Hello, my friend! And Happy April!
Being April Fool’s day, I naturally have to begin this email with a joke…
What did the tree say when spring finally arrived?
What a re-leaf.
Did I say “a joke”? I meant “a joke or two.” So here’s another one:
Why is everyone so tired on April 1?
Because they just finished a 31-day march.
If you didn’t know this about me, puns are my love language (closely followed by coffee…), so thank you for indulging me as I spoke it with you :-).
Now onto this week’s Top 6!
Dare to be Definite
“Jesus desires that we shall be definite in our requests, and that we shall ask for some special thing. ‘What will ye that I shall do unto you?’ is the question that He asks of every one who in affliction and trial comes to Him. Make your requests with definite earnestness if you would have definite answers. Aimlessness in prayer accounts for so many seemingly unanswered prayers. Be definite in your petition. Fill out your check for something definite, and it will be cashed at the bank of Heaven when presented in Jesus’ Name. Dare to be definite with God.” – Streams in the Desert
Embrace Agitation
Anyone who’s ever had to study and research to learn and remember new information knows that the process is challenging, often to the point of making us feel agitated. According to Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman, “agitation is the entry point to learning. Literally, the adrenaline that causes agitation signals the nervous system that it should be ready to change. Without it, the nervous system is not as primed for change — the process we call neuroplasticity.”
Also interesting is that after a period of intense focus and learning, there’s an associated increase in feel-good molecules like dopamine.
Takeaway: learning is a process that begins with focus, alertness, and agitation. Lean into every aspect of that process to reap its full rewards!
BONUS: Isn’t it cool how Scripture and science so often coincide? This week, I’m particularly loving how the above tip complements this verse in Hebrews:
Quote from My Current Read, Anne of Green Gables
“It was an elegant room, Marilla, but somehow sleeping in a spare room isn’t what I sued to think it was. That’s the worst part of growing up, and I’m beginning to realize it. The things you wanted so much when you were a child don’t seem half so wonderful to you when you get them.”
Workout Tip of the Week – Equipment Recommendation
I’m frequently asked which pieces of home-gym equipment I recommend, and one of my absolute favorites, for its wonderful versatility, is a plyometric box. Ranging from $40 to about $100, these are a great investment, in my opinion, because they are the literal foundation of so many terrific exercises, such as single-arm bent-over dumbbell rows, step-ups, box squats, incline and decline push-ups, Bulgarian split squats, box jumps, hip thrusts, and countless seated exercises, too!
Pro Tip: Go for a soft plyo box as opposed to wood. Your shins will thank you.
Supplement Cheat Sheet from Dr. James DiNolantonio
Proverbs Thirty What Weekly Post – “Dress for the Day”
In this week’s installment of Proverbs Thirty What, I write about prep school uniforms, mom uniforms, and a thought-provoking call to dress with dignity! I’d love to know your thoughts, so if you read it, please be sure to leave a comment!