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Posts tagged ‘Motivation’

Nov 30

Transformation Time

“Time flies never to be recalled.” – Virgil

“Nobody’s going to do your life for you. You have to do it yourself, whether you’re rich or poor, out of money or raking it in, the beneficiary of ridiculous fortune or terrible injustice. And you have to do it no matter what is true. No matter what is hard. No matter what unjust, sad, sucky things befall you. Self-pity is a dead-end road. You make the choice to drive down it. It’s up to you to decide to stay parked there or to turn around and drive out.”― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

When circling the cul-de-sac of comparison, fairness, control, disappointment, expectations, hard right out.
Leave the familiar and flat behind, venture out and go deeper.
New map, new path, new territory.
Be kind and generous along the way, share the road, make space for other.
In the stillness of winter, create your spring.
Transformation time.

“Breaching out of their rooted darkness, breakthroughs are seeds of nonconformity determined to sprout into the light of freethinking.”― Monica Gagliano

Aug 19

Not Done Yet

“To have courage for whatever comes in life – everything lies in that.” – Saint Teresa of Avila

When others say it’s over and you still have more to do, to give
You are not done yet
When you begin to doubt yourself and think it may be true
You are not done yet
When you are bypassed, discarded, dismissed
You are not done yet
When the call gets softer and the noise gets louder
You are not done yet
When you are too old, too young, too this, too that
You are not done yet
Keep believing and doing the work to become who you were created to be
You are not done yet
Run your race, cross the finish line
You are not done yet

“Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire.”― St. Catherine of Siena

Jun 24

Belonging

“The truth is: Belonging starts with self-acceptance. Your level of belonging, in fact, can never be greater than your level of self-acceptance, because believing that you’re enough is what gives you the courage to be authentic, vulnerable and imperfect. – Brené Brown

Like the rings of a tree, begin with the core but don’t stop there. Move out ring by ring into the world, anchored in self-acceptance and authenticity. Take your unique imperfect self and dive into experiences wrought with uncertainty, hone your talents and give away all of the gifts you’ve been given.

You belong. You are worthy. The world needs you. Dream and then put legs under it by doing the work. Show up for your life each day. Time’s not waiting, nor should you.

Brené Brown’s The Power of Vulnerability Ted Talk

“I spent a lot of years trying to outrun or outsmart vulnerability by making things certain and definite, black and white, good and bad. My inability to lean into the discomfort of vulnerability limited the fullness of those important experiences that are wrought with uncertainty: Love, belonging, trust, joy, and creativity to name a few.” – Brené Brown

Jun 5

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Charge the Hill

“Always continue the climb. It is possible for you to do whatever you choose, if you first get to know who you are and are willing to work with a power that is greater than ourselves to do it.” – Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“Most of us have two lives: the life we live, and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands Resistance.” – Steven Pressfield

Without fail, every time we hit the incline into the woods, the girls charge the hill. Not fast but steady momentum. Forward motion.

Resistance is a guarantee. Downhill coasts come from uphill climbs. Ups, downs and steady. Circles, cycles and seasons. It’s the ebb and flow of life.

When we stop trying to change the inevitable and change our perspective, daily joy can enter and take hold. The battle is in the mind, not in our circumstances.

Charge the hill, take the mountain. Stop pondering and do the work. Sprinkle it with some enthusiasm and a side of joy along the way. And don’t forget to coast on the downhill and let the wind move through you.

“Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second, we can sit down and do our work.” – Steven Pressfield

Oct 28

Always Earned

This afternoon, I received the Marine Corp Marathon shirt and medal for finishing. This year was different, which is an understatement to describe 2020. I registered in March, trained all spring and summer and it was canceled in August.

I trained for months, so I decided to keep going through fall and run it in the Twin Cities in October. I ran it a week early to beat a possible October snow. Sure enough, it snowed the week after I ran it. I was grateful to run in 30 degree sunny weather rather than snow. I’ve taken the past week and a half off to rest up from over six months of training five days a week. I’m getting restless and thinking about the next goal line, the next long run.

I’m not one for medals, but this one is a special one to be sure. It marks an earned effort over months to run 26.2 miles and finish, even if I was not able to run it in Washington DC with the Marines.

This year has been marked by a tremendous amount of uncertainty and angst. And also along side of it, plenty of blessings and self-awareness, even joy if we chose to succumb.

No matter what happens after the election or where this pandemic will lead next, we are bigger, stronger and deeper than our circumstances. Keep rising while also allowing yourself to indulge in generous self-care.

No one knows what will happen next, but we do know the strength and resilience of the human spirit when set free.

Meaningful progress and outcomes – always earned. Hope and grace – always given.

Jun 8

Independence Day Early and Ongoing – LET IT GO!

“To find yourself, think for yourself.”
– Socrates

“Every human has four endowments – self-awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom… The power to choose, to respond, to change.” – Stephen Covey

Too often the past screws us up. We remember and internalize a comment, an action or inaction, a pattern. We build a lifetime of misery based on bullshit someone threw out and passed on that creates a limiting belief and narrative that narrows the world. We carry this angst for years and decades. My response – HELL NO!

Life is short. You have talents, beauty and gifts to contribute. The world needs you so engage, act and participate. Let go and release all of the BS that doesn’t serve, foster and catapult you forward.

Purpose. Love. Joy. Contribution.

We are so much bigger than we allow. Let it go and become who you are meant to be. Enjoy the journey, it is a short one. No fear. No regrets. Yes to adventure! Yes to Yes.

Oct 14

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Jump Start

I wasn’t feeling it this morning, so I was going to put off posting until tonight. Putting it off is the recipe for not doing it. Stop procrastinating and start right where you are now. Change your attitude and perspective.

When you don’t feel it inside, go outside for some inspiration, motivation and optimism. Day 14 – 30 day positive thinking habit. Make it a GREAT day!

Here’s 5 Positive Quotes to Jump Start Your Day!:

  1. “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.” – Norman Vincent Peale
  2. “Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.” – Henri Nouwen
  3. “Few things in the world are more powerful than a positive push. A smile. A world of optimism and hope. A ‘you can do it’ when things are tough.” – Richard M. DeVos
  4. “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.” – Patricia Neal
  5. “It takes but one positive thought when given a chance to survive and thrive to overpower an entire army of negative thoughts.” – Robert H. Schuller

Nov 20

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The Unknowing

“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

We want to know the end before we start. We hesitate, freeze, hold back, analyze and run the opposite direction of the unknowing. We take comfort in the familiar, especially when it’s time to move on. But it is in the unknowing, in the mystery, we find our true capacity, strength, depth, resolve, resilience and at its core, our very soul and its longing.

Keep moving and release the hollow fear that is holding you back from fullness of living, from the very breath of life. Return again and again to a beginner’s mind, ready to learn, to make mistakes, to risk being the fool. For the fool is unhindered from what others think and self-imposed limitations. The fool transforms into a genius by moving swiftly into the unknowing until it becomes known.

Move fiercely into the unknown and discover with a renewed enthusiasm where the road less taken will lead you.

“Oh the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all.”

― Dr. Seuss

Apr 13

3 Comments

Do

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” – Moliere

Words unsaid. Deeds undone. Forgiveness held back. Talents buried. Regret is most often found in the midst of what we choose not to do. As this week leads to Easter, to redemption and the gift of grace, we can be jolted out of our complacency to live better, more deeply and with great joy.

Say more, do more, forgive more and become who you are meant to be.

Jan 1

3 Comments

Promises

“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” – Cavett Robert

While a new year invites a clean slate, we can create that clean slate in each new day. We need not wait for a year to pass to commit to living well, loving deeper, giving more and laughing harder. Instead of resolutions, we can make promises to ourselves and others, not taking them lightly and putting in the effort and attention needed. And each day, we can transform those promises into reality, a step at a time, with the sustained enthusiasm and joy.

Happy new year, happy new day.

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