I opened the card and it read:

Mom,

Before you open your gift I wanted you to read a little background on it. This is what’s called a ‘Silver Nest’.  It comes from a housewife’s small business in South Bend, IN.  You’ll find a completely customized necklace – with the birthstones of your 3 children, in the form of beaded pearls, resting inside this nest.

Do you remember the seed you put inside my locket when I was in the 8th grade? I didn’t really understand it then….but I’m starting to. (BACKGROUND ON THE SEED: I put the tiniest seed I could find inside her locket to remind her that even the smallest seed – when planted and nurtured in the proper conditions, can grow into an incredible plant that creates resources for others to use. Yah…I know…a little deep for an 8th grader lol.)

So for me, these eggs inside the nest not only represent your 3 children, but the care and nurturing you put in to raising us, helping us reach our potential, and soar. It represents the well-meaning lectures, the band-aids provided and the space given to grow into US. We’ll always be inside your heart mom, no matter how far.

I love you ~ Laci

Isn’t that beautiful??  Here is the nest of pearls and I love it.  So to all you Mom’s (and dad’s) out there, never stop praying, hoping or loving, because you never know what is really getting through to your children or when.  Lets stick to being an example of our best ‘Mom-Selves’, or ‘Dad-Selves’ that we can possibly be. We’re not doing it just for our kids but also for those they will marry, those they might give birth to, and those they will work and play with. It is one of the BEST investments you will ever make in this lifetime.

Wishing you a GREAT Mother’s Day weekend with lots and lots of love.

P.S. If you happen to be an entrepreneurial mom – please take a moment to sign up for our Friday afternoon calls that begin next week!  Read here

P.S.S. And don’t forget to leave a comment below! I’d love to hear from ALL you Mom’s or Dad’s out there about what you’ve shared with your kids over the years that we can all learn from.

He called me again one evening but this call wasn’t about college.  There was something on his mind and began to tell me how much he wanted to make a difference in the world. He sounded so in control of this choice.  He said no matter who he speaks with he wants to leave them with a good feeling, one of acceptance and just wanted to add something special to their day. Before we hung up he said, Aunt Kellie, I want you to know how much I appreciate you.”

His words really stuck in my mind because I remember thinking, “Why does this one boy cares so much about making people feel appreciated when most people his age are only thinking about themselves?  What made the difference for him?”

Lee Walker never made it to Michigan and chose instead to go to a different college in New England.  Sadly, he never got to live out his college years.  Lee drowned in a boating incident during his freshman year.

What we quickly discovered however, was all the people’s lives he impacted before he died.  There were over a thousand people that attended his services the following weekend and I can’t tell you how many people stood up saying this boy impacted their life in some way, their son or daughter’s life, a teacher’s life, a neighbor’s life….on and on we heard it for hours.  Even people that didn’t know him personally, but knew of him because he made an impact on someone they knew showed up.  This entire community of people had been impacted by one boy who made the decision to make a difference to care.

So my question is, how many people will come to your funeral saying you made a difference in their life?  How many moments today are you going to let escape you before you choose to bend your knee to a youngster to help them tie their shoe, or tell your boss you appreciate them, or share what you have with a total stranger without expecting anything in return? How many lives in your community will be changed because of you?

Make a choice.  Make a difference.

If you agree with this post please share it, and feel free to embed the video on your own site if you wish.  We can all make a difference in our communities by encouraging one another.

With Love,

The day had gone amazingly well before the interview.  I was working on my new program launch called MasterMind – MasterMoney for high-end, heart-centered, entrepreneurs.  I had also set aside time to speak with a few people who willingly stepped forward to tell their story for my next book (coming out this summer) called God’s Miracles.  Some of the contributors are from my entrepreneurial community and they have been astounding.

Before my interview with Mrs. Libby, I spoke to a lovely woman from India who, after being kidnapped, was hung and tortured for days only to find herself dumped on the side of the road and left for dead.  This happened to her more than once.  She told me that she had felt the power and presence of God more times than she could count and, in her words, that is what kept her alive.  She has learned to forgive and is now on a mission to change the way women are treated in India and in the world.

Another associate I spoke with shared how she was raised in Africa during a war in the 60′s, and was witness to bodies being ripped apart by explosions and plastered to the side of her family home.  She spoke of a little girl that was found in the midst of this war that became her sister and how the miraculous love of God is what kept her believing it would happen. She spoke of how she is now involved in healing ministries, teaching people to forgive, and that she has helped others around the world for years.

Other events occurred during the day that were completely out of the ordinary but I don’t have time to write them all down.  So as the interview began my interviewer asked me one question that was unexpected.  She said, “I was on the ‘About Page‘ of your website and I was hoping you could explain how you can say that, “People would literally walk through my door with divorce papers in their hands on Monday, and by Friday they would be feeling totally connected and emotionally in love again?”

It wasn’t how I thought the interview would begin, but you never know how or when someone is going to ask a question out of the blue.

I explained that it was how Connecting LLC first got started and how God changed my entire life at that time.  Stories began to spill from my lips in the most vulnerable way and I couldn’t stop them.  I finally came to one story that is more powerful than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.  It is about forgiveness in its purest form, and is the third chapter of my book Connecting Faith, Hope and Love.

This is where the power surge came in that struck me to my very core.  It’s hard to imagine why a person would cry during ANY interview, but if you want to understand why you’ll have to hear it for yourself. Here is the link.

Thank you to each person that has written me privately to tell me how this interview has changed your heart, your perspective, or your life regarding love and forgiveness.  I am deeply humbled by your outpouring of gratitude.

If while reading this you feel moved to share your story about the amazing miracles of love and forgiveness in your own life, I would love to hear them. Write me privately if you wish at kellie@connectingfhl.com

Abundant Love and Forgiveness to You My Friend,

Since decisions need to be made that are way out of your comfort zone, you tend to struggle with integrity at times.  It seems to be more like an internal art-form of molding and reshaping rather than part of a genuine character you once believed you had.

It looks something like this:

You told others something would turn out one way, believing with all your heart it would, and yet it never materialized or happened fast enough.  You knew you had to keep your staff, and your loved ones, excited and motivated, as if it was going to happen – all the while wondering it would come to fruition.  People gave up and walked away while you were left asking, “Why don’t they believe me?!

One might think that integrity, if part of your character at one time, is just who you are and so it will show up consistently and everyone will believe in you and in your goals or dreams.  But molding the truth, and reshaping it into something believable, just to keep people thinking something is happening isn’t a place you want to find yourself in. It hurts you and it hurts others.

Living in integrity is knowing what’s true for you on a moment by moment basis.  It’s a daily choice and when you step out of your comfort zone into a world of unknowns you want to be sure that your spoken promises match up with your actions.

If the results of your words are not in alignment with the actions you are taking, then it’s time to step back and process what might be happening. We are all human and we make human errors; and while we’re making errors in judgment – others will be judging us.  There is nothing you can do to stop others from judging you, no matter how badly you want to think covering up, molding or reshaping the truth will change it.  It is only masking or postponing the inevitable.

If this has happened to you, or is happening to you, don’t give up. Integrity is a choice, just like forgiveness and love.  Just be open and willing to be coachable.   Listen to the people close enough to the situation that are objectively trying to tell you that you need to course correct.  They will respect you more when you acknowledge the truth of what’s happening no matter how difficult it might seem at the time.

Ask for forgiveness, if you need to restore your integrity, and pray for the wisdom to discern what is true and what isn’t. Although it might seem like the end of the world…it isn’t.  In time you’ll get back on track again, but rather than continue creating an art form of integrity that crumbles into dust eventually, humble yourself by upholding the values of genuine integrity.  In the end, it’s all you have anyway.

If you would like coaching to help you through the process let me know.  We can schedule a one-on-one strategy session with you to see if working with someone on our team would be of benefit.  You can email me here.

Also feel free to share this post with your friends and pick up your free gifts while you’re here!

Love and Respect,

For review – there are 5 qualifications I look for in a great leader:

1. Do they draw a clear line between what they will do and won’t do, not what they can or can’t do?

2. Do they influence others in heart-felt ways and live out their BEST in all they do?

3. Do they follow through with what they say they will do?

4. Do they make it easy for others to follow their lead? and finally…

5. Do they give to others from their heart and not just for show?

Today’s culture has shifted to a more socially conscious society. People caring about people and wanting to see change that is clear, concise and filled with hope. People want to listen to those that are emotionally connected, speaking to the heart of what matters. These leaders are not listed in any particular order as they are all equally and vitally as important to our world as they are to me personally.

1. Derek Sivers – Founder of CDBaby, who treats work as play. He believes that whatever scares you, you should simply go and do it. He loves to learn, is a minimalist (meaning he is happy living with little) and Derek brought simplified leadership into our lives through T.E.D. with one simple video of a guy dancing while others followed. Derek continues to mentor and inspire us with each of his, often comical, profound views points of leadership.

2. Scott Martineau – Founder of ConsciousOne. A fabulous heart-centered speaker who knows how to help you bring increase to your life. He is a true conscious, benevolent leader who creates high performance systems for leading experts in the fields of personal and professional development. Scott is a gifted speaker who exemplifies great speaking, just by speaking, whether there is a stage or not.

3. Max Simon – Founder of GetSelfCentered. The name isn’t what you think. Most would relate it to selfishness and being self sufficient, but Max teaches to be grounded to the source of life and to center yourself with the spirit of your creator so you are never alone. His teachings are profoundly gratifying and you are able to consistently build upon his astounding business systems for your own business.

4. Oprah Winfrey – Founder of OWN. Okay, so she’s not a stage presenter, and I realize that Oprah’s show was either something you loved or hated, but what I find so refreshing was her entrance into the on-line world and how humbling it was for her. Nothing could have prepared her for this huge step, but she is doing it with as much grace as she possibly can. She made my list last year for the simple fact that she lives her truest self even in the public eye. She exceeds her own expectations of what she can accomplish in life and isn’t afraid to tackle the impossible.

5. Jeni Stepanek – Founder of MattieOnLine. If you have not heard Jeni speak, do not wait. She will captivate your heart on the subject of peace, but it is not easy for her from her wheelchair. Her youngest son, Mattie, became a phenom by the young age 13, writing poetry and becoming an advocate for world peace. When you hear mom Jeni speak, you would understand where he got some of his courage from, although I doubt she would take credit. Mattie died at the age of 13, from the same disease her 3 other children died from, which one can’t even imagine what she’s been through, but Jeni shares personal stories of courage and coping tips dealing with tragedy. Mattie’s message became hers, and as a side note, Oprah Winfrey’s was one of Mattie’s closest friends.

6. Paula Fellingham – Founder of WomensInformationNetwork and WomensGlobalSummit. An amazing speaker who is engaging women worldwide in experiencing a transformation of consciousness. Transforming the lives of millions of women around the world will help prevent illiteracy, poverty and hunger. I am honored to be sharing in the joy of assisting women in personal growth, as we create summits together and to share a platform with her in the future.

7. Kelly Falardeau – Founder of MyKellyF. Kelly maybe fairly new on the scene but you would never know it. A best selling author for her latest book ‘Self Esteem Doesn’t Come In a Bottle’, her speaking career has taken off. As burn survivor, Kelly feels quitting was never an option for her. She was burned over 75% of her body at the age of 2, and this sparked a determination in her that will make you question what on earth you ever have to complain about. She will make you laugh, cry and dance in your seat while she shares her stories and inspires you to accept the beauty you have inside of you.

8. Dennis Cummins – Chiropractor and Lead Trainer for Peak Potentials. Dennis has a heart that seems more broad than the Atlantic ocean, which matches his passion for helping others. He teaches that there are as many successes as failures in life and that nothing is more important that lifting up the relationships you build. His ability to command a room and garner people’s attention is what changes lives around the world.

9. Gary Karp – A spokesman for the uniquely-abled, Gary creates an interactive environment from his wheelchair to discuss topics that are often uncomfortable and challenging. His contributions on stage brings deep understanding to a workplace and entertainment to the audience. A wonderful person to get to know.

10. Joyce Meyer – Founder of the Joyce Meyer Ministries. God’s Love is the foundation for this amazing speaker. Joyce is like the Aunt that every kid dreams of having in their family. She is down to earth, full of life and gives you the kick in the pants you need to get beyond yourself. Joyce has the ability to bring you into a focus of heart-centered virtues and being more like Jesus.

So there you have it, my list for the most profound speakers in 2011 dealing with matters of the heart. These folks are the real deal when it comes to love and life.

If you find this article helpful feel free to forward it on or use it any way you see fit.  I just ask that you keep my name and web address attached to it.  Abundant Blessing in 2012!!

My family and I moved into a new home in South Carolina last week.  It was a huge move half way across the country and I was very excited about it because I believe change is good for the soul.

I tend to manifest both the positive and the negative events in my life extremely well.  There are many different phrases we trainers have for this such as; prayer and meditation, setting intentions, making dreams a reality, the law of attraction, taking ownership, reaping what you sow… but how does it really work?

What is manifesting? It is an indication of the existence, reality, or presence of something.  This “something” can be an illness, a relationship, a paycheck, or even a move across the country!

When I pray I do it believing that the desires of my heart are already becoming a reality.  I make a conscious decision to pray with a deep conviction that my prayers are already being answered.  Most people have to have concrete evidence in order to believe in something.  I however, believe in manifesting because I see my desires already in motion in my mind and I am grateful for the outcome EVEN IF in some cases it takes years before I can experience it.  In my latest book, Connecting, Faith, Hope and Love, you can read how I developed the skill of manifesting, and how you too can experience it for yourself in just 10 minutes a day.

My most recent manifestations are personal, however, I’d like to share a couple of them with you if that’s okay.  This past June I asked my family to believe that a move into a much larger home, in a much larger area, in a much warmer climate, with tremendous connections and greater opportunities was possible.  That was asking a LOT I knew, but I also knew that over the years we had all wanted to move, and had only ‘wished’ it to be so.  Wishful thinking is not the same as manifesting, or preparing for an outcome.  Wishful thinking is simply waiting around, and more than likely complaining because your wish hasn’t happened yet.

I knew that if I could encourage my husband and teenage daughter, and connect them to the  BELIEF that it was possible, that it would be different this time.  The most challenging step to manifesting anything is to see it as already being in existence in  your mind. That takes greater faith.  I’m not talking about a magic Genie. I’m talking about a God who encourages us to believe that, “all things are possible”.

Belief is one thing, taking action on a level of deep faith is quite another.  It’s stepping out of your comfort zone even when you think you might sink.  If you want something you cannot sit idly by and wait for it to come along. You MUST plan and prepare with courage and faith.  This means staying positive and trusting.  How do I know this?  The Bible talks of manifesting, but never once does it say to do nothing. In fact, it says to ‘Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established’.

Plan by committing first, then prepare by moving into action to make your dreams become a reality.

Back to my story…

By November, we not only moved south into a much larger, more beautiful home, but this move has also brought incredible opportunities. While we were unloading boxes into our new home I stopped for 10 minutes just to sit quiet and thank God for every big and little experience we were having, as well as the big and little experiences we were going to have because of living here.  I manifested having Thanksgiving dinner with my married children (who lived out-of-state) and believed we would be together for the first time in 10 years.  In my prayer I also told God I was thankful that we would meet someone who could steer us in the right direction, thankful that we could get familiar with our new surroundings quickly and that someone was going to help get us connected with people we could serve in our new community.

That same afternoon, while we were standing outside a store picking up a chair we had purchased, there was a gentleman who noticed our Michigan license plate. He commented that he was originally from Michigan.  He also noticed that our car was purchased in the same town where he currently worked.  As we continued to talk we also discovered that he was in the Navy (like my husband), and that they were attached to the same military base.  This next “coincidence” is the most AMAZING part.  When we told him where we chose to live and which house we lived in, he lit up like a tree and informed us that he was the original owner of our home (purchased 20 yrs ago) here in SC.  Out of 14,000 people in this busy little town do you think it was sheer coincidence we ran into him!?

Just a few days after being here I stopped again for my usual quiet time with God and said a heart-felt prayer of thanksgiving for the new opportunities that are coming our way.  That same evening I received a phone call from an organization called Women’s Information Network (WIN).   I was invited to be the Event Director for the North and South Carolina for WIN.  I was ecstatic because I will be helping to strengthen women and their families, or businesses world-wide, through education, enlightenment and entrepreneurship.  In doing so my team will be doing our best to educate, with the goal of eradicating illiteracy and hunger.  This is an amazing opportunity to give back. (If you’re in the Charlotte NC, or Greenville SC, area let me know so you can attend!)

There are more blessings than I can count, but I think you get the picture. Please don’t think I share these things to boast. I am sharing my own experiences of what manifesting with steadfast belief, combined with taking action has done for me, and can and WILL do for you as well. It takes just 10 minutes a day to instill this powerful mindset.

This Thanksgiving holiday won’t you consider what you want for your life?

1. Get clear

2. Thank God for what you have and what will be brought into your life

3. Hold the belief in your heart and mind that it will happen no matter how long it takes

4. Plan and prepare for the outcome.

To learn more about this topic subscribe to my 5 FREE Radio Shows above (and to the right) because each of these interviews talks about dreams being fulfilled, and seeing the unique outcomes of them.  Regardless of what anybody else may tell you, your desires are important.  Act on them today with the steadfast belief in the outcome you desire.  Don’t let another day go by without manifesting with thanksgiving from your heart.  And don’t forget to comment below and share this message with a friend.  Abundant Blessings and HAPPY THANKSGIVING! <3  

Kelly says, “I help people take the “T” out of can’t.”

Kelly is a burn survivor of an accident at the age of 2, when 75% of her body was burnt.  Regardless, listening to her is powerfully motivating because she does not let circumstances dictate her success. In fact, she was selected out of 1500-women to compete in a model search competition and won the People’s Choice award. She also won the Fierce Woman of the Year 2010 award and was featured on the cover of Be Fabulous.

“Just because you aren’t perfect, it doesn’t mean you aren’t beautiful.” says Kelly, who’s scars are evident, but clearly accepted.

Kelly has been featured on television, magazines and radio shows and if you didn’t hear her interview on my show the other night you have got to take some time to log in on the right.  You’ll hear 5 incredible interviews for free, including one of my favorites with Kelly.  She is also the author of ‘No Risk No Rewards’, the story of how she went from near-death to success.

Kelly wrote her second book ‘Self Esteem Doesn’t Come in a Bottle’ and it launches TODAY!  Kelly has been approached by women who said they had something magical in a bottle that would make her scars disappear and make her beautiful. She knew there was no way her scars would disappear; she knew her self-esteem had to come from her heart and soul.

Kelly’s new book transforms lives (I can attest to that personally) and helps women learn how to feel Greater than Great, just like she does. This book is also great for the teenagers in your life who may struggle with their own inner beauty and self-worth. It not only has Kelly’s secrets to self-esteem and real action steps you can take to transform your own life, but also has secrets from 50 of her friends (yes, I’m in it too)!

I want to help Kelly to share her message with youth and adults around the world by asking you to share this email with your friends/family.  Let’s help her make this well-deserved book, an Amazon bestseller by purchasing her book ‘Self Esteem Doesn’t Come in a Bottle’ today, Oct 25th, at: www.mykellyf.com.

Thank you friend!

HERE’S THE LETTER…

“Since speaking to you both last lots has happened in my life, and I am wondering if we can do a call sooner rather than later.  We will be moving so I have a million and one things to do before we head south in 3 weeks. If we wait, it won’t happen for over a month.

Ladies, I must be insane to even be considering starting one more project at this time.  Between my husband’s company taking on new clients that I serve, to the team I oversee, to creating products for my own company of Connecting, doing PR work, getting my daughter through her last homeschooled year, and now moving. Any one in their right mind would snap – right?  But it all feels amazing to me.

There is something in me that is so ‘over the top’ right now.  Is it an obsession?  I really don’t know. I literally can’t hold a normal conversation with anyone (especially in these past few weeks) without hearing every word as something wonderful to create that can help so many people.

It’s like I was hit with a bolt of lightening or something….. creativity I guess you could say, and now every idea comes bubbling up from inside of me and suddenly I’m speaking in tongues during the conversation. I say that metaphorically because no one else understands what I’m talking about, and I can’t explain it well enough to them as to why I thought the conversation we were just having is so amazing or powerful.  To them its just their ‘venting’ or ‘talking’, but to me it’s all beauty, surrender and love, amazing grace, on and on, and then immediately I think, “Wow, this could easily be turned into a product that could change lives.”

I know you both know what I’m talking about.  It’s just that I honestly feel like I can’t control my desire to create when this happens. I can only describe it as labor pains before the birth of a new baby that will bring so much fulfillment and joy and yet its incomprehensible because there is no time.

Is this what it feels like to lose it?  Could I be insane already and not realize it? Perhaps, but I’d rather think of it as a blessing that is more powerful than anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. I even wonder if this is, on a very small scale, the way God felt when he created the world, or how he still feels each time something new is created. It’s purely indescribable.

So that is where I’m at ladies. If this has frightened you my apologies. If not, then lets schedule a call asap. I have Tuesday of next week fairly open but that is the only day. Pick a time if that works for you and I’ll do my best to work around it.  I will record our call in case it’s brilliant – and we want to air it or create a bonus product out of it as a planning session for other entrepreneurial women who want to create. We can talk about whether or not a series is what we want to do or if just one call is sufficient.

Okay, I’m not going to re-read this because I don’t want to know how truly nuts it does sound. Denial is priceless when you have a lot going on. lol But if it frightens you and you’d rather not work together I will understand so don’t hesitate to be honest.

Abundant Blessings,”

Kellie

Why would I share such personal information with the world?

Maybe you are in the 2% of those who feel the need to constantly create but are held back by fear.  Maybe you too know the sting of pain when someone tells you your dream is just a silly idea or your idea is a silly dream.

There are plenty of others who DO understand and you are not alone.  If you are one of US….you need to connect!

Drop your name and email in to the right so we can keep in touch.  Comment below so we know who you are so we can tell you that your dream DOES matter.

It’s not always easy to take a trip when you have a tremendous amount going on in your work life, and your personal life, but if you are planning and preparing ahead of time you can relax while you vacation and make money.

I’ve always thought of myself as a moderately organized person, so what happens before I leave to go on a trip?  I shared in this video how important it is to plan and prepare so you can relax while you are away, knowing your company can still run, or your house hold will remain in tact.

Here are a few personal items to get organized before leaving on any journey. I hope you find them helpful.

• Be sure to leave emergency numbers where you can be reached by your staff or relatives

• Take enough money for tolls, cash on hand and credit if needed.

• Stock your car with:

• Favorite pre-bagged healthy snacks and lots of clean fruit

• A cooler with water and favorite drinks.

• CD’s, MP3′s, DVD’s, DVD Player, Games, Colored pencils, crayons, a few coloring books, sticker books, travel games, travel journal for older kids

• To avoid the difficulty of hauling in a suitcase for every person into a hotel for the 1 night stops, just pack an overnight bag that each person contributes to. This way you take one suitcase of clothes in.

• Do bring one small toiletry bag with everyone’s products

• Do be sure to grab a sweater or jacket for cooler evenings.

• Have motion sickness medicine handy to prevent illness

• Have an extra trash bag in back for kids to throw away empty containers or paper

• Bring a First Aid kit because you just never know when you might need to help someone out

• Have a tool bag, a jack and jumper cables in the trunk

Thanks to great sites like Go Florida, you can find check lists to stay organized with

Check them out!

Trip Check List
Whether traveling by car, plane or train – this printable packing check list is a must.

Trip Check List for Kids
Carry-on advice and packing “must haves” for every age child from babies to teens.

Hopefully you have found some great ideas for your next journey, whether on business or for pleasure. And don’t forget to make your own list of what to do before you return to the office.  Just choose the top 2 priority items until you get caught up on your rest.

Now that I am back in the swing of things after a 3000 mile trip – I get to open the mail I’ve received about my newest book, Connecting Faith, Hope and Love ~ Wake Up to a New Life!  I am blessed to say it’s changing lives.

I decided to return to this thread to respond, and to share on a much more personal level, after all, it comes down to how I live, not how someone else lives.

So here are my answers, and if you are brave enough to make yourself vulnerable maybe you’ll share your personal responses in the comment box below as well. I’d love to know your thoughts and to see how you are changing your corner of the world.

1. Change yourself.  “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” “As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the atomic age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”

My Response:  Consistently evolving is a constant in my life no matter how inconsistent I may feel about it on certain days.

2. You are in control. “Nobody can hurt me without my permission.”

My Response:  After losing friends to murder and watching a relative continually attacked as a kid,  I acknowledge that people can always hurt my physical body beyond my control, but God says they can never harm my spirit.  I understand Ghandi’s principle here and I agree 100%. Do I live it? Yes, MOST of the time, but as the saying goes, ‘when emotions go up, intelligence goes down’ so anything that triggers strong emotions can make it more challenging. Keeping my thoughts pure and positive helps me to maintain control over my emotions.

3. Forgive and let it go. “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.”

My Response: Ah yes, the biggest challenge for any human because we are taught to intellectually forgive without forgetting. But to do it from the heart and never bring back the sin is unique. The last time I was deeply hurt it took many days to let it go, where it use to take months sometimes years. I am getting much better at the practice of forgiveness.

4. Without action you aren’t going anywhere. “An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”

My Response: I take daily action to progress forward.  Sometimes I progress toward something and sometimes it’s away from something, but either way I am leading myself and/or others with my every action.  If I get stuck then I need to reframe my actions or thoughts. It is not my desire to lead anyone TO the water, or to make them drink, it IS my desire to make them thirsty enough to want to a drink, and lead themselves toward finding it.

5. Take care of this moment. “I do not want to foresee the future. I am concerned with taking care of the present. God has given me no control over the moment following.”

My Response: To master this has been a dream of mine since I was young, but particularly after my brain/spine injury. It meant I had to practice listening to whomever, whenever and wherever I was at the time. It took focus and sometimes sheer determination. I love to feel I’ve been successful as I reflect on this one principle, but every now and then someone or something comes along to remind me I still have a long way to go.

6. Everyone is human. “I claim to be a simple individual liable to err like any other fellow mortal. I own, however, that I have humility enough to confess my errors and to retrace my steps.” “It is unwise to be too sure of one’s own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.”

My Response: Several years ago I decided that the next time I wanted to judge or criticize someone else I would look back at myself to see when, or where, I may have done something similar. This one choice takes me back to forgiveness, and a realization I am no different than they are. Only my choices were different at the time. This makes forgiveness much easier.

7. Persist. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”

My Response: Now this one is my favorite! I’ve been ignored, I’ve been laughed at, I’ve been through the fight, so I now get to experience the wins!

8. See the good in people and help them.  “I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others.” “Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men.”

My Response: I use to have LOTS of trouble with this, but not any longer when I choose to see people through God’s eyes rather than my own. In doing so, I am able to show grace and mercy.  Thats when compassion flows like Niagra Falls.  I’m not kidding.

9. Be congruent, be authentic, be your true self.  “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”  “Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.”

My Response:  What I think and what I do are in harmony but there are sometimes incongruent ideas and messages that appear when you 1) depend on others to help you put them out to the world and 2) when you haven’t had enough sleep.  I am certainly authentic – much to the horror of my teenage daughter and possibly my husband, but if you want my opinion on something just ask. I will certainly be forthcoming.  And yes, having ‘pure’ thoughts is something I consistently work at.  Old habits try to return from an impure world often, but they no longer have a foothold in my life when I focus on the strength of being true to myself.

10. Continue to grow and evolve.  “Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position.”

My Response: Not a problem! Change is my middle name.

So thanks for asking the question that made me take a few moments to ponder whether or not I uphold these principles.  We would all do well to spend a few moments reflecting on ourselves rather than on the world.  Care to take a moment of your time to reflect and respond?