Free Inspiration
In these challenging times, inspiration can lead to motivation that gets us through the crud. Opening our minds and hearts will lead us forward on our path.
You are invited to register to receive the Victory Letter. This e-letter has been written every Monday morning for the past seven years as a reminder to appreciate the small victories in our lives. Open up your Monday morning for a little extra inspiration to send you on your way each week. To see an example of what you will receive visit our blog page.
Realization Recipe
Finding Your Fit
"If the shoe fits, wear it." - An Idiom
As this new week starts to unfold, this endearing term has been roaming around in my head. Perhaps it's because on Saturday I found an amazing pair of jeans that fit beautifully!! For any one who has put a pound or two on, as I have in the past year, you know what a wonderful feeling this can be! Especially when it occurs in your standard size. Pounds or not, just finding something you love to wear is always a great experience - especially when you weren't expecting to do so.
As I looked up the saying here this morning to see who said it, I discovered that the term is what is called an Idiom. An Idiom is a colorful style of expression whose meaning is more endearing than making sense on its own. I love the thought of that on many levels. In going one step further I discovered that this particular Idiom as been around since the 1700's.
It was not clarified who penned this idiom (as it goes with most idioms) but believed to have been derived from the expression - "If the cap fits, wear it." While that version of the expression has pretty much gone away - it is thought that perhaps the Cinderella fairy tale brought this modern day version to light. You know how Cinderella got her prince by sliding her foot perfectly into that special glass slipper. Even better yet, she produced the match to show that it was no accident.
Unconquerable Preperation
"I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul." - William Ernest Henley
On Saturday afternoon Ed and I took the trek into Boulder to see the movie Invictus, the story of Nelson Mandela undertaking the role of the first black President of South Africa. As many of us know, he had quite a challenge in beginning the process of uniting a country that had been fully divided by the race segregation wars brought on by over 40 years of an Apartheid ruling government. My sister, Robi, had raved about the movie so I was excited to sit still for several hours, letting the story unfold and inspire me. And it did!
The word Invictus means unconquered in Latin. The most incredible feat shown through this movie was how President Mandela saw past the 27 years of his own imprisonment, as he stayed the course, holding on to his belief of what needed to be done for all the people of his homeland. He was able to see past the anger and despair towards his captures as he moved forward to unite everyone.
In thinking about this week's final reading to share with you from Jim Rohn's Season's of Life - it reflects how Mandela's years in prison were indeed his "winter". He used them to the fullest, continually envisioning the change he would produce upon his release. With that said, here is that final installment of Jim Rohn's chapter on Winter, from his 1981 book, The Season's of Life.
Landmarks of Enrichment
"No Limit for Better" - A Russian Lady Architect
Today's quote was in the Sunday paper yesterday, in an interview that was given in the Parade magazine. Harrison Ford shared about his time as a contractor, before becoming a movie star. When he wanted to improve a design element presented to him by, as he phrased her, a Russian Lady Architect, she was open to the improvements he had to offer, as she shared those words with him.
Don't you love the idea of that? Being open for constant and ever changing improvements that a variety of minds has to offer each of us. We all can learn and grow from each other if we choose to. These thoughts come on the heels of having just spent this past Friday and Saturday hosting a Victory Circles Facilitators Training. While it was my role to teach, each of the ladies who attended shared such riches as well. We all had the opportunity to learn. It was a wonderful enriching experience! I thank each of them for their rich and generous participation.
It brings home even more clearly this morning, the third excerpt from Jim Rohn's, The Seasons of Life.
2010 is knocking
"Knock on the sky and listen to the sound" - Zen Saying
Happy New Year and welcome to 2010!
Well here I am this Monday morning sitting with the sounds of the weeks gone by, blending them in with the weeks to come. All of it making some kind of music in my ears. December busyness handled and preparation for Christmas accomplished - check. Joy and love with family and friends over the holidays - check. Christmas decorations put away until next year - check. New Year's goals and planning for the year ahead done - check. Amazing at it all is, we move forward and life happens, sometimes just as we planned and other times - well we do the best we can given the tools we have around us.
With a glorious new year stretching out before us, over the course of the last three days I lounged in the elements of envisioning the possibilities, of what this year can be and become. My new plan in hand comes complete with a quote to empower and motivate me for the year compliments of Benjamin Disraeli:
"The greatest good you can do for others is not just to share our riches, but to reveal to them their own."
I also have my theme for the year - Creating High Energy - Healthy Body and Victorious Mind.
Winter's Blessings
"What one can be, one must be" - Abraham Maslow
My hope for you is that these final few days before us in 2009, find you with your eyes wide open. I am happy to report over the course of the long weekend I got my long winter's nap in and slept 12 glorious hours! Sleep can be a really wonderful thing when done in bulk - especially when there is a busy season that precedes it! It has left my previously drooping eyes ready to see what is possible still in the next few days of 2009 that will lead 2010 in with a bang!
One of the things I love to do the day after Christmas is to go calendar shopping when they are marked at ½ off. It seems like you are getting a great deal on the year ahead. It always prompts me to buy more than I probably need but I love looking at the possibilities in the year ahead in each new calendar. This year I will be gazing at the beautiful Country of Italy (in my dream forecast) as well as getting daily doses of the 7 Habits of Highly effective people.
Eastern Star
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future" - Paul Boese
This Monday morning comes with a sigh of relief with many major deadlines being met. I don't know about you but this December seemed especially full of demands that needed to be met by last Friday. With them met, this week is just full of wrapping up loose ends (literally) and preparing for the blessings of Christmas at weeks end.
In today's quote, forgiveness and living in an enlarged future are words that called out to me. It sounds refreshing as opposed to living in the sadness or bitterness of past disappointments, whether caused by people or life events. It brings with it the essence of a word that this time of year seems to radiate, if we have or take the time to see/feel it.
The word, the essence of what this season can bring is the feeling and simple happiness of having - hope. Hope for what is possible and can be. Sometimes it just takes a bit of realigning ourselves in our heart to make what once seemed impossible, in fact, very possible.
Respecting Rituals
"Everyday do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow." - Doug Firebaugh
This morning as we inch closer to the full blown holiday season I am reminded about how much traditions play a role in our life. Yesterday, I spent a number of hours doing the decorating, sending Christmas Cards and preparing for the days and weeks ahead. This year I did so guardedly as I have come to realize how much of my mother is in all of the traditions around me. It made me miss her even more.
I thought I would share with you this picture this morning that really shares how much my mother loved this holiday. Here I am with my sisters and my brother each of us looking I know towards my mother. I am second on the left sitting next to my baby sister in the velvet bonnet. Perhaps we were looking towards my mother for reassurance that all was going to be ok. Even Santa was looking her way. The traditions of the season make way for the rituals.
Last week I had the opportunity to interview an Entrepreneur for a publication I write for each month. His name is Brian Johnson and he came up with a great concept called Philosophers Notes (philosophersnotes.com). He said something that really has churned through my head ever since then.
Finding Light
"The happiest life is that which constantly exercises and educates what is best in us." - Philip G. Hamerton
As the month of December unfolds it is most definitely a time to get out our down comforters and stay close to the fire. Either that or get out the cross country ski's and take advantage of this white stuff that seems to be is all around us here in Colorado.
One of the things that I do love about winter is that it is the perfect time to get focused on getting indoor things accomplished. Read that book that has been waiting to be read, write a little more or take on that project of painting the bathroom. The season draws us inward to take care of those things that are harder to "get to" when the sunshine and warmth of the other seasons draws us in many outer directions.
It is a great time as well to discover things in the world around us that can bring us a new light and energy as we move into the coldest months of winter. Our inner energy is in fact our inner light that pulls us forward during the darkest days of the year.
Strength in Ideas
"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" - Debbie Allen
They say there is more power in a new idea than just about anything. Wouldn't it be awesome if the multitude of great ideas that are regularly born in the human brain were fully orchestrated? This morning as we begin the Thanksgiving week, a week best known for sharing gratitude - I say let's have gratitude for the power to push ourselves forward to accomplish great things! To engage our strengths as we let new ideas fully roll!
As I watch the sun rise on this new week I feel gratitude and blessings for the people I have the opportunity to work with week in and week out. The many entrepreneurs, who stretch and reach past their comfort zone to grow their businesses, improve their lives and the lives of others.
It is amazing, what we are capable of achieving if we just stop and give ourselves the belief and breathing room to make it happen. The key is in the actuality of making our ideas, dreams and goals happen.
Marcus Buckingham in his book, Go Put Your Strengths to Work, describes what he calls a 6-Step Discipline. Here are the steps as he outlines them in bringing your strengths to the surface:
Your Standing Place
"Do not lose hold of your dreams, or aspirations. For if you do, you may exist but cease to live. "- Henry David Thoreau
This weekend my husband Ed and I traveled a bit further to Phoenix to attend yet another inspiring workshop. As timing of some things worked out we have found ourselves submerged over the course of the last 10 days in not only two dynamic workshops but in the subsequent planning, dreaming and inspiration about what our future holds for us that came with it all. It has energized us as individuals and as a couple. It has been really quite awesome. My gratitude and thanks goes out to my loving husband for opening his mind, spirit and heart in such a wonderful and empowering way.
Our inner landscape makes us so much of who and what we do. Sometimes in getting caught up in the day-to-day stuff, we lose sight of what we were meant to do on this planet. Taking time out to reconnect and remember our focus can be so important. Leaving the past in the past can help us to insure a brighter future. Finding a way to reenergize and reconnect with our purpose (I do believe we each have one) can be life-changing especially if you are finding yourself being stuck and unable to move forward in ways that fill your heart and soul.
Why to How
"The bigger the why - the easier the how" - Jim Rohn
As the lightness of day starts to unfold early on this Monday morning a new week stands before us! Over the course of the last three days my husband, Ed, and I participated in a workshop that had us looking at many aspects of our life. Diving into some inner introspection, the events and exercises that unfolded were revealing and energizing, a factor that can become critical in keeping your mind open to life's possibilities.
While there were many things shared throughout this workshop that touched my mind and heart, this morning's quote spoke very loudly to me. There are many days that we get lost in the day-to-day of life, from the demands of keeping all the balls up in the air, to things not working out as we had hoped or planned. We can begin to forget our purpose, our "why", for being on this planet. When we forget our why it can become more and more difficult to remember the reason we are moving in the direction(s) that we are moving.
Forward We Go
"If you get up one more time than you fall, you will make it through." - Chinese Proverb
This Monday morning as we each head out into the week with one extra hour - yes, it is time to fall forward! Last week I wrote an article for the November Victory Woman Magazine (coming to your online newsstand this week) entitled Fail Forward. A twist of words reminding us that when we fall down and scrap our knees the important thing to remember is to get up! To try and try again if that is required, to indeed get that forward momentum happening as we see past out downfall(s).
About a year ago I submitted a manuscript to a New York publishing house. It was rejected with a letter that told me it wasn't what they said they were looking for at that time. Their initial interest had turned to non-interest and of course, it was very disappointing. Over the course of this year it hit me to not throw out the baby with the bath water, but to do some rewrites of what I had originally written - to make my original idea stronger, meatier.
So I set out and over the course of the past three months to do the major rewrites on the book - not giving up the faith that the core of the book was good. Now this required many, many hours of working on something that only my faith and hope in what was possible was my fuel to move and guide me forward. Making what some would have considered a failure, to giving it a new life of what it was destined to become.
The result - last week after resubmitting my rewritten manuscript I was contacted by the publishing house, they now want to publish the book! Exciting indeed - giving me even more faith that I need to follow my heart and not let perceived failures ever stop me from moving, failing, forward.
This month in the Victory Circles we are focusing on the Master Mind principle of profiting from failure. Failure is something that we have all experienced in one form or another. Some failures are huge while others are minor, and some simply come from never even putting our dreams to the test. Of quitting before we even get our foot out of the door. As the saying goes, it is better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all, simply because to never try is perhaps the worse kind of failure. Not giving our full potential the shot it really needs.
For me, there is now the work ahead to make sure this publishing house is the one I want to go with and then what I will do to get my book out there and marketed. Plenty of room for failure but a risk and challenge that I am ready to go after!
As you move forward into your week and month ahead look at the failures you have accomplished along your way. The things you have done that required you to put yourself self out there, placing your neck on the line.
I invite you in the week ahead to look forward to what you have to contribute - to be grateful for what you do have in your life - right now, today. To remember it is about what we give that results in what we get - even to ourselves.
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