We are nearing the 4th of July and many of us are taking vacations, spending time with family, and just taking a little break from everyday stresses. For me, this holiday included a week-long road trip with my kids, my husband, and a couple members of his family. It is wonderful to be away from home. It is a joy not to have to think about all of the little things that I have to do everyday just to keep up. I am a driven person with dreams and goals. Sometimes it is hard for me to really let all of that go and just give myself a break.
There is never a really good time to take a journey to move closer to your dreams, goals, and desires. There is always something that comes up in the middle of it that seems to derail you for at least a couple of days, if not from your journey entirely. I want to encourage you to feel free to take breaks now and then, even if you are in the middle of a journey. There is no rule in journeying that says that you must go for ten weeks straight with no breaks. You can take a break for a little while and then just pick up where you left off. Just make a point before the break to schedule the reinstatement of your journey.
It really is important for us to have breaks. We just aren't built to keep going and going with no real rest. Take breaks between your journeys. Take breaks during your journeys for holidays or special events. Enjoy a short break if you are just feeling overwhelmed. Many times the reason that we don't finish our journeys and achieve our dreams, goals, and desires is that we forget to rest. We must remember to always care for our mental, spiritual, and physical well being. If we don't, we will be incapable of reaching our full potential.
Enjoy the holiday and take a break!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
You Always Have a Choice
As I sit here, I am recounting numerous conversations with friends in which they have shared some very challenging situations in their lives. These situations range from relationships to career to religion to family and everything in between. The one common thread in each of these conversations is the feeling of hopelessness that each of my friends has had about the particular situation that each one is facing. They all feel that there is nothing that they can do to change their circumstances. They are simply left to endure the hardship. They struggle to find ways to survive but they have all stopped living in some way or another. There is a real lack of hope and joy in these conversations.
As I listen through the tears my heart is filled with empathy and compassion. I too have found myself in situations that seem impossible. I have struggled to find even a glimmer of hope. However, I have been blessed to discover one truth that has set me free from the downward spiral: There is ALWAYS a choice. Once I discovered that I had the power to make a choice I became a new woman. I could either remove myself from whatever was holding me down or accept that it is my choice to remain in my current circumstances. I have all the power. It is up to me to decide how to respond to those things in my life that are out of my control. When I focus on what I can do I am instantly set free. I can never control another person. I am incapable of controlling everything that happens in my life. However, I can always control my response.
When you find yourself in a situation that seems to have no hope, remember, there is always a choice. If you have a difficult relationship with your father you can choose to see him or not. Whatever you choose there will be consequences but the choice is yours. It is up to you to decide which consequences are more tolerable. If being single makes you unhappy, you have a choice. You can choose to lower your standards. You can try new methods to meet someone. You can seek counsel to deal with your feelings about being single. If it is your career that has got you down, you too have a choice. You can quit. You can keep working but look for a new job. You can try to make your current job better. You can go back to school. I know that many of these choices are not exactly what you would want, but they are choices nonetheless.
The choice is yours. What are you going to do? Are you going to continue to give your power away to others who wish to control you and hold you back? Or will you take the high road and decide to make whatever choice is best for you? It may not always be easy to accept the choices available to you. Remember, once you begin to take control and make your own choices things almost always improve. Often, the act of choosing that which is best for you will lead you down a path that will afford you new and better options.
Get out there and start making choices!!!
As I listen through the tears my heart is filled with empathy and compassion. I too have found myself in situations that seem impossible. I have struggled to find even a glimmer of hope. However, I have been blessed to discover one truth that has set me free from the downward spiral: There is ALWAYS a choice. Once I discovered that I had the power to make a choice I became a new woman. I could either remove myself from whatever was holding me down or accept that it is my choice to remain in my current circumstances. I have all the power. It is up to me to decide how to respond to those things in my life that are out of my control. When I focus on what I can do I am instantly set free. I can never control another person. I am incapable of controlling everything that happens in my life. However, I can always control my response.
When you find yourself in a situation that seems to have no hope, remember, there is always a choice. If you have a difficult relationship with your father you can choose to see him or not. Whatever you choose there will be consequences but the choice is yours. It is up to you to decide which consequences are more tolerable. If being single makes you unhappy, you have a choice. You can choose to lower your standards. You can try new methods to meet someone. You can seek counsel to deal with your feelings about being single. If it is your career that has got you down, you too have a choice. You can quit. You can keep working but look for a new job. You can try to make your current job better. You can go back to school. I know that many of these choices are not exactly what you would want, but they are choices nonetheless.
The choice is yours. What are you going to do? Are you going to continue to give your power away to others who wish to control you and hold you back? Or will you take the high road and decide to make whatever choice is best for you? It may not always be easy to accept the choices available to you. Remember, once you begin to take control and make your own choices things almost always improve. Often, the act of choosing that which is best for you will lead you down a path that will afford you new and better options.
Get out there and start making choices!!!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Ouch, I Hit a Speed Bump!
Changing your life is hard. There is never a good time to make a life change, big or small. We are always too busy, tired, stressed, and overwhelmed to commit to serious growth and improvement. We are, therefore, forced to jump in when we know we are not totally ready to commit to the change. We have to start sometime because there will never be a perfect time. Inevitably, we will hit some pretty big speed bumps. The question becomes: what should you do when you run head-on into a real hard one?
The answer: pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue to move forward. I am reminded of a line from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming." Like Dory, you need to keep going even when it's hard. You persist even when success seems unlikely. Even though everything in your being is telling you to quit, you can and should keep moving forward in order to achieve your goals. If you do carry on, you won't be sorry.
I recall the dozens of times I have tried to implement a new workout routine in my life. Here's how it goes: I decide to start on a Monday. I make it to the gym like I planned and I feel good. On Tuesday I am really tired but I still go. By Wednesday it is getting really hard to keep up with the routine. On Thursday I am exhausted from a late night on Wednesday. Friday I would rather go out with friends than go to the gym. I decide to take the weekend to relax. By Monday I am definitely not feeling it anymore so I quit.
Imagine how different that scenario could look: On Monday I could have recommitted myself to the process. I could have tried to do better in week two knowing that I would face many of the same struggles I faced in week one. Week two could have been better or it might have been worse. I could get sick in week two. Week three: I could recommit to the regimen that I designed. I could continue to fight against my shortcomings and the challenges of my life and I could begin to see real change in my health, my body, and my life.
We are all going to hit many more speed bumps on the road to life change than we would like (because we would like to avoid them all). The problem is not those things standing in your way; your reaction to those challenges is the solution to finding the real life change that you have always wanted.
How have you responded to speed bumps in the past? What speed bumps are you allowing to slow you down now? What could you to overcome those challenges in order to move forward with the life change that you desire?
The answer: pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and continue to move forward. I am reminded of a line from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming." Like Dory, you need to keep going even when it's hard. You persist even when success seems unlikely. Even though everything in your being is telling you to quit, you can and should keep moving forward in order to achieve your goals. If you do carry on, you won't be sorry.
I recall the dozens of times I have tried to implement a new workout routine in my life. Here's how it goes: I decide to start on a Monday. I make it to the gym like I planned and I feel good. On Tuesday I am really tired but I still go. By Wednesday it is getting really hard to keep up with the routine. On Thursday I am exhausted from a late night on Wednesday. Friday I would rather go out with friends than go to the gym. I decide to take the weekend to relax. By Monday I am definitely not feeling it anymore so I quit.
Imagine how different that scenario could look: On Monday I could have recommitted myself to the process. I could have tried to do better in week two knowing that I would face many of the same struggles I faced in week one. Week two could have been better or it might have been worse. I could get sick in week two. Week three: I could recommit to the regimen that I designed. I could continue to fight against my shortcomings and the challenges of my life and I could begin to see real change in my health, my body, and my life.
We are all going to hit many more speed bumps on the road to life change than we would like (because we would like to avoid them all). The problem is not those things standing in your way; your reaction to those challenges is the solution to finding the real life change that you have always wanted.
How have you responded to speed bumps in the past? What speed bumps are you allowing to slow you down now? What could you to overcome those challenges in order to move forward with the life change that you desire?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Can I Do This?
Yes you can!
Whatever the "this" is, you can do it. Most of the time when we commit to do something, it is because we know we have the tools and abilities to do it or we know we can get them. What we don't often have is the encouragement to keep doing it until we have accomplished whatever we set out to do.
I know that I am gifted in many areas but I often have a hard time believing it. On those rough days when I just don't know if I can go on, what usually gets me through is an encouraging word from a friend or family member telling me that I have what it takes.
Imagine if you approached a goal with your cheering section already in place. That is what LifeWalking can do for you. If you have a goal in mind, ask someone to LifeWalk that goal with you. While that person will be able to offer support and guidance, her most important job will be to encourage you to keep going even when it is difficult and you would rather quit. When we have moral support to get us through the challenges in life, our chances of success are far greater.
Think about the things that you want to do with your life. If you are feeling some trepidation, try assembling a cheering section to LifeWalk you through it. You will probably find that a little encouragement will go a long way in helping you to achieve all that you set out to do.
Whatever the "this" is, you can do it. Most of the time when we commit to do something, it is because we know we have the tools and abilities to do it or we know we can get them. What we don't often have is the encouragement to keep doing it until we have accomplished whatever we set out to do.
I know that I am gifted in many areas but I often have a hard time believing it. On those rough days when I just don't know if I can go on, what usually gets me through is an encouraging word from a friend or family member telling me that I have what it takes.
Imagine if you approached a goal with your cheering section already in place. That is what LifeWalking can do for you. If you have a goal in mind, ask someone to LifeWalk that goal with you. While that person will be able to offer support and guidance, her most important job will be to encourage you to keep going even when it is difficult and you would rather quit. When we have moral support to get us through the challenges in life, our chances of success are far greater.
Think about the things that you want to do with your life. If you are feeling some trepidation, try assembling a cheering section to LifeWalk you through it. You will probably find that a little encouragement will go a long way in helping you to achieve all that you set out to do.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Restoration Through LifeWalking
We have all been in relationships, with both family and friends, which have become estranged. Sometimes there is a clear and defined cause for the estrangement. Often, there is no apparent reason for the rift. However, the tension that can be felt between the two of you every time you meet or speak is obvious. For me, it is that building tension that causes me to seek a solution to whatever caused the estrangement. I hate conflict and I love relationships so it is always in my best interest to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Maybe you feel the same way.
I have found that LifeWalking can be a powerful means to resolve estrangements. LifeWalking is, first and foremost, a relational process. It forces you to engage the relationship even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. LifeWalking also requires processing and as such can be used to process whatever it is that caused your estrangement. Finally, LifeWalking requires a move-forward solution. By choosing to LifeWalk with someone, you can move past whatever caused the estrangement.
I found myself to be estranged from a good friend. I approached her about the possibility of LifeWalking to get our relationship back on track and she agreed. It was wonderful to meet and talk regularly. We were able to talk through our issues. We were bonded by our shared goal of finding move-forward solutions for our conflicts. Finally, we were able to move past the drama, understand each other better, and move-forward in a more positive way in our relationship. We are now better friends than we ever were before this conflict.
Do you find yourself estranged from a friend or family member? Do you think LifeWalking could be a good solution for you?
I have found that LifeWalking can be a powerful means to resolve estrangements. LifeWalking is, first and foremost, a relational process. It forces you to engage the relationship even when it is difficult or uncomfortable. LifeWalking also requires processing and as such can be used to process whatever it is that caused your estrangement. Finally, LifeWalking requires a move-forward solution. By choosing to LifeWalk with someone, you can move past whatever caused the estrangement.
I found myself to be estranged from a good friend. I approached her about the possibility of LifeWalking to get our relationship back on track and she agreed. It was wonderful to meet and talk regularly. We were able to talk through our issues. We were bonded by our shared goal of finding move-forward solutions for our conflicts. Finally, we were able to move past the drama, understand each other better, and move-forward in a more positive way in our relationship. We are now better friends than we ever were before this conflict.
Do you find yourself estranged from a friend or family member? Do you think LifeWalking could be a good solution for you?
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