Oh man what a year! One thing that this year has taught me is that life is so unexpected. This is both a sobering and wonderous thing . Never would I have imagined that I would fly to such heights and then subsequently sink to such depths. However, thats not just my narrative. I am certain that many experienced a shift this year. And hopefully that shift took you a little closer to the fulfillment of your desires.
We Made It!
As I look back over 2021 and prepare to say farewell I say a humble prayer of thanks. I realize that I am not where I am at this moment, this very second, this time by chance. And where I am headed in 2022 is not happenstance.
But I’m ready. I’m ready to level up!
I’m ready to cross the threshold to what I was always meant to be and do. I’m ready because I have been prepared. I’m ready because I have been groomed. I’m ready because its my time. And what is for me is for me! I was born for this. And my cup is overflowing.
A Word For You!
So I hope that as you leave all the lessons of 2021 behind you too step into your purpose. It is my hope that you not only step into your purpose but that you rest in it. And may every life giving energy flow through you as your cup overflows that others may also be blessed by your abundance.
Achievement is as much a mindset as anything else.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to develop the type of mindset that accelerates your success potential.
In fact, there is a dirty little word that is taboo in most motivational circles. People dare not utter it!
You got any idea what that word is?
That world is failure.
You got it; you can turn on any motivational podcast.
You can attend any motivational seminar.
You can engage in any reading material designed to motivate you, and they will all say the same thing.
You have to change the way you look at failure.
That is a fantastic concept!
And they are absolutely right!
We shape our lives through our patterns of thought.
But, thinking positively about your failures does not immediately transform how you feel.
Yes, we should look at every rejection or loss as a lesson.
And, we should use those experiences to fuel our fire and ambition.
But, feeling down about a loss or a rejection is perfectly okay.
It is a human reaction!
It is okay to feel bad!
Learning to align your thoughts and action is a process.
However, there is a way that you can speed up the process! There is a way that you can turn the hard, cold coal of negative experiences into fuel.
You can definitely accelerate your success potential.
The key
Count every win!
It does not matter what it is!
Count the wins!
It does not matter how small!
Count the wins!
Focus intently on those.
The sad fact is many people build a shrine to their failures.
That is the problem.
But, instead, “Look for small victories and build on that. Each small victory, even if it is just getting up five minutes earlier, gives you confidence. You realize that these little victories make you feel great, and you keep going. You realize that being paralyzed by fear of failure is worse than failure!” -Arnold Schwarzenegger.
I would usually have some personal or particular anecdote to drive this point home.
But my entire life is a testament to this principle. A principle I am learning every day!
If you believe you are winning in anything, you will start thinking you can win bigger. Not only that, but you will also begin to feel that you can win consistently.
There are but few people who do not dream of being wealthy. Because, well, let us face it no one likes to struggle.
But unfortunately, one does not become wealthy by wishing it.
In an interesting discussion with my kids, we talked about desires and dreams. As most conversations do, that conversation took on a life of its own. The talk soon segued into a brief discourse on manifestation.
You know the well-known adage, “you have to visualize before it’s actualized!”
Anyway, as we talked about all that we had dreamed and the fulfillment of those dreams, up to this point in life. My son remarked, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if we became millionaires tomorrow?” I had to admit that would be pretty awesome. But, on the back of that comment, I asked him another question. I said, “Well based on what you know, who do you think has the greatest shot of gaining wealth in this circle?” He and my daughter did not deliberate long. They gave their responses based on their knowledge. Even so, will not divulge what their responses were, but let us say it led to a very robust and lively discussion. And I took it as an excellent opportunity to teach a valuable lesson.
Wealth does not fall from the sky, and it does not happen overnight, despite what some might believe.
You will never get something for nothing. You have to put something out there! That is to say, if you have anything in circulation that could make you wealthy, then how can you get wealth?
No one is going to hunt you down and seek out! No one is on a mission to determine what you have to offer! You must promote what you have to offer for someone to find it. Ideas do not make you successful. Implementation of ideas equates to success. Working 9-5 and collecting a check will not make you wealthy? It will sustain a specific state of existence! But, one must invest in a growth vehicle to expect bigger returns! Your expectation must match your contribution! If you have not contributed, added, invested, or created anything how can you expect success or wealth? You have to put something out to get something back. Today, make the decision to create, invest, or contribute.
Every day put something out. The more you put out the greater you can expect. Then the hope that you could become wealthy sometime in the new future, can be a pretty safe bet!
As you think on the above, think on this exemplary statement of John F. Kennedy’s spoken at Berkley in 1962, “…we must think and act not only for the moment but for our time. I am reminded of the story of the great French Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, ‘In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.’
Inspiration and motivation sometimes come in the most unexpected ways at the most unexpected times.
Well, so do life lessons.
Most of the time, we have to simply pay attention to the things and people around us.
And, quite a few days ago, I learned one of the greatest life lessons ever.
I am a mother of four beautifully talented children. I constantly stand in awe at how blessed I am. The joy I feel is simply indescribable.
My youngest is three years old, and he is such a wonderful kid. His creativity and imagination are boundless. He seems to make something out of anything. The sheer excitement on his face as he shares his new creations with I and his father are priceless.
However, even he is not without his challenges in life. Who isn’t right?
In fact, he is just starting to tackle potty-training with the help of his dad. And, he is doing awesomely. I am astounded at how fast he has caught on. Then again, it’s not so surprising. When it came time to wean him from the bottle, it was as if he quit that bottle overnight. In the same fashion, he is adjusting to potty-training.
But, then again this territory is not new for most moms. However there is so much more to the story I have to tell.
A few days ago, my awesome three-year-old treated me to one of the greatest lessons ever.
I happened to walk by as my baby sat like a big boy on his potty,
I didn’t disturb him, I just stood right outside that door beaming with pride.
It was not the big step that was so inspiring, but rather what he was saying to himself.
I stood outside that door as my little boy exclaimed to himself, how a good boy he was, and what a good job he was doing.
My little boy was encouraging himself. He was instilling pride.
What was even more refreshing is that the praise came from an authentic place. It came from within.
Although I applauded him for his efforts, I understood that nothing would replace that pride he felt within himself for accomplishing something.
He had somehow, in his limited time on this planet, picked up that the best motivator is intrinsic motivation.
It was a humbling lesson.
Most of the time, I forget to encourage myself. From time to time, I still look externally for someone to validate me.
It is quite sad that no matter how long I have lived, I have found that this is a lesson I keep repeating. Yet, I am thankful for the reminder. And, I am incredibly grateful that it came on the lips of my little one.
In case you need a reminder, don’t forget to encourage yourself.
In the words of my little one, “You got this, you can do it!”
There is an old Aesop fable of a man, a boy, and a donkey.
It is a story that has been told many times over.
Perhaps its longevity can be attributed to its far-reaching applicability. That is no misnomer.
The tale recounts three on a journey.
While on their journey, a man, a boy, and a donkey, pass several people. Each person has an opinion on how they should proceed. And each time, they listen.
They make the changes!
However, the changes are never enough.
There is always someone else who knows better than they.
And, in the end, the result was a drowned donkey.
In listening to others, the man and boy lost something.
The moral of the story is, you can’t please everyone.
More valid words have not been spoken.
On life’s journey, you will meet many people.
Every person will have a different idea of how you should approach your journey.
Some advice will be well-meaning.
Some advice will be positive, while other advice will be harmful.
You cannot base your decisions on the opinions of others.
If you do, use others as your catalyst for movement, you will lose soemthing.
You have to be assured of your path and follow it.
Advice is just that, advisement.
You can take it into account when making your decision. The advice of others should never be the sole factor in your decision making.
You should not bind yourself by the advice of others.
Use discernment!
You will be happier knowing that your decisions were your own.
“The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them,” quote by Paul Coehlo.
This type of attitude is empowering.
Being able to stand with your own choices and decisions shows growth and maturity.
And, it feels great to take full responsibility for both your losses, and your wins
Being in the driver seat will put you on the path to being the best you that you can be.
