Monday, November 30, 2020

Thinking Life

Thinking Life


As a teenager, I made most of my money babysitting. At least I did until I started refusing after dark jobs, limiting myself to daylight offers. Why? My thoughts got the best of me. Once I put the children to bed, every noise became a potential burglar and every passing car carried the possibility of a harmful intruder. My horrible-things-that-might-happen imagination took over.

I revisited that channel of imagination, thinking myself into despair, as a young pregnant wife. Work took my husband away during the week. By Friday, I was overwhelmed with worry about him flying home, visualizing what could happen. By Sunday, just in time for him to leave again, I'd be in a tearful state of invented dangers and irrational fears.

Negative images of what I didn't want to have happen took control of my life, filling my head with terrible possibilities, negative energy and fearful emotions. They flooded my head. They dictated my days. They clouded my reactions to people. They even lowered my self-esteem. And every negative or tragic news story became a magnet for more thoughts of what I didn't want to happen to me.
 
But when I accepted a job requiring me to travel alone to unfamiliar cities, I discovered my life was hostage to those thoughts. I was afraid to fly, hesitant to venture out and reluctant to try new things. I found myself applying negative assumptions to coworkers' words and actions. I knew something had to change. But it took time to discover my thoughts were dictating my life experiences and that I held the thought-remote-control.

Finally I realized, when you don't like what you're thinking, you're free to change the thought-channel to one you do. Think someone doesn't like you? Notice what happens to your energy and feelings about them when that thought is replaced with a neutral one. Focused on what you lack in your life? Notice what happens when you acknowledge and appreciate what you do have.

When I change my thoughts, it changes how I feel, creating new experiences. "I never knew I could do that," my 84 year old mother informed me when I suggested she overlay a positive thought on one disturbing her. Her words struck me. My life was so different when I didn't know I could, either. But I do it all the time now. If I get nervous flying, I picture a safe landing. If I want to stay healthy, I focus thoughts on health, not sickness. If I want positive interactions, I imagine that outcome. And since I desire a more tolerant, peaceful world with abundance for all, I hold that thought-picture, too.

I've learned, in the scheme of things, my thoughts do determine my reality. Today those thoughts are about what I want in life, not what I don't want, could worry about or might fear. I've come to believe that we become what we think about. I know you can change your life by changing your thoughts because I have. And it seems to me, in the bigger scheme of things, the positive or negative energy we produce with our thoughts, really does matter.


(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell.
  All Rights Reserved.
__________

*NOTE*
  Nan also writes a biweekly eColumn, Winning at Working. Sign up to receive it by visiting: http://www.winningatworking.com or send an email to: ecolumns@nanrussell.com with the subject line, subscribe ecolumn_waw@nanrussell.com

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Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge

 Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge The archerfish knocks its insect prey out of over-hanging branches with a stream of spit.

​Thunder

Thunder,


Events can change the actual state of the things and the current situations. Make the most of these changes by being calm. This will help you strengthen your character and make you wise and virtuous.

 

Friday, November 27, 2020

A Beautiful Remedy

A Beautiful Remedy

Emotional Healing with Flower Essences

Flowers speak to our senses, inviting an emotional response to their beauty and fragrance. A meadow of wild flowers brightens our heart with bright and muted hues of varied colors. The strong, sweet scent of a rose evokes a mood of sensuality. These emotional responses that we have to flowers is the basis for the use of flower essences in healing.

Developed by English physician, Dr. Edward Bach in 1930, flower remedies act to balance disharmonies in the emotional and spiritual body. Bach believed that our bodies develop disease as a result of imbalances at the soul level. Since our bodies are affected by emotions, using flower essences, either alone or in combination with other forms of treatment, can correct the emotional imbalance so that the body can heal itself.

Flower remedies come in the form of tinctures that may be taken orally or even applied to the skin. Organic flowers are gathered at the peak of perfection and dried in the sun. The extracted essence is then diluted in water and preserved with alcohol. Diluted with spring water, flower remedies are safe for consumption by humans, even babies, and animals. And, there are no side effects in using flower essences.

Since flower essences treat emotions, it gives cause to do some soul searching to find the reason for distress. Specific essences are used to treat specific emotional imbalances. For instance, Beech is helpful in overcoming intolerance and a critical nature, and Crab Tree is a general cleanser, but is also useful for people who are unhappy with their appearance. Holly dispels feelings of hatred, envy, jealousy, and suspicion, and Star of Bethlehem is soothing for sudden fright and shock. Of course, flower essences don't change your personality or make life problem-free. Rather, they gently bring the soul back to its rightful path by balancing emotions.

Even if we aren't seriously ill, all of us at times feel anxious, despondent, or angry. Holding on to such emotions is, of course, unhealthy and can result in disease. This is where a flower remedy, with the right essence to treat that emotion is helpful. What a beautiful way to heal.

 

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge

Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge Fleas Are Among the World's Best Jumpers Take that, Olympians! Fleas use their toes and shins to jump, according to researchers at the University of Cambridge, which accounts for why they can spring up to seven vertical inches, more than 80 times their height.

The Well

 The Well,


External circumstances regularly change quickly. You must consider however that the most intimate essence of man is unchanged over time. Give what you have to grow. Try to help others as well as you can.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge

 Interesting Facts, Unnecessary Knowledge    Thailand means Land of the Free.

Cross Cultural Tip of the Month

 Cross Cultural Tip of the Month

How's the Weather?

Some of my clients have made the assumption that the weather is a safe topic to begin small talk with people of other cultures. This is basically true, but I would make a distinction between safe and effective.

In the U.K., the weather is one of the most welcome ice breakers, as well as a topic to be discussed among close friends. In China, starting off a conversation about the weather is not offensive, but it is strange and out of place. In Japan, small talk of the weather is taken to new heights: e-mails often begin with a detailed description of the beauty of the season.

If the stakes are high for your international interaction, check up on the appropriate topics for small talk. You'll be glad you did!

Self-confidence

 Self-confidence,


You must find the best way to behave towards others. If you learn how to behave correctly, you will manage to conquer those people you want to, whatever the position. Through kindness, you will also gain a great deal from difficult and unpleasant people.

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

"MEN, GET BUSY!"

 "MEN, GET BUSY!"


Last night, we went to a Golden Anniversary celebration for a great couple with a wonderful family, and many terrific Grandchildren.

The following story is with them in mind, and for all of you who have a few years of marriage behind you, and many more ahead!

According to one psychologist the average amount of significant conversation between husbands and wives is 17 minutes a week.  That's troubling.  That's sad.

You have noticed, I am certain, how easy it is to observe couples in a restaurant and to determine which are courting and which have been married for some time.  The courting couple is attentive to one another, they are carrying on rapid conversation, there is lots of eye contact.  If a couple is sitting silently staring off into space, they are usually married.

When couples are determined to be right for one another, there is lots of conversation, they laugh together.  They are not only lovers, but friends.

Of course, these expressions of appreciation and affection can take other forms as well.  Several years ago a West German magazine released a study by Dr. Arthur Sazbo which he conducted for a life insurance company.  This study found that husbands who kiss their wives every morning live an average of five years longer than husbands who do not.  I thought you might like to know that. Furthermore, they are involved in fewer auto accidents, are ill 50 percent less time, and earn 20 to 30 percent more money.  The study did not indicate what kissing did for their wives.  My guess is that it improved their day, too. 

So, men get busy!  We want each of you around a long time.

Sydney J. Harris

 If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size? (Sydney J. Harris)

Oppression

 Oppression,


Don't give up, even if something is worrying you. Make the most of this circumstance and transform every difficulty into a stimulus so that you can go ahead. Have faith in destiny which always changes bad into good. Luck is for the bravest!

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Workplace 911

 Workplace 911


I've watched a few episodes of Nanny 911 and with the chaos, out of control children and seemingly irreparable behavior, it strikes me as a precursor to Workplace 911. No, not a new reality TV show, but everyday workplace problems.

You see, kids who don't get their way, who learn to hit, manipulate, scream and throw things, grow up and go to work. By the time they're adults, they've replaced their aberrant behaviors, like spitting, with more socially acceptable ones like sarcastic zingers and verbal tirades. They're the liars, the saboteurs, the bullies, and the road-blockers we meet up with at work. And I've met my share.

But here's the thing. Just as those parents are challenged by the Nanny to identify and correct what they're doing to encourage and reward their children's behavior, we need to challenge ourselves to do the same at work. If you want to be winning at working, you need to uncover what you're doing to encourage and reward behaviors that you don't like. You need to recognize which hot buttons hook you into unproductive patterning at work and which, like those parents desperate to contain their children's behavior, reduce your results.

I learned in twenty years of managing there's one key that can change everything. Figure out what you're rewarding. It doesn't matter if you're five or thirty-five, whatever gets rewarded gets done. But, it's not as easy as it sounds. And don't confuse rewards only with something positive. If a co-worker gets you irritated enough to yell at him, he may feel rewarded because he's "gotten to you."

Too often what we think we're rewarding, and what we are, are not the same. Too often we've set up reward systems that create the work problems we face. And too often, the behaviors that exasperate us are the ones we're unknowingly reinforcing.

Say a local pizza company decides to reward drivers for on-time delivery. Sounds good, but in actuality, they'd be rewarding speeding and reckless driving. Here's an example from Management Review, "A freight company that based its reward system on the number of packages shipped thought productivity was way up until an internal audit revealed that only 45% of the containers were shipped full."

How about the Texas school system making recent news? It thought it was rewarding teachers for raising test scores. But, it was rewarding numbers over methods. So, one school held back 75% of ninth graders so lower achieving students would not participate in tenth grade tests, and the school's staff was rewarded for achieving their goal.

If you want to be winning at working and stop Workplace 911 behaviors from affecting your results, do two things: first, model the behavior you expect from others. Respect comes from giving respect and trust from giving trust. Second, look beyond the desired outcomes to the behaviors that lead to them. Reward that behavior, since whatever gets rewarded gets done. When you find and reward the right behaviors, you'll get the right results.


(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell.
  All Rights Reserved.
__________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nan Russell has spent twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and instructor.

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Getting through

 It's a wise person who uses their wits to get through tough days, but it's an even wiser person who utilizes all the people and resources around them as well. So if you feel like your back is up against the wall at any point today, reach out for the help or guidance you need. There's nothing to be ashamed of when you need a helping hand! Put yourself in the other person's place: If you saw a friend or coworker struggling, you'd give them the help they needed, right?

Limitation

 Limitation,

In this period, self control and self-discipline are fundamental. Only in this way will you be able to achieve your all and avoid any harm. Do not follow your instincts but try to limit yourself to always keeping in mind boundaries you must not cross.

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Too Many Maybes

 Too Many Maybes


Workplace decision-making often reminds me of a "Peanuts" comic strip I saw where Lucy and Charlie Brown were discussing their New Year's resolutions. "I'm going to be a changed person next year," Charlie tells Lucy. "That's a laugh," Lucy replies. "You'll be wishy-washy." "Well," Charlie says defensively, "One day I'll be wishy and the next washy."

I once worked for a boss who was a master of Charlie Brown decision making. One day she'd give a "definite maybe;" the next an "indefinite perhaps." But most of the time, it was "I'll think about it and get back to you." Of course, she never did and no amount of follow-up produced an answer. I came to realize there was a black hole in her desk where decision requests were put. Usually time ran out on the issue, the opportunity passed or no-decision was rendered. Her staff felt thwarted and frustrated.

Later I discovered it was just as frustrating to work with as to work for these wishy-washy maybe-people. Intertwined projects, assistance or information needed from other departments, and common company goals, mean dependence on others to accomplish our work responsibilities. Having to deal with indecisive maybe-people in a critical role or on a team means stalled progress.

Maybe they're afraid to make a decision; maybe they're lazy; maybe they're overwhelmed; maybe they're incompetent; maybe they can't decide. Whatever the reason, results are reduced.

Like the Scottish proverb says, "Maybe's a big book." So if you want to be winning at working, it's a book you don't want to read or to use. At least not for long. It's one thing to use think-time to make the best decision you can and another to let a decision happen by default because you never got around to making your own.

In twenty years in management I learned it's better to hear a quick "no" and move on to other options, projects, or opportunities than wander in the land-of-maybe where little can be accomplished. In many workplaces "maybe" has become the diplomatic, politically correct way to say "no." So, the sooner you decide if that applies to your situation, the sooner you can move to plan B and get results.

However, the problem with too many maybes is not limited to those we need decisions from. We're all decision makers no matter our role. There are teammates, clients, customers, family or friends you owe information to, responses to, decisions to. The difference in how you decide will leave its mark. Gordon Graham puts it this way, "Decision is a sharp knife that cuts clean and straight; indecision, a dull one that hacks and tears and leaves ragged edges behind it." Want to be winning at working? Cut clean. Be decisive.


(c) 2005 Nan S. Russell.
  All Rights Reserved.
__________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nan Russell has spent twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist and speaker.

ABOUT THIS BIWEEKLY eCOLUMN:

If you received "Winning at Working" directly from nanrussell.com, you are subscribed. If you would like to unsubscribe, send a blank email to
ecolumns@nanrussell.com with a subject line of unsubscribe ecolumn_waw@nanrussell.com.

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www.winningatworking.com, or send a blank email to ecolumns@nanrussell.com with subject line of subscribe ecolumn_waw@nanrussell.com.

Visit
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Nan also writes a monthly life reflections eColumn, "In the Scheme of Things" - sign up at:
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Nan can be reached at
info@nanrussell.com

Bee Wilson

One thing I always make - and I'm sure this is partly to do with memory and yearning and because I've made it ever since my children were born - I make gingerbread every year. And it's partly just the perfume of the spices in the house, makes it smell like winter to me. Bee Wilson


Fellowship

 Fellowship,

To achieve your aims, you will have to unite with virtuous people. Indeed it will be easier to reach every objective if a group of individuals( albeit of different characters), had the same common goal. However always keep your own personality and act so that you enrichen one another.

Winged Formation

 Winged Formation

Birds Fly In A V

As they swoop, drift, and glide, inscribing magnificent patterns across the sky, birds are serene displays of grace and beauty. Long a source of inspiration, birds can be messengers from the spirit realm, or a symbol of the human soul, as they cast off their earthly mooring and soar heavenward. An upturned wing, a graceful flutter, all so effortless and free... More magnificent still is the inspiring sight of birds migrating, progressing steadily across the horizon in a solid V formation that is a singular pattern too unique to be mere chance.

Pushing steadily forward, this aerodynamic V reduces air resistance for the whole flock. With wings moving in harmony, the feathered group continues its course across the sky, covering more ground together in community than as individuals. When the bird at the front gets tired, she will move to the rear of the formation where the wind drag is lowest, and a more rested bird can take her place.

By learning from the example of our winged guides, all of us can feel empowered to take on daring challenges as we chart adventurous courses. Feel the strength of others moving alongside you, as their presence lends power to your wings during this journey across the sky of life. When buffeted by unexpected gusts, we can choose to find refuge in the loving shelter of friends and family. We may even marvel as an otherwise difficult day passes by like a swift wind, as a kindred spirit charts a way for us through the clouds and rain ahead. If your wings begin to ache on your journey, look around for somebody else to fly at the front for a while. All of us move faster when we move together. Let your ego drop earthwards as we all soar ever higher.

Stay Home, Stay Safe

Darkening

 Darkening,

Keep your integrity in silence.

Amitabh Bacchan

 Amitabh Bacchan says..."At the peak of my career, I was once travelling by plane. The passenger next to me was elderly gentleman dressed in a simple shirt  and pants. 


He appeared to be middle class, and well educated.

Other passengers perhaps recognizing who I was, but this gentleman appeared to be unconcerned of my presence... He was reading his paper, looking out of the window, and when tea was served, he sipped it quietly.

Trying to strike a conversation with him I smiled. The man courteously smiled back and said 'Hello'.

We got talking and I brought up the subject of cinema and movies and asked, 'Do you watch films?'

The man replied, 'Oh, very few.

I did see one many years ago.'

I mentioned that I worked in the movie industry.

The man replied.." oh, that’s nice. What do you do?' 

I replied, 'I am an actor '

The man nodded, 'Oh, that's wonderful!' And that was it... 

When we landed, I held out my hand and said, " It was good to travel with you. By the way, my name is Amitabh Bacchan !'

The man shook my hand and smiled, "Thank you... nice to have met you..I am J. R. D. Tata!"

I learned on.that day that no matter how big you think you are, there is always someone bigger than you.

Be humble, it costs nothing.

B E H A V I O R
Is always Greater Than Knowledge,

Because In Life There
Are Many Situations

Where Knowledge Fails

But Behavior Can Handle
E V E R Y T H I N G.

Zingers

 Zingers - Work is a reward, not a punishment.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

7 Ways To Gain More Self-Confidence

 7 Ways To Gain More Self-Confidence

Becoming More Confident

1. Learn to give and take graciously because true confidence cannot exist in a vacuum. Though it might not feel natural at first, the most confident people are those who are able to find a balance between helping others and asking for help when they themselves need it.

2. Arm yourself with the facts. When you feel unsure, confidence can melt away. Always being prepared with the correct information can help you retain your inner strength in an unnerving situation.

3. You cannot rethink the past, but you can reinvent yourself. Broadening your horizons with new and exciting experiences will help you to feel accomplished and will add unique modes of expression to your daily life.

4. It is easy to forget how many difficult obstacles you've overcome when you're faced with the obstacles ahead. Keeping a success journal, wherein you list accomplishments big and small, as well as future goals, can inspire confidence when you're feeling overwhelmed or under-motivated.

5. Bolstering the confidence of others and making new friends are powerful confidence builders. Help others to feel good by approaching them, asking questions, being friendly and complimenting them.

6. In situations that create feelings of uncertainty (which can quickly undermine self-confidence), imagine that the difficulties involved are ones you've faced before. Feeling self-assured about a few things can help you perceive yourself as confident about most things.

7. Each morning, give your self-confidence a jump-start with a positive affirmation. Think of five the things you have accomplished. Look closely at yourself in the mirror and remind yourself that you accept, support, and trust yourself, even when the unexpected happens.



Stay Home, Stay Safe

William Wordsworth

 The best portion of a good man's life is the little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.


- William Wordsworth

Something to Think About

 Something to Think About – Who are you without your name (s), tittle, diplomat, clothes, possessions, religion, beliefs, faith, mind, memories, emotions, thoughts and place of birth  ego? 

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Five Insights for a Great Year

 Five Insights for a Great Year

Parting Thoughts and Our Favorite Resources

Insight 1: Be aware and willing to study cultures within cultures.
 The world changes a little each second, and each nation, province, state, city and individual is affected differently. When conducting a business relationship with people from other cultures, be aware of internal cultural differences. This could make all the difference. To help you get started, click here for a great book: Global Diversity

Insight 2: Be willing to take some cultural risks. Even when things go wrong between cultures, you offend someone or you make a mistake, there is learning to be found within. If needed, apologize if you have caused a loss of face, then reflect on the experience. This seems to work more effectively than the approach than living in constant fear of offense. To help you feel more confident, click here for a great reference guide: When Cultures Collide

Insight 3: Take a real vacation at least once a year with phone and e-mail turned off.
 I did this in 2007 for the first time in years, and I cannot tell you the creativity and ideas that generated from true downtime. While technology is a helpful tool in many respects, it does distract us from the small voice within. This little voice is responsible for some of our finest moments. Give yourself permission in 2008 to unplug.

Insight 4: Make commitments to things that seem impossible.
 If you think you cannot afford a trip to India or a great resource for your business, think again. People always asked me in years past how I could afford to travel so much. I did it by making the commitment first, then working out the details. When you make that commitment, you get creative and stop thinking of limiting reasons not to do something. What would you like to do this coming year? To help you on your way, click here for a book on overcoming limiting mindsets through four easy questions: Loving What Is

Insight 5: Never forget the spirit behind what you do.
 Even when you are crunching numbers, thinking about bottom lines and quantifying results, don't let the original reason why you do the work you do get too lost in the shuffle. Go back years in your mind if you have to. Remind yourself of why you are where you are today. Have you lost track of that purpose? How can you renew it? That spirit will show through to your clients and customers and make you shine. To see how Highroad got it's start, click here: Calcutta Railway Riot

We would like to thank you for all that you have contributed to our journey here at Highroad Presentations, Inc. We value your business, your friendship and your contributions to the world. May your 2008 be all that you imagine and we look forward to helping you in any way we can.

Vicki Flier Hudson
President, Highroad Presentations
www.highroaders.com
Phone: (001) 770-936-9209
E-Mail:
 vicki@highroaders.com

Zingers

 Zingers – "The best person for the job is you!"

Affirmation

 Affirmation

My imagination is focused on the future.

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Meeting Your Objectives

 Meeting Your Objectives

Drawing Creativity from Worldwide Sources

Last week I flew to a place I would call surreal.
 Yes, I went to Des Moines, Iowa, to teach a class on virtual teams written by a colleague of mine. As we explored cross-cultural value differences and how they affect teams across borders, one of the participants in the class raised his hand.

"I agree that as team leaders we need to be accommodating to a degree, but sometimes it seems like cross-cultural awareness is about pleasing everyone, and we all know that doesn't work."

This was not the first time I had come across this comment - after all, having to please everyone is not good for business.
 And sometimes people come in contact with cultural practices that make them extremely uncomfortable or that they don't believe are right. When clients ask me if they should say "this is how it's going to be" or "let me take your cultural practices into account," I say this: wrong question.

The more effective question is how will you meet your business objectives?

Take the following example:
 A team leader has multiple cultures on his team with multiple levels of English fluency. Some members of the team have a heavier accent than others, which brings complaints from native English speakers.

Should the team leader tell the native speakers to "get over it" or should he tell the non-native speakers to take accent reduction classes?
 Again, wrong question. The leader should ask, "What is my objective?"

His objective is to have a well-functioning, professionally satisfied team that can complete project ABC by a certain date.
 What did he need to do to meet that objective?

In this case, the team leader set an expectation for all members that dealing with language barriers was part of their job.
 They all needed to be resourceful in making communication is smooth is possible. Team members came up with all kids of creative solutions, everything from asking people to slow down, using humor, studying language on their own and so on.

When you take the approach of meeting objectives (which should include people and their strengths), all kinds of possibilities begin to emerge,
 especially on a multicultural team where more and differing perspectives are likely.

When obstacles arise, put the challenge to your team. State your objectives and let them exert their wisdom and creativity to come up with solutions. Lead when you need to lead and make bold decisions when they are called for.

The idea is not to please all of the people all of the time,
 but to allow multiple paths by which to reach the same objective. How creative will you be?

Vicki Flier Hudson

President, Highroad Presentations
www.highroaders.com
Phone: (001) 770-936-9209
E-Mail:
 vicki@highroaders.com

Zingers

 Zingers Claim your authentic self and live to your fullest potential.

Stagnation

 Stagnation,


It is not worth acting in this particular moment as the general situation is not entirely favorable. You will gain more profits by pulling back temporarily and maintaining your independence. Your wisdom now consists in waiting and avoiding unpleasant people.

Monday, November 9, 2020

Parenting

 Parenting No means No- not giving in to whining.

Find Your Purpose – It Makes a Huge Difference

 Find Your Purpose – It Makes a Huge Difference


“Have you reached your destination?”

Many of us grow up not knowing what we want to do with our lives. It can take years to figure it out, and some never do. Many women change jobs, careers and husbands, searching for their purpose and destination.

To achieve success in finding your way, soul-searching is a necessity. Have an honest conversation with yourself and answer a very tough question. “Who am I?” Think about your strengths, your weaknesses and most importantly your passions.

It may take a day, a week or a month but, when you answer this question, your personal destination becomes clear.

Your direction will not fall in your lap, so don’t waste another moment – create an inner compass and find it yourself.

©Jane Powell – Meditations for Women

Completion

 Completion,


Finally, you have achieved what you desired. Your objective and success have been reached, At this point you must simply refine some particulars. You must maintain what you have built: everything changes and so it'll be necessary to be careful that you don't lose everything.

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Zingers

 Zingers "Allowing your dreams to emerge, gives you the strength to make them real."

Wind

 Wind,

The best way to see clearly is to observe the situation. Everything will sort itself out.

Parenting

 Parenting Spend some time with your child and grownups of the opposite sex.

The Wrath of God

 The Wrath of God


Growing up I had one of two reactions to the thought of the wrath of God-either that it totally contradicted the image of the God of love or it caused me to utterly fear God's punishment for my transgressions and therefore to fear ever meeting Him in the first place. Which reaction was more prevalent in my spirit, I can't say because when I look, they are pretty much equal. This dichotomy of what the wrath of God means logically threw my understanding of God into swirls of chaos. Which was it?

Did God love me beyond all telling, or was He sitting there with a giant computer going, "Oh, great. She really messed up this time. Add another two hours to her fire time"? Obviously the two could not coexist. God could not be all-loving and yet have this terrible desire to throw every sinner into the fire for eternity. Either one or the other, but it couldn't be both.

It wasn't until this weekend that the real meaning of the wrath of God came into focus for me. As usual, the Holy Spirit intersected two seemingly disparate pieces of input into my existence, got me to thinking about them, and then sat back and watched for my epiphany to occur.

The first piece of information came in viewing a DVD by Father Robert Barron called "Untold Blessings." In the second of three parts in this presentation, Father Barron talks about the wrath of God as it relates to sinners. However, he doesn't preach hell-fire and brimstone, which is what I always associated God's wrath with. Instead, Father Barron equates the wrath of God with God's incredible, passionate desire to set things right again.

It has been said that God hates sin but loves the sinner. On one level this made since to me (since I am a sinner and I hope God loves me in spite of that), but on another level, once sin is in a sinner, how can the two be separated? Doesn't a sinner who has sinned deserve punishment for every misstep he's made? And isn't that what the wrath of God points to-that if you sin, you will be punished and therefore, you'd better watch your step because one wrong move could spell damnation for eternity?

No, actually. That's not what the wrath of God points to at all. The wrath of God is God's extreme desire to set things right, His anger that His children have been hurt by the sins they themselves have committed. In short, He is angry with the sin, not with the sinner.

The second piece of this understanding came this afternoon when my children and I went to see "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe." In the movie (as I'm sure in the book too although I've never read it), a young boy out of spite and hurt agrees to turn his brother and sisters over to the White Witch (think Satan with long hair and icicles).

It soon becomes apparent to the boy, however, that he's made a terrible mistake. He sees the witch for who she really is, and he tries to escape. Through a series of events, he is indeed reunited with his brother and sisters after talking with the magical Lion king, Aslan.

All now seems well, until the White Witch shows up to claim her prize. It is written that once a traitor has betrayed someone, he is now hers forever. The young boy is trapped, caught in a net of his own willfulness and hurt. Aslan, the Lion (a symbol for Christ) assesses the situation and requests a private conference with the Witch. When they re-emerge, a deal has been struck although at first, we are not privy to the details of the deal.

Soon, however, Aslan voluntarily leaves camp. The two sisters follow him, and then as he approaches the Witch's camp, the two girls hide and watch. It is on the Stone Table that Aslan gives himself in place of the boy. Aslan is beaten, sheered, tied up, and then sacrificed by the Witch. Thinking she has now defeated the only one who could conquer her, she sets out full of vengeance and hatred to destroy the rest of the residents of Narnia who are not on her side.

However, she never counted on the resurrection of Aslan (much the way, I'm sure, Satan didn't see the resurrection of Jesus coming either). When Aslan returns, he makes his entrance on the high arch of a cliff overlooking the scene where his troops are being slaughtered by the Witch and her minions. Aslan takes ones sweeping look and lets out a roar that shakes the entire countryside.

Call it what you want-anger, passion, wrath-Aslan is downright furious at what evil is doing to his people after he sacrificed himself on their behalf, and in short order he rectifies the situation. Evil is vanquished, and the residents of Narnia who have been slaughtered in the battle are restored by the potion the smallest daughter was given that very much resembles blood.

It is a clear symbol that all it takes is one drop of the Blood of Christ for those who have fallen asleep to death to be resurrected with Him.

So, the wrath of God? Yes, it is very much a reality. In fact, He loves us much like a parent whose child comes in two hours after curfew without having called. The parent is understandably angry, but the anger is really more a result of the overwhelming fear of what could have happened to the child. So it is with God. He's angry because He loves us so much. However, He is not angry with us, He is angry for us-standing in the breech between our stupidly choosing evil and what evil wants to do to us because of our stupid choices.

In this context, God's wrath not only meshes perfectly with His love, it also suddenly becomes not scary but comforting. That He would love me so much that when I sin and Satan comes to drag my soul away into his bitter, hate-filled world, Jesus Christ steps in the middle and says, "No, take Me instead"-knowing full well that Satan cannot pass up a deal so sweet. In doing this, Christ ransomed my life by giving His own. Now when Satan tries to take me out anyway, the passion of Christ and of God Our Father is aroused and sets about to banish evil from whence it came. This is without a doubt the most poignant image of God's love for me that I could ever conceive of witnessing.

The wrath of God? It makes me feel more protected and loved than I ever thought possible. In fact, it's now one of the most joyous, emotionally overwhelming concepts I've ever encountered. Who would've thought?

by: Staci Stallings