The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes

SLP356 - The Danger of Retreating Into The Familiar

As you continue along on your journey to fulfill your purpose and live out who you were created to be, you’ll be faced with an imminent temptation: the temptation to draw back and retreat into what you’ve always known.

Is that a bad thing? Let’s talk about it.

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When we can’t see where we’re headed or what our next step is – or even if we give way to uncertainty about what’s around the bend – our human nature is to shirk back.

Faith is sometimes a tall order.

As we learn more about who we are, challenge and replace our limiting beliefs, we’re also shifting our methodologies and understanding on certain things we maybe have never seen any other way.

Stepping into more truth and understanding requires us to be accountable to what we know.

Herein lies the danger…

When you know what is true and yet you shirk back from it, you’ve created a deep internal conflict.

This internal conflict has innumerable ramifications: loss of sleep, restless sleep, decline in physical and emotional health, relationships, etc.

Don’t retreat.

Let your “yes” be “yes”!

If you’re in conflict now, no doubt you’re aware of it. For whatever reason, you’ve retreated into familiar. You’re better than that!

Take the steps forward, press in, and don’t settle. Progress over retreat.

SLP355 - Real Adventure Requires Real Faith

One of my favorite places in the US, Lake City, Colorado, is home of The Alpine Loop. This isn’t the safest most secure adventure one can take, so is it worth it to embark to begin with?

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The trails on Alpine Loop require specially-equipped vehicles to handle the rugged (and treacherous) terrain. To take a trail on the loop can mean you’re driving along a narrow road with a rock wall on one side and a steep cliff drop-off on the other. It requires special equipment, special focus, and special courage to set out and enjoy the adventure.

But why do it if it carries so much risk?

Sometimes in order to reap the benefit or reward of our desires, we have to push through to the other side of the risk involved. We may have to give up control. We may have to trust someone else knows better than we do.

But we have to keep going forward.

That can be challenging – or even downright scary – but it’s the only way to harvest the fruit of your adventure.

Therefore, real adventure requires real faith.

You don’t have to have everything figured out before you “arrive”. You don’t have to overthink – you simply have to say “yes” to the invitation, trust the process (even when it’s out of your control) and remember the adventure.

SLP354 - Practicing What I Preach

In this day and age where we’re always moving from one project to another, always connected, and always accessible, it is almost too easy to find yourself exhausted, burned out, lacking energy, and not having much to give.

The concept of Sabbath (rest) has been paramount to the health of the person, family unit, business, and life, from the beginning of history.

For decades now, especially in the western world, we have been conditioned to work hard, sacrifice our family’s and our personal health, all at the altar of productivity and accomplishment.

There is great danger in this.

We are designed to accomplish supernatural things in life; however, we cannot give what we do not possess!

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It makes sense sometimes to just STOP!

• Stop performing
• Stop running non-stop
• Stop doing things that don’t matter

Evaluate where you are: look at progress, position, and perspective.

Sabbath is taking time to reset and rethink the future from a place of peace and rest, as opposed to making decisions from a place of flurry and busy-ness.

SO WHY AM I SHARING ALL OF THIS WITH YOU?

This summer marks numerous transitions taking place, opportunities to consider, and a very real need for me to focus.

In looking at my calendar, I realized the summer months presented the perfect opportunity for me to take a step back, and give intentional focus to these important things in my life and in my business.

HOW WILL I ACCOMPLISH THIS?

1. Doing virtually NO business travel during the remainder of the summer
2. No new appointments
3. Focusing my work days on thinking and creating
4. Taking time to get away and unplug
5. Spending time with my wife, kids, and close friends

One more thing:

Starting next week, I am going to publish ONLY ONE podcast episode per week!

This will be the Monday Mastery segment, which will provide high-intensity insight to fill you up for success and influence.

The Monday Mastery videos will post to our site and to YouTube on Mondays, and the audio podcast will post to our site, iTunes, Stitcher, and iHeart Radio on Thursdays.

I am not going away, I am only taking time to get stronger, better, more effective, and more influential.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Are you overdue for a Sabbath?
• Do you need to step back and reset?
• Are you stressed out and overwhelmed?
• Are there people in your life who need your time and attention now?
• Are you taking care of you so you can serve and take care of others?

Closing Thoughts:

• You have to rest
• You need to re-create
• You need to refuel
• You need to reboot
• You need to refresh

SLP353 - Monday Mastery Edition : Say Yes To Your Significance

When you think of people in your life who have tremendous influence – whether it’s an author of a book you’ve read, a speaker at an event you attended, a sports coach, a personal mentor – take a reflective pause. What if that person, or those people, had never said “yes” to pursuing their calling and impacting your life, and the lives of thousands of others? If you’re not saying yes to your own significance, who are you withholding impact and influence from? Whose life is missing your message?

SLP352 - The Process Is As Important As The Destination

Our cultural standard of instant gratification can leave us wanting for more than immediate results and ignoring the process by which we obtain them.

If life is a journey, are you paying attention to the value of the road you’re traveling, or are you simply in a hurry to “arrive”?

Sometimes, in order for us to successfully arrive at a new level, there are lessons we need to learn (and apply) along the way.

There is a destination, but the true value is in the process it takes to get you there.

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Transition: it’s a big deal and a timely topic!

Over the last six years especially, I have personally come to understand the value of the process of transition.

There are areas of growth, healing, maturing, and understanding I never would have come to except for experiencing the process.

All the while, I was searching for what my “next” was. I was no longer pastoring in the traditional sense (after 27 years!) I was taking it one day at a time, learning, growing, resolving, etc.

Then one day it dawned on me: it was not about the destination, it was about the process!

10 Things To Remember When You Say Yes To Your Next Level:

1. Don’t rush to get to the next place
2. Embrace the process
3. Go deep in exploring your own heart and life
4. Identify deficits, weaknesses, and areas which need to be restored and improved
5. Ask the right questions
6. Surround yourself with people willing to speak the truth to you, even if it hurts
7. Look for opportunities to grow
8. Look for opportunities to learn
9. Look for opportunities to rest
10. Make EACH day the “next step” in the process

Closing Thoughts:

• If God has invited you … GO!
• If you said YES … let your yes be yes!
• Stay focused on today and the process.

SLP351 - Monday Mastery Edition : To Whom Much Is Given

You cannot be a hoarder – not of too much physical stuff, not of many experiences, not of much knowledge. If you have been given breakthrough, healing, success, transformation, it would behoove you to pass that on to others as well. Listen in today as Brian unpacks this seemingly simple, yet loaded concept in “To Whom Much Is Given”.

SLP350 - From Personal Tragedy to Published Bestseller : An Interview with Rebecca Vijay

Epic failures in life, although they create pain and difficulty for a season, can be the cornerstones of a life of influence and success.

There is a calling fulfilled by taking something which may have devastated you or your family, a personal failure or loss, an insurmountable tragedy, and using that as a baseline for helping others who may be going through something similar.

Many of you have heard my story.

I saw the vast need in the world: countless others who had been abused, raped, tormented by guilt, entangled with emotional connections they could not seem to shake.

Tens of thousands have found hope and freedom as a result of me sharing my story, and publishing a book which became accessible around the world.

This is also the case of my special guest today!

Rebecca Vijay:

Rebecca Vijay is an author, blogger, editor, and designer. During a career spanning a decade and a half, after working in various industries, while heading a commissioning team in Oxford University Press when she took a break to spend time with her two kids and explore ways to make a difference.

During this break, she started blogging and it reignited her love for writing. In May 2017, she published her first book, My Angel in Heaven, in memory of her firstborn twin son, Jacob. It’s a book about finding comfort and hope in HIM in the midst of the grief.

 

By the grace of GOD, it was a #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon US, UK, India and Australia!

 

She is a contributor to an inspirational book, When You’re DONE Expecting, which has been written by over 100 moms from around the world. (Also a #1 Amazon bestseller in various countries.)

 

She published her debut YA novel, Break Free, Super Squad Series, Book 1, about four friends with superpowers, in November last year. (Another #1 Amazon bestseller on Amazon India.)

 

Rebecca likes working with children and the youth and is a Sunday school and VBS teacher. She is also the Vice President of the Women’s Fellowship of her Church and was recently elected as a Pastorate Committee member there.

 

She is working on starting her own creative services and publishing company that would cater to individuals around the world who would like to self-publish on Amazon and other online platforms.

Closing thoughts:

EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS IN JUST A FEW DAYS!

Creating and publishing books, audio programs, or even video training courses is not as difficult as you may think.

In fact, with a little coaching and training, you will be empowered with the knowledge, systems, and confidence to make it happen. This one-day workshop is designed to provide you exactly that.

• You’ll learn how to leverage your concept or message for maximum impact and effectiveness
• You’ll learn our proven system for writing, publishing, and marketing your books.
• You’ll learn how to use different forms of media to extend the reach of your difference-making message.
• You will leave the training with a bulletproof plan for becoming a published author
• And so much more!

There are only 50 seats available, and a number of those have already been sold, so you need to secure yours ASAP.

If you have ever considered writing a book, creating an audio program, or launching an online course, this is the opportunity for you.

I am inviting you to make a decision today … a decision to step up, step out, and say YES to the opportunity you have to make an impact.

SLP349 - Monday Mastery Edition : No More Excuses!

We’ve become a culture of “I can’t”. For whatever reason, we excuse or talk ourselves out of our possibilities rather than attempting to pursue them. If my own mother can accomplish one of her lifelong dreams at the age of 81, there’s no reason you can’t do the same with your own dream, today. You really have no more excuses!

 

SLP348 - Break Out of the Funk and Level Up Your Life

As life ebbs and flows, there is a great value to be found in those IN-BETWEEN times (transitions).

That being understood, how do we navigate those seasons where we find ourselves in a bit of a funk?

What are the keys to successfully getting on the other side of the darker seasons, and breaking through to your next level?

This is something I have personally been processing the last few months. I am going to share some insights with you that will empower you to focus, reset, and level up in YOUR life and leadership.

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Review – Transition:

1. Discontent
2. Disconnect
3. Reconnaissance
4. Re-engagement

WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?

1. We are creatures of comfort 


2. We are creatures of habit 


3. Our beliefs or mindsets govern the outcomes in our lives

These transitional seasons (times of funk) create a real conundrum for us:

• We are discontent presently
• We recognize there is something special waiting for us
• We don’t know what it looks like
• We have to step into the unknown
• The only way is to leave the security of what we know

The Invitation:

It takes faith to step into the unknown, and faith is based in your belief.

Leveling up to a new and higher reality will require you to exercise real faith and trust … to relinquish control.

To HAVE what is on the next level, I have to let GO of what I have come to depend on.

Closing thoughts:

• You are at the threshold of something so amazing and so rewarding
• You have to make a decision
• You cannot have it both ways

James 1:6-8

⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

SLP347 - Monday Mastery Edition : Create. Publish. Profit. Your Ticket To Greater Influence

Your influence could be at your fingertips. There is an entire world of people who need the message, story, experience you have to share. It is worthwhile, it is important, and it is imperative you take the time to invest in what you know, to help thousands of others in what they need to know. Listen in to find out more.