The Brave Blog
I'm documenting a year of being braver in my career, life, and faith. The goal is to write every day, and you can get a summary of brave stories by signing up for my weekly newsletter. Stories I'll share:Being brave in sales and growing a new consulting divisionTraining for a 100-mile ultra raceLiving authentically for Jesus
Scroll down for new entries and sign-up to get the weekly summary!That’s Me
1 brave thing: Reading to learn
I’ve been reading My Utmost for High Highest this year. This is a short but not easy Christian devotional. Todays quote that stood out to me was we have to learn to make room for God and that we often don’t leave him any elbow room in our lives. Instead of assuming I did this well. I changed my thinking to I probably don’t do this well and to be more open to learn and grow versus just saying “that isn’t for me.”
Why this matters. Taking a growth posture versus an expert posture is what I want to do. When I read a challenge from a devotional I want to assume I need this word rather than I have it nailed already.
Moving to constant contact. If my devotional suggests we often don’t leave God elbow room by saying “that's me” helps me to one day have a new habit of constant contact.
That’s Me
What if I assumed “that's me” more when I heard a challenging statement in my Christian devotional? Seems like another brave moment.
1 brave thing: Reading to learn
I’ve been reading My Utmost for High Highest this year. This is a short but not easy Christian devotional. Todays quote that stood out to me was we have to learn to make room for God and that we often don’t leave him any elbow room in our lives. Instead of assuming I did this well. I changed my thinking to I probably don’t do this well and to be more open to learn and grow versus just saying “that isn’t for me.”
Why this matters. Taking a growth posture versus an expert posture is what I want to do. When I read a challenge from a devotional I want to assume I need this word rather than I have it nailed already.
Moving to constant contact. If my devotional suggests we often don’t leave God elbow room by saying “that's me” helps me to one day have a new habit of constant contact.
Public handouts
After launching my fellowship group the idea of sharing the handouts with everyone seemed to good to pass up!
1 brave thing: CL Thomas Fellowship digital access
I just launched my mens small group this past weekend. I handed them a book and a binder as part of our group launch. Today I decided why not share the handouts publicly? This could offer others to experience the fellowship on their own with some recommended reading and challenges.
Why it matters. Sharing something so important like the work I do at the fellowship seemed scary at first. Why offer these handouts out for possible ridicule or debate on the choice of verses or books etc. This the reason for the brave moment. This offering may go unnoticed forever or it may transform lives. It seemed worth the brave moment to share the work.
Download the first handout. If you are interested here is the webpage to access the first handout and I’ll be updating each month with a new book and challenge to help you provide like Jesus just as we are doing in the small group setting: https://www.clthomasfellowship.org/2024-handouts
To brave moments!
Justin
10 miles
I’ve had longer runs but this one was brave to do when I didn’t have full energy.
1 brave thing: 10 tired miles
Sometimes the juice just isn’t there. My training for the March ultra has been going well. However today was supposed to be a tempo day and I adjusted ti a steady run proud to just get in the miles. I did it when I didn’t have as much energy and I’m proud of that.
Why it matters. It’s a balance to both train when you don’t feel like it and also not to overtrain and risk injury. Today seemed to bridge those concerns well.
Trying to be brave and smart:)
Justin
Doctor Meet and Greet
I believe in being kind to all people. However I’m learning we can’t let kindness can’t blind us in seeing if someone (doctor or any partner really) is a good fit.
1 brave thing: Picking a primary care provider
I have an unfair advantage when it comes to doctors and my health journey. My role as a business consultant specializing in company health benefits provides me with more time and opportunity to gain an inside look into the broad industry landscape and specific physician practices. Today I did a “meet and greet” with an independent primary care practice. During the session I actually shared my personal goals, medical beliefs and philosophy around health.
Why it matters. In the past I probably would have kept the conversation surface level. And to let the provider guide the conversation. Today I took initiative to share what was important to not only myself but our family’s health values.
Determining fit over friendliness. Finding the right partners in life seem to be critical. Rather than plying it say to keep things pleasant, sometimes it’s more important to determine fit…ideally in a kind and friendly way- just not at the expense of being aligned.
Birthday Wish
Birthdays can be brave days as well! For me it came down to asking for what I really wanted.
I brave thing: Ask for a real gift
Today was my birthday and it was amazing. I was trying to think of my brave moment. I felt like the day was all about me. What did I do? Then it hit me- I asked for what I really wanted. Breakfast with my family and to host a dinner launch with the new CL Thomas Fellowship group and their families!
Why it matters. I can go through life as a happy go lucky kind of guy. When my wife asked what I wanted to do this day I could have silenced the desire to launch the fellowship group. Then whenI invited the fellowship guys I could have said don’t bring anything. But I asked them to bring me a pair of running socks! Asking for what you want is a brave moment.
30 miles
An ultra marathon goal demands some long endurance training days. Today was that brave day.
1 brave thing: Long winter runs
When I signed up for an ultra run race, I knew I was also signing myself up for some long training days. Today was that day. Over 5 hrs on the trails for 30 miles did the trick!
Why it matters. Practice makes perfect. The goal is to train the body to get used to endurance distances but not too long where I break down muscles and can’t train.
The fun part. One reward for me after a log run is asking my girls to guess the distance I ran. It took them a few more tries to get to 30!
I’m kicking up the feet for the rest of the weekend after this brave moment.
-Justin
Life Insurance
Life insurance is not an exciting topic and I’ve been putting the to-do item off for far too long until todays brave moment.
1 brave thing: Term Life Insurance
Many of us don’t like thinking of our mortality. That is why we need to however. I let me life insurance lapse during the pandemic and was going to reinstate it. Then I discovered I could buy a new policy for cheaper- weird since I’m naturally older but alas a win-win!
Why it matters. I don’t like thinking of the thought of passing away in the next 20 years so I hope my term policy does not get used. I’m investing in my health but this was a brave step to also I protest the family.
Let’s keep the brave moments going,
Justin