How I keep myself from being closed-minded:

A closed mind is the consequence of arrogance. An open mind is the consequence of humility.

Only arrogance feels threatened by humility. Arrogance closes my mind to protect my ego.

Humble people consider alternative perspectives,…

“Kids today lack discipline!”

Uuhhh . . . when did kids have discipline?

It’s our responsibility to teach them.

But before that, it’s our responsibility to show them the model of discipline. And that is the core issue and bigger problem.

Responsibility and discipline are inseparable.

There is no way to raise responsibility without elevating discipline. There is no way to elevate discipine without raising responsibility.

Low discipline is a lack of responsibility.
Low responsibility is a lack of discipline.

Excellence can come from two sources:

1. Your nature that is already within you.

2. The skills you build into yourself.

So many people spend their lives investing in the second source while failing to recognize, appreciate, cultivate, or activate the first.

Who is the funniest actor/comedian of all time?

Your responsibility to receive feedback well is greater than the feedback giver's responsibility to deliver it to you in just the right way.

Just because you’re in the dark doesn’t mean there is no light.

Just because you don’t see the light doesn’t mean there is no light.

Light exists even when you feel surrounded by darkness.

No matter how dark it gets, search until you find the light, and move toward it.

How sad it is to see someone lose because they were afraid to fail.

Who needs this hanging on their wall?

Deciding what doesn’t belong in your life is often more important than deciding what does.

There are always obstacles between you and what you want.

Always.

The question isn’t whether there are obstacles.

There are.

The question is whether you recognize the obstacle, whether you’ll address it, and how.

An excellent life is not mistake-free.
It’s impossible to live with excellence without making mistakes.

Rather than attempt to live without making mistakes, attempt to live with excellence. Give your mistakes purpose and direction.

Winners produce differently because they behave differently.

The obstacles you’re facing on the outside are your path to address and overcome the obstacles you’re facing within yourself. It’s not about the external obstacle. It’s about you.

If you want to damage a young person's development, create a life for them free from struggle and failure while giving them what can only be acquired through struggle and failure.

That will mess up a kid's mind and warp their expectations.

If you want to discover a person’s true character, give them some power or the perception of having power. Their true character will emerge pretty quickly.

Pain is inherent to life. How you see your pain and what you decide to do with it determines whether the pain you experience turns into strength and discipline or weakness and dysfunction.