The Strategic Living Podcast with Brian Holmes
Episodes
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Monday Jan 13, 2020
In this episode, I’ll be talking about ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. Transition is one of those things that many times causes people to become anxious, or even fearful. Leaving one place or state, and moving to another season or place is always difficult, and it involves letting go of what we have come to be so familiar with, and embracing something we know little or nothing about. It is the clean, white sheet of paper between two chapters; it is the story that is unfinished. This week we will dive into this subject, and look at what it means to successfully steward and navigate seasons of transition.
Scriptural Principles
13 … I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 3:13-14
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven— 2 A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3 A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4 A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8 A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Main Content:
- Change is inevitable!
- 70% of people are wired in such away that they are adverse to change
- It is easier just to keep things ‘the way they’ve always been’
- Yet, life, even creation demands that there be seasons of change
- Without a winter, we could never have a spring
- Without planting, we could never know the joy of harvest
- Without conception, we could never know the joy of children
- Without leaving one place, we could never know the excitement and adventure of discovering the new
We all love the freshness and life that comes with the new beginning, but few of us enjoy the process of letting go of the old, and even fewer the place IN BETWEEN. You see, we are creatures of habit; we are completely addicted to the comfortable and the safe. Our propensity is to be satisfied with the status quo, and to avoid at all costs the necessary changes required to realize true PROGRESS. It really is the quintessential catch 22. Stay comfortable and stay stuck; OR, pursue what is available to us, and deal with that which is unknown to us. The choice is entirely yours, BUT, to for-go the natural seasons of life, and to refuse to allow your life to organically move in the direction of destiny is to choose to die.
SEASONS: To everything there is an appointed time, and a season
When something’s season has come to an end, to continue living in that season’s grace will lead to frustration and even failure. So what is the answer.Recognizing and navigating TRANSITION.
Webster defines transition as …
- Passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another … Change
The key word that I want to focus on here is PASSAGE. You see, the starting point is already determined. The destination is also already determined (although you may not yet know where or what that is, yet. The process of PASSAGE is the critical piece.
Some Examples of Life Transitions:
- Graduating from high school
- In college
- Seeking first “real” job
- Newly married
- Starting a family
- Navigating a life changing event such as… unemployment, death in the family, divorce, or recovering from addiction
- Searching
- Mid-life restlessness
- Job burnout
- Starting a business or ministry
- Emptying the nest
- Approaching retirement or already there.
These, and so many others can be daunting, even debilitating seasons that bring a persons life to a screeching halt. How do we recognize, and even more importantly embrace the CHANGE? How do we fight the resistance that so naturally occurs when faced with a season of transition?
7 Challenges We Often Face When In A Season of Transition:
- Unwillingness to recognize or acknowledge the END of one season
- Inability to BURY the past (Abraham/Sarah)
- Fear of the Unknown
- Personal Worth/Esteem Issues
- Fear of Losing Relationships
- Developing the NEW Discipline of Dreaming Again
- Walking By Faith, and Not By Sight
A Poem For Guidance
Child of my love, fear not the unknown morrow,
Dread not the new demand life makes of thee;
Thy ignorance doth hold no cause for sorrow
Since what thou knowest not is known of Me.
Thou canst not see the hidden meaning
Of my command, but thou the light shall gain;
Walk on in faith, upon My promise leaning,
And AS THOU GOEST, all shall be made plain.
One step thou seest — then go forward boldly,
One step is far enough for faith to see;
Take that, and thy next duty shall be told thee,
For STEP BY STEP thy Lord is leading thee.
Stand not in fear thy adversaries counting,
Dare every peril, save to disobey;
Thou shalt march on, all obstacles surmounting,
for I the Strong, WILL OPEN UP THE WAY.
Wherefore go gladly to the task assigned thee,
Having my promise, needing nothing more
Than just to know, wher’er the future find thee,
In all thy journeying I go BEFORE
NEXT WEEK:
Next week I’m going to continue unpacking this thought of ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. We will be sharing several key principles that will help you to navigate successfully through YOUR season of transition
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
Monday Jan 13, 2020
Monday Jan 13, 2020
In this episode, I’ll be talking about ‘How To Discover Your ONE Thing’. People spend their entire lives doing everything; living to impress and please other; striving to make a living; most never find that LANE where true happiness and fulfillment is. What if you could zero in on your true God given destiny? What is it that you were designed for?
I like to call this your ONE THING
“I know the plans I have for you … (Jeremiah 29:11 – Paraphrased)
- Plans to prosper you
- Plans for good health
- Plans to enlarge you
- Plans to expand you
- Plans for your children
- Plans for your business
- Plans for your ministry
- Plans for your dreams
Premise #1: God Has Plans
Premise #2: His plans are for my SUCCESS
Premise #3: Life is a Choice
Strategic Living: The vigorous and free flowing pursuit of being alive, while actively crafting and working with dreams, plans, stratagems, methods, and acquired skills to achieve a pre-determined result.
- Strategic Living is knowing God’s plan, and living it!
- Strategic Living is not happenstance or hopeful randomness
- Strategic Living is not flying by the seat of the pants
- Strategic Living is not the repetition of purposeless activity
- Strategic Living is the process and procedure of manifesting the plans of God through intentional and systematic movement
- Strategic Living is the substance of managing and stewarding my God-given potential
- Strategic Living is INTENTIONAL LIVING!
The Process of Building a Strategic Life, and Finding Your ONE Thing
- Self-Discovery (Purpose and Values)
- Visioning (Vision, Roles, Mission)
- Strategic Planning (The How; the plans, the steps)
- Personal Preparation (Acquiring Resources, skills, knowledge)
- Implementation (Start; Do; Accomplish; Fulfill)
- Strategic Living (Enjoying the life God intended)
There are MANY teachings or schools of thought on the subjects of DESTINY and PURPOSE. While most people understand the idea of purpose (or even destiny), for the most part, it is theoretical and has not been applied or expressed in real life. For the purposes of this teaching, there is a distinct difference between destiny and purpose; although they are both integral parts of what makes up my ONE THING. Let me explain.
Destiny Defined
Destiny: something to which a person or thing is destined
- Destiny, then, is that which I have been destined to
- What does it mean to be destined?
Destine: to decree beforehand: predetermine; to designate, assign, or dedicate in advance; to direct, devise, or set apart for a specific purpose or place
- In order for someone to receive a DESTINY or to be DESTINED, someone else has to DESTINE them
- In other words, Someone with the power and authority to do so must decree, pre-determine, assign, direct, and set me apart for a specific identity and purpose
- I do not DESTINE myself, I walk in and towards my destiny
Destination: the purpose for which something is destined; an act of appointing, setting aside for a purpose, or predetermining; a place to which one is journeying or to which something is sent.
- Destination is not just WHERE I am going; it is the realization of WHO I am, and WHO God has called be to be
- The Destination is the PURPOSE that provides me my identity
- It is my ONE THING
Purpose Defined
- The reason for which something exists or is done, made, used.
- An intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.
- Determination; resoluteness.
- The subject in hand; the point at issue.
- Practical result, effect, or advantage: to act to good purpose.
Understanding Purpose and Destiny:
- Purpose speaks to the REASON why one exists
- Destiny speaks to the pre-determined RESULT one’s life is to produce
- Purpose speaks to the WHO and the WHY
- Destiny speaks to the WHAT and the WHERE
- My ultimate purpose is to BE who God called me to be, and to DO precisely what God called me to DO
- My ultimate destiny is to finish (and fully accomplish) the assignments, objectives, and overall plans God pre-determined before time
Discovering your ONE THING Involves Several Key Steps:
- Identifying and owning your personal, core, governing values
- Identifying and owning your driving passions
- Identifying your talents, skills, abilities
- Discovering the common connecting points in these areas
Example from my own personal process:
Step 1: List the top TEN core values that you have identified
- Authenticity
- Faith
- Leadership
- Personal Growth/Mastery
- Healing
- Family
- Fulfillment
- Prosperity
- Relationships
- Generosity
Step 2: List the top FIVE passions in your life.
- Teaching/Training
- Facilitating Healing Processes
- Travel/Flying
- Learning New Things
- Generating Content and Corresponding Revenue Streams
Step 3. Perform an assessment of your talents, skills, abilities
- Communication
- Strategic thinking and problem solving
- Compassion and empathy
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Technical acumen (able to pick up on things quickly)
Step 4. Discover the common connecting points in these areas
- Consulting
- Coaching
- Public Speaking
- Podcasting
- Teaching
- Writing
- Etc.
YOU SAY:
- What difference does it make what my ONE THING is, it won’t put food on the table
- EXAMPLE: My love for flying (as a boy and now)
- Well, Brian, my parents taught me to go to college, get my degree, get a good job, and just be grateful that I have a job
- OR … you know, in today’s economy, I am just grateful to have a paycheck
- WRONG!!!
- Why should I live my life in survival mode? Why should I give up on my dreams, my desires, my destiny, my ONE THING?
- Why should I SETTLE for a miserable existence, and the plight of living my life for someone else’s dream?
My Challenge To You:
- You are created for a purpose.
- You have a distinct lane that God has designed for you.
- You DO NOT have to simply exist, or get by, or maintain
- You can tap into the greatness that is already present within you
- You can FIND the ONE THING
- You can design your life around that
- You will impact your world when you engage what God has uniquely created you to be and do
What Is Your ONE THING?
NEXT WEEK:
- Next week I’m going to be talking about ‘Recognizing and Navigating Seasons of Transition’. Transition is one of those things that many times causes people to become anxious, or even fearful. Leaving one place or state, and moving to another season or place is difficult. It involves letting go of what we have come to be so familiar with, and embracing something we know little or nothing about. It is the clean, white sheet of paper between two chapters; and the story is unfinished. Know this. How you leave one place determines how you enter the next. Next week we will dive into this subject, and look at what it means to successfully steward and navigate seasons of transition.
Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
RESOURCES MENTIONED ON THIS PODCAST:
Books:
48 Days To The Work You Love – by Dan Miller
The One Thing – by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
Websites and Videos:
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Created man:
- We are made in the image and likeness of God
- We possess His nature, His qualities, His essence
- He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
- We are Spirit, Soul, and Body
For us to function in life at 100%, it is imperative that our WHOLE man be in good working order. In other words, our spirit, our soul, and our body must each be healthy and prospering in order for our life to prosper.
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. – I Thes. 5.23
In this episode, I am talking about the SOUL of man.
What is the SOUL?
Our soul is the part of us that contains our will, our emotions, memories, core/root beliefs, and our thoughts. It is the place where memories are kept—good and bad. It is the place where wounds, hurts, disappointments, fears, and our sense of failures are contained. These in turn, control the course of our mind and produce corresponding actions, decisions, attitudes, pre-suppositions, etc.
- What I carry in this compartment GOVERNS my thoughts, actions, decisions, etc.”
- The SOUL is the WOMB
- It is the carrier and nurturer of SEED
- Therefore, my life will LOOK LIKE the contents and context of my soulish arena
- It is the SOUL, when not whole, causes us ill effects as long as they are undiscovered, unaddressed, and not broken.
Factors That Shape the Mind and Heart (or SOUL) of Man:
- As we discuss this list, I ask that you consider this
- Our SOUL contains ALL the information received by my senses, and that received by feeling and perceiving.
- What I experience, whether real or perceived, is retained on the hard-drive of my mind, and affects the short and long term health of the soul
- My experiences are real
- My perceptions of these experiences form my thoughts
- My thoughts form my beliefs
- My beliefs form the patterns of behavior
- These patterns of behavior produce and ultimately determine the quality and fruit of my life
- The quality of fruit in my life AFFIRMS what I already believe, good or bad
- As affirmation occurs, the pattern/cycle starts all over again
- Here are some examples of factors that shape us …
- Pre-Natal Memories
- Childhood Trauma
- Childhood Memories
- Rape
- Molestation
- Premature Sexual exposure or experience
- Observed/Perceived Behaviors and Truths
- Learning Deficiencies
- Self-Esteem formation
- Absentee Father
- Absentee Mother
- Deficient Father/Mother Relationships
- Domineering Mother
- Unhealthy Parental Philosophy and Indoctrination
- Absence of parental involvement, influence or mentoring
- Deficient Models for healthy relationships
- Cultural Environments
- Social Environments
- Abandonment
- Rejection
- Absence of Affirmation and Praise
- Overt Criticism
- Hurtful Words
- Failure/Mistakes
- Embarrassment or Shame
- Faulty image of God as Father
- Religious legalism
- Religious Teaching
- Authority Abuse
- Manipulation and Control
- Etc.
All these factors, (and so many others), can greatly affect the condition of one’s soul. These things shape …
- Our Emotions
- Our feelings
- Our Beliefs
- Our Guiding Philosophies of Life
- Our Process Orientation
- How we see life
- How we see ourselves
- How we see others
- How we view relationshipsHow we handle conflict
- Etc.
These are all SOUL matters –
They GOVERN our lives
They LIMIT our performance
They STEER our relationships
They CONTROL our emotional state
They SHAPE our worldview
Proverbs 23.7 – “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he …”
What I hold to be true in my heart and soul, whether true or not, becomes the governing factor in my life. If I believe I am used goods, I am used goods. If I believe I am worthless, I will behave and act like I am worth (less). If I believe that I cannot trust people, I will not trust, even if the person I am in relationship with is trustworthy. If I believe that I will always be poor, then no matter how much Ii want to be prosperous, I will always find a way to remain poor.
The Soul is the Key!
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. – III John 2
It is impossible to erase the WHAT’s that have happened. It is impossible to erase the WHO’s we have come in contact with. It is NOT, however, impossible to have the WHAT’S healed, and the effects of the WHO’S severed and disconnected. Our journey is our journey; we only arrive at a lesser destination if we stop traveling before we get ‘THERE’. Many of us have experienced some of the things we have mentioned here tonight. Because of this, the progress and productivity of our lives have been less than our potential mandates. The SOUL is the key to prosperity, and your SOUL can be healed.
QUESTIONS:
- Take some time for honest reflection concerning your life.
- Where has your soul been wounded, and your beliefs limited?
- Do any of the areas we mentioned in this episode apply to you?
- Are you willing to deal with the hurts and disappointments of your past?
- If so, are you ready to give those to God?
RESOURCES:
Book:
Blog Posts:
Healing The Broken Soul – Part 1
Healing The Broken Soul – Part 2
NEXT WEEK:
- Next week I’m going to be talking about ‘How To Discover Your ONE Thing’
- People spend their entire lives doing everything; living to impress and please other; striving to make a living; most never find that LANE where true happiness and fulfillment is
- What if you could zero in on your true God given destiny?
- What is it that you were designed for?
- If you inventory your life (passions, dreams, talents, desires), what do those things point to?
- I like to call this your ONE THING
- Be sure to leave us a question at www.BrianHolmes.com and we will do our best to answer it in the show
How can you join the conversation and be a part?
- Subscribe to our updates at www.BrianHolmes.com
- Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Blackberry, Zune, or other services.
- Share this with your friends and associates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
- Leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
Wednesday Dec 25, 2019
“Welcome everyone to the FIRST EVER episode of ‘Strategic Living’. My name is Brian Holmes, and it is a joy to have you join us on this, our maiden voyage into the podcasting world! This podcast is all about ‘Transforming Minds, Developing Leaders, and Changing Nations’.
In this initial episode, we provide you with an introduction to the Strategic Living Podcast. Be sure to click the ‘Continue Reading’ link for complete show notes to this episode.
A little about me
- Married to Sabrina Holmes for 24 years
- We have two amazing children; Christian, who is 18 and Abigail, who is 15
- Christian has just recently graduated high school and will be attending Hardin-Simmons University in the Fall of 2013
- I recently posted about my son and our journey with him at brianholmes.com/christian
- I am an Author, Speaker, Pastor, Personal Development Coach, Business Consultant
- I have traveled to 18 countries in the last 17 years teaching leaders, sharing the message of healing the broken soul, and activating men and women into their full potential
- For more information on Brian Holmes International, please see the About Us page
My story
For a more detailed account of my story, I invite you to check out the blog post series entitled ‘Healing The Broken Soul’. at the recording of this podcast, I have published Part One and Part Two in this series. More to come…
Our Work
- Ties That Bind (Book, Curriculum, Online Study Programs)
- Strategic Living Institute (A 40-week Life Development Program)
- Life, Executive, and Leadership Coaching
- Coaching Certification Training
- Speaking
The Podcast
- We want to engage with you concerning YOUR life; your destiny; your purpose
- So many people have he desire to succeed and fulfill their purpose, but they struggle with knowing WHO they really are
- They grapple with the pain and hurt of the past
- They are bound by guilt, shame, limiting beliefs
- They long to be free and to become what God intended, but they just don’t know where to begin
- That is what this PODCAST is about
- I want to come into your world; come along side; provide you with information, inspiration, tools that lead to transformation, and ultimately activation
- My desire is to make some contribution in your life that will make a difference
- There is something powerful that God intends for you to be; something significant that only you can do
- Whatever is holding you back; whatever discoveries need to be made; whatever healing needs to take place …
- This podcast is a resource that I believe will help you in that process
The Strategic Living Podcast will feature not only powerful content, but will also serve as a means of connecting our audience to other leaders in the areas of healing, personal transformation, leadership development, and success motivation. It is my goal that this program be your greatest resource for personal transformation and development. Our desire is to build a community of individuals who are dedicated to becoming all God has intended them to be, and who are willing to help others do the same.
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” – Proverbs 27:17
Here are a few things you can look forward to:
- Teaching segments
- Interviews with great leaders and experts in the field of ‘Strategic Living’
- Your questions being answered ‘on-the-air’
- Free tools and resources for our subscribed listeners
- Webinars and other learning/growth opportunities
- And so much more!
How can you join the conversation and be a part?
- Subscribe to our updates at www.BrianHolmes.com
- Subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, Blackberry, Zune, or other services.
- Share this with your friends and associates on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, etc.
- Leave your comments (bottom of this post) and dialogue with others as they work towards their own freedom and development