Ignite-the-Passion.com

Ignite-the-Passion.com Ignite-the-Passion.com created by Matthew Essner

02/14/2024

Inspiring clip. Not sure who needs to hear this today, but what a great message!!
"You can't always control your situation. But you can always control your ATTITUDE!" SSG Travis Mills

11/08/2021

- November 8, 2021

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7

There are plenty of self-help books with great ideas/concepts of ways to take care of yourself. Depending on the topic, author, or genre you're researching, most would boil down to 4 health areas to address habits for your well-being:

1️⃣ Emotional Health (relationships)
2️⃣ Physical Health (nutrition, activity)
3️⃣ Psychological Health (mental)
4️⃣ Spiritual Health (?)

If spiritual health is one of the 4 areas of self-care for your well-being, then why does it feel like it's the area that is given the least amount of attention by our culture today? What is your spiritual health?

As I mentioned in my message yesterday, today will be my final MMI, and I wanted to share the most influential knowledge I have refined over the past 10 years. A healthy spiritual life will bring wisdom, peace, and joy beyond anything you can find here on this physical Earth! Involvement in your local Church helps to build your community. Partaking in a small group helps to grow your wisdom of God's Word shared in The Bible and how it relates to current situations. Keeping prayer a regular part of your day (personally and in communion with others) will ease anxiety and bring peace to your life. Volunteering time, money, and talents without expecting anything in return brings joy to your heart. Living a life of faith in God speaks louder than any words (written or spoken). ❤️ LOVE towards others is good for the soul (spiritual health).

One of the best books I've read over the past 10 years was given to me by a mentor in my life, Jeff Joiner Training, who encouraged me to deepen my faith in God and find purpose in my life. The book is authored by Og Mandino called The Greatest Miracle in the World. Chapter 9: The God Memorandum changed my soul forever! (see comments for links) I vividly remember reading The God Memorandum alone in a hotel room back in January 2014 on a work trip in Washington D.C., having goose bumps all over as I read the chapter as if God were speaking directly to me, and knowing those words would change my trajectory going forward. Mandino shares 5 laws of happiness and success:

1️⃣ Count your blessings
2️⃣ Proclaim your rarity
3️⃣ Go another mile
4️⃣ Use wisely your power of choice
5️⃣ Do all things with LOVE ❤️

As I share this final MMI with you today, I recall the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew's gospel 28:19-20: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I encourage you to take care of yourself emotionally, physically, psychologically, and most importantly spiritually! If you haven't been to Church in a while, find a friend and go with them. If you've been going to Church, take on a bigger role by volunteering, joining a small group, or attending a retreat. If you've been afraid to pray or don't know where to start; feel free to start with a quiet conversation between you and God or use the words which have been passed down for many generations in the Our Father or the Apostles' Creed written about 300 years after Christ walked on this Earth:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church*,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*meaning the universal Christian church—all believers in Jesus Christ

Wherever this MMI message finds you on this last Monday morning we share; I hope the messages I've sent over the past 10 years have made a positive impact on your Emotional (relationships) and Psychological (mental) health. Maybe I have even encouraged you to start healthy habits to positively impact your Physical health. Today as we say our farewell, and from this point forward, I pray I have made a positive impact on your Spiritual health; your soul which will live forever!

It's been an honor to be a part of your Monday mornings for the past 10 years. I wish you all the best in your future! ❤️ Love others! Be blessed my friend!

Happy Monday!! For the final time: Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion,
Matthew E. Essner

11/07/2021

"Giving is not just about making a donation. It's about making a difference." - Kathy Calvin

November 7, 2011: 10 years ago. I vividly recall sitting in the corner of our comfortable red couch after weeks of brainstorming and my family had gone to bed. Nervous. Anxious. Excited. Afraid. I completed the $9.99 purchase of web domain www.ignite-the-passion.com. Now what? I had dreams of encouraging people. I loved quotes. I enjoyed teaching. I wanted to assist people find purpose in their life by following their passions. And I had two young boys I wanted to lead by example. But how?

Fast-forward this story 10 years to today, November 7, 2021. I can't imagine my life without the influence www.ignite-the-passion.com has brought to my life. The boundaries I've pushed. The comfort zones I've walked right out of. The knowledge I've gained. The experiences I've encountered creating memories for a lifetime. But most of all the people and relationships I've cultivated (in-person, virtually, or we may have never met) which have filled my cup. The impact YOU have made on me over these past 10 years is overwhelming.

From the first Monday Morning Ignition email I submitted to a small group of about 25 people in April 2012 growing to nearly 1,000 subscribers or Facebook followers across the country now in 2021. From the small groups I initially prepared presentations for at no fee, to paid events, and even State/National associations asking me to present at conference general sessions. Each experience fueled my desire as a sign my MMI email each week to 'stay excited about making a difference'. And I pray it was a positive difference!

But as the old saying goes, 'all good things must come to an end'. Or as one of my favorite Bible verses says in Ecclesiastes 3:1: "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

10 years has been a fun and fruitful season for me with www.ignite-the-passion.com. After a similar reflection process I went through 10 years ago, and with the same feeling of being nervous, anxious, excited and afraid; I've come to peace that this season has come to end.

I will forever be grateful for the experience of www.ignite-the-passion.com. THANK YOU for being a part of the journey with me! I will be sending one final Monday Morning Ignition tomorrow, and then letting my subscription renewals lapse to put www.ignite-the-passion.com to rest.

Until we meet again friends.....


11/01/2021

- November 1, 2021

"Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days." - Zig Ziglar

Do you FOCUS? Do you find quiet time to actually sit down free from distractions, think, and FOCUS on what it is you want most? If you've been succumbing to all the distractions life throws your way; you probably find yourself this Monday Morning feeling as scattered as a dropped bag of marbles.

The reality is there are plenty of tasks that cross your mind. Compound that with the limitless points-of-view you are exposed to from conversations, radio, TV, social media, etc., and you have plenty to think about. But, have you ever stopped to notice that what you FOCUS your thoughts on prioritizes your actions and how you spend your time?

If you are thinking about buying a home; you're spending your time researching designs, finances, and listings. If you are thinking about health; you're spending time deciding what you will have for a meal, when you will workout, and what ingredients make up your food. If you are thinking about a career change; you're spending time brushing up your resume, networking, and checking employment opportunity websites. As you can see, what you think about dictates your FOCUS, which determines your actions. If you're not where you want to be; it's time to stop, think, and FOCUS!! You have twenty-four hours a day; what direction will you choose to FOCUS your thoughts to determine your actions?

Challenge: It's Monday, of course you have plenty to do! Can you spare 5 minutes to stop checking social media, put down the cell phone, and THINK about what YOU want to accomplish this week? If you accept the challenge, (maybe even take it one step further and write down your thoughts or what your FOCUS is for the day) I foresee an extremely fruitful week ahead of you! TIME TO FOCUS!!

Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!



Igniting your passion -

Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

10/25/2021

- October 25, 2021

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it." - Thomas Jefferson

It's nice to have luck on your side. Or as the old saying goes, 'it's better to be lucky than good.' The question is: where do you find this luck? I wish it was as easy as running down to Wal-Mart or clicking onto Amazon to pick some up, but that's not the case.

Luck is not a tangible item you can purchase. Many think luck is being in the right place, at the right time, and meeting the right people. But how do you do that? I think the wise Thomas Jefferson was onto something because my experience has been the harder I work, the more I tend to find myself lucky. However, my definition of work may be a little different than most.

When I think of work and being lucky, I think of working on being the best ME possible. By challenging myself to utilize the God-given talents entrusted to me and interacting/sharing those talents with others; I've found luck showing up in unique forms in my past which have lead me to where I am today. And this is not just working my 9-5 job! If it weren't for meeting the right people at the right time in a variety of circumstances throughout my life, I would not be lucky enough to be where I am TODAY.

You can experience the same stroke of luck by daily giving 100% in everything YOU do. If you're looking to be lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to meet the right people....my suggestion is show up, be yourself, keep your eyes open, and don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Who knows, you maybe lucky enough to hear of a volunteer opportunity where you get introduced to the right person, maybe you'll be lucky to find out about a new business opportunity at just the right time, or you might even be lucky enough to make a new friend to share in your future memories. Work on being the best YOU, and you'll find luck when you're not even looking for it!

Happy Monday! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!



Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

10/18/2021

- October 18, 2021

"The beauty of empowering others is that your own power is not diminished in the process." - Barbara Colorose

When was the last time you intentionally paused your routine to assist someone else? With your busy day-to-day life and instant access to everything; it's easy to overlook opportunities to share your knowledge with others who could benefit and appreciate your generosity. Think back on your journey to where you are today...do you recall someone years ago taking a few minutes to share some wisdom with you? Maybe your mom, dad, grandparents, professor, mentor, or boss?

Unlike material goods which require collateral to be purchased and shared, sharing your thoughts and time with someone generally costs nothing. You will likely find yourself energized and full of additional ideas to share if you truly stop to reflect on your past experiences. Is there something you are proud of figuring out or a new technique you discovered which streamlined a procedure? There's no reason for you to keep these "secrets" to yourself. What you will find is that in sharing your "secrets" and empowering someone else with the knowledge, you are cultivating their interests as well. A great analogy would be lighting candles. When you share your flame with someone else, you light their candle, who can then pass the flame along to others. If enough people share your flame, you will end up with enough light to brighten an entire room!

This week, think of something from your past you're certain could benefit someone else, and find the time to share it with that individual. It may be a simple life lesson you decide to share with your child. It may be walking a new coworker through the timeline of how your company came to be where it is today. It may be spending time with a neighbor and finding out you have more in common than you thought and leaving the conversation thinking "it's a small world after all". Maybe it's signing up for a mentor program to boost the confidence in an eager young adult. My guess is no matter what you do, you will find the time taken out of your busy schedule to be rewarding for yourself, as much as it is for the other individual!

Happy Monday! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

10/11/2021

- October 11, 2021

Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is." - Mark Twain

Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone to reach new goals? Are you willing to go out on a limb to reach the fruit? Are you willing to go against the grain of the culture? That's what Christopher Columbus did some 500+ years ago, and think about how his willingness to go outside the norm has impacted the world!

If you have aspirations of achieving something more than your current situation, start thinking about how you can 'go out on a limb' to reach your new goals. Often times, there are small subtle changes you can make in your daily routine that when compounded over time, will add up to help you achieve your big goals. Why not eat a healthy breakfast every morning? Why not put down the phone and read a few pages of good book each night? Why not extend a helping hand to the stranger on the corner? Don't be afraid to step out of the norm....that's where the success is!

Happy Monday! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

09/20/2021

- September 20, 2021

"If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse." - Zig Ziglar

Excuses are evil. Excuses trick you into justifying an action, or inaction, to ease your mind.

The WAY is good. Finding a WAY reveals actions that will lead you from point A to the desired point B. The WAY may not always be smooth, but as Ziglar says: If it is important to you, you will find a WAY.

The challenge is that it is easy to be overcome by excuses, which seem justified at the time, but eventually pile up and weigh you down. Romans 12:21 says: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Excuses are evil; the WAY is good!! Overcome your excuses with the WAY. And if you aren't sure if you're going the right WAY, trust your heart to guide you. Your heart will lead the WAY!



Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

09/13/2021

"Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?" - Alan Jackson

20 years ago...it's so hard to believe 20 years have passed since the attack of 9/11/01! I don't recall many exact details of my life 20 years ago, but I will Never Forget where I was when I heard the news of the reported first plane hitting with World Trade Center. Do you remember?

Over the weekend as I re-watched some of the footage and heard new stories of the heroics from 9/11/01, it was a surreal moment reliving the multitude of feelings I had that day. 20 years later, my wife and I were met with questions from our inquisitive teenage boys who were not alive to experience that dreadful day but have been learning about it in school. How do you describe an event filled with such gloom and the array of emotions associated with such havoc?

There is no denying evil is in the world, but we elected to focus on the positives. The of the rescue workers. The flood of supplies, , and machinery to manage the aftermath. The so many people shared with strangers on the streets. The that America may be shaken, but will not fall. 9/11/01, as with other tragedies you will experience in your life, is an event which you can allow the anchor of doom to sink your spirits; or you can choose to find the positives and lift your spirits to brighter tomorrows. When you get knocked down; do you stay down, or do you get back up and fight again? I hope you can channel the American spirit after 9/11/01 and choose to get back up and fight again!! And no matter what; above all LOVE one another!

Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

08/30/2021

- August 30, 2021

"Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead." - Charles M. Schwab

Where do you find your happy place? Is it when you are surrounded by judgement, stressed with deadlines, or worried about outcomes? Not likely!

Have you ever noticed the theory of reciprocity also tends to play out? The theory is that when people receive something, they feel compelled to return the favor in kind. Sounds similar to the law of attraction which is based on the belief that positive or negative thoughts bring positive or negative experiences into a person's life. Taking this into consideration, you can conclude that your happy place will be where you are kind and friendly, then everyone around you will reciprocate, or you will attract, the same back into your life.

So then why do we find ourselves surrounded by negativity, judgement, worry, and anxiety? Using the same logic as above, it's because when you are judgmental and negative, then everyone around you will reciprocate, or you will attract, the same back into your life.

The good news is there is an antidote! . . . . If you are feeling anxious today given everything going on around you; why don't you try looking in vs. looking out? As the ancient Proverb is written: "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." (Proverbs 12:25). Try sharing a kind word today. Try doing a small act of kindness. Try sharing a friendly smile to a stranger. And you just might find a happy place...right where you are!!




Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

08/23/2021

- August 23, 2021

"This is a question I want everyone to ask yourself every single day when you come up with something that needs to be done: if not now, then when? And if not me, then who?" - Mick Ebeling, author of Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn't Be Done

With the start of a new school year and in light of everything going on in the world today, a riddle and a song came to mind for me to share this week.

The riddle goes like this:
This is a story about four people named , , and . There was an important job to be done and EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it. ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it. SOMEBODY got angry about that, because it was EVERYBODY'S job. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY could do it, but NOBODY realized that EVERYBODY wouldn’t do it. It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have.

The song is Do Something by Matthew West. Here are a few lines but I encourage you to take 4 mins of your time this week and watch/listen to the words (link in comments) and think about what YOU can do.

I woke up this morning
Saw a world full of trouble now, thought
How’d we ever get so far down, and
How’s it ever gonna turn around
So I turned my eyes to Heaven
I thought, “God, why don’t You do something?”
Well, I just couldn’t bear the thought of
People living in poverty
Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, “God, why don’t You do something?”
He said, “I did...I created you”

If not us, then who
If not me and you
Right now, it’s time for us to do something
If not now, then when
Will we see an end
To all this pain
Oh, it’s not enough to do nothing
It’s time for us to do something

I’m so tired of talking about
How we are God’s hands and feet
But it’s easier to say than to be
Live like angels of apathy who tell ourselves
It’s alright, “SOMEBODY else will do something”

Are you going stand around and blame EVERYBODY or think that 'SOMEBODY else will do something' that ANYBODY can do? It's the little acts of kindness by folks like you and me that will make this world a better place! Do something this week!! Share a smile, extend a helping hand, stop to talk with a lonesome person, encourage a youth, go the extra mile at work, call a family member....the list goes on and on. Love conquers hate, and light overcomes the darkness. Be the light! Don't pass on the small acts of kindness you think SOMEBODY else will do. EVERYBODY is counting on YOU to pitch in.

Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

08/09/2021

- August 9, 2021

"When you kill time, remember that it has no resurrection." - A.W. Tozer

Killing time...what does that mean to you? Are you like me and your first thought goes straight to the classic country song by Clint Black titled Killin' Time?

When I think of defining killing time, my initial thought may be similar to yours of sleeping in, leisure time, watching a movie, reading a book, or a variety of other activities. However, after further thought, I don't believe these activities are killing time. In fact, these activities are quite healthy when done intentionally. The more I thought about it, I believe killing time is defined as being distracted.

Are you distracted by social media, news, text messages, Emails, surfing the web, conversations with others, or a variety of other methods that consume your time? When you become distracted, you are no longer intentional with your time. You are killing time! Establish boundaries for yourself to avoid letting harmless activities become distractions which kill your time.

Happy Monday!! Make this a great week and stay excited about making a difference!

Igniting your passion -
Matthew E Essner
You can receive Monday Morning Ignitions directly to your inbox by signing up for FREE at www.Ignite-the-Passion.com. You can also LIKE Ignite-the-Passion.com to receive the weekly MMI in your News Feed or follow Ignite-the-Passion.com on Twitter @ www.Twitter.com/MatthewEssner

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