All about success – Page 5 – ramblrWrites.com

Valley Season

I have a friend who is experiencing a really challenging period just now. She has been referring to this as her valley season and I really wanted to address this.

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I have often focused on getting up the mountain, but I have also recognized that once you get their invariably you may need to climb another. However, before you reach the mountain, you will need to be in the valley. I also believe that in order to get to the other mountains you have to go through the valleys in between . A climb begins on the flat and not at the top, so to conquer the various mountains waiting for us we have to accept that we have to go through the valley, which is difficult, dry and sometimes seemingly lonely – but only if we choose to go it alone.

Image result for Leaders don't climb hills of success with shoes of pride. They are slippery enough to bring a person down to the valley

Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…
Psalm 23:4

One of things I really admire about my friend as she goes through this period is her faith. She jokes about it and laughs it off, but she never displays anger or frustration at what is happening. Instead she has faith that God will sustain her and strengthen her in this challenging season.

I remember that I was less optimistic in most of my valley experiences. I cried, I complained, I made bargains with God and threatened to give up. However, I was still hopeful, I still wanted to believe that God would pity me and help me. And I always came through those periods grateful. I survived all of them. Despite all my hysterics, God had seen me through.

Image result for Boldness is the ability to stand tall even when the valley seems deep. Your pain will bring gain. Just believe and go to work!

In those difficult times I sometimes would think about the experiences of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and the fact that they stood in the midst fiery furnace and triumphed. It is the reminder that we can conquer anything if our faith is strong and we remain true to who we are. Though they were condemned, they refused to compromise their beliefs and refused to change for anyone. When we experience our valley season we need to do the same. Being in the valley is a temporary situation, one from which we can gather much wisdom and come out on the other side, having learned a little more of how powerful we are with God’s support.

If we refuse to bow to the oppressive nature of our valley experience then we will indeed be victorious.

So the valley can teach us a lot. Maybe we need to look at it differently; it is not a place where we go to die but a place to realize how alive we are and how much we have to live for. It can teach us how to value what we have for the time we have it. Also, sometimes we are allowed to be in the valley because God is waiting to give us the best of what he has in store for us. We first have to prove that we are ready for it.

It takes courage to be in the valley; it takes faith, humility and wisdom to make your way out.

for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalm 23: 4

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Be Specific!

I recently had an encounter with a colleague, who asked me to pass her two rubber bands, and when I did she playfully – I hope – accused me of being too exact. I was puzzled, “isn’t this what she asked for?” She then chuckled to herself and suggested that my next blog could be about being specific about what you want.

I have thought about this and I am sure I am not the only one who prayed or asked for something and then was disappointed when we got it!

Other times we are very proficient in telling everyone what we DO NOT want and never what we do want. Yes we are complex beings.

Yes the problem was not that we did not get what we asked for, but,we did not ask for what we truly wanted.

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Sometimes we only see the big picture and not the small details. So we want to be successful at something or in some way, but we never truly realized or were not thinking realistically about what we would have to do to get there.On the other hand, we may ask for something and once we get it we are overwhelmed because either we did not truly expect to get it, or we are in over our heads and end up messing everything up. These shortcomings can lead to failure and it is only after we have lost all, that we realize that we made a grave mistake.

There is also the situation were we ask for things because we see others with them. Then life plays a trick on us – or it could be that we were fooling ourselves all along – and we are stuck with something we weren’t ready to have or never should have had.

I think it’s time we learn to stop asking for things that will take us nowhere. Instead we need to ask for that which will get us on the path what we truly desire, by focusing on it and ignore all outside distractions.

So, whether you are praying or making a list, be sure to ask for what you truly want. You just might get more than you expect; you just might get what you were truly meant to have all along but could never dream that far ahead.

Image result for Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.

Almost There…

Don’t live the same day over and over again and call that a life. Life is about evolving mentally, spiritually, and emotionally
― Germany Kent

It’s Friday December 13th

Where did the time go?

While many are focused on the many superstition surrounding today, I would like to remind myself that December is getting old, fast.

Just yesterday – it seems – we were welcoming December, now it’s a teenager!

But we are steadily moving along to the end of the year and many persons are looking forward to all the parties they will attend or trips they will be taking.

But we still have to remember that next year is approaching fast and whether or not we are prepared, it will be coming.

In the middle of all the festivities and all the celebration keep in mind the need to have a plan for the coming year. It’s easy to lose focus because there are so many distractions, but in losing focus you could miss a great opportunity.

Maybe like many of us you are at the point where you just want to make it to the new year. Well you will, just don’t stop now. You’re almost there

Image result for Never stop dreaming, never stop believing, never give up, never stop trying, and never stop learning.” “If I don't succeed, I will try again and never stop trying. When I succeed, I will again explore new opportunities

Willpower.

Have you ever said to yourself: if only I had the willpower I would be so awesome, or I would be unstoppable!

However, we deem ourselves to be a bit short on willpower and declare ourselves too lazy, unfit, not smart enough, strong enough, patient enough or generally good enough to make the sacrifices needed to get over the hump, to the other side.

The American Psychology Association notes a 2011 Stress in America Survey, where 27 percent of respondents identified a lack of willpower as a barrier to change.

I recently had a terrible time health-wise and I realized that it was because I had done everything in my power to sustain bad habits. I ate things that made me feel sick because I loved eating them and each time I told myself, this was the last time. Until the next time came around and the cycle was repeated.

The article from The American Psychology Association identified willpower as the, ability to resist short-term temptation in order to meet long term goals. But I am sure all of us at some point have given into the temptation to do something that ended up making our situation worse than what it should have been. So, where willpower is concerned we have failed from time to time. But failing to have the willpower to do or not do something should not be the thing that makes us failures.

While many persons fail to remain disciplined while working towards a goal, remain hopeful that they will get back on track and continue to move towards it. I certainly have learned from my recent experience and I am doing everything in my power to stay the course. The greatest motivation for me is the knowledge of knowing what I could lose and the reward waiting on the other side – making poor choices is no fun.

The there is also the case where things happen that can undermine your ‘iron clad willpower’. Our mood, belief, and expectations may change and therefore undermine or improve our willpower. Also, the people we hang around may determine how committed we remain to our goals. So, basically our ability to develop and maintain our willpower can be determined by outside influences that may or may not be within our control.

The important thing to remember, is that we all have free will and willpower comes from this. Once we have the will there really is a way. It is never impossible to achieve good things, first we must know what we want and next, be determined to get it. In other words, to get what we want and to get where we want to be will take willpower and a good dose of divine influence.

Too Much Advice!

I am sure you have heard the expression: The more the merrier. Well, too much can be a damaging thing in any situation. This is the same with advice.

Normally we want to hear the opinions of others and trust me they will give it to you and some that you neither asked for nor wanted. People love to give advice whether or not they know what they are talking about. However, if they feel they do, they will never stop. Everyday they meet you they have another juicy piece of morsel they forgot to add to the dish they gave you. Often times you end up deeply regretting that you asked.

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People will give advice based on what they know of themselves, their world and their experiences. So really the advice may not match your situation but just reveals what they know or have learned about themselves. I am not saying this is always the case, but, I am sure we all know people who are like the above.

Then you have others whom you did not ask but who gave it anyway and left you feeling insecure about something you planned to do.

Getting advice or a second and third opinion is wise but don’t take them all and run with them – I realize the irony as I give you this advise.

Once you have gathered all those varying voices you have to decide whether you will take one or two or none. At the end of the day getting and taking advice does not have to mean you give away your power to make your own decisions. Getting advice should be about realizing your options and not being limited by someone else’s perspective. You cannot escape making a difficult decision by seeking advice, only delay it. Neither can you acquire a partner in crime, because most persons who readily give the advice that you seek are either thinking hypothetically or are happy not to be in your shoe – and they don’t want to step in it.

Also consider that the person you seek for words of wisdom, may be ‘wise’ to your situation and not their own. The point is, do not think that there is any perfect person who has it all together. Everything in life is based on trial and error, so the advice you get may not work for the situation YOU find yourself in and it may or may not have worked for that person. Yes, life is that complicated.

Also, if you don’t want the advice, give a gracious thank you and keep it moving.

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Blame The Game

Blame means responsibility for something bad or something that has gone wrong. The thing or person blamed always comes out looking bad and voila, you become the victim – poor you.

It’s easy to point the finger at someone or something else. Not only does it get us off the hook but it makes it easier for us to walk away from the mess we actually make.

Let’s Cast The Net wide…

So, today a lot of us make the most of the blame game and can find a thousand reasons why things are not the way they should be. You’re not where you want to be, then you had a rough childhood, nobody loved you, no one helped you or you did not get enough time to do whatever you wanted to do.

Then there is the more ridiculous: you have a headache you blame the weather. You’re in a bad mood, someone put you in a bad mood, or you eat too much and naturally you may put on some unwanted weight, what do you do? You blame the food for tasting too good! Also, you are late, you blame the traffic, even though you got up late and did not leave out in time.

There are many ways in which we try to blame others for why things may be going wrong in our past or present situations.

The fact is when you do this, you do not address the real elephant in the room. You.

I’m sure sometimes we do not realize we are doing it, because it has become so common place. Let’s say you make a mistake. Instead of acknowledging that you did and try to correct it, you may spend a couple of minutes trying to explain why you made the mistake. Also, that why could have a longer time than a couple of minutes, and actually waste everybody’s time!

But consider if you keep doing this, you cannot escape you and whatever problems you face now from doing this will only get worse.

Instead of casting the blame for you mess, stick around and clean it up.

A Dose of Reality.

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26

Ah, it’s Monday a day some people wish they could do without – if you work a 9-5 that is…

But then again, everyday is an opportunity to be happy. So lets make ourselves happy.We do this by finding out what can help us get there. I heard a sermon yesterday, that contained some very important reminders we need to hear from time to time; true wisdom nuggets.

If your life is not on the right track, get off that track because you will crash.

Yikes!

Here is a warning that is sure to get your attention. On this beautiful Monday morning, when all we want to do is to crawl back into bed, we are confronted by this. Could it be that any misery we feel comes from being on the wrong trajectory? If so, there is no time like the present to re-evaluate where we are heading and catch another, train or bus if we must!

Existing not living = Taking up space!

Another harsh truth to get your adrenaline rushing in every which direction. Now, when I heard this in church yesterday, I felt a bit attacked. Am I one of those, am I taking up space? Taking up space, does not mean doing nothing; it means your life is now in a loop. You never evolve, grow or flourish OR you don’t allow yourself to do so. Well it seems it’s time to change that before it gets out of hand.

Half way is going nowhere.

For all those who want to be so super correct, politically correct. right or who hope that doing nothing will get you were you want to be. I have news for you too. It would appear that doing nothing, is worse, than doing something and getting it wrong. So while you may fear getting it wrong it’s best to do so, until you find the right formula.

And our favourite line of, “At least I did something” doesn’t count. I would think if you did something, even if it was a flash in the bucket or half-done, would mean something. I mean, no one can say you did nothing; no one can say you did not try.

Apparently going half way is a sure road to going nowhere at all.

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So, making that phone call once because you wanted it registered that you did call, doesn’t matter. It seems to get real favorable results, it’s all or nothing! Getting up and showing up does not matter – for the people in the back. What matters is what you do when you turn up. Sitting in a corner quietly is not gonna cut it. Marking your name in the register does not mean that your presence count.

So what does that mean for us?

It means that maybe we need to regroup and come again:

Get off the path we are on if it’s not working
Doing meaningful things outside a cookie cutter lifestyle – take a chance and do new things that really matter
Stop being mediocre
And really be present and show up and show out!

What every we are pursuing we need to keep these in mind. They will help us to get to the right destination. Remember be realistic; but, a warning, don’t be too realistic:

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