Zig Ziglar said "Failure is merely an event...it adds to your experience...it is an attitude". It seems like everywhere I turn these days I am coming across people who are having extremely hard times. We too are feeling VERY challenged right now.
Notice I said we are "feeling challenged"? You see, I refuse to state that anything in our lives is a "fact" or a "statement". Why? Because how I see it, feel about it, and affirm it determines how it WILL be. You see, time moves along. So how things are in this moment does not determine how it will be an hour from now, or tomorrow, or the next day. MY attitude however, absolutely will!
Many people need lots of things right now, but I dare say that the fundamental need in our world right now is hope.
Faith is the only anecdote for failure!
We all get to choose whether we are going to think about how bad things are, or affirm that "they are getting better". I know, "just saying it won't change anything." Actually, if you believe it, it will. If you really believe it, you will begin to look for ways to make it better! To paraphrase the great Zig Ziglar, "Do you believe that there is something that you could do today that would make your life worse? Then there MUST be something that you can do to make it better!"
But you won't even try, if you don't believe it is possible!
Think of the difficult times you have had in your life, that we as a country have had in our history. They have ALWAYS been temporary! They have always gotten better. These times will be no different.
Do you find it hard to have hope? Look for reasons to! You will always find what you are looking for! If you are looking for evidence that times are tough, you will always find it. If you look for reasons to hope, you will find those too!
Where to start?
1. Gratitude...
Not "I know, I know, I have a lot to be thankful for, but..."
Get a small notebook and write down 10 things that you have to be thankful for at least 3 times a day. Yes, at least 3 times a day, and yes, you have to write them down. Don't believe it will work? Try it! The more that you are thankful for, the more you will be given to be thankful for!
2. Journal...about the times in your life that you had no hope and how amazing they turned out. Write about the wonderful things and people in your life that you never even imagined you would have.
If you are currently journaling about how tough things are, leave space at the end for the "rest of the story". Leave "room" to come back and write about what a blessing it turned out to be. Then, take it one step further...imagine how amazing the "ending" could be. Go ahead and "make up the ending".
3. Look for ways to help others. No matter how much you are struggling. or how little you have, there is ALWAYS something that you can give to someone else. Even if it is just a word of encouragement. This is truly powerful. Don't disregard it! You will create an immediate shift in your thoughts, emotions and potential when you stop looking at yourself and start looking for ways to help others. Tell that pregnant girl who looks down how beautiful she is, ask that grumpy clerk "what's wrong" and tell her that you believe that her day is going to get better. Tell that child that just made a huge mess "building something" what an "amazing imagination" they have and how "cool" that is!
4. Turn off the news! Stop feeding yourself "food" that makes you sick! Look for healthier choices! Find music, videos, and stories that will "feed your soul". They are everywhere! I have a 9 yr old who is very sensitive and gets easily upset when someone says something ugly to him. We have secretly decided that "we have an invisible shield". So when we are confronted (as we all inevitably are)with negative people, stories, etc., we imagine a clear shield coming over us (kind of like Buzz lightyears helmet). You CAN be standing in front of someone and not "really hear" what they are saying. You can! Just smile and go through your "thankful fors" in your head!
5. You can't just eliminate negative thoughts. "The universe abhors a vacuum". Make the conscious choice to affirm the way you want to be. If you tell yourself daily that you are "always late...totally stressed out...completely unorganized,etc", you will be! Instead affirm to yourself that "I am getting better and better every day! I am getting more organized, more punctual, more successful" or whatever it is that you want to be. Imagine things the way that you want them to be! Visualize what that will "look like". Visualization is far more powerful that I can cover here.
Just do it!
Imagine what you could do if you didn't believe that you couldn't! Do you believe that you "can't" because of a lack of money, or college education? Watch this...
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Advice from Others
I was fortunate to have attended a mastermind group "last year" (hard to believe last month = last year!:)facilitated by Leslie Flowers, who is a life success coach. When discussing all of those "voices out there" (you know the ones. The well meaning-or not, friends, relatives and neighbors that tell you what you should and shouldn't do, can and can't,etc), she says that many of them "are simply not aware". Meaning that they have a lesser level of awareness, and cannot really be "faulted" for that per se.
I have been challenged recently by others who seem compelled to tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing, what I need to do, etc. I imagine that many are in this place as the current economy has left many facing a different path that the one that they were on last year. Many have been laid off, or worse (no severance or unemployment), have had their business simply vanish. Many "well meaning" people have and will continue to ask "what are you going to do?". This is a reasonable question, but a frustrating one for the many who aren't quite sure yet! Others simply state the obvious, "You need to come up with a way to make money". That one is my favorite! I have to repeatedly fight the urge to respond "Really! Thanks for telling me! I had no idea!", especially when the statement is being made for the umpteenth time by the same person! I keep "hearing" Leslie say "they are simply unaware", but it is no less frustrating, as it just turns the pressure up. And, if there is one thing that I've discovered, it's that inspired thoughts, ideas, and creative solutions are not born inside of a pressure cooker!
Yesterday, it all came to me however. I am very visual, and this really drove home the whole "awareness" concept for me.
I was driving to my in-laws and as I turned onto a newly finished "bypass" highway, the "GPS lady" started telling me to turn around. She actually began to sound upset, or rather annoyed that I wasn't "listening". The picture on the screen showed a little car in the middle of nowhere, with no roads in site, as she "yelled at me" to find a road immediately! I couldn't help but laugh! Here I was, on a brand new perfectly paved highway, absolutely certain of where I was going, and that the highway would take me there. But she just "couldn't see it. She was simply unaware!" Therefore, she was convinced that I was going the wrong way, or was lost, or worse, not even on a road to anywhere!
Well "there you go", I thought. Isn't that where many of us are right now! We know where we need to go, and what path we need to be on. We may not know exactly how we will get there, but we know that we are going in the right direction. Yet, there are those others, like "GPS lady", who simply are unaware. Who simply cannot see what we see, or know what we know. If things aren't completely clear, keep one ear open, but don't let that voice drown out your own vision. If your path is just as visible as the highway in front of you, just do what I did...turn her off and keep going!:)
Focus: On Being $ Productive?
During this time, much of our focus is on the economy. For many, it is on "lack" vs. Abundance. I talked with someone the other day who was laid off in '08. He is currently doing IT related contract work, and mentioned that he has more work that he can do. He seemed very stressed about money, and "not knowing" how long the work will last. He stated that when he was first laid off, he was doing lot of work "to help others" (for free). He said that it felt great, but that he quickly realized that he wasn't "getting anything for it", and became fearful of his "money running out", so he shifted his focus to "income generating work". He also told me that he had been going to school for his MBA and had received a loan for more than he needed for tuition, which helped with other bills. He is to receive another this month, but is considering quitting the MBA program because he needs to be working, and finding a job, and is concerned that the MBA will just make him "overqualified" for most jobs anyway.
As someone who has spent the last 15 years in real estate, and who (along with thousands of other Realtors, developers, builders, and lenders) had their "industry" essentially disappear with no severance, and no "unemployment benefits", I was fascinated by this perspective.
Here is someone with so many options, and opportunities and blessings! Most people would LOVE to be in this position! But what struck me the most was the comment about "not getting anything for" the work that he was doing to "help others". I pondered this, and finally asked "How can you be sure that work was for nothing? You said that you have more work than you can do right now, right?" He confirmed that he did, and I responded, "A lot of people don't have that right now. Could it be that the reason that you have been given so much, is actually because of your giving-because of that work that you did for others for free?" I for one, believe that it is!
Too many times (esp. now!) we expect to receive compensation when we simply haven't yet earned it! I believe in the Law of Compensation that says "You must first give value", and that you will be compensated in direct proportion to the value that you give. You can't go to the bank and say "Give me my interest, and then I'll make a deposit!"
I have heard many conversations recently about focusing on making money right now. "This is not the time to pursue your dream" or "This is not the time for self improvement", "I can't be working for free right now", etc. Maybe this is the perfect time! Maybe the gift in all of this is that when you are at "the bottom" or "unemployed" or whatever, you have less to lose! So, why not now? Maybe the gift in all of this is the abundance of TIME! Many are not terribly busy right now! Most people would typically say that they don't have time to dream, or exercise, or learn, or better themselves, or change careers. Now you do!
Wouldn't becoming better, enable you to create more value? When you give to others, even when it's "for free", doesn't that add to your net value? To others, to your self ,and to mankind?
Sure, we all need to make a living, and you should absolutely "be in action", but maybe in this New Year instead of burying ourselves in "the grindstone" mentality, or working & stressing ourselves to death because we are so "lack" focused, and fearful, maybe we should tithe ourselves. Give 10% of our time to others, 10% to our family & friends, and 10% to ourselves. We are usually awake for at least 15hrs per day (ie. 6am-9pm), making 30%=5hrs. That still leaves us a whopping 10 hours to "work"! So cut out the wasted hours and give to yourself and others. You never know how that will be rewarded. Just know that the Law of Compensation states that it will!
As someone who has spent the last 15 years in real estate, and who (along with thousands of other Realtors, developers, builders, and lenders) had their "industry" essentially disappear with no severance, and no "unemployment benefits", I was fascinated by this perspective.
Here is someone with so many options, and opportunities and blessings! Most people would LOVE to be in this position! But what struck me the most was the comment about "not getting anything for" the work that he was doing to "help others". I pondered this, and finally asked "How can you be sure that work was for nothing? You said that you have more work than you can do right now, right?" He confirmed that he did, and I responded, "A lot of people don't have that right now. Could it be that the reason that you have been given so much, is actually because of your giving-because of that work that you did for others for free?" I for one, believe that it is!
Too many times (esp. now!) we expect to receive compensation when we simply haven't yet earned it! I believe in the Law of Compensation that says "You must first give value", and that you will be compensated in direct proportion to the value that you give. You can't go to the bank and say "Give me my interest, and then I'll make a deposit!"
I have heard many conversations recently about focusing on making money right now. "This is not the time to pursue your dream" or "This is not the time for self improvement", "I can't be working for free right now", etc. Maybe this is the perfect time! Maybe the gift in all of this is that when you are at "the bottom" or "unemployed" or whatever, you have less to lose! So, why not now? Maybe the gift in all of this is the abundance of TIME! Many are not terribly busy right now! Most people would typically say that they don't have time to dream, or exercise, or learn, or better themselves, or change careers. Now you do!
Wouldn't becoming better, enable you to create more value? When you give to others, even when it's "for free", doesn't that add to your net value? To others, to your self ,and to mankind?
Sure, we all need to make a living, and you should absolutely "be in action", but maybe in this New Year instead of burying ourselves in "the grindstone" mentality, or working & stressing ourselves to death because we are so "lack" focused, and fearful, maybe we should tithe ourselves. Give 10% of our time to others, 10% to our family & friends, and 10% to ourselves. We are usually awake for at least 15hrs per day (ie. 6am-9pm), making 30%=5hrs. That still leaves us a whopping 10 hours to "work"! So cut out the wasted hours and give to yourself and others. You never know how that will be rewarded. Just know that the Law of Compensation states that it will!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
I'm Thankful for Gratitude and Hope...
This time of year we all reflect on what we are thankful for. Even though many are facing challenging times, the luckiest of us have the capacity to be thankful. Few however, know how incredibly powerful gratitude can be. Gratitude is nature's greatest equalizer. No matter who you are, how much you have, where you came from, you can conquer sadness, depression and stress (among other things) by choosing to be thankful. Greater than any antidepressant, gratitude is the ultimate cure because sadness and gratitude cannot coexist in the same space at the same time. In other words, sadness cannot exist in a grateful heart.
Gratitude also puts us on a path to attract abundance unlike anything else.
Hope is sometimes more challenging for us. We are often bombarded by the "news" and it's "predictions" of extended recessions, increasing layoffs, disappointing shopping seasons, and the like. It's easy to not only lose sight of what we have to be thankful for, but to find hope of greater things to come.
I think Andy Andrews says it best (from AndyAndrews.com)
In addition, I have discovered proof of hope that has consistently lifted my heart, mind, and spirit to a point of forward motion. Very simply, it is this:
* Even in the worst of times, I must remember that I am still breathing.
* If I am still breathing, that means that I am still here.
* If I am still here, that means that I have not completed what I was put here to do.
* If I have not completed what I was put here to do, that means that my very purpose has not been fulfilled.
* If my very purpose has not been fulfilled, that means that the most important part of my life has yet to be lived.
* If the most important part of my life has yet to be lived, then it doesn't really matter how old I am or how broke I am, how long I've tried or how depressed I might be ... Here, at last, is proof that the best part of my life is ahead of me! Without a doubt, there is more laughter to come, more success in my future, more children to teach, more friends to influence. There is more.
There is more ... and the promise is proven by the simple fact that I am still breathing. I am still here.
for this perspective, for this hope, and for the generosity of Andy Andrews for posting it, and my ability to receive it, I am thankful.
Gratitude also puts us on a path to attract abundance unlike anything else.
Hope is sometimes more challenging for us. We are often bombarded by the "news" and it's "predictions" of extended recessions, increasing layoffs, disappointing shopping seasons, and the like. It's easy to not only lose sight of what we have to be thankful for, but to find hope of greater things to come.
I think Andy Andrews says it best (from AndyAndrews.com)
In addition, I have discovered proof of hope that has consistently lifted my heart, mind, and spirit to a point of forward motion. Very simply, it is this:
* Even in the worst of times, I must remember that I am still breathing.
* If I am still breathing, that means that I am still here.
* If I am still here, that means that I have not completed what I was put here to do.
* If I have not completed what I was put here to do, that means that my very purpose has not been fulfilled.
* If my very purpose has not been fulfilled, that means that the most important part of my life has yet to be lived.
* If the most important part of my life has yet to be lived, then it doesn't really matter how old I am or how broke I am, how long I've tried or how depressed I might be ... Here, at last, is proof that the best part of my life is ahead of me! Without a doubt, there is more laughter to come, more success in my future, more children to teach, more friends to influence. There is more.
There is more ... and the promise is proven by the simple fact that I am still breathing. I am still here.
for this perspective, for this hope, and for the generosity of Andy Andrews for posting it, and my ability to receive it, I am thankful.
Monday, November 17, 2008
How Many Times Did You "Should all over yourself" Today?
The concept that we often "beat ourselves up" is hardly a new one. But, over the past few days I've noticed how much people who are very much into "self improvement" do this. It's ironic to me that in the quest for "enlightenment" and reaching a "better and healthier self", we tend to beat ourselves up even more! Which stresses us out, and makes us feel bad, and uh...how self defeating is that?
In the current "economy", it is certainly easy to do! Whether you have been laid off, are worried about being laid off, or are a business owner trying to figure out how to make it all work, it's enough to stress out even the most zen among us!
I recently was on a group coaching call and the lady that I listened to ran through an entire litany of not only how she wasn't doing what she should be doing to improve her business, but also all of the things that she should have done during the "boom years".
I spoke with someone else today who was recently laid off, and figuring out what to do next. As if that isn't enough to think about, he was commenting on how he was eating and drinking things that he shouldn't.
We all do it without even realizing it! For the last two weeks I've been all about how much more "productive I should've been".
Here's another irony- I just did a video on "stepping in poop" and here I am blogging about how we "should" all over ourselves! HA! I see a pattern here...
Should this, should that...all day long, day after day! We aren't just stepping in it! We are picking it up and carrying it around with us every where we go. And it's garbage... Okay, I'll say it (pun intended!), it's crap! It doesn't serve us, and most of what we "should about" is someone else's idea of what we "should do" anyway! It's all a story we made up based on someone else's "issues"!
"They" say this and "they" say that. "They" say that we shouldn't eat certain foods, "They" say that we should be stay at home moms, or have a career. "They" say that we should have this, or accomplish that. Most of it's not even real! Most of it is just someone else's crap!
It reminds me of something that I wrote earlier this year. It kind of "sums it all up" (see below).
Read it, then make your own list of all the "shoulds" in your head. After you laugh at the absurdity of it all, mark out all of the ones that you refuse to buy into, and keep only the ones that truly reflect what matters to you! Then work on those, remind yourself that you are human, and therefore imperfect, but that you are getting better and better every day! And vow to never "should on yourself again!"
Changing the Story
Our lives are filled with stories.
Some we read, some we hear.
Most, we make up.
As little girls we read about princesses with knights in shining armor.
As women we read magazines full of “perfect women”.
They seem so real that they become ”our” reality
We try to escape our own “reality” by watching stories on TV about like survivor and Desperate Housewives.
We eagerly watch people on the news fighting against crime, and hunger, and war
We try to fill our souls with these stories about other people doing great things and making a difference.
We do this because our stories are not as exciting.
Because the story that we tell ourselves is:
“I’m not enough”
“I’m not amazing, or beautiful or glamorous or brilliant”
“I can’t handle this!”
“I’m completely stressed out”
“I’m just a mom”
“I am SO unorganized”
“I am broke”
“I have stretch marks, cellulite & fat thighs…”
“I don’t do everything that I am should to do…”
Well, let’s see…if we did everything that we “should”, what would that look like?
We would have to eat healthy foods, grown organically on a free range (whatever that is), not cooked in plastic or aluminum. Preferably vegetarian (or do plants have feelings too?).
We would have to know whether our body’s need for calcium is greater than the perils of consuming dairy.
We would have to do the dishes while conserving water, while saving the landfills by not using paper plates.
We would have to go to the gym without spending too much money, neglecting our husbands, or our work, or our kids and still have time to cook, clean, do laundry and take a shower.
We would have to drive ourselves and everyone else to work, school, the grocery store, and soccer without perpetuating global warming.
We would have to follow a 20 step skin care regime to avoid wrinkles which would cost hundreds of dollars without increasing our debt or using money that should have gone to charity, our retirement, the church, the whales, the hungry, or the homeless.
All of which we would have to do by working at a job that serves a higher good in a business that is environmentally friendly, doesn’t get tax breaks, and employs no one overseas.
We to have a job so that we wouldn’t have to rely on men or welfare & Somehow we would have to do this while being a stay at home mom!
We would have to be beautiful without being vain or using products that are tested on animals or that would harm the environment.
We would have to be erotic and desirable (but only when our husbands wanted us to be).
We would have to avoid skin, breast, ovarian &cervical cancer, a heart attack & stroke by doing a whole litany of things (even though we aren’t really sure what they all are, just that they include consuming flax seeds, green tea, and foods we hate, reducing cholesterol, transfats & oh yeah, stress!)
We would have to clean house every day and keep it spotless using only organic products that don’t work as well, but won’t kill our children or the rain forests.
We would have to be amazing chefs and enjoy fine wine and gourmet meals without becoming fat or alcoholic!
No wonder we feed our souls by watching other people’s stories!
Who could do all of that? You would need a magic wand, a halo, flying broom, wings, a cape and a crown! Just thinking about it makes me so exhausted! All I really want is a nap!
I don’t want to fight anything. I don’t want to survive anything!
I want to learn and grow from all of the glorious blessings this life offers!
I want to inspire peace, love and respect (& if I can only do it in an 8 year old, so be it!)
It’s time to stop watching the story, reading the story or hearing the story…
It’s time to change the story…It’s time to BE the story!
It’s time to be and to inspire women to be thankful and proud that their” fat, flat, or wide ass” can get them out of bed in the morning, carry them through the day and sit them down to that wine and gourmet meal without any guilt!
It’s time for women whose stories aren’t about how they simply survived, but about how they victoriously overcame!
It’s time for more women to have stories like my grandma. Women who will stand up and say, “I don’t care if everybody likes me! No matter what I do, EVERYONE won’t anyway! In someone else’s mind I will always be too fat or too thin, to stern or too nice. That is THEIR story. By making a difference, doing what’s right, standing up for what I believe in, and standing up tall, with my head held high, they will at least respect me”…
That will be MY story, and that will be enough.
HeatherO’
February 23, 2008
In the current "economy", it is certainly easy to do! Whether you have been laid off, are worried about being laid off, or are a business owner trying to figure out how to make it all work, it's enough to stress out even the most zen among us!
I recently was on a group coaching call and the lady that I listened to ran through an entire litany of not only how she wasn't doing what she should be doing to improve her business, but also all of the things that she should have done during the "boom years".
I spoke with someone else today who was recently laid off, and figuring out what to do next. As if that isn't enough to think about, he was commenting on how he was eating and drinking things that he shouldn't.
We all do it without even realizing it! For the last two weeks I've been all about how much more "productive I should've been".
Here's another irony- I just did a video on "stepping in poop" and here I am blogging about how we "should" all over ourselves! HA! I see a pattern here...
Should this, should that...all day long, day after day! We aren't just stepping in it! We are picking it up and carrying it around with us every where we go. And it's garbage... Okay, I'll say it (pun intended!), it's crap! It doesn't serve us, and most of what we "should about" is someone else's idea of what we "should do" anyway! It's all a story we made up based on someone else's "issues"!
"They" say this and "they" say that. "They" say that we shouldn't eat certain foods, "They" say that we should be stay at home moms, or have a career. "They" say that we should have this, or accomplish that. Most of it's not even real! Most of it is just someone else's crap!
It reminds me of something that I wrote earlier this year. It kind of "sums it all up" (see below).
Read it, then make your own list of all the "shoulds" in your head. After you laugh at the absurdity of it all, mark out all of the ones that you refuse to buy into, and keep only the ones that truly reflect what matters to you! Then work on those, remind yourself that you are human, and therefore imperfect, but that you are getting better and better every day! And vow to never "should on yourself again!"
Changing the Story
Our lives are filled with stories.
Some we read, some we hear.
Most, we make up.
As little girls we read about princesses with knights in shining armor.
As women we read magazines full of “perfect women”.
They seem so real that they become ”our” reality
We try to escape our own “reality” by watching stories on TV about like survivor and Desperate Housewives.
We eagerly watch people on the news fighting against crime, and hunger, and war
We try to fill our souls with these stories about other people doing great things and making a difference.
We do this because our stories are not as exciting.
Because the story that we tell ourselves is:
“I’m not enough”
“I’m not amazing, or beautiful or glamorous or brilliant”
“I can’t handle this!”
“I’m completely stressed out”
“I’m just a mom”
“I am SO unorganized”
“I am broke”
“I have stretch marks, cellulite & fat thighs…”
“I don’t do everything that I am should to do…”
Well, let’s see…if we did everything that we “should”, what would that look like?
We would have to eat healthy foods, grown organically on a free range (whatever that is), not cooked in plastic or aluminum. Preferably vegetarian (or do plants have feelings too?).
We would have to know whether our body’s need for calcium is greater than the perils of consuming dairy.
We would have to do the dishes while conserving water, while saving the landfills by not using paper plates.
We would have to go to the gym without spending too much money, neglecting our husbands, or our work, or our kids and still have time to cook, clean, do laundry and take a shower.
We would have to drive ourselves and everyone else to work, school, the grocery store, and soccer without perpetuating global warming.
We would have to follow a 20 step skin care regime to avoid wrinkles which would cost hundreds of dollars without increasing our debt or using money that should have gone to charity, our retirement, the church, the whales, the hungry, or the homeless.
All of which we would have to do by working at a job that serves a higher good in a business that is environmentally friendly, doesn’t get tax breaks, and employs no one overseas.
We to have a job so that we wouldn’t have to rely on men or welfare & Somehow we would have to do this while being a stay at home mom!
We would have to be beautiful without being vain or using products that are tested on animals or that would harm the environment.
We would have to be erotic and desirable (but only when our husbands wanted us to be).
We would have to avoid skin, breast, ovarian &cervical cancer, a heart attack & stroke by doing a whole litany of things (even though we aren’t really sure what they all are, just that they include consuming flax seeds, green tea, and foods we hate, reducing cholesterol, transfats & oh yeah, stress!)
We would have to clean house every day and keep it spotless using only organic products that don’t work as well, but won’t kill our children or the rain forests.
We would have to be amazing chefs and enjoy fine wine and gourmet meals without becoming fat or alcoholic!
No wonder we feed our souls by watching other people’s stories!
Who could do all of that? You would need a magic wand, a halo, flying broom, wings, a cape and a crown! Just thinking about it makes me so exhausted! All I really want is a nap!
I don’t want to fight anything. I don’t want to survive anything!
I want to learn and grow from all of the glorious blessings this life offers!
I want to inspire peace, love and respect (& if I can only do it in an 8 year old, so be it!)
It’s time to stop watching the story, reading the story or hearing the story…
It’s time to change the story…It’s time to BE the story!
It’s time to be and to inspire women to be thankful and proud that their” fat, flat, or wide ass” can get them out of bed in the morning, carry them through the day and sit them down to that wine and gourmet meal without any guilt!
It’s time for women whose stories aren’t about how they simply survived, but about how they victoriously overcame!
It’s time for more women to have stories like my grandma. Women who will stand up and say, “I don’t care if everybody likes me! No matter what I do, EVERYONE won’t anyway! In someone else’s mind I will always be too fat or too thin, to stern or too nice. That is THEIR story. By making a difference, doing what’s right, standing up for what I believe in, and standing up tall, with my head held high, they will at least respect me”…
That will be MY story, and that will be enough.
HeatherO’
February 23, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Taking Action
It is my opinion that all too often, people choose to do nothing. I even spent a couple of weeks recently thinking about "what to do". I was faced with making some very significant changes in my life, and although we all think having "unlimited possibilities" would be a great thing. It can also be paralyzing! For many of us making a decision is difficult. We think about all of the possible worst case scenarios, second guess our own abilities, blah, blah, blah...So what do we do? NOTHING!
I've often said that "sometimes to be successful, you have to be too dumb to know better!"
I believe that's true. If we would just "pull the trigger" sometimes, without "thinking it all through" and "doing all of the research", we would be better off! But, we've been taught "think it through", "don't make rash decisions", "don't jump the gun". That would be fine if we also didn't have those voices that say "what if I fail?" "What if I make a fool of myself?" "I'm not that smart" "I'm not good enough". We carry all of those thoughts around every day, and when the opportunity to do something arises, there they are! Ready to jump up and stop us!
A few months ago I had been listening to this Andy Andrews CD (it's my all time favorite, and I've almost worn it out!). It's about "taking action", and so when I came across a Craigslist post that said "puppies die tomorrow" complete with a photo of 7 tiny lab pups and the explanation that they were to be "put down" at a shelter at 4pm the following day, I was haunted by it all night. I thought "I have to do something! How am I going to feel at 4:05 if I do nothing?". I knew that I had very little money at the time, but didn't give it much thought. I just decided! I told my husband, we grabbed a big box, picked the boys up from school, and drove to the shelter an hour away. I also didn't think about the fact that I had a horrible middle ear infection and couldn't stand to be in moving car without incredible motion sickness!
Anyway, while my husband was driving, I got on my laptop and emailed a few friends about the puppies asking if they knew of anyone who could take one. My emails were forwarded to more people than I could even imagine! Including an amazing rescue group (Marleys Cat Tales). Suddenly, I was getting emails and phone calls from all over! People I didn't even know were either offering help, or just saying "thanks" for what we were doing. When we got home we had people showing up at our house with supplies, and offering to foster some of them. It was truly surreal!
At the end of the day, we had not only saved 7 precious little puppies, but taught our children that ANYONE and EVERYONE can do SOMETHING to make a difference. And sometimes, it's just a matter of taking a leap of faith! I KNEW that there were enough people in this area and that there had to be some who would want a puppy. I had NO IDEA how it would all work out.
I've heard soooo many times to "just figure out the what, and the how will come". But so many times I still find myself wanting to see the entire plan!
When you find yourself in this "place", watch this video! And remember these words by Andy Andrews, "God did not put in you the ability to always make the right decision. But he did put in you the ability to make a decision, and to make it right!"
Andy Andrews - Joshua Chamberlain
I've often said that "sometimes to be successful, you have to be too dumb to know better!"
I believe that's true. If we would just "pull the trigger" sometimes, without "thinking it all through" and "doing all of the research", we would be better off! But, we've been taught "think it through", "don't make rash decisions", "don't jump the gun". That would be fine if we also didn't have those voices that say "what if I fail?" "What if I make a fool of myself?" "I'm not that smart" "I'm not good enough". We carry all of those thoughts around every day, and when the opportunity to do something arises, there they are! Ready to jump up and stop us!
A few months ago I had been listening to this Andy Andrews CD (it's my all time favorite, and I've almost worn it out!). It's about "taking action", and so when I came across a Craigslist post that said "puppies die tomorrow" complete with a photo of 7 tiny lab pups and the explanation that they were to be "put down" at a shelter at 4pm the following day, I was haunted by it all night. I thought "I have to do something! How am I going to feel at 4:05 if I do nothing?". I knew that I had very little money at the time, but didn't give it much thought. I just decided! I told my husband, we grabbed a big box, picked the boys up from school, and drove to the shelter an hour away. I also didn't think about the fact that I had a horrible middle ear infection and couldn't stand to be in moving car without incredible motion sickness!
Anyway, while my husband was driving, I got on my laptop and emailed a few friends about the puppies asking if they knew of anyone who could take one. My emails were forwarded to more people than I could even imagine! Including an amazing rescue group (Marleys Cat Tales). Suddenly, I was getting emails and phone calls from all over! People I didn't even know were either offering help, or just saying "thanks" for what we were doing. When we got home we had people showing up at our house with supplies, and offering to foster some of them. It was truly surreal!
At the end of the day, we had not only saved 7 precious little puppies, but taught our children that ANYONE and EVERYONE can do SOMETHING to make a difference. And sometimes, it's just a matter of taking a leap of faith! I KNEW that there were enough people in this area and that there had to be some who would want a puppy. I had NO IDEA how it would all work out.
I've heard soooo many times to "just figure out the what, and the how will come". But so many times I still find myself wanting to see the entire plan!
When you find yourself in this "place", watch this video! And remember these words by Andy Andrews, "God did not put in you the ability to always make the right decision. But he did put in you the ability to make a decision, and to make it right!"
Andy Andrews - Joshua Chamberlain
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What Do You Do When You Have a Bad Day?
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