Friday, July 13, 2012

Worry, But Be Happy Anyway...

The concept of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" is sound enough, but not really very realistic.  We will worry, the key is, to be happy anyway.

Recently I was speaking to a group of professional women about how to use Social Media for small business.  Aside from teaching the nuts and bolts of how to use Social Media, I also teach theory, and what to post (and what not to post!).

"Always be an encouragement!"  I said.  "Be happy; so many people aren't happy, and you just may be the only light they see that day.  When you're the light, people will be drawn to you, people want to be around happy people! Ultimately, people want to do business with happy people".

One woman sort of scoffed and said:  "No one is happy all the time; that's just being inauthentic".


I was taken aback for a moment, my business, after all, is structured on the foundation of building authentic relationships, then, shaking my head I replied:  "You may not actually be happy, however, you can still spread happiness.  It isn't really about you being happy in the moment, it's about being genuinely concerned about the happiness of those around you.  You might just surprise yourself by becoming happier just by spreading happiness and encouragement to those around you.  If you are focusing on your own discontent, the discontent will grow; if you focus on serving up encouragement to others, you'll find your own spirit being lifted!"


It really is true.


Make a point today to encourage others with abandon!  Check back in with me, and let me know how you feel by the end of the day.

Live a wonderful weekend!

Cheers,

~RR

Monday, June 4, 2012

(Almost) Never Give Up


One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received was: "Never give up!"  My favorite Churchill quote is that very encouragement:  "Never, never, never, never give up."  ~W. Churchill.  However, what if giving up really IS the best advice?

Persevering is crucial for success, however, there is no guarantee that you can or will succeed at everything, and sometimes knowing WHEN to quit can be just as important.

Henry Ford said: "If you always do what you've always done; you'll always get what you've always got."  If you look around at what you have, is it what you want?  Are you making forward progress toward the bigger picture?  Maybe it's time to let go of the things in your life that aren't serving you.

Never give up on moving forward, but be courageous enough to move on from what isn't getting you where you want to go.

Live a miraculous day!

Cheers,  ~RR

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Purpose, Direction, & Perpetual Hope

What we can or cannot do,
what we consider possible or impossible,
is rarely a function of our true capability.
It is more likely a function of our
beliefs about who we are.  ~Tony Robbins
Why do we do anything?  Why do we participate in activities?  Whether work, or play, there is a reason behind everything we do.

An actor might ask:  "What's my motivation?"
An opportunist might ask:  "What's in it for me?"
An intellectual might ask:  "What can I learn from this?"

Whatever your motivation behind what you do, money, fame, self-satisfaction, or even self-preservation, you do have a "Why".

To discover your purpose, you have to see where you are, where you want to go, and discover the vehicle of perpetual hope to get you there...

I've been told (and with good reason) that I am obsessed with flight.  It was true for a long time.  As a young girl, my "Why" was escape; I was constantly dreaming up ways to get away from my abusive parents, and flying seemed as good a way as any!  There was a deeper meaning, however, behind flight being my escape vehicle.

If I simply "ran away" I knew I would be caught.  I used to think about it; I ran away hundreds of times in my mind, but each time I wasn't far from home before being caught.  Why would a little kid be off on her own?  I knew I would stick out like a... well... like a runaway!  Every dream of escape in that manner just ended with failure... it was hopeless.  When I was about seven, I figured it out; I finally knew how I could get away, and be out-of-reach of authority!  It was simple; I had only to fly!

I had to create the perfect conditions for flight; in other words, I was responsible to make it happen.  My theory was simple enough:  All I needed was a simple playground swing; I would swing as high as I could, and then, during that flicker of time when the swing stops moving forward, but had yet to drop back down, if I believed hard enough, I could just let go... and fly!  If I tried one day, and it didn't work, it wasn't that it couldn't be done, it was that I hadn't done it right, and I simply had to try again... and again... and again.  My mind created a way to have perpetual hope, and it was in that way that I survived my childhood.

My "Why" as a little girl was simply self-preservation.  My "Why" now?  I want to continue to move forward in life, through parenting, education, business, and speaking, to reach success.  Why?  Because I want to exhibit to my children that one can come from any type of background and succeed.  I want to reach the kind of financial freedom that will allow me to give more and more to people and organizations that will help others create vehicles of perpetual hope, much like my theory of flight was for me.

I encourage you to find your "Why", and live each day with purpose, direction, and perpetual hope!

Cheers,

~RR

Monday, February 13, 2012

Spreading Joy, One Penny at a Time!

Just last week, I witnessed an act of kindness at my favorite coffee shop; the person at the head of the line paid for the next person's order.  That kind of generous spirit is, I think, a glimpse into the very spirit of kindness and gratitude, and it always reminds me of the innate goodness of people.

I have several people in my life are contiguously happy; I can spent a moment or two with one of these people, and it's enough to keep me going for the rest of my day!

Do you actively look for ways to spread the spirit of kindness?

I would like to challenge you today to make it your goal to make 10 people smile.  Someone once shared with me about how he would start each day with 10 pennies in his right pocket.  Every time he would get someone to smile, he would move one penny to his left pocket.  His goal was to have all 10 pennies in his left pocket by the end of the day.  Do it!  Get your 10 pennies loaded into your pocket, and get busy spreading joy, one penny at a time!

Whether it's a simple as smiling at someone, holding a door open for someone, or even something bigger, like paying their bill, live today with the intention to spread kindness, generosity, and mercy!

Cheers, ~RR

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Meet Me in My Dreams!


"You'll never make it."  "That's a waste of time."  "It's already been done, why bother?"  "You can't do it!"

Have you heard these comments before?  I sure have; it's discouraging, isn't it?  I used to be the kind of person who would give up after hearing those things; now, I just fight harder!  Why?  Because it's up to ME whether or not I succeed or fail!
Take charge of your own destiny! When you see other's pursuing theirs, give them an encouraging word that will help drive them forward; it's when we lift others up and help them succeed that we, ourselves, reach OUR full potential!


When I was a little girl, I wanted to fly; I believed, given the right circumstances, that I could!  After years of trying, and being told that it was impossible, I gave up... I grew up.
Fast-forward to college...  I wrote an essay in my first creative writing class, and of course, it was about being able to fly, but having to let go of that dream.
When I received the paper back from my professor, in green ink on the back page, he had written:
"If you're afraid of heights, don't look down, because, Rebecca, you ARE flying!  Flight doesn't have to be literal to be possible."
I have never, and will never forget those words.  That short comment on an incidental college essay changed my life; it created a paradigm shift into a perspective that anything I want to pursue is possible!


Be that professor in someone else's life... Encourage others to pursue and attain their dreams, and suddenly, you'll look around you and realize you've nearly reached yours as well!


~RR