Category: Thoughts and Suggestions

Part One of Four

Have you ever been through change? Did you welcome it or did you resist it? Change can be hard even when we know it will be better for us in the long run.

Did you make New Year’s Resolutions? How are they progressing? Are they habits now or are you still restarting? Weather they are new habits that are running smoothly or if you caught yourself slipping back and had to restart, I’m proud of you.

That is what life is about. You see something that needs to change and you take steps to change it. If you do this, you are creating your life instead of just reacting to what comes your way.

Change happens in an instant. The instant you realize you need to and take action to make the change. I just have to keep reminding myself that I need it or I slip back into my old ways. I have found by living my life more in the present I do much better with change.

Right now is my chance to make the best possible decision with the information I have right now. I can always change my decision if I get new information.

Right now is my chance to feel gratitude for what I have and where I am. I have found I can’t have gratitude in the future. I need to have it right now. When I like where I am and where I am going, it is easier to keep on track and keep moving forward.

So, if you find yourself going through change; as most of us do on a daily basis, start with now. Ask yourself the following. What does now look like and how do I want my next now to look? Am I grateful for my ability to change and create what I want? What do I want?

I am grateful I have the discipline to make it so. You do too.

Make a change today. Get outside your comfort zone.

Grow and learn and I’ll talk with you again soon,

I recently had a person ask me what I had learned while moving toward my dream. She is starting out on her path as an entrepreneur. I thought my lessons might be helpful for you as well.

I have learned it will be harder than you think, but it will be worth it.
I have learned you have to follow your own path and have confidence in yourself.
I have learned to keep trying when I want to give up.
I have learned that I can change the world one person at a time – starting with me.
I have learned I need a coach and mentor, and I have a great one.
I have learned to ask for help when I need it.
I have learned that other people can say no, but they might say yes.

I have learned that when I say, “I love my life” it is so.

Good luck in your endeavor; it is needed in this time and space. If you feel the desire to do something, you must take action. You are being called. Don’t ignore it. You need to step up, move through your fear, and stop playing small. There are people out there that need to hear your voice. I know there may be many others saying what you think is the same thing, but they aren’t saying it like you will. Someone needs to hear what you have to say.

Get rid of the bully in your head and move forward. Remember you are loved. You are valuable. You are needed in this time and space. Go for it right now because time passes whether you are living your dream or not.

Take care and live the life you desire.

Have an off the charts day,

Have you or someone you know ever felt the effects of a bully? Did you wish there was something you could do about it? Well, there is. You are in the right place at the right time. I want to thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. I’m sending you a hug and a thank you right now. If you’re with someone, give them a hug for me. I am so grateful that you are able to help end the cycle of bullying.

When I was a high school teacher, I spent years researching the 75% of students that said they weren’t bullied. I wanted to know what the difference was between the students that said they were, and the ones that said they weren’t.

There were times when I felt a student was being bullied, and I would step in. The student, when asked, would tell me they had not been bullied; it was just a misunderstanding. As I started watching, discussing, and reading journal entries for these students and looking back at my life, I realized something very important.

People who have a good personal value don’t get bullied. People who have decided their self-worth don’t let others decide it. When they are called a negative name or made fun of, it may hurt, but it does not devastate them. People with a low personal value can be devastated by it, and they can want revenge.

So, today I am here to let you know you are loved, you are valuable, and you are needed in this time and space. You have a purpose that no one else can fulfill and you must fill it or our world will be the worse for it. I love you and God loves you. He loves you more than you can measure. You are not alone. You always have Him with you. I know it is hard to feel or believe it sometimes, but if you just sit still and be quite, you will find Him. That voice inside you saying you are no good is the evil in this world. Stop listening to it. That still small voice saying you are valuable, you are loved and needed; that is God. It is time you started listening to it. I know you have both you just need to focus on the one that makes you feel better.

Once you start listening to God and His love for you, you will notice others saying kind things to you as well. It is time to get rid of the negative evil in your life and start looking for what God has in store for you. He will help you build mansions filled with love and happiness you just need to believe you are worth it.

So, if you want to end bullying start believing in yourself. Stop saying bad things to yourself and love your neighbor as yourself. That means you must first love yourself.

Thanks for spending time with me again today.

Have a wonderful day,

My Lord, He is risen, after being crucified so I might live. I can have eternal life through Jesus Christ my Lord. It is by grace alone I am saved. If I believe and call on His name, I am saved from my life of sin.

I am loved and blessed beyond measure. The plan of salvation is one so filled with love I cannot fathom its depth. God sent his son to die for me.

We are all His sons and daughters. He created us. He breathed us into existence. He loves us more than we understand.

I accept His gift, and I share it with people who will listen. I can only imagine the joy felt by those who saw Him alive after He was gone. I look forward to the day He will come again, and all tears of sadness will be wiped away. What a wonderful and joyous day that will be.

Join me today in rejoicing in the gift we have been given. The most valuable things in life are free.

Take care, and please let God continue to bless you,

Part 4 of the Time series

I’m sure you know that you have 24 hours in a day, but did you realize that is 86,400 seconds. It’s the same amount of time, but one sounds like so much more than the other to me. We all get 1,440 minutes every day to work with.

The minute’s number is the one I work with. I don’t do many things by the second, but I do count the minutes. What am I doing with my minutes? Am I on track to get what needs to be done?

I’m a very task orientated person. I like to check things off my list. I have never finished a list because I add more to it as I check my tasks off. No matter how many things I get done, I always feel I should have done more.

I was talking with my coach last week and she mentioned trying to enjoy life more. I told her I love life and enjoy it very much. She asked me to try setting an intention for my tasks instead of just a to do list.

I enjoy making sales calls.

I like the feeling I get when I exercise.

I am fascinated by the business book I am reading to help me manage my business better.

It really has made a difference. Before I never felt like I was done and if I missed one booking or sales call, I was upset with myself. Now when I sit down to make my sales calls, I am relaxed and enjoy the process. I find it easier to build connections with them and find out how I can be of service instead of trying to sell them on something I think they need.

I wanted to share with you something new that I just applied to my life. It is making a big difference for me. I really do enjoy life more. I look forward to the day when I am enjoying 86,400 seconds of every day. What a journey?

Take care and I’ll talk with you soon,

Part 3 of the Time series

If you want to do something, now is the time. Stop waiting for the perfect moment because the timing will never be perfect. While you’re waiting, time keeps ticking by. Pretty soon you’re a year older and you still haven’t taken action on what it is you want. Then it becomes five years and very quickly ten.

Take action now! Decide on one step you can take within the next 24 hours to start the journey to your dream destination. If you don’t start, you can never finish. All you need is one little step followed by another then another.

You might have to take some side trips and your dream may redefine its self as you go along, but at least you will have started. My mom has a friend who decided to become a nurse when she was 52. Many people said she couldn’t do it; shouldn’t do it. She did it. She is still performing her nursing duties to this day. I’m so proud of her. She had a desire to become someone new, and she did it. She took the first step so she could take the last one. She’s still on her journey.

What do you want to do? No excuses. I know you think they’re reasons, but they’re not. They are excuses you have been using to hold you back. Stop it, and take your first step. It will be scary and fun all at the same time. Trust me I know.

What are you going to do now?

Part 2 in the Times series.

When? When is it going to happen? When am I going to get there? Great question! No one knows the answer. You can guess and plan but there is never an exact answer. Until now.

You will get there when you’re ready to. You will get there when you don’t give up. You will get there and it will be exciting, and then you will move on.

The longest part of the journey to your dreams is the journey. Stop complaining and start enjoying. Look for things to be happy about.

Sometimes when you travel, you don’t always get to stay in the nice hotels. Sometimes, you just get a place to sleep.

Remember, energy flows were attention goes. So focus on the good that has just happened. I just shared an incredible message with over 250 people. People were crying, laughing, and thinking all in the same presentation. I’ve learned that’s how you know you have made an impact.

It feels so incredible to touch a life and make a change for the better. It is even more powerful for me when a teen’s life is changed because I feel it has a lasting effect on generations to come.

I enjoy planting seeds that will change a life if they water, fertilize, and weed around the newly forming seedling. The biggest sticking point is the gestation period. Too often, people give up before they can see evidence of what is happening.

Look for the little changes that are taking place in your life. Focus on what you are creating. Enjoy the journey and the companionship along the way. You will meet many people that will have an impact on you. Learn what you need and let go of the rest.

It’s coming, just keep moving forward and you will enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Until next time,

Part one in the Time series.

Where does it go? It just flies by. Remember as a kid when you were waiting for something special, and time seemed to drag. Why? Why does it go so fast now and so slow then? Is it in relation to how much time we have spent alive? Will it just keep going faster and faster? It is running through my hands like water. All I can do is drink deeply while I have it.

I need to spend less time on work and more time on the things I love. There are so many things I can allow to consume me: social media – Did I get my posts scheduled for the week?, podcasting – Did I get my recording done?, Sales calls – How many did I make this week? Was it enough? Did I get bookings?, Writing – Did I get my newsletter written?, webinars – Did I get the slides done? Did I schedule the posts so people will attend? Did I set aside time?.   It can all take so much time.

Wait a minute– I love it. I love my chosen career. Last week I got to spend some time with some students from American Fork High School at their Be The Change day. I so enjoy the transformation they go through. Different kids leave than came in. It is a wonderful thing seeing people believe in themselves. It gives me energy. It pumps me up and gets me ready for more.

This week I am going to Washington State. I have five events, and for the first time my dad will get to see what I do since I started professional speaking. It’s his birthday Wednesday. That is why I marketed there so, I could get paid to go and see him. I don’t think it gets any better than that. How about you?

It has been a long hard couple of years. I realized the other day; I was growing roots and now I am reaping the fruits. You never know how long it will take to manifest your dreams. I’m still creating, but I’m starting to harvest now.

Keep moving forward and you will make it as well. All it takes is time and work. Keep up the dreaming and the creating. It will happen.

You got this. I’m so proud of you for trying and not giving up.

Talk to you soon,

Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself

The Many Degrees of Love

Part 4 of 4

Saturday night I was trying to get to sleep, and it just wasn’t working. So, I did what I usually do when I can’t sleep: I read. I read until 3:10 am. As I was reading a phrase kept coming into my mind “Love they neighbor as thyself,” Leviticus 19:18 “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord” (KJV). When I closed my eyes, I could see them big and bold. LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF! It doesn’t say to love your neighbor more. It doesn’t say to love him/her less. It says to love them the same. Do you?

Do you love your neighbor as yourself? I bet you say some nasty things to yourself that you would never think of saying to your neighbor. Things you would never think of saying to a stranger. Maybe you say things to yourself that are so bad you wouldn’t even say them in anger to anyone else.

You need to love yourself and treat yourself with just as much love and respect as you do others. It also says to not hold a grudge against the children of thy people. When you do something wrong, are you still berating yourself weeks later? I know I do. It’s time to stop. Let’s do it together.

Let’s stop beating ourselves up about mistakes. Let’s say nice things to ourselves this week and every week. It’s what God wants. When you love someone, you want to do the things they like. God likes it when you’re nice to yourself.

Make a pledge right now to love thy neighbor as thyself. I am.

Have an outstanding day,

Unconditional Love

The Many Degrees Of Love

Part 3 of 4

This is a tough one because what is unconditional love? Well, to me it means to love someone no matter what. Can you truly love someone no matter what? Can you love someone and not love what they do? I believe so.

When you remember we are all connected to one another through our humanity, you can love the person without liking what they do. The easiest people to love unconditionally are my children. I can say without any doubt in my mind that I will love and protect them no matter what. I will do whatever it takes to help them grow and become the person they want to be.

That’s another part of it. Letting them be what they want to be. If you haven’t heard by now, I love basketball. I had the privilege of working with Rick Majerus at the University of Utah for two years, and it is there I learned to coach. I love to coach, so naturally when my children were little, I coached their Jr. Jazz teams.

One day during a game my daughter Erin was playing in, I realized she didn’t really love the game. How did I know this? She waved to her father in the stands while running down the floor to get back on defense. I knew right then that she wasn’t really playing for herself. She was playing for me. After the game, I asked her if she liked playing. “Not really,” she said. “Then you don’t have to play anymore,” was my reply. For the rest of the year she was the team manager. It worked out wonderfully because no one could say my daughter got more playing time than anyone else’s.

Erin is an artist and a very good one at that. I’m glad I was able to let her be who she wanted to be, not who I wanted her to be. I see so many parents living their missed chances through their children. I believe that is wrong. Each person has free will to choose how they live their life, even your children.

Just because someone makes different decisions about their life doesn’t mean they are not loveable. I have seen people forgive others for some heinous crimes against themselves or their family. I’m not sure I could and I hope I never have to find out.

How do you get to that kind of place in your heart? How do you get past the anger, the smell, the bad breath, the inconsideration that some have for and show to others. I’m not sure because I am still trying. One thing I do know is that when I remember they are human, it helps me. When I remember they are loved, they are valuable, they are needed in this time and space; it helps me connect to the core of their humanness.

Today and every day, I challenge you to connect on a human level with those around you. Especially the ones that might be a little harder because of the package they arrive in. Start at home with your angry teen or your lost brother. Love them. Love the human being in them. Love their core.

How do you create world peace? You start with you.

Let me know how it changes things for you.

Thank you for listening one more time.

Have a superb day,