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

Copies

"You were born an original. Don't die a copy."~John Mason

I really liked this quote, it made me think back to high school. I wanted so bad to fit in. I was different, I guess now maybe I would say an original, but I so wanted to be a copy. I know now that I will never be like everyone else, because I have been given my own unique talents, gifts and abilities. Rather than fight it, hide them away and pretend that they don't exist, I've decided to embrace them, grow them and do my best to share them with others around me. Everyday I am able to benefit from the talents, gifts and abilities of those I come in contact with. I just hope that I am able to give something back in return.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. ~Gotama Buddha

Habits

I read that psychological studies have shown that it takes about 30 days to form or break a habit.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."~Aristotle

I started this blog to record the things I have learned and share how the principle has helped me. I hoped to blog every day. That hasn't happened, but I see now that it's because I haven't made it a habit. I haven't repeatedly done it. By working on this I not only will blog everyday but I will also study and learn everyday so I have something to write about.

How much better will I be if I am learning and applying new principles on a daily basis, rather than once a week or twice a month.

"The true road to personal improvement is not miraculous; it is slow and calls for a great deal of perseverance, but it is indeed possible to progress along this road, and your effort will be amply repaid." ~David Fischman