Asking for help: It’s a good thing

 

It’s not the load that breaks you down;

 

it’s the way you carry it.

 

Lena Horne

If you have confidence in yourself, tend to think independently, and make your own choices in life, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to discover you prefer to figure most things out by yourself. Because you are reasonably self-assured, you might not like to ask for help, even if it’s necessary. Whether we like it or not, every one of us could benefit from occasionally accepting a hand from another human being. Not only that, but when you ask for assistance, other people also stand to benefit in ways you may not always have considered.

9 reasons why you may want to ask someone to help you, even if you find it difficult to do

1. Things get done. You... Read more

Easter: Part of the process

 

A  man who was completely innocent,

 

offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of  others,

 

including his enemies,

 

and became the ransom of the world.

 

It was a  perfect act.

 

Mahatma  Gandhi

Text: John 20:15-7

¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who is it that you are looking for?” Thinking that he was the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you are the one who carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means “Teacher”).

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Getting from here to there

The work on the cross was part of a process. It was completed over the course of about 43 days.

Days after the crucifixion... Read more

What is servant leadership?

 

 

 

Serving others breaks you free from the shackles of self

 

and self-absorption that choke out

 

the joy of living.

 

James C. Hunter, The Servant

The word service generally carries with it some very negative connotations. The concept of leadership has only a slightly better reputation.  Many of us have been exposed to the term “servant leader,” and tend to think of it in a church or religious setting.  However, servant leadership is not confined to any particular or peculiar setting.

Servant leadership is a specific mindset which affects how you view and deal with the world around you, how you lead your own life, and how you lead others.  Now, I know what you are thinking.  “I am not a leader, so this doesn’t really apply to me.”  Au contraire, mon ami!

We are all leaders in some aspect of our lives, and often in several different roles.  First and foremost, you lead and manage yourself. You lead your families and friends.  You influence and lead people at work, even when you hold no leadership title.  Someone is always watching your behavior, trying to figure out who you really are, and will likely imitate some of what you do if they deem you a success or a role model.  This is exactly how we all learn to function in society. You watch and learn, you imitate, you keep what works and discard the rest.  So, like it or not, title or no, you, my friend are a leader.  The choice that you must now make is what kind of leader you be or become.

There are a few specific characteristics that apply to a servant leader. Well, they should probably apply to most leaders, but we are targeting “servants” specifically for today’s discussion.

1. Ego-less.  Servant leaders work at being other-serving, rather than self-serving.  Many people who rise to the top in their field tend to be driven there by our own ego or self-esteem.  Servant leaders lead from a position of strength and not ego. hip forces you to put your ego aside for the sake of others. Servant leaders know that the mission, goal, vision, well-being of others, pushing people to their fullest potential is about others, not about them.

Read more here...

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Managing your fear of rejection

 

 

A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step

in the pursuit of success. 

Bo Bennett

We all have all had those moments when we just don’t feel particularly comfortable with ourselves. Sometimes, you might feel yourself wondering whether other people actually like you, or not. This is a normal part of being human.

You may feel scared about meeting new people or getting together with your old friends. There are a whole host of reasons why you may have these concerns. Maybe you think you’re having a bad hair day or you are worried about those extra pounds you have put on over the holidays. These seem small when we say them here, but they can dampen your self-confidence. All these things can be part of your fear of rejection.

But if you are finding that the fears about rejection are taking up a lot of your time and thinking, perhaps it is time to consider ways to rid yourself of some of these worries. How?

Replace your fears with some solid strategy:

1. Get specific. What are you afraid of? Figure out what, specifically, you are afraid of. Are you worried that the opposite sex will be turned off by your looks or the clothes you wear? Maybe you think that others believe that you have nothing interesting to say. Are you afraid that you will say something silly and embarrass yourself?

- The point is that you need to know exactly what it is that you fear before you can try to tackle it.

Read more here...

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Influencing people: Its not rocket surgery

 

 Martina McGowan   

You don’t have to be a person of influence to be influential.

 

In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware

 

of the things they’ve taught me.

 

Scott Adams

Many people wonder why some people are so influential, while others are not. It is not magic or mystical powers that make this possible, but simply that these people tend to exude more confidence in themselves when compared to those who are not. They have higher self-esteem and are able to adapt easily and well to the social environments they find themselves in.
Having influence over others is not rocket surgery; I know, I know, a combination of two metaphors. But, you may be surprised at how easy it is, to use Dale Carnegie‘s phrase, “to win friends and influence other people. ” Not just with the way that you can shape or mold their opinion, but also win them over with the very way you think.

1. Demonstrate respect. First, you should always respect other people’s opinions or thoughts. Avoid making rude or negative comments or telling people that they are just plain wrong. This creates an atmosphere of animosity and does not send the proper message to other people about how you carry yourself. It also makes you seem closed–minded about things, especially with the way other’s think.

Avoid getting into arguments, and if presented with a situation where you may be tempted to do so, do your best to resist it. Never, ever try to get into a debate. Leave debates to their proper forum, which is rarely in the middle of a conversation or a meeting. Debates are suited for the academic or political arena, but never in social conversations or interactions.

Always try to start conversations in a friendly and accommodating manner. This reduces some of the initial tension and resistance, and tends to create a good first impression that will usually be repaid in kind. It is important to initiate communication in a way that makes people feel comfortable with you. Never, ever regret admitting that you are wrong about something. Make every effort to show people that you can openly and freely admit your mistakes whenever you get the chance.

Read more...

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Staying positive even when...

 

Staying positive even when you’re not feeling it

 

 Those who believe they can do something and

 

those who believe they can’t are both right.

 

 Henry Ford

Everyone has those days when you know it’s better to be upbeat and positive, but you’re just having a little trouble reaching that positive and productive state of mind. When you face challenges, and we all do, or feel overwhelmed by your responsibilities, and we all will every now and then, it can be very difficult to maintain a positive attitude.

Here are a few suggestions for ways to improve your mood and experience the inner peace you deserve:

1. Start your day with something positive. Decide each morning that you will start the day headed in the proper direction. Instead of waking up on the wrong side of the bed and setting the stage for a grouchy day, resolve to experience something positive first thing in the morning.
Routines help. Develop a morning routine that you can repeat daily to ease you into your day’s responsibilities. Determine which activities help improve your mood and put you on the path to positive thinking. Find two or three things you can do every morning that will set the stage for a successful day. As these become habits, add on to you routine little by little.
Establishing and keeping a routine will help your body and mind settle in and focus on what you need to accomplish. Instead of rushing around like a fool every morning or forgetting important details, your plan and routine will guide you through a peaceful set of steps that will keep your mind calm and focused and create unstoppable momentum... Read more here



Photo Credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via Compfight cc

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