall feeling when I am in town. General Motors continues to pull out a little more each year. The recent struggles of the "big three" can't be felt much larger than in Flint. The trouble is, this has been happening for 20+ years, and the town keeps trying to stick fingers in the splitting damn, but the result seems inevitable.

I hope I am wrong.

I don't write this blog today to be grim, but rather to challenge people in Flint to go a little deeper. Each day when I pray I start with the idea of wholeness for myself, others, and the world. The challenge for me every time I am in Flint is to see the wholeness of the city. But, while in town this holiday break I was reading Wayne Dyer's new book, and in one of his chapters he challenges the reader to "see the perfection in imperfection." Okay, how do I do that?

Dyer writes,

"You're being asked not to label what you see as imperfect, stupid, or empty; rather look for the stillness and tranquility within you that you can bring to these superficial appearances. When you refrain from engaging in judgments based solely on looks, you paradoxically become an instrument for change."

He then adds, "See imperfections as perfect, even if your ego-mind cannot comprehend this."

So that is exactly what I tried to do. After reading this chapter I had to drive into downtown Flint for church. I was by myself so I had time to focus and just really pay attention to everything I was seeing. On the surface, it wasn't a pretty site. Boarded up houses, closed factories, and beat up storefronts. I was having a real hard time seeing any perfection in these surroundings. Actually, I couldn't find any. My ego-mind definitely could not comprehend this.

Then, while driving through town I thought about all of the people I know who still live in Flint. These are good people - GOOD people. There are life-long friends still there working and raising their families. I have relatives who have spent their entire lives in the area. I thought about all of the people who work at Halo Burger - and how amazing some of these people are. I thought about people I know who could live elsewhere, but have chosen to stay to try to improve the conditions in the city. I thought about Courtney Hawkins, who grew up in Flint and then went on to play in the NFL for many years. He could live in luxury anywhere in the world, yet he chose to come back to Flint with his wife to coach football at his old high school. A school and neighborhood that would rival some third world living conditions.

Despite its economic depravity and gritty imperfection - there is a whole lot of beauty and perfection in the people who make up Flint. My hope is that the people and the city take the current situation as an opportunity to expand their tents, instead of holding on to yesterday. If GM is the parent who raised the city, the city now needs to step out and be its own person. I am not saying to give up on GM turning their success around and contributing to the well-being of Flint, but I think it is time Flint embraces this moment to come out of the GM shadow.

How does the city do this? I don't know, but I know there are good people who can make it happen. The perfection of the city is found in the people. In the people there is hope, intelligence, creativity, strength, and persistence. The challenge may seem daunting, but it only takes one person at a time giving their consent to become an instrument of change. I requires people looking at the situation honestly and humbly, and then being able to make the scary choice. Real change is seldom easy.

This is not a typical blog for me, but I really felt inspired from my most recent trip home. Over the years I have bought into the stories of Flint, and have even been embarrassed telling people where I am from. But no more. You see, whether talking about a city or our own individual lives, there is no difference in how we make a change. Once we identify the problems for what they are, and we agree to take them head on (as ugly as it may get) - improvement is the result. There is no other option.

So, whether you want to talk to me about Flint, or how you can make a change in your own life - give me a call!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: Courtney Hawkins, Flint, General Motors, halo burger, life coaching Travis Thomas, Michigan, self-help, Wayne Dyer

It is 11pm on Christmas Eve as I sit down and write this blog. I am back in Michigan at my parents home - and 14 of us are are all in the same house celebrating the holidays together. I can look outside and see about a foot of snow on the ground, and although the house is crowded, most everyone has gone to bed - so there is a rare quiet stillness to appreciate. There are gifts arranged under the tree, including the couple of toys I decided to assemble tonight so that the kids can come down to see Santa's handy work. It's a pretty awesome time to have Christmas when the kids are this young. My wife put our 4-year old boy to bed tonight, and she told me that he was so excited he was even giggling as he fell asleep.

When is the last time you giggled when you fell asleep?

This time of year I love catching one of the versions of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol." The last few years I have been able to perform in the play in a minor role, and I have so enjoyed watching the life changing transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge unfold throughout the night. It is such a classic. It has been told and retold, and remade in countless ways, yet the message is always powerful and inspiring. If you could see where you messed up in the past, how your are effecting others right now, as well as see what lies ahead for you in the future - how might you change your ways?

Scrooge is so overwhelmingly changed by this enlightenment that he has a total rebirth of character. My favorite moment is seeing him run down to the street, buy the giant Christmas goose, and then dance around like a fool as he wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. His excitement is so overwhelming that it literally can't be contained, leaving everyone else to think that old man Scrooge must have gone crazy.

When is the last time you were that crazy?

Most us can see a story like that and feel inspired by the total transformation of character Scrooge has from beginning to end. To go from such an angry old man to a compassionate dancing fool in one night seems pretty remarkable. Yet, I think to myself, shouldn't we all be waking up with the same sense of joy, rebirth, and gratitude that Scrooge wakes up with?

Does it take an earth shattering event to remind us of all the good in our life, or can you connect with it right now?

This year has been a challenging year - but I can think of a few instances right now where I was overcome with such joy and gratitude. On one occasion, where I was the recipient of an extremely generous gift, I remember feeling as if I were glowing with gratitude. So much so that when I got home pretty late into the cold evening I decided to go for a 3 mile run because I was so filled with energy. It was the easiest 3 mile run of my life.

One of my favorite movies in recent years is Jerry Maguire. The movie begins with you seeing Jerry as a greedy sports agent, and how he too has the painful insight to see what he is becoming - and he doesn't like it. Waking up in almost a panic attack in the middle of the night, he spends the next few hours typing up a manifesto of what his company should be about. He is so inspired he heads to Kinko's, prints copies for everyone in the company, and then puts a copy in everyone's mail slot. He is scared to death, but awakened - and then he is promptly fired.

When you wake up - you can't go back to sleep.

How many of you have had those nights? What did you decide to change or do better - and were you able to follow through? If not, odds are that inspiration is still there - waiting to be let out - waiting to be acted on. It's true, once you wake up - you can't go back to sleep. You might hit the snooze, but you're just delaying the inevitable. Like Neo in the Matrix, once you take the blue pill - everything changes forever.

If we got to see Scrooge II - The sequel (and pray we don't) - odds are you would see a man newly inspired, but not quite sure what to do. Like Jerry Maguire, waking up is step 1, but waking up isn't always a picnic. The awakening is just the beginning. What happens after that can be pretty messy and scary - but the rewards are much more meaningful, and besides - going back to sleep is not an option.

So, my gift to you this holiday season is the gift of support. Buy the giant Christmas goose, dance around like a fool in joy, write your own manifesto, and start down on the road of adventure and rebirth. If you need some practical support, I am always here to coach you. I can be your ghost of Christmas present, or your Renee Zellweger (whatever you need).

No matter what you do - be grateful! Be grateful for all the good in your life, smile, and do a little dance. Remember, it's good to be crazy!

Happy Holidays!!!!!!

Travis
561.676.4583

PS - I know it has been a tough year - which means we all need a coach now more than ever. I want to be your coach. So, as a special offer - I am offering 3 coaching sessions a month for $150. Each session lasts roughly 60 minutes. It is a great way to get your new year started, and at a rate that is pretty accessible. If you are interested - be in touch!

Labels: Jerry Maguire, life coaching Travis Thomas, Scrooge

I just bagged a pile of leaves (finally) and hung up the last of the outdoor Christmas lights. I have checked e-mails that have been neglected for over a week, and I am now in the basement hiding from the kids. I think I might be able to blog.

2008 has been a crazy year. My wife and I vowed at the beginning of the year that the theme for 2008 would be "The Year of BIG." We each committed to playing a big game in life - and expecting big results in return. Now with the year almost coming to a close - the idea of big has taken on different meaning.

We have gone through a lost this past year. From work to where we live - it is not what we expected. I am going to be careful here to not put any judgment on whether I feel the outcome is "good or bad," but rather - interesting.

The last couple of months I have touched base with friends all over the country. There seems to be this consistent thread of major life transforming events with each person I talk to. These are events that on the surface could represent struggle, tragedy, or disappointment - but I don't think most of my friends are just looking at these events on the surface.

Most of us can relate that there seems to be some HUGE transformation taking place all over the world. Right here in the US - we are celebrating the historical election of our first ever African-American president. This is no small thing. There seems to be tectonic shifts happening in everything from politics, to the environment, social issues, and the economy.

Ahhhh, the economy. This is something everyone seems to relate to right now. It kind of feels like the economy is the Titanic, and we're all scrambling for life-boats. Or, maybe that's just me ;)

The interesting thing about the economy is that everyone seems to have accepted the fact that this is the time to "pack it in," "play it safe," and "ride out the storm." Besides, if we can all just hold on long enough - everything will go back to normal. Right?

I am not so sure.

I would like to suggest that there may be something even bigger going on. Something BOLDER. This shift we are feeling in the world seems to be exposing the flaws in an economic structure we have been ignoring for a long time. I am not an economist, nor do I play one on TV, but I do know that as thought changes - so do our structures and expectations. The fall of the banking industry seemed to pull back the veil of a way of doing business that is greedy, irresponsible, and outdated. It is as if we finally got to the ground floor of this mighty palace - and found out it was built on sand. Whoops.

Next in line, here come the automakers with the thought, "Hey, if they bailed out our buddies, why not us?"

I don't think so.

Look around and take stock of what people are thinking about. More and more, people are talking about eco-friendly products and socially responsible organizations. They want to know how their foods are grown, and where their toys are made. What for a long time felt like causes for people on the fringe are starting to show up each night in your living room.

The world is getting flatter, people are getting greener, and Oprah's Webcasts with Eckhart Tolle proved for 10 weeks that people want to have a better understanding of who they are.

The internet has given us instant access - and it is becoming harder and harder for the mighty Wizard behind the curtain to keep us all fooled. Not anymore!

So, with the 2008 coming to an end - I do believe in my heart this has been "the year of BIG!" I just didn't realize the BIG was a lot BIGGER than me.

Back in October, I hosted the 2008 WorldBlu Live Conference on Organizational Democracy. For two days, business leaders from all over the world articulated how a new vision of business is being sewn. Many of these companies are leaders in their industry, and their stories would amaze you, yet many of you have probably never heard of them. These are companies built on freedom and employee empowerment, social responsibility, and doing things the right way - the only way.

One speaker, Mark Dowd, of a company called Brainpark made a point that really stuck with me. In talking about the current economy he commented how this would be an easy time to duck and cover, and wait for things to rebound. He then said, "In the midst of turmoil, we need to be looking for adventure." He then went on to describe how it is precisely times like we are in now that allow for world changing movements. What better time for the auto industry to transform? What better time for the banking industry to reinvent itself?

It is these moments where real leaders and pioneers step to the front and reveal a path unseen.

In thinking of the banking industry - and how now is the time for transformation - I was reminded of a man who has already blazed a trail on this path. His name is Dr. Muhammad Yunus, and some years ago he returned to his homeland of India to teach economics at a university. Over time, he realized that while he was teaching all sorts of economic concepts in class, he couldn't get past the brutal poverty he walked through to and from work. As he began to talk with these people, he found out they were not poor from choice, but honest hard-working people who could not get out from under the rock they lived. These were skilled workers selling their goods, but as he discovered, they had to buy their supplies at such a high cost it left them with little profit margin. If they could actually borrow some money, it would give them the ability to cut out the middle man and actually turn a higher profit. So, Dr. Yunus went to every bank in town, and they refused to give any loans to these people, even with Yunus as a co-signer. In many cases, these people needed as little as $50 to get over the hump, but the banks still felt they would never see their money again.

Dr. Yunus disagreed. He started giving out the loans himself, and as he expected, the loans were paid back. He began doing this from town to town all over India to prove to the banks it wasn't a fluke, but they still would not budge. So instead, he started his own banks built on giving micro-loans to the poor - and now they are all over India. In 2006 he won the Nobel Peace Prize, and you can read all about his experience in his book.

As he puts it, "It's not people who aren’t credit-worthy. It’s banks that aren’t people-worthy." —Muhammad Yunus

So in concluding one of my longest blogs ever - I just want to say to everyone (including myself) - that this is the time to look at your own life and find the adventure. This is the time to own the situation, instead of letting the situation own you. This is the time to write your own rules and be a part of the transformation. Embrace it. Love it! It is scary - but if you can get yourself out of the way - the potential is limitless.

As Steven Covey has said, "You can't change the fruit unless you change the root." You cannot keep doing things the same way and waiting for another result. Look at your values, your beliefs, and visions - these are your roots. If you don't like the fruit on your tree - than take a look at these.

I just want to say Happy Holidays to everyone. Much love -and I will end with this...

I want to be your coach in 2009! Give me a call.

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: bailout, life coaching Travis Thomas, Mark Dowd, Muhammed Yunus, Steven Covey

My whirlwind first season as a college soccer coach recently ended, so now I am working myself back to a few things that have been on the back-burner for the past few months - like my blog. I am sure some of you have been lost and confused not getting my regular posts, but hang in there, I am almost out of the woods ;)

The soccer team met last night for an end of the season banquet. It was a chance to put the season into perspective and say good-bye to the seniors for the last time. From day one I have been so impressed with the overall maturity of the players and their tremendous quality of character. No offense to the guys I played with back in the day, but there was an overall depth in spirit to these guys that was beyond what I was expecting. They truly made the experience for me such a special opportunity.

At the end of the evening the captains presented some gifts to the coaches. For me, they put together a book filled with gratitude and inspiring quotes from the players. I had a reputation this season for giving a few inspiring talks. Now, I wasn't so sure they were inspiring at the time, but apparently they had a little more impact than I thought. From reading my blogs you all can probably assume I am not real brief with my thoughts - and I think that kind of carried over to my coaching.

Early in preseason camp, I shared with the team the idea of "taking authority" for their experience. Mainly, it was about being clear and focused on what was really important to them, and not allowing outside distractions to pull their attention off of their goals. The temptation is always there to let outside influences distract us, pull us in different directions, and then allow us to make excuses for not performing our best. At least, I think that is what I shared.

So, the book of quotes from the team was their way of sharing the love back to me. They titled the book, "Authorizing Authority!" To be honest, it was the coolest gift I could have received. In the spirit of sharing the love - I am going to include some of those quotes here. Enjoy...

"There is no passion to be found in playing small, in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."
--Nelson Mandela

"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step of faith." --Martin Luther King Jr.

"Obedience to Truth gives men strength and power." --Anonymous

"Pray naked!" --Nate Mehring

"If there's no soccer in heaven, I'm not going!" --Paul Sanderude

"You don't know where you are going until you get there. You don't know what you are looking for until you find it. You don't know how to do something until you do it." --Jake Summerlin

"With great power comes great responsibility!" --Spiderman

"I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do." --Leonardo DaVinci

"The will to win...the will to achieve...goes dry and arid without continuous renewal." --Vince Lomabardi Jr.

"I think the worst time to have a heart attack is during a game of charades...or during a game of 'fake heart attack.'" --Demitri Martin

Thanks again to all of the players and coaches for the 2008 Panther season - I love you all!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: direct life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, principia mens soccer

I am in the last week of our 3-week family adventure in northern Michigan. It has been a terrific trip hanging with family and relaxing in the "not south Florida" summer weather. People have commented about certain days here being humid - haha - if they want to see humidity - I WILL SHOW THEM HUMIDITY!

That is about as macho as I get.

Anyway, recent and exciting news for me is that I will be expanding my coaching this Fall as the assistant soccer coach at my old college Alma mater. This will be an amazing opportunity for me to get back on campus and connect with young men while coaching the game that I love.

The only problem is - I am not exactly in college shape.

Not that I need to be as fit as I was when I was a student, but the last thing I want to do is show up and be the "old man" that can't keep up. So, with training camp starting in roughly 4-5 weeks, I have been trying to step things up.

Now, I often blog about how often I run and it is usually a time I find my best inspiration. But, going for a jog a couple times a week is apples and oranges compared to running around a soccer field with 20-year olds for 3 hours.

You need to run the hill!

So, for the past three weeks or so - I have been running everyday in attempt to get myself in better shape. I have run longer distances, as well as mixing it up with sprint runs and plyometric strength training. Yeah, I am still sore.

But, none of those compare to running the hill! The dreaded hill (seen in the picture above). I knew the hill was waiting for me here in Michigan - and there was nothing I could do to escape it. The hill waits, it taunts me - and I know I have no choice but to run the hill.

So, for the last 8 days...I have run the hill. Okay, so the hill is part of a dirt road that overlooks Lake Bellaire. The hill itself is about 1/4 long, maybe less - but it feels like a lot more. It is steep, with soft dirt most of the way, and it gets steeper the closer you get to the top. The hill comes about 1/2 mile into the run - and then once you get to the top - you still have over 2 miles left. But, at that point, the worst is behind you.

I am loving the hill!

Knowing I was coming up here for a week and a half - I had been dreading the hill. The first couple of days were tough, but now that I have completed the 8th consecutive day - I am loving the hill. I need the hill. The hill has been pushing me - and each run the hill has become less and less intimidating - less scary. The result is that I know I am a lot better off than I was 8 days ago - and it has been a huge boost for my confidence.

What is your hill?

I will be completely honest here. When I was in college, I didn't have the discipline to get in shape to the level I needed to be in. I talked myself into thinking I was really in shape, but I really never was. It was never glaring on the field - but I knew. Back then - there were plenty of hills in my life I was too scared to climb. The goal I wanted to achieve as a player was important to me - but there were some hills I needed to climb (literally and figuratively) to be that player, and I didn't do it. Ouch!

My guess is that there are plenty of us out there who would love to do something special with their life - but there may be some hills that appear too scary. It is much easier to say, " That time has passed," or "It's just not that easy right now." We all have valid excuses like bills that need to paid, taking care of our kids, work obligations - etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.

These are just hills. They look real scary and daunting - and maybe they really are - but what lies beyond those hills might be worth the climb. And even if you don't achieve your ultimate goal - you will still be a better person for taking on those hills. And remember, you don't need to take on all of those hills at once...

Just pick a hill - and start running!

In his book "The Inner Game of Tennis," Timothy Gallwey describes the true benefit of competition and what it means to embrace the tough challenge of a competitor. He writes, "Reaching the goal itself may not be as valuable as the experience that can come in making a supreme effort to overcome the obstacles involved. The process can be more rewarding than the victory itself." He later adds, "In the use of competition it is the duty of your opponent to create the greatest possible difficulties for you, just as it is yours to create obstacles for him. Only by doing this do you give each other the opportunity to find out what heights each can rise."

That is why I am loving my hill!

In reality, the hill I have been running up here is nothing to write a book about (just a blog), but it has allowed me to look up at bigger hills and think, "Yeah, I could do that!" I need these hills to make me better. These hills are making me better. If I got a call tomorrow telling me the soccer coaching had fallen through - it doesn't take away the little lessons I have been learning over the past few weeks.

The outcomes may change - but the lessons we learn in taking on the obstacles will never leave us empty-handed. So what are you waiting for?

I have one day left here in northern Michigan - so I get one last day to climb the hill - and them move on.

Bring on the next hill!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: direct life coaching, life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, The Inner Game of Tennis

I can't help but be impressed with Intel's slogan, "What's inside you?" It's a great question, isn't it?

This past weekend, for any sports fans out there, you got to see one of those special sports moments that will be talked about for generations to come - Tiger Woods winning the US Open on one leg. Now, not to be too dramatic, he had a second leg, it just wasn't much use. People questioned how bad the knee was really injured, but they are not questioning today with Tiger's announcement that he will have season ending knee surgery, as well as rehabilitation for a double stress fracture on his tibia.

The story is also being told today of how Tiger's doctor told him to not play in the US Open, but Tiger told him, "I'm playing in the U.S. Open and I'm going to win."

What's inside you?

Wayne Dyer is a favorite author of mine, and he uses this analogy of an orange. (I will paraphrase) Dyer says that when you squeeze an orange - orange juice comes out - because that is what is inside an orange. Now, when it comes to us, whatever we are keeping inside of us (i.e. negative or positive feelings and emotions) - that is what will come out when we get squeezed too.

This has been extremely helpful to me over the years, and it was one of the first pieces I included in my anger management workshop. I was thinking about this more today - and I started to extend this analogy of the orange a little further.

So, we take the orange - it's a simple orange. If we take the orange and put it in a traffic jam - it's still an orange. If we take the orange and we deplete its bank account - it's still an orange. If we insult the orange, ignore the orange, or try to change the orange into something else (maybe a candy bar) - it's still an orange. Orange juice comes out!

No matter what circumstances you place that orange in - you cannot change its essence. It is what it is!

Now, let's take out the orange - and put you in its place. You are in the traffic jam - you have a depleted bank account - you are insulted - ignored - and instead of changing you into a candy bar, someone wants you to think more like them. So, you are not an orange - but you are squeezed - so what comes out?

Whatever is inside of you - that is what is going to come out.

Most of us get it wrong. We still think it is the experiences that dictate who we are - and whether we are happy or not. So, if things are "good" based on what we think is "good" - we are happy, and vice versa. We let "what happens to us" determine our sense of peace.

Not the orange. No matter how you squeeze it - you still get orange juice!

So I challenge you for a moment. Take "who you are," and strip away the job title, your education, background, your bank account, size of your house or type of car you drive, and the number of friends you have. Take all of that exterior stuff away - and what are you left with?

Whatever it is - that is a closer representation of who you are!

What's inside you?

I catch myself all of the time noticing "what's inside of me." It happens when I am running late for something, trying to put something together, or listening to something on the news. All of these events create a stimulus that causes certain thoughts or feelings to rise to the surface - and they might show up as anxiety, stress, frustration, doubt, etc.

Now, the tendency would be to focus on the actual events - instead of the feelings these events reveal. For instance, since I don't enjoy nor seem to do well with "assembly required," I should probably avoid those opportunities like the plague. But, what is more important than the actual stimulus - is the response.

What's inside you?

For me, I have tried to embrace the idea of "being squeezed." If I were an orange, everyone would be well quenched :) I have come to realize more and more - that the squeezing is really just an opportunity to learn and grow. If we are feeling "squeezed" - it means some feelings are coming to the surface that might need to be addressed. Behind these feelings are often hidden some accepted beliefs causing us to feel squeezed. So, instead of getting mad at the events - dig deeper to the beliefs beneath the feelings. That is where you will find what is really inside you.

The event causing the squeeze is only "bad" because it is drawing out feelings and beliefs that we have not resolved. In reality, it's not "bad" at all, because without it, we would never grow. As Eddy says in Science and Health, "Through great tribulation we enter the kingdom. Trials are proofs of God's care."

Now, as I mentioned, we will not always like what we see when we get squeezed. That's okay - the important part is that we are seeing it and recognizing it. Embrace the opportunity to grow - and realize that it has nothing to do with the event - and all to do with you. If you don't like what you are seeing - it is probably time to look at some of those beliefs and decide how well they are serving you. If they are not serving you in beneficial way - maybe you're ready for a new perspective.

Nike brilliantly debuted a new Tiger Woods commercial on the same weekend of the US Open. It is the voice of Earl Woods (now deceased) talking about how he raised Tiger and instilled him with mental toughness like no other.

It couldn't of been timed more perfectly as Tiger demonstrated the depth of his mental toughness. Whether it was dealing with the pressure of needing to make birdie putts on the 18th hole on back-to-back days, or enduring the pain of his knee - Tiger's mental toughness was unbeatable. I actually heard him respond to a question about his hurt knee after his Saturday round where he said, (paraphrase) "Yeah, it hurts, but it's just pain."

The man was squeezed for five grueling, pain-enduring days - and look what came out.

What's inside you?

You are the one constant in your life - because wherever you go - you will be there :) Your happiness, success, and peace is determined by how you choose to show up and respond to all of life's experiences. You need you at your best - as does everyone around you!

If you are looking at yourself and need help with some of the things that are coming to the surface - I am just a call or e-mail away. I would love to assist you in bringing out your best and playing a bigger game.

The reality is, greatness and perfection is what is really inside all of us - even if our name is not Tiger.

Have a great week!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583

Disclaimer: I have a brother named Tiger - and he's pretty impressive as well ;)

Labels: christian science, life coaching Travis Thomas, mary baker eddy, Nike, Science and Health, Tiger Woods, Wayne Dyer

I received a lot of great feedback from last week's blog "Taking out the trash," especially the mantra of "This is not helpful" whenever our thoughts are taking us to an unproductive or negative place.

As I was talking to someone else this week, the question came up, "What can I do so that I keep my thoughts in the right place?"

This is a common question - and it relates to a conversation I had with someone Saturday in reference to such newly inspiring books such as "The Secret" and "A New Earth." She commented that sees all of these people getting excited about these new books - but she wasn't seeing people "doing" anything about it. She asked, "Where is the sacrifice?"

Now, I have a couple of thoughts on this question.

First, whenever we see someone get excited about a new idea, especially when it is spiritually based, it is easy to be skeptical and judgemental. (I am not saying this is what my friend was doing). We want to be able to "see" someone change in order to validate their experience. Underneath this thought is probably a bit of jealousy (possibly) - because it may make us look at ourselves and think, "Hey, I want to be that excited too!"

As far as "seeing" the evidence, that can be misleading as well. No matter how well we know someone, family or friends, we can never jump inside their head. We can never live in their thoughts or fully understand the impact an idea might be ultimately having for them. Chances are - the evidence is probably there - but it might be US who is having the hard time seeing it.

Instead, wouldn't it be great to appreciate how someone is excited about a possible life-transforming experience - and simply support them on their journey. No judgement. No opinion needed. No "shoulding" on them (Yeah, you remember!)

In Science and Health, Mary Baker Eddy writes, "Human opinions are not spiritual." I have read that sentence hundreds of times over the years, but it has become more relevant to me in recent years. Why? Because any opinion that is human, or based on my ego or judgements - is neither spiritual or helpful. What would be my motive for sharing this opinion? Is it truly to be supportive, or might it be to pass judgement or even inflate my own ego? Yes - the ego is very tricky!

Okay - as far as question 1: "What can I do to keep my thoughts in the right place?"

You need a shower!

Yeah, water...soap...you know what it is. A Shower!

Summer's in South Florida can be brutally muggy with humidity. I have been known to take as many as three showers in a day - FOR DOING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! Breathing alone breaks a sweat - so some days I need to jump in the shower just to rinse off from going to the car and back. (Relax, they're quick - I'm not a water waster!)

Externally - Showers keep me clean. They keep me fresh. They keep me from stinking.

Internally - I need to take showers as well. And yes, I take them everyday. If you want to figure out how to take intellectual inspiration - and turn it into practical demonstration - you need to build showers into your day.

That is how you keep your thoughts in the right place!

I have referred to these showers as daily commitments, as well as oxygen activities. These are activities you do on a daily basis that help you live and perform at your best. You do them everyday because they keep your thoughts in the right place. And if you are doing something that allows your thoughts to get out of control - why are you doing it?

Take a shower. Cleanse your thoughts - and get a fresh perspective about the present moment. Many people have gone through baptisms in their life - and essentially this is your commitment to cleansing yourself everyday.

Why everyday? You are only as good as today, right here, right now. Not committing is not an option!

I love talking about spirituality. I love talking about these new books, films, and other resources - but to be honest - without my daily commitments - it would just be talk. Intellectually inspiring, but practically irrelevant.

The impact of your life is too important for yourself and others to not make daily time for your shower!

If you need help - I've got the soap!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: A New Earth, life coaching Travis Thomas, Science and Health, The Secret

Have you ever forgot to take the trash out? Man, the bags pile up in the garage, the smell becomes brutal, and you start to attract some unwelcome visitors. It's not a pretty picture.

Now, imagine how bad things would get if you didn't take your trash out for a few weeks - or months? Yikes!

Most of us would never think of such an experiment - yet when it comes to the trash we carry around in our own thoughts - we aren't always as tidy.

What trash are you carrying around?

This weekend I was watching "The Peaceful Warrior" (again) - and Nick Nolte's character, who is the mentor, talks about the need to "take out the trash." To get rid of all of the thoughts in your head that either keep you anchored in the past - or distracted with the possible future. The thoughts that are based on worry and fear; thoughts that center around what others think of you; and thoughts that dwell on the negative.

Do you know those thoughts?

Most of you have heard of Randy Pausch, the inspiring professor best known for his "Last Lecture" that has landed him all over the Web, including appearances on Oprah, and most recently, ABC's Primetime.

For someone who is literally living day-to-day, Randy Pausch is not carrying around any trash. Yet, when watching the special on ABC, it was his wife who shared what I felt was one of the more helpful ideas I have heard in a long time. Diane Sawyer was asking her how she was dealing with her own grief, especially when watching her husband play with the kids, and knowing he will be gone soon. She shared that her therapist gave her a mantra to repeat whenever she was having these thoughts and feelings. The mantra she recites during these times is "This is not helpful."

This is not helpful!

I am not sure there could be a better phrase or statement in helping you mentally take out the trash. Just that one simple statement - "This is not helpful," and you can bring yourself back to the present. It might sound too simple - but it works.

Last week was an incredibly busy and full week for me. For this I was grateful. For 6 days straight I was either presenting or performing - so I really to be on top of my game. I had been praying for the weeks leading up for harmony, patience, and humility - and the ability to yield to each situation knowing that everything that needed to be done would unfold in proper time. This was part of my process of taking out the trash.

Unfortunately, on the first day, I came down with the flu - which needless to say, wasn't something that was going to help my week. At first I was feeling a lot of frustration and discouragement - angry over the fact that I had to deal with this. Plus there was the fact that I wasn't feeling well - which was making me question how I was going to get through all of the performances. There was a whole lot of frustration, fear, worry, and negativity bouncing around in my thoughts. Needless to say...

"This is not helpful!"

If I were counting, I probably repeated "This is not helpful" over a hundred times during the past week. Some of the thoughts were like this...

"Why the flu now?" "This is not helpful!"
"I am not sure I can do the show tomorrow." "This is not helpful!"
"When will this flu be over?" "This is not helpful!"
"Why did this week have to be so busy?" "This is not helpful!"

All of these thoughts - it is easy to see how they were either leaving me in the past or taking me to the future. None of them were helping me deal with the present. And if you are entertaining any thought that is taking you away from the present - you need to take it out as trash.

This is not helpful.

My week ended beautifully. Every single presentation and performance went smoothly - and I couldn't of been happier with the results. I got extra rest when I needed it, my wife chipped in big time and took care of all of the kids needs, and I just yielded and trusted that Love would get me through every experience - which IT did!

So, whether we are dealing with our ego running rampid - or fearing "what could be" - these simple words - "This is not helpful," will always bring us back to the present.

If you need help taking out the trash - just give me a call - I would be glad to coach!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: life coaching Travis Thomas, Peaceful Warrior, Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

(Now, as I write this blog I realize there is a reality show on FOX called "The Moment of Truth." This blog has nothing to do with that show. Sorry if I teased you.)

At some point in my life I know that I would love to run a marathon. In order to do so, I know that I will need to make some conscious choices in my day-to-day activities to make time for preparing for the big day. To run a marathon, most people train for months in order to condition their body for the grueling 26.2 journey. To wake up this morning, and decide I am going to run a marathon today is possible - but would it yield the best results?

What are you training for?

Now, you might not be training for a marathon, but we are all preparing for something. Some of us have chosen professions that we feel will yield financial security in the long run (no pun intended). Others have dedicated their life to a skill, trade, or craft that they hope will eventually reap dividends. Or, some of you may spend time reading, exploring, and pushing yourself to learn new skills and better yourself.

We are always preparing for something. Or, as my college soccer coach used to say, "Failure to prepare = Preparing to fail."

When we think of "Moments of Truth," we often think of Superheroes saving the day in a movie, athletes rising to the occasion, or emergency workers at the scene of an accident.

Yet, whether we know it or not - we are constantly being bombarded with our own "moments of truth."

They come at us everyday, all the time, in varying degrees. Now, the results might not always be life or death - but how we respond in these situations can have a tremendous impact in ways we might never know, for ourselves and others. If you are racking your brain trying to think of examples in your life, they might show up in some of the following common events:

* How you respond to your child who is having a breakdown
* The words you choose when someone cuts you off on the road
* How you talk about a friend behind their back
* The way you respond when something doesn't go your way
* What you do when you see a stranger in need

In each of these events - they represent a moment of truth! You just never know how seeming "insignificant" events impact others. A random act of kindness - or choosing not to participate in a negative conversation might not seem the same as saving someone from a burning building - but when you consistently make good choices - it will have a positive effect on everyone in your life.

So, the question becomes - "What do we do to make sure we respond our best in these moments?"

What are you training for?

If we begin to look at all of these events as something we train for - than what are we doing on a daily basis to prepare for these moments? Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Or, to think about it this way - are we living our life with mental (or spiritual) dominion, or are we letting life live us (like a victim)? When life lives us - it can feel like a roller coaster of successes and failures, but when we approach each day with a mindset of being ready and preparing for these moments - we don't allow ourselves to get caught off guard.

Do you feel like the victim - or are you claiming dominion for how you respond to these events?

The runner getting ready for the marathon has a plan - and so should you. It could be as easy as finding 10-20 minutes a day to journal, read a new book, pray, meditate, take a walk in nature. Give yourself some down time to unwind. It doesn't have to be drastic changes - but it needs to start with something.

Each day presents us with moments of truth - and the better you are prepared - the more alert you will be to noticing and responding in the way you are needed. This is bigger than you. Your family needs you at your best - as does everyone around you.

Are you ready to start training?

If you need a kick-start - give me a call!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: life coaching, life coaching Travis Thomas, marathon, purpose coach, The Moment of Truth

A few months ago I replaced my cellphone because I had dropped it one too many times. Not to take all of the blame - I have a couple of younger accomplices who contributed to the damage.

This afternoon, while trying to get the three kids into the mini-van - I dropped my current cellphone on the pavement and the back cover for the battery went flying.

Did it break?

Nope...it survives another day. Phew!

The lesson learned here for me is pretty simple.

Carry less.

Pretty easy right? I mean, I was holding one kid in his baby carrier, another kid in my arms, while trying to get the keys for the car...yadda, yadda, yadda - the cellphone took a dive!

As instantly as I picked up the phone - the thought came to me, "Carry less. Huh...there is your next blog."

And here it is.

It takes very little common sense to notice that I was carrying too much in my hands to still maintain effectiveness. You can only carry so much before something has to give - in this case - the phone.

It made me think about this past week for me. For some reason, I have been uncharacteristically carrying around a lot of unproductive baggage in my head. Thoughts of fear, uncertainty, discouragement, insecurity, jealousy, and a pinch of ego (just for flavor).

Carrying these thoughts around for too long becomes very draining - as well as influencing my overall state of happiness.

Not good.

Plus, the longer I carry these around - at some point - something is going to fall - and most likely it will be much worse than a cell phone.

So, enough is enough. It ends today.

Here is the deal. We all have a limited amount that we can carry around (either physically or mentally). And to be real clear here - WE CHOOSE EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE CARRY AROUND. No one else chooses it for us. Sure, people may try to pack our bag for us - but we ultimately choose whether we are going to pick it up and carry it around. It's only on us.

We all carry around negative emotions and feelings from time to time - the problem is - as long as we carry them around, the heavier they get. Want me to further this point?

Try this - put your hands above your head and hold up your arms. Keep them up - start now! (I'll come back to you - so keep reading).

As we continue to carry around this baggage - we get to a point where it is hard to distinguish our back from the backpack. Know what I mean? Instead of seeing it as baggage - we get to the point where we see it as our identity - as who we are.

Is that really what we want to do?

We can only carry around so much - so we need to get real selective about what we are choosing to carry around. I have probably used this quote in the past by Mary Baker Eddy, but it is relevant here again. She says, "Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously."

Are you standing porter for your thoughts? What are you putting in your backpack and carrying around?

Okay - how are your arms doing? Kind of feeling it - aren't you? Okay - you can put them down.

Sure, a negative, cynical, or apathetic thought here and there may not seem that detrimental - but when you keep it in your bag - and then let it grow - it can and will snowball into something ugly.

What ugly thoughts are you carrying around...about your boss...co-worker...spouse...government, etc.?

What does your bag look like? Do you like what you see - or is it time to empty out your bag and take stock of what you have been carrying around?

Odds are - some of that baggage has passed its expiration date - so it might look foul.

With the holidays approaching and everything that goes along with that - now is the perfect time to clean out your backpack and make sure you are happy with what you are choosing to carry around.

Just make sure you pack light...or is it lite? They both work :)

If anyone wants some help figuring out how to pack your bag - just give me a call!

Much love!

Travis

PS - A friend sent me a link to this video called "Shift Happens." I think you will enjoy it. (Thanks James)
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/shifthappens

Labels: happiness, life coaching Travis Thomas, mary baker eddy

I have been stressing about getting a new blog out - because it has been nearly two weeks since my last post. Now, I have been out of town on back to back weekends, so that has thrown me off schedule some - and I haven't had a problem with Traci's "Blu Who" blog staying featured for two weeks. But alas...here I am.

I have been fighting a little bit of resistance getting to a new blog because no specific inspiration has been bouncing around the old noodle. As you hopefully have noticed...I try to have a theme to each blog - but nothing has been coming to me this week. So, instead of delaying another week - the thought came to me, "Just write..."

Just write, besides, it's a blog - not a thesis paper (I hated those).

So here I am. My wife and I were in Boston last weekend for a friend's wedding. We took our youngest child (6 weeks old) with us, and it sure is funny how perspective changes. Man, only traveling with a newborn - one child...heck, this was a vacation for us. We got to see friends we hadn't seen in awhile, as well as visiting some of our old haunts.

Taking a trip always forces me to do some extra planning. I have been a part of a fitness challenge for just over a year now. A friend runs it from Amsterdam, and everyone puts in a few dollars - and the last one left gets the money and gives it to a charity of their choice. Each week you have to do a certain amount of push-ups and sit-ups everyday, as well as a number of cardio work-outs each week. The longer you stay in - the more increases you get. I think there are like 5-7 of us left at this point - and I think about 75 were in from the beginning.

So, the push-ups and sit-ups are no problem, I can do that anywhere. But, being on the road can be hard getting a run in - so I always plan ahead and try to get the cardio done before I take the trip. So far - so good!!!

In addition to the fitness challenge - you may have remembered that I also do a certain number of "commitments" each day. All-in-all, they range from prayer to reading, and other activities - and equal about 60-80 minutes of time each day. So, these also become a challenge when I am traveling.

But - they get done. Everyday - no matter what.

In thinking of my past two weeks - I am most happy that I have stayed on top of my commitments. They have become such an important part of my day and life - and I continue to grow each day from what they teach me - but more importantly - I am growing from the dedication of doing them, and what I often have to overcome in order to get them done each day. That is where the real effort and commitment takes place.

Over the last couple of weeks I have also been reading two really interesting books. "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman, and "Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment" by Tal Ben-Shahar. The World is Flat looks at how technology and the internet has "flattened" the global playing field for how we work, collaborate, and live. Reading this book reminds me of one of Mary Baker Eddy's quotes, "The time for thinkers has come..." Mainly, the walls of business and how we do things are changing right in front of our eyes, and it is going to take intelligent, creative, and courageous individuals to evolve to the next era. I hope I am one of them.

For the "Happier" book, I am really just starting, but I like where he is going. He brings up the fact that people in western society are wealthier now than they ever have been, yet the level of happiness is on a declining scale. Why?

That's one of the main reasons I like life coaching - to help people answer that very question.

If you need some help yourself - give me a call!

Much love!

Travis
561.676.4583

Labels: Happier, life coaching Travis Thomas, mary baker eddy, Tal Ben-Shahar, The World is Flat, Thomas Friedman