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Luck

March 20, 2013
4 Leaf Clovers

Photo Courtesy of Christoph Rupprecht

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Seneca

Saint Patrick’s Day was this past weekend when we celebrated the luck of the Irish.  But what about the luck in your life?

We all create our own luck.  If there is something you want to accomplish then go set the goals and do the work necessary so you can succeed.  If you have never done this then set a small goal and see how it feels to actually complete what you set out to do.  Complete a few short term, two week or less, goals and soon you will be doing 5 year goals.

Create Luck!

Filed Under: Goal Setting, Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , ,

Inspiration In Front of Adversity

March 13, 2013

Kristian AndersonRecently I ran across a YouTube video that had a young man, Kristian Anderson, doing a video for his wife’s surprise birthday party.  It was an emotional video by itself.  Mention the fact that Kristian had terminal cancer when he filmed it and it takes on a whole new level.

After the video I picked up a copy of his book (see the review here) about his journey.  His willingness to share about the condition and what he was going through was inspirational and can give hope to many others in similar situations.

In the book Kristian talks about going to the pharmacy and standing in line where a woman recognized him because he was on “Oprah” some time before.  Let me put in his own words:

“I arrived at the pharmacy and as I am standing in line a young woman approached me and, with an accent, proceeded to very timidly ask if I was “from Oprah”. I told her that I was and she smiled an enormous smile. She told me she had multiple sclerosis and that for a long time she had been battling serious depression. She told me that after seeing our story on the Oprah show she was so deeply moved and encouraged… and her depression left her. She then thanked me for my courage and for helping her… told me that without me she would still be suffering depression.” (link)

Kristian was battling cancer which is a horrid disease yet there was some light that he was able to shed for other people.  If we can spread inspiration in front of adversity then why can’t we do it when times are good?

Some time in the next seven days find a way to spread some light into someone’s life who is having a rough time.  Take them dinner, talk to them, or give them an inspiring book – just do something to shed some light.

Filed Under: Motivational, People Tagged With: , , , , ,

Book Review: Days Like These by Kristian and Rachel Anderson

March 11, 2013

Days Like These book cover“Days Like These: Even in the Darkest Moments, Light Can Shine Through” is a book of collected blog postings by Kristian Anderson and includes insights and information from his wife Rachel.

The book chronicles the journey of a young husband and father who goes to the hospital only to discover that he has liver cancer.  Kristian tells us what he is going through, good and bad, and his struggles with the fact that he could leave his family.

It is a very quick and easy read.  Kristian’s writing makes you feel like he is telling you the story (essentially he is).  If you have had cancer or been side by side with someone who has fought the fight you will see a lot of similarities in this book; things I am sure that you saw or fought with.  It is a first hand account and he doesn’t seem to hold anything back.  I find his truthfulness refreshing as he us up front about various aspects of his life.

My only criticism with the book is that the dates are missing in most of the text.  Since this was a printed version of his blog I would like to have followed everything by date to give me a better sense of where I was in the journey.  While it is possible to do so it is left up to the reader to figure it out with a sprinkling of dates throughout the text.

I enjoyed the book and I think it should be read by anyone who is starting their battle with cancer to see that there can be some positivity in a horrible situation.  Those who need some inspiration can certainly get it from Kristian Anderson.

If you would like to get other peoples point of view or purchase the book you can do so on Amazon.

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*

Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Meditation

March 6, 2013
Meditation

Photo Courtesy of Richard Masoner

This post isn’t meant to be detailed.  Only to tell you that I think meditation is one of the greatest benefits you can do for yourself.  It doesn’t cost anything and you can do it anywhere.  When you are feeling mad or upset you can set yourself away from everyone for 5 minutes and do a short meditation to help calm down and refocus which helps to reduce stress and takes you away from a situation before you say or do something you didn’t intend to.

Meditation is a practice that helps you look within yourself.  There are various forms of meditation from helping you reflect on your day to focusing your mind.  No matter, my purpose of meditation is to calm and ground myself.

Meditation has been shown to ease health problems such as high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety (source).  It can help you focus and problem solve by sitting and concentrating while removing all outside distractions for a short period of time.

Out of the various forms, Transcendental Meditation is considered the most practiced.  You can find out more about TM here.

Starting March 11, you can also sign up to do a 21-day meditation challenge.  Try this out and see if meditation has anything to offer you.  You can find out more here.

Filed Under: Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , ,

Self Education

February 27, 2013

self educationCollege isn’t for everyone.  I think it is obvious but we are still being encouraged to go to a traditional college after high school.  While I highly believe in education I think there are other ways of getting it.  20 years ago a traditional school may have been your best option, however, there is such easy access to material that self education can give you more knowledge than going to college.

If you want to go to college for the experience then go for it.  If you want to go because it is necessary for the path you want to live in life then go for it.  If you are going “because I’m suppose to” then do yourself a favor and take local classes and read books in the field that interests you.

Walt Disney didn’t go past his freshman year in high school but continued to educate himself through books and experiences his entire life.  Let me stress – FINISH HIGH SCHOOL, but explore all of your options for higher education and choose the best for you and not what is expected of you by others.

Filed Under: Careers, Goal Setting, Life Coaching, People Tagged With: , , , ,

More Than One Answer

February 20, 2013
Thinking

Photo courtesy of College Degrees 360

Decisions, mostly, are not just an a or b answer.  How many times has your child asked you a yes or no question and instead of answering with yes or no you simply answered maybe?  You found a third answer when there only looked like two.

When you have a decision to make and it looks like you only have two options and they are both bad you need to search for the third.  Write down your possible answers, seek out the advice of a friend, or look to another source but look for your third, and hopefully better, option.

“I don’t believe in the no-win scenario.” William Shatner, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Filed Under: Life Coaching Tagged With: , , , , ,

Ask For More

February 13, 2013
The Way I See It - Starbucks Cup

Photo Courtesy of Linda Lane.

Want more from life? All you have to do is ask. Ask more of yourself and set your expectations higher. You might call this setting a goal but I think in this is a bit different. This is expecting more out of yourself.

Things will never just come to you. You have to want them, expect them, and believe that they are going to come to you. Napoleon Hill says that “No one is ready for a thing until he believes he can acquire it.” In other words, you have to have the confidence in yourself.

Whether it is money, fame, or the desire to change the world it all starts with asking yourself for more. I close with this poem by Jessie B. Rittenhouse (from the book “The Door of Dreams”, 1918).

My Wage
“I bargained with Life for a penny,
And Life would pay no more,
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store.
For Life is a just employer,
He gives you what you ask,
But once you have set the wages,
Why, you must bear the task.
I worked for a menial’s hire,
Only to learn, dismayed,
That any wage I had asked of Life,
Life would have willingly paid.”

Filed Under: Life Coaching, Motivational, People Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Make the Call

February 6, 2013
Last Call

Photo Courtesy of eefeewahfah

You have to decide. Right now you must make the decision to decide. Decide what exactly? Well, what decision have you been putting off?

Everyone has to make choices and decisions. The important point is actually making them. We have all put a decision off and then proceed to make excuses as to why we can’t make a choice right now. The longer you put off a decision the harder it becomes to make — you must make the call.

Dan Miller suggests giving yourself a timeline. Give yourself a few days on the important decisions, consult those you need to get input from, and you make the call. You put a date on the decision and when the day comes you make it – no excuses.

Or you can try the Dave Ramsey way. Think about the worst possible outcome that your decision can have. Can you live with it? If so, then go. Many times the worst case scenario is not as bad as we imagined it once we actually think about it.

We all have hard decisions to make from time to time. The important thing is to make them.

Filed Under: Life Coaching, Organization Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Treat People Well

January 30, 2013
All Are Significant

Image Credit: Studio JRU

“You can dream, create, design and build the most wonderful place on the world, but it requires people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney

You need people.  You can call yourself a loner or say you don’t like people but we all need each other.  You need someone to hire you for a job or you need someone to buy your product if you are running your own business.  We are all connected in one way or another and we should treat each other well.

Next time you are in line at the supermarket during a busy holiday instead of getting frustrated at the lines and people take a minute to thank the clerk.  For that matter, thank the people around you in line for the few minutes you spent together – it might seem odd but you can brighten their day and you will be the person they are telling their family about when they get home!

It all comes down to the fact as humans we need interaction and connection.  Treat people well.

 

Filed Under: Customer Service, Leadership, Life Coaching, People Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Are You In Jail?

January 23, 2013
Are you in jail?

Photo Courtesy of Michael Coghlan

A person doesn’t have to be behind bars to be in jail.  Your jail can be in your own mind.  This is something I learned from Iyanla Vanzant.

When you feel stuck in a situation you always have options.  Take a few minutes to write down what your options are and which one is the key to unlock the cell.  It will not always be an easy key to turn but, in the long run, it can set you free.

Don’t allow your limiting beliefs to hold you back.  Push forward, turn the key, and release yourself.

Filed Under: Life Coaching, Motivational Tagged With: , ,
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