Category: motivation

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motivation

Conflicting Pride

Cartoon of a dad and son. Son has crown on his head.

I had just been laid off. I was seeking advice and some reassurance. So I contacted a local, successful artist to meet with him. 

I have always loved the cartoon style. This successful illustrator came from that background, but his style evolved to a more realistic approach. He gave me advice on observation and how to make my artwork look better. I was shocked and angry. Here I had just come from a great job as a book designer at a succesful company. Didn’t he know I was successful too? (keep in mind the company was struggling enough to lay me off. How successful was that?) My pride got in the way and I wasn’t taking any of this! I thanked him and left. But on the inside, I was fuming!

Pride leads to conflict; those who take advice are wise.

Proverbs 13:10

I missed out on a good opportunity and a potential friendship that day because of my fragile pride. It was rather foolish. I’d like to say pride is never an issue anymore. But no, pride can creep in at any time. We are surrounded by it, and our human nature tends to gravitate towards it.

I resolve to listen more before being ready for an argument. I resolve to seek other opinions that aren’t necessarily like mine. Let’s reach out to others that may have advice that runs counter to our opinions.

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motivation

Were the Good Old Days That Good?

Each older generation thinks life was better in the “good old days.” Apparently, judging by this verse, they were thinking the same thing thousands of years ago.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 NIV

We tend to romanticize the past. We think of the good memories and tend to forget the bad. The seventies and eighties were no cakewalk!

We have much to be thankful for today. Remember the past fondly, live in the present and look forward to the future. Besides, in a couple of decades, we’ll look at today as the good old days.

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motivation

Be Careful How You Start Your Mornings

I get it. Some people don’t believe they are morning people. Some even like the term “Night Owl.” I’ve been around a few of the Night Owls when they have endured a morning. It’s like watching a bear come out of hibernation.

But how you start your day can affect the rest of it. If you wake up at the last possible minute, tear through your house, franticly looking for your glasses and car keys, the rest of the day is going to feel chaotic and out of control.

If today started out that way, it’s okay. We’ve all had some chaotic morning. Make a choice tonight to get the sleep you need and to give yourself enough time to wake up and start the day in a relaxed, intentional way. It beats having a wardrobe crises!

I’ve been reading The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod. If you’re looking for the why and how to start your day out right, I’d recommend this book

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motivation

Putting the “Give” in Forgiveness

Cartoon of an angry, selfish boy. He says, "I'm mad! Why can't the world to my bidding?"

Forgiveness is an act of generosity. It can be much more difficult to give such mercy when the person offending you did a selfish act. And most offenses are offensive because they are selfish acts.

We can find it as difficult to give someone for minor as well as major offenses. We want that person to somehow pay for their selfish act. But the irony of it all is that the selfish person poisons us and makes us selfish.

When those minor offenses happen today at work, at home or just roaming about, make a choice to be giving and forgiving. Don’t let a selfish person make you selfish too.

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motivation

Enthusiastic About Change

Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress! With it, there is accomplishment. Without it, there are only alibis.

Henry Ford

Change only comes when someone or a group is excited enough to make things happen. It gives people motivation to move forward. It allows people to see a vision that a better outcome is possible. 

An enthusiastic person can annoy others because they can’t see that things can be any different. Others may even do what they can to bring the other person down to their level.

Don’t be that person. Be enthusiastic. There is always a better way. There is always a possibilty to make things better. Start feeling it and begin to see what is possible!