Achuckallen

Instigating Better

Leadership

THREE WAYS TO BEAT THE MONDAY BLUES

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April 18, 2022

“Monday, Monday, so good to me.” The Mamas and the Papas launched that song in 1966. There have been a few changes in the world since ‘66.

But Monday hasn’t changed much. It is still the day that most of us never look forward to.

Monday has a special significance in our culture as the beginning of the week, which influences our mood and our physical, emotional, and spiritual health outcomes

The 7-day week and the meaning we associate with the days of the week is a social construct, and not based on biological or planetary cycles. But a host of negative outcomes, such as heart attacks and strokes, happen more frequently on Mondays as people transition back to the structured routine of the week.

Something about that doesn’t seem right. Furthermore, we shouldn’t give in to that. If it really is a social construct, and we can choose to make Monday better, why not do that?

A 2021 nationwide survey conducted by the Data Decisions Group tracked awareness and behavior related to Mondays and healthy behaviors. While 11% of people report that Monday is “a day to dread”, many people see Monday positively. They view it as an opportunity for a “fresh start” (40%) and a day to “get my act together” (18%).

83% of responders to the survey agreed that starting the week off healthy would help maintain a focus on health for the rest of the week.

Over the past few months, I’ve been radically focused on becoming a healthier husband, dad, grandad and pastor. I’ve learned the following three ways to kickoff my workweek. Please keep in mind that I’m a pastor. As a result, Monday morning could possibly be a bummer of a let down. But I’ve learned to make Monday one of my favorite days of the week.

1. PLAN YOUR WEEK ON SUNDAY EVENING.

You may not want to, but taking ten minutes to review your calendar, make appropriate adjustments, and make a few notes of a few things you need to add and delete to your schedule is one of the most impactful things you can invest ten-minutes in, always.

Make a very short list of four things you MUST accomplish this week. Write them down! Then prioritize them.

Keep that in front of you.

2. Set limits on the amount of time that you will spend that week on social media, television and enthralled with your smart devices.

Simple awareness of the time you spend on these often worthless efforts is half of your personal productivity and peace perspective.

Earl Sweatshirt once said, “Everyone’s like sheep on social media; like, one person starts making noise, and everyone’s like, ‘Hey, yeah!’ and then you got a whole bunch of people making noise at you.”

And, whether you like it or not, the man trying to buy Twitter said, “I think there should be regulations on social media to the degree that it negatively affects the public good.” -Elon Musk

Don’t let the addictive dopamine hit of a like, follow or friend determine your day, week, or attitude.

3. Determine to Rise Ten-Minutes Early Each Weekday.

Rising just 10-minutes early allows you room to do three things – yes I know I sound like a broken record – but this has had such a radical impact on my mental, emotional, and spiritual health. First, write down three things that you are grateful for. Don’t get all spiritual or intellectual on me. Keep it simple, but write it down. Second, read one chapter of the Bible-book of Proverbs. There’s 31 chapters. How ‘bout that? Third, write down 4-5 words that describe the person that you want to be or become this week. Again, keep it clear. Keep it simple. Keep it real.

As the Mamas and the Papas once sang, “Monday, Monday, so good to me. Every other day, every other day. Every other day, every other day of the week is fine, yeah.But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes. But whenever Monday comes, you can find me cryin’ all of the time”

I think I will choose a better Monday. How about you?

Go in Peace, Chuck

4forFRIDAY with Chuck Allen

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FOUR INSTAGRAM FOLLOWS FOR EVERYONE

  1. @thebabylonbee
  2. @dwelldifferently
  3. @appsoulspace
  4. @dailystoic

THREE Lessons I’ve Learned this Week

  1. Stress is inevitable. Not only is it impossible to live a completely stress-free life, but research shows us that stress is actually a precursor to meaning. Think about the last time you encountered something meaningful in your life…chances are, there was some kind of stressful moment or season that preceded it. So some measure of stress isn’t always bad. From Julie Homrich, LPC
  2. Research shows it can take up to 20 minutes for the stress hormones released from triggers to metabolize and settle in your body. Up until that point, trying to have a peaceful conversation when you’re feeling anything but peaceful internally is quite counterproductive.
  3. If the only affirmation for doing what is right is the Spirit of God, would you do it anyway?

TWO Podcasts that ARE SO, SO GOOD!

  1. Dare to Lead with Brene Brown – Armoured versus Darling Leadership Parts One and Two
  2. Stress and Conflict in Our Marriage and Relationships from The Positive Talk Podcast

ONE BOOK WE SHOULD ALL READ.

  1. Jesus’ Plan for a New World by Richard Rohr
    I absolutely devoured this book. What a refreshing look at the world. please read this book

Go in Peace, Chuck

Try These Four Things for Greater Happiness

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by Chuck Allen

I don’t know anybody that doesn’t want to be happy. But after chasing happiness and counseling plenty of people that have burned out chasing happiness, I’ve learned a few key elements that can radically improve your happiness.

Here are four of the simplest and most effective ways to experience personal happiness.

  1. Don’t chase after happiness. That’s right. The simplest way to be happier is to chase after peace. I’ve written and said this ten thousand times. The single greatest commodity is peace. We do not experience true happiness apart from our heart, mind, and soul being at peace. It has been said that Peace brings with it so many positive emotions that it is worth aiming for in all circumstances. I’ve discovered that when my life has proper margins in each aspect of my life, peace is far more attainable and sustainable. The Bible, in the second letter from John, says that the gift of God, through Christ, is Grace, Mercy, and Peace. To discover peace, ask God how to grow closer to Him today. In that effort, peace can be found, and happiness follows. Mother Teresa said that “Peace begins with a smile.”
  2. Be intentional about smiling. Corny, right? The mere act of smiling reduces blood pressure, lowers stress hormones, and boosts your mood; a British study even found that one smile generates the same level of brain stimulation as up to 2,000 bars of chocolate. I’m not a naturally smiling individual. There are days when I have been alone in my car, recognizing that I am grumpy or stressed and forced myself to smile. It’s a real thing, people. Just force yourself to smile, especially offering a smile to a stranger. The science and my personal experience prove this true!
  3. Force yourself into solitude. If you are an introvert, you just breathed a quiet amen. If you are an extrovert, you just said no thanks. Solitude, even for just 5 minutes a day, can reset your brain and your attitude for a better, happier day. Spending time alone with ourselves may not be accessible or even desirable. But it’s key to getting to know who we are. When we lose the ability to be alone with ourselves, our overstimulated nervous systems suffer from no place to rest and recharge. Solitude is an essential component of your health and well-being. Need more happiness? Create 5 minutes of true solitude each day.
  4. Get your sleep! I spent decades bragging about my ability to be a high performer with only 5 hours of sleep. I now know that I was cranking out 17 hour days but effectively going backward. The science of sleep is simple. To function at your best, you need 7-8 hours of sleep. Very few Americans regularly obtain the recommended eight or more hours of sleep each night, and the consequences of this chronic sleep deprivation can be disastrous. I’ve also learned that you never “catch up on your sleep.” Like time – when it’s gone, it’s gone. If you want a happier life, get your sleep. The science says that more sleep equals a happier person. People who sleep between seven and 8.5 hours during the night tend to wake up happier.

Most of us want to be healthy, wealthy, and wise. All of us want to be happy. Try these four proven steps to a happier you!

Peace, Chuck

Three Life Skills Nobody Taught Me

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October 4, 2021, | AChuckAllen.com

You know you are getting to “that age” when you talk about what you’ve learned the hard way. Before you know it, you’ll be explaining how hard you had it as a kid, and kids these days don’t know how good they have it. Yikes! I’m not ready for that stage just yet, but I have learned three life lessons that nobody taught me or could teach me. These lessons were indeed learned in the more complicated way of experience.

  1. It’s always better to make things right, as opposed to proving you are right. Seriously, this is one of those lessons that you can teach, preach and plead. But you learn it the hard way. This one will save you a ton of heartache. To be in the right relationship with someone is far better than being correct.
  2. Arguing with a police officer is never a good idea. You say, how did you not know that? Because I am stubborn, hot-headed, and not the sharpest hook in the tackle box. If an officer in rural South Carolina stops you after midnight, it’s never a good idea to offer your honest thoughts on his quaint little town.
  3. Recognizing a Mountain from a Molehill. I’d heard all my life that you shouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill, but nobody taught me how to differentiate between the two! Here is the key. Does weighing in, contributing to, or differing with make an immediate difference? Does my injecting more words or opinions actually provide help, encouragement, or truth to the conversation. OR? Am I simply talking more and asking everyone else to listen? I now know that many of my opinions do not add to a solution or truth, they are simply opinions. Knowing which is which helps hugely!

Go in Peace, Chuck

How’s Your MOB?

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AChuckAllen

I’m not writing about an unruly mob. I’m referring to an acrostic for M-O-B.

  • MARGIN IN YOUR LIFE
  • OWNERSHIP OF YOUR LIFE
  • BOUNDARIES AROUND YOUR LIFE

Oh, how I wish that I had learned the value of margin in my life 30 years ago! One of the most significant elements of a peace-filled, highly successful life is margin. We all need margin. We need margin emotionally, relationally, financially, professionally, physically, and spiritually. Margin allows us to be in sync with our families, realities, bodies, and possibilities. The only person that can build an appropriate margin for you is you. You know what you need. It would be best if you slowed down long enough to determine what adjustments are required to give you a helpful margin in every facet of your life.

We all must take ownership of all things that we can control. Owning what we can control requires two huge issues. Stop convincing yourself that you are a victim and surrendering your heart to your Creator. Ownership includes claiming what you can and should do to order your life. Surrendering is allowing the Spirit of God to give you direction and correction as you live each day to the fullest.

Margin, ownership, and then boundaries. Without boundaries, we don’t own our calendars, finances, or decisions. Without borders, other people own us and our dreams. Without limitations, we surrender our potential to others. Boundaries are critical to both margin and ownership. When we do not define our boundaries, we say yes to everything. Without boundaries, we overcommit, underdeliver, and stay frustrated with our schedules and ourselves. Boundaries protect us relationally and financially. Boundaries keep our feet out of our mouths. Boundaries keep our focus in the right place.

Without MOB, we all have the power to spin out of control, make poor decisions, and destroy relationships. It’s worth a few hours of your life to invest in creating your margin, ownership, and boundaries.

Peace, Chuck

20 Ridiculously Simple Truths

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by Chuck Allen
September 9, 2021

  1. Life is complicated, fight for simplicity.
  2. Witholding forgiveness will cost you more than you want to pay.
  3. People that work for TSA in airports are most likely a pain in the butt.
  4. Anybody can be a jerk. Don’t be anybody.
  5. Shopping at IKEA on the weekend is not a good idea. Actually, shopping at IKEA anytime is a bad idea.
  6. Aaron Burr was right when he declared, “Talk less – Smile More.”
  7. Don’t wait for the perfect time to chase your dreams. Chase today!
  8. Time is far more valuable than money. You can make more money, but you cannot manufacture more time.
  9. Life is far too short and precious to spend it angry and bitter.
  10. Crap happens to everybody. Don’t look for it, but don’t be surprised by it.
  11. It’s perfectly fine to not have any presence on social media – bless you!
  12. You’ll never like everybody and not everybody will like you.
  13. Church should be a place of peace, not a place of strife. Find a church at peace.
  14. There is no such thing as a perfect church. If there was, we would all join it and mess it up.
  15. Most people should not wear spandex.
  16. Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Plus, He proves it every single day.
  17. If you help others succeed, someone will help you succeed.
  18. Leadership equals influence, but what influences the leader is the key.
  19. Jesus was right, and is still right – If you want to be great, you must first become a servant.
  20. Not every bride, nor every baby is pretty or cute.

Please let me know your favorite numbers here: chuck@achuckallen.com

BOOM!
Peace, AChuck

Be sure to listen in to today’s Positive Talk Podcast