Complain or…

 

For some reason we seem to have come to a place where complaining is accepted.  All too often we play the victim, blame others, point fingers and gripe. The fact that we complain implies that we think the circumstances are someone else’s fault and out of our control. That may be the case. However, the complaint itself is unlikely to change anything.  There are alternatives to complaining.

 

Next time you feel the need to complain, consider the impact of that.  What will be accomplished by complaining?  More importantly consider your options.  Might it be best to just remove yourself from the matter?  Are there ways you can take the initiative to change and improve the circumstances?  Maybe it is a battle not worth fighting and an act of quiet acceptance is in order.  Be productive or be quiet!

 

“When you complain you make yourself a victim.  Either leave the situation, change the situation or accept it.”

- Eckhart Tolle

Your Word?

 
We often talk of being able to take someone for their word.  A common compliment is, “He is a man of his word.”  Think about that concept by looking in the mirror today.  Are you a person of your word?  Can others take you at your word?  More importantly would you trust your own words?  Do you communicate with integrity and the intention to stand behind your word?

Words are powerful tools Trust is built on words supported by honesty and integrity, but trust can be destroyed by words of deceit and misrepresentation.  Our word is one of the few things we can totally control, can’t be taken from us, and will always play a role in how we impact the lives of those around us.  Enjoy the quote below…    

 “I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character — not wealth or power or position — is of supreme worth.”

 ― J.D. Rockefeller

Brokenness

We are all broken.  Don’t believe those who want you to think that they are perfect; no one is. We are all human…we have sins, shames, regrets and dark sides. However, we do not have to act like we are broken. Don’t let the baggage of your past weigh down your journey to future.  We just need to be aware of it, own it, and move on.  You are the only one who knows your baggage and can control how you react to it. Life is all about how we learn, grow and move forward.  Don’t let others control how you see yourself.  We are each uniquely made in God’s eyes.  Each of us has strengths, talents, beauty and personalities that overcome the brokenness.  Be broken, just know it and deal with it.  More importantly, draw your strength from your unique gifts, the strength to overcome the brokenness. 

You are broken, but truly UNIQUE AND SPECIAL!

Your Trajectory?

What is the current trajectory of your life?  Where is your life headed?  If you stay on your current trajectory, where will you end up?  This is a critical question.  Often, we sit idly by and let life take us in certain directions without attempting to influence that direction.  We also do not always think about the long term direction of our current trajectory.  It is important that we look at where we are as well as where we are headed. 

What you do today has significant impact on your future.  We have the ability to influence the trajectory of our lives.  Certainly some aspects of life are outside of our control, but the parts we can control have the ability to take us in the wrong direction if we sit back allow that to happen.  Do not think that you have no influence on the trajectory of your life. You do.  Do not sit back and let life happen to you.  God has a plan for you and wants to see you pursue that plan.  To do so you likely need to be proactive in determining the course of your life.  Check your current trajectory and tweak it as needed…

Don’t wait…

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along."     ~Napoleon Hill

Today’s MMM is a reminder to myself about the importance of simply getting started.  This is an area of weakness for me.  I want things to be just so.  I want to be totally prepared.  I want to feel like I have some control.  I want to be comfortable with a big step before I take it.  I will never get far if I continue to think like that.  Sometimes you just have to go for it.  You have to at least get started.  We cannot always wait until the stars are aligned perfectly in order to make change happen in our lives.  So I am reminding myself, and all of you, don’t wait.  The time may never seem perfectly right. The right tools will come along and you will be making progress. Just get started. 

Perspective…

Perspective can be powerful thing.  A little dose can make one's own problems or situation seem quite insignificant.  Perspective also serves as a reminder of just how little we really understand, and how much less we really control here on earth.  It can make a person see their own challenges in a totally different light.  Make no mistake, what we do in our daily jobs is important and so are our family responsibilities, but the next time you become frustrated by the challenges of your job, your boss your co-workers, or family and friends, consider a little perspective.  How does that frustration really rank in the big scheme of things?  Enjoy the quote below.

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” – William Shakespeare