Category Archives: #spirituality

#inspiration, #spirituality

Neighborly

Do you know your neighbors, the people who live next door to you? Over the course of my life, I have had wonderful neighbors and I have had some real jerks (nicest word I could think of), too.

Jesus instructed us to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.” How do we love or even like people who are real assholes (better description)? Let’s examine.

How we love anyone begins with how we feel about ourselves. Having a healthy self image is a good place to start. Self worth manifests when we take care of ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Being overly critical of everything we do can make us judgmental of others.

Take the time to work on yourself. This isn’t a “one and done,” but it’s an ongoing process. The work is hard, really hard, but it is worth it.

And remember the Golden Rule: treat others the way you would like to be treated. This includes the assholes…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Credit

Whether at work or at home, we contribute to the wellbeing of others. When we are working with a team, if our ideas help the team achieve its goals we want our supervisor to know. When other kids parents compliment our children, we let them know how hard we work in raising our children. We want credit.

But what would happen if we just did our work without caring who gets the credit? Maybe we are afraid we will be overlooked for advancement, or we fear someone else takes credit for our work. These concerns, while legitimate, aren’t really important in the grand scheme of things. We are not looking for recognition from our colleagues, but from an audience of one.

God sees everything. He is around us and in us all the time. He’s keeping his own score. He is just and will make things right.

Do your best, and don’t worry about getting credit. God knows…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

All or Some

If you are anything like me, you approach life with optimism, vigor and confidence. You believe anything is possible. But what about when we fall short or we meet frustration after frustration? What happens then?

Those are the dark times, the periods where we keep going even if we aren’t getting anywhere. Just as good times don’t last forever, neither does the darkness. Think back to the times in life where things looked bleak, pointless even. You got through those times and you will thrive again. Believe it.

Life is not “all or nothing.” Believe in yourself and remember, some is better than none…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Improving

The progression of life is challenging. We are faced with setbacks, frustrations and difficulties. During difficult periods, it’s important to remember that we have overcome every obstacle we have ever encountered. And we will again!

When you are trying to fulfill your true purpose you will want to quit. That’s natural. But don’t quit. Ever. The greater the challenge, the greater the individual becomes. You are a work in progress.

It’s hard to beat a person who refuses to quit…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Arrival

Sometimes in life, we just need to show up. You don’t want to go to work? Go anyway. Does a school event for your kids interfere with a sports game you want to watch? Record the game and show up for your child.

Life is unpredictable. If one of your friends goes through a loss such as a divorce or one of their children dies, show up. Yes, it is uncomfortable, but I encourage you to do it regardless of your discomfort. You don’t have to say anything. Your presence during a horrible time in someone’s life is enough. People need others when the shit hits the fan.

Much of life is about showing up. Make the call you need to make. Reach out to others.

Life itself is a participatory experience. So, participate…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

In Hiding

How do you define yourself? When you are asked to describe yourself, what is your answer?

Our identity begins with our name. We do not have a choice of our lineage, and I’m glad we aren’t given that privilege. God, in His infinite wisdom and planning, created us uniquely for a purpose. Only through our unique DNA could this have been accomplished.

People try to hide behind facades to cover up their insecurities. Embellishing one’s life is a tell-all that there’s more there than meets the eye.

I encourage you to take an honest inventory of your character traits. What are you good at? Do more of that and allow yourself to grow.

Don’t hide your talents. Use them to benefit others, just as God intended…

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Karma

Sir Isaac Newton’s third law of motion states, “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” This might be a scientific explanation for the Hindus or Buddhists believing in karma.

You do good, you receive an equal amount of good in return. The same goes for bad. This certainly makes sense at a topical level, but I don’t believe it holds true in the real world.

It has been my observation that when you are putting good into the world, you get more than you give. Doing good builds momentum. And it hits the area of your brain that produces dopamine, so it encourages you to do more good.

Doing good never goes out of style. So, keep bringing light into the world. Do not concern yourself with getting praise from others.

Everything we do is noticed by God. He doesn’t miss a single thing…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

When Oughta Becomes Shoulda

People say they live their lives with no regrets, but they aren’t telling the truth. Everyone has regrets. Maybe it’s something I said that I wish I could take back. Or something I did. Perhaps I took the easy way out rather than doing what’s right. We are all guilty of this.

When we say “I oughta start exercising or I oughta apologize,” we run the risk of our oughtas becoming shouldas. Someone dies and they pass away with an unresolved conflict between us. Things like this can haunt you for the rest of your life. I should have apologized but now I can’t.

We live in a broken, imperfect world and it always will be. There are some regrets you can head off at the pass. Make the call. Be the bigger person.

Do it today…

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The Evolution

Finding out who you are is grueling work. We are more than our possessions, our careers and our zip codes. Those are just things that much of the world uses to measure us.

Everyone is different and has been given unique talents and abilities. Some people are extroverts while others find crowds to be energy draining. Some people come alive in front of a microphone while others freeze when asked to do public speaking. There is no one, right way.

I encourage you to take the time to learn about yourself. That might sound silly but it’s not. People have gotten so busy that they have lost their sense of self. They wake up one day and realize they are living a life of frustration. They want more.

Write down the things you enjoy doing and what you’re good at. Then you have begun the trip down the road less traveled to find your true identity…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Misfits

Everyone has felt like they don’t belong sometimes. The crowd wasn’t really your type, you were underdressed, or maybe you were just feeling insecure. All of us have felt that way. Somehow, some way we survived! (Sarcasm)

I believe being a misfit is a good thing. It’s your opportunity to stand out from the crowd, to speak up when others are being silenced. If a child is being harmed or misled, we have one opportunity to put things right. Take the chance and have no regrets.

Being different from the rest is how God made us. He must love variety because different heights, shapes and sizes are all around us!

Embrace the idea of being a misfit. You will be noticed and remembered. Make sure it’s for something worthwhile…

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