This past weekend I had my sister over and we were brainstorming around some craft projects that she is doing in her own "Giving Back" life of community service. My sister has been doing this community service for more than 25 years continuously. Think about that. Where have you plugged into your community and continued for several months or one year?
"Service" or as I am calling it "Giving Back" starts from the time you can be totted in a carrier to when you get to High School, College, move out, get married, start your own family and it fills a deep spot inside of you. It all boils down to are you a "taker" or are you a "giver"?
If you were an Army solider serving your family and country in a far away land where nothing is familiar would you want to receive a letter, a card of cheer, a package of something from home? When you come home wouldn't it be nice to get a gift bag full of things you might need for the first days your are back until you get settled?
What if you or one of your parents were in the hospital; wouldn't it be nice to receive a hand made throw, blanket, or footies to keep you warm and give some comfort to you during your stay?
How about all of those women to flee an abusive relationship and come to a "Safe House" with their children during the dark of night; would you like to give them something to give them comfort and peace of mind?
You see if you were in one of these situation you would want to be remembered and cared for to know that you matter to someone. That person who cares for others is YOU, it is ME, it is my Sister!
What do you believe about "Giving Back"?
Where did this belief come from?
How are you acting on it today?
It is very easy to pick up one or two items that someone is in need of when you are out shopping for those you love and care for; I encourage you to step up and do just one more thing that will add great joy to your life.
I know all the excuses, and I don't have time and I don't have money are not going to cut it here. I have personally seen others give from literally nothing to lift up and support others with their words of encouragement, expertise, and knowledge.
What will you do?
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Let's begin today by defining what I mean by the term: Growth Opportunities. A growth opportunity is a moment in life when a unique learning moment comes into your life and you have moment to decide to accept it or to reject it. There is really no answer labeled "later". You either are in a place that you can walk through the door of opportunity or your are not in a place to walk through the door.
Growth Opportunities offer a unique learning and growing space for the person who is always available to cease the moment when it presents itself. These opportunities do not for the most part cost money, they require us to recognize them and see them for what they are. Everyday I coach clients who come to me with challenges. These are challenges at all, they are tremendous growth opportunities dressed in the client's perception that they are a reason to become afraid and see them as obstacles in their lives.
Do you see the unique perspective that takes place here?
So our questions are the same here as with our other areas of life.
What do you believe about Growth Opportunities?
Now these opportunities come in three very distinct ways and you will need to ask the question in each segment.
What do I believe in my professional growth opportunities?
What do I believe in my personal growth opportunities?
What do I believe in my spiritual growth opportunities?
I would be willing to bet, that you have NEVER thought to ask yourself these questions in this manner before. What you will find is that this type of deep inner work really challenges who you are at your core and what you believe about yourself, not just the opportunity.
Now for the others; remember you need to ask each in light of each of the three distinct areas.
Why do I believe that about my professional growth opportunities? ….my personal…..my spiritual…..?
Where did I get this belief about my professional growth opportunities?….my personal….my spiritual….?
Does my belief still serve me in this season of my life?
Everyday in my professional life, in my personal life and in my spiritual life, I watch in utter amazement and in sadness at those people who are complaining and really hungry for success and forward movement, trash, throw away, ignore and literally are BLIND to the opportunities that are literally handed to them and they do not recognize them.
What about you?
What opportunities did you not see today?
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It used to be that when January 1st came along so did the barrage of advertisements and TV specials and books about weight loss and getting healthy invaded our visual and auditory space. We also received lots statistics about how long it takes to break a habit and keep a new one. The grocery shelves were lined with new products claiming to the "magic food" to lose weight, get healthy etc. In case you have been living under a rock, none of this is working. If it were working then we'd be the fittest nation in the world instead of being the unhealthiest and the most obese.
So we are back to these questions again to create the inner work that we all need in order to come to terms with our lives in this moment, right here today.
What is it that you actually believe about your own Wellness, your own Health, your own Aging process?
Why do you believe what you do about these three key essentials to living?
Where did you get this belief?
Does this belief still serve you today in this moment in your life?
Here's what I know from my private life and my professional life: We look in the mirror and are disgusted with what we see reflected back at us and in that same moment we are powerless to act, because we have a deeper issue which is at work. That deeper issue is our own sense of self worth. I feel the push back you are sending through the computer right now and that is okay. I know because I do it every day. None of us is immune to this.
We have become bombarded with too much information which is skewed in order to; make a profit, sell a product, a point of view, anothers opinion, to set an agenda, to be politically correct, to get higher ratings, to raise awareness, to create buzz and an million other reasons that we do not have room to list here. We are told one thing this year and some scientific study will refute those findings next year. We are looking outside ourselves for the "quick fix".
The truth is we didn't get to this state over night. It was small moves, and sometimes big late night binges fueled by a roller coaster of emotional turmoil inside of us. We've all been there. We are where we are one fork and spoonful at a time. We are always looking for a quick fix to what ails us.
I believe that the "CONVENIENCE" that seems to be the goal of our society and nation is killing us. We want it quick. We want it now. We want more of it. We want our "perceived" monies worth. We want it the way we want it and by golly we deserve it because we are all short on time, money and ……… this reasons could fill the Mississippi river.
Listen to what I am saying. Our hunger for more and now has been realized in the instantaneous and we are literally killing ourselves and willingly going down the path with a smile on our face to the slaughter.
Tough, you bet!
What will cause you to set aside that which no longer serves your life, your health, your emotions, and your relationships?
What do you believe about your own Health/Wellness & Aging?
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