As we closed out 2016 and looked forward to 2017, many evaluated the year with questions such as: “was the glass half empty or half full this year?” The answer to that question depended on your perspective! And your perspective determined what goals and resolutions you did or didn’t set for the New Year. As we near the end of the first quarter of 2017, it’s time to reflect and evaluate our progress, and more importantly reevaluate our perspective again. [Read more…]
When We Question the Creator
A few years ago I picked up a ceramic cup I had made in college. It is one of the few pieces I have left from my days as a potter. The cup held fond memories as I felt the weight of it in my hand. I remember forming it with my own hands. And when it was just the right dryness, I’d turned it upside down and trimmed the base so that it was the perfect thickness. I’d created the handle and attached it to its form. It took time and a piece of me went into its creation. When it was finished, I signed my name to the bottom. I placed it in a kiln and waited.
The Creator Loves the Creation
When it came out of the furnace, I covered it with a special glaze. I wasn’t the best at calligraphy, but wanted my mom to know I’d made the cup for her alone, and I wanted it to be personal…so I gently inscripted a letter “R” on the front for “Rose”. I wasn’t sure I liked the letter, but remembered thinking…“it will do.” I put the cup back into the kiln for the final step to make it ready. I loved my creation… and even though it wasn’t perfect, I was proud. I’d made it with my hands and with my heart for someone I loved.
On Faith: Enjoying the Free Fall
I’ve jumped off this cliff with both feet.
Is this what “faith” is?
I’m in a free fall.
Panic sets in.
Will there be a “splat” at the end of this journey? [Read more…]
Real Change: How Does it Happen?
So many times, my head knows what is true… but my heart doesn’t quite get the message. It’s been said, “The longest journey that a man must take is the 18 inches from his head to his heart.” I see it most around 3 am, when I wake up and can’t seem to turn off my brain. I start to worry… a low level anxiety begins to seep into my night.
It has only been in the last few years that this began to change.
How did that happen? [Read more…]
Learning to Back Float
I talked with a client once who’d been dealing with some depression. Though she was a mature believer, she found herself struggling in her relationship with God. She felt like she’d been placed in a pool, a rather large pool, in the deep end. Maybe, just maybe, she’d even asked God to put her there.
She’d been a pretty good swimmer in the toddler pool. She was actually one of the more accomplished swimmers there. But now, in this season, in the ‘big’ pool of life, she was flailing. Her times with God were forced and strained. Rather than coming away refreshed, she found herself exhausted every time. She was fighting depression and condemnation. She ‘should’ know how to do this swimming thing, but it had been a struggle to just keep her head up and not drown. [Read more…]
Are You Busy or Just Stuck?
I don’t know about you, but I find that I keep pretty busy with life. Somehow “stuff” fills up whatever amount of time I have. I just can’t seem to find time for the things I know I “should” be doing.
As I started to examine this—noticing what I had time for and what I continued to put off, a pattern emerged. The things I put off were the things that were in areas outside my comfort zone. I got really honest, and realized there was some (ok, more than just “some”) fear around those areas. My “busy-ness” was a way of avoiding the things I didn’t want to do. [Read more…]
When Making a Difference Seems Impossible
“These things that are impossible with people are possible with God” – Jesus
A successful young leader was talking to Jesus, seeking to move from being merely success-driven to a life of eternal significance. But what he heard from Jesus seemed difficult, seemingly impossible and he walked away sad. Ever find yourself feeling that way – something in your life seems impossible – that there’s got to be more to life than just success?
[Read more…]
Why You Should Choose a Word of the Year
So there’s a lot of talk about picking a word-of-the-year this time of year. Why all the fuss? Why throw out the tradition of New Year’s resolutions? It’s all the same- right?
When You Want Real Change
Well, no. There is a big difference between the two. With Resolutions, we often have long lists of what we will do–Lose weight, eat right, get organized. Although our intentions are good— our good intentions don’t create lasting change. As a matter of fact, by mid January 50% of our resolutions are already history. Statistically, 92% of our resolutions fail. 92%! This can create a cycle of discouragement and defeat that is not helpful in achieving sustainable change. Here are a few reasons why you might want to join us on the word-of-the-year club this year:
Reflections That Create AWEsome Resolutions
Time to pull out our 2016 Scorecards and reflect back on the year’s results: wins and loses, strengths and weaknesses, gains and shortfalls. What would it be worth if you could shift the results of your 2017 New Year Resolutions from average (50% of all resolutions die within 6 months) to AWEsome? Today I’ll give you a very practical Reflection Exercise that can powerfully Shift your perspective, your Scorecard, and hopefully your 2017 Resolutions and Results in AWEsome ways! [Read more…]
Which Brain Do Agile Leaders Speak From? (Day 20)
If a Leader’s Action is their Speaking, which side of the brain speaks forth better results? And just as our brain works in different capacities between factual rationalization and intuitive imagination, how do our Speech Acts of Assertions and Assessments correlate to that? Let’s dive in and find some answers as well as gain some skill to grow our own leadership agility! [Read more…]