Black High Top Shoes

In a world where there is so much selfishness, it is always great to see people who are willing to serve others in a way that is genuine and powerful.

While watching the television series Secret Millionaire, John the millionaire met a man named Amin who ran a thrift store where he receives donations and puts together hygiene kits and distributes them to the homeless on Skid Row in Los Angeles.

While passing out the kits he noticed a man using a walker and wearing shoes that had human excrement on them.  The man explained that he had accidently stepped in it after someone had relieved himself or herself.  Without batting an eye, Amin took off his nice black high top shoes and gave them to the man.  The man was overwhelmed by this gesture and after putting them on he said they were just what he needed and expressed his gratitude.  With Amin’s help, the old man got up and went on his way, one step at a time, wearing his new black high top shoes.

The millionaire, who was incognito, observed this selfless act and was completely blown away and began to weep.  He could not believe what he had just witnessed.  You see, in his world he has been insulated from the needs of the common and the poor.  However, after this experience he committed to getting out of himself and helping others who are struggling in life.

Although not on the same level as the story above, I recently had a similar response from a lady at the post office.  I had to mail a package out of the country and found that the area where the customs forms were kept was completely empty.  I went to the counter and informed the postal worker who asked if I would restock the forms.  I did without hesitation.  After completing the form I got back into line and a lady at the counter was in the process of looking for the trash can.  I asked her if I could throw the trash she had in her hand away, and she thanked me.  It was nothing big.

After I got to the counter the postal worker said, “I noticed what you did, you restocked our forms and threw away the trash for the lady in the line, no one does that.  It is very unusual; no one wants to help others anymore.”

There are so many ways we can serve each other, giving someone in need a pair of black high top shoes, restocking forms or just throwing away trash for someone.  With so much going on all around us we must never get so busy that we won’t help each other.

Small gestures can have a HUGE IMPACT in the life of the person who receives the help or observes someone helping someone else.  

A Super Attitude

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.
~Brian Tracy


The Power of a positive attitude is without a doubt one of the greatest assets one can possess. Christopher Reeves, (Superman) lived nine years after being paralyzed from a horseback riding accident. There is no doubt that one primary factor for his longevity after the accident was his positive attitude. He continued to act and speak all across the country in spite of his being confined to a wheel chair. He could have easily given up but with the support of his wife and family he pressed on. What an inspiration to those who have suffered a serious debilitating accident.


Carol Ryff, a psychology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says: "There is a science that is emerging that says a positive attitude isn't just a state of mind," she says. "It also has linkages to what's going on in the brain and in the body."


The power of a positive attitude can have a dramatic impact on the people you live and work with. A positive attitude can change the course of your home, company and your community. All human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. What the mind seeks, it usually finds.


What part of your life could you change with a different attitude?

"Don't Believe Everything You Think"

"When things are roughest, and life seems the toughest, it is easy to lose hope, to lose confidence in ourselves, as well as to lose self esteem, self love and our sense of self worth." Unknown

I was speaking to a group of job seekers about how they felt during their job search? From the day they received their “pink slip” till now, most have spent hundreds of hours completing applications, sending resumes, networking, and going on interviews with little to show for the exercise. The impact of their job loss has been dramatic. Loss of self-worth, not feeling good enough, fear of the unknown and high anxiety leaves many feeling hopeless. My last post dealt with this same issue and I am writing about it again because next to the economy, joblessness is high on the list of most American's concerns.

It is very easy to allow negative thinking to imprison your mind. It will tell you things about yourself that are not true. The reality is the economy is not optimal, but that does not mean that opportunities don’t exist for those whose mind is opened to the possibilities of landing their dream job. However, it will take a change in your thinking to redefine what is possible and thereby create a new reality for your life.

That being said, it is crucial that you prime your thinking with positive words and affirmations daily. These words need to be driven deep into your subconscious mind. They become part of you and who you are and want to become.

YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT!

YOU ARE VALUABLE!

YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES!

Say it loud and say it often. If you do not believe it, no one else will.

What is your favorite affirmation?

 

True Worth

“The longer I live the more I realize the importance of family and friends. We can replace the material things in our lives, but the priceless gift of family and friends can never be replaced. Cherish those who love you and love those who cherish you.” Tony Friday

On The Apprentice season opener there were 12 unemployed individuals who have been off work for over 3 years. One of the contestants lost his business and his marriage. During one of his on camera interviews he stated that due to his unemployment he felt less than a man because he was unable to take care of his family. He asked the question” What good am I?” That question made me extremely sad. Have you ever asked that question?

There are over 30 million Americans who have lost their jobs and are struggling to survive the seemingly never ending down turn in the market. Many have lost their homes, cars, savings, and more importantly their self worth. If you are in this situation you may ask yourself, how do I go on? Is there any hope for the future? Will I ever find work or is this my new reality?

I speak to unemployed individuals virtually every day and try to encourage them to stay focused and positive in their job search and to remind themselves of their past successes and accomplishments. I believe past success fuels future success. You say to yourself, I was successful before, I can be successful again.

There is so much opportunity in the marketplace. The opportunity to redefine what is possible and create for yourself a new reality. Don’t just sit back and let circumstances dictate the rest of your life. You have to seize control. But first it is important to choose the attitude that you are going to embrace for the day. Not just for one day, but every day. A positive attitude allows you to recognize opportunities. If you are in a negative state of mind they will pass you by.

If I had the opportunity to answer the question the contestant raised I would have said his worth is found in more than a job. It is about his life and having value to his children and those who really care about him. Our significance does not come from a job, but in whom God created us to be.

Remember you are significant and your life matters!

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee grandfather told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

~author unknown

While sitting in a coffee shop I had a conversation with a man who told me about his life. He said that he was divorced, with little money left. He proceeded to blame his ex-wife for all of his misfortunes. “She is a control freak; she made me feel less than a man” was his song. As a result, he said that he had a lot of anger and rage built up inside of him. 

He was feeding his inner evil wolf with self-pity, resentment, sorrow, regret, and anger. The evil wolf inside him is ravenous with an insatiable appetite. The battle is raging inside of him and the wolf howls for more.

I began to have a different conversation with him that went something like this: Do you believe you can make a different choice in how you respond? He said yes. I challenged him to focus on his strengths, skills, and his ability to rise above his past and create a new future. I believe I helped him make some headway on turning his attitude around, but only time will tell.

Which wolf are you feeding? I hope it is the good wolf that feeds on joy, peace, kindness and love. When you allow the good things of life to fill your inner being, it is unbelievable how strong and hopeful you will begin to feel. If the wolf inside you is full of negativity, feed the other wolf. 

The choice is yours.

Attitude Is a Choice

“Life is 10% of what happens to us and 90% of how we react to it...Attitude is a Choice” Charles Swindoll

For the past 15 years I have been focused on encouraging, inspiring and motivating individuals to face life challenges head on with vigor and with a positive attitude.

My motivation for writing this blog is to inspire and motivate my readers to look at each day and the challenges they may face and to choose an attitude that makes them feel and act like winners.

We all recognize that life is not always going to work out the way we want. We may lose our job, we may receive bad news about our health or the health of a family member. We may lose our homes or have to file for bankruptcy. It is very easy to give into negative attitudes and feelings that sometimes overwhelm us. It may not feel like it is worth the fight.

But each day does have good in it we just have to recognize it; the beauty of flowers, the warmth of the sun on your skin, the smile of a child and the loving look from the one that loves you most.

This blog will reflect my thoughts on my relationship with Christ and the positive impact he has made in my life. I will also endeavor to encourage you with words that will raised your spirits and infuse you with energy so you can give it back to your family, community and the world.

Have a Powerful Day!