Tag Archives: inner strength

Spirituality

Waging Wars

We can be our own worst enemies. We do things we know aren’t good for us, but we do them anyway. It’s like we are waging war on ourselves.

Good thoughts lead to good outcomes. There are consequences attached to every decision we make. Sometimes people think of consequences in a negative way. They can be but don’t have to be.

Have you ever known an alcoholic? They do completely irrational things that a sane person wouldn’t think of. Some of the brightest people I know are addicts who got into and stayed in a recovery program. They decided to stop the fight with themselves. Their sobriety became the victory they needed.

There are two voices competing for our attention all the time. One voice is encouraging us, prompting us in the right way. The other voice is talking down to us, reminding us of every bad thing we have ever done. Listen to the voice from the light. Filter the other voice out. Both voices are present every day. It’s up to you to decide which voice to listen to.

The battle within us will be going on for the rest of our lives. You can win it if you’re willing to fight.

Be a fighter. Ask God to help you when you feel like you can’t go on. He will show up, every single time…

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Spirituality

Paralysis

Fear can stop you in your tracks. It’s okay to be nervous, scared even. Trying something new can make us feel uneasy. But contrary to popular belief, there is more than one way to conquer fear.

Not all fears are bad. Our instincts kick in to alert us to danger. During those times I believe it is the Spirit speaking to us. You know what I’m talking about because it’s unmistakable. Listen when those times arise.

Have you ever been triggered by something? Emotional triggers are situations, words, or experiences that provoke a strong emotional reaction, sometimes far greater than the situation itself would seem to justify. Triggers can evoke fearful thoughts that, in your mind, are very real. Rational thought usually won’t override them.

To conquer fear you must face it. If your fears are caused by irrational triggers, then you may need the help of a psychotherapist. Something deeper is at work in you which must be pulled out by the roots.

What I’m talking about isn’t fun. Yet to live fully we must jettison whatever might be stopping us. There is life on the other side of fear. You are free…

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Spirituality

Know Your Value

From my observations, there are quite a few insecure people out there. It’s displayed through arrogance, selfishness and narcissistic behavior. People aren’t born this way. So, what is the genesis of insecurity?

Perhaps it begins in childhood. Parents are a child’s first teacher. The parents might project their own insecurities on their children, making them afraid of experiencing life fully. This was my experience with my parents. And mine enforced their fears with violence. Not a good combination.

Self-worth comes from within. Inner confidence is shown when we see people quietly going about their work, not calling attention to themselves. Confident people make things happen. They don’t care who gets the credit.

We are working for an audience of one. God alone knows everything. We cannot hide from God. The remarkable thing is that God still loves and accepts us no matter how badly we screw up. Humans are not this way.

It took a lot of inner work for me to jettison my insecurities from childhood. When I did then I could see my value. You can, too. Face your inner demons and start to live meaningfully. It takes time, but it happens if you refuse to give up.

You have great value. Other people need to hear what you have to offer. Believe in yourself and get to work…

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Spirituality

Fresh Approach

Do you approach life with confidence or trepidation? We were created by God and meant to live full, meaningful lives on this side of eternity. God and fear cannot coexist.

Life can be hard and it can be harsh. In some ways we are a bunch of imperfect, damaged people trying to live together in a sometimes chaotic world. It sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? But there is a solution.

When we were born we didn’t have fear, worry or hang ups. As little children we were fearless. Life knocked us around and some had their confidence shaken. Some of us had abusive parents who didn’t prepare us for life. But inside of us we wanted to grow. Even the most fearful people know this.

If you are still living with fear and want to break free, I encourage you to do the difficult inner work on yourself. You might have to revisit some painful parts of your life, but you will get through it. If someone hurt you they cannot hurt you again.

Do the work. Give yourself the freedom you deserve. Ask God to guide you through it. He will show up every time. This is a promise…

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Spirituality

Be Courageous

Life is hard. Few, if any, will argue that point. Life is full of unknowns and uncertainty. Every day is unique because no two days are the same.

In my travels I have encountered many people who have given up. They decided to accept whatever life threw their way. This isn’t a growth strategy. It’s a cop out. This is especially disheartening when you consider that some of these people have children who rely on them. Children deserve our best efforts.

Life is challenging when you try. It’s more difficult when you give up. Courage is required when you are going for greatness. A quote attributed to John Wayne is, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” Whether Wayne actually said it or not, it’s true.

In this life we will experience hurdles, difficulties and setbacks. We will also experience victories. You will never taste victory until you find your inner strength, your courage to try in the face of uncertainty.

Win or lose, keep trying. You have it in you…

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Spirituality

Building Strength

Proper weight training can make a person strong. There are many benefits to building muscle. Your body becomes a fat-burning machine while increasing your metabolism. It takes time but it is time well spent.

But today I’m writing about a different type of strength: inner strength. Inner strength is the ability to work through whatever life throws your way. We don’t know what the future holds, and most of it is good. But there will be times you will be tested.

Inner strength is built in the dark times, not when things are going well. Children need to learn that they can bounce back from failures and mistakes. Wrapping them in bubble wrap so they never have to feel bad is preparing them to crumble in adulthood. Mommy and daddy will not be around to pick them up every time they fall.

As a parent, I will tell you it is heartbreaking to see your child hurting. But it is necessary. My son makes a bad grade? He should have studied harder. Gets in trouble with the law for trespassing? Obey the law. Teach kids to get through the difficulties, not get out of them.

Life is usually pretty routine. It can even be boring. But when it brings you unforeseen challenges, you will handle them if you were prepared with inner strength as a child…

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Spirituality

Daily Habits

Do you have some daily habits that improve your life? Building your life around certain habits can either get you where you want to be, or they have the potential to destroy you.

Some of my best building blocks come from Scripture. There are days when I read the Bible and get nothing out of what I’m reading. But sometimes the words practically jump off the page. Those are the times I cherish. God has a way of showing up with perfect timing.

Exercise is another daily habit. Weights, Pilates and walking are great ways to clear your mind while strengthening your body. Posture and flexibility are improved, too.

Start by adding one thing to your day. Just one. Commit to it and stick with it. Then add another. Before you know it you will be on your way to building a better life for yourself. And remember to take God along with you. Ask Him to help you remove any bad habits you might need to eliminate. He is willing to help. Just ask…

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Spirituality

When You Refuse to Quit

Setbacks are part of life. They are only final if you decide they are. Or, you can choose to keep moving forward, taking into account what you learned from failure.

George Washington thought he wasn’t fit to lead after his inexperience got many men killed in battle. But he learned from his mistakes, regained his confidence and went on to become our first president.

Walt Disneys first animated film company went bankrupt. Then Disney’s first commercially successful animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, was taken from him in an unscrupulous business transaction. But Disney refused to stop. He came up with Mickey Mouse while traveling back to Hollywood after learning Oswald’s fate. Disney, and the mouse, made history.

There are many stories of others who wouldn’t quit when the odds were against them. Single mothers who work several jobs to make ends meet are true heroes. We might not know their names, but they are as important as those we do know.

Life is going to knock you around. But when you get knocked down, keep getting up. Learn from the setbacks, and pay no attention to the critics and the naysayers. They can’t see what you see…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Make Algae Great Again

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was constructed in 1923. It sits prominently between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, and is managed by the National Park Service. It’s a beautiful, peaceful site.

In 2012, the pool was found to be leaking about 25-30 million gallons of water annually. A reconstruction project was considered successful, yet soon after the project was completed an algae bloom appeared. Where were the people who were recently singing to the algae in 2012?

Yes, you read the previous line correctly. There was a group of protesters at the Reflecting Pool singing to the algae and yelling, “grow algae, grow!” They were celebrating the failed restoration. Why anyone would celebrate this is beyond my understanding.

My hope is to lift others up, that they will see their own inner beauty and potential. Tearing others down or celebrating a failure is for the weak.

Be strong…

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Spirituality

Problems? No Problems

Have you ever been around someone who constantly focuses on problems rather than solutions? They are energy draining. Every solution you offer is met with, “the problem with that is…” Ugh!

Life will throw some stuff at you. Difficult days are part of the mix but so are the days when everything goes right. Enjoy the easy days! Be grateful for them. But there’s a better way to view those times when life is most difficult than wishing they would pass. Instead, look forward to them. Let me explain.

When life is easy, we aren’t growing. Our strength and resilience are built in the fire. We see how strong we really are when we are being tested. I know many people who have gotten through very difficult situations. They are to be admired because they kept going through the darkness. Eventually, they found the light.

And speaking of the light in the darkness, it’s always there. It may be a pin dot of light, but it’s there. Keep your eyes on the light when darkness appears in your life. It gives you renewed strength, focus and hope. Stay focused…

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