Treasure

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34

It's Saturday night and it's late, but I want to keep the commitment that I made to myself to post something daily.  Considering that I have enjoyed the day with my husband and son, and that it is Easter weekend (a reminder to each of us just how much God loves us), I thought that the passage above was very appropriate.

Our Earthly life is far too short to spend on things that don't bring joy to our heart and glory to God!  Treasure the moments you have, the people that are a part of your life, and the blessings that you have been given!

The Light

"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame again by an encounter with another human being." Albert Schweitzer

I am blessed to have a job where I get to work with people on a daily basis and give them assistance with working towards their goals.  In the process I have come to the conclusion that I learn just as much (if not more)  from them as they learn from me.  I have discovered more about myself then I ever could have imagined.  And there have been plenty of times that while trying to pump someone else up and motivate them, I have found myself being enlightened as well.

So I'd like to take a minute to thank my family, friends, co-workers, and customers for keeping my flame stoked!

What are you going to be?

"Everybody's life is either a warning or an example. You have to decide what you are going to be." Tony Robbins

This quote really made me stop and think.  I have the tendency to think of my life a little more microscopically.  I consider how what I do affects me and my family.  I try to remember that I should be living my life to glorify God.  But I never really thought that MY LIFE is being watched by others - that it is acting as either a warning or an example to the people I encounter.  When you know that other people are looking to you to help find their own way (or figure out which paths they want to avoid) it makes you think twice about the choices you are making.  I know that I have days when I could be considered an example, but there are plenty of days when I am a great big warning!  How about you?

SMILE!

"Lift your thoughts, lift your expectations, and lift yourself.  Train yourself to look for the good things you want and the good will respond." Iyanla Vanzant

As I was driving home today, it started to rain.  Naturally I was in a hurry to get home and be able to unwind, so of course everyone around me slowed way down and I started to get frustrated.  I realized what I was doing and how pointless it was, so I started to chastise myself (I'm sure you've learned by now that I tend to talk to myself).  I knew I needed to change my frame of mind and accept that I would get home safe and sound all in good time.  I decided to open my eyes and look at the beauty that the rain brings.  I was passing a pasture full of cows and the grass was so green and vibrant that I had to smile.  Smiling helped to further change my mindset and it made me think of rainbows.  The next thing I know, I looked to my left and there was a huge, beautiful, colorful rainbow right there at my side!  I felt like it was a gift from God to me - Him sharing a smile.  It's amazing how when we expect good things, we get good things!!  And it's amazing how small things like a smile can make such a difference in our lives.

In today's Interviewing workshop, I shared with job seekers how important a smile is.  It is the foundation to a great first and a great lasting impression.  It shows employers that we are positive, that we are confident, that we are friendly, that we are someone they want to work with on a daily basis.  It is your most important accessory.  And if you don't feel like smiling, my recommendation is to 'fake it til you make it'.  When you put on a fake smile, other people are going to smile back at you, and it probably won't take long until that fake smile is genuine!

"Every time you smile at someone it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing." Mother Teresa

Make the world - your world - a better place, share your smile!!

SMART Goals

"A dream is just a dream.  A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." Harvey MacKay

I recently blogged about opening myself up and allowing myself to dream with the firm belief that those dreams can become a reality.  The workshop that I taught today along with the quote above made me believe that today was a good day to blog about setting goals.

I realized that having dreams is vital, but it is also important to take steps towards achieving these dreams.  When we take our dreams and develop action plans to reach these dreams, our dreams become goals.

When I set goals, I try to make sure that they are SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Attainable (humanly possible), Realistic (possible for you as an individual), and most importantly Time bound.  If you are anything like me, you tend to set SMAR goals, but you forget about that T - you don't give yourself a target / deadline.  When you fail to set a deadline, your goals end up being something that you will do "one of these days".

Based on things I have read and studied, I have learned that successful people tend to do 3 things.  1) Set goals, 2) Write their goals down and keep them visible, 3) Share their goals with someone who's opinion matters to them.

I challenge you to set at least 1 SMART goal for yourself today, write it down, and share it with someone!  Then watch as you begin to grow :)

Future Self

It's late, I'm tired, it's only Monday and it already feels like it's been a long week.  I'm sure that most of you can relate.  But the fact is that I promised myself that I was going to make a daily post to this blog and so I am sticking to my convictions and doing this for me (as much as I am resisting myself).  One day at a time, one step at a time, no matter how little it might be . . .

Own your Dreams

"It's never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

I recently read a great book by John C. Maxwell called "Own your Dreams: Discovering your Purpose in Life".  It's a quick read that really grabbed my attention.

I realized that I had cut myself off from dreaming because I had no faith that I would be able to achieve the dreams anyway, so all I was doing was causing myself pain by wanting what I couldn't have.  This book, along with other factors helped me to realize that I was hurting myself more by locking away the ability to dream - kind of like cutting off you nose to spite your face.  So I am now working on re-awakening my dreams.  Letting myself imagine what I really want out of life.  Then I am making sure that I share these visions with the people I love, and that I work on taking steps to turn these dreams into realities.  In the words of Clay Walker, "Gonna do my dreamin' with my eyes wide open!"

Anyone can achieve their dreams if they will simply believe in themselves and the possibilities!