Remember, your dreams will not work unless you do!
A Relational Tidbit on Opportunity
I mention Les Brown a lot. I often refer to him because I am engaged and engrossed in his work and message. In his book “The Greatness Within You, “ Les recounts a life-changing experience.
Les was attending a conference. At the conference, many got up to deliver their message. He relays the robust nature of the forum. However, one speaker, towards the end, bored him beyond rationality. He was tempted to leave as many of his cohorts. But, right before he made the decision, the speaker said something life-changing.
That statement changed his life. Perhaps it will change yours too.
The speaker looked out at those gathered and spoke these words,
“The reason I’m standing up here and you are seated out there is that I represent the thoughts you have rejected for yourself!’
Now that is a powerful gut punch!
Final Word on Opportunity
So, by all means, stop rejecting opportunities. Stop rationalizing; no opportunities exist. No longer mull over what is not out there. And reframe your self-talk. Tell yourself there is something out there for me; I will take massive action to find it. If I don’t see it, I am going to create it.
Why? “Because there is someone out there incredible waiting for you!” (Shawn)
Recently I asked a critical question, how H.O.T are you.?
Some may have found the recent article speculative, but there was a lot to be gleaned by the end. As people who want to succeed on our own merits and obtain long-lasting success, authenticity is essential and being Humble, Open, and Transparent is a massive part of that.
The Story Within You.
Remember, all, contain a story inside of us. Some may contain short stories. Other’s contain poems, moving odes, and sonnets. A few of us have epics or copious novels. And those stories may be dark and tragic, while others may be profound and moving.
One thing is sure we all have a story. And that story is only yours to tell. Only you’ve been through those experiences. No one’s walked in your shoes, whether they be stilettos, sandals, or steel-toed boots. They are your shoes.
Being Vulnerable is Hard (Your Story is Key)
I understand it’s hard.
Sometimes your story may seem irrelevant. Vulnerability isn’t easy. But you can do this.
A Recent Experience
This week, I sat in on a virtual seminar hosted by an exceptional professional named Shawn Quintero. On day two, he said something that was gold. He said,
“Somewhere there is someone incredible out there waiting for you to show up.”
They are waiting for you to tell your story. Your story may change their lives. It could be the one to save countless lives.
“Someone out their incredible is waiting for you to share your story!” (Quintero)
Another Perspective on Telling Your Story
Les Brown is a fantastic orator, writer, and businessman. But, more than anything, he is a tremendous person. Brown shares so many powerful things in his book that he breathes life. That is the very meaning of inspiration.
I have given a few of the more significant roadblocks that serve as dream blockers. But, whether or not you have considered it, there are many more things that can block one from living their best life or achieving their dreams
All funnel from one source. Self!
The biggest dream blocker one will ever encounter is themselves!
You Draw: From an Intrinsic Well.
Mindset, distraction, relationships — they all source from you.
You are the common denominator. And, nothing can block progress unless given allowance.
Stick with me…
I am the mother of a lovely little guy who is persistent. That is to be celebrated because persistence begets acquiescence.
When he wants something, he makes sure I know.
He will do whatever is necessary to convince me. If I’m not attentive, he will look, ask, plead, cry, even work for it.
Whatever it takes, he commits.
My Tiny Counter.
My little one loves counting. That little fellow rattles off numbers and equations regularly and incessantly. This is expected because counting is his passion.
Day in and day out, he calculates. He does computations in his head. His affinity gets bigger and bigger daily.
Yesterday it was particularly annoying. After 15 minutes of listening to my little boy count upwards into the 100,000s, I lovingly suggested a pause. I told him to give his mind time to relax. I gave him options.
He wished to count. I hurt his feelings when I told him to give it a minute. He was almost in tears. Right then I realized he didn’t just like counting, he loved to calculate. Why? because the idea of restriction from his heart’s yearning felt painful. He thought I was taking something from him.
However, he did what mommy said. He took a break.
However, he knew what he wanted to do. After five minutes passed, he returned, saying, “Mommy, I took a break!”
“I’m finished,” he replied!
“Can I count now!”
I answered “okay!”
The Lesson !
I mentioned all that to say; he understood his desire. He let nothing stand in his way from doing what he wanted. Why? Because the desire was heart led.
Back to The Real Deal.
Nothing can be a distraction if your sights are set.
Honestly, if your belief is, achievement is possible, half of the work to establish the right mindset has already been done.
If it is your desire, you will get around people who push and encourage.
If you understand how important your dream is, your aim will always be to form the right relationships with money, food, and yourself.
Remaining where you are will never be satisfying.
Fundamentally, the very foundation of succeeding is examining if you wish to succeed.
I have written on the power of relationships, strengthening your circle, and discovering your tribe. Unquestionably, these are essential.
Teams offer the support necessary to help you build the bridge to your desired destiny. Your team members cheer you on because your victory is their victory.
However, one must remember they have their own things. Therefore, they will only push you so far.
You are stuck with yourself after the cheering ends. And, you definitely will not have consistent access to your team.
A Power Player.
You also need a power player.
What is a power player?
A power player is the one who will come to the plate and hit the home run, which pushes you over the home plate.
Not a pinch hitter, but a heavy hitter.
In motivation/self-improvement circles, the power play is an accountability partner. How the individual is defined doesn’t matter. What matters is what the power player can accomplish for you.
The heavy hitter is the one person who will speak the truth plainly. However, those words are never to persuade you to stop. They will never stand in your path. Instead, he or she drives you along the path you set.
Be wary.
You must be selective about who you select to fill the role of the power player. Why?
You can’t entrust everything to everybody. But you always need that somebody to help you take the endeavor all the way home.
I never had much of a team. And unfortunately, I’ve always considered myself the black sheep. I could never locate my “Tribe.” I would search and take action. Some places I would go, I would discover everyone else was a square, and I was a circle. Sometimes I would find myself among pigeons doing pigeon things, but I was an eagle. At times, I all but gave up.
“I’ll do this on my own,” I said.
But, that doesn’t work. You can’t make it on your own.
After wanting to drop kick my compass, I picked the compass back up.
There is a lesson in picking up your compass.
After picking up my compass, I found it finally pointing toward my true north.
Slowly I’ve begun seen seedlings of progress, and I am excited
A discovery: My Power Player!
Last night, after a disheartening moment, I discovered my heavy hitter.
When the possibility of failure consumed me, my power player stepped in.
I wanted to sit down on first base and contemplated walking off the field. Instead, my heavy hitter came up to bat. He spoke to me, admonished me to stand up, brush off my knees, and gaze toward home plate. He pushed me to change my focus and to look at the possibilities.
Even if I didn’t make it around those bases, I got on base.
It didn’t matter if I was tagged out.
I’ll never be a failure!
He led me to see I still had a team, a power player, and another opportunity to bat.
You see, I needed to view my position from a different angle. It was important that I acknowledged the opportunity, and power forward. But, I was blind to what was beyond me. That is what a power player will do for you, help you retrain your focus.
A Message For You.
While on your journey, keep looking and searching for your power player, the individual who will give you the push you need. I know you can find them. Your power player is out there.
P.S. You may not immediately recognize who your heavy hitter is. I didn’t.
*I want to thank my husband because the support he gave me in that hour was invaluable and everything I needed.
When one raises the topic of relationships, the first thing that comes to mind is typically a connection with friends, family, or romantic partners.
However, there’s Always More Beneath the Surface Despite what this topic may inspire you to presume, I challenge you to think broader.
As individuals, we form a multitudinous number of relationships in our lives. We build connections to everything. From our first breath, we interact with the world. Those interactions affect how we see the things or people who cross our paths. Yet, we aren’t always aware.
The Binding Ties (Our Relationship)
Relationships are essential factors of success. We need people. So, it does us well to establish good relationships with others. However, interpersonal relationships are not the only critical factors.
Three other highly critical relational factors heavily affect our success: our relationship to food, money, and ourselves.
Yes, you heard right.
Whether we recognize it, our relationships with these three factors determine how successful we shall be.
Improper and poor relationships equal stagnation, regression, and ultimately failure.
A healthy relationship sets you on a path to success. But, in the words of Michael Todd, “You won’t experience mansion-sized miracles with porta-potty principles.”
What do I mean?
Our connections with food, money, and ourselves are reflected in our habits and approaches to achievement.
A change in relationship= change in habit= shift in life.
Your Relationship with Food.
Our body derives energy from our food sources. Food is the fuel that powers our activities. However, not everyone’s relationship with food is healthy. Some have little fuel, while others keep junk in their fuselage. This points to poor operation. A minimal supply of fuel or corrupted fuel will not get you far. To upgrade your life, upgrade your relationship with food.
Some people are chronic abusers of food, while others don’t think about what they eat. Both are detrimental.
“Both the food you ingest and the way you feel about it can impact you and your life. ”
Remember, your relationship with food determines the level of your health and wellness.
“Porta-potty principles equals porta-potty outcomes.”- Michael Todd (Author of Crazy Faith).
Weak mind, weak body, unchecked emotions are death knells. A weak mind, body, and uncontrolled emotions make success unreachable.
Personal Anecdote Break
My father once said, “I eat to live; I don’t live to eat.” I didn’t understand at the moment, but I understood it more clearly as time passed. Food is a tool. It’s a means by which we sustain a healthy state to operate at peak efficiency, nothing else and nothing more. Living to eat implies one’s relationship shifts from a mutually beneficial one-to-one of indulgence. The body doesn’t respond well to excessive consumption.
A healthy relationship with food permits an individual to move in balance. So improving one’s relationship with food is one of the primary steps toward achievement.
Your relationship with money.
A song goes, “Money, Money, Money, I got to have it!” They knew what they were talking about. That song would become an anthem for how many people live their lives.
However, like food, is an instrument. Money is also a tool. Money itself has no power. How we relate to and use money determines our base of power.
Money can drive, empower, or enslave. If money drives you, it will eventually chauffeur you off a cliff. If money is your sole motivator, your life will always be out of balance. Your life will be one of lack. Money can’t buy love, happiness, or a life.
A slave to money. If one finds themselves a slave to money, they will discover money as a hard taskmaster. As a result, an individual who wants to move to the next level won’t be free to do so.
Used correctly, money can be used as a leverage tool or as an investment vehicle.
How one relates to food and money is essential. However, how one relates to oneself is the primary force behind the success or falling short.
One’s Relationship to Self.
Those with a healthy relationship are positive and engage in activity that nourishes, nurtures, and improves factors necessary for growth and development.
People engage in activities in sync with their self-perception.
Those who maintain a negative relationship with themselves will find many difficulties in life. How? This mindset will struggle with low self-esteem, negative perceptions, negative identity, or no identity. What you perceive of yourself will determine what you perceive you can do and whether you will act.
The most important relationship you will build in life is the one with yourself. And then after that, I’d say once you have that, it may be hard work, but you can design your life. – Diane von Furstenberg
“So eat as you love yourself. Move as you love yourself. Speak as you love yourself, and act as you love yourself.”
Inspiraelevation 