I’ve dropped some dark thoughts and moments early in these blog posts, but I also claimed they were part of my self proclaimed superpower, so what about that LIGHT that I want to IGNITE?
If you’ve been following my posts, you may think, ‘what does ignite and fight have to do with any of this heavy stuff? Shoulda named the website doom and gloom’.
But, as I always say, one of my favorite quotes rings true: “We are best equipped to help those we once were.”
Dark —> Light isn’t an accident. It’s a journey.
Today’s message is simple:
PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR 4S’s.
When I was a young Sergeant in the Army, I remember having a rare sighting of a female Command Sergeant Major addressing our group. The room was crowded and this small framed female was addressing us all when she celebrated us being leaders in this world. She praised us being successful for understanding sacrifice and service but she continued to share her thoughts on the secret to success. The 3S’s: Sweat, Spirit, Substance. Get those things right in your life and you’re gonna be on the right track.
As a 25-year-old leader who had more rank than wisdom, I remember thinking ‘that’s such a simple and smart message, I’m going to remember that”.
I obviously remembered it…but don’t ask me if I followed it. That’s the harder part.
I was not disciplined or wise enough to follow it well back then, but I knew it was worth holding onto. As I got a LITTLE better at this ‘not being a complete mess in life’ thing, I realized how much brilliance and wisdom is packed in the simple S’s philosophy. Here’s the quick version:
Sweat – Do something. Move your Body. It’s good for your body, mind and soul. There’s a whole lot of science behind it and ways to explore to motivate yourself and attack this one, but let’s save that for another day.
Spirit – Take a moment to check in with your inner self. I’m not talking about religion here. Whether it’s through prayer, meditation, counseling, or something entirely different, find what resonates with your spirit and make it a habit. This may evolve over time, but nurturing your spiritual health is crucial. Engage in practices like gratitude exercises, prayer (I’m partial to LT3F), meditation, deep reading, or whatever speaks to you…just be intentional about it.
Substance – Be mindful of what you feed your body and mind. What you consume (both mentally and physically) will inevitably impact your well-being. Aim to take in more good stuff than bad stuff. Some things are fine in moderation and horrible in excess, while others are downright poison. And then there are those things—like investing in personal growth and chowing down on some proteins or veggies—that you need a ton of to be great!
Sleep – Now, here’s where I get to take a little credit for myself. Look at me, adding a fourth ‘S’! But truth be told, I didn’t do it to “make it my own”. I added it because I realized that without good sleep, I couldn’t consistently adhere to the other three ‘S’s. Prioritizing quality sleep is non-negotiable for my mental well-being, and I treat it with the same importance as the other categories.
Improving in ANY of these areas is a step in the right direction. If you’re struggling across the board, focusing on one intentionally can create a ripple effect in others. Once you establish consistency in two or three of these areas, life will start to feel more inspired and you’ll start to feel like you are being a better version of yourself in the world. But this is important: Missing any ONE component long term will leave your wheels spinning without gaining any real ground. It’s like revving your engine, eager to tackle the challenges ahead, but come to find you won’t truly take off until all four tires are firmly on the ground as you are pushing that gas. When you’re firing on all cylinders simultaneously, you’ll see that you have IGNITED something that is actually MOVING towards the FIGHT for your life’s purpose.
I’m excited to explore some 4S’s, share some favorites, and hear your lessons learned in any of those areas on your journey in the comments below!
