You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April, 2007.
“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” Rosalyn Carter
Meet a group of Extraordinary Women. Don’t forget to celebrate the strong women in your life!
“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
When I was a kid our late pastor, Reverend Williams, used to tell how poor people of his youth would form assistance societies with dues of ten cents a month. Then he’d say, “If we put our little nickles together before you know it we’ve got something.”
Using what you may think is “a little” to reach a goal takes faith, courage and perseverance. Not many people can look beyond that little bit to see the possibilities. Sometimes what we perceive as not much, our own talents and skills, is actually much more. It’s all in how we look at ourselves and our situations. Faith moves mountains!
Here is another “Incredible Kid”. He took a small amount and did great good. It’s not about money. It’s about the heart that little Jackson Rogers put into reaching his goal.
A Child Shall Lead Them!
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Follow The Women!
“Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention.” Greg Anderson
I have counseled many people who were feeling down about themselves and their lives. Sometimes we might feel a general sense of something not being right. We’re not satisfied. Something is missing and we don’t know what that “something” is. So we say we’re not happy. The thing is happiness is not a destination, it’s a journey that changes. Happiness has peaks and valleys.
When people say, “I’d be happy if only I could …” (fill in the blank) they don’t understand the journey. Which explains why once they get that “Holy Grail” they were seeking- they finally lose weight, get the so-called perfect job, buy they house they wanted, etc. eventually the glow fades, and they’re back to the state of not being happy. I have encouraged people to embrace the journey. We search as though happiness is some kind of hidden treasure that we have to play detective to discover. Happiness is not playing hide and seek with us either, laughing as it races off. Although to hear us talk we sometimes seem to think that’s what is happening. Happiness is not getting a blessing, but rather it’s recognizing how you are already blessed!
April is Stress Awareness Month. Be too blessed to be stressed. Here are a few tips on getting it together:
1. Get organized and clear up clutter. Nothing makes you feel less in control and overwhelmed as to have a lot of stuff piled up. Things get forgotten and overlooked, which leads to more stress. Take time to get things in order.
2. Learn to say no. A big source of stress is being stretched too thin. It is much better to say no than to take on too much. You may get everything done, but you feel worn out. Or you don’t get everything done and then you get more stress by missing deadline, being late or not giving your best.
3. Get support. Talk out what stresses you with a trusted friend who is level- headed. Sometimes you just need to be able to vent. However, if needed come up with a game plan to deal with your stress.
4. Meditate or find quiet time to do something you enjoy.
5. Get enough sleep.
More tips- Get a GrAtitude Adjustment and feel better!
“Things do not change; we change.” Henry David Thoreau
When I was a social worker on a women’s unit at a local psychiatric hospital change was a big topic of counseling sessions. How do you change your life around? How do you recover from a painful past and stop living like a victim? How does one change from self-destruction to living positively? Only one tough part of this is that the environment may not change. Your friends and even family may continue to use drugs and get drunk. Your family members may continue to be unsupportive, even hostile when you try to change. You will still be poor in the near future, or at least not make much money. These circumstances probably won’t change, but you can change. It will not be easy, but it can be done and has been done by others. Here is an inspiring story of one man’s recipe for change.
Cooking Up A New Life
