Becoming Yourself

Developing a Better You

Category: Mind (Page 2 of 56)

In an Uncertain Season? Create New Labels

July 19, 2025 / / 0 Comments

I’m in a strange place. 

Recently, I’ve been struggling to define my season of life. I’ve been a full-time author for several years, publishing five books and doing lots of speaking gigs. Currently, I have no books under contract and few gigs. I’ve got various writing projects going, but with Lisa and I traveling frequently as nomads, sometimes I’m not working at all.

While I love and am grateful for this lifestyle, an unexpected side effect is feeling like I’m stuck on a threshold, betwixt and between, caught in a liminal space. I’m wrestling with not experiencing the maximum benefits of either a full-time career or full-time retirement.

As someone who prefers clarity and defined lines, this season has left me with a vague sense of unease. The uncertainty has made it hard to plan my work flow or set appropriate expectations for myself. When I’m enjoying a new travel location, I sometimes feel guilty that I’m not working. When I’m working, I often feel like I’m missing out on travel experiences. 

I’ve been ruminating on this issue. Praying about it. Talking it through with my inner circle. Here’s where I’ve landed:

1. I’m semi-retired and work part time as a writer.

2. I write thriller novels, a personal development blog, and a nomadic travel newsletter.

Our nomadic travel newsletter on Substack

While that sounds painfully obvious, I really couldn’t see it before. My season of life felt murky and undefined. Assigning these labels has given me a much needed sense of clarity, handles that I can grasp, and a place to ground my feet.

Now when I’m enjoying the perks of travel, I can do it guilt free by reminding myself that I’m semi-retired. When I’m working, I can fully engage without stress by reminding myself that I’m a part-time writer. 

These labels provide a welcome structure to my life and routine. Do they eliminate all ambiguity? No, but I’m realizing that’s okay too. Embracing a measure of uncertainty is part of the human experience and the personal development process. As author Andy Stanley would say, finding seasonal clarity is not a one-time problem to be solved but an ongoing tension to be managed.

Me with my wife Lisa enjoying our nomadic life

Are you in an uncertain season? Do you feel stuck on a threshold? Articulate your angst. Be vulnerable with trusted people. Consult your higher power (if you have one). Create clear defining labels. If you do, you’ll find a fresh measure of clarity, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.

Are You Fighting AGAINST or Fighting FOR?

July 12, 2025 / / 0 Comments

Too often we think of fighting as “fighting against.” I have learned that when you “fight against” someone or some policy, that person or policy may actually be reinforced. Rather… we are called to fight for a vision that can be shared.

Simone Campbell

The above distinction struck home. 

As someone who wants to do my part to reduce suffering in the world, I realized that I often frame the struggle in terms of what I’m against vs what I’m for. I’m against people needlessly trapped by destructive habits. I’m against restricting rights for marginalized groups. I’m against unfair income inequality. Simone Campbell’s wise words made me reassess. What am I fighting for? How am I practically engaging in that fight in meaningful ways?

Here’s what I came up with:

1. I’m fighting for INDIVIDUAL healing by writing and sharing what I’m learning in this personal development blog. 

2. I’m fighting for CULTURAL healing by staying informed on important issues, voting my conscience, and advocating for others, especially marginalized groups (writing political leaders, attending rallies, etc).

3. I’m fighting for ECONOMIC healing by donating financially to organizations that effectively eradicate poverty like Heifer International. 

The reduction of suffering in the world is an issue I continually struggle with. As a straight, white, American male who is wealthy when compared to most of the world, I’m the epitome of privilege. I feel guilty at times—while some of my relatively comfortable life comes from hard work, wise choices, and practicing delayed gratification, much is the result of factors I had nothing to do with. In my desire to reduce suffering, thinking though what I’m fighting for is helpful.

What are you fighting for? What practical steps are you taking to influence that battle? Take a deep breath. Clear your mind. Clarify what you’re fighting for. Take an honest look at how you spend your time, energy, and money in that fight. If you do, you’ll find life-giving focus, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself. 

Simone Campbell, “The Shackles of Our Time,” ONEING 3, no. 1, Emancipation (2015): 38, 39. As shared in the July 5, 2025 Daily Meditation from the Center for Action and Contemplation (cac.org)

Lisa and I hiking in Alaska

Lessons Learned from One Year of Nomadic Living

July 5, 2025 / / 0 Comments

We’re trying something new.

If you’re a regular reader of Becoming Yourself, you know that my wife Lisa and I live nomadically. On July 4, 2024, we drove away from our condo in Tempe, Arizona for the last time to travel the world, living in hotels, AirBnbs, cruise ships, and with friends and family.

What a year it’s been. We’ve been to fourteen countries, hiked mountains, wandered cobblestoned streets, and fallen into pet sitting. It’s been a huge learning curve, with high highs and low lows, and we love it. After twelve months on the road, we’re ready to pass on some of our hard-won knowledge.

Lisa and I in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City, Mexico

We’ve launched a new blog called Footnote to chronicle our stories, adventures, and lessons learned on living nomadically, travel, and hiking. We’ll even throw in some thoughts on retiring early and realizing your dreams. We’d love for you to join us. You can read our first post HERE, and if you like what you see, you’ll have the opportunity to subscribe and follow us on the road.

Thanks so much for letting me share this exciting new venture with you. I’ll be back next week with another personal development post to help you on the journey to Becoming Yourself.

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