Do You Have Double Vision?

I’ve heard it said…’If you do today what others won’t…you can live tomorrow like others can’t’. It makes complete sense. I know how I want my life to look tomorrow; I’ve played the video over and over in my mind for years. How hard could it possibly be? Just do a few important things each day and eventually my tomorrow will become a reality. There you have it; simple, right?

However, along the journey toward my blissful tomorrow, I have found one thing that seems to be extremely important yet most difficult to achieve. It is the act of self-discipline – training and controlling myself and my conduct to progress toward my goals and dreams.

Writing this blog holds a measure of self-discipline. I have a goal in place for posting new material, yet the calendar days flip by like a speeding race car. Today, I find myself caught between what I want to do and what I know I need to do. Obviously I have not yet mastered self-discipline, but it has become evident that self-discipline should occur first before my vision of tomorrow will become a reality. This develops into a ‘first this, then that’ type of scenario. A form of double vision - having one eye focused on today and the other eye focused on tomorrow.

Double vision for my teenager means in order for her to achieve her career goals tomorrow, she needs to focus on each class in school, which will add to, or subtract from, her GPA today.

Double vision in my role as mother, says that each and every time I stand firm while teaching values and obedience to my children today, I’m grooming them for a future tomorrow of significance and strength.

What are your eyes fixed on for today and tomorrow?

It will require self-discipline to keep one eye fixed on the important things which ought to be done today. There is an old saying that…’discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons’. If that is the case, might I suggest that we have the self-discipline to accomplish what is important today; so that we can be free tomorrow to live our destiny (without regret)!

Connecting Face-to-Face and Heart-to-Heart...

After months of not seeing each other, a good friend and I met recently for coffee. Our lives travel slightly different roads right now, but there remains a firm foundation in which our values, interests and families are similar. Because of the long absence, there were many updates for each of us to share. However, I was astonished to see that three hours disappeared in a flash. While driving home that afternoon alone with my thoughts in my minivan, I reflected on the special time I just had with my friend. My spirits were lifted, I felt calmer and more at peace. A new energy was present. I was refreshed and ready to get back to my life.

We seem to get so lost in our daily routine and before we know it, days, weeks and months have disappeared. Our first instinct is to throw out a quick email or text to ‘check-in’ with our friend…when deep inside, what we really desire is to laugh, share and connect face to face and heart to heart.

Now you are probably, thinking how can I fit it in? Have you seen my schedule? One thing that might help you get started making more connections, is to make an appointment. Schedule your connection time with your friends just like you would to see the doctor, dentist or go on a vacation. There are a couple of ways I plan my connection time. One group of my friends gets together the last Tuesday of every month. We call it Mom’s Night Out. Husbands and children are not allowed. There are times that some are not able to make it so they just plan for the next month. Additionally, my family knows in advance that I’m unavailable that night because it is on the calendar. Another friend and I meet on the 13th of the month, no matter what day of the week it is. Again, it’s on the calendar.

Putting a priority on maintaining relationship with your friends and family is just as vital as success in business place. A blend of the two areas can create a happier, healthier you. Believe me…YOU are worth it! Flip the Switch and reconnect with someone today.

Mountain Moving...

I just got off the phone with a Pastor friend of mine. Today’s topic of conversation was about moving the mountains in our life. No we didn’t speak about the gigantic obstacles of world hunger or economic turmoil. We talked of the everyday challenges that everyday people experience - the ones that pop up when your day is progressing in an effortless manner. Things like the annoying flat tire on your way to work, the torrential rainfall on the weekend of your family camping trip or the endless waiting period to get an answer on a job or home purchase.

Yesterday, a mountain presented itself in the middle of my preplanned agenda. After numerous visits to a variety of doctors, yesterday was the day that my ailing knee would be repaired. I was energized with the thought that I would find relief of pain after one year and get on with my life. Needless to say, this new doctor realized that the procedure we were about to do, was not the best course of action for my condition. Once again, MY plan was aborted and I was forced to switch gears. All the way home, I whined, complained and yelled at God. My pity party was complete when I grumbled with disgust that I always have to scratch and claw to get everything in life but for others, things come very easily.

Have you ever been walking down the street and see someone acting irrational? You say to yourself, “They are making such a fool of themselves”, only to look back on your own behavior and realize your foolishness just the prior day?

Yesterday I was completely convinced that I had a right to vent about my circumstance. Then today a dear friend, shares Mark 11:23 “Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed…” and my foolishness became clear. I was trying to move the mountain on my own.

The truth is, there will always be a mountain, sometime big sometimes small. From experience, I know there also will be someone there to help you move it. It is natural to react in a foolish way when the mountain presents itself. However, it's much more helpful to listen to the people in your life that have been placed near you to help you through.

What is your mountain? Is it new or has it been there awhile? Do you have more than one? Trust that God has a plan and has put people in your life to help you get the mountain out of the way.

Lessons from a Teenager...

Each stage of a child’s life is unique and fresh. I remember how thankful I was when my oldest daughter was able to get herself dressed, put on her own shoes and most of all…no more diapers! It seemed I had arrived at a whole new level of motherhood. I rejoiced in the little independent person she was becoming.

Today, that same daughter is 16 years old, gainfully employed, driving my mini van and has a boyfriend. The level of independence has dramatically increased but my rejoicing has diminished considerably. I am now learning to let go once again and find the joy in her independence…but in a whole new way.

When my daughter was recently applying for a job we began discussing what the potential employer might ask her in an interview. Then when they hired her, she had questions about how her first day might transpire. The questions kept coming one right after another. Thankfully I have learned and teach the Model of Human Behavior, so I understand that this daughter is ‘wired to wonder’. She has a natural tendency to need a lot of information, so she can be at peace and feel prepared. I, on the other hand, thought that she should just jump in with both feet because it would be an adventure.

The little voice in my head said, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” The reality is that my daughter had never done anything like this before, so she had no frame of reference to guide her.

When life events happen, there are lessons to be learned. The good news is that I can learn something from everyone…even a 16 year old. As the parent in this situation, what I learned was to adopt some of the ‘BE Attitudes’. In order to best help my daughter, I needed to:
BE Loving – no matter what happened
BE the Adult – answer her questions from my experience
BE Real – let her know that I was nervous too
BE Gracious – allow her to share her fears and her excitement while I LISTEN
BE Creative – give her some examples of how people answer interview questions
BE a Fan – cheer for her through it all

Is there somewhere you can adopt and apply the ‘BE Attitudes’ in your life today? Remember, what you say is important and what you do is significant.

Cool WIP Guarantee...

With a degree in Accounting and after spending several years in the financial world, the acronym WIP came up frequently.

In the business world WIP is a Work in Progress; work that has not been completed but has already incurred a capital investment. Investopedia.com explains that WIP is usually recorded as an asset (a resource with economic value with the expectation that it will provide future benefit) on the balance sheet. (Stick with me here - I guarantee this post will get more cool.) They state that WIP indicates any good that is not considered to be a final product, but must still be accounted for because funds have been invested toward its production. Now...let’s break that down and find the key points:

WIP:
Work in Progress
Work not yet completed
Already incurred an investment
An asset
A resource with value expecting to provide future benefit
Any good not yet finished
Accounted for because an investment has been made

WOMEN:
A work in progress
A work not yet completed
Already incurred an investment in life
An asset
A resource with value that can provide future benefit
A good work not yet finished
Want to be accountable because of prior investments made

Can't help but notice the similarities, huh?!

Whether you feel your life is like a flower bud ready to burst or you are a flower bulb lying in the ground, I guarantee you are a work in progress! You ARE a good work not yet finished! And here's the cool part...The world is waiting to experience the beauty and splendor of who YOU are becoming.

Today you can pass along the Cool WIP Guarantee to your girlfriends and show them who you are becoming.

Why not do what you do with a passion, because it’s your only life. ~Anonymous

Introducing...

COMING SOON!

A resource designed to encourage, educate and equip real women for the real world. Excuse our mess right now - this blog is a work in progress. But check back often to share in the growth. Until then, have an inspirational day.