WHAT IS YOUR MOST RECENT NEW IDEA? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 168

Although I cannot recall the exact statistics, I do recall reading on a number of occasions that we humans use only a small percentage of our brain power.  That being said just think of the opportunities that we all have to think, create, build, resolve, and plan.  Sometimes we get so bogged down in the routines of everyday living that we no longer take quiet time to reflect, think and allow ideas to bubble up to the surface of our minds.

What would happen if everyone scheduled one hour per week on the calendar to do nothing except sit in quiet contemplation?  Who knows what great ideas would be generated?  A cure for an illness?  A new energy source to reduce our dependence on oil?  A way to provide clean water for all the third world countries?  A solution to build a new medical device to save lives? A way to end poverty and hunger?  You may have an idea that can change the world so take time to

BIRTH NEW IDEAS!

HOW MUCH CAN YOU REALLY DO? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 161

Are you a good planner?  Are you good at time management?  If you are getting older are you still able to do all that you used to do?  Have you had an illness or injury that prevents you from doing everything you want to do?  Is there something you want to do but for which you do not have the needed skill set?

Planning and time management are not just for the young or those in the work force.  We still need to plan how to use our time and accomplish our tasks and goals.  Now that I am getting older I do not have the physical strength or stamina that I had ten years ago.  Yet I still plan my days as if I can still do everything as quickly as I used to and as if I can still do as many things in a day as I used to do.

Yesterday I read something that made sense.  It said if the same things keep appearing on your to-do list but never getting checked off, then admit you either do not want to do them or are not going to do them and remove them from the list.  That is good advice because when I do not accomplish all the things on my daily lists I become annoyed with myself.  Truth is I now need to pay someone else to do certain things or prevail upon my children to do them for me when they visit.  For example, anything that involves climbing on a ladder is now beyond my stability and coordination.

Think about it.  Is there anything in your life for which you need to tell yourself:

ACCEPT MY LIMITS

ARE YOU STAYING STRONG? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 154

There are days when I feel as if the world is spinning out of control, and that unless I keep hanging on tightly I will be flung out into space.  This feeling comes because it seems so many things which should be easy to deal with or accomplish have become difficult due to bureaucracy, stupidity, incompetence, unemployment, or technology.

What are you trying to do?  Start a business?  Save a relationship? Be a good parent? Pursue your life's dream? Deal with your own illness or that of a loved one?  Are you discouraged for any reason?  Are you thinking you won't realize your objective or have the opportunity to live your dream?  Are you feeling you will never find a job in your field at the salary level you need?  Are you afraid that the outcome will not be that for which you are hoping?

It is so easy to find so many things wrong in the world today, but I encourage you to focus on the positive rather than the negative.  Talk to yourself, and think positively even when you don't  feel like it.  Hang around with positive people rather than naysayers, and determine what you can do about the issue and do it.  Most important

REFUSE TO GIVE UP!

WHAT DO YOU SAY WHEN YOU AWAKE EACH DAY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS -DAY 150

Do you realize how much control you actually have over your daily moods and attitudes?  I used to not believe that especially when I had a deadline looming, or a medical procedure needed for a family member, friend or myself.  I especially had a hard time grasping that concept when I had loved ones suffering from depression, other illness, financial problems, or job lay-offs.

Then somehow I learned that while I could not prevent those things from happening, I could control my attitude about how I deal with them.  I learned to do everything I can to make situations better and to accept those things I myself can not make better.  I also learned to tell myself immediately upon awakening in the morning that no matter what I am going to

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

IS SOMETHING HOLDING YOU BACK? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 136

Are you a procrastinator?  Do you put off doing things for yourself more than you put off doing things for others?  I was always a good student who always turned in assignments on time and always did my homework and prepared for tests.  In my working life I was always on time, completed all my work on time and always kept my commitments to my superiors on a timely basis.  In my personal life I was involved a lot in volunteer work, and I always did everything on a timely basis so as not to disappoint anyone in the particular volunteer organization.  I always did what needed to be done for my children on time, and I tried to raise them to not put things off but to do them on time and as agreed to whether it was in school, extra-curricular activities or their careers.

Why then do you suppose I found it so easy to procrastinate on things I needed to do for myself?  Is it because I was not being paid to do them?  Is it because no one was going to think less of me if I did not do them at all or was late in doing them?  Is it because I did not value myself as much as I valued others?

When I decided to start my own Internet business I was at first all fired up and could not find enough hours in the days to do everything on my to-do list.  I jumped right into it with both feet and worked many hours to get my business off the ground.  As time has gone on though I find myself putting off doing those tasks which I do not like to do or do not want to do.  Am I losing interest in my business?  Am I suffering the results of some very serious illnesses I have had in the past three years?  Am I just being lazy?  I update my to-do lists weekly, and I am finding that I am moving some items from week to week to week and never doing them. I would never have done that when I was an employee, and I would have fired any of my employees who did that for very long.

So today I had a talk with myself and said either stop putting those items on the to-do list and admit you are never going to do them OR put a deadline on them and just do them.  I am hopeful that I will do the latter since these things could be important to my business and to my future income.  If you find yourself in any similar situation then let's do what we should do and prepare for

LIFT OFF!

P. S.  If you have found a way to overcome your procrastination, I would love to have you tell me how you did it in the comment section.  Thanks in advance for sharing.

DO YOU SOMETIMES FEEL WEAK? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 126

There are times when almost all people feel bereft of courage when trying to face a difficult time in life. Whether it be serious illness, relationships, loss of a loved one, angry boss, financial problems, or just fear of the unknown at times we can feel very weak which is a dreadful feeling.  The best advice I ever got was that I should take life one day at a time because that is how it is going to come.  Just try to get through each day the best you can.  There is a Scripture verse that says, "Don't worry about tomorrow for today has enough trouble of its own."  That does not mean each day is going to be a bad one for you but rather that we should focus on the present day.

Having courage does not mean having no fear but rather doing what you must in spite of feeling weak or fearful.  You can do it.  I know you can.

HAVE COURAGE!

THREE IN ONE - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAYS 119, 120 AND 121

As you can see by the title, today I am going to catch up as I have missed posting for a couple of days. Usually when I skip something it is because I either forgot, I was sick, or I had too many medical appointments in one week.  While I did have 6 appointments last week they are not the cause of my falling behind in blogging.  Actually this week I have been preoccupied due to the death of an old friend and colleague.  Martin  lost his long, painful, valiant battle with lung cancer.  He and I were diagnosed with lung cancer about the same time, and I was so fortunate that my surgery was successful and due to early detection I did not have to have chemotherapy or radiation.  Martin was not so fortunate as by the time his cancer was discovered it had already spread.

He was younger than I, married to a wife he adored, and a wonderful father to three beautiful daughters and grandfather to an adorable little girl.  He had more faith, hope, and courage than I have ever seen, and he touched many, many lives in his lifetime.  He was a dear friend to all of us who knew him and he will be sorely missed.

The three messages I am tardy in writing are ironically so appropriate for the way Martin faced his illness, and he was an inspiration to all who knew him.

I AM BLESSED!

HEART WIDE OPEN

NO WHINING

Back to Pre-School, Day Care, and Germs

I have been watching with interest the blogging progress of a young woman from Brazil. She covers pertinent topics for young mothers, first-time mothers, or anyone who provides care for children or grandchildren. This is why I have included one of her blog posts in my blog today. You may want to check her blog out for yourself. I wish her success!