Tag: health

Day 4 of the 7-40 Challenge: When Plans Crumble, But I Still Choose to Rise

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Hello, friends! Welcome to Day 4 of the 7-40 Challenge.

Whew—what a day today has been. It didn’t unfold anything like I pictured. Frustrations popped up out of nowhere, the kind that could easily derail a guy. But here’s the beauty: I had my goals staring me in the face, and I tackled them just like any other day. No excuses. No backing down.

Let me share a few raw thoughts from the trenches of a not-so-perfect day.

First: We Can’t Control the Problems… But We Can Control Our Attitude

Life doesn’t hand us a menu of challenges. Some days, it just dumps a pile on your doorstep. Today was one of those. But we get to choose how we show up.

We can greet people with kindness, compassion, and empathy. We can stare down problems with honesty and a willing spirit.

Viktor Frankl, who survived the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust, nailed it:

“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Echoing that wisdom from ancient times, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus put it this way:

“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.”

Today, frustrations gave me a golden opportunity to choose better. To value people over pettiness. It drained every ounce of emotional energy I had… but guess what? I still crushed my goals:

✅ Bible study and prayer – Check. Fuel for the soul.

✅ Exercise – Sweated it out, feeling stronger.

✅ Reading – See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar.

✅ Writing – You’re holding the proof right here.

✅ Encouraging words – Shared ’em far and wide.

✅ Social media post – Done and dusted.

It’s 10 PM as I type this. The day? A total curveball. But I marched forward anyway. I owned my response.

The Old Me vs. The New Me

Let’s be real—there was a time when a day like this would’ve wrecked me. I’d have stress-eaten a fridge full of junk, poured a glass (or more) of wine, and spiraled into frustration. Have you been there?

Not today. And that shift? It’s everything. Special thanks to my bride for talking through the day with me as well. Her viewpoint resets me.

But Here’s the Real Game-Changer: Gratitude

When the smoke clears, I step back and see how insanely blessed I am. The “problems” shrink to specks:

  • A relationship with God who has forgiven me, saved me and loves me fiercely.
  • My beautiful bride, who cares for me like no one else.
  • A son I’m so proud of, lighting up my world.
  • Friends closer than family.
  • A family I’m honored to call mine.
  • A job I’m passionate about—work that lights a fire.
  • Purpose. Meaning. Every single day.

I am grateful. Things don’t always go as planned, but my blessings? They dwarf the chaos.

Your Turn, Friends

How do you handle it when a day derails? When life’s curveballs smack you sideways, but you’ve still got tasks calling your name?

Drop a comment below—your story might just fire someone up. Let’s encourage each other!

Until tomorrow… Day 5 awaits. See you there.

Keep choosing your response. Keep marching.

Day 10 of the 7-40 Challenge: Finding Your Rhythm

~ David Willis ~ Leave a comment

Good morning, friends! Welcome to Day 10 of my 7-40 Challenge—a 40-day journey to build seven daily habits that improve my health, drive progress, and focus on what matters most. I’m already a quarter of the way through, and I’m thrilled with the results I’m seeing. One habit, in particular, has been a game-changer: my daily walks.

Each day, I’ve been carving out 30 to 45 minutes for an extended walk. These walks aren’t just about physical movement; they’re a sacred time for reflection, listening to audiobooks, praying, and zeroing in on my goals. The rhythm of walking—step after step—creates uninterrupted space to think about why these goals matter and what needs to happen next. It’s become a cornerstone of my progress.

In the past, I made the mistake of thinking I had to sit down and meticulously plan every detail of my life. I’d carve out times for brainstorming, often sacrificing exercise or other priorities to do so. It felt like I was choosing between moving my body and moving my mind. But here’s the revelation: I don’t have to choose. I think better when I’m moving. Whether I’m pacing during a work meeting (my colleagues might call me restless!) or walking through my neighborhood, motion sparks clarity.

As the philosopher Aristotle once said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” This resonates deeply with me. The 7-40 Challenge isn’t about perfection or following someone else’s blueprint—it’s about finding a rhythm that works for me. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving your goals. The latest productivity fad or trending life hack might work for someone else, but your path is unique. It’s shaped by your physiology, your psychology, and the responsibilities you juggle daily.

That said, there are universal principles we can lean into—like tackling your most important tasks first thing in the morning. But how you apply those principles depends on you. Maybe you’re a night owl who thrives after 10 p.m., while others are out walking at 7 a.m. Maybe your list of habits includes ten items, or just two. The key is to define what matters most to you, create a plan to pursue it, and then attack that plan with intention, all while balancing the realities of your life.

The 7-40 Challenge is my personal framework—seven habits for 40 days, followed by a re-evaluation to set new goals. Your journey might look different, and that’s okay. What matters is that you’re honest with yourself about what drives you and how you work best. Find your rhythm. Build habits that sustain you. And keep moving forward, step by step.

Here’s to staying in rhythm, accomplishing what matters, and embracing the journey. Keep going, my friends!