I like to periodically do a self-check to ensure that I am mask-free. That I am being honest with myself and with others. No matter the cost, I strive to honor what I see as the truth. Realizing that my perceptions are just that, what I believe to be true. What others see may or may not be what I perceive they are understanding. It’s risky to take off the mask and show my true values and stand up for what I feel is ethically correct. There is a risk to being real. Making myself vulnerable to…
What a gift it is to be given another chance, a redo. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for all the moments when I have done or said something less than desirable, yet have been given grace by those around me. The times I have been given grace have strengthened my ability to be both forgiving and thankful. But most importantly, I learn from each experience and pay it forward. With close friends, it is easy to see past some minor hiccups in one’s behavior or words. I know the value of friendship and understand the…
When I feel like there’s no choice, I choose hope. It is by faith that I, without doubt, know and believe that if I choose to surrender to Jesus, I will persevere through all struggles and find peace. When we choose Jesus, suffering does not disappear. Often, suffering becomes more intense. Surrendering to Jesus does not mean life will be any easier. What it does mean is that all the suffering one endures is eased with inner peace. Suffering without surrendering is like climbing a mountain with a mudslide. Each time you power through one obstacle, you slide back…
A tentative plan has been invaluable to me throughout my life and continues to enhance my day. A plan has allowed me to live in the moment and change course when necessary. In order of priority, I write down what I need to accomplish and the deadline. The plan can be altered at any moment. When running a company, my goal was to be flexible and adapt to the highest priority. Living in the moment allowed me to be proactive. Minimizing the necessary tasks for the day, leaving time for problem-solving. Issues could then be addressed immediately, without risking…
We make decisions constantly throughout our day. How do we navigate those decisions? Have we set ourselves up to succeed in our daily decision-making? I spent some time teaching myself to prioritize being thankful, prayerful, and living with a perspective of love and compassion. All of these things help prepare me to make better decisions. Being thankful allows me to approach decision-making with a positive perspective. Love opens the door for compassion and brings depth to my understanding. Prayer centers me and guides my decision-making process. One of the reasons I made a decision to learn how…
It’s not too late to change. Maybe others can’t change us, but we can make changes within ourselves if we so desire. First, we need to realize there’s something about ourselves that we would like to change. If I don’t know what I need to change in my life, I ask Jesus through prayer to show me what I need to do differently. Then I listen. If I’m being honest with myself and listening, I see various replays of different circumstances in my life and how I reacted to each of them. Once I see…
How do we encourage ourselves to see people as people, withholding judgment, encouraging acceptance, and inclusion? I’ll never forget the day my daughter came home and was accused of plagiarism in front of the entire class by a teacher. She asked the teacher what part of her work was not cited properly or paraphrased. When the teacher showed her, she said, “I am so sorry, but I did not plagiarize. I forgot to change the font when I transferred the information from my computer notes to the paper. Those are my words.” The teacher was unable to find any…
What is the right way? There are so many paths to choose from and so many ways that we can choose to communicate or act. One of the things that helped me move beyond my typical biased views is leading with compassion. When I approach a situation with a mindset of love, kindness, and understanding, my mind is open to seeing other perspectives. Rather than assuming I know all the facts, I start with an understanding that I only know my perspective, and even then, my viewpoint can be biased. Jesus knows the full story accurately and sees the total…
In life, there are plenty of moments that bring out the negative, but the real test is whether one can move past discouragement and use it as fuel to ignite kindness and compassion. Ignoring the nasty addressing frustrations with love and understanding. Turning a seemingly negative event into a lesson in building trust. Most of us have moments of frustration, but I don’t let those moments take over my life. I learn from my mistakes, but I don’t linger in discouragement. Think about a time when you have been around someone who lives their life frustrated and stressed…
I am hopeful I won’t allow myself to be boxed in by something so permanent as the word never. When I hear myself use the word, I find myself immediately regretting what I’ve said. I know that all things are possible, and most, if not all, of my “nevers” have been proven wrong. Not only does it backfire on me, but it has also often led to some of my most memorable and cherished experiences. I never wanted to go to college. Yet I have earned a PhD. I never wanted to leave Ohio. Yet I’ve lived…