It is risky to be real, but empowering just the same. Why is it scary to be real? Because it requires stepping out in faith. It means that I am totally exposed and people have the choice to accept or not accept the person I have become. That in itself is scary. It is a risk to take off the mask and unveil the true colors. I never changed who I was in character or spirit. I did, however, hold the strength of my faith in the closet for years. It wasn’t that I didn’t let anyone in…
Although for a moment I may take things personally, I quickly regroup and realize that there are ways to rid myself of what seems like a personal attack. I start by removing myself from thinking negative thoughts and turning to prayer. I then find something constructive that I can use to learn and grow and/or I give the worry to God. It is hard not to take what people say and do personally. I do want to grow from my mistakes, but I don’t want to be paralyzed by negative influences. I quickly get rid of any bad…
The stage is set to pull off a major event which takes planning, effort, cooperation among people, and an ability to understand the importance of timing. Sound familiar? Have you ever launched a business, been the leader of an organization or event, or planned a vacation? One can do everything right and if the timing is off success is in jeopardy. My life took direction immediately after graduate school. I had thought I would be accepting a position at a university when an offer was extended to work in industry. At the time the job offer was half of what…
As a child, I am not sure I fully realized the power of the phrase, “Count your blessings”. In the back of my mind, I recall hearing that phrase being used by many adults. I now find myself encouraging my children to realize all the blessings around us. There is a lot going on in this world, I choose to focus on the blessings. I think about the positive things going on around me. When I start with an attitude of appreciation I find that I have a better perspective on life’s challenging issues. When I ignore all the…
Last week I wrote about how faith, prayer, love, service, and forgiveness all work synergistically to help me face life with a positive outlook. At the same time judgment, control, self-pity, blame, and worry are things that I aspire to eliminate in my life. It is a work in progress, but the good news is that I am aware and normally recognize when the nasty side makes its appearance. I quickly change my attitude and rely on faith, prayer, love, service, and forgiveness. With the sudden realization that I am processing judgmental thoughts, I silently ask Jesus for forgiveness…
When I want to change my attitude or outlook on life, I quickly evaluate my priorities and reestablish how faith, prayer, love, service, and forgiveness are working in my life. Do I have a realistic perspective or am I living a life full of stress? Am I allowing fear or faith to lead my life? For me, faith is first. I can sense when I step over the line and try to manage my life rather than walk my intended path. I center my thoughts on Jesus and trust that opportunities will arise if I am open to all possibilities…
Lately, I’ve been thinking about perceptions and how often I automatically take what I see and hear as real. How often do I look at the situation and make a judgment based on a brief encounter? Do I go a step further and confirm what I have seen or heard or do I make a spontaneous judgment? I listen to and read the news that is reported but challenge myself to be open to various perspectives. I have my opinions but tend not to verbalize them because rarely have I taken the time to seek the truth through research…
I try not to think about all the times that frustration has quickly surfaced within me unveiling a side that is not particularly flattering. I am learning to overcome frustration with prayer and remembering the importance of maintaining love in my heart. I was researching businesses that extract wisdom teeth. I called to get price estimates, but the offices would not give any pricing over the phone. I was not pleased but understood the process. During the initial call, I asked if I could book the surgery for a particular week. The woman said, “We don’t book appointments until…
I will be honest, my definition of love 10 years ago was very narrow. For me, love was a term used when in the company of family and friends. I have always had the ability to spread love among those close to me, but my life changed when I was able to genuinely feel love for all. After reading the book Miracles Every Day I realized that I had been living life only appreciating love through my circle of influence (Zagrans, 2010). For me, it was Dr. Issam Nemeh who simplified love and made me realize our purpose is to…
In order to focus on what is most important, I believe it is crucial to understand our weaknesses. When we are aware of our weaknesses we are better able to manage and control our actions. As we gain an understanding of our weaknesses our strengths begin to blossom. My list of weaknesses is pretty extensive, but the ones I work on the most are my quick temper, my voice tone, and my ability to clear my mind and focus on Jesus. To better focus we have to be aware of our weaknesses and admit that they exist. That does not…