The Dream Giver

I just finished reading the book The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson. He also wrote The Prayer of Jabez. I loved the book. What a great story. It really put things into perspective for me.

So many times I've wanted to pursue a dream. In the early years, I let people talk me out of it. You know, your friends and family who only have your best interests at heart, but they steal your dream. Sounds harsh I know, but it really is true. Unless your dream is to be the world's biggest drug dealer (or something along those lines) what harm is there in going after it.

As I got older and read more, I got to a place where what people thought of my dream didn't matter, but I still gave up because it was hard. Things didn't work out right away, or I failed. What I didn't understand is that there is some learning involved before you get to live your dream. As much as I wanted to believe I had it all figured out, there is so much more to know.

Now, I understand about learning but there's still more. There comes a point where you have to go all in. Are you willing to do whatever needs to be done, make the sacrifices that need to be made and have faith it will work out.

This is where I'm at. I'm standing on the edge, trying to decide if I am willing to give all I can to make my dream work. After struggling all these years, it's hard to put yourself out there one more time. It's hard to push away the doubts and the negative and focus on the big picture. I know it will be worth it, but sometimes I just wish it was easy.

Time

"The only thing even in this world are the number of hours in a day. The difference in winning or losing is what you do with those hours."
Woody Hayes

I sometimes feel like other people must have so much more time that I do because they are able to do so much. But we all have the same number of hours in a day, it comes down to how we choose to use them. I find myself focusing on what I can't seem to get done rather than focusing on doing the best I can. I have also realized that sometimes you have to get up off the couch even when you don't feel like it. It's so easy for me to come home from work tired and use that as an excuse to not do anything. Then I'm kicking myself for not getting things done. Usually a few focused minutes will go along way.

I've got too many things that I need to accomplish that I will use my time productively. I'll get my relaxing time, I always do. This way, I can relax without feeling like I've let myself down.

Stress

Have you ever had something weighing on your mind? The last week and a half have been really difficult. We had an issue to resolve at work and boy was it hard. Nothing I can go into here, but lets just say I have been under some stress.

What I didn't realize is how much it effected me outside of work. I caught a cold, I felt tired all the time even after eight hours of sleep, I just really did not want to do anything or be around anyone. (not so good when you have a family)

Now that the situation has past, I look back and realize that I felt the stress because I wanted things to work out one way and there was really no way that was going to happen. I find myself trying to fix things and sometimes you just have to accept things the way they are. It doesn't mean you've failed it just means that you can't control the situation.

When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are
challenged to change ourselves. ~Victor Frankl

I now have my challenge. It's me that needs to change. Each day needs to have some time set aside to focus on personal growth. Not always easy to do, but I think that it's got to feel way better than how I've been feeling these last few days!!

Negative

"There is a basic law that like attracts like. Negative thinking definitely attracts negative results. Conversely, if a person habitually thinks optimistically and hopefully his positive thinking sets in motion creative forces - and success instead of eluding him flows toward him."

Norman Vincent Peale

It's a long quote but it really sums up my thoughts today. I've been fighting the negativity all week. It's so easy to get caught up in those thoughts. I wish I was always positive. Looking at the bright side or seeing the glass half full. But no, I tend to find the down side or list 100 reasons why it just won't work.

Today I decided enough is enough. No more negative. From now on when I have a choice, I will choose to be positive. I know I can do it, I just have to focus a bit more and make sure I don't always default to that negative attitude.

"Change your thoughts and you change your world."
Norman Vincent Peale

Patience

I used to think I was a patient person. And I guess in some ways I am but there are some times when I get so frustrated because things are not happening like I want them to. Or they aren't happening when I want them to. I think that is the most frustrating one. I want it to happen right now, actually yesterday would be better.

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”

What a wake up call. Right now things are stressful at work. It seems like my focus is everywhere but on the things I really want to do. I have all these ideas that I want to put into place, but I haven't been able to. Boo, Woo; Boo Woo.

I just need to keep going. Small steps in the right direction are better than no steps at all. Sometimes I just have to get a reality check to get myself back on track.

Poor Me

Some days I just want to have a pity party. I don't know why but I'm just feeling sorry for myself today.

When I get this way I've found that the best way to get past it is to count my blessings. It seems like when I focus on all the good things in my life, I tend to be less focused on what I think is lacking or not exactly the way I want it.

So, today I am grateful for my family; my husband and kids, my home, my job, my health, my opportunities to learn, my challenges (more chances to learn), my seminary class, my cars, my clothes, my freedom, my friends, and my faith

How can I feel sorry for myself when I have so much. I am blessed with so much I have no reason to complain.

Failure

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"

~Dr. Robert Schuller

I know that there are so many things that I want to do but I never get around to doing them. Sometimes it's because I decide that it wasn't really something I was interested in after all, but most of the time, I walk away because I'm scared I will fail.

Most of my life I have chosen the things I want to do based on one criteria. "Can I do it?" If I didn't think I could, I never tried it. Play it safe was my motto. Do only those things you know you will succeed at. There were still failures but I could justify them with the thought of how much worse it could have been.

Over the past 15 years or so I've read a lot of books. They've taught me different things, but I never changed how I looked at the things I wanted to try. This year has changed all that. I have been introduced to a new way of thinking. I have met people who have made decisions to do what they love and are successful at it. I've learned that sometimes the hardest step to take is the first one.

So far my steps have been very small. But little by little I know I will work my way down the path to the goal I'm working towards. Sure there maybe some failure along the way, but I'll never know what I can do if I never get out there and try.

"You are probably only one step away from greatness." ~Bob Proctor