It is sometimes very difficult to locate your footing in life. You try several different avenues such as careers, spouses, vehicles, and you still feel as if you haven't found a fit.  What I have learned is that you choose your fit.  This is identified by your reactions to various life situations.  Regardless to the situation, you can determine your fit.  Life doesn't happen to you but for you.  Even the most negative of situations are a fit for you.  They were tailor made to strengthen and empower you.  But it's up to you to decide.  Choose to learn, live, and grow from every situation you encounter.  Yes, some situations will be difficult; they will drain your strength, and slow you down, but realizing that there is a growing opportunity will give you strength.  So go for it today!

Choose your fit and embrace it!

When I first heard this saying, I thought it was great, "Better to have and not need then need and not have."  To be perfectly honest, I still agree with it.  But to really dissect this statement we have to understand need.

What is it that we really need?  Do we NEED another television?  Do we NEED a 4th pair of black shoes. Do we NEED another business suit? 
 
That is definitely a difficult question to answer simply because truthfully, we all define need differently.  Some of us can't live without a cell phone while others are moving to remote parts of the earth to get away. 

When each of us as individuals define need, what is it based on? Is it based on what we already have so it's the needs that we have left? Is it based on what we think is critical for success?  It is based on a dream?   

Then the most important question is when do we stop needing?  For example, how many pairs of shoes do we have to have before we don't need them anymore?  How many televisions do we have to have before we say, that's good enough. 
   
How much do we have to have before we don't need? 

What is the Life Empowered Moment for this week?  Define what you need.  Define the criteria that will indicate to you that your need is met.  Work to accomplish just that.   

If you are able to exceed your own expectations without negative impact, then share your excess
  with others.

Over the holiday weekend, I spent some time trying to help clean the home of one of my most favorite people in the world.  It was filled with many things, a lot of which were useful.  Many of the items has tags on them, if they were not brand new, they were nicely folded and stacked, but that is where the issue lies.  There were stacks and stacks and more stacks.  I could keep going but you get the point. 

Anyway, myself and a few other family members were there in an effort to eliminate some of the stacks.  So while it was a lot of work, it was great bonding time.  As I was cleaning I was listening, and oh what I heard.   

"When I was growing up I had one towel. That was it, just one." 
  
"When I was a teenager and got a job, I went and bought some linen for my bed... My
parents thought I was being fast and so I had to return it and I said when I
grow up I will have everything that I want" 

These types of statements are true for many of us, especially the when "I grow up..." 
However we have to be careful that our past and the fears generated as a result
of our past do not thrust us into another issue much greater than the one we are
  seeking to avoid.

So let's circle back to my story, the real potential impact is
this, unsafe and unhealthy living conditions.  I would much rather this
person have less stuff and live healthier than the vice versa.

So what is the empowered moment for this week?  Look at
your life today, and ask yourself what behaviors are you exhibiting as a result
of your past?  Then ask yourself, are those behaviors worse than what your
are attempting to avoid? If the answer to that question is yes, then be willing
to do something about it and to allow others to help you do something about it.

Just to close out the story (as it is a true story), I must say
that she was at least willing to do something about it, but it will take quite a
bit of time.