Mindset or MIND SET

Published on April 29, 2019 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

“Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” -Joshua Marine

My daughter decided earlier this year to become a student body rep for her online academy. Part of their duties is to plan and attend Prom. Prom is this week and my daughter has been struggling to go. She has been dragging her feet to find a dress, to go. Her MINDSET has been a stubborn MIND SET on NOT going.

Whenever I bring up the dance and what we need to do to help with activities, she immediately talks about how “dumb” it all is, how she just wants to set up and leave, wear jeans and not worry about the rest. She hates the thought of “dances” and when I ask her why she is scared, she gets so irritated and defensive about how she is “not afraid and thinks its just dumb.”

I think we can all fall into slumps and mindsets that stop our growth and progress. Sometimes we get too comfortable doing our usual, daily routine. We become stagnant in pushing ourselves to grow, to try something that will challenge ourselves to learn something new, or commit to doing things that will help us get healthier or better overall.

My mom–Since my mom had brain surgery she has been a different person, but her mind has definitely been set on certain things. Her doctors gave her strict orders to get out of bed, walk around, move, get her brain working. Before her surgery my mom never really enjoyed walking anyway, but now her mind is set to a whole new level. My Dad pushes her to get up and walk, but she fights him, gives him mean faces and digs her heals in. If she gets up, she may walk outside and call it good. Its hard.

What things do you SET your MIND on?? What kind of MINDSET do you utilize in your life? Do you have a grateful mindset for your life or do you find you have a MIND SET on frustration, lack or fear. Do you want to focus on being healthy or get stuck with a mind set on the struggle of it.

I told my daughter, “Life is what you make it!! Your experiences will be your choice. Its what you let your mind get set on. That truly is the bottom line. You can go and make a dance a night directed by fun or fear. It is your choice.”

One of her favorite quotes is “Be the change you want to see in the world.” I told her, “You can even do that at a prom.”

LOOK AT EVERYTHING AS A CHANCE TO GROW!

That is like life—-what mindset will you focus on…FUN or FEAR…LOVE or LACK…HEALTH or HELL…everything you do is a choice.

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” -Wayne Dyer

Direction

Published on April 11, 2019 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

Definition of Direction: a course along which someone or something moves.

the management or guidance of someone or something.

I seem to constantly be seeking guidance and direction for our life. Whether it is uncertainty with my husband’s job, wondering if we should move, seeking purpose, struggling with challenges…we are always seeking guidance and direction in one way or another.

In this post I am going to seek further direction to help guide the best outcome for our lives. We are all shifting, changing direction in various ways, so it seems important to seek the right direction along the journey.

No matter what—we don’t have a ‘crystal ball’ that will tell us the future. Sometimes you need to step with faith in a direction you hope and pray will be the best for your family. You cannot foresee what will happen next year, five years or next month for that matter. We must ask ourselves, What is important at this moment in our lives.

This was an important lesson that truly sunk in when we just had a dear family friend find out the father of the family had maybe a year to live. When I spoke with his wife she mentioned that she had just told him he needed to take the kids and get outside, go camping, and make memories with them. Shortly after that conversation he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and had a year to live.

That was heartbreaking to me. No one is guaranteed so much time. We just have today, this moment. What is important to you right now?

Take action of some kind–Our neighborhood housing market has spiked and some of the houses have gone for ridiculously high prices, which made my husband and I wonder if we should put our house on the market and pay off some debt and hopefully set ourselves up for a more stable future. It has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. One day I am in tears because I don’t want to leave the beautiful trees that surround our home or another day our daughter is in tears in fear of leaving. My poor husband sees us in tears and immediately tells us, “We don’t have to move.” It is so sweet to see his reaction. He just wants us happy, but I don’t want the financial burden to be so heavy on him, so deep down I know it would be best for us to put it on the market.

No matter what we do, we have been taking action—painting, putting in new counter tops, cleaning, organizing…each day we are doing little by little in a forward direction. No matter what challenge, crisis, struggle, stagnet direction you are stuck in, when you begin to take any type of action, you will move forward. Little by little bettering your circumstance in one way or another.

Seek inspiration—sometimes that only comes through a change of some kind.

Look to others: You can find blog posts, youtube videos, inspiring articles, etc. of people that are challenging themselves, seeking inspiration, finding ways to live higher, etc. Look at art, articles, books…anything that seems to inspire your heart and light you up in some way. Find the inspiration that catches your attention & follow it to find out something you desire or need.

Find the space you need: Going outside in nature can spark inspiration and calm your mind to find a space that you need. Water is also a good place to hold inspirational space. I seem to always get ideas in the shower. Just get quiet. Quiet invites inspiration.

Be spontaneous: When you step outside of your ordinary and spontaneously do something, you have new eyes and experiences. You see things from a newer perspective and inspiration comes freely.

Get creative: I recently just wanted to create art, so I bought some paints, stencils and just played. I felt my inner child come out and play. I found the inspiration I needed in playing with paint. It opens your eyes to other possibilities.

Seek within to what you are drawn to or need: Does a book title jump out at you or someone sends you a link to a podcast they think you would like. Be open to inspiration and find those things you may need on a deeper level.

Follow your feelings–How you FEEL is a huge indicator of the direction you need to go or the actions you need to take. My husband recently was dealing with a very serious issue with his boss. His boss was a horrible leader and treated people with a lack of respect and belittled and bullied. He was all about the power and fear. Everyone was afraid of him and to say anything to someone higher up. My husband was even afraid to say something for fear that he would get a target on his back. I felt and expressed to him, “If no one says anything, nothing will change.” For awhile my husband was okay with not saying anything, but then began to FEEL that he needed to say something because it was so bad & it was affecting so many good people. He knew he needed to be the voice for many, even if it put his job on the line. He spoke to a few of the right people and ultimately his boss was fired. My husband took a huge risk, but he felt like he needed to for the good of his people and the company as a whole. It was a huge lesson to many that you must follow your feelings, have a voice and be heard.

My personal lesson in this–My husband has only been in his current role for almost six months. I have struggled time and time again that he left his old position because of a health risk I was having. I felt a lot of guilt having him leave a position he loved. When this whole situation went down, I had a very strong FEELING that if my husband was not at this current company nothing would have changed because no one was strong enough to be the voice that needed to be heard. His boss (the bully) would have continued to strike fear into everyone and so many would have just suffered through. It was a confirmation that we were ultimately right where we needed to be.

Is there really any “Right” direction?–you will never know for sure in any decision if it is ultimately the “right” decision that leads to the right direction. But, remember nothing is perfect or permanent. Life is ever changing.

Go within and ask tough questions–With any direction you want to ask yourself questions for personal guidance. Whether you pray, take a walk and check in with yourself or journal to understand your feelings, take the time to go within and understand yourself and your needs.

Good questions to ask: “How do you feel?” “What are you not doing enough of & need in your life?” “What gives your life meaning?” “What lights you up & energizes you?”

“What drains your energy or makes you feel weighed down?”

Pursue growth—in any direction you take if you are seeking growth then you will find those things that challenge and push you to grow. Change is the key in anything you do. You don’t want to take a job if it does not challenge you in some way or helps you improve a skill or step into an improved situation. You want to be in relationships that help you stretch and do things that make you a better, happier and more fulfilled person. You want to improve in one way or another in everything you do. When you have a higher purpose in your directions, than ultimately your life will lead you to higher personal paths of growth.

I only hope these ideas inspire you to seek the guidance and direction you are in need of for your life. We are all experiencing our own journey.

-Peace and love on your path. xoxo

No Control

Published on February 19, 2019February 19, 2019 by goforthegood11 Comment

117-icy-road-car-safety-feature-wide We had a light dusting of snow last night at my house, but the underlying layer of ice sent cars slipping and sliding out of control. Some people took it upon them self to speed up to avoid cars that slid off the road, only to slide faster. Some people tried to control their car with slow motion & even then there were other obstacles. The biggest obstacle–the giant, salt truck with the snow plow. I am sure everyone saw him coming & felt a little relief that the roads would be better after he did his work. But that relief quickly turned to terror as this huge truck began to slide sideways & barely missed a crossover that was parked on the side of the road after sliding off. Then it was a further chain reaction of no control. Each car that came around the corner began to swerve and slide without control & no where to go but into the large truck.

I watched in great fear of more people coming & a larger pile up. The snow plow literally slid into my neighbors yard & I wondered how this huge truck was going to get down our little hill without taking out more vehicles, trees or possibly sliding into a house.

The police came, but all they could do is park their car at the bottom & try to walk (mostly sliding) up the road to help the situation.

All control was gone. It was just a bunch of people trying to better a bad situation. People were getting out of their cars to talk to the police & began sliding down the hill. At the bottom of the hill was a car pile up & officers trying to fix various situations. Still the large salt truck blocked the road. With everything going on, a large truck came flying around the corner without warning & going fast. Luckily the salt truck had a big enough gap between him and the road that this truck carelessly plowed through. Everyone watched in shock, but knowing that could have been an even worse outcome.

Everyone handles control differently. Some people think they can just plow through a tough situation without warning. While someone else may take things extremely slow with caution. Some people just go with the flow & hope for the best.

Sometimes in some situations, whether it is an icy road, a relationship that doesn’t go the way you desire, a boss you don’t agree with or something where you have no control, sometimes you just have to let go. You have to give up the control of what you want to happen, you have to allow a change, you may need to seek to learn a hard lesson…you have to let life happen and be okay with the outcome.

“Let life happen to you. Believe me: life is in the right, always.” -Rainer Maria Rilke

This crazy situation this morning once again helped me see how we can only do so much and may have to let go of any control we may think we hold.

Every car this morning left with the confidence they were in control & were quickly humbled as they slid out of control. In so many life situations we can try to create an outcome or take control, but in reality, Life is and will always be in the right—because God steers the course, takes the wheel, helps guide us to our best destination. It may not be the destination we want–a struggle, something hard, a lesson learned, a humbling moment, etc, but He just desires us to trust His direction, His bigger plan.

We just need to let go and just allow—to trust what will happen.

“When you surrender and release the illusion of control, you begin to free-fall toward your destiny of a grand reunion with your original-self; a self uncorrupted by the world’s false lessons of fear and control.”

— Bryant McGill

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Be safe. Feel good and know you are in good hands. Have faith in that. xoxo

Miracles do exist!

Published on September 28, 2018 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

In my previous post which was a little over a week ago I talked about taking each step in life & trying to have a higher perspective.

My little family got back from a vacation a little over 2 weeks ago. My husband had a horrible work situation come at him the day he got back. He was literally demoted (the company had never once talked to him about any negative work habits or issues), they took away his upcoming bonus (this next month) & the past couple of weeks was literally a meeting every other day for him to prove his worth, what he was doing & piling more work on him. He had NEVER been treated with such lack of disrespect in his entire career. He was completely blindsided.

A couple months before our vacation my husband and I decided to begin looking for another job because of how the company had handled some other employee situations. I have been sending out fifty plus resumes & applications to various companies. Nothing had surfaced. I just kept trying & even harder in the past couple of weeks, once his work turned on him & he was the new target. The past couple of weeks has been the HARDEST job situation in his life.

A little over a week ago my husband reached out to a few friends to see if they knew of any potential job opportunities. My little family has been praying and praying for a door to open. We were getting desperate. My husband’s light was dimming & every day he went to work was a fight and struggle.

I had him take a pebble in his pocket every day to rub and remind himself to take each day one day at a time. A sweet reminder to keep stepping forward over the obstacles.

A couple days passed & one of his friends called him & gave him a possible lead. It was an answer to prayer. That call led to a first interview & a few days later a second. There was a possible light. We were HOPING and PRAYING & saying we need to have HOPE and FAITH that this position would work out. The interview went well & then led to an in person meet and greet that was yesterday (Friday)!!

While all this was going on my husband’s current boss was still having him create schedules, maps, job details, newsletters, training…..(ironically, for a guy who was doing such a horrible job they sure wanted him to take on a whole bunch of important roles) & my husband was scheduled for another ‘hot seat’ meeting with the boss to discuss more details and responsibilities at noon (yesterday).

My little families prayers became even more frequent in the last couple of days. We were hoping for a miracle–that he would meet this potential boss in person, it would go great, they would offer him the job & then he could walk into his current job & give notice. [Which was a pretty BIG ask of God. My husband has had previous job opportunities at high level leadership & it usually takes months for interviews & high-level meet&greets]. We knew it was a very far out prayer request & the likely hood was slim, but we prayed any way. We sent a note out to our family to pray & my husband went to his interview.

My husband met his potential boss & right up front the gentleman said, “Jon, I had a couple VP’s in town, but they had to leave for a conference out of state & would not be able to meet you, which would probably delay things.” My husband immediately knew there would most likely not be an offer. They walked and talked business for a couple hours & then the gentleman said, “Jon, how are you feeling about things? What do you think?” My husband boldly said, “I am excited. I am ready to start today!” with enthusiasm, then my husband followed-up with, “But I know you probably need to talk to the powers that be and make a final decision.” The gentleman quickly responded, “No, I am a decision maker & I feel good about this direction. Let’s do it!” They shook hands & my husband was offered the job. He went to his current job & gave his notice.

My husband called me elated! He had a huge weight lifted from him & relief filled his soul. Literally two days before, my husband was depressed, heavy-hearted & would not even come home after work because he felt his energy and spirit were so dark & did not want to burden his family. I was genuinely worried for him. I knew we needed a miracle to pull him out of the dark pit he was mentally in. I prayed, my daughter prayed, We all prayed and we can truly say…miracles do exist!!

If you or anyone you care about is struggling with any portion of their life, look up to the sky, the stars, walk through the forest and share a heart-felt prayer. God is listening.

We needed this door to open and it was so perfectly timed.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

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Step by Step

Published on September 17, 2018 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

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For years my sweet family enjoys going places and finding rocks and pebbles we can tumble and treasure. We have big vases full of rocks we have published from oceans we have walked, rivers we have crossed, many places we have been.

We just got back from a trip in the caribbean and while I was there I picked up a simple bracelet that has a bunch of beads that look like a cobblestone path. I looked at it and thought, “this will remind me to take things in life one step at a time.”

As we returned home, my husband went back to work & was greeted by a very hostile situation that made him wonder if he would still have a job. I looked at the bracelet and thought, “We just need to take this one step at a time.”

No matter what obstacles come before us, all we can do is breathe and have faith that it will be a step in a better direction.

Another beautiful metaphor about pebbles is our influence on others.

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I love the sweet, simple reminders that we can find in nature. There are so many reminders of life’s great lessons.

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My husband is going to go back into his work situation and face another challenging week. I gave him a pebble to carry in his pocket to remember that each step is either an obstacle or a stepping stone and that a simple gesture can create a lasting ripple.

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May we all take on the faith we need to take our challenges and make them a stepping stone for our lives.

Peace to you. -H

No Coincidences.

Published on May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

da929b61eae52f230f44395585967eee I had a lost cat camping out on my porch for over a month. I wasn’t sure who it belonged to, so I posted ads looking for the owner, asked around my neighborhood, but no luck. Finally, after having this cat rub up against me, begging for attention, I knew I had to find it a good home. I am allergic & could barely touch it. I felt bad, but knew someone could give it the love it needed.

Then L walked into my life. She was just out of foster care, just turned 18 and was finally trying to make a life of her own. She responded to my ad for the lost cat & wanted to give it a good home. L has lots of love to give, so I thought the two would be a great match. Off they went together. At that point, I had no idea what a gift we would be for one another.

L kept reaching out & sending me pics. First she sent me one of her, the cat and a little old lady she helps take care of. L told me that she was trying to get her CNA and was currently helping elderly people at a facility & many of them missed their pets. L was going to use the cat to help the elderly. I LOVED that idea & when I saw the pic, my heart melted. L was doing good things and so was the kitty.

L and I have been corresponding back and forth via text for weeks now. Her story is one of abuse, heart ache, adoption, cruelty, self harm, detention and finally foster care. That last year helped turn her life around by taking her out of a dysfunctional place and giving her hope.

In our conversations I have seen her hope, her big heart, her love of animals and her good will to help people. I also saw her need for connection, her feelings of being alone with no family, her yearning to be loved. So, I invited her over for dinner.

She came over last night & brought her boyfriend. I was honestly not sure what to expect or if it would be awkward. It was a gift to all of us. Both of these young kids, coming from the same small town & having no relationships with their family because of past lives. We all sat around the dinner table talking, sharing stories, connecting and enjoying our differences. They needed love and connection—who doesn’t!! We went on a walk down our forested path, we talked about nature, animals, silly things that made us laugh. L and I heard how similar we are–our love for nature and animals, how we can be misunderstood for our sensitivity, our big hearts, our love for living things (even spiders). We now know we are true kindred spirits. I think we will always be connected in some way. I told L, “I believe there are no coincidences. Kitty brought us together for some reason.” We both just smiled at one another and knew it was true. Getting to know this young girl helped me to once again see how important it is to be in tune to what others may need. We are a gift to one another.

WE ARE A GIFT TO ONE ANOTHER. Is a story, an experience that continues to be told through each one of us. Look at those around you and don’t judge. Just open your hearts and hands to help give them help, understanding, love, kindness, part of yourself.

It is a gift to each and every one of us, if we reach out and grab hold of someone who may need us.

Have a beautiful day. Smile at a stranger. Talk to someone who may look different than you. Listen to a story. Share a moment. You will be better for it. I promise.

Peace to you today. -H

Brilliant! Strive to do more.

Published on March 14, 2018 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I am always amazed at the fight and fortitude of my sweet daughter. She is currently in the 9th grade and has strived for 100’s her whole life. This was the first year (the year things begin to count for high school) that she was told by a few of her teachers, “You don’t have to get 100, you can still get an A even if it is above 93.”

My daughter is determined. Someone her age told her last year that getting 100 all the time was impossible, so I think that is a little spark that continues to inspire her. She keeps giving and doing and not giving up. She want’s 100. She goes over and beyond and her will to do her best is inspiring to me.

If we all could find that glimmer, that spark to go a little farther, to work a little harder and live to our potential, that would be a gift to us all.

I tell her to find a balance. That she does NOT have to get 100, but there is something inside her that wants to do her best despite everything or anyone else’s opinion. She says, “It’s my will, not pressure. I know I only have to get 93, but there is something in me that wants to go further.”

There is a world full of people, but I do believe there are select few who truly live up to their purpose, their potential. I admire that & will not be the one to stop her from striving to do her best.

HOW COULD WE ALL STRIVE TO GO A LITTLE FURTHER??

I am going to look at SOME of histories greats and see if I can find some good tips, to do lists, success lessons that we can all learn from.

LESSONS from OPRAH

A book that changed her life, “Seat of the Soul” by Gary Zukav.

“In it, [Zukav] talks about how every action is followed by a reaction, which we all know is the third law of motion in physics,” explains Winfrey. “But he also said, before there’s even a thought or an action, there is an intention.

“Something struck me about that,” says Winfrey. “That an intention precedes every thought and every action, and the outcome of your experiences is determined by the intention.”

“THIS PRINCIPLE OF INTENTION IS LITERALLY WHAT SAVED AND CHANGED THE TRAJECTORY OF MY LIVING.”-Oprah Winfrey, media mogul https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/15/the-one-book-that-changed-oprah-winfreys-life-and-business.html

Lessons for Success:

How do you find your own flow? Here are the four things you need to know to make the right decisions and be successful in work and life, according to Winfrey.

“EVERY DECISION I’VE EVER MADE THAT LED ME TO THE RIGHT SPACE AND PLACE IN MY LIFE, I GOT THERE BECAUSE I RELIED ON THAT INNER VOICE.”

1. What is your inner voice telling you?

“Everybody has what I call this instinct, this inner voice,” says Winfrey at Skidmore. “Every decision I’ve ever made that led me to the right space and place in my life, I got there because I relied on that inner voice.”

2. What is your intention?

3. What are you grateful for?

“I practice being grateful,” says Winfrey, and she knows what you’re thinking. “And a lot of people say, ‘Oh Oprah, that’s easy for you ’cause you got everything!'”

No, says Winfrey: “I got everything because I practiced being grateful.”

4. What is your truth?

In 1998, Winfrey was sued for defamation by a group of cattle ranchers to the tune of $10.3 million for “saying something bad about a burger.” (Google it, she says.)

“Everybody goes through trials — I just happened to be in an actual trial,” says Winfrey. “There’s going to be a trial in your life,” she tells the Skidmore graduates. “It may be disease, it may be jobs, it may be any number of crises that stand outside yourself to try to tell you who you are.

“And it is your job to know the truth” of who you are, says Winfrey. “And let that truth set you free.” https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/23/oprah-winfrey-these-are-the-4-things-you-need-to-know-for-success.html

LESSONS from LEONARDO DA VINCI:

He was a painter, architect, inventor, and student of all things scientific. He is best known for his art, including the famous, Mona Lisa painting.

He would carry around a notebook where he would write down anything that “moved him.” Buried in one of these books, dating back to around the 1490’s, is a to-do list. Check this out. Here is a sampling: Calculate the measurement of Milan and Suburbs, Get the master of arithmetic to show you how to square a triangle, Examine the Crossbow of Mastro Giannetto, Find a master of hydraulics and get him to tell you how to repair a lock, canal and mill in the Lombard manner, Ask about the measurement of the sun promised me by Maestro Giovanni Francese…(that is not everything) You can just feel Da Vinci’s voracious curiosity and intellectual restlessness. Note how many of the entries are about getting an expert to teach him something, be it mathematics, physics or astronomy. Also who casually lists “draw Milan” as an ambition?
http://www.openculture.com/2014/12/leonardo-da-vincis-to-do-list-circa-1490-is-much-cooler-than-yours.html

LESSONS from STEPHEN HAWKING:

Stephen Hawking , he is considered one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein. He authored a brief history of time, an international best seller, From 1979 to 2009 he was the Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, a position held by Isaac Newton in 1663. Professor Hawking has over a dozen honorary degrees.

Some of his quotes to live by…

Advice he shared with his children: “Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.”- Stephen Hawking

Don’t give up: “The victim should have the right to end his life, if he wants. But I think it would be a great mistake. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there’s life, there is hope.”

Nothing is perfect: “One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect, Perfection simply doesn’t exist…without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist.”

Matter of attitude: “People won’t have time for you if you are always angry or complaining.”

Matter of purpose: “Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.”

Matter of perspective: “When one’s expectations are reduced to zero, one really appreciates everything one does have.”

LESSONS from RICHARD BRANSON:

Here is some actual information from some of Richard Branson’s To Do Lists. Branson emphasizes his “love of writing lists” and how it started from a young age. “Lists not only provide great structure for getting things done, but they also help us to set goals and achieve our dreams,” Branson wrote. Way back on a list from 1972 he listed, “Learn to fly, open more Virgin Record Stores, clean up…”

Fast forward 45 years and take a look at where Branson is today. He has a net worth of about $5 billion and is the founder of an organization that houses more than 450 companies. It’s safe to say Branson is doing more than OK. In part, he thanks to-do lists for this.

HIS SUCCESS TIPS:

1. Follow your dreams

You’ll never be successful if you don’t love what you do and wake up every morning excited. “Those people who spend their time working on things they love are usually the ones enjoying life the most,” Branson says. “They are also the ones who dared to take a risk and chase their dreams.”

2. Do some good

According to Branson, “if you aren’t making a positive difference to other people’s lives, then you shouldn’t be in business.” This goes not only for individuals, but companies as a whole, Branson says.

3. Believe in your ideas

If you aren’t advocating for yourself, you’re not giving anyone else a reason to. As Branson says, “If you aren’t proud of your idea and believe in your plans, why should anybody else?”

4. Have fun

Though often underrated, Branson calls fun one of the most important ingredients in any successful business. “If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to try something else,” he writes.

The concept of having fun has driven some of Branson’s most successful businesses, especially when he was first starting out. When he went to the CEOs of Virgin Music with the idea of using a third of the company’s profits to start an airline because he believed it would be “fun,” they weren’t entirely on board, Business Insider reports. But Branson persisted and Virgin Atlantic, one of the company’s most well-known properties, was born.

5. Don’t give up

“On every adventure I have been on — whether setting up a business, flying around the world in a balloon or racing across the ocean in a boat — there have been moments when the easy thing to do would be to give up,” Branson writes. But, by sticking things through, he’s propelled himself to immense success, both personal and professional.

Branson’s onto something with this tip. Psychologist and MacArthur “Genius” fellow Angela Duckworth spent years researching achievement, and found that talent by itself is only one factor. Success also requires determined effort, and lots of it.

“Without effort, your talent is nothing more than your unmet potential,” Duckworth writes in her book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.”

6. Keep setting new challenges

“If you don’t write down your ideas, they could be gone by the morning,” Branson says. He solves this problem himself by making lists of every kind, from ideas for companies to upcoming plans.

“Write down every single idea you have, no matter how big or small,” he wrote in a blog post. And then challenge yourself to follow through. You never know what’s going to hit.

7. Learn to delegate

Learning that you don’t have to do everything yourself is a difficult skill for many entrepreneurs, but it’s worth it. “If you find people who can take on tasks you aren’t good at, it frees you up to plan for the future,” Branson writes.

8. Look after your team

Your personal success matters, but so does the success of your team. Branson points out the importance of fostering a welcoming, safe and innovative work environment: “If your staff are having fun and genuinely care about other people, they will enjoy their work more and do a better job.”

It’s also crucial to hire the right people. “Find people who look for the best in others, praise rather than criticise, and love what they do,” Branson writes.

9. Get out there

Success — and adventure — isn’t going to come to you. You’ve got to go find it. “Rather than sitting in front of a screen all your life, switch off the TV or the computer and go out into the world,” Branson says.

10. When people say bad things about you, prove them wrong

To thrive, you must be prepared for critics and copycats.

“Some people will react to success by trying to hang onto your coat tails,” Branson warns. “The best thing you can do is to not only ignore them, but to prove them wrong in every single way.”

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/21/billionaire-richard-bransons-top-tips-for-success.html

LESSONS from someone who wrote THE MOTIVATION MANIFESTO:

Brendon Burchard survived a horrible car crash & had what seems like a life awakening. He began asking people three questions: DID WE LIVE? DID WE LOVE FULLY? DID WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE and DID WE MATTER? That is all I have to say about that.

After diving into SOME of these greats I have realized how there are SO many more out there, so I may have to do additional blog posts on other people who have overcame, lived with purpose, went beyond and found their own kind of brilliance!! It is so motivating and fun to read life lessons, quotes and inspiration from so many incredible people.

We can all strive to do more with our lives. Love it!!

Peace and love to you today!! -H

A lesson from being totally numb!

Published on March 27, 2017 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I recently have been going to the dentist to take care of some periodontal issues. The serious nature has had me getting intensely drugged and numbed. I left the dentist office two different times looking like I had a stroke (mouth droopy) and my entire mouth numb and left without feeling. Talk about humbling. I could not feel my lips or tell if I was sucking a straw. It was terrible. I felt like Tim Allen…see below..hahaha

Now, seriously. It was humbling and my heart ached for people who suffer from health issues. It made me think of my friend who was pregnant and had a stroke during her pregnancy. She lost mobility and memory. She struggled to find a reason for what had happened to her. She came to the realization that if it was for her child, she could struggle through & then she was thrown into the fire of losing that child. She wondered why. She began to question everything. She fell into a depression. She had not only lost physical mobility, she was now struggling with emotional mobility. She had other children she needed to take care of, so she had to go deep into her emotional reserve and find a place where she could begin to build again.

Today. I hope that many of you out there who do not struggle physically or emotionally will count the many gifts that you take for granted. I know walking out of that dentist office numb made me aware of the many gifts I take for granted. Think about it…A FEW things to get you thinking about the many gifts you are given…

Do you have healthy children? If you need a little more realization on this go watchthe movie, “Miracles from Heaven.” My husband and I balled watching what that family had to go through and endure. It is based on a true story. Just imagine having a sick child & how difficult that would be. Go hug your children and thank the heavens that they are healthy and happy.

Two gifts you opened this morning–your eyes: You have the gift to see. There are many people who don’t take the time to look at the details, to notice the small gifts all around them. Read something. Go outside and look at the symmetry of leaves. Watch the clouds. Enjoy a sunrise or sunset. Notice color.

Do you have abundance? Whether it is fruit available for picking, a grocery store full of a variety of goods, running water, energy, family near, somewhere to live…My sister-in-law just moved to California. They had a house lined up to move into when they arrived, but the day they were to move in, the funding fell through. Luckily they had a trailer to live in while they are trying to work things out. My sister-in-law laughed as she explained their situation, “and I wanted to sell the trailer!” My response, “I bet you are glad you have it right now.” They are living in a trailer, but are abundant with love. They took a day as a family and made it a memory in Disneyland. She joked that they are homeless, but they are in Disneyland and enjoying it. Every situation is different, but if you can find the abundance wherever you are, you will find the gift within the situation.

Do you have love? We all come from love, but sometimes that gets lost in the confusion of life. You may be surrounded by friends and family who love you or you may have a best pet friend or maybe you are constantly searching for love. Do you love yourself? Love can be found in service, caring for another, holding the hand of someone afflicted, listening to someone in need…LOVE is everywhere, it is a gift that may be freely given or you may need to seek and find it. Love is in our nature.

Do you have a healthy body? Many of us take for granted and sometimes abuse the incredible gift we have been given–our body. It is an amazing piece of systematic genius. How are bodies function is a miracle & we do not have to do anything. It runs beautifully. Sometimes it is put on us to take better care of this amazing gift and we need to take it seriously. When we begin to break down, life becomes more difficult. We need to seek out good healthy habits. We need to find exercises we love. We need to sleep, drink water and do good things. Do you appreciate the ability to touch, to hear, to breathe, to taste yummy foods, etc. We need to be grateful for the health and happiness we have.

Do you appreciate being able to learn and grow? We have a great ability to learn anything with the help of the internet, youtube, connecting with others, etc. It is amazing!! We are only limited by what we do NOT do. Learn something new & guaranteed you will find a new zest for your life. You will begin to strive to seek out new things more often to enhance your life. You will learn and want to share with others around you. It is contagious! When we don’t seek out new things, we become stagnate and don’t grow. Take the time. It is worth it. Seek to learn something new each day, even if it is something small. You will fill it boost your day. I promise!

Do you have balance? Mind. Body. Spirit. All come together as a whole.

Well, this is a small list, but a good start. Create your own list of things you are grateful for and begin to to truly live, love and see the things that make your life incredible.

Peace and love to you. -H

Life Lessons

Published on May 25, 2016 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

I have been driving my daughter and her two friends to school each morning and found it to be a great time to share some daily life lessons. These girls are thirteen, at a pivotal age where everything and everyone around them is defining who they are becoming, who they are listening to and who they will follow. I figured this was a perfect opportunity to share with them good things every morning to start their day.

SAY SOMETHING NICE

I gave each girl a little box full of confetti, paper butterflies and a handwritten note that said, “You are BEAUTIFUL. Be Bright. Be Brilliant. Be You” and then I played them the following video & told them to say something nice to other kids at their school. Fun!

WHAT TRULY MATTERS IN LIFE (Author Unknown)

Some people understand life better. And they call some of these people “retarded”…

At the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry.

They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and went back every one of them. One girl with Down’s Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said,”This will make it better.”

Then all nine linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the stadium stood, the cheering went on for several minutes.

People who were there are still telling the story… Why?

Because deep down we know this one thing: What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.

Life Lesson: I knew this story would touch my daughter’s heart especially because she helps the special needs kids at her school. The lesson–What truly matters is helping others in any situation.

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM:

Follow Your Dream by: Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul

I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.

The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my house. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses. As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.

“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200- acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track. Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.

“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, ‘See me after class.’

“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, ‘Why did I receive an F?’

“The teacher said, ‘This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land. You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, ‘If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’

“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, ‘Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’

“Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all. He stated, ‘You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.’”

Monty then turned to the assembled group and said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting in my 4,000- square-foot house in the middle of my 200-acre horse ranch. I still have that school paper framed over the fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago that same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my ranch for a week.” When the teacher was leaving, he said, ‘Look, Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream stealer. During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough gumption not to give up on yours.’”

Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.

Life Lesson: I shared with them a personal story… I had a period of my life where I was creating huge, bright watercolor paintings. I had even reached out to a world renowned artist and asked her for her opinion regarding my style. She gave me some great compliments, she said I had a very unique style that could not be learned in school. It was my own style & to keep paining. I did paint until my father made the comment, “if no one in your family wants to buy one of your paintings than who will.” It broke my heart & it broke my desire to paint. I did not paint again. I shared with the girls that you cannot let any one take away your passion for something, to steal your dreams. Not even someone, especially not someone so close to you. Guard your dreams, protect your desires of the heart.

Have a beautiful day. -H

Life Lessons

Published on May 12, 2016May 12, 2016 by goforthegood1Leave a comment

The following are daily “life lessons” I have been sharing with my daughter & her friends on the way to school. It’s a great way to begin the day. Enjoy!!

THE RACE: Talked about the Jesse Owens story: The film, ‘The Race’ has been out for awhile, but it is a great story of determination, living by your own morals, finding your purpose & letting it guide your life. Jesse came from nothing, but was a hero to many because of the segregated world he lived in, but was able to over come through his skill and drive through sport. A couple of the life lessons: there is always good if you take the time to look for it. His coach did not care about race, he cared about pushing yourself to your best. In the Olympics Jesse became good friends with one of Germany’s best athletes, Luz Long & the two prevailed against the discriminations of the world by embracing one another & walking the track arm in arm as true brothers. “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend my in front of Hitler,” Owens said. “You can melt down all the medals and cups I have and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace. The sad part of the story is I never saw Long again. He was killed in World War II.” [Hitler had him sent to the front line]

SAY THANK YOU: Be grateful for your parents & tell them Thank you for all they do to take care of you. I think everyone takes things for granted, but when you are a teen it is especially easy to take for granted one of the greatest gifts–parents. One of the girls in our car has a mom who works at 3am in a donut shop and then does hair, while raising 4 kids. The other girl is one of six kids whose mom just had two babies under the age of 1.5. These moms world are a whirl-wind of directions, so a simple Thank you means a lot.

We all have people in our own lives we take for granted, so it is a good reminder to say THANK YOU for those we love and all they do each day for us.

IT’S A MATTER OF ATTITUDE by: Unknown

Read this, and let it really sink in… Then, choose how you start your day tomorrow…

Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say.

When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!” He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant.

The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.

I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested. “Yes, it is,” Jerry said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life.”

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gun point by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him.

Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Jerry continued, “…the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action.” “ What did you do?” I asked. “Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’”

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.