Archive | Excellence RSS feed for this section

Waking Up

25 Apr

It’s amazing when springtime rolls around and we see all the plants and trees start to shed their winter drab and put on their new buds and blooms. The leaves begin to form on the trees and there are endless shades of green all around us. The early flowers pop through the ground and display their amazing blossoms and incredible perfume. Winter is a beautiful season, but when it’s over it’s exciting to see everything waking up again. There is a newness everywhere and we feel the great promise of the coming summer. Our lives ebb and flow like the natural seasons. Sometimes we feel awake and engaged, and other times we may feel bogged down with routine and boredom. No matter what’s going on around us, we decide what we’ll do and where we’ll go. We never have to stand still if we want to move, and every destination is open and waiting for us to arrive. If we feel stuck, we can choose a new goal and start moving toward it. If we’re bored, we can turn and go in a new direction, meeting new people and learning about new places. Living each day to the fullest, wide awake and aware of everything around us will enrich us and deepen our understanding of the world and our place in it. There are endless possibilities always available. Like the spring buds popping open around us, we can be open to new experiences and challenges. Our lives can be rich and filled with interest and satisfaction. We can design them any way we like and when we live every day to the fullest, we will find great gratification and happiness.

It’s easy to get stuck in a routine doing the same things over and over, and forget all the opportunities around us. If we stay on the same road every single day, we may miss countless new experiences and the chance to share our lives with others. We can manage our responsibilities and take care of our obligations, and still expand our horizons. The world is a huge place with billions of people, all of whom have something different to offer. We can reach out to them, step away from what we know and try something new. Every destination is possible and nothing is out of reach.

There is security in keeping our lives small and never extending ourselves beyond where we are. We may feel safe knowing how things will go every day and what to expect. But if we step beyond the common roads we’ve been traveling we may find incredible adventures we never dreamed possible. By stretching further into foreign territory, our imagination will be awakened and we will be delighted by each new experience. We can open our eyes to everything that’s possible and learn new things, meet new people, and find great fulfillment.

Today if you’ve been going along following the same road again and again, step out and see what life brings you. There are incredible blessings waiting for you if you will embrace them and try something new. Decide to live your life wide awake and aware of every possibility. There isn’t anything you can’t do. You are incredible and amazing. The whole world is there for you. Reach further, stretch beyond where you are, and claim it.

Tags: , ,

Where Are You?

18 Apr

In this day and age of technological advancements, it seems there are screens everywhere. We have our iphones, ipads, laptops, and every other conceivable device to keep us “connected,” whatever that means. It’s fine to use whatever tools we need when we have things to do but if we become so dependent on our devices that we can’t set them down, we may create problems for ourselves. If we’re constantly staring at a screen, it will be impossible to be completely effective in our personal lives. And if we let them interfere with our personal relationships, we may create uncomfortable complications we could avoid. If we’re having lunch with a friend or family member and continually watch our phones, or continue to text others, we may alienate and offend those we’re with. It’s impossible to be in two places at the same time. What is possible is to physically be in one place and mentally be in another, and the place in our head will actually be where we are. We can’t have meaningful connections with people we ignore, or engage in conversations in person at the same time as we’re engaging in the virtual world. We must decide what’s most important and where we really want to be. If we only engage in virtual connections, our in-person skills will suffer. It’s demeaning and disrespectful to expect others to wait around while we talk to someone else on-line. We decide where we want to be every moment of every day. Our personal connections are important. We’ll find great happiness and satisfaction when we value them enough to give them the attention they need and the time they deserve. Nothing is more valuable than our interpersonal relationships. We can control our choices to ensure we show how much they mean to us by caring for them and honoring them.

We’re often busy and when there’s a lot going on and someone wants to see us, we may ask them to wait a moment until we can give them the time they need. Most people are patient and will wait, but if we continually push them off because we’re distracted with one thing after another, they may give up and decide to move on. The valuable information and beneficial guidance they may have offered us will be lost if we’re unable to effectively govern how we spend our time.

Life rushes by in a flash. Every single day is a blessing and by focusing on where we are in each moment, we’ll get the most out of them. Being where we are instead of mentally checking out to someplace else will enrich our lives in deep and profound ways. Nothing is more important than this moment. We can take control of our lives and choose to live here and now, and find great satisfaction and happiness.

Today if you’ve been distracted by all the screens and technology around you, remember you only have this one day. Yesterday is gone and there are no guarantees for tomorrow. You are an incredible gift to the world. Share your life in-person with those around you and live fully in this moment, and every happiness and success will be yours.

Tags: , ,

Tightrope Walking

3 Apr

Every day we face new situations and make many decisions. We never know what will happen next and even if we try to avoid calamity, nevertheless there will be times when it will find us. We can’t control what anyone else does or circumstances we don’t know about, and all we can do is try to make the best decisions possible that won’t tangle us up and make things difficult. Sometimes that’s easy and we feel confident we’re doing our best but if we’re under the influence of someone else, we might choose a path that doesn’t take us where we want to go. If someone we love or care about pressures us to go along with something we don’t feel comfortable with, or that’s dishonest or underhanded in any way, and we succumb, we may find ourselves walking a tightrope between doom and disaster. Maybe not doom exactly, but certainly not where we want to be. Our personal connections can be very powerful and we might agree to a negative situation in an effort to show support even if it’s not something we want to do. We’re always in control of what we do, and can certainly choose any path we like. If we follow someone else into the fire, we have only ourselves to blame when the flames get hot. It’s not easy to say no when someone we care about is pressuring us, but we’re always responsible for every choice we make, regardless of the circumstances. Despite any relationship situation, we can be polite and understanding, and still choose the best road forward. Making choices that are in keeping with our standards and values isn’t selfish. Our lives and what we do with them are up to us. We can have the lives we want the most by choosing wisely and taking the roads that lead us to success.

Everyone has their own ideas about what’s right and how things should go. We can always change our views on anything, but if there’s something we feel strongly about and someone else is trying to push us in another direction, what we choose is up to us. We never need to go along with anything we don’t agree with or that makes us uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter what others are doing, we can go our own way. We know ourselves better than anyone and can choose what we want and what we need.

People can be very persuasive when they want something badly. We may be asked to compromise our personal values in order to help someone else achieve some goal they desire. Once we step over the line away from our personal integrity, we set a new course in action. After that door is opened, it will be easier to do it again. If we continue to sacrifice our values, we will inevitably become someone else entirely. Every choice we make takes us somewhere. Where we go is up to us. If we are strong in our convictions to stay true to who we are, the paths we choose will that take us where we most want to be.

Today if you’re being pressured to do something you don’t feel comfortable with, choose what defines who you are. You know how to make excellent decisions. Determine the road forward and stay true to yourself. You are an incredible gift to the world. Be strong and stand tall. Choose the best path ahead and you will succeed.

Tags: , ,

Just a Moment

1 Apr

There’s a lot going on in our lives all the time. We have responsibilities to attend to, things that need to be done, people asking for our help, appointments we need to make and the list is never ending. We have a lot of priorities we want to get done, and as we rush around and accomplish so much, our personal needs may get pushed aside. The time we need to recharge may get shorter and shorter, and before we know it, we may be burned out and exhausted. Once we deplete all our resources, we can do no more. There will always be more than we can accomplish all at once. No matter how hard we work or how fast we go, there will always be another task waiting. Before we rush headlong into the fray, we can look at everything before us and make a reasonable plan for completion. Whatever we don’t accomplish today can be done tomorrow. Pushing ourselves beyond our limits and setting unrealistic goals will only lead to fatigue and defeat. There is plenty of time to do what is most important. The rest can be managed later. As we move through our list of projects, it’s important to allow time to take a break and refresh ourselves. Just a short walk, or a few minutes of quiet reflection can help us navigate a busy and demanding day more effectively. Allowing ourselves a moment of rest to look around and enjoy our day will rejuvenate us and give us the energy we need to succeed. Every day is a blessing. We can accomplish much and still find time to reflect on what’s most important. We are strong and capable, and can do anything we desire. Remembering to value our personal time as much as our tasks will help us find balance and happiness. We know what we want and what we need. We can take care of business and still take care of ourselves.

There are a lot of people coming in and out of our lives all the time. They may be family members, co-workers, friends, acquaintances and some we’ll interact with once and never see again. They may ask us for help with something and we may certainly agree. Our time is ours to manage, and we can give them as much as we like. If we’re mindful of all our responsibilities and our personal needs, we will be able to serve effectively and still have the time we need to take care of ourselves. Constantly replenishing our well will ensure we always have enough to keep going and still share with others.

Caring for ourselves is our responsibility. We can’t expect anyone else to know what we need or how much rest we require. Making sure we’re at our best will help us accomplish everything before us. It’s impossible to be as effective as possible if we’re sleep deprived, hungry or overwhelmed. If the beginning isn’t working, we will never reach the ending. We can take what we need and be strong and effective. Every blessing is possible and with planning and care we can reach every destination.

Today if you’ve been rushing around and neglecting yourself, remember you are the most important person in your equation. Give yourself what you need and you’ll be strong and effective. You can do anything if you plan effectively and take care of yourself. Every destination is possible and you will prevail.

Tags: , ,

Loud Voices

29 Mar

We live in the world with billions of other people. They come from all kinds of different backgrounds, and believe countless different things. Their opinions are important to them and if they’re passionate about what they think is right, they may be very loud and persistent in an effort to make others follow along. They may tell those around them what they should eat, what they should believe, what they should do, how to act or countless other things. We’re all entitled to our own ideas and perspectives and can live our lives any way we like, but we don’t have the authority to command others to embrace our choices. We all have the gift and privilege or free agency and can make any decisions we desire. We don’t need to do anything someone else’s way or follow anyone else’s ideas or beliefs. Our lives are ours to design and we can live them any way we like, even if it’s different from those around us. There isn’t one perfect way to live. There are endless expressions and interpretations of every facet of life. We can make our own choices and let others choose what’s best for them. Demanding sameness and conformity will only suffocate and repress free expression and ingenuity. Every choice has its own benefits and drawbacks, and we can make them independently, regardless of what’s going on around us. We can listen to the opinions of others, and then choose for ourselves. We know who we are and what we want. We can live our lives in ways that bring us the blessings we seek and take us where we want to go. Our wisdom and insight will guide us along, and with focus and determination, we can have the lives we dream about.

It’s easy to do things when everyone is in agreement. If we’re all on the same page and embrace the same goals, we can move forward with little distraction or division. It’s fine to go along with something if it moves us further down the road we want to travel, but we need never succumb to conformity if it’s not what we want. We are valuable and worthwhile, and have gifts to offer nobody else can bring. The world is enhanced because we are here and we can be confident is being exactly who we are.

Opinions come and go, trends change and ideas modify as time passes. What was popular before may be passé now and what was considered all the rage last year may be a forgotten memory. It doesn’t matter what others are doing or how much importance they put on fitting in. We can decide what works for us and what we want. Our uniqueness and individuality bring depth and flavor to every situation. There isn’t now, nor has there ever been, anyone else like us. We can share who we are and make decisions that take us where we want to go and give us the lives we desire.

Today if there is pressure from those around you to conform, remember you are awesome and valuable just as you are. You don’t have to go along with anything you don’t want. The whole world is blessed because you are here and your presence enhances us all. You are amazing. Be confident and decide what you want most. Make decisions that will bring you the life you dream about and happiness will be yours.

Tags: , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →