A century ago, a man struggled around this time of year to find anything for which he was thankful. There was a war at home that he knew could never be won, and shouldn't have been started in the first place. He was getting divorced, and his wife took the kids seemingly halfway around the world. People made fun of his creativity, undermined his idea, not understanding him at all.
Yet, he "pulled himself up by the bootstraps" and figured out his biggest problem. He used creativity to do the impossible. He ignored his attackers. He focused on his own projects and his own "story" - and he won. And he has well-over fifteen minutes of fame.
Be Thankful for the gifts you've been given and the Blessings you've received. Focus on your own story rather than what others are doing - who knows, you may have a Thanksgiving discovery just like Einstein.
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/11/24/science/a-century-ago-einsteins-theory-of-relativity-changed-everything.html
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Your Next Journey
It's the time of year when people are wistfully planning their next vacation - a voyage to warmer weather, a secluded cabin with a roaring fireplace showcasing a few good books, partying in an international locale. But, what would happen if you let your break take you wherever it happened to lead?
Sometimes, we take mini mental breaks at a spa or during meditation. We need reminded that to refresh ourselves, we should let our imagination explore ideas or images - by reading stories others have written or those we create ourselves. We can paint, cook, explore learning new languages - anything that keeps working the "non-work" side of the brain.
Take time to smell the roses. You'll feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and relieved that your mind can have a little fun as the days grow shorter for the winter.
You may find it interesting to follow along the real life path of a favorite book - even one of your children's favorite stories. While tasting new foods and exploring different cultures is fantastic, I'm not sure shrinking potion should be on anyone's menu.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Behind the Scenes
Tis the Season... for holiday parties. When you are at events catching up with old neighborhood friends or popping into happy hours with work colleagues, you expect to have questions that help people understand what's happened in your life since the last time you saw each other. Be wary of these questions. But, these simple question-answer interactions never represent everything about you, especially between appetizers and cocktails.
Just as when you are baking, different ingredients and events combine to make up the 'end product.' You don't always add the exact measurement in the kitchen, and you don't always recall the chemistry behind ingredient interaction that makes your cake rise or your candy caramel harden. Giving stats about your job, your home life, your recent moves doesn't say much about who you are.
When you answer questions, remember that it's going to be interpreted deeper than you may intend. Think of all of those quizzes about "what your favorite drink says about you" or "your favorite vacation says 1,000 things about you" - those are generalizations that don't give your story. You need to control your story and own it, because it's your own personal brand.
The best way to own your brand is not become braggadocios or egocentric (and at holiday parties after that first drink or two, that slippery slope quickly becomes a cliff). You can let your actions speak for you, empower your clients to rave about you, deliver the message through actions rather than words. Share a volunteering story or a meaningful book that impacted your vision - it's more interesting than where you go to work anyway.
When other people talk about your great qualities and humanitarian deeds, it's more powerful than you yapping about where you've been and all you've done since the last party. A canned speech about your last 365 days is boring... and no one wants to be boring! A carefully selected "peek behind the scenes" about what makes you tick is much more beneficial to your relationships with coworkers as well as potential customers.
Chose your actions carefully - perhaps even more carefully than your words. It's says far more about you... and someday, history will look back at your accomplishments and just maybe you'll rise to the top because of what you've done, not what you've told people you've done.
http://www.upworthy.com/15-badass-women-of-world-war-ii-you-didnt-learn-about-in-history-class
Just as when you are baking, different ingredients and events combine to make up the 'end product.' You don't always add the exact measurement in the kitchen, and you don't always recall the chemistry behind ingredient interaction that makes your cake rise or your candy caramel harden. Giving stats about your job, your home life, your recent moves doesn't say much about who you are.
When you answer questions, remember that it's going to be interpreted deeper than you may intend. Think of all of those quizzes about "what your favorite drink says about you" or "your favorite vacation says 1,000 things about you" - those are generalizations that don't give your story. You need to control your story and own it, because it's your own personal brand.
The best way to own your brand is not become braggadocios or egocentric (and at holiday parties after that first drink or two, that slippery slope quickly becomes a cliff). You can let your actions speak for you, empower your clients to rave about you, deliver the message through actions rather than words. Share a volunteering story or a meaningful book that impacted your vision - it's more interesting than where you go to work anyway.
When other people talk about your great qualities and humanitarian deeds, it's more powerful than you yapping about where you've been and all you've done since the last party. A canned speech about your last 365 days is boring... and no one wants to be boring! A carefully selected "peek behind the scenes" about what makes you tick is much more beneficial to your relationships with coworkers as well as potential customers.
Chose your actions carefully - perhaps even more carefully than your words. It's says far more about you... and someday, history will look back at your accomplishments and just maybe you'll rise to the top because of what you've done, not what you've told people you've done.
http://www.upworthy.com/15-badass-women-of-world-war-ii-you-didnt-learn-about-in-history-class
Monday, November 9, 2015
Meaningful and Motivating
We are moving well into fall and winter, where most of the country gets gray and dreary. They say there is a correlation with "lack of sunshine" and depression. Many Americans relate sunny days to happy days - because we are accustomed to taking vacations during sunny days, maybe at a beach or a park. So when there is no sun, we are focused on something we don't have.
When you get used to doing things a certain way, there is a ripple effect in other areas of your life. If you think, even a little bit, that your best days are on sunny days, then you effectively push away control of your happiness and contentment. And any day not sunny becomes a not-good-day.
What would happen if you started considering the good things in a different way? What if you experienced joy from fall breezes that gently brush your hair out of your face.... looked at falling snow as a clean crisp way to start a day and see the little footprints of children and pets.... check the front lawn for the first signs of spring peeking out from the rich brown soil?
Make a difference with your happiness - find what's closer and enjoy it. Use the small gifts every day to notice the niceties and be thankful. Take note of the meaningful things in life, and revel in them! Get motivated today!
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/whats-the-best-way-to-stay-motivated/414633/
When you get used to doing things a certain way, there is a ripple effect in other areas of your life. If you think, even a little bit, that your best days are on sunny days, then you effectively push away control of your happiness and contentment. And any day not sunny becomes a not-good-day.
What would happen if you started considering the good things in a different way? What if you experienced joy from fall breezes that gently brush your hair out of your face.... looked at falling snow as a clean crisp way to start a day and see the little footprints of children and pets.... check the front lawn for the first signs of spring peeking out from the rich brown soil?
Make a difference with your happiness - find what's closer and enjoy it. Use the small gifts every day to notice the niceties and be thankful. Take note of the meaningful things in life, and revel in them! Get motivated today!
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/11/whats-the-best-way-to-stay-motivated/414633/
Monday, November 2, 2015
Don't Get Too Comfortable
"He who dies with the most toys wins." Many people look to collect the most creature comforts and make themselves a very cushy life. How we appear to others on the outside means a whole heck-of-a-lot to many, many people. Our bank accounts and assets define success to this group. Some people just want to scratch the surface and create a calm, peaceful life - and that works for them.
But, what about who you are on the inside? Your inner self shines through to everything that you do. There are people who want to do more than scratch the surface. They ask questions, hold people to higher standards (perhaps the legal standards), and work to make their community a better place. It's not easy, and it sure isn't comfortable.
There are many controversial people in the limelight that are being defined by others - Caitlyn Jenner (gender), Rachel Dolezal (race), and even the Pope (religion): topics etiquette says not to discuss at cocktail parties. Whether you agree with them and their perspectives or not, they are taking a huge step away from comfort and created conversations about values.
Stand up and be tall - and try to be as tall figuratively as this super star in the story below. He hasn't been in a major spotlight for himself for decades, but has always looked at what is the right thing to do. We should all be conscious and mindful of the right things - comfort in the soul isn't always comfort on a couch, but you sure do sleep better at night!
http://www.npr.org/2015/11/01/453739566/kareem-abdul-jabbar-if-its-time-to-speak-up-you-have-to-speak-up
But, what about who you are on the inside? Your inner self shines through to everything that you do. There are people who want to do more than scratch the surface. They ask questions, hold people to higher standards (perhaps the legal standards), and work to make their community a better place. It's not easy, and it sure isn't comfortable.
There are many controversial people in the limelight that are being defined by others - Caitlyn Jenner (gender), Rachel Dolezal (race), and even the Pope (religion): topics etiquette says not to discuss at cocktail parties. Whether you agree with them and their perspectives or not, they are taking a huge step away from comfort and created conversations about values.
Stand up and be tall - and try to be as tall figuratively as this super star in the story below. He hasn't been in a major spotlight for himself for decades, but has always looked at what is the right thing to do. We should all be conscious and mindful of the right things - comfort in the soul isn't always comfort on a couch, but you sure do sleep better at night!
http://www.npr.org/2015/11/01/453739566/kareem-abdul-jabbar-if-its-time-to-speak-up-you-have-to-speak-up
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