Success Initiatives Blog

I've spent some time the last few weeks thinking about the word failure.  It's such a common word, and lately even a social media trend, #epicfail.  Terrible. I have benefited greatly by practicing and teaching the replacement of negative words with positive words.  As I pondered the word failure, I realized it did not really need a replacement word.  I realized it wasn't even much of a word.  The more I reflected on previous "failures", I really was left thinking about the experience and education I had gained from events previously labeled as failures.  We really have experiences of learning with opportunities to better ourselves. We have all been made better through the education and experience gained after moments that did not turn out as expected.  After reflecting on these moments, we reassess our expectations, readjust our steps, and eventually end up with a successful outcome.  Eliminating that so called "...

Remember the picture of the woman in your Intro to Psych class?  Which was then followed by the question, "Do you see the young beautiful woman or the frail old lady?" Depending on how we see life or our mental attitude, the outcome usually varies from person to person.  The same goes for the question, "What are you settling for?" Depending on your thoughts, you either came up with a long list of things that are not right in your life or have been really bothering you. (Negative).  On the other hand, some of you might have immediately read the question and answered, "You're right, what am I settling for!!"  (Positive).  This attitude about life immediately springs you into thinking, action, and coming up with a whole different list.  A list of things that you have been putting off or still dream of doing. Why is this list different?  Because it inspires you into personal action.  Action in the direction of the things that get you excited a...

Geniuses, Gurus, know-it-alls!!! Call them what you want, but there is a small group of people that influence your thoughts and actions on a daily basis.  The group is usually comprised of those people that you are around most often.  As Jim Rohn said, "You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with".  So who are your 5 people?  If you are not sure, they are still there.  You just don't have them available in a way that helps your life. If you know who they are, it's time to take inventory of the influence they have over your life.  If these are the people that influence you to be your best, then congratulations!!! You have a Mastermind Group.  A group that you can count on to be there for you and are honest with you about your life. I am fortunate to have found this grou,p at the best time in my life.  Since having a mastermind group I have grown personally, and my purpose to serve others has ...

Shh!!! Listen it's the sound of silence. Silence can be the perfect way to actually hear what is really going on in your mind. On a daily basis, we are bombarded with noise. The noise can be the sounds of daily life, but also the sounds of our negative thoughts. "I'm so tired, I'm so out of shape, if I could just make more money, if I could just change jobs, if my relationship were just better". This daily noise in our lives can leave us feeling down and at worst, defeated. So please, Shh!!!! Shh!!! for just a moment. Slow down, get quiet and take time for yourself. In this quiet moment, let go of all the expectations and know that you are enough. You are enough as you are, and with what you have been given. Be grateful for those things that are going well, and that make you who you are. In the quietness, instead use the SHH!!!- Serve, Help, and Heal. By finding ways in which you can serve others, you will feel uplifted and rewarded for who you ...

As the month of November is coming to a close, there has been much conversation on giving thanks for what we have. As I went through the Thanksgiving holiday and was thankful for many things, I couldn't help but think about a lesson I taught to a group of kindergarten students. The lesson not only was about giving thanks, but giving thanks for the simple things. I read a book to them called Thanks Gracias , by author Pat Mora. It was really great to think about those little things in life that we take for granted. Simple things, like breathing clean air, great weather, and the people around us. I began to make a conscious effort to think about the simple things and start evaluating the possessions that I have. I really began to appreciate the simple things much more than possessions. With my new found attitude, I will approach the holidays in a whole new way. In lieu of gifts, I will be asking the people around me to make a donation to some of my favorite charities. I not...