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.

What are you eating for breakfast?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

It replenishes the body and gives you the necessary fuel to carry out your daily activities.

It is a breaking of the nightly fast.

You could find a million models of what a breakfast of champions entails.

However, I want to contend that, a breakfast of champions does not only include appropriate foods for the body but also for the mind.

When you break your fast every morning It should include more than bodily nutrition.

 Do not aim to just wake up and energize your body, but also to recharge your mind and your spirit.

Read a few pages of a book!

Listen to an audiobook.

Tune in to a podcast.

Meditate

Build your resolve for the day so that you do not burn out before you get started.

In my reading I have learned that focus takes a lot of energy.

Stressors in life detract us from focus.

Stressor’s break-down our resolve and our will to resist the most basic of temptations.

You know, those things that prevent us from doing what is right and what is best.

Now a slight disclaimer here, “You cannot fully protect yourself against stress in life!”

However, you can prepare yourself to reduce stress, and improve your chances of success.

Harvey MacKay, author, wrote, “To be a champion you have to learn to handle stress and pressure. But if you have prepared mentally and physically, you don’t have to worry.”

No soldier goes into battle unarmored.

So, do not forget to put on your armor.

Become a well-rounded champion, and complement that nutritious breakfast for the body, with one for the mind and soul as well.   

Methods prevent Madness!

Order staves off chaos, and its unwanted compadres frustration and anxiety.

You must understand that randomness is not an underpinning of success.

Being good, skilled. or talented will not make you successful.

You will never find employment simply because you have a degree

Opportunity may knock, but success will not.

Success is an outcome of targeted effort.

And, the most successful people, became that way because they had a plan!

If you want to be successful

You must have a strategy, an approach.

That strategy should be concrete, it should be plain enough that you can break it down for others.

So, how do you build a strategy?

The first step is to always write everything down!

“Until you commit your goals to paper, you have intentions that are seeds without soil.” Quote by Brian Tracy

As celebrated author Stephen Covey surmises, “Begin with the end in mind”

Focus and create a mental picture of what your success or achievement looks like.

Be specific!

• Will it be a three -story home?
• A Best-selling novel
• A Record deal!
• A Business with multiple franchises
• Or a family?

Write down that vision in detail, make it as vivid as possible.

If necessary, find images representing your outcome.

 This helps to keep the vision in front of you

Then use that vision and work backwards.

The question you want to answer is how do I get what I want?

Determine what major milestones you must accomplish to fulfill that vision.

Then break down each milestone (creating subgoals) to fulfillment of each one.

Then take each subgoal and determine what you need to do daily, weekly, monthly.

From that point you can begin to act

Chart your progress along the way.

Creating a strategy is not an easy process.

It will take time and effort.

But isn’t it completely worth it!