Attitude of Gratitude

I am grateful for grandparents. I love that my children get the chance to grow up and love theirs.

Quotes to live by

"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way." ~ Napoleon Hill

Attitude of Gratitude

I am grateful for sunsets and no matter how hectic or busy life is, you can loose yourself in the moment of watching one.

Quotes to live by

"Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another." ~ Unknown Author

Letting go of perfectionism and embracing authenticity

I was listening to the radio when I heard the song "Human" by Christina Perry. It seems to describe the pain that is experienced when we are trying to be perfect for ourselves or someone else. The problem with perfectionism is that it often leads to being unauthentic.

I believe that in the pursuit of perfection we can become misguided believing that we have to change or hide some perceived "flaws" about ourselves. Pursuing perfection in and of itself is not a bad thing. The scriptures call us to "strive for perfection". Which I feel is a direction to "strive" for Christ, to be like Him and to do His will. But ultimately I believe that Christ desires us to be true to ourselves in our striving.

I believe that Christ wants us to be real and authentic even in being vulnerable and showing the flaws and imperfections of ourselves and our lives. He does not want us to hide who we are or the condition of our lives. If we are busy hiding we cannot begin the healing process, we cannot make improvements.

As the performer Drake says, "We are not here to fake perfection." We are going to make mistakes and we all have flaws. Christ simply asks us to strive for something better when we are able. And if we ask Him, He will always make us able.

Maybe it's time to free ourselves and others from the bondage of perfectionism and begin embracing authenticity. Even when being authentic may mean being vulnerable enough to show your imperfections for all the world to see. Just remember we are all full of imperfections. Please be patient with my imperfections while you seek patience for your own.

Below are the lyrics to "Human" by Christina Perry.


I can hold my breath
I can bite my tongue
I can stay awake for days
If that's what you want
Be your number one

I can fake a smile
I can force a laugh
I can dance and play the part
If that's what you ask
Give you all I am

I can do it

But I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human

I can turn it on
Be a good machine
If that's what you need
Be your everything

I can do it
I'll get through it

But I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human

I'm only human
Just a little human

I can take so much
'Till I've had enough

'Cause I'm only human
And I bleed when I fall down
I'm only human
And I crash and I break down
Your words in my head, knives in my heart
You build me up and then I fall apart
'Cause I'm only human

Attitude of Gratitude

I am so grateful for vacations and a chance to unwind. It's great to sit sometimes and just not think.

Quotes to live by

"Knowledge will give you power, but character respect." ~ Bruce Lee

Do not wait for leaders

I found a quote by Mother Teresa I want to share. "Do not wait for leaders; do it alone person to person."

For so much of my life I have waited for someone else to do it before I would act or move. Even if I felt inspired or motivated. I was paralyzed by my own fears and feelings of inadequacy. I have come to realize that the only time my fears have a foundation in truth is when I allow them to make me feel inadequate and I do nothing while I complain that no one is doing anything.

I have come to realize that even a little bit of good is better than none. And even if my efforts are wrought with mistakes, I now see that action is a lot more satisfying than day dreaming. I have always been full of creative imagination and beautiful dreams but neither serves me or anyone else as long as they stay inside of me as a good idea. They can only do the good they were inspired within me to make when I take the steps to make them a reality.

There are times to follow and seasons when we are called to lead. We will play both of these roles throughout or lives. But we will never know when we are called to lead if we are always waiting for someone else to do it for us.

Being a leader isn't about being perfect and never making a mistake. Being a leader is knowing that you are not perfect, you will make mistakes and acting anyway. Being a leader is not about doing great acts but acting greatly. Being a leader isn't about needing people to be inspired by you. It is about being inspired by the needs of the people.

At times you will follow. At times you will lead. The only way to know if you are to follow or lead is by acting on what your heart tells you is the next right step for you.

Attitude of Gratitude

I am so grateful for my classes. I love having the opportunity to expand my concept of myself and the way I perceive the world around me.

Quotes to live by

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances." ~ Viktor Frankl

The Change In Me

I was thinking about my blog and the goal I had set for myself last year. I wanted to find ways to be successful and see how I could change my life by changing the way I looked at my life. One thing I have come to realize is that I didn't change my life. There are a lot of things that are happening in my life that were happening last year. And yet, my life has changed because I do not feel the same way about my life now like the way I did last year.

My life didn't change because different things are happening in my life. My life has changed because I changed me and the way I am looking at my life. That includes the many things that are happening in my life daily that are just the same as they were before. I didn't miraculously create a new life by getting rid of all of my so called 'problems'. I live with the same people; a handful of munchkins and a husband. I am still working at learning how to manage my responses to their behaviors. I am still working at organizing my home, my time, and my money. And I am still working at learning many of the same life lessons as before. The thing that has changed and is making all the difference is my perspective, my attitude.

When my husband is upset and my children are fighting I am not automatically deciding that it means anything bad about them or me, most of the time. I realize that I am the one that puts the meaning to my experiences. Just as ten different people can all have the same experience but all of them have different thoughts and feelings about it, I am the one who decides what I think and feel about my life.

Regardless of what happens to me, I am the one who creates my world through the perspective I choose to have about me, my life, and my experiences. And so it is for you. You do not have to be held prisoner by what others think of you. You do not have to be trapped by your circumstances, experiences, or roles in life. You are the creator of your world through your thoughts and feelings. Your perspective creates your happiness and outlook on life. Your perspective decides if you will be free or live life in a cage.

In "Man's search for meaning", Viktor Frankl was in a concentration camp during WWII when he learned that you can rise above any situation and be at peace and have happiness. You control these things because you are the only one who creates your perspective. You are the sole driver. You create it. And as the creator you can change it at any time to serve you.

So how will you choose to see your life? It's completely up to you.

Attitude of Gratitude

I am grateful for my computer. It is my favorite and it is still working. Yeah! I love this computer. I love everything about it. I have the most fun when I get to use.

Quotes to live by

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." ~ Jimi Hendrix