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Posts Tagged ‘Motivation’

Motivation Monday: Mobility

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“You cannot step into the same river twice”

 

Pastor Luis Carlo was the guest pastor at church yesterday and his message was phenomenal. He touched on one specific topic but he pretty much summed up my feelings for the past few months in regards to work. I’m not going to get into the details about work (it is a small world) but his message was titled “Perspectives on Mobility: The Arrow is Beyond You.” So first we defined mobility:

Mobility-noun- the quality or state of being capable of moving or changing quickly from one state or condition to another

As we all may no the only thing that is constant in life is change. Life is full of movement and transitions. Even when it comes to the various stages of life, we grow from an infant to a toddler and so forth. Change is something that we cannot control. People try to control change by remaining stagnant, but that is just hurting the person who is trying to prevent the inevitable. Pastor Carlo said “culture resists change. With culture, you enjoy traditions because of the safety of the status quo.” So people who refuse to change often get left behind and miss great opportunities that life has to offer.

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Motivation Monday: Choice

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“To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Kofi Annan

Choice-noun- the act or power of selection

Almost everything that occurs in a person’s life is based on choice. Certain things like ethnicity, gender, height etc. are not something that we have control over. The things that we do have control over, we need to exercise proper judgement and spiritual discernment. Our choices lead to some type of action that will lead to a reaction and possibly some type of consequence.

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Motivation Monday: Opportunity

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  I hope all of you had great weekend full of fun and love :-) Today is Monday the start of a new work week for most and so this Motivation Monday post is about opportunity.  

“Don’t wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occassions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” Orison Swett marden

 Sometimes opportunities don’t “knock” at the door, you have to go to the door yourself and open it to make your own way. People don’t realize that success does not just come to you, you have to WORK for it. People are afraid to work. In order to reap benefits you must sow and sowing involves work. What you put in to something you will get in return. It’s called reciprocity.

 People complain about their current relationships, living arrangements, and jobs, but what opportunities are you creating for yourself to change your situation? This is 2010 and we cannot just sit around thinking that what we want is going to fall into our lap. Sorry to tell you, but it does not work that way. We need to be strong, confident, and secure to go after what we want. Sure we will have our weak moments, but we cannot let those keep us down. Go after what you want and create your own opportunities. Create your own path if you do not want to follow anyone else’s path. You have to make your won way sometimes and let today be the day. If there is something in your life that you want to change and make better, GO FOR IT. Fear is mental, so don’t be afraid to try have a postive attitude and things will start to change.  You must remember though that CHANGE IS A PROCESS, NOT AN EVENT (Pastor A.R. Bernard) so if it is not going to happen tomorrow, but start today to make that change and create the opportunities you will need to have a better life.

*This post is my motivation…I need to act and create my own way. Actions speak louder than words*

 

Motivation Monday: Love…

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“If you aren’t good at loving yourself, you will have a difficult time loving anyone, since you’ll resent the time and energy you give another person that you aren’t even giving to yourself.” Barbara De Angelis

This Sunday is Valentine’s Day and some people may not have that “special someone” in their lives (at the moment). Instead of loathing or dreading this day that has been set aside to show love, do just that…show love. First and foremost, remember to love yourself. If you can’t love yourself, you are not going to know what it feels like to be loved or love another. You have to know your own self-worth and everyone is worthy of being loved.

One problem that the world is faced with today, hate. So many negative things happen because people hate themselves and they want others to feel their own pain and misery. It takes more energy to hate yourself or someone else than it does to love. Love is essential for anything in life. Love is essential for happiness. Whether it is loving your job, family, friends, or just life in general, love is definitely needed. So instead of hating yourself or finding what you feel is “wrong” make of list of what is right. We must realize that no one is perfect. We all have flaws and that is just one fact that needs to be accepted by all. Accept you for you who are and love yourself for that same reason.

Motivation Monday: Commitment

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“Commitment unlocks the doors of imagination, allows vision, and gives us the “right stuff” to turn our dreams into reality.”  James Womack

Today is February 1, 2010. We are now in the 2nd month of the new year. How many of you already broke you New Year’s resolution? I can admit that my motivation has gone down a tad bit, but I am going to get back in the swing of things. It is very easy to get off track from your original goals, but you must stay focused. I know that what I want to accomplish this year (and in my lifetime) takes commitment.

Do not let outside influences or slow progress stop you from accomplishing your goals. This is the perfect time to regroup. Don’t let your momentum die down (pointing finger at myself). The only way you will reach your goal is if you work towards it and that takes dedication and commitment.

So please do not be discouraged. It is never too late to pick up where you left off.  Rededicate and recommit yourself to your goals. Revisit what made you so passionate about accomplishing your goals in the beginning of the year. Once again it is NEVER too late. If you are still committed and motivated…continue on that path. If you reach a road block just look at it like a blessing. It is only going to make you stronger.

Motivation Monday: Power of Words

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“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.” Pearl Strachan

The powers words contain is unbelievable. We have the ability to create things just by speaking them into existence. Your words also reveals what is in your heart. If a person is very negative and only speaks of negative things, then they obviously are not happy and it is a reflection of what is on the inside. Words give you courage and confidence. A simple “good morning, how are you?” can turn a person’s day around.

We have to be mindful of the words that we speak. One reason is because we do not want our words to be the reason to cause a person heartache, pain, doubt, or any type of insecurities. Instead of only speaking about what people do wrong, tell them what they are doing right also and then help them find a way to change. Only acknowledging a persons faults and flaws is not healthy.

Words bring on new insights and enlighten people in ways never imagined. Words are the reason we have all of these great creations. Somethings just have to be spoken. I really do believe that we speak things into existence. If you constantly sayy I am not or I can’t, chances are you will not and you can’t because of the words you spoke.

In order to change how we speak, we have to change what is in our hearts. Yesterday, Pastor Bernard said “The heart is the central motivation factor of human life. Every desire, choice, and decision comes from your heart.” Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Words have the ability to make or break anyone and anything. Think about what is in your heart. Think about the words you speak this week and beyond. What do your words reflect about your character?

There is a lot that needs to be done, a lot that needs to be changed and I know that it starts with my very words. Examine yourselves, by examining your heart, this is definitely a time for self-reflection.

Have a blessed week!

 

Hope For Haiti

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The “Hope For Haiti” Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief is airing tonight at 8pm ET all across the world. This will be a 2hr commercial free event broadcasting live from New York City with Wyclef Jean

Los Angeles with George Clooney

Robert Pattinson from Twilight in London

and Anderson Cooper in Haiti

Hope for Haiti Telethon Hosts

The Hope for Haiti telethon will be hosted by George Clooney in Los Angeles, by Wyclef Jean in New York, by Twilight star Robert Pattinson in London, and by CNN’s Anderson Cooper in Haiti.

George Clooney has organized two other major telethons: “America: A Tribute to Heroes” in support of the victims and families of 9/11, and “Tsunami Aid” in support of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Anderson Cooper has been reporting live for CNN from Port-Au-Prince since the the morning of January 13. “I feel privileged to be here, lucky to be here. I can’t imagine being anywhere else. There are things that are extraordinarily horrific and signs of extraordinary strength, and that’s important for people to know.” (Los Angeles Times, January 13, 2010).

Musician Wyclef Jean, a native Haitian, has been supporting his birth country through Yéle Haiti, the charity he originally founded in 1994. Yéle Haiti funds thousands of scholarships for Haitian children, and provided support to residents after Hurricane Jeanne damaged northwestern Haiti in 2004.

Hope For Haiti Telethon: Networks and Times

The Hope for Haiti telethon will air at 8pm ET on Friday, January 22. It is scheduled to run for 2 hours, commercial-free, on broadcast (ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC) and cable networks (MTV, VH1, CNN, BET, The CW, National Geographic, HBO, CMT, Style Network, Comedy Central, SoapNet, Palladia, Current TV, Spike TV, TV Land, Bravo, G4, Oxygen, Showtime, Pulse, and many others).

Outside of the U.S., the feed will be available to MTV International and CNN International. Canadian viewers can watch the Haitian earthquake relief telethon on CTV, CBC, Global Television, MuchMusic and MTV. In the UK, the telethon will be broadcast live at 1am on MTV, and then repeated at 9pm on January 23 on MTV and VIVA.

Read more at Suite101: Hope For Haiti Telethon, January 22, 2010: Latest News on George Clooney Effort to Aid Earthquake Victims http://povertyworlddevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/hope_for_haiti_telethon#ixzz0dIo1asjl

Performers include: Beyonce, Christina Aguilara, Madonna, Jay-Z, Sting, Justin Timberlake, Springsteen, Coldplay, Shakira, Bono, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Taylor Swift, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Keith Urban.

Please tune in to show your support!

Motivation Monday: Discernment

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“A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him” Proverbs 28:11

Discernment-noun- the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.

Discernment is key if you want to be successful at anything. We need to be able to see through a person’s motive and try to understand their “agenda,” and almost everyone has an agenda. With discernment we must also examine our thought life. We need to examine what we think and how we think. I’ve learned in church that “you thought life is what determines your success or failure.” So we need to pray for spiritual discernment. Spiritual discernment will allow us to see things our natural eyes would not allow.

So let us start by examining our thoughts, the ones created by us and also other people. Examine what people say to you and try to figure out the “agenda.” If we begin to develop discernment, many of the “sticky” situations that we find ourselves in will decrease. We would not be so easily disappointed or a failure. “The way you think is critical. It is important to think critically. Thinking is a process and most of it goes on at a subconscious level” Pastor Bernard. He also says that every thought has power in your life, so let us begin to figure out the agenda and if it is not aligned with any of our goals, values, or purposes, we need to erase the thought from our mind. Do not give power to something that will not produce a positive outcome. 

We need to change the way we think, and once that process begins, our actions and reactions will change also. Do not let negative people or thoughts ruin your chances of achieving your goals. Take a closer look at what you think about and the things that influence those thoughts. If you need to remove yourself from an environment or even a group of people, do so if it brings you peace. So let us begin (or continue) developing discernment and see things froma  spiritual perspective. Examine your thoughts and the thoughts from outside influences and figure out the agenda. Pay attention to the agenda and handle the situation accordingly. Make the right decision, even if it hurts (and trust me it does!!!) and  be on your road to success. I know that I am on the way… 

My Book List

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One of my goals for 2010 is to read more books. Being that I am in graduate school (final semester woohoo) and I teach English most of the books that I read are school related. I have read great books and stories for my classes, and this semester I am taking another literature course and I will read tons more in a short amount of time (booooooo to reading a book a week). Being required to read a book a week is no fun. I do not get a chance to fully enjoy the book like if I was reading it at my own leisure. Anyway, a few books that are on my current reading list are:

Getting Things Done by David Allen (recommended by my church’s pastor)

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (Interpreter of Maladies by Lahiri also is an excellent collection of short stories. I read this for my Global English Lit class. She was one of my favorite authors that we studied)

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

Don’t Cry by Mary Gaitskill

Lowboy by John Wray (story of a schizophrenic boy in the tunnels of the NYC subways)

A Mercy by Toni Morrison (author of two of my favorite books Beloved and The Bluest Eye)

Ok so this is my list so far. If you have anysuggestions please don’t hesitate to share.

Motivation Monday: It Is Never Too Late To Start

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I think that 2010 is going to be a great year! I can honestly say that I have never been this motivated ever! I always get excited for the new year and for a new day, but there is something that is happening that I can’t explain for 2010. So yesterday at church, Pastor Bernard spoke about getting focused, changing your thought life and thinking critically. He also spoke about the 6 areas of demands on our life. Each of these areas are pulling at us all at the same time. Those areas are:

  1. Spiritual
  2. Educational
  3. Health
  4. Social
  5. Financial
  6. Family

In order to get control of this tug-of-war we need to clearly define our goals. The clearer the goal, the stronger it is in your life. Pastor Bernard said “I go to sleep so I can get up.” Meaning he goes to sleep so that he can get up the next day to work towards accomplishing the goals he has set for himself. He also spoke about the purpose of day and evening. The evening is the period of rest so that you can gain the momentum and strength to take on the next day. It seems simple, but many people don’t rest in the evening. They are busy bees and we all need time to recuperate. People always say “I’ll rest and sleep when I’m dead” well you are overworking yourself and that will lead to an early grave.

Your goals determine your focus and without goals  you do not have a focus and you are allover the place. Where ever you focus your life it brings strength and momentum. When you lack focus you lack strength and momentum. He also mentioned that people always say “strengthen my faith” but what does that really mean? You cannot sincerely have faith without a goal because what do you need strength for?

All throughout service so many things were running through my head. I went home did the things for my usual Sunday routine and then I wrote my goals for the 6 areas of demand on my life. Some of my goals include:

  1. Reading my bible more and writing in my prayer journal more frequently
  2. Read more books that are not work or school related (for personal growth and entertainment)
  3. Workout at least 3x a week. (I started last week)
  4. Spend more time with my friends, not only on birthdays
  5. Spend less money on food during the week (bring my lunch to work, buy oatmeal or cereal when it is on sale to take for breakfast)
  6. Spend more quality time with my family (sister and brother in particular)

So like the title says, it is never too late to start. Let this be your starting point. Start off by writing at least one goal for each of the areas of demand on your life. Then implement a plan of action and get to work. Remember it is never too late to start.