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tnadmin • August 23, 2021

Is it me, or are we afraid of risk? It seems as though we live in these bubbles of “safety” where we incessantly work to keep things from getting out of hand. I’m not talking about COVID. I’m talking about that job you’ve been looking at that would provide margin. Or that workout routine you’ve been putting off (speaking to myself here). That person you should be asking forgiveness from, or more importantly that person you need to forgive. Maybe it’s a volunteer role you’ve been asked to fill. I haven’t researched it, I may be wrong, but it seems like we have either pulled back due to apathy or we’re trying to control everything. Maybe it’s both. Look at your own life and decide for yourself.

In any case, I fear that I’ll get complacent and avoid risks. I also fear that my kids will take even fewer risks than I would.

Outside of Proverbs and Psalms, I don’t spend much time in the Old Testament. After all, the new stuff is just so good! Sometime last year, I went back and read through Ecclesiastes and loved it. I hadn’t read through it in a very long time. Honestly, I don’t know that I had ever read it all the way through. Nothing brought more questions to my mind than reading the first half of this book. I questioned the very relevance of the Bible itself; it was somewhat nuts!

However, I kept reading and came to chapter 11. It moved me and has turned out to be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible. As I read it, I felt the need to paraphrase it or interpret it for my kids. As such, what follows is my feeble interpretation of this chapter.

Take risks throughout your life; you never know where you might succeed.

Expand your knowledge; study many things, and use your gifts. You never know which of these gifts will be useful or which will be employed when it’s needed most.

We cannot control the clouds; rain will fall when and where it pleases. We cannot control the world; what God sets in motion, none can stop. Spend your time simply observing, and you will not live a fulfilling life.

None of us can see the wind or know where each gust will blow, and none of us know how life is formed in the womb. Our minds cannot comprehend God’s work, The Almighty Creator of the Universe.

Start your day intentionally, do not allow yourself to sit still. You don’t know where you’ll succeed, whether in this venture or in that venture or both.

You will never know if you do not try.

Go and do. (And go read Ecclesiastes)

It just so happens that True North Man has just the thing for you to go and do.

October 15-17.

Get out your calendar (yes, I still use a paper calendar), write it down, then register.

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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠…. 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐎𝐔

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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SIlence the Noise

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Owning Peace

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Identity Crisis

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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Who Am I

By Paul B • March 23, 2025
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A Period of Agony

By Paul B • March 13, 2025
Sit In It… Experience It… Learn From It Some days, sadness feels overwhelming, almost tangible, as if it’s trying to teach us something we’ve yet to learn. Today, I find myself in such a moment—sitting in sadness, letting it wash over me, tears coming unbidden. I don’t often linger here, but today, I feel compelled to sit with it for a moment. Why? I can’t quite pinpoint it. Perhaps it’s a deep longing to be better—better than I was, better than I am, better than I ever thought I could be. Or perhaps it’s the weight of realizing I haven’t always lived up to the man I’ve aspired to become. It’s easy to catalog the ways I could have been more: more kind, more patient, more compassionate, more present. I could have been more diligent, more understanding, more thoughtful. I could have loved more—deeper, better, and with more intention. The adversities of life have often distracted me, frustrated my purpose, and shifted my focus inward when I should have been outwardly focused on others. And yet, as much as regret can pull us into despair, perhaps sadness has its own purpose. Perhaps sadness invites us to pause, reflect, and grow. Sitting in sadness doesn’t have to mean wallowing in it. It can mean experiencing it, letting it teach us, and learning from it. Perhaps the tears and the ache remind me of what I do not want to be. They remind me of the kind of man I should be and the man I still desire to become. Sadness can become a teacher if we let it—a mirror that reflects not just the brokenness but also the possibilities. Maybe it’s here to show me that I can still be kind, compassionate, patient, and empathetic. That I can still learn to be more present, more thoughtful, and more loving. Maybe sadness is enabling me to see through the smoke, guiding me toward clarity and a deeper understanding of myself. As hard as it is, perhaps I’m meant to sit in this sadness for a moment. To let it shape me into someone who can better serve others, help them feel seen, and guide them toward joy, peace, and fulfillment. So today, I sit with it. I experience it. I learn from it. And when the sadness lifts, I’ll emerge as someone more thoughtful, more loving, and more attuned to the needs of others.  Because maybe that’s the purpose of sadness—to deepen our humanity, broaden our capacity for love, and remind us of the human we’re striving to become.

Be More Intentional

By Paul B • February 25, 2025
For the first 32 years of my life, I wandered aimlessly. Every road I took seemed to end in a dead end. I jumped from job to job, 👎🏼 Unsure of what I wanted. I surrounded myself with the wrong crowds, 👎🏼 Trying to fill a void. I chased shortcuts to success, 👎🏼 Without even knowing what success truly was. Man, I was a mess. The Good ✅ Through it all, I learned some hard lessons. I developed grit, fortitude, and determination. The Bad ❌ It took me 32 long years to start living in a way that was honorable, respectable, and positively progressive. I’m grateful for both—the lessons and the journey—but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t wish I’d figured it out sooner. I know there are other men out there who’ve felt—or are feeling—the same: Frustration, Heartache, Fatigue, Confusion, Defeat. If that’s you, hear me out. Over the past eight years, I’ve learned one powerful truth: Success, money, jobs, friends… none of it really matters until you’ve figured out one thing— 👉🏼 WHO YOU ARE. This was the missing ingredient for me for so many years. And I know it’s the missing ingredient for so many other men right now. Maybe it’s what you’re missing, too. Do not let this be the thing that continues to hold you back from the progress, fulfillment, and purpose you’re seeking. Here’s what I want to share with you: One of the frameworks that helped me uncover WHO I AM. It’s simple. But it’s not easy. It requires time, diligence, and a willingness to dig deep into your heart and existence. But it works. Use it. Don’t procrastinate. Don’t let another dead end stop you. Because here’s the truth: everything good, honorable, trustworthy, noble, and praiseworthy in life flows from one place—WHO YOU ARE at your core. The D.E.S.I.G.N. Framework: This framework is designed to help you identify your unique makeup: Drives: What excites you? What fires you up? Experiences: What unique experiences have shaped you into the man you are today? Spirituality: How do you best connect with God? Impact: What arena do you feel most compelled to influence or contribute to? Genius: What are the things you do repeatedly, successfully, and joyfully? Nature: What’s your personality? Are you more extroverted or introverted? Do you thrive in structure or spontaneity? This is simply a starting point. But starting is key. If you need help working through this or figuring out your next steps, don’t hesitate to reach out.  Your journey starts with YOU. Don’t wait any longer to uncover who that is.
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