What do you do when life gets tough?

OMG.....this is a question for everyone, is it not?  Everyone I know in my life, is experiencing challenge of some kind; health-wise, financially, in relationships....the list goes on and on.

So what do we do?

The one thing I know deep down in more core, is that God is always in control.  That doesn't mean that I have completely "let go or" "surrendered" to his will, if you will, however it is a work in progess...for all of us!

So 1st off, He is in control!  The control we have the pleasure of working with is our decisions and choices.

What decisions and choices do I have today, that will affect my "space" tomorrow.  How will I make those choices and/or decisions, and which will provide the best outcome?

So for the 1st part of answering the question of what to do when life is "tough," let's focus on decision making, and being VERY decisive!

This is where faith and intuition can play an important part in this process.

Of course, pray! Ask for God to open up the opportunities or to help show some type of sign in whatever decision you are making. Be open to the "sign" not looking the way it should. Maybe the answer comes across to you on a bill board while you are driving, or you "over-hear" a conversation with the insight you requested, etc...

Here is a simple exercise that you can apply yourself, to help with your decision making, today.

Take a coin, any coin and determine which side, either heads or tails, will be the "yes" side and which one is the "no" side.

I decided (quickly!) that the head side is YES, and TAIL side was NO.

Here we go....

Step 1 - pose the question to yourself (out loud), of anything you have been procrastinating on deciding.
Step 2 - flip the coin for the answer whether YES you should, or NO you shouldn't.
Step 3 - how did you feel?
Step 4 - the feelings you experience on "your inside," around what the coin "said to do," is your intuition!

THE COIN DID NOT DECIDE FOR YOU!  The coin helps to make you aware, of your feelings that surface around the decison (of the coin, for you), and helps bring out your intuition.

Quick example and this will conclude the thought for the day...

A decision in front of me is this:
I have a very close friend that I consider family, for many years.  Recently, there were situations that have me questioning loyalty, trust, maturity, etc.... 

The question:  Do I sit down and talk with this person so they can understand "where I am at," or do I just leave the relationship?  That is really 2 questions.....but let's focus on the 1st part.

Step 1 - (I ask the question outloud) "Do I talk out my concerns around the relationship with _________ ?"
Step 2 - Flip my coin

It landed on heads (YES).  What did I feel?  I felt peace....for me, my intuition is telling me that is the right answer.  So I flipped the coin again and this time it was tails (NO), and I felt that "rumble in my tummy" - that something just did not feel right....that "NO" (from the coin), was probably not the best decision for me, based on my "gut-feeling."

We can go into so much more detail....

When life gets tough, here are some questions to ponder:

*How well am I making my decisions? 
*Am I being decisive (or procrastanating)?
*Am I asking for support (not just complaining/venting)?
*Am I seeing the possibility of how it could work out, and open to answers not looking a certain way?
*Am I "rolling-with," or against my intuition?

Until next time...BE BLESSED!

What does it take to be a leader?

To be a leader means to set the example or to set the standard for others to follow.  It also means "being" what we preach to others and ourselves.  Following through, remaining committed and operating out of integrity.

Qualities of a Leader: trustworthy, honest, courageous, open to change, determined, dependable, loyalty, and many, many more...

It also means to help others realize and accept their greatness. 

"Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better." -Unknown

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a great example.  He trusted his heart and intuition and made the commitment to teaching change. Regardless of the consequences, his desire was always to do the right thing. 

The best example of course was Jesus! And, with what he did with simple men, and created Disciples from them, should show us that all men and women are capable of change and becoming leaders themselves!

How will you lead today?  Will it be sharing with others?  Will it be setting the example yourself?

Here is to "creating a world that works for everyone, with no one left behind!"

Goal Setting

Setting and achieving great goals requires great planning.  A planned method is required that will be followed with commitment and accountability.

Try using this format to set S.M.A.R.T. goals, which was taught to me while attending "Samurai Camp" with Klemmer & Associates (http://www.klemmer.com/):

S. Specific
M. Measurable
A. Accountability
R. Risky
T. Timed

First, make the goal specific.  Be very clear on what the "end result" looks like.  Next, how will you measure your progress from start to completion?  Decide on time lines, and if you find yourself outside a set time line, set new time lines and make new commitments to achieve your next steps.

Is your goal is attainable and how will you be accountable?  Is it realistic?  Have others achieved a "like-kind" goal in the past?  Can you mimic "steps/plans" from others?  Is specialized knowledge required? Who or how, will you hold yourself accountable?

Make it Risky!  Stretch outside your comfort zone but keep in mind the goal will be more rewarding as you complete each part that you commit to. So set steps that are risky but attainable. If it is uncomfortable, you are there! 

Timed!  Make sure you have a deadline.  Your completion date is important and a commitment to your intention.

Keep in mind, we are not "our results," yet results are the measure of our intentions.  However, rather than ever questioning our own intentions throughout the process, could we question the method we used and if it was as effective as we liked it to be?  We all have great intentions, and it may require ourselves to being open to new ideas, methods, support, action steps, etc...

"When the intention is clear, the mechanism will appear."

Intention + Mechanism = Result


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