Sunday Setup
A weekly newsletter to help get your mind set up for a positive workweek.
06.29.2025 — Canine Caper
Rut Roh
Sometimes art imitates life. Sometimes life imitates art. And sometimes, life is just interestingly inexplicable — and funny.
Last week, a convenience store in Alabama was burglarized by a thief donning a full-body Scooby-Doo Costume. The unidentified, 5'9" male suspect tripped a security alarm around 4 am when he broke into a Quick Stop along Highway 82 in Duncanville. Caught on camera, the costumed customer can be seen helping himself to cash and coins — but no Scooby Snacks — while wearing a ski mask and dog ears, before dashing out the door prior to the cops arriving.
With the suspect still on the loose, Tuscaloosa Police essentially put out an APB for The Mystery Machine and those meddling kids. They've asked the people of Tuscaloosa to come forward with any information that will help them uncover Scooby-Doo's government name. If life were to really imitate art and be interestingly and inexplicably funny, Orville Richard Burrell would be revealed as the masked marauder.
Do You Have People?
Everyone has — or should have — people in their lives that can help keep them honest. People that can candidly place a mirror in front of their face to help them see themselves the way others do.
Regardless of how well-versed you may be at your job — or anything in life for that matter — chances are you've turned a blind eye to the way you've behaved at one point or another as a result of your work. Perhaps the talents you've been gifted have caused you to develop an insatiable ego that compels you to believe you're infallible and your work is impeccable. Or, perhaps you are such a perfectionist that you are unable to find success in good work because of one or two minor, errant details. This is where people can come in handy. Do you have people?
Last week, after delivering a sub-par performance — according to my high self-standards — I subjected myself to a bit of destructive, self-loathing as I obsessively ruminated over how poor it was and how it could've been better. I was so focused on how imperfect I'd been and what had gone wrong, that I was unable to see the beauty in imperfection and embrace what had gone well. Thankfully, two important people in my life, my spouse and my life coach, gave me a figurative slap across the face which helped me see things from a different perspective — the one outside of my head.
Regardless of whether you have people to remind you to do so, taking a step back to observe your behaviors, interactions, and reactions — without harsh judgment — can be one of the most mentally healthy things you do in a corporate setting. This self-observation can help you:
Reduce emotional reactivity by responding consciously rather than reacting impulsively
Encourage personal growth by acknowledging areas for improvement without spiraling into guilt or self-criticism
Strengthen relationships and communication by understanding how you provide — or receive — feedback
Improve your decision making by recognizing the feelings on which they're based, e.g. fear, people-pleasing, or ego
Build inner stability amid uncertainty by being grounded in self vs controlled by external events
Taking an objective view of yourself isn’t about detachment — it’s about perspective. It allows you to lead with awareness, regulate your emotions, and stay aligned with your values.
So, if you find yourself in the midst of a challenging or frustrating situation this week, or perhaps you get caught up reviewing and obsessing over something that occurred in the recent past, don't let your mind take over. Instead, take a step back and pause before you proceed. Peer into the mirror with your physical eyes to objectively view the situation, then let your third eye inspire a thoughtful reaction based on perspective.
Sometimes you gotta be your own people.