Week 23 – The Law of Least Resistance

So our goal starting this week is to Apply The Law of Least Effort by living each day with:

1. Acceptance
2. Responsibility
3. Defenselessness

I wonder which one “hits home” most for you?

For me I believe defenselessness tops the list!

“Today my awareness will remain established in Defenselessness. I will relinquish the need to defend my point of view. I will feel no need to convince or persuade others to accept my point of view. I will remain open to all points of view and not be rigidly attached to any one of them.”

My first thought was … does this include my family…. my children – who are now adults, yet, “You know I still am their Mom”!  I think in many relationships I have gotten better with this over the years, not having to be right or have the last words, but I still find it difficult with my family members.  I wonder if this is a struggle for you too, or am I alone in this?  Having been Mom with the role and responsibility of mentoring my children, it is easy for me to fall into the role of “Mom know best!”.  I find I feel this is still the case if I don’t catch myself – even tho my “baby” is almost 26 years old!

So this week I am focused on being the observer, not being opinionated and listening.  My daughter in law shared something her mother often asks her, and I am trying to learn to use as an automatic thought and sometimes ask out loud rather than being tempted to give advice.  “Are you just wanting me to listen or are you wanting to hear my thoughts on it.”   So here it goes…..  Have a great week being defenseless!

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Week 22 – Can We Really Change the Way We Look at Things?

 

What a challenge to change the way we look at things. I love the idea of changing the way I look at things that I always saw as hurdles to be conquered before….like Fear, Guilt, Anger, Hurt Feelings, Unworthiness.   Interesting concept… Instead of seeing Fear as a brick holding me back/down, see it as a tool, as a gift.  When I am afraid I have a tremendous amount of energy and intense focus and it truly does eliminate all distractions!  So now as I take that focus, energy and attentiveness and focus it on my DMP, it brings such power to move into action. And action is what I need to move forward – over the fear and onto my definite major purpose. So as I focus on being grateful, even for the gift/tool of fear, it disperses and I move into action in the right direction!  How cool!

What about when I am feeling angry.? That sure is a time of intensely increased energy and when I channel it – as a power tool, I can substitute productivity for negativity. How much better this will be for myself and everyone around me?  May I learn to be the observer, mastering my emotions and turning them for good!

Would you like to join me? Think if all of us do…. what a better world it would be!

Week 21 – How will this go while I am traveling?

 

Here I am in the thick of the Master Key Experience – ready to go on the trip of a lifetime – wondering how I will keep up with my daily commitments as I go on a structured tour.  Hmmm.  How will it go?

I am blessed to be going to Israel to visit the Holy Land with my son and daughter in law and her grandmother. What a tremendous blessing – a trip I have looked forward to for years.

As I arrive and enjoy the tour with 41 other people that keeps us intensely and excitedly busy for long hours, I must say, my daily tasks have not been completed as consistently as at home, yet a very interesting thing is happening.   I fit them in when I can – mostly back in the room,  yet my attitude and my outlook are quite different than I think it would have been a year ago, before learning to much.

I am really focused on being an observer, and wow are there so many things to observe. Since this is a Biblical tour, visiting the holy sites, and getting to walk where Jesus walked, it is a wonderful time to reflect on what really counts in life. Although we are going at a fast pass, I feel I am taking moments to “smell the flowers” and experience the environment and people with a much deeper appreciation than I would have before.

I am so grateful and appreciative of all we are experiencing and rejoicing in the fresh awareness of God’s love and provision throughout the years.  By the way – if you are ever looking for a great tour company to visit Israel with, I highly recommend Pilgrim Tours;-)

Week 20 -Am I being a Fox or a Hedgehog?

This week during our training webinar I was really struck by considering if I am being a Fox or a Hedgehog.  As they told us….. “The fox knows many things but the hedgehog know one big thing.

Oh how in the past I have been the fox, having to know every detail, spending lots of time planning but not so much time accomplishing.  This week I have been focusing more on what I call, “Stumbling Forward”  not being so concerned that I have it all figured out, but just keeping it simple, having my goal in mind and expanding my comfort zone and actually turning the challenges from fears to accomplishment. Although it is a change that takes frequent re-correction, it is exciting to see results and confidence building.  It is great to have opportunities to mentor others and encourage them to do the same too!

So may I encourage you to be the hedgehog – focus on your passion and “stumble forward” embracing life as you move forward continually.

 

Week 19 – Courage

“The ability to do something that frightens one.”

“Strength in the face of pain or grief.”

Both are definitions of Courage

Sometimes it feels like I am walking that tightrope in life!
How about you?!?

I am so thankful for the Lord’s words in Deuteronomy 31:6:
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,
for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.”

This verse so often speaks courage into my heart when I am tempted to do the opposite – to worry and fear.  The more I let go of the outcome, focus on my purpose and goals, and commit all that I do as unto the Lord, the more courageous I become.

Have you ever seen the movie, “Courageous”?  If not, I highly recommend it. Having lost our oldest son just 3 months ago, I have an even greater appreciation of the courage and commitment Adam Mitchell demonstrates.  As his whole family struggles through tragedy and grief, he rises above his circumstances and not only becomes a victor himself, he courageously leads others to do the same.  And not just in the movie – but in the hearts of his viewers as well.

May our demonstration of courage also affect many around us as we “Trust in the Lord, with all your heart and lean not on our own understanding, in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Psalms 3:5-6

Week 18 – Making that choice – and sticking to it!

Should I…. should I not…… which would be better….

Ever find yourself going back and forth, back and forth in trying to make a decision?

This has been a lifelong challenge for me.  I was taught to weigh the pros and cons carefully – a good idea to a point, yet when taken to far has often held me back from moving forward in any direction.  How about you?

I have always admired people who seem to be able to make definite decisions and then not look back and question them.  Well now it is my turn!

The dictionary meaning of decisive is:   1. able to make decisions quickly and confidently, or showing this quality: 2. strongly affecting how a situation will progress or end.

I find the second part of this definition interesting. Once I confidently make that decision I am “Strongly affecting how a situation will progress or end.”  Isn’t that what this whole MKE experience has been about – affecting how our lives progress!

I won’t say it is easy, but making a conscious decision to make a decision and not labor over it has been building my confidence to do it more. Looking forward to how I can and do affect how my situation and life progresses by proactively choosing to…

Week 17 – Enthusiasm…. Zeal

As each week I am thinking about a character trait that I want to grow in my life and my word for this week was enthusiasm, I thought I should start by looking up the definition. Enthusiasm = “Intense and eager enjoyment, interest or approval. A thing that arouses feeling of intense and eager enjoyment.”

Since the scriptures are really important to me, I decided to look  up verses with enthusiasm in them to see what God says about it. I only found 2  verses and especially liked this one in 2 Corinthians 9:2.  “… You in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.”  I like how the result of their enthusiasm was stirring others to action – certainly a goal of mine!

My Bible dictionary said to look at verses on Zeal for enthusiasm. I got really excited when I looked up the definition of zeal!

Zeal= “Great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or objective.” !!!  Wow, that is exactly what we are doing throughout the entire MKE experience 😉

Well that sent me on a search for verses concerning zeal and there are so many to be found!  I especially like this one – Romans 12:11.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”

So this week I have been having fun observing and demonstrating enthusiasm and zeal. There’s alot around us, especially in young children. It’s a real shame that zeal and enthusiasm tend to get squashed out of us as we start growing up.  I am determined to bring more back into my life and take time to recognize it and celebrate it in others.  Hope you will join me!

Have an Enthusiastic Day 😉