Dr. T's 4 rules for a successful day

Living on purpose, one day at a time.

Dear Friends,

So I envision this as a combination of encouragement, personal sharing, and an invitation. There is currently much hype in the world of Personal Development about “morning routines of the rich and famous”, or “daily habits of billionaires” etc. (I guess “millionaires” are not impressive enough anymore. Dang inflation..)

So this is my attempt to weigh-in. Here are the concepts I keep in mind to make every day as personally fulfilling as possible:

1. Do something physically hard.

Like caring for a thoroughbred horse, the idea is to do your body a favor today by putting it through its paces. Your joints, muscles, heart, lungs, and blood vessels are begging you for some attention and inviting you to turn away from neglect and apathy, which lead only to weakness, stiffness, and decrepitude.

I like to take this further by not just doing something physical but something physically hard. Why? Cause it’s good for my soul. It pushes me to challenge myself; to expand my borders; to get comfortable feeling uncomfortable; to set goals; to live expansively; and to be all that I can be. If I were to shrink back constantly from hard things — continually prioritizing comfort above all else — I would become mentally soft, weak, lazy, whiny, and brittle… No thanks.

My Day: Ran 2 miles on a manual treadmill. Stretched. Lifted some kettlebells. Swam 1000 meters. Felt mentally weary at several points during my run, so I had to remind myself to stay in the moment: my job is not to run 2 miles, it’s just to take the next stride.

2. Eat good food.

Everyone eats food, but my goal today is to make it good food. Cattle eat the same grass every day and consume only for sustenance, but God gave us taste buds and a brain that can derive immense pleasure from flavors and smells — why not enjoy them?! We have agricultural techniques that produce a cornucopia of amazing fruits, vegetables, and spices. And we have human culture which imaginatively mixes and matches them to create delicious recipes. Each day I prioritize at least one meal that is taken slowly — with intention, with delight, and with thanksgiving. Why wouldn’t I?

My Day: Currently waiting on whatever my lovely wife makes for dinner! Not sure what it will be, but I know it will be delicious and I know we will sit together — phones off — to enjoy it.. Here’s a recent example:

(Cesar salad with fresh pepper, chicken-apple sausage, sourdough toast, and burrata with strawberries and mint… I am so spoiled :)

3. Learn something.

The “use-it-or-lose-it” principle also applies to our brain; in fact, I read recently that the #1 habit associated with longevity is curiosity and continual learning. This ties back into being expansive, having a growth mindset, and becoming all that you were meant to be. You can pick up a book, read an informational article, practice an instrument, enroll in a class, or start a hobby — the possibilities are endless, and your mind will thank you.

My Day: Looking forward to practicing piano tonight after dinner. Don’t get much time to do it, but it’s always a delight. I am definitely a beginner but that doesn’t dampen the joy I feel tickling those ivories to produce melodic sounds. Currently working on a simplified version of “Be Though My Vision” in the key of C. (Come on left hand!)

And most importantly,