Motivational Moments
Explore our archive of inspiration writings
Disagreements are a part of life and sometimes we allow disagreements to create a rift between people that really should be on one united front. For example, the mother and father may disagree with how to reprimand a child. Or a team of managers can't agree on business priorities, not to mention how to achieve them. As a result of both of these scenarios, anger, distrust, and division sets in.
Not only that, but these types of issues can and will create unnecessary, emotional baggage. So as a result of disagreeing about how long little Princess Daughter should be on punishment, now mom and dad are not on speaking terms. Or since the team couldn't agree, now's there's a feeling of disloyalty among what used to be a strong cohesive team. Just that quickly, something has divided what should be united. In retrospect, you have to ask yourself was it worth it. Was the argument really worth losing out on time that could have been used to interact and bond with the one you love? Did the time you spent working in a tension filled environment and distrusting your peers produce any positive results? More than likely not. It is important that we learn how to disagree so that unity isn't impacted. Here are three critical skills to use:
0 Comments
When we watch a television show or movie, we see the end result of something that took weeks, months, even years to put together. We don't see the effort and the difficult work behind what it takes/took to pull off a great show. Not only that, but we don't see the outtakes of the errors, the injuries, and the frustration of the job.
It may also be a bit intimidating to watch everyone else, while desiring to accomplish that similar goal yourself. After all, they have more experience, they went to the best schools, and generations before them have exposed them to these opportunities. So to you, all of the odds are stacked against you and there are so many reasons why you can't or shouldn't do something. However, I just want to encourage you. Sometimes it's not the way that you wanted to do it, but it accomplishes the same goal. For example, you may want to help others, so you decide to become a nurse. Well, somewhere in life you are unable to be a nurse as we know it, to run up and down the halls in a hospital, but… you are able to answer the calls at a nurse advice call center. Another example, maybe you wanted to be a famous race car driver but you were unable to for some reason. Instead, you become an auto engineer and learn everything you can about vehicles and begin to design and build them for race car drivers. Take a moment to really think about and understand your goal. Here's how. Ask yourself these questions. What is your goal? Why do you want to do that? What is the benefit of that? What are some additional ways can you accomplish that? Understand your dream and why it is your dream. From there, explore all of your options to support that. It may not be in the way that you thought, but you are still fulfilling your dream none the less. So here is the Life Empowered Moment, Stop watching everyone else accomplish their dreams, and go accomplish yours! I was able to chat with a young lady that I love and cherish tremendously. She reminded me of a question that I asked her quite a while ago. What makes you happy? This question is probably one of the most misunderstood, because happiness is defined so differently by each individual.
Truthfully, happiness can't be determined by things and most certainly happiness isn't based on external factors. Happiness is a state that you, yourself, and your "I" consciously reside in. It's is an individual and internal place where you spiritually dwell. You can be in a wheel chair - happy, blind - happy, sick - happy. You can be happy! A happy person doesn't allow the external factors, trials, and issues to determine their happiness. In fact, their happiness, in spite of life's ups and downs is what changes their situations around. So what is this week's life empowered moment? Look for your happiness and go get it. But remember it's on the inside of you, so when you are looking for it, look on the inside! According to Maslow's Hierarchy of need, people need the following things... Physiological (food, water, shelter), safety (freedom from fear), belonging (love), and self actualization (inner talent). While this theory is was birthed in 1943, it is intriguing that every time I read it, it just feels true to me. The only issue that I see, is what we as humans are doing to get those needs met. For example, a husband that is insecure may bully and physically abuse his wife to make himself feel loved and needed (belonging). A colleague will lie and backstab another to make his/her own self look good and skilled (self actualization). A person will work the same job for 30 years terribly unhappy in order to because the fear of change. What many fail to realize is that in order to truly have those things, there has to be a purity, honesty and drive to achieve them. There has to be faith and trust that the great things that come from the inside of them will be returned. So what is this week's life empowered moment? To love to life. Not only love me to life but love you to life. That means that you love yourself enough to love others with a pure heart and with no malice, to trust that the greatness in you will be recognized, that dream will be realized, and that you can accomplish anything. So go ahead, love you to life and love others the same! 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. How do you want to be known?
Branding is how you are portraying yourself and how you are perceived by others. It’s also how you want to be known. It is important to note that branding is a made up of the messages that we convey as well as factors such as who you associate with, the places you go, and the communication style that you have. Think about that person that seems to be very reserved but her best buddy has a big mouth? So what do we say? “You know Sally; she hangs out with the office gossip, Georgia all the time.” What about that person that was attractive but their language was foul, so when they are described, they are often known as “Very attractive, but swears like a drunken sailor”? That’s how he/she is known, that is their brand. Then, there’s the guy that is always at the mall shopping, but never has 75 cents for a soda. He’s always talks about what he has but he never seems to have any money. That’s how we know him, as the “Broke guy that’s always at the mall”. I am sure you get my point by now, and truthfully, I have worked to keep this PG, but think about some people in your life and how they are known. Then take this week’s Life Empowered Moment to think about how you are known. Then do the following: Ask yourself is that how I want to be known? How do I want to be known? Here are a few steps to begin rebranding yourself. 1) Write down how you want to be known. 2) Write down what it will take for you to become that brand. 3) Begin implementing your rebranding plan. For example, maybe you have to decrease the amount of time you spend with the office gossip, minimize your swearing, make sure you have adequate lunch money or just stop begging. 4) Search for some adequate replacement options as you are moving things out of your zone, such as reading. It will increase your knowledge and expand your vocabulary. 5) Post your commitment in a frequently viewed location such as your mirror, office desk, wallet, or door. Follow these steps daily to improve your brand will be changed before you know it. The last thing that I want you to know about branding is that, it’s ok to be known as what you used to be. As long as “used to be” is in the statement; that means that your brand is changing and it is being acknowledged. Just keep working at it. There are times in life when it seems that everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Everything that you seem to touch is not turning to gold but to ashes. Then in your mind you begin to say to yourself “When it rains, it pours!” I know we have all been there. These are points when it feels as though life and everyone in it is against you and what you are working to accomplish. You may be struggling in your job, your relationships, and in your finances. It just feels like rain. Reflecting back to when I was a child, we used to say “Rain, rain go away, come back another day”. It’s ironic that we asked for it another day. But the reality is that we need the rain. It allows us to grow, flourish, and be rejuvenated. It is just a simple fact of life. Sometimes during the rain it’s difficult to see the beauty that is going to come as a result of it, but I want to encourage to look up. If you look up you can see the rainbow. Think of it as your promise that greatness is coming. So your life empowered moment is this- Look for your rainbow in the rain. Whether it’s in a soft drizzle or torrential rain, just look for your rainbow. It’s there! |
About the AuthorPassionate, motivator with the skills and the desire to empower, encourage, and inspire others. Archives
July 2018
Categories |
ServicesCorporate Training
Executive Coaching Strategic Planning Motivational Speaking |
Company |
|