The Best Minute: Favorite books, the power of thoughts, and motivation

1 IDEA FROM ME

If you are looking for some new books to read as we head into 2023, of the 33 books I read in 2022, below are 8 that were the most impactful for me (in no particular order):

• Letters To A Young Pastor by Eugene Peterson

• The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier

• Why Nations Rise and Fall by Ray Dalio

• Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chapell

• Replicate by Robert Gallaty

• The Wright Brothers by David McCullough

• A Burning In My Bones by Winn Collier (biography of Eugene Peterson)

• The 12 Week Year by Brian Moran

2 QUOTES FROM OTHERS

I. Lucy Mallory on the power of thoughts:

“Every thought a person dwells upon, whether he expresses it or not, either damages or improves his life.”

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II. Writer Joyce Carol Oates on how motivation follows action:

“One must be pitiless about this matter of “mood.” In a sense, the writing will create the mood. … I have forced my self to begin writing when I’ve been utterly exhausted, when I’ve felt my soul as thin as a playing card, when nothing has seemed worth enduring for another five minutes … and somehow the activity of writing changes everything.”

1 INTERESTING FACT

The famous New Years Eve ball in New York City has been dropped annually since 1907, with two notable exceptions — due to World War II light restrictions, Times Square remained dark in 1942 and 1943.

1 QUESTION TO LEAVE YOU WITH

What is one thing I accomplished in 2022 that I am proud of? What is a good way I can celebrate it?

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P.S. I know I’m not a penguin.