Tag Archives: #leadership

#inspiration, #spirituality

Insults

Have you ever been made fun of? I believe we all have been, and much of it is harmless teasing. I certainly give people a lot to work with!

I have observed people making fun of how people look or calling people dumb, even deplorable. Most of these insults occur from behind a computer keyboard, but occasionally I have experienced people making fun of others to their face. Either way it’s wrong. When an insult is hurled at someone, the offender is ridiculing one of God’s creations. God doesn’t make mistakes, nor does He second guess himself. There is a purpose behind every creation.

Let’s think before we speak. If what we are about to say is harmful, let’s quieten ourselves. Remember, God knows what He’s doing. We don’t always…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Courage

Life is not a popularity contest. Going with the flow or not rocking the boat just doesn’t cut it sometimes. We must take a stand for what is true and right.

Most of us enjoy the peaceful times in our lives. We are always experiencing some conflict or challenge, yet we can feel calm among the chaos. Being courageous and going against the crowd can bring some tension into the mix. But if we are standing up for something, and our motives are pure and noble, we will win in the end. Good crushes evil. Light reigns over darkness.

If you are concerned about being part of the crowd, make sure it’s the right crowd. And when the moment arrives when you feel the need to speak up, that is a leadership moment in your life.

Embrace it, even if you are standing alone. It might take some courage, but you have it in you. Find it…

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#inspiration

New Roads Await

Today we will revisit doing inner work and why it is vital.

Many people shy away from doing the self work required to grow and mature. The work challenges you to look at yourself and the decisions you’ve made, and why you went down that road. But on the other side of darkness lies peace, wisdom and new, healthy neural pathways.
Fourteen years of self-work and counting for me.

But it has been so worthwhile…

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#inspiration

Dividing Lines

It’s an election year and you know what that means. People are drawing lines in the sand over their candidate. There are many factors that influence voters selection: history of voting for a party, a desire for change, they like the way a candidate sounds, or they just plain hate one of the choices.

Arguing over politics is as old as America herself is. You almost can’t avoid it. In today’s internet connected world the debate sometimes turns nasty. People hurl insults at others from behind their computer keyboard, with no consequences for the ugly things said. We get to peer into the heart of others through their words and actions. It’s not always pretty.

Take a moment to examine your own heart when you feel yourself getting amped up over politics. People throw insults at me regularly because of what I believe. They don’t bother me. I have a sound basis for what I believe, and I won’t lie or exaggerate. Facts matter. Opinions are…just opinions.

I encourage you to reach out to those with whom you disagree with. Listen and learn from each other. You will be better for doing it, and so will our country…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Teach Children Well

There are many dedicated, devoted teachers in our schools. I know several. They didn’t become teachers to achieve fame and fortune. Hardly! There are lots of careers available with less headaches along with better pay.

All of us had our favorite teachers growing up. Why were they our favorites? It wasn’t because they broke down difficult mathematical equations with ease, or they made English interesting. They captured our hearts. They truly cared about us. We remember them fondly because they reached us at a deeper level than most.

Teaching is a high calling. Even Jesus spoke about it. He said if anyone misleads a child it would be better for them to have a millstone tied around their neck and thrown into the sea. That’s not a casual statement.

Most teachers are off for the summer. But that doesn’t stop us from remembering the best among them…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Rights

A few years ago, DFW Airport was shut down and all of the planes were grounded because of weather. I happened to be a passenger on one of those airplanes. An ornery passenger started hitting the call button repeatedly until our nice Flight Attendant appeared. He immediately started chastising the young lady, almost bringing her to tears because “he had rights” and needed to be in Austin for an important meeting. I had had enough. I tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around, I told him to “shut the fuck up. It wasn’t her fault the airport was shut down. It’s safer to be on the ground than to try to fly.” The entire cabin clapped, he shut up, the Flight Attendant opened the bar and served everyone but him!

Our rights have become used and abused to get our way. Had the airline accommodated the emotionally disturbed man I mentioned before, the exercise of his “rights” would have endangered everyone else.

Freedom of speech is one of our greatest rights in The United States. With that freedom comes responsibility to be honest and to speak with integrity. Politicians and the media tell outright lies and are not held accountable. This is a perversion of our first right cited in The Bill of Rights. we expect politicians to stretch the truth, but lying is a whole different level.

It’s best to exercise your first amendment rights by telling the truth. Free speech does not mean the freedom to lie…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Loneliness

Loneliness is at epidemic levels in the United States. Even in a crowd or at a party, people can experience loneliness. But there’s good news!

Before we get to the good stuff, let’s examine loneliness a little closer. It’s been prevalent for decades. The feeling of being alone was exacerbated by the forced isolation during the pandemic. Mental health was fragile already, and why our medical “experts” thought staying away from people was a good idea is baffling to me. The CDC itself states on their website that human connection is vital for good mental health and vitality. Oh well, let’s move on.

The good news is that you can cure loneliness. It’s a temporary state of mind. Get started by calling a friend and asking them to lunch. Find the right psychotherapist to walk through your bout of loneliness with you. Try a church group out. You don’t have to join the church, and if that’s a requirement to participate with the group, find another church. You should feel welcome without conditions.

Finally, do something for someone who can never repay you. Yes, they will benefit, but you will gain so much more.

Get started! The cure for your lonely condition is right around the corner…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Left Behind

We go through different periods in our lives. From childhood through the teenage years, and finally to adulthood. Our experiences shape us. Even our bad days can be used for good. Maybe they were just learning experiences. And hopefully we learned!

Over the course of our lives we have developed habits, both good and poor. We learn how to make friends and develop relationships. We make a habit of exercising and eating well. Yet I meet so many people who focus their attention on their faults. They have low self esteem and rather than focusing their energy on what they do well, they beat themselves up emotionally.

If this is something you struggle with, please be aware that you aren’t alone in your struggle. Everyone has to learn to leave the self-defeating behaviors behind and mold themselves into who God intended them to be. The Spirit is strong and will help you. Just believe in Him and believe in yourself.

It’s time to leave anything destructive behind. Sometimes this includes people…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Late

The word “late” has a lot of applications. For example, if a teenage girl tells her boyfriend “I’m late,” it might not mean she is late to their date. But if you tell someone you drive a late-model car it might promote status.

If you are reading this and are feeling some frustration with your life, it’s not too late to make a change. God is not finished with every single person who is alive and breathing. That includes you. His purpose for your life will bring meaning and clarity to your life. Your inner drive will be awakened.

Take inventory of what you are good at and what you enjoy doing. This will reveal what your purpose is. Then take a leap of faith and walk through that door.

Be brave. Be audacious. You’re going to need to be…

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#inspiration

Balanced Life

I hear people preach about getting balance in your life. You know, the whole work-life balance thing. I’m not sure that’s good advice.

It is true that all of us need rest, play, social interaction and nutrition in addition to our work. These are vital elements to maintain our mental health. Yet I have always leaned into my work while adding new projects. I enjoy it. That’s how I’m wired. Some people want a structured 9-5 job along with an element of predictability in their lives. That’s fine, too!

I believe the most neglected part of life is getting enough rest. You must take time to recharge. Deep, restful sleep prepares us to go fight another day.

Play is important, too. Take some time to let loose and have some fun! And don’t feel guilty for it. Solid playtime makes you better.

Find the balance that’s right for you. Don’t copy the templates of others, or what the “experts” tell you. You know what’s best for you…

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