If You Try

If You Try

Friday, May 31, 2013

When Your 8 and 1/2 Months Pregnant With Vision



When my wife and I found out that we were pregnant with our first child, we were overawed. Even to this day, we stare in surreal amazement at the little (now 8 month old) bundle of joy God has blessed us with. As my loving wife will probably attest, pregnancy has both its beautiful times and harsh difficulties (sometimes stemming from the bafoonery of her at times aloof husband). I don't think it is any dfferent when we are pregnant with a vision (something on the inside of us that we can feel, but has yet to enter the world in tangible form).

Carrying Vision

Carrying a vision has its up, downs, and in betweens and it can sometimes be downright harsh as we "waddle" through our day to day life about to give birth to something significant (at least in our eyes). The same way my wife needed a qualified physician, the support of her spouse, family, and friends during this arduous time is the same way we need good mentors, friends, and family to support us as we go through the stages of birthing a vision. You and I need encouragement from people who are excited about what we are on the brink of and who want to see it come to pass.

New Responsibility

I should add that giving birth to a vision is giving birth to a new responsibility. Having a child doesn't make you a parent, raising and caring for it does. Similarly, giving birth to a vision doesn't make us visionaries. Caring for, cultivating, and feeding the vision is what will allow it to grow into something that can impact lives for generations to come.

Giving Birth Whether Others Like it Or Not

Something else to consider, everyone may not be happy when you announce your vision (say that your pregnant), but you have to give birth to it anyway regardless of how others may feel about it. So many visions are aborted because we hear negative feedback or don't have the support that we expected. However, there was no amount of lack of support that would have caused my wife and I to abort our baby. We should have that same amount of intensity (if humanly possible) when it comes to giving birth to vision. After awhile, you stop caring about what other people think and your resolve becomes "I'm giving birth to this child (vision) whether anyone likes it or not". It has to come out of me, and there is nothing wrong with that.

A Little Crazy

Hormones can get a little out of whack during pregnancy because of all the physiological changes happening. We shouldn't think it strange if we feel a little out of our minds as we are in the birthing stages of vision. Most times, we are producing something we have never seen done before and that takes us out of the normal confines of our mental comfort zones.

May Feel Like Crap, but You Still Glow

I heard many people comment on how beautiful my wife was during her pregnancy. Many women have heard that they glow while pregnant. My wife was gorgeous, but there were many days she probably didn't feel it. There will be days when you feel like crap as you are on the brink of giving birth to vision, but you are glowing to outsiders. The radiance of your hope, faith, and expectation are shining through even when you don't feel like it is. Let that be encouragement that you are on the right track. I look forward to seeing your brand new beautiful vision. What will you name it?  ;)

Thursday, May 30, 2013

How Expectation Opens The Door of Opportunity




What we expect is what we will recognize. If we expect for good to come, we will find ourselves recognizing the good things even in terrible circumstances. Expectation is not blind, it is based on a "real" confidence that boldly believes that a particular thing or set of events will take place. You can't realistically expect for it to never rain in Seattle. However, there are some things that we expect that we can't even fully articulate yet because it's beyond our present level of understanding (so real to us that we can taste it). Yet, that expectation ( or better yet, well grounded hope) is in the pipeline of our hearts. That expectation allows us to draw parallels, see patterns, and pull together seemingly unrelated events that comprise the tangible form of what we knew in our heart would happen the entire time. Hold on to your well grounded expectations.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

There Can Be No Success Without Sacrifice



"You cannot be successful on any level without sacrificing something for it." -TD Jakes

What will it take for you to get to the goals that you have in your heart? Is it waking up earlier? Going to bed later? Giving it an extra 15 minutes instead of trying to beat traffic? Giving up ego and allowing someone else to get the glory so that project is completed? Forcing yourself to not get the last word? Changing your eating habits, giving up the fast food you so love? Whatever it is, success is on the other side of that decision if you stick with it...

Friday, May 17, 2013

How to Be Accurate and Remain Cutting Edge



To be/remain accurate and cutting edge in life, you have to be willing to sacrifice your reputation sometimes (even though that's no fun). So many folks are living inaccurately and according to the standards of a not so relevant status quo, that when some people come along that are getting it right, people call them crazy (Jesus anyone, see John 10:20). How about this idea... If I said you could have a great life and be financially well off with absolutely NO Debt, you may think I'm crazy right? What If I said you could be cured of cancer and other "incurable" diseases without taking prescription drugs or chemotherapy, by strategically taking vitamins and changing your diet. Crazy man again huh? Well, I'm sad to say that accuracy doesn't always equate to sanity in the majorities eyes until they see proof. Even then, many still will choose to be skeptical. That's when you have to make up your mind to stick to your guns and be true to your God given vision regardless of how others view you.

"That's the path to freedom, didn't say it was smooth..."

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

What You Sow Today Is What You See Tomorrow




Spring and summer are very interesting seasons to me. I always find that there is a bout with lethargy that I have to overcome in order to remain productive. Perhaps its the sun cooking my brain or just mental conditioning that has gone on since I was in grade school that says summer is break time. Whatever it is, I know that it is crucial to stay dedicated to ones vision even in the supposed "break" seasons. So many times, people fall into the trap of trying to think themselves into a better reality without doing the actual work necessary to produce the desired outcomes. We look up and it is fall/winter season and we are in the same position we were in last year. Sow while everyone else is relaxing and you'll be able to rest in the great results your diligence (and God's help) brought about.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Stick and Move




Often times, things in life just don't make rational sense. That's when faith steps in and allows us to operate above what we see, feel, think, and even our experiences. Faith enables us to fight the good fight beyond our physical and mental limitations. I'm really starting to believe that adverse winds are an indication that I'm going in the right direction. Even with that knowledge, our humanity gets hurt, wounded, and bruised by the harshness of these tough conditions. But keeping our vision centered on the Eternal Father helps us take life's licks like a pro and come out as a champion. How Bout that!!!

Friday, May 10, 2013

The Top Quality That All Successful People Possess




All successful people, in whatever lane of life, have what is known as "grit" (hence the picture). Grit, the ability to stick with something through the ups, downs, and in betweens of life. They continue to practice until they approach perfection, and then they practice even more. Becoming successful is more about perserverance than anything else. The prize doesn't go to smartest, best looking, or athletic. It goes to those who hang in there. True grit....

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

The Reason why Romantic Relationships become stagnant...




Had an interesting convo with one of my co-workers today. He is single and I'm always jeering single guys about when they will get married (why do us married folk do that?). Anyway, as I was telling him about the joys and pains of marriage, I said something that blew me away (have you ever done that lol). I said the reason why marriages become stagnant (or any relationship for that matter) is because we are always changing, evolving, and growing and we fail to recognize how our spouses(friends, family, etc) are changing too. Many times in marriage and other relationships, we have to find common ground all over again, and again and again. It can be a great adventure, but it takes dedication and intentionality.

Its funny, we can learn a lot and have even better relationships if we (in this case "I") just followed our own advice.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Willing Yourself To Victory





We cannot rely on emotions to overcome challenging circumstances. There comes a point when we have to reach deep down on the inside and push past how we feel. There will always be reasons why we can't or shouldn't accomplish something, but setting our will in the right direction will allow us to plow through our doubts, fears, and the hindering opinions of others. Looking to God enables us to keep victory in view despite what reality tells us at the moment. Instead of letting life dictate your outcome, be proactive and apply some force on life. What you and I envision will not fall into our laps by mere chance, it requires intense focus and thoughtful action.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Change Your Thinking...Change Your Life



We really do eventually become what we think (if we think on it long enough). Many of the circumstances that we find ourselves in (good are bad) can many times be traced back to our thinking. Relationships can either be good or terrible depending on our outlook on them. The way we perceive (or think about) others gives us a certain slant toward them, which they pick up, and usually send back to us. Our minds are very powerful, it is so important to think on purpose and quickly get it off of thoughts that are not profitable. Wholesome thinking opens the world up to us, destructive thinking closes opportunities to us because we will fail to see them. Change your thinking about your life and eventually your reality will follow suit.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Discovering Your Labor of Love





Oh man! To do work you love is one of the greatest treasures of life. And to get paid for doing what you love, I do beleive that is a slice of Heaven on earth. However, business and the politics associated with doing what we love can cloud our view as it relates to our passion. Studies have shown the majority of people find the greatest fulfillment in doing work they enjoy whether they are monetarily compensated or not. Money just happens to be an added bonus. That's operating from an "I get to do this" paradigm. I have discovered in my personal experience though, it is easy to switch from the "I get to do this" paradigm to the "You owe me for this" paradigm. That's when it gets dangerous and it is easy to then lose passion for what you love doing. I am all for profit (secret confession: I want to be very wealthy before its all said and done), but the paradigm from which we operate as we do what we love (while earning or not earning monetary gain) is a huge factor that we must carefully watch as we progress. So do what you love, get better at it, and do what you have to do so you can do more of what you love doing. It's all about do, do, do, do, doing baby! Have fun.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Fight Well



If you want to do anything truly significant in life, it will not come without a fight. I'm not talking about throwing physical punches, often times we have to fight against doubt, fear, negativity, procrastination and a host of internal liabilities that work to hold us back from our full potential. Those who get past obstacles and end up making a huge difference in the world are those who make the choice to be the best they can be regardless of the external circumstances they are in. Fight to be a better person, leader, friend, parent, spouse, boss, employee, so on and so forth. The good life will not come easy, but it is so worth fighting for.