Triumph

There are 72 steps that lead to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. I ran up those iconic steps just like Rocky training for fight. I jumped around like I just won my own heavyweight championship. I'm sure this is quite amusing for those of you who know I'm all of five feet tall, and no where near a heavyweight soaking wet with layers. The mind is an amazing thing. It can make you think you are the heavyweight champion of the world, and it can make you feel isolated and defeated. It can play tricks on you. Most athletes will tell you that training is as much mental as it physical. Victors train their mind. Triumph does not come without training. Nor does it come without trials. No matter what you are going through, it is the training ground for your triumph. 

"Always seek out the seed of triumph in every adversity."-Og Mandino
 

Thrive

We are creatures of habit. We have routines, schedules, calendar invites, and all sorts of alarms, alerts, and notifications to keep us on task. We "pencil in" people in our agendas. We workout during our lunch break, or we just work through our lunch. So, we can write it off as a "business lunch." We are so busy. But, are we really living this life that God gave us? Is our life exceedingly abundantly beyond what we could think or ask? Are we thriving or just surviving? If we really want to be honest with ourselves, it's the latter. We have achieved a degree of comfort, and we have set our lives on cruise control. We re-adjust if we hit a bump, but most of us have a rather mundane existence. It's time to shake things up. Don't just survive. Thrive! 

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."-Maya Angelou
 

Cusp

You never really appreciate the magnitude of something when you are in the moment. You don't realize that these are the good times until they aren't. You don't see the preparation for your future in the present. Perspective is relative to your current position. It is only when you ascend to certain heights do you really appreciate the view. The best view of the city is from the rooftop. The most coveted property is the penthouse or the house on the hill. Why? It's because of the view. When you are on the cusp of greatness, you rarely know it. You don't feel different, but the air is different. You don't act different, because you are different. You have a different perspective when you are on the cusp of greatness. 

Still

As a child, I hated to sit still. I hated waiting. I always wanted to be in the mix. In fact, my curiosity was the reason I got into trouble. I had to know. I had to see. I had to do. The words, "sit down," sounded like a jail sentence. I have to admit as an adult, I still struggle with stillness. There is so much to do. Clothes need to be washed. The house needs to be cleaned. I have errands to run, and groceries to buy. Do. Do. Do. I honestly felt like I could not be productive unless I was doing something. I had to check everything off my "to do" list. Rest couldn't be productive, right?

Wrong. Our bodies need us to rest in order to function properly. We need to sit down after a long day to recoup. We need to be still, so we can hear the murmurings of our heart. I am still learning these lessons. Everything does not have to be done today. These dishes can sit in the sink. There will always be more clothes to wash. Order a pizza. You can get groceries tomorrow. Believe it or not rest is productive. Be still. Listen to birds chirp. Enjoy the beat of your own heart. Let someone else wear your cape today. Your "to do" list can wait. Just be still. 

Declaration

There is power in spoken word. There are lots of "new age" thinking based on this logic. The Power of Positive Thinking is based on faith and inspiration. The Law of Attraction is based on affirmations, declarations, and visualization. The Secret is based on positive thinking and the law of attraction.  These are not new ideas. The branding and marketing is new. Reaping and sowing is not new. It is an agricultural principle. If you sow an apple seed, you will reap an apple tree. If you sow love, you will reap and abundance of love. Make positive declarations over your life and your future. Create a vision board. Sketch your dream house. Name your kids. Write a few morning affirmations. Create a breeding ground for creativity and positivity. Make a declaration!

Empathy

Perspective is reality. It's hard to relate and understand someone when you don't have common ground. It's hard to find common ground when you are polar opposites. It's hard to do anything if you don't really want to do it in the first place. The biggest obstacle to empathy is self. Empathy is a choice. It is allowing yourself to feel someone else's pain as well as their joy. Empathy is a deliberate vicarious experience. Choose to understand. Choose to walk in someone else's shoes. 

"Empathy is about standing in someone else's shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place. " -Daniel H. Pink

Epiphany

What happens when you realize you deserve more? What will you do when you accept that you were created for more? Who will you become when you recognize you were destined for greatness? Will you stay on that job you hate? Will you leave that toxic relationship? Will you try that thing you always wanted to do, but was too afraid to try? Will you not just knock on the door of opportunity, but actually walk through it? You deserve it. You were created for more. You are destined for greatness. Now, is the time. This is your epiphany. You know better. So, do better. Overcome your fears. Step out. Do it! No more excuses.