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Brain Food Wednesdays: Sharpening Your Awareness to Make Meaningful Connections
Dear Reader,
In this week’s newsletter, the 153rd issue, I’m writing about sharpening your awareness to make meaningful connections. How good are you at connecting the dots? Steve Jobs once said:
“You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”
This year a lot of my focus has been on professional development. I’ve taken a lot of courses to build my mental capacities. My intuition is getting stronger and once again I’m tapping into my creativity.
I wrote a blog post on becoming more aware using characteristics and traits that MacGyver and Patrick Jane from the Mentalist possess. In researching and writing the post, I also learned a lot about myself. The idea came to me to write another similar post.
This one, the focus, is on Jack Reacher, who most people know of. And Annja Creed, the main character in the Rogue Angel series. Harlequin publishes Rogue Angel by Alex Archer, the pen name for a collection of authors. When Harlequin was publishing the series, a new book came out every other month.
Though the books could use more copyediting, I enjoyed the fantasy series, and I learned something new from each story. I probably read 40 of the 57 books in the series that were published. Looking back, I can connect the dots, and the lessons gleaned are more profound.
Below, you’ll find the article I wrote, and I hope you find it helpful.
Ask Avil
Sharpening Your Awareness to Make Meaningful Connections
Many people know of the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. However, most don’t know about the Rogue Angel series by Alex Archer. Annja Creed is the main character, and she possesses Joan of Arc’s sword, which comes from the outer where when she needs it. Owning the Joan of Arc Sword has heightened Annja Creed’s awareness and sharpened many of her skills. She is a master of many forms of martial arts, and she is a trained archaeologist. She has traveled the world on unbelievable adventures. And has encountered many creatures, including dinosaurs and ghosts. By now you realize that the Rogue Angel series is from the fantasy genre.
Jack Reacher and Annja Creed
Jack Reacher is an ex-military police officer who lives off the grid and uses his wits to solve complex mysteries. He is strong-willed, independent, and fearless. And he does not back down from a fight or a challenge. Annja Creed is an archaeologist who discovers ancient artifacts with her magical Joan of Arc sword she keeps hidden away when not in use. She uses her knowledge to uncover long lost secrets and protect innocent people from danger.
Determination: Never Give Up
Determination is a key trait shared by Jack Reacher and Annja Creed, two beloved action-adventure protagonists in recent memory. Both characters have showed incredible tenacity in their pursuit of justice, never giving up despite overwhelming odds. The determination they exhibit serves as an inspiring reminder that no matter how challenging a situation may be, it’s still possible to achieve success through hard work and perseverance.
Jack Reacher has been lauded for his keen sense of justice and his refusal to let anyone get away with injustice or wrongdoing. He always puts himself in danger to protect those who can’t protect themselves. No matter the cost. Similarly, Annja Creed will go above and beyond what is required to make sure justice prevails. She has put her own life on the line to save others. The main characters of Jack Reacher and Annja Creed possess a strong sense of justice that puts them at odds with those who would seek to do harm.
Adaptability: Change is Constant
The action-adventure duo of Jack Reacher and Annja Creed are proof that change brings opportunity. Both characters face difficult life situations which force them to become agile and adaptable to their ever-changing environment. Adapting to the world is a fundamental part of life, something that Jack Reacher and Annja Creed understand all too well. Seeing them come out on top just proves that, with the right mindset, any challenge can be tackled.
Courage: Confronting Fear
Ever wondered what it takes to conquer fear? To have the courage to face difficult and dangerous situations? Two fictional characters, Jack Reacher and Annja Creed, provide us with lessons in courage on how to confront our fears.
Jack Reacher is known for his willingness to take risks and solve cases where others have failed. In Rogue Angel, Annja Creed is the heroine from The Adventure Channel’s series Chasing History’s Monsters. She is fearless when facing danger to uncover the truth about mysterious creatures, artifacts, and places. Both characters show incredible courage despite their fears, teaching us valuable lessons about confronting fear head-on.
Selflessness: Putting Others First
Putting others first is a lesson that can be found in the lives of two of literature’s most renowned characters, Jack Reacher and Annja Creed. Both individuals are known for their heroic deeds, but it’s ultimately their dedication to putting other people first that makes them so admirable. Reacher is a former military man turned drifter who uses his skills to help those in need with no expectation of reward or recognition.
Similarly, Annja Creed is an archaeologist with an unwavering devotion to protecting the innocent and stopping evil from prevailing. By putting others before themselves, both characters show that selflessness is an important trait and one worth striving for. Reacher and Creed serve as positive role models for readers by showing what it looks like when someone puts the needs of others ahead of their own desires.
Resourcefulness: Overcoming Challenges
Both heroes show remarkable resourcefulness in their ability to overcome the many challenges they face. Jack Reacher and Annja Creed use their resources to stay one step ahead of danger and come out victorious in the end. We can apply these same techniques to our own lives, to better manage difficult situations and achieve our goals more successfully. By looking at their strategies for success, we can gain insights into how we, too, can become more resourceful when tackling life’s obstacles. With some practical advice from Reacher and Creed, readers will have the tools necessary to conquer any adversity that comes their way.
Reflection: Making Smart Choices
Reflection can help us make smarter decisions, and two fictional characters – Jack Reacher and Annja Creed – provide valuable examples of how we can improve our decision-making skills. Jack Reacher uses his experience to analyze situations with remarkable accuracy. Similarly, Annja Creed is an archaeologist-turned-adventurer who relies on her keen intellect, street smarts and courage to navigate through tough decisions. By studying their life lessons, we can learn important strategies for making smarter choices.
Jack Reacher focuses on methodical reflection when deciding. He takes the time to understand the full scope of a situation before taking action. He considers all available evidence and listens closely to both sides of any conflict before deciding which course of action is best suited for the situation at hand.
Courage in the Face of Adversity
As the world continues to grapple with unprecedented difficulties, courage has become a valuable resource. This is nowhere more clear than in the characters of Jack Reacher and Annja Creed. These two fictional heroes have inspired readers for years with their ability to triumph in the face of adversity.
Both show an unyielding commitment to justice, standing up against all kinds of wrongdoing without hesitation or fear. Despite any danger that may come their way, they persistently push forward on their mission until it is complete.
Taking Risks to Achieve Results
Taking risks can be a daunting task and often involves putting yourself in uncomfortable situations. However, some of the most successful people in history have taken massive risks to achieve greater results. Two characters from popular novels, Jack Reacher and Annja Creed, exemplify this idea by exhibiting unwavering courage and tenacity in their respective stories.
Jack Reacher takes on dangerous cases that push him out of his comfort zone. He confronts criminals with incredible skill and fearlessness throughout the series, never letting his own safety come before justice or his moral code. Similarly, Annja Creed is a skilled archaeologist and martial artist who embarks on treasure hunts where she faces treacherous conditions with bravery. In every adventure, she encounters danger but also discovers valuable artifacts as rewards for her courage.
The Value of Being Resourceful
Resourcefulness is an invaluable quality that can help you achieve success in any situation. This lesson is exemplified through two of literature’s most iconic characters, Jack Reacher and Annja Creed.
Two fictional figures that serve as a testament to the power of being resourceful are Jack Reacher and Annja Creed. These two characters, from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series and Alex Archer’s Annja Creed novels respectively, demonstrate resourcefulness in their adventures to face some of the toughest challenges life offers.
Both protagonists make use of their intelligence, wit and unique skillset to overcome obstacles and reach their goals with minimal resources at their disposal. This makes them admired by readers all over the world. Through these examples, we can see how having a resourceful mindset can be invaluable in both our professional lives and our personal ones.
Adapting to Change and Uncertainty
Adapting to change and uncertainty is an important part of life. It’s a lesson that Jack Reacher and Annja Creed have learned well throughout their respective careers. Both characters face obstacles as they navigate different environments, cultures, and people, but their ability to remain flexible in the face of adversity has enabled them to succeed despite these challenges.
Jack Reacher understands that to make it through any situation, he has to be prepared for anything. He knows how to think on his feet and adjust his strategies when faced with sudden changes or uncertainties.
Conclusion: Values for Life
The story of Jack Reacher and Annja Creed is one that has inspired many to develop a sense of personal strength and an appreciation for life. While many lessons have been gleaned from their journey, the bottom line remains that values are essential to achieving success in life.
Values such as integrity, courage, resilience and commitment are integral components of navigating through the storms of life. These qualities enable us to maintain our composure under pressure and take ownership of our decisions. This leads us to being more comfortable with ourselves and our journey ahead. Values also lead us towards meaningful relationships with people around us—a fundamental part of a successful life.
Jack Reacher and Annja Creed’s stories evoke the need for cultivating a strong value system within ourselves which will drive us towards success in every aspect of our lives.
I wasn’t able to connect the dots between Jack Reacher and Annja Creed until I’d read several of the books that feature them. And I had to read several books to see the lessons you can learn from both characters. By reading books, you can make these connections as well.
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Until Next Week,
Avil Beckford, Founder, The Invisible Mentor
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