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Hey there, it’s Dennis.
In today’s issue:
A sunrise moment that shifted my perspective
Why the “Pale Blue Dot” reminds us to see the bigger picture
The difference between gratitude and reflection
How these practices move us from scarcity to abundance
What I’m personally grateful for as 2025 comes to a close
Reflection questions to guide you into 2026
Thankful for the FIRE
The sun was slowly rising this morning, and the shapes around me began to emerge. The trees, the horses, the familiar silhouette of Harry the donkey. Then came the chorus: the rustling of leaves, Harry’s unmistakable bay, the low bark of our Great Pyrenees, the birds and the squirrels joining in.
What an incredible world we get to wake up to every day.
And yet, I can almost hear the responses: “But what about…?”
Because conflict is everywhere; conflict rooted in religion, resources, legacy, ideology, and opinion. It can feel impossible to ignore.
But this morning, I chose to notice the good.
Not because the world is perfect, but because gratitude shifts the way we move through it.
On February 14th 1990, Voyage 1 took a picture of Earth from 3.7 billion miles away. It is the small blue dot identified by the arrow in the picture.
The vastness of the universe becomes very apparent, very quickly.
That our tiny, tiny speck within the universe is teaming with life is amazing all in its own right.
Yet we still have a tendency, as humans, to believe the world, the universe revolves around us and that our individuals goals, dreams and aspirations are most important. In doing so, we lose sight of the bigger picture.
This is ever present in our daily lives, where we focus on the past and on the future, completely missing the present.
Never taking time to pause and focus on the small moments in life, to reflect on our own growth and progress down our path. While I am improving in this area, I am also just as guilty as anyone else when it comes to being truly grounded in the moment.
As 2025 draws to a close, we take this opportunity to pause for two key practices; Gratitude for all that we have experienced (both good and bad) and Reflection on our personal growth and experiences.
Gratitude
Gratitude, or as I think of it, Pure Gratitude is simply noticing, acknowledging and appreciating what is – in the moment. It is a process of grounding oneself in the present. It is both simple and specific, noticing the small details AND it takes practice. The biggest challenge for me was the unconditional aspect in part because we live in a world that is focused on competitive success.
Reflection
Reflection on the other hand is the conscious act of pausing and thinking about what we have experienced, our emotions and the actions so that we can understand them more deeply as a part of our personal journey to attain our dreams.
The key is that it is Intentional, It is Honest and it can help us to move forward.
Applying both of these in concert is one way that we can move from Scarcity to Abundance.
In short, Gratitude is noticing what is good and reflection is understanding why it matters.
A quote often attributed to Zig Ziglar says:
“If necessity is the mother of invention, repetition is the father of results.”
Meaning: these practices only work when they’re daily habits, not yearly rituals.
As I reflect on 2025, I’m grateful for:
To live on the farm and experience the horses, donkey, goat and Great Pyrenees every day. I have learned to pay closer attention to them, to focus on being in the moment with them and I have been rewarded each and every time.
The people I meet who inspire me in big ways and small ways. Many of these are in passing interactions and some in observation of small actions that I witness.
For those who realize that differences of viewpoints, visions, values does not mean any one of us is wholly wrong. It simply means we are different and that is to be celebrated.
Embers in the Ether who have welcomed me into the world of Fire Flow.
For the FIRE that burns within me and within everyone as we go through big and small transformations moving down our path. For the healing it provides me and the welcoming warmth it gives to all who share a fire with me.
My amazing wife who continues to inspire me with her patience and kindness, given without any thought or expectation of a return. Her tolerance of my exploration of my path is nothing short of miraculous. I mean how many of our partners are willing to cheer us on when we start a new venture that involves working with fire on a daily basis.
For Dreams, Human Connection, Belonging, Curiosity, Kindness.
Finally, and most importantly, I am grateful for my TIGER whose roar guides me to the challenge I must face, who is only tamed when I am prepared to move forward and who walks with me through the fear barrier and down the path toward my dreams.
As you step into the final stretch of the year, I want to leave you with a few questions:
What are you grateful for today?
When you reflect on the past day, week, month - what truly stands out?
What is the dream that burns within you?
What fuels that fire? What dampens it?
And how will you bring it to life in 2026?
Quote of The Week:
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” — Anonymous
Have you ever noticed that voice that reverberates in your head the minute you consider a new experience or an action to make your dreams a reality? The one that seems to whisper “You’re not ready” or shouts “What if you fail?”
That is the Tiger that I refer to and the idea of creating the metaphor for the Tiger came from Jim Lawless in his book, Taming Tigers.
It’s fear and self-doubt dressed up as protection, convincing us to stay safe instead of stepping forward and growing. The Tiger is loud, convincing and relentless, but here’s the truth: it only has the power we give it.
Every time you step forward in spite of that roar, you weaken its grip and strengthen your own. That is what Tiger Letters are all about, sharing knowledge, experience, fears and inner strength to make your dreams a reality.
So, the next time your Tiger ROARS, smile at it, step forward reclaiming your power and break through the fear barrier into your growth zone.
Before you go, here is ONE way you can work with me.
Book your FREE Kickstart Call with me - 1:1 performance coaching to help you break through fear, self-doubt, and procrastination—so you can finally move forward with clarity, confidence, and courage.
Until next time!
The Tiger Is Inside You.