Trusting in Mankind
"Thus says the LORD, "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the LORD."
A Strange Phenomenon of Saying "No" (audio post)
Basic ideas:
1. It reveals maturity.
2. Brings inner peace and stress relief.
3. Positions your for growth.
Bonus: Helpful ideas from the Mayo Clinic:
When to say no
Sometimes it's tough to determine which activities deserve your time and attention. Use these strategies to evaluate obligations — and opportunities — that come your way.
- Focus on what matters most. Examine your current obligations and overall priorities before making any new commitments. Ask yourself if the new commitment is important to you. If it's something you feel strongly about, by all means do it. If not, take a pass.
- Weigh the yes-to-stress ratio. Is the new activity you're considering a short- or long-term commitment? For example, making a batch of cookies for the school bake sale will take far less time than heading up the school fundraising committee. Don't say yes if it will mean months of added stress. Instead, look for other ways to pitch in.
- Take guilt out of the equation. Don't agree to a request you would rather decline because of feelings of guilt or obligation. Doing so will likely lead to additional stress and resentment.
- Sleep on it. Are you tempted by a friend's invitation to volunteer at your old alma mater or join a weekly golf league? Before you respond, take a day to think about the request and how it fits in with your current commitments.
The Steadfastness of the Lord Never ceases
"This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The LORD'S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness."
See it at YouVersion.com:
Don't Wish, Just Care
I've got 6 hours left before I head out on vacation.
The honey do list is still unfinished, I'm hungry for something greasy and have at least two unfullied client promises are on my mind as well.
And yet, there is this other thing 'I wish' I could do.
Goals and tasks are a pretty more tangible.
Faith, dreams and even hopes are metaphysical but yet have strong impact on the realities of our daily life.
But what about 'wishes'?
I can't think of any scriptural references and personal development tactic that uses them.
Adult Children
Who uses wishes?
Disney? Rosa Royce? Kindergarteners?
What are the practical uses of wishes?
Blowing out birthday candle? Splitting a turkey bone?
More often than I'd like to admit, my mind uses the phrase, I wish for this or I that... And yet the concept is purely based in the imagination and reality of children.
And with that, those simple words rarely make my DO anything.
The only reason I'm wishing and not planning or acting is because it must be something that can't be done.
I don't wish to put gas in the car.
I don't wish to go the bathroom.
So why am I wishing for more time to do that stuff that really matters?
Cursing Wishes
So just now I took the iniatitive to curse my wish.
Instead of wishing and thinking woe is me who has no time.
I take the time and write.
I'm taking the time to work on my little goal, my little aspiration though I think I don't have the time.
When I hear my mind say I wish, it reminds me I'm not in reality.
Don't Wish, Just Care
Yes, I have conviction and motivation... but I have it for other areas as well.
So what separates the working out from the say, learning French, working 80 hours a week or writing a book every year?
In my reality of today, I care right now.
And so right now, I do what I really want to.
I need to let pain push me, if insipration isn't pulling me.
I need to let the "I wish" thought remind me I'm living a lie and my time is running out.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, disagreements or comments. Please share below:
- Arvell Craig
The things I leave behind ( a poem )
And on my path I leave behind.
Some days poop, and sometimes fruit.
There's really no telling just what you'll find.
Searching for something but living for nothing
How many people are searching for something --- some type of fulfillment, feeling, meaning or memory. Like the glory days of high school or the freedom and newness of college life.
The freshness and innocence of puppy love or the nervousness of love at first sight. When life isn't giving us goosebumps, we may want to relive the glory moments of the past.
Our minds and memories are powerful things. They have the ability to reproduce some of those feeling while we imagine. But it can also stuff and burry our bad decisions that have led us to the condition we are in.
I don't like to remember my mistakes.
I like to blame circumstances or feel like I've chosen the high road when in reality I'm just settling. I've chosen the wide road. When I finally became acceptable and popular I make choices that kept me from sticking out.
Who wants to stick out when their ideal and goals have not yet become reality.
Who will support you when you're weird and unsuccessful?
Before we can be real to others, we need to be real to ourselves.
We are living and reaping the fruit from the decisions we've sown in the past.
I know we can't be perfect, we can't go without mistakes and mishaps -- but to live with regret for not trying, for not living, for not fully being who we were created to be is not something I want to settle for.
Selah. . .
Buying the Cookie
(FYI: this is post requests your response)
9 times of out 10 I breakdown and buy the cookie.
Now please understand, this isn't just any ordinary cookie.
It's a freshly baked, 6inch diameter oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from Topeca Coffee -- conveniently located next door to my office.
It's never too hard, never too soft. Never too dry; nor too greasy.
It knows when you've been bad or good so... ;)
Anyway, here's the issue.
Friday evenings from say, 6pm up until Saturdays at around the same time, I have a name for that time spanse. It's called my 'cheat day'.
Theoretically, I have digestive liberty to consume anything edible and legal. This time period would be the best time to stock up on Topeca cookies and have some guilt free indulgence.
But the problem is, I rarely say 'no' Monday - Friday.
Every morning I look in the mirror and am reminded of where and why my dietary decisions come from. And yet, after i've had a light and fluffly salad, my body is demanding more!
The rules and convictions fall by the wayside and I'm left licking the chocolate stains from my fingers. Again. Why is that?
Here's what just hit me: I think in principles, but I live in habit.
I set my goals via values, but take my steps based on compulsions.
How does one get out of this cycle?
How do you learn to change / to follow thru?
I'd love to hear you story-- please share:
Lubricating the dry moments
Upon arriving to work, I think the first thing done should be something pleasurable - satisfying and possibly meaningful.
Now, I proceed meaningful with "possibly" because it's clearly the least important of the three.
The first two will emphatically affect our mood or feelings and conjure up positive juices that can lubricate the dry moments of our day.
"Meaningful" things, like those of "value" and "importance" are often only cerebral -- they connect with the part of us that works only when all is undisturbed and serene; when there is no commotion nor distress.
When all we do is mental but not heart or emotionally felt we are living out of our false self with a large part of our nature buried below these facts of life.
In the normal world, when life is often chaotic, decisions are made in the moment while our buttons are being pushed, we don't always feel those predetermined values impacting our day, our psyche or our emotions.
And I believe our emotions are important. Our mood, perspective and intuition are all as important as our values.
Now of course, our values should and can directly affect that which brings us pleasure and satisfaction. But in the times when they do not, having sprinkled our morning with a favorite yet often neglected activity can create momentum towards productivity and efficency.
In my multi-tasking world, it's hard to sustain a high level of enthusiasm when I start off focusing purely on priorities. Eventually I'll dry out and simply want to check-off to-dos instead of doing my best work.
Even worse, if I have built the habit of procrastinating my personal joys, (aka being disciplined for the sake of the goal with no eye on enjoying the journey) I can work for days, weeks or months suppressing my internal needs for an unknown future.
Does this make sense?
I'm just saying... to do some small pleasures first every day... to enjoy the journey even in small bite sized pieces will not only help our sanity, but it can improve the respective day as well.
Your thoughts? Please share.
