Category: motivation

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Attitude motivation

Each Heart Knows Its Own Bitterness

Cartoon of a woman and guy with a turtle shell in a restaurant

Empathy is hard. Nobody truly knows what another person is going through. We can’t fully know a person’s past. We can’t fully know what a person is going through at home and what events have shaped their view of the world.

Yet, empathy is so crucial because it gives us a moment to consider the other person isn’t exactly like you. Otherwise, it is tempting to write off a person. If we don’t consider the other person’s point of view, we can think they’re being unreasonable and silly.

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.

Proverbs 14:10

No person is truly like me. I come from a small hometown. Only three other people grew up in the same household as me. None of them went to the same college, lived in the same places and worked at the same workplaces. Nobody else has had the same lovely wife and kids. My life and experiences are unique, and so are yours. So how can I expect you to see things exactly the way I do?

Empathy is difficult. But it is so key in getting a glimpse of how the other person sees and reacts to the world.

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motivation

Teach us to Number Our Dog Days.

I had to put my dog to sleep last week. We found out she had a mass on her spleen and it was about to rupture. She was thirteen. That’s 91 in dog years. So she had a pretty good life. Today’s featured cartoon was based on our little, sassy dog. I miss that pooch!

Last Tuesday morning, things appeared fine. We took our walk and she got her treat just like any other day. When I came home that evening, I could tell something was wrong. She acted like she couldn’t move. She appeared alarmed and in discomfort. Within twenty-four hours, she was gone.

We like to make our plans. Many times, we procrastinate with those plans and put things off to another day. But we aren’t guaranteed any days. I think of that whenever I hear of the passing of someone my age, or even younger than me.

Make the most of today, my friends. Because we just don’t know how many dog days we have left. After all, the dog days of summer are gone and it is already autumn.

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motivation

How to Be Authentic Without Whining

Cartoon of a runner shouting, "Just keep running!"
Copyright ©2017 Kevin Spear

We all go through stuff. We all struggle once in a while. When we do, the temptation is to put on the facade and smile. We say we’re fine when we feel like we’re dying inside. We don’t want to burden people with our problems.

As a result, we may project this image of being a super person when we struggle just like everyone else. Then when someone else has a problem, they feel they can’t come to us because we appear too perfect.

Yet no one wants to stay in the struggle, right? No one wants to announce to the world they are a hot mess. What is the right balance?

Be authentic with your weaknesses and diligent in your training.

Be Authentic

It’s okay to admit you struggle with something. Every one of us has a weakness. Each one of us is in the process of improving. It’s okay to admit you don’t have it all together. We are all human. It’s okay to admit that is the case.

Train Diligently

Keep training. Just because you’ve had a setback doesn’t mean it’s hopeless. Press on! Give yourself some grace and get back into the training. When you admit you struggle, you give yourself the grace to strive forward.

After all, if you’ve already arrived and are already perfect, what’s left? Be honest with others, and diligent with training. You’ll get there!

Categories
Attitude motivation

The Easiest Way to Be a Blessing

Actually, it’s simple. It may not be easy at first. There have been times when I knew better and didn’t follow this simple way to bless others. Just yesterday, my wife had to call it to my attention that I wasn’t following this simple verse.

When I have followed it, things ran much smoother. When I haven’t it has made bad problems worse. It’s this:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing

Philippians 2:14 NIV

It’s counter-cultural no matter what culture you are a part of. We are wired, after all, to find problems. We are inclined to find issues to complain about. And it doesn’t take much to find someone who is willing to argue with you.

However, if you follow this verse, you can bless yourself as well as everyone you come in contact with today. Some days it may be hard. But it is always worth it.

Categories
creativity motivation

Why it is so Important to Shake Things up

Illustration of a happy girl with a tea cup, sunflower hat, bathing suit and swim flippers

We get complacent too easily. At a certain point, and at a certain age, it can be tempting to just go with the flow. You wouldn’t want to rock the boat anyway, would you? No need to draw attention to yourself. Why let things lie? After all, you’ve been successful. Sure! You can always improve, but why not just coast along life?

About four years ago, my wife and I were faced with a decision. We could stay in a town we love with a church that supported and appreciated her and a workplace I valued. I had just received a promotion. Our youngest child was about to graduate from high school. Why not just kick back and coast?

Instead, we felt called to a church out west. We sold our house. I resigned from my job. We left everything cherished and familiar to try something new. Why shake things up like that? Why make such a change?

  • Because faith without taking a risk with works is dead
  • Because creativity isn’t doing the same old thing
  • Because to stay young, you need to act young once in a while
  • Because it’s better to try and fail than wonder if you ever would have made it

Creativity comes from shaking things up a bit and trying something new. It has a lot in common with walking by faith.