The Amazing Solution for Depression

I want to preface this article by first noting that I am not a licensed medical doctor, nor a trained psychologist, but there is an abundance of research done on the human condition of happiness.  My intent is to spark HOPE when we hit those valleys that so often become a steep mountain to climb.  I won't explicitly say that adversity makes us stronger...(oops I inadvertantly just did by writing it) but when faced with that incline to traverse, it is rare to think "oh goodie, I am getting stronger by getting my teeth kicked in!"

The Doctrine of Happiness has various components to it that I won't expound on due to the length of the discourse that it would require.  Rather, I would like to focus on a portion that resonates within the energy that comprises my soul.  I haven't written a post in quite some time, and this is one of my passions, yet when I feel like the guy in the chair (image above) I lose passion for most of my favorite activities of life.  This is when I do an inventory of my life and begin my medition and introspection, and guess what I found...my answer.

As I've researched, studied and practiced a Principle Driven Life to the best of my ability, I found that one vital component (especially for me) is to be my best self.  This is to be progressing towards goals, dreams, aspirations, etc in the various facets of life.  Progress, getting better, having a target are all things that help to give a sense of purpose, and as long as we are on that path progressing, it is difficult to not find satisfaction.

So go and evaluate what your goals are financially, spiritually, socially, career-wise, physically and with family.  As you paint the target and begin down that path, whether at a snails pace or a sprint, I have no doubt that nothing other that happiness can occupy that space in your heart.

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus
*Thanks for your patience for my posts to begin again!

Zach Sobiech...This Young Man Has Changed the World!

What can I say that this video doesn't? Zach sums up the Principle Driven Life and look at the impact he's having on the world!

What Does A Muddy Faced Pig Have To Do With My Life?

Pigs are notorious for being a filthy animal that enjoys playing in the mud.  I know I liked to roll in the mud when I was a young boy.  Perhaps that's why my mom has more pig statues in her house than pictures of me as they remind her of me as a child?  None of this really answers the question nor speaks to the true principle at the heart of the metaphor.

If a pig can't roll around in mud without getting soiled we too must know that neither can we.  When it comes to life's mud, I am broadly defining this filthy substance as behavior(s) that impede our progress towards high performance and happiness.  Have you ever tried to run in mud?  It certainly slows down the journey!

Engaging in behaviors such as negativity towards others, ourselves or even worse when we engage in such activity in a group setting is playing in the mud.  Laziness, envy, greed, ill-will, etc. are just a few of the ways to play in the mud.  In so by doing, we get muddy and make our sojourn towards our purpose of enhancing our output and increasing our joy and those around us is greatly diminished.

In the stead of mud, we should bathe ourselves in light.  Immerse ourselves in and around those things that strengthen our determination to live a principle driven life.  Good books, great music, practicing gratitude and hard work are some simple ways to keep from rolling in the mud.  

May your week be filled with progress, performance and peacefulness!

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus

Accountability, Attribution & Getting Beyond Blame

How often do we take part in pointing fingers at others when things go arye?  In the same instance, do we evaluate our part in the undesired results?  The same should be asked about attribution.  Do we give credit and praise where there is high performance, or with our hard work and diligence are we making sure that our fulfillment and follow up is recognized and value built?  These are the proper questions to be asking ourselves as we evaluate our interpersonal communication and introspection.

I speak as one who has not always measured up in accountability, attribution and getting beyond blame.  This topic is a large bit to chew in one post, but they go hand in hand and must be addressed simultaneously.  

Accountability: These quotes pretty much sum it up.  

“A body of men holding themselves accountable to nobody ought not to be trusted by anybody.” 

― Thomas Paine

“It is wrong and immoral to seek to escape the consequences of one's acts.” 
― Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace comes from within.  Do not seek it without.” 

― Gautama Buddha

Attribution:  Here is the theory explained by Bernard Weiner.

"Weiner developed a theoretical framework that has become very influential in social psychology today. Attribution theory assumes that people try to determine why people do what they do, that is, interpret causes to an event or behavior. A three-stage process underlies an attribution:"

1. behavior must be observed/perceived
2. behavior must be determined to be intentional
3. behavior attributed to internal or external causes

"Weiner’s attribution theory is mainly about achievement. According to him, the most important factors affecting attributions are ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. Attributions are classified along three causal dimensions:"

1. locus of control (two poles: internal vs. external)
2. stability (do causes change over time or not?)
3. controllability (causes one can control such as skills vs. causes one cannot control such as luck, others’ actions, etc.)

"When one succeeds, one attributes successes internally (“my own skill”). When a rival succeeds, one tends to credit external (e.g. luck). When one fails or makes mistakes, we will more likely use external attribution, attributing causes to situational factors rather than blaming ourselves. When others fail or make mistakes, internal attribution is often used, saying it is due to their internal personality factors."

"Attribution is a three stage process: (1) behavior is observed, (2) behavior is determined to be deliberate, and (3) behavior is attributed to internal or external causes."

"Achievement can be attributed to (1) effort, (2) ability, (3) level of task difficulty, or (4) luck.
Causal dimensions of behavior are (1) locus of control, (2) stability, and (3) controllability."

Getting Beyond Blame:  Oh the bain of our existence!

“The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions.” 
― Dwight D. Eisenhower

“If the soul is left in darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but the one who causes the darkness. (Monseigneur Bienvenu in _Les Miserables_)” 
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables



"Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."

― Jesus of Nazareth, Sermon on the Mount

At the end of the day, the things that we experience shape the person who we become, it is up to us which direction we take it..positive or negative. There is a plan for us either way. There are things in life that just happen for no rhyme or reason and trying to rationalize them makes no sense. Blaming others for the disappointments that come along in life does not fix the situation. My favorite quote today was "You have an appointment with destiny...Do You!", don't' give anyone or anything that much power over you by blaming them/it for your tough times or disappointments. March on and "Do You", the miracle is in the process. 

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus

I had an interesting exchange with a great consultant...

I had an interesting exchange with a great consultant about the nature of the principles of success.  I don't claim to know everything about success, but I know that success begins with certain principles/values that determine our actions, which become habits (I'll write about habits next), then these control our outcomes and destiny.  With that in mind, here is the exchange:

• The Principles of Success (I will not reveal this persons name out of respect)

"Over the years a vast amount of work has been carried out on the topic of success. Many self-help gurus and academic experts have given their opinions on what it takes to be successful and a great deal of academic research has been carried out. 

The principles are: 

Take Responsibility. Understand that we, and nobody else, are ultimately responsible for our actions, thoughts and attitudes. How our lives turn out is up to us and no-one else. 

Set Goals. Goals provide us with a direction in life. They help us to focus our energy on what is important to us. We need to make decisions about what we want from life and to set clear goals that reflect this. 

Be Positive. Having a positive, optimistic outlook makes life more enjoyable for us and for those around us. It also gives us energy and drive, making us far more likely to be successful. 

Persevere Intelligently. Getting the most from life requires determination and perseverance. It also requires a flexible and intelligent approach to life. If a course of action doesn't work, we must be able to find effective alternatives. 

Connect with People. None of us lives in isolation. To be successful we need to have effective relationships with other people in all areas of our professional and personal lives. 

These five principles are tried, tested and scientifically proven, and they have produced huge benefits for people who have followed them. If we can understand them and apply them on a regular basis, then our lives will be dramatically transformed for the better."

My response:

"I appreciate your response to "The Principles of Success." While I agree with each of them as being components to even larger portion of a system, I believe that we can boil down the bigger principles and then flesh them out with the composition of principles such as the ones you shared. It also misses the mark on research based systems to help us accomplish these 5 things. It's almost like sales where the features are explained but not taken to the next level of benefits and possibly other layers of benefits. 

In the words of Daniel H. Pink, the author of the bestselling A Whole New Mind, comes a paradigm-shattering look at what truly motivates us and how we can use that knowledge to work smarter and live better. 

Most of us believe that the best way to motivate ourselves and others is with external rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That’s a mistake, Daniel H. Pink says in, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, his provocative and persuasive new book. The secret to high performance and satisfaction—at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own lives, to learn and create new things, and to do better by ourselves and our world. 

Drawing on four decades of scientific research on human motivation, Pink exposes the mismatch between what science knows and what business does—and how that affects every aspect of life. He demonstrates that while carrots and sticks worked successfully in the twentieth century, that’s precisely the wrong way to motivate people for today’s challenges. In Drive, he examines the three elements of true motivation—autonomy, mastery, and purpose—and offers smart and surprising techniques for putting these into action. Along the way, he takes us to companies that are enlisting new approaches to motivation and introduces us to the scientists and entrepreneurs who are pointing a bold way forward. 

Just a few thoughts based on Drive, which I hope just opens up our minds to the nuances of High Performing Organizations/People."

I believe in engaging intellectually in philosophical discussion and will expand on the whole concept so that the storytelling posts will have more impact, even though I hope you've enjoyed them so far.  Thank you and I wish you all success, but arguably more important is my wish that you have a sense of fulfillment!

Another Death of a Close Friend...Am I Bad luck???

So this past week one of the sweetest, most charitable person I've had the pleasure of knowing, passed on from her mortal infirmities.  Debbie had pancreatic cancer along with rheumatoid arthritis among other issues that crippled her with pain for the last 40 years.  I know my sweet wife Miriam would have much more details that she would be more adept and elegant in her delivery of the greatness that little Debbie inspired in the lives of so many as she helped her family watch and care for that meek and humble woman.

On of the most amazing things that many saw as stubbornness, was that she never would allow for anyone to define her by her illness.  She would fight to go to the store without assistance, although a great memory for my children is when they took her to the wig shop as the chemotherapy slowly took her physical attributes.  That day she put on a long wig and chased my 10 year old daughter around the store cackling like a witch and they just laughed over the silliness and play.  Debbie didn't go into a depression and ask "why me?"  She  refused to give in and be a victim.  Life was lived on her terms and through the way she chose to see the world.

Debbie also took care of the local birds and ducks.  She would put out bird feeders this time of year to take care of the little finches that frequent our area.  Most notable was the painstakingly lengths she went to find out how to help this mother duck take care of her eggs when they never seemed to survive at our little pond. Well Debbie found out how to care for the mother duckling and feed her when hungry and quench her thirst, even when the mother duck would peck at her.  Finally, the ducklings hatched, which was a first for the pond and they are still there today after several years.

So what can we learn from this woman great life?  Don't let ourselves fall into the trap of feeling like a victim and choose to define ourselves instead of allowing external forces to mold and shape the great masterpiece that is our life.  Second, remember to always look for opportunities to put others first, to influence their day and/or life.  I embarrassed my poor daughter at Disneyland this week because I would begin a conversation with almost everyone I was in line with and it was amazing how many commented that they appreciated someone taking interest in them and showing them some kindness.

I just want to thank all of you readers and wish you the best week ever!  Remember it all starts with incremental improvement in living a principle driven life.  Please forward this to any friends, family or person who could benefit from these stories.

Written By: Timothy J Andrus

If You Could Have One Thing In The World, What Would It Be?

Have you ever contemplated what you'd wish for if you found the magic lamp and were granted three wishes?  What if you could have just one wish?  We've watched the scene play out time and time again that the selfish motives of the wishes often turn against them and there are negative consequences to the wish.  Then there's the noble yet hollow ring of the cliched answer of  "all I wish for the world is....world peace."

Don't get me wrong, a heavier wallet could be used to bring harmony to your family or to other's whose lives that you bless with generous donations.  Still I have been able to poke holes in every answer that has come to my simplistic, idealistic and sometimes foolish mind.  What generally are our motivations for wishes?  Well that's where the answer that I have yet to find any iota of blemish on it zapped me like that giant genie had responded to my contemplation, meditation and querries. 

The revelation is almost hard to even put in written word.  The mystery wasn't found in a book or whispered to me by some wise man.  The simplicity is so pure, yet the power that shot through my body was evident enough so as to almost buckle my knees and sob like a man imprisoned for 35 years who just had his first sip of crisp cold clean water and a morsel of fresh baked bread.  The impact  of this veil lifted from my eyes brought the sun's warm rays to my face and illuminated all the wonders around me.

So what would I ask for if I had only one thing in the world in my posession that I could share without end with everyone of you?...It is simply love.  If I could have but one thing to power all of my decisons and hold forever in my heart, yet every time I acted I would ask myselft if it is coming from a place of love...I could not go wrong.  I would have all that I ever truely need.  If you would just contemplate the purity of love for 5 minutes a day your life would forever change.  Thank you to all of my loyal readers and new alike.  I wish for  each of you, a heart full of love.

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus

Damn...This captures the essence of my soul!

I wish I had written this article...it's as if the author had dipped his quil pen in the recesses of my soul and put the residue to parchment.

READ THIS ARTICLE! WOW...http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130318143953-1714080-is-fear-stopping-you-from-starting-a-company

Is Fear Stopping You from Starting a Company?

www.linkedin.com

You've done what you were supposed to do. You got a great degree. You landed your first job. You've now been promoted a few times. And you're now hanging on 

Why Must The Good Die Young?

So I had the privilege of knowing a great young man who passed away unexpectedly this week.  He was full of life and a great kid to coach in little league football (although he's a grown man now).  It was an amazing experience for me to see how he had grown especially close during his last months of mortality.  The principle that  first came to mind was that of not putting labels on anyone and to never judge.  Oftentimes, like Steven R. Covey wrote in his book "The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People" teaches that principle of a paradigm shift that packs a punch.

The other principle that was equally important and was eloquently stated in Leo Tolstoy's 3 questions.  The story is about a king wanting to know what is the most important time, who the most important people were to surround himself with, and what was the most important thing to do.  I won't recount the whole parable from this great Russian writer, but the king concluded that now is the most important time, who we are with are the most important people, and what we are doing with them is the most important thing we can do at that time.

I am a proponent of strategic planning, but never to the detriment of forgetting the journey is the destination.  We are only at the point in our journey as we are in this very second.  Embrace it!  Love and let go of negative feelings!  Show everyone around you that you live in the moment and make your mark with every step and change the ambiance with each and every breath you take. Don't put off tomorrow that which you can do today because tomorrow may never come, so be your best now and you will incrementally improve to be the person and have the performance that you've always desired.

This is in Memory of Alex Furness:  A Great Young Man Who Gave His All In This Mortal Sojourn.  God bless you and your family and friends to embrace the energy of your imprint on this world.

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus 

Did the Groundhog Lie...On George Washington's Birthday?!?!

 I'm sitting here in Utah with an awful snow storm going on...I hope you connect the dots on the title yourselves, as that isn't the commentary on which I wish to provoke thought.  Rather, I look at the youth in the depiction of a broken down George Washington who new he had done something wrong and in that moment he made a life-altering decision to live by principles.

That choice molded the man that many look up to as a great General and President.  What would the likelihood of him being such an influence for good have been had he made the opposite choice when asked about the cherry tree?  I can't speculate, but I can say with assurance that in that moment of inner fortitude, his decision to live by truth added to his incremental growth in this sojourn we call mortality.  It formed and shaped who he was to become.

How often are we faced with decisions daily?  How often do we take time to reflect on the impact that those decisions make on our journey and dictate who we become and if we have a sense of fulfillment?  More times than not, decisions are made before we actually make them, due in part to the thoughts we allow to marinate in our minds.  Remember the power of a habituated thought, for progressing or digressing.  Make this weekend special.

Written By:  Timothy James Andrus

The Most Important Document to Come Out of The Valley

I usually like to compose my own posts, but please consume the slides that are a hypertext link below.  It speaks to what drives human behavior and provoked much thought since I read it.  Please comment after you've pondered.  It's not the company, but the philosophies that intrigue and are applicable in various facets.

Inspiring the Goal Through Context Rather Than Control

"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up the people to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea."

-Antoine De Saint-Exupery

Each one of us has a leadership role to play, even if it be leading only ourselves. The previous mantra has been adopted by Netflix as their principle driven leadership style. Think of how this can be implemented into so many aspects of our lives. Think of the child that has a dream to become a teacher, doctor or one of the endless noble professions. How much more effective is our influence on their performance (grades) if we simply create and foster the environment for that passion to grow?

If we examine the lives of many of the world's most successful people, we would see that they had an intense yearning or passion for what they did and wanted to achieve. Therefore, isn't that the model we should examine and look to use in each of our capacities. If you can't think of where to begin, simply open your eyes to the inspiration and influence that you can be on anyone that surrounds you.

May the spark of passion ignite your fire.
-Written by: Timothy James Andrus

My Girlfriend Died of Leukemia...Honesty IS the Best Policy

Like many college football fans, I came to respect and appreciate the role model and character that Manti Te'o exemplified.  I came to admire a young man who showed leadership and lived by principles.  He fought through adversity and came in second place in the vote for the equivalent to the college football MVP.  Then the nation was shocked to find out that he really didn't have a girlfriend who died of leukemia.  This news broke on the same day that Lance Armstrong went on Oprah to admit after many years of lying, that he cheated to win his 7 Tour de France titles.

The tragedy is that in both situations the deception began as a little white lie and was perpetuated until it became the enormous scar that it has.  Now none of us is perfect (I certainly have made enough mistakes), but as we strive to create the best version of ourselves, we should remember that deception in the smallest of forms can snowball into something that can destroy our character.  Practice living a principle driven life by making it your policy to represent the truth in all that you do.

Best wishes to the above mentioned.  I don't know all of their circumstances, nor do I judge them.  My hope is that they may find the peace that this simple, yet powerful principle brings when made a part of who they are.
Written By:  Tim Andrus 

Reflections...

I love this photo of an innocent child staring into her reflection in the window.  Like this child, I have found that taking time to reflect on my own life is a key component to human performance.  Reflection is a quiet form of evaluation.  How often do we set goals or have objectives, yet we don't have a mechanism in place to keep us moving forward.  A friend of mine tells the story of their family playing a game where the objective was to see who could get the dinner plate to stand upright on it's edge.  After a lot of frustration and many fallen plates, they found that it only stood when it was rolling forward.

Let us make it our constant practice to continually be in a state of moving forward, and if we take time to reflect on where we are, evaluate and take action, then we will be living a principle driven life.
Written by: Tim Andrus

The Secret to a Foundation of REAL Change

As we embark on a sojourn of a new beginning, many of us will look to set resolutions or goals for the new year.  The problem is that most of us don't set our sights on the correct goals and attempt to radically make change to our behavior.  Because of the difficulty in hitting the mark, most of us will fail shortly after making the resolution (just look at the attendance at the local gym spike and dwindle over the next few weeks).  The secret to a foundation of real lasting change was know by the ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians.

Just look at how long their pyramids have stood the test of time.  The foundation was laid and the spectacular edifices took TIME to erect.  Our challenge is to take our time laying a foundation by making incremental changes to our life.  As we make daily changes, at the end of our sojourn, we will look back and  will have built our own spectacular destiny as great as the pyramids.
Written By:  Timothy J. Andrus