Category: Uncategorized (Page 96 of 159)

Right now I’m going through a leadership program online for the entire year. We’re closing in on the halfway point and it can be difficult for me to stay on task on a weekly basis. Luckily, I have a group of people who are doing it as well that get together via zoom to monitor our progress, discuss ideas and themes and share our experience.

Having others to keep me accountable for my commitment is such a perk, even though I was quite reluctant from the beginning. I had no idea who these other people were, but over time, and after sharing some of our personal life experiences, we began to forge a bond which began to snowball. Knowing in the back of my mind there are others who are relying on my feedback and input keeps my head in the game.

This has got me thinking about utilizing accountability groups for other endeavors down the line in which I know would be difficult to venture out on my own. Daily and/or weekly reporting makes me feel like I’m not alone and gives me a way to connect with others while attaining a common goal. As corny as it may sound, I enjoy the comradery I feel when giving others encouragement to push on as they do the same for me.

I’ve heard it said that if you’re bored with life then most likely life is bored with you. I don’t want to focus on the negative, however, that does resonate with me. I’ve also had it described to me as, we are beings who have been given wings to fly, but in order to get off the ground, we must put in the effort to flap them ourselves. Then and only then, can we have lift and fly.

It’s the potential vision with focused effort. It’s planning, arriving and executing. I can easily get stuck in the “big idea” phase and struggle to move into the action steps needed to begin the build. Or get discouraged because I haven’t seen the fruits of my efforts.

What we all have to remember is that the initial and repeated “showing up” is one of the most difficult aspects of the process. But, we begin to gain momentum as we consistently arrive to face our fears and over time – the longer we remain steadfast – the effects are compounded. Eventually, there’s a tipping point. If we continue, our idea begins to take shape and order begins to descend on what we thought was chaos. We see the fruits of our labor. We take flight.

Now we’re creating. There’s nothing boring about that.

It’s been my experience, I can be an “all or nothing” kind of person. I’ll start a well-intended project with high expectations and get to a point where there’s a bump in the road. At that point things can get a bit sideways and then I get frustrated to the point to where I drop it all together and walk away.

The practical me knows that’s not the best way to handle the situation, but nevertheless I tend to react that way.

Maybe the more beneficial way for me to respond is to view my progress as enough. If I was able to move forward in any capacity today that was enough. If I made really good progress, that’s enough. If I showed up and gave an honest effort, that’s enough.

Maybe sometimes, enough is enough. Especially when viewing this journey called life as a marathon and not a sprint. I need to find as much encouragement as I can to keep myself energized and excited to meet each new day.

Maybe giving enough is enough.

I feel love when someone goes out of their way to help me, care for me or puts my needs in front of their own.

I feel love when I receive respect from others for who I am.

I feel love from family and friends when they give me their full attention.

I feel love when I’m able to connect with others – whether they are family, acquaintances or strangers.

I feel love when I see others working together towards a common goal.

I feel love when I see laughter.

I feel love when I feed my family.

I feel love when I surrender.

I feel love when I give.

What a wonderful feeling as I can never get enough.

It’s much easier for me to be in a chipper mood when it’s Friday afternoon. Or when the sun is shining on the beach while I roll into day two of my vacation. It’s a bit more challenging for me to keep that same energy when I wake up on a Wednesday morning with a cold and reluctantly pull myself out of bed.

I vowed I would never let my circumstances determine my mood, but I’ve come to find it can be more difficult than it sounds. It doesn’t mean I don’t try.

What I’ve come to learn is this; “this too shall pass,” and/or “the sun is always shining behind the clouds.” What that means to me is that even though you feel stuck in a terrible place, it won’t last forever. You will move through it to the other side if you just hang in there. In addition, this is when you find out what people are really made of. Anyone can be happy when things are going their way. It’s when we’re in crisis mode and the wheels have fallen off and everything is on fire when you see their true colors. And most of the time it’s not pretty. I don’t like that look for myself.

We are humans, no doubt. And I’m the first to tell you I make mistakes everyday. So, I do my best to let the past go and be the best version of myself today. Now. No matter what the weather is like.