Cartoon Saturday - Baby Blues Halloween!

Motivational Monday: Why is Monday bad?

It's Monday.  I'm sure you know this because many people are posting on social media how terrible it is to be Monday. So, why is Monday bad?  

If you love what you do and enjoy your job than Monday shouldn't be bad, right?  

Here's why.  Most people have the weekend off from the daily grind and demands of their work/career/school...  Most people have the most control over their schedule on the weekends.  Weekends are also a time for family, friends, and fun.  Even if you are like me and just enjoy a good movie or book - the weekend is a time to yourself.  

Then Monday comes and we are hit with the reality that we don't have as much freedom and control that we had over the weekend.  We are faced with the fact that we must work in order to really enjoy the things we want to do with our lives. So, it is not Monday really that is bad but the let down from the escape we felt over the weekend.  

What I'd like to say to you on this Monday is this: focus every day on the good things you have in your life.  Focus on your purpose.  Focus on being healthy.  Focus on the positive. Finally, say out loud:  "Good Morning Monday, so glad to have you in my life."  Make your narrator voice positive today!

  

Spiritual Sunday - how to listen

Often I hear people make excuses as to why they are not pay attention or fully listening to others. Excuses range from "I have too much on my mind" or "I'm not interested in the topic/person" to the most common excuses "I can't" or "I don't know how."  

Well, listening is actually simple if the person has one key ingredient -- desire!  If you have the desire to get to know someone or learn something than you will pay more attention.  

Listening is not sitting there silently waiting for your turn to speak so you can share what is on YOUR mind.  Listening is actually wanting to learn what the other person is feeling, thinking, doing... or wanting to learn about a subject matter.  

So today, practice listening to others and pay attention to your amount of desire.  Do you really want to learn more about this person or topic?  How strong is this desire?  If your desire is not strong you will not be a very good listener.  If your desire is strong then you will ask questions and work hard to learn as much as you can.

Remember, the desire is to learn about the other person or topic and not your desire to share things about yourself ---- it's not to share your point of view or knowledge of the topic.  If your desire is strong to share and talk then you will NOT be a good listener. 

Cartoon Saturday: why my desk is a mess!

Motivational Monday! Going after what you want!

So, did you make your list yesterday?  If you are not sure what list here's the post that explains: Turning reflection into action.  

Now, think about what you are doing today to work toward your goal.  You must put effort into moving toward your goal or otherwise it will always stay just a dream.  

Remember to believe in yourself even if no one else believes in you.  Also know that I believe in you!  I have faith that you can achieve your goals.  Just focus on working toward making them happen and they will.  

Spiritual Sunday~ Turning reflection into action

Are you working toward your dreams or are you just dreaming?  Do you have a desire to do something, go somewhere, or obtain something?   Are you spending energy thinking about what your life would be like if you achieved what you desire?  If so, what exactly are you doing to reach your goals? 

Oh.... you are not actually doing anything or only doing a little bit to reach these goals.   Why?  Is it because you don't have the time, money, talent, support, connections.... to actually journey on this path in your life? 

Well, those are just excuses.  Those are excuses because living your life doing what you desire and dream is scary.  It is scary because we judge ourselves and know we are always judged by others.  You are afraid because no one wants to feel judged.  We can look at the world around us and see others doing things better than we can and make negative self-judgments.  It takes courage to go for our goals.

The thing is - you will never really know if you can live your dreams and desires until you actually live them.  I don't mean try for a day or a week but live your life daily with intent to do at least two thing each day focused on making your dreams and desires happen.  Remember, these are actions and not just sitting around dreaming!  

So today, do the following:

On the top of a piece of paper write down your desire or dream.  Below, make a list of all the things you can do/or need in order to achieve this goal.  Write everything out that you can think of even if you believe they are impossible. Next, star all the things you can do in the next year toward your goal (you should have a lot of stars).  After, circle the ones that you can complete in a month.  Finally, highlight the ones you can do this week then every day do something toward this goal.  

Don't give up and don't make an excuse because I want you to remember the an excuse is just a way to procrastinate and avoid obtaining your goals.  Know that you have value and worth.  You matter and you deserve to live a life of your dreams and desires.  You can reach your goals if you believe in yourself and take risks.  Yes you will be vulnerable but that's a good thing!  

Cartoon Saturday with Family Circus

What to do when excluded or discriminated against

Not everyone is going to like you.  In fact, there will be a lot of people in your life that can't stand you.  Their not liking you has much more to do with the issues of the other person instead of you. People will treat you poorly and discriminate against you but it is your attitude that will get you through.  

Remember that you are a person of value and worth!  You have to be your own best friend and cheerleader.  When others are treating you in a negative way than change the narrative.  This is your life so you are the narrator.  Stop letting other people be the narrators of your life!  

Here's a picture quote you should put in a place where you can find it easily when you are feeling excluded by others.  When feeling negative read this quote & remember that you are AMAZING!  

BTW if you don't know who Zora Neale Hurston is than you should really learn about this wonderful woman!  

Motivational Monday~ Autumn is a time for reflection

I happen to live in a place where the leaves change creating the most spectacular colors....  then they fall to the earth.  I don't see it as the leaves dying but instead finally finding their purpose and giving back to the world around them.  

See the life of a leaf isn't very long but a leaf is a part of the tree and the tree is the primary life source of a leaf.   What I want you to see is how the leaves are chapters of the tree's life and they fill a purpose.  

We have many different chapters of our lives and when we learn how to focus on our own Hero's Journey of each of these chapters we will become a strong and powerful tree able to withstand anything.  Sometimes our chapters are so challenging we do not think we will survive and other times chapters are so amazing we don't want them to end.  Each journey has a process and with each chapter we change.  

You have control over many things in your life so focus on the things you can change and embrace the change that is happening in you as a result of the nature of life.  

October is a month that reminds me that I am alive and I have many different purposes.  

Taking pictures and making picture quotes is one of my purposes in life.  My purpose is to inspire myself and others to live their best life, know we are not alone, and focus on our own Hero's Journey! 

Cartoon Saturday... life with kids!

Passions lead to Purpose motivation by T.D. Jakes

What are your passions?  Take some time today to think about what makes you light up~ what inspires you.  Things that make your heart pump faster or motivates you are your passions.  When you focus on your passions you will be happier and this will lead you directly to your purpose in life.  Don't look for purpose because you may not find it, instead find your passions and your purpose will follow.

Here's a great quote to print out and post on your mirror by Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Spiritual Sunday: How to have a great life!

Have you ever thought that your life would be better if you just reached a specific milestone (graduate, got a job...) or if you found the right person or moved to a different city?  I bet you discovered that your life did not get better.  You did not have this magical change.  Maybe because of Fairy Tales we expect life to just one day become perfect.  Well, I hate to be your Dark Fairy Godmother and burst your fantasy bubble but that's not reality.  

We don't just all of a sudden have the perfect stress-free life when we reach milestones or even lose that last 5 pounds.  Life is really about learning to become as strong as you can and appreciate what you have and who you are at this very moment.  Life is about dreams - it's about the journey getting to those dreams and not about the end destination.  Yes, once you get to the end destination you will be changed but the reason you are changed is BECAUSE of the journey!  It was the journey - the challenges, trials, and tribulations that made you change, not finally achieving this dream (graduation, perfect person, job, place to live......).  

One of my favorite quotes is below in the pic quote I made.  Kurt Vonnegut wrote "We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down."  This is exactly the point. To have a full-filling and happy life you must become stronger and the way to do that is to go after your dreams, fight all the battles you have to fight, take chances, and be an active participant in your own life.  In other words, get off your f-ing couch or computer chair and focus on making yourself stronger.  Building your wings takes time and a lot of practice.  Print this picture to remind yourself that your path in life is meant to be difficult and that is why it will be beautiful because you are full-filling your purpose!

Not long ago I heard a song that reminded me of this quote and I listen to when I want to be reminded that I can learn to fly - I just have to trust that I learn on the way down!  When you are feeling like you can't keep going you may find this song very helpful.  

Direct link to Maddie and Tae singing "Fly"

Cartoon Saturday getting up on Saturday~ Zits