Let me ask you a question.
What is happening in your life right now that you know you want to do something – change something – but you’re not sure what to do?
Ya, me too.
Whether you’re struggling with weight loss, pursuing a dream, fighting addiction, whatever it is, let’s just take the next right step together.
Watch this short vlog and learn how to take the next right step in pursuing something great.
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Can you imagine being called to deliver to a pizza party, only to find out Ellen plans to drag you into the crowd with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and more?
photo credit: eonline
The guy delivering the pizzas was not an actor, but actually a real delivery man whose life will never be the same. I’m impressed at how calm and collected he remained. I probably couldn’t have done the same.
Seeing him get to do something he never expected to happen reminded me of how amazing God’s love is.
He wants to lavish us with surprises!
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. – 1 Corinthians 2:9
I’ve talked to so many who seem to think God is this distant God ready to punish us around every corner, just waiting for our next screw up. Oh, friends, that’s not the God I know.
He wants to give us the desires of our hearts. (Psalm 37:4)
He loves us with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
If He’s waiting to surprise us, shouldn’t we be waiting, too?
I’m excited to see what He does for you when you least expect it. You never know. He could toss you in front of some of the greatest actors in the world because of something as simple as a pizza.
Look for his blessings today. They’re all around you. What did you enjoy about the Oscars? Share below…
It’s February. The excitement of your New Year’s Resolution has probably worn off by now.
You’ve already failed ten times on your new “life changing” diet. Your resolution to be more patient with your kids went to the wayside on day three when you walked into the hurricane they like to call their room.
So, you’re feeling down. 2015 is a ways away. What will you do for the next 10 months? May I make a suggestion?
Stop making resolutions and start setting goals.
What’s the difference?
Let’s use weight loss as an example. A resolution says, “I want to lose 30 lbs.” A goal says, “I want to lose 30 lbs. by July 31, 2014 and here’s how I’m going to do it.”
Resolutions are dreams in your head that never come to pass. Goals are something you make tangible before you. 25 percent of people abandon their New Year’s resolutions after one week, according to Michael Hyatt.
You have to get to the why behind your goal.
It’s easy to know the what. You want to lose weight. More specifically, you want to lose 30 lbs. Why?
Allow me to share one of my goals with you.
I want to pay off $3,000 of medical debt by December 31, 2014. My key motivation, my why, is because I want to be one step closer to financial freedom.
Here are some more motivations: Without debt I can start a college fund for Caleb, my little cousin. I won’t have to feel controlled by debt. I can teach others about financial responsibility. I could possibly write another book based on my experiences.
Keep your goals in front of you.
I consistently look at my goals. Sometimes more than once per week. I want to be reminded of the why behind my what. I track my progress. I look at my motivations and ask myself, What is getting in the way of my goals becoming reality?
At this point in my life $3,000 is a lot of money to pay off in one year, but it’s not impossible, especially if I keep remembering my why. Caleb and I often talk about his future plans and it’s a reminder to me that he’s almost 13 and I’ve got to get in gear if I’m going to help him with college.
Michael Hyatt, author, speaker, and goal expert, who has been a catalyst in helping me set goals and keep them, is someone I highly recommend you pay attention to when it comes to setting goals vs. making resolutions. Check out his course, 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever. The course is closed for now and I don’t know when he’ll open it up again. I can promise you this, it will open your eyes to the way you strive to make your biggest dreams come true in life. What goals are you working on in 2014? Share in the comments below…
I’m a sucker for a good animated movie. Even more so when the movie has a message that has a deeper meaning.
photo credit: flickeringmyth
Enter Turbo.
The movie is about Theo, an underdog snail with big dreams and a deep passion to become the fastest racer in the world. He’s also an outcast to those around him. Though others don’t believe in his abilities to race, Theo never gives up on pursuing his dreams. He lives by this motto:
No dream is too big, and no dreamer is too small.
He’s a snail for the love of Pete. All odds are stacked against him, but after an accident gives him super-speed, he’s not looking so crazy anymore. He winds up at the Indy 500, wins the race, and changes history.
Why? Because he didn’t let fear hold him back. We can’t either.
We have to let our passions outweigh our fears. (Tweet that)
Leave the tomato factory for something more.
Theo worked alongside his older brother and the rest of the snails, waiting for the tomatoes to fall from the vine each day so they could have dinner. While everyone around him settled, too afraid of the unknown to step (or scoot) out into the grass, Theo couldn’t do the routine day in and day out stuff anymore. He knew he was called to something greater.
Getting to that something great requires us to go beyond on what we know.
If you know you’re supposed to do it, then do it.
Theo could have listened to the words of his negative brother and taken his place as just another snail going through the motions, but he choose not to. He didn’t let others’ negativity hold him back. He pursued his dreams, even though his only family member told him he was crazy.
We won’t always do what looks normal to others, and if they’re afraid of change, they won’t support us. Do it anyway, unless of course you’re trying out for American Idol and you just really can’t sing. If that’s the case, listen to them, for your sake and for the millions of viewers watching at home. It’s important to be the best version of you.
Find others dreaming the same dream.
Theo wound up at a run down taco joint where he met a few other outcast snails. On his way to the Indy 500, it was these “out of the box” thinkers supporting him. They knew his dream was crazy, but so was theirs. If he failed he failed, but at least he tried, and he had a cheering section behind him regardless.
If you fail you fail, but at least you tried.
It’s not over until you quit.
At the end of the race, Theo’s shell is broken and he loses his speed. For a split second he ducks for cover in his shell and gives up. But those supporters, and even his previously negative brother, come to his rescue to say, “You were made for more.” He’s only feet away from the finish line and he has a choice. Go for it or quit.
He perseveres and without his super speed, moves inches at a time until he reaches the finish line. Other racers tried to destroy him, but he kept moving forward and didn’t look back. He won what was considered impossible. When is the last time you strived for the “impossible”?
Last year my one word for 2103 was intentional.
I don’t think I did half bad at living that word out. I was intentional about being more present in conversations, which meant keeping the iPhone in my pocket over lunch.
I strived to make existing friendships tighter than ever, and pursue opportunities with new friends, which is out of my comfort zone.
I was intentional about involving myself in community events, which again, is out of my comfort zone. (more…)
I want to make my blog better and more relevant to your needs and interests. To do that, I need and desire to know more about YOU. As a result, I have created my 2013 Reader Survey.
It’s been suggested I start a video series on the blog and it’s an idea I’m considering, but one I don’t want to consider without you, my readers.
Would you please take a few minutes to fill out the survey? By doing so, you will ultimately be helping yourself. Why? Because you will be helping me make my content even more interesting and relevant to you.
Your input is important to me. The survey is easy to fill out. The survey results are completely anonymous. I can’t tell who said what. And it will only take three minutes of your time.
Thanks in advance for your help.
