“The commitment to do our best is not about perfection.
Doing our best is about offering what we can give with the highest level of integrity and most sincere intention. It is about knowing in our hearts we have made every effort we were able to make in any given situation.
Sometimes the greatest effort we can make appears small. It matters not as much whether our endeavors live up to someone else’s standards but how confidently we can say we stayed true to our own.
When we do our best, it is inevitable: We Flourish."
Christine Mason Miller from her book Ordinary Sparkling Moments
Monday, September 28, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Your Fuel
What fills you up?
What gives you energy?
When do you notice that you are doing things with a skip in your step and a smile on your face?
As I reflect on these questions, I may answer with a list of things that fill me up like:
• Exercise
• Walking and talking with a close friend
• Wearing a new outfit
• Getting much needed rest
• Prayer or meditation
• Accomplishing something important
• Receiving a compliment
This list of what fills us up, our FUEL, will be different for each one of us and very worthwhile to think about especially if you are tired and want more energy or you are in the midst of one of life’s transitions.
There is one thing, that I propose, that is on all of our lists. It is a universal “fuel-er”. No, not money or winning the lottery! It is “living out our life’s intention”. Each one of us has a special gift or a unique calling. When we step into it and truly act on it in our life, it feels great. We feel alive. When we honor this gift and are in our life “being” this gift or acting on it, we feel full, content, joy-filled. We have energy.
Recently, I attended a training session on Screamfree Parenting. I spent 2 and ½ days with a wonderful group of women. We took time out to put together a list of the people we admired and we looked at the qualities that we admire in others.
We took the qualities that spoke to our heart the loudest and put these qualities on a note card. One of my values (or qualities I admired) was “to inspire”. The facilitator let us know that these qualities are what we value and what’s most important. These qualities are who you are. Then he challenged me and said, I think yours is leader. At first, I noticed myself shying away from this term. It sounded too strong. And then, I realized. He was right. I love being a leader and when I’m not, I feel suffocated! Mine is leadership and being a leader. When I’m not leading and I’m on “the sidelines” in my life about something, I have low energy. When I’m leading the way about something I am passionate about, I feel strong and full of energy.
Go ahead then … answer the questions! Take some quiet time to reflect and start noticing what fills you up. You might just name your life’s intention in the process. And when you do, go out and be it or do it!
What gives you energy?
When do you notice that you are doing things with a skip in your step and a smile on your face?
As I reflect on these questions, I may answer with a list of things that fill me up like:
• Exercise
• Walking and talking with a close friend
• Wearing a new outfit
• Getting much needed rest
• Prayer or meditation
• Accomplishing something important
• Receiving a compliment
This list of what fills us up, our FUEL, will be different for each one of us and very worthwhile to think about especially if you are tired and want more energy or you are in the midst of one of life’s transitions.
There is one thing, that I propose, that is on all of our lists. It is a universal “fuel-er”. No, not money or winning the lottery! It is “living out our life’s intention”. Each one of us has a special gift or a unique calling. When we step into it and truly act on it in our life, it feels great. We feel alive. When we honor this gift and are in our life “being” this gift or acting on it, we feel full, content, joy-filled. We have energy.
Recently, I attended a training session on Screamfree Parenting. I spent 2 and ½ days with a wonderful group of women. We took time out to put together a list of the people we admired and we looked at the qualities that we admire in others.
We took the qualities that spoke to our heart the loudest and put these qualities on a note card. One of my values (or qualities I admired) was “to inspire”. The facilitator let us know that these qualities are what we value and what’s most important. These qualities are who you are. Then he challenged me and said, I think yours is leader. At first, I noticed myself shying away from this term. It sounded too strong. And then, I realized. He was right. I love being a leader and when I’m not, I feel suffocated! Mine is leadership and being a leader. When I’m not leading and I’m on “the sidelines” in my life about something, I have low energy. When I’m leading the way about something I am passionate about, I feel strong and full of energy.
Go ahead then … answer the questions! Take some quiet time to reflect and start noticing what fills you up. You might just name your life’s intention in the process. And when you do, go out and be it or do it!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
The Wakeboarding Metaphor
Have you ever noticed that in order to get up and out of the water on skis or a wakeboard, the skier needs to let the boat pull them out of the water gently? If you try to stand up on your own or force yourself out of the water, you fall flat on your face. As I sat on the ski boat this weekend and watched my kids wakeboard, I noticed that in order to get up and out of the water on the board, you have to let the boat “pull you up” vs. try to stand up on your own or stand up too fast.
This “let the boat pull you out” vs. use your force to get out, became a metaphor for how to handle difficult situations in life. How is it for us when we let our higher power “pull us out” vs. try to control things ourselves?
Think of a time in your life or a situation you are struggling with right now. Are you trying to take control with force? Or, are you trusting in the love of God and letting God’s grace “pull you up” gently?
What happens if we practice praying for what we want things to look and feel like and then trust in a higher power to “pull us out” when the timing is right? This trust in God, the divine, or a higher power requires us to be fluid and flexible. We are not alone. We are not always in control. Sometimes we fight and try so hard, when perhaps we would benefit by slowing down, connecting with our higher power in our heart and our soul and letting ourselves be pulled or directed gently to the place we need to be. Try, as we often do, to take control of the timing, and the outcome, and notice what happens. Learn to trust, be patient and be guided … what happens then?
Daily Word, Aug. 11, 2009
GRACE
Thank You, God, for Your grace.
Dear God, Your grace transforms my consciousness. In moments of contemplation and prayer, I feel Your presence within, and I am healed and whole. I open to wisdom and Your light shows me the way. I claim abundance and feel Your love supporting me.
Your grace blesses me abundantly and completely.
The people and situations I hold in prayer are being uplifted and transformed by Your loving, healing presence.
Thank You, God, for Your grace, which gently leads me through any time of uncertainty. I see beyond current circumstances and know that all is well.
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."--John 1:14
This “let the boat pull you out” vs. use your force to get out, became a metaphor for how to handle difficult situations in life. How is it for us when we let our higher power “pull us out” vs. try to control things ourselves?
Think of a time in your life or a situation you are struggling with right now. Are you trying to take control with force? Or, are you trusting in the love of God and letting God’s grace “pull you up” gently?
What happens if we practice praying for what we want things to look and feel like and then trust in a higher power to “pull us out” when the timing is right? This trust in God, the divine, or a higher power requires us to be fluid and flexible. We are not alone. We are not always in control. Sometimes we fight and try so hard, when perhaps we would benefit by slowing down, connecting with our higher power in our heart and our soul and letting ourselves be pulled or directed gently to the place we need to be. Try, as we often do, to take control of the timing, and the outcome, and notice what happens. Learn to trust, be patient and be guided … what happens then?
Daily Word, Aug. 11, 2009
GRACE
Thank You, God, for Your grace.
Dear God, Your grace transforms my consciousness. In moments of contemplation and prayer, I feel Your presence within, and I am healed and whole. I open to wisdom and Your light shows me the way. I claim abundance and feel Your love supporting me.
Your grace blesses me abundantly and completely.
The people and situations I hold in prayer are being uplifted and transformed by Your loving, healing presence.
Thank You, God, for Your grace, which gently leads me through any time of uncertainty. I see beyond current circumstances and know that all is well.
"And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth."--John 1:14
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Don't Just Be In The Moment - "Flip" Over It
Are you looking for a way to have more fun with your kids, learn something new and experience your moments to the fullest this summer? Check out this Flip video we made while painting at Grandma's house.
To make this video, we bought a Flip video camcorder which you can purchase at Costco, Amazon.com or other local stores for around $118-178.00. This small device fits into your pocket and you can take it with you everywhere and be ready to capture any moment!
This video was taken of my children painting with their Grandma. We took the Flip video with us on our long car ride to New York this summer and had so much fun recording our moments. It's so easy to use. My 10 year old daughter loads the videos and creates clips and videos to share with our family. This video camcorder fits into the USB port of your computer and within minutes downloads a video clip which you can share or store.
To have even more fun, we are playing a game with our cousins who live in Anchorage, Alaska and it is called "Top That Fun". To play the game all you need to do is take video clips that are funny and show the fun you are having. We send these clips to our cousins via email so they can watch the videos and have a good chuckle. The kids are learning a lot about how to take a video, what makes a good video, how to store the video and how to share it in a creative way. We use Smilebox to help us create interesting videos.
Get into your moments this summer in a bigger way! Send us your fun family video moment and we'll post it on our Families At Their Best blog!
To make this video, we bought a Flip video camcorder which you can purchase at Costco, Amazon.com or other local stores for around $118-178.00. This small device fits into your pocket and you can take it with you everywhere and be ready to capture any moment!
This video was taken of my children painting with their Grandma. We took the Flip video with us on our long car ride to New York this summer and had so much fun recording our moments. It's so easy to use. My 10 year old daughter loads the videos and creates clips and videos to share with our family. This video camcorder fits into the USB port of your computer and within minutes downloads a video clip which you can share or store.
To have even more fun, we are playing a game with our cousins who live in Anchorage, Alaska and it is called "Top That Fun". To play the game all you need to do is take video clips that are funny and show the fun you are having. We send these clips to our cousins via email so they can watch the videos and have a good chuckle. The kids are learning a lot about how to take a video, what makes a good video, how to store the video and how to share it in a creative way. We use Smilebox to help us create interesting videos.
Get into your moments this summer in a bigger way! Send us your fun family video moment and we'll post it on our Families At Their Best blog!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
You're The Best Dad A Kid Could Ever Have
Here's a great story that reminds us of the importance of appreciating DADs. Encourage your children to tell their dad what they appreciate about him the most!
From Bob Proctor's Insight Of the Day:
Here is your Friday story
The Best Dad
Years ago I heard a story of a dad named Paul who gave his young son a small chalkboard to practice writing on. One evening his son called out from the bedroom, "Dad, how do you spell best?"
Paul answered him. Moments later, the boy hollered, "How do you spell kid?"
Finally he asked, "How do you spell ever?"
When the boy showed him what he'd written on the chalkboard, Paul expected to see "I'm the best kid ever." Instead, the boy beamed as Paul read the message: "You're the best dad a kid can ever have."
Paul recalled that it was one of the best days of his life. In fact, he had to buy his son another chalkboard because he wanted to save this message forever and hang it on his wall. It's still there.
Feeling appreciated is enormously important to adults as well as children. So much so that we often don't think enough about what we'd most like to be appreciated for.
Being appreciated at work is a big deal. Who doesn't want approval and respect from one's boss and coworkers? Beyond the economic value of raises, promotions, and commendations, praise can be gratifying and motivating. That's why good employers look for opportunities to acknowledge and thank employees for their contributions.
Yet as meaningful as work recognition is, if you could choose between winning your child's "Best Mom/Dad A Kid Can Ever Have" award and being named "Best Employee," which would you choose?
The point is not to belittle the pursuit of approval in your business life but to remind you how much more meaningful it is to know you're important to and appreciated by the people who love and need you the most. Your most important job in life is to be worthy of that appreciation.
Being the "best ever" mom or dad, husband or wife, or friend - it doesn't get any better than that.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Sent to you as a courtesy of:
Bob Proctor
Watch a great video with Bob Proctor.
To learn something new please go to the
following website.
Click here now:
http://store.sixminutestosuccess.com/?aid=583790
From Bob Proctor's Insight Of the Day:
Here is your Friday story
The Best Dad
Years ago I heard a story of a dad named Paul who gave his young son a small chalkboard to practice writing on. One evening his son called out from the bedroom, "Dad, how do you spell best?"
Paul answered him. Moments later, the boy hollered, "How do you spell kid?"
Finally he asked, "How do you spell ever?"
When the boy showed him what he'd written on the chalkboard, Paul expected to see "I'm the best kid ever." Instead, the boy beamed as Paul read the message: "You're the best dad a kid can ever have."
Paul recalled that it was one of the best days of his life. In fact, he had to buy his son another chalkboard because he wanted to save this message forever and hang it on his wall. It's still there.
Feeling appreciated is enormously important to adults as well as children. So much so that we often don't think enough about what we'd most like to be appreciated for.
Being appreciated at work is a big deal. Who doesn't want approval and respect from one's boss and coworkers? Beyond the economic value of raises, promotions, and commendations, praise can be gratifying and motivating. That's why good employers look for opportunities to acknowledge and thank employees for their contributions.
Yet as meaningful as work recognition is, if you could choose between winning your child's "Best Mom/Dad A Kid Can Ever Have" award and being named "Best Employee," which would you choose?
The point is not to belittle the pursuit of approval in your business life but to remind you how much more meaningful it is to know you're important to and appreciated by the people who love and need you the most. Your most important job in life is to be worthy of that appreciation.
Being the "best ever" mom or dad, husband or wife, or friend - it doesn't get any better than that.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Sent to you as a courtesy of:
Bob Proctor
Watch a great video with Bob Proctor.
To learn something new please go to the
following website.
Click here now:
http://store.sixminutestosuccess.com/?aid=583790
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Parents At Thier Best Get Energy By Inserting TABs
Want to have more energy? Try inserting a few TABs into your day. TAB stands for Take A Break. You see these words ... take a break ... and what comes to mind for you?
For me, being a mother of four children age 8-13, at home with my children this summer, what comes to mind for me is – Yeah, right – a break, what’s that? I had a friend say … “ I never sit down during the day or just sit and relax on purpose. I’m always in motion doing something. Why can't I just sit?" Have you ever thought about how often you "just sit" during the day? Even if you are sitting or you aren't physically in motion, I bet your mind is thinking about what’s next and running through the never ending “to do” list. When do we let our mind just “sit” and do nothing?
Do you feel like that? Are you someone who is always doing something? Is your mind always thinking about the next “to do”? Here are a few questions to think about:
1. Why don’t we allow ourselves the opportunity to take a break (TAB)?
2. How important is it for us to TAB?
3. What does TAB look like? Feel like?
Yesterday was day 3 of the kids being home from school (but whose counting) and I already noticed a shift into low gear (thankfully). I “took a break” (TABed) yesterday at several times during the day. Of course, I didn’t think of it as a break until just now, as I reflect on this topic and write this blog. Here were my TABs:
• Meditating and writing in the early a.m.
• Watching old home movies on DVD in the afternoon
• Walking with a friend before dinner
• Writing website content while waiting for my son at batting practice.
So what defines a break? Even though I was doing something (i.e. writing, walking, watching) I defined that as a break, because it represented “me time” … time spent rejuvenating me. I wonder then, if you are the type of person who is constantly doing something …
Is doing something you enjoy, something that fills you up, considered a TAB?
It depends on what you want and what’s important to you! It helps me to see some of the times during the day that I am doing what I enjoy as a TAB. It may not be a sit-down-and-be-quiet type of break, but it is still a break from parenting, being a mother, housecleaning, and my normal day-to-day responsibilities.
What will your TABs be today? What is best for you? Will you notice when you TAB? Please email me at rayannecoy@mac.com and I'll post your ideas.
This article was inspired by:
Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
MY BREAK
In this very moment, I claim my health and wholeness.
Taking a break from the activities of the day, I am renewed with energy. In a quiet, reflective time, I am stress-free and prepared for God's healing power within to build up my stamina.
I sustain my health and energy by taking several breaks during the day from whatever is happening in the outer. Whether for a few minutes in the midst of planning or carrying out plans, or for a few weeks between semesters, job searches, or life-changing moments--I take time to focus on and discern what is best for me. Such times for regeneration support the health of every cell and function of my body.
During meditative prayer, concerns dissipate, answers come, and healing flows freely.
"Because you have asked ... for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind."--1 Kings 3:11-12
For me, being a mother of four children age 8-13, at home with my children this summer, what comes to mind for me is – Yeah, right – a break, what’s that? I had a friend say … “ I never sit down during the day or just sit and relax on purpose. I’m always in motion doing something. Why can't I just sit?" Have you ever thought about how often you "just sit" during the day? Even if you are sitting or you aren't physically in motion, I bet your mind is thinking about what’s next and running through the never ending “to do” list. When do we let our mind just “sit” and do nothing?
Do you feel like that? Are you someone who is always doing something? Is your mind always thinking about the next “to do”? Here are a few questions to think about:
1. Why don’t we allow ourselves the opportunity to take a break (TAB)?
2. How important is it for us to TAB?
3. What does TAB look like? Feel like?
Yesterday was day 3 of the kids being home from school (but whose counting) and I already noticed a shift into low gear (thankfully). I “took a break” (TABed) yesterday at several times during the day. Of course, I didn’t think of it as a break until just now, as I reflect on this topic and write this blog. Here were my TABs:
• Meditating and writing in the early a.m.
• Watching old home movies on DVD in the afternoon
• Walking with a friend before dinner
• Writing website content while waiting for my son at batting practice.
So what defines a break? Even though I was doing something (i.e. writing, walking, watching) I defined that as a break, because it represented “me time” … time spent rejuvenating me. I wonder then, if you are the type of person who is constantly doing something …
Is doing something you enjoy, something that fills you up, considered a TAB?
It depends on what you want and what’s important to you! It helps me to see some of the times during the day that I am doing what I enjoy as a TAB. It may not be a sit-down-and-be-quiet type of break, but it is still a break from parenting, being a mother, housecleaning, and my normal day-to-day responsibilities.
What will your TABs be today? What is best for you? Will you notice when you TAB? Please email me at rayannecoy@mac.com and I'll post your ideas.
This article was inspired by:
Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, June 17, 2009
MY BREAK
In this very moment, I claim my health and wholeness.
Taking a break from the activities of the day, I am renewed with energy. In a quiet, reflective time, I am stress-free and prepared for God's healing power within to build up my stamina.
I sustain my health and energy by taking several breaks during the day from whatever is happening in the outer. Whether for a few minutes in the midst of planning or carrying out plans, or for a few weeks between semesters, job searches, or life-changing moments--I take time to focus on and discern what is best for me. Such times for regeneration support the health of every cell and function of my body.
During meditative prayer, concerns dissipate, answers come, and healing flows freely.
"Because you have asked ... for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind."--1 Kings 3:11-12
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