Regaining Enthusiasm

How I Regained My Enthusiasm & How You Can Too3ddec2a4-3d0d-4742-98db-b639d2618a83

When I stopped writing my newsletter a year and a half ago, I needed a break! I had new things on my plate and rather than trying to do it all, I decided to back off on a few things. Besides that, I’d lost my enthusiasm for writing.

When our enthusiasm is gone, we feel stuck. I sure did! I spent some time down in the rut, but then, I took my first step. Being a coach, I knew that to move out of stuck, I needed to reassess where I was (overwhelmed) and then get clear about where I wanted to be. Since I was feeling overwhelmed, I backed off on things that were draining my energy. 

Taking a break is essential to being able to think clearly. Humans were designed to need rest and relaxation. Our brains need time think outside the confines of our daily grind. We also need to time to think about nothing!

Sometimes we only need a short break. Just a day away to REthink, REfocus and REmember why we are doing what we are doing.

      

I needed a longer break. Taking a break gave me time to refocus and get clarity. During my break I began working with Stronger Families as a Master Level Trainer. I was traveling all over the US doing presentations at military installations. Learning the ropes of traveling for work from making all the arrangements to being away from home, sometimes 10 days in a month – I was on over-load. Even though it was a great experience. It was too much to try to keep up with all I had been doing. I needed, and wanted to give up something. 

It sounds easy, ‘just take a break,’ but that first step can be really hard. Just knowing what to take a break from can be difficult! We get so bogged down with life and what we ‘have’ to do, that we have no brain space for what we ‘could’ do – or what we could ‘not’ do. We may have no idea why we’ve lost our enthusiasm, but it is gone – and we feel depleted. 

What I learned during my break from writing was that I needed to develop a team of  coaches to work with if I wanted to re-engage with writing and consider taking on more clients. I have done that and I have been inspired to write again! My colleagues are great! I will have (or will) introduce you to Kim Kompel and Ted Hackney in blog posts.

Though we may feel like we have no choice, isn’t being stuck just the result of making the same choice over and over again? I thought I “had” to write my newsletter. If I didn’t, I’d be throwing away everything I’d worked for. When we get stuck in a rut we begin to believe it’s the only way. We’re no longer going where we want to go but can’t see any other way.

Simply reframing our choices and realizing we are NOT stuck. We have chosen this path today. We must consciously recognize our freedom to make different decisions, whenever we are ready. Facing the reality of this freedom helps us feel much better! It can REnew our enthusiasm and bring life back our endeavors. 

Regain Enthusiasm

How I Regained Enthusiasm 
Could This Be What You Need?
3ddec2a4-3d0d-4742-98db-b639d2618a83When I stopped writing my newsletter a year ago, I needed a break. I had new things on my plate and rather than trying to do it all, I decided to back off on a few things. Besides that, I’d lost my enthusiasm for writing.

When our enthusiasm is gone, we feel stuck. I sure did! I spent some time down in the rut, but then, I took my first step. Being a coach, I knew that to move out of stuck, I needed to reassess where I was (overwhelmed) and then get clear about where I wanted to be. Since I was feeling overwhelmed, I backed off on things that were draining my energy.

Taking a break is essential to being able to think clearly. Humans were designed to need rest and relaxation. Our brains need time think outside the confines of our daily grind. We also need to time to think about nothing!

Sometimes we only need a short break. Just a day away to REthink, REfocus and REmember why we are doing what we are doing.

I needed a longer break. Taking a break gave me time to refocus and get clarity. During my break I began working with Stronger Families, and I was reminded – I work better with a team. I need them for inspiration. Though I travel all over the country – alone, there is a team of Master Level Trainers that I’m connected to as well as the SF staff – they inspire me!

It sounds easy, ‘just take a break,’ but that first step can be really hard! We get so bogged down with life and what we ‘have’ to do, that we have no brain space for what we ‘could’ do. We may have no idea why we’ve lost our enthusiasm, but it is gone – long gone!

What I learned during my break from writing was that I needed to develop a team of  coaches to work with if I wanted to reengage with writing and take on more clients. I have done that and I have been inspired to write again! My colleagues are great! I will introduce you to Kim Kompel and Ted Hackney soon.

Though we may feel like we have no choice, isn’t being stuck just the result of making the same choice over and over again? I thought I “had” to write my newsletter. If I didn’t, I’d be throwing away everything I’d worked for. When we get stuck in a rut we begin to believe it’s the only way. We’re no longer going where we want to go but can’t see any other way.

Simply reframing our choices and realizing we are NOT stuck, we have chosen this path today and consciously recognizing our freedom to make a different decision, whenever we are ready, helps us feel much better! It can REnew our enthusiasm and bring life back our endeavors.

align=”center”>REthink, REfocus & REmember 

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REnewal

 

How Machine Gun Slinging Guards Intentionally Intimidated Visitors

 

Jerusalem, Israel

I am married to a man who loves adventures and experiences – especially those that are life changing, so when he gets an idea, he, sometimes very creatively, figures out how to make them happen. For example, he believes we need to see the world to gain a better understanding that we, personally, are not the center of the universe and to broaden our minds to what is happening in other parts of the world.Recently we were able to visit Israel because he decided to lead a trip.

I am changed because of the experience!

 

We, Americans, live in a place where great opportunities await those who are disciplined, courageous, persevering, who utilize the available resources wisely, and are not self serving but contribute their gifts and talents to benefit others.

 

While I saw some Israeli’s and Palestinian’s lives flourishing, they count themselves blessed to be in a relatively safe place – not compared to us – but to their neighbors. Yet they are aware that even their current level of  safety may not last long. At least six Isis flags wave in Jerusalem. Rachel, our tour guide, explained that they are sleeper cells so we were safe. But I thought, who knows when they will awaken!

 

Already, their lives have changed because of oppression. For example, there was a young mother we were with, who was now a widow because her husband would not denounce his faith and claim Allah as his god. He was murdered by Hammas. “You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.”  C.S. Lewis

 

On a less drastic note, we heard from a young Palestinian couple that they couldn’t travel (quite locally) on certain days because it was not safe. Yet, despite the atrocities and oppression, they were living their lives as forgivers and with joy as was the woman whose husband was murdered.

 

Our experience at the temple mount, which was once where the temple stood but is now Muslim controlled and hosts the site of the famous gold domed mosque, gave me a taste of how I could easily be intimidated and cower if I was not absolutely sure of what I believe. There were machine gun slinging guards, obviously trained to inflict fear by being rough and in-your-face rude, not just to us but to all the visitors. We were invited in, yet once there could hardly enjoy the experience. I’ve never seen anything like it. I am so thankful it was truly a foreign experience!

 

So how have changed? I can’t, in this short article, begin to tell you everything, but my boldness has increased and I have realized that I have a responsibility to share and bring awareness for even bigger reasons than I had ever realized.

 

I plan to write more in the coming weeks sharing my perspective on my experiences and how they are changing me in more radical ways. Stay tuned. .  . but I have to tell you, our winter Groups were life changing experience for many and I’m excited to let you know we have just opened registration for 3 Groups that will begin soon. Check out the GROUPS tab.

Live Victoriously!

You Were Created to beVictorious!

  How Are You Living Victoriously?

To live victoriously you have to have victory over something. Hmmm.

“Everyone  wants to be an overcomer but no one wants to overcome anything!” -Dave Parker

It’s so true. We don’t want to fight!! If it doesn’t come easy we think the door has been closed, but maybe we’re supposed to persevere? How would your life be different if you persevered through the difficult things until the door was slammed shut? What if you didn’t let your passion be snuffed out? What if you put in 100% effort?

What if, when things don’t work out like you hope, instead of giving up, you consciously choose to step back, reassess and find a new approach? Again and again until you find victory? (or the door is slammed shut 🙁 )

Think about it, what is it you really want – PRESENTLY.

Today is a new day and YOU CAN BE VICTORIOUS!

Simply identify what you want and start the process. Clearly you must do the work, but God delights in giving you the desires of your heart. He put them there. Show Him how badly you want it and demonstrate it daily by doing the work!