Today's Daily Word - Life

		I love life--fully and completely! My love for life is not dependent upon my circumstances. Whether I'm excited to be beginning a new adventure or content with everything as it is, I love life. Even if I have a concern about something or someone, I know that God is present, leading, supporting, and carrying us through. I am conscious of the order and balance throughout life--the obstacles and the opportunities, the extraordinary and the ordinary. I appreciate life and all expressions of it. Being fully present in each moment, I am grounded in the presence of God within me. I experience joy in knowing that the activity of God is working on my behalf at all times. Making the most of each moment, I love life fully and completely, and I thank God for the experience of it all. "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."--Proverbs 4:23 Inspired by this message? Share you reflections with me! Copyright © 2008 Daily Word.

When God, When?

When God, When?

by Joyce Meyer

We all want good things to happen in our lives, but too often we want
it now...not later. When it doesn't happen that way, we are tempted to
ask, "When, God, when?" Most of us need to grow in the area of trusting
God instead of focusing on the "when" question. If you're missing joy
and peace, you're not trusting God. If your mind feels worn out all the
time, you're not trusting God. The tendency to want to know about
everything that's going on can be detrimental to your Christian walk.
Sometimes knowing everything can be uncomfortable and can even hurt you.
I spent a large part of my life being impatient, frustrated and
disappointed because there were things I didn't know. God had to teach
me to leave things alone and quit feeling that I needed to know
everything. I finally learned to trust the One who knows all things and
accept that some questions may never be answered. We prove that we trust
God when we refuse to worry.

God wants us to live by discernment-revelation knowledge, not head
knowledge. It's difficult to exercise discernment if you're always
trying to figure out everything. But when you're willing to say, "God, I
can't figure this out, so I'm going to trust You to give me revelation
that will set me free," then you can be comfortable in spite of not
knowing. Trusting God often requires not knowing how God is going to
accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when He will do it. We
often say God is never late, but generally He isn't early either. Why?
Because He uses times of waiting to stretch our faith in Him and to
bring about change and growth in our lives.

The Parable of the Black Belt

The following story, called "The Parable of the Black Belt," is excerpted from Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras.

Picture a martial artist kneeling before the master sensei in a ceremony to receive a hard-earned black belt. After years of relentless training, the student has finallyreached a pinnacle of achievement in the discipline.

"Before granting the belt, you must pass one more test," says the sensei.

"I am ready," responds the student, expecting perhaps one final round of sparring.

"You must answer the essential question: What is the true meaning of the black belt?"

"The end of my journey," says the student. "A well-deserved reward for all my hard work."

The sensei waits for more. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally, the sensei speaks. "You are not yet ready for the black belt. Return in one year."

A year later, the student kneels again in front of the sensei.

"What is the true meaning of the black belt?" asks the sensei.

"A symbol of distinction and the highest achievement in our art," says the student.

The sensei says nothing for many minutes, waiting. Clearly, he is not satisfied. Finally, he speaks. "You are still not ready for the black belt. Return in one year."

A year later, the student kneels once again in front of the sensei. And again the sensei asks: "What is the true meaning of the black belt?"

"The black belt represents the beginning -- the start of a never-ending journey of discipline, work, and the pursuit of an ever-higher standard," says the student.

"Yes. You are now ready to receive the black belt and begin your work."

Communication Theory

In all our relationships and interactions with people, clear and honest communication is key. So, when I say honest, it's more important to be honest with yourself because through that process you'll end up being honest with the person with whom you're communicating.

Your communication methods determine how people see you. It's verbal and non verbal. How successful can you be at capturing attention of those around you without words and being able to keep their attention once you open your mouth? Those that can't maintain both, I liken to the cute girls/guys in the club that can't complete a sentence with good subject verb agreement. LoL. Cute face, no brains.

On the job everyone (well, most people) are on their best behavior. We're polite, we say please and thank you. We think before we speak to ensure that another person's feelings aren't stepped on so the next day, you can still have a good "working" relationship right? Keep the office progressive and productive, right?! Of course we can't be our "real"selves at work, not 100%, because for some of us (not me of course ;-) that would be our last job!

But what about those more intimate relationships? You know the ones...mother /daughter; father/son; husband/wife; sibling-to-sibling; BFF-to-BFF. These relationships are already built on such a strong foundation. Whether its blood, friendship, friendship + marriage, the foundation is there and is usually (hopefully & prayerfully) strong. So, why is it that these are the relationships that it's easiest for us to neglect when it comes to our communication "best practices"? We marketers talk a lot about best practices...ya know, SEM, Email marketing..okay, maybe you don't know, but you don't have to be a marketer to continue your innate best
practices in your private life as much as you use them in your professional life.

With that, for my readers I will list a few communication best practices for us all to implement. The below is in no particular order, after reading, you'll know what you need to work on.

1. Speak with Conviction - No one likes a pushover, however you can get the same point across without the hostility in your tone and cruelty in your words. Yes, whether you like/agree/care what the person is talking about, it can be accomplished without being an asshole!
2. Listen Loud- Listening seems so simple until its your turn to do it, right? I know I'm guilty of this myself. Someone will start talking and I don't agree so I interrupt to make my point before they finish theirs. Or, I'll be caught up listening to my own thoughts, I may have missed a point they were trying to make. Come to find out, I don't disagree, yet had I been listening...I would have known that. Listening is the most important part of communication!
3. Know Thy Self - No one knows you better than you do! Do yourself justice by being honest with yourself, checking your ego/attitude/fustration at the door, so that you don't create negative communication habbits between your co-workers, family and friends.
4. Embrace Diverse Perspectives - My mom always used to say, "if everyone looked the same, thought the same, talked the same, how boring would th world be?" What a true statement! No one will see issues and events the same way that you do, but that doesn't mean they are wrong for having a different perspective. Open your mind and your ears.
5. Respect, Appreciate, Agree - This is a 3-in-1 because I'm getting sleeply. We can improve almost any relationship by finding something we honestly like or respect about the other person (even with an opponent). But we miss opportunities to build these emotional bridges because we are attracted to the activity and motion of conflict. The attraction to conflict and anger is very dangerous, you might hurt yourself in attempt to hurt someone else.
   

Goodnight people! I may add something to this, but I've gotta lay it down. Another job interview in the morning. Peace ~

Microwave Mentality!

If you don't know it as the microwave mentality...you know it as those of us who can't/won't or just don't want to wait for delayed gratification also known as the lack of patience. I call it the microwave mentality because my generation grew up with everything at their fingertips and for later generations, it's even worse! The microwave can provide a "meal" in 2 minutes, but the same meal from scratch could take more than 2 hours, yet taste so much better and is healthier too.

I have been victim to this mentality, I think we all have, but especially those in my generation. And unfortunately, it's getting the best of me right now. It's hard to wait! Especially when you think you're ready. You have loving and encouraging people around you who agree, but the things you need, just don't come as quickly as you'd hoped or expected. I have been expecting my good to come because I've "said" I'll be/do different, so my life should change....right now! And in some great ways, I have not only said it, but I am living it. I am doing differently. Obviously, not living it long enough I guess, or thoroughly enough - I will wait on the Lord. Daily, I have to check my mental. When I'm not getting my way, I get in my way. Saying negative things to myself, about myself and then...I have to pull myself from a deeper place than I was before I started get down on me.

My goal, to keep positive, no matter what! It's all okay, because I'm okay. God is working on me and I feel it, though He's not moving at my pace - I will get over it. I'm slowing learning how to slow down, however the older I get, the harder it seems to enjoy and appreciate life for what it is..Today. Tomorrow will work itself out as long as I'm doing my part today.

Patience and delayed gratification will be true virtues for me once God finishes the current work he's doing...then He'll be on to my next growth area. Ha, life is so interesting...

Until...

My Life Starts TODAY!!

No more looking backwards. No more dwelling on yesterdays hardships and wrongs. What's the point?!? It won't get me where I dream of going. Speaking of dreams...Lord knows I've got lots of them!

In past, I've had great success of making my dreams come true. Why should this point of my life be any different? It shouldn't! I've just got to make it happen. I'd like to thank God for blessing me the kind of people who push me to be better. They don't allow me to settle for mediocrity and those who are ever encouraging me, even though I don't like their tactics...their hearts are pure. I am damn lucky! Righting my wrongs will happen through my future actions, not from me dwelling in yesterday...No more apologizing..ESPECIALLY if I've done so already. I am letting go, and letting GOD! I will live with confidence and purpose.

"On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." -- John 14:20

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I think I'm getting the hang of this blogging thing! And I just might like it =)

Below is a collage of my husband and I. Just posting it so I'll have some kind of picture up. Just wait until I get better @ this! =)

Off to finish my homework now....

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