encouragement, goal achieving
You can.
Sometimes it’s just that simple.
Maybe you need to get out of your comfort zone.
Perhaps it’s time to find your fixed point and stop going around in circles.
Could you ask an optimistic person to come alongside you?
Remember – YOU ARE CAPABLE OF SO MUCH!
Yes. You can.
It’s not too late. You’re enough. You’ve done enough preparation.
Begin.
(I’m cheering you on!)
Remind yourself – click HERE to download the wallpaper photo below for your smartphone.
I’ve been reading this book… and that’s what has prompted today’s post. Our inner dialogue impacts what we begin and finish. One of Neil Fiore’s suggesions when you find yourself overwhelmed by a task, perhaps feeling unequal to all the effort it’ll take, is to work on the project for a half hour, and then record on your calendar your progress. It’s part of taking credit for the work you’ve done. You’re proving to yourself that you can.
encouragement, faith
HIS plans are greater than my dreams…
Keep that in mind when you’re dealing with disappointment, worry or unease over the timing or waiting.
We all have dreams. Sometimes those dreams are seeds of what God has put into our hearts. However, HIS PLANS are always greater than what we, as flawed humans, can dream or imagine.
Ask the One who loves you more than any other to trust in HIS plan for you. How do you know it’s from God? It’ll be filled with hope.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
His PLANS are greater than my dreams. Be patient. And while you’re waiting, be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people!
encouragement, thankfulness
Be thankful for now.
Is that difficult sometimes? Yes. It can be.
I’ve been there.
If you’re looking at your “now”, and it’s so far from what you want or what you had, it can feel discouraging. Our inner push to set goals or our outer need for achievement and affirmation can poison our current spot.
Be thankful for now.
Take care; we can get all caught up in our “dreams” and striving for what we want, that we forget there is joy right now.
Here. This moment holds joy.
Look for the joy in the story you’re living.
(Stop. See. Feel. Taste. Touch. Smell. Experience.)
- the voice of someone who loves you is joy
- the arms of a child wrapping around your neck is joy
- the sweetness of chocolate on your tongue is joy
- the scent of autumn on the air is joy
- the melody in a song is joy
- the warmth of a smile is joy
Is everything perfect?
No.
Do you have everything you want?
No.
But your story, right now, holds some joys.
(Leave a comment with one joy you are experiencing… regardless if your story isn’t the one you would like to be living.)
Be thankful for now.
encouragement, relationships
Be kind. Always. With yourself and others.
It’s rare to know how much someone else is hurting…
Even if you’re standing next to them…
(Regardless – even if you’re their spouse, parent, sibling, best friend, significant other, and especially if they’re a stranger.)
That person could be feeling totally broken, but we couldn’t realize.
Make kindness a habit. Always. No matter the provocation.
A few years ago I had a heart-breaking experience with a grouchy security guard at a library in Florida. We had been traveling fulltime for a while and regularly used the WiFi at the public libraries to work during the day. This was the only library, over the space of two years, that had a “be silent” policy and a guard to back it up.
He prowled the stacks of books seeking those talking out loud or on their mobile cell phone to “shush” them with a scowl and to point to the outside door. (Yes, he found me twice – I was “that” woman.) It both humiliated me and made me grumpy too, even though I was clearly in the wrong.
At the end of the day, I sat outside on a bench waiting for Rob to pick me up. (The truck was parked a fair ways away.) I saw the grumpy guard on another bench. It was so tempting to ignore him. And yet…
Be Kind. Always. To yourself and others.
(Do you ever get those inner promptings? I do. And I’ve learned not to ignore them.)
So I got up and walked over to the grumpy guard’s bench and sat beside him. I started the conversation about the weather. (You’ll find that’s often the opening line with a Canadian… I don’t know why.) Since it was Florida in the winter, the sun was shining and warm, it was a good start. Anyway. He began to share.
He shared his whole life story with me – I guess I appeared to be a friendly ear.
He hadn’t had an easy life. And the latest blow was his cancer diagnosis.
The grumpy guard was scheduled for treatment the next week and he was afraid. He wasn’t on speaking terms with his siblings and It didn’t seem like he had a support system around him. But for those few moments, I was privileged to listen and put a hand on his arm to convey that someone cared.
He told me he believed in God, so I assured him that I would pray for him. By the time Rob pulled up in the truck I had gotten a few smiles out of that grumpy guard. I hope, with all my heart, that my kindness made a difference. Even if it was for only a few moments.
There was no way I would have known his story. And his fear, hurt, loneliness, and isolation. I’m chagrined that I just saw an old man who “shushed” me. At least at first. However, I’m not going to beat myself up – I’ve learned from that experience. Hopefully, I won’t make the same mistake again.
Be kind. Always. With yourself and others.
There’s great power in kindness. Regardless.
Want ideas? Here are 25 easy ways to add kindness to your day.
encouragement, thankfulness
Looking on the bright side – can you do that? All the time?
If you’re anything like me, it takes real effort to continue to look on the bright side – regardless. But even though it takes effort, (and sometimes huge effort), it never hurts me in the long run. In fact, it makes my life better, and all those around me feel it.
Once I’ve found the “bright side”, and go with it, then other aspects where negativity could creep in seem easier to manage.
Is it simple to look for the positive in life? Not always.
Looking on the bright side even when it’s hard.
Here are some ways to encourage yourself to focus on what’s good in a circumstance:
- Review all that you could be thankful for in this situation. Make a list. Dig. Here’s a post on thankfulness that will give you practical ideas.
- Express your thankfulness in a concrete way: words, or actions.
- Take time to ponder. We allow the rush of life to overwhelm us and by default the place we end up is negative. Use a timeout to process what’s going on. Prayer always helps me.
- Make a pro and con list on paper. (or your computer) Seeing the issues in black and white will often clarify those nebulous clouds of gloom and doom. Talk it through with a trusted friend. A person who loves you can see situations differently. Neither of you is right or wrong. Sometimes it’s good to have a discussion to see another’s view.
- Get out of your own way. In the Lead Like Jesus Encounter, there’s a part called “Ego’s Annonymous”. It’s designed to help the participants recognize we all struggle every day with pride and fear – it’s an addiction. As a Christian, I see EGO as “edging God out”. Most times, at least for me, when I can’t find the bright side that’s at the root.
How about you?
What techniques do you use to successfully find your positive place?
PositiveThanksLiving is about being strategically optimistic – not just pie-in-the-sky everything is perfect. Living as an optimistic and thankful person takes work – but it’s worth it!
encouragement
Positive people in your life – do you have enough of those kinds of encouragers around you?
Sometimes we need to have less of one thing and more of another…
Here’s an idea:
Be so positive that negative people don’t want to be around you.
(I dare you not to smile at that statement! — I chuckled as I wrote it.)
And there’s another way…
Be consistently positive in ways that influence others to be positive.
Positive people in your life…
How can you identify a positive person? It’s not about “pie-in-the-sky” everything is perfect… But some clues to positive people are they:
- operate in life through love, and with the knowledge that they’re loved.
- are thankful for all the good in their life and live a grateful existence.
- want to encourage others.
- know it’s important to be encouraged.
- face the day with the desire and plans to take action on their goals.
What else would you add to this list?
How do you identify a positive person?
Leave a comment!
“Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish, dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart.”
A thought from Billy Graham on being thankful in all circumstances.
Want more to read on being a positive person? Here’s a quick idea.
