Category: Encourage

Encouragement - We All Need It

7/10/2020

This has been happening a lot lately, so I thought it would be a great reminder for not only me, but for anyone that reads this post.

I've been encouraged a lot lately. With posting a little bit more on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, my podcast, LinkedIn, and even just a little bit on Instagram - I've been getting some good encouragement for what I'm putting out there. You know what, it not only makes me feel good; but it gives me more confidence for what I'm sharing out there. So in essence, I'm trying to encourage others just like people have done for me. It's one thing I've always done for a long time and people have told me about the fact that I'm good at it. Which looking back throughout my life, I guess it's been a foundation for me.

In today's world I think it's something that we all need more of. A key element of it that you need to give it to get it I think. If you can keep lifting people up and encouraging them in everyday little moments; it will come back to you many times over. Remember, the world is not going to this for us - it's up to us to do it. That's why I think not only in person we need to do it, but we need to put these messages of encouragement out into the social media world too. There is power in this for others. Knowing that someone is there telling us that we can do something, might be just the thing to get us going. Also remember that sometimes we have to believe in someone else's belief in us. Try it and watch what happens.

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Proud To Wave The American Flag - Just Like John Wayne!

7/6/2015

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This was taken in 2014 - I figured it was a good time to bring it out again!

“Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I’m not ashamed of that, never have been and never will be.” – John Wayne

As we celebrated our country’s birthday again this past July 4, I was seeing a lot of different quotes and ideas about our nation’s birthday. I’m a big fan of John Wayne, always have been as a little kid and I always will be as a big kid too.   I loved his toughness, fairness, strength, courage, etc. Now, most of this was from his movie characters, but learning that was the kind of guy he was outside of the movies too as connected me to him even more.

I put out my American flag a few days ago in front of our house and I noticed a few other houses in our neighborhood had one flying too. That is always great to see, even though there are still not that many flags flying, and there should be. There always seems to be a lot of great pride in the 4th of July holiday, but I wonder sometimes, as with all the holidays, how much we take it for granted. How most people, including me at times, look forward to the time off or the chance to get away more than what the true meaning of the holiday and what the celebration should really be about.

Sure our country has problems and issues, which country doesn’t? Since our country (and every other country) is made up of different people, there will always be issues. When people are involved with things, those things can get very messy. They key is becoming clearer to me as I get a little bit older. Our country does have issues that have to be solved. It involves those of us that live here to start doing things to help solve the problems and issues we have, not to add more problems to the growing list. We should all realize that in order for us to solve the problems and issues we are facing, WE have to be the ones to start doing something about them. We cannot keep looking to our government to solve them. Our government is a BIG part of the problems and issues we have to face. Now before you start going after me because of this view, hear me out. Since WE make up the government, or at least we are supposed to, we all are the ones that equally are part of the problems we face.   This is not a political party issue, this is an American issue!

I am more focused now than ever before of trying to be a difference maker with others. I’m to encourage others more. I’m looking to lead by example more, that’s for sure. This also means that I need to continue to work on myself even more. My habits, my thinking, my connecting to others, encouraging my wife, kids, others even more to follow their hearts in their life’s journey; this and more is what I’m looking at improving. What are a few things you can do? Heck, what is just one thing you can improve upon? Answer that and start doing something about it. We all don’t have as much time as we think we do, that’s for sure. For me, that’s hitting me in the face more and more with all the lessons that are out there for me to learn. It would be great for you to pick up the lessons that life is sharing with you so that you can make a difference to yourself and others. I'm just saying... :-)   Always let me know how we can help each other out with these things as there is power in numbers.

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"Be an Encourager ..." Quote of the Week - June 16, 2014

6/16/2014

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"Stop criticizing and be an encourager." - Carol Whitaker

This is one thing that I have been trying to do for years - being an encourager for others. I need to continue to work on this skill for I still find myself criticizing others at times. When I saw this tweet from Carol, it got me thinking right off the bat on how much better our world would be if we encouraged others more rather than criticizing others.

As I was getting ready to write some thoughts for this quote - I read another post from a former student who is now living in a different part of the country. She wrote about how at her job there is a co-worker that she works with who is always criticizing her, nit-picking all the things she does wrong along never pointing out the good things she does. No encouragement at all from this person. She wrote about how she doesn't let it affect her and she just keeps up her great & positive attitude (much like when I had her in my classes) - and goes about doing her job. Her post went on to say that this negative co-worker had to leave and she was pulled over to fill in for his job the rest of the shift. Another co-worker in that area was so glad to see my former student working with her because the other person was always so negative about everything, including criticizing the other co-workers too. My former student saw that it was not just her that this person was doing this too, it was everyone!

Well from the story it seems that the negative person came back and had changed his tune a little bit as there were small little compliments and thank-you's giving to my former student. She mentioned how surprising it was to see and hear that from him. Not knowing the whole story, my guess is that my student's and her other co-workers' examples of not letting the negative attitudes - the 3 C's (criticizing, condemning and complaining) get to them, really got noticed by "Mr. 3 C's" himself! Not only did she and the others not let this person affect them and their work, but they also did not become like him! So many times we chime in and start saying things like the 3 C's person. Being around a 3 C person can make us feel like him (if we let those things become what we are thinking and doing) or it can inspire us to be more NOT like him and do things and think things that combat and go against the 3 C's.

I think it's safe to say, we all know someone like the criticizer from my former student's post. Either we work with someone like that or we have someone in our life that we know that is like that.

Another quick post I saw, also from another student (I love how they are out there making a difference) on how most people hate Mondays. She wrote about that she was going to the gym to get her day going in the right direction and inspire her to make it not only a great day but a great week too! She then asked an important questions to others - "tell me what inspires you"? I told her what helps to inspire me.....(she does with her posts like she put out) and I will ask you the same question. What inspires you? Share it with me and others. Make it a GREAT day and a FANTASTIC week.

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Quote of the Week - December 30, 2013

1/1/2014

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“Be kind whenever possible. For it is always possible.” -- Dalai Lama

What a great and simple idea to start out the new year with.

As we get going for 2014 with hopefully new ideas, new energy, new optimism, etc., maybe we can add this quote to our list of things we want to do this new year? I know all of us has at least one example of where you can be kinder to someone. I have plenty of people that I know I can (and should) be kinder to.

One at the top of the list, should be ourselves. We are all fighting many little internal battles. We are the ones that know all about the dark thoughts and actions we have done throughout or lifetime, even if it's been hidden from others around us. We look at ourselves every day in the mirror and these thoughts and memories are always with us. Part of what our new year's resolutions should be about is being kinder to ourselves - forgiving ourselves and stop the beatings that we give to ourselves over things in our past that we haven't one too well.

I had the opportunity to have breakfast yesterday with a very good friend and one who I count as one of my master-mind group members. We had a great discussion and one of the many things that I remember from that time spent with him, was the fact that I needed to continue (and even improve) my ability to encourage others. The biggie - was that I need to do it with myself.
We all need to do that - encourage others and encourage ourselves.

So as we start out 2014 - let's try to remember that these new ideas, goals, resolutions, etc., should not be focused on and started on for January 1st. We really need to continue to have new goals, new ideas, new resolutions, etc., all the time and not just for the new year. But start with being kinder to others and especially to ourselves. What are your thoughts or ideas? Is this something you can add to your list to start out 2014 with?

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Encouragement - We All Need It

Proud To Wave The American Flag - Just Like John Wayne!

"Be an Encourager ..." Quote of the Week - June 16, 2014

Quote of the Week - December 30, 2013

Coach John Daly

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