The Quest Newsletter

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Welcome to Quest, a weekly newsletter where I provide ideas to help you build a life you love — one filled with more energy, purpose, and joy.

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Quote: Presence
Useful Ideas: Routine, Success, Focus
Exercise: Year-End Reflection
Story: Christmas Truce
Thought: Finish Strong

Quote

The sweetest present you can give your family is your presence.

When you try to be present everywhere, you end up being present nowhere. 

Focus your attention where it matters most. 

Useful Ideas

I.

A lot of people abandon their routines during the holiday season.

We often think there is freedom when we remove the constraints of our habits but the opposite is actually true.

Discipline creates freedom, it doesn’t constrict it.

Discipline with your habits leads to more energy.
More energy leads to a better version of you.
A better version of you blesses others.  

II.
 
Everyone talks about learning from their failures. 

That’s good. You should. 

Are you also learning from your success? 

III.

If you focus on regret for the past, you’ll live with shame.

If you focus on fear of the future, you’ll live with anxiety.

If you focus on gratitude in the present, you’ll live with joy.

Where your focus goes, your energy flows.

Exercise

“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” 
- Jim Dewey

I like the idea of reflecting on the past year and preparing for the year to come.

In my head, I think of spending hours journaling and coming up with detailed goals for the next year. 

The problem is that this process feels too burdensome and I often feel too busy during this season so I usually end up doing nothing.

This year I’m committing to a simple exercise of thinking through these questions.

1. What went well this year?
2. What habits energized me the most?
3. Which people blessed me the most?
4. What do I need to double down on next year?
5. What do I need to eliminate next year?
6. What do I want to learn more about next year?
7. In what areas are my behaviors not aligned with my beliefs?

Story

Based on a true story, this video on The Christmas Truce of 1914 might be one of the greatest “ads” ever made.

Thought

What do you need to do in the final 10 days of the year to finish 2023 well and start 2024 strong?  



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I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!

Much love,

Beau Burns

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