Our brains are wired to pay attention to what is happening right now. Immediate problems demand immediate attention. However, most of the things that feel enormous today eventually become much smaller parts of our story over time. Learning to take the long view helps us look beyond whatever is happening to us right now and remembering that life is a very long story.

We are start our journey with a clear set of beliefs. We build a foundation of values that we think will guide us safely through the years. However, there is an inevitable moment when life decides to test every single value you hold dear.

The feeling to "keep up" with neighbors and peers goes back way further than the 1980s or even the invention of the suburbs. It goes all the way back to our earliest ancestors. And, while there actually is a positive evolutionary aspect to this behavior, if you don't understand what your brain is doing you can be drawn down a very negative path.

As you enter adulthood it is easy to think that the deck is stacked against you. Costs are high and the job market changes rapidly. You also rightfully feel like you have very little economic influence and almost no political power. However, you are also standing at the sunrise of your life. You have decades ahead of you. Time is one of the greatest advantages a young person possesses, even if it does not always feel that way.

Life has a funny way of asking you to make big decision before you feel completely ready. Some of the biggest decisions you will ever make come with very little information. There is no instruction manual and there are no guarantees. There is no perfect answer waiting to be discovered. What do you do?

Every generation of parents has worried about their kids. The concerns change over time, but the desire remains the same. Parents want their children to be safe, healthy, successful, and happy. The difference today is that danger no longer lives only outside the home.

Having values and convictions is important but it does not mean that you know everything. One of the greatest signs of maturity is being able to listen to a different point of view without immediately becoming defensive or angry. Your ideas and opinions should be questioned. That is how we improve our understanding of the world.

Negative energy thrives in stillness. When we stop moving, when we isolate ourselves, when we spend too much time alone with our thoughts, our minds can start heading in some dark directions. That is where movement comes into play. The moment you put yourself into motion positive feelings follow. You engage. You participate, and you move through life instead of watching it pass by.

Our bodies grow up much faster than our minds. Biology moves quickly. Wisdom moves slowly. Maturity begins when we move past making excuses and start to focus instead on solutions.

A lot of people want results but they do not really want commitment. They like the idea of success, promotion, better health, and financial stability. But when it comes time to make sacrifices or stay disciplined through uncomfortable periods they pull back. However, if you truly believe something is right for you and it aligns with your values and morals then there comes a moment where you have to stop hesitating and commit completely.