It’s so easy to get caught up in the petty happenings of today, become narrow-minded, and start to worry. When this happens, we’re less effective, we become self-centered, and we tend to pull those around us down. We need to lighten up and put things in perspective.
In his book The Greatest Salesman in the World, Og Mandino asks a great question that helps us do just that:
Corrie ten Boom
It was just an old piece of wood from our basement. I tacked burlap over it and leaned it up against the wall opposite my desk. Then, I put a company of eyes on it.
Eyes framed by faces which beam with joy and conquest.
They are adventurers, leaders, entrepreneurs, opportunists, and explorers. They are my heros and every day they smile at me. Yes, they smile at ME!
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The following is a short parable. May it bring you new perspective on facing old struggles.
“Excuse me, sir. What do you see?” the small voice came from beside the bench where the man was sitting close to the lake. His thoughts had been caught up in despair, wrapped around the gray tombstone of hopes dashed.
“What do you see?” the small voice insisted.
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I just finished the book, The Greatest Salesman in the World, by Og Mandino. It’s a delightful little book and one I recommend to everyone who wants to improve their ability to influence others. In it, the author creates this wonderful imagery when he likens us to grains of wheat.
A grain of wheat can be multiplied a hundredfold if it’s planted in soil and then nurtured by the sun, rain, and warm winds. It grows into a stalk of wheat bearing many, many more grains which can be ground into flour or planted for even more wheat.
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Recently, I’ve been thinking about how life is too important not to live fully engaged, fully alive, and fully motivated. This is the way to best live out our purpose and really be there for our loved ones.
One of the ways I stay fully engaged, fully alive, and fully motivated is by reading great books. Books will educate, inspire, and give you new ideas. Ideas that can change your life.
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The uncluttered mind is able to regulate time, make firm decisions, and take decisive steps in life. It is free of worry, is able to engage readily, and is calm.
Does this describe you? If your answer is no, perhaps it’s time to start the practice of uncluttering your mind.
Here are 8 of my favorite ways to unclutter:
I have a corner office in our house. I made yellow curtains for the windows, have stacks of my favorite books piled in crates, and from my window I have a gorgeous view of the trees behind our house. It is my space. Every time I walk into that room I breathe a deep, life-filled breath, and feel more relaxed.
We all need a space to call our own, find yours and claim it.
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There is a simple three sentence prayer which can make a profound impact on your life. It can help you see how to overcome big obstacles and give you the courage and confidence to take bold action.
The prayer I’m talking about comes from the book titled The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. In it, he shares how a struggling salesman started saying this prayer before each prospect he called.
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Two years ago when I started writing here on this blog, I had no idea what I was getting into. Now hundreds of blog posts later, I find myself in the final stages of my second book.
Here are 10 things I have learned along the way:
The key is to use the stuck feeling to your advantage. Use it as a signal to move to something else before you get really stuck.
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In business, I’ve learned you need to have the right approach to getting new clients and building your business.
It’s so easy to be focused on needing to make money, especially when you’re just starting out. The way to make money, however, is to figure out how you can add value to the lives of those in your target market. Do this, and the money will follow.
At first, when offering our free classes for our music school, my approach was, how can I get the most students enrolled the fastest?
Part of my journal stash
1. Write to name what you face.
A name gives shape to the shadows that follow you, the shadows that age you. When you name something, you are able to face it fully, to grasp it, and do something to change it.
2. Write to remember your life.
Writing things down helps you remember all the in-between days, the fascinatingly normal ones, the ones that make up most of our lives. The feeling of your son pressing his pink, chubby cheek snugly into yours, the way the light flashed florescent off the bubble suspended on your daughters small finger.
We all think we will remember, but somehow most days become a blur, lost in the haze of busyness.
On a normal day 4 years ago, my husband Michael and I realized we weren’t living the life we wanted to live. We were living a boring life! So, on a hot weekend in July, we started a new life.
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