A Great Way to Bless Someone's Life

As I type this, it is the 21st of December. That means that Christmas is "right around the corner" and it also means that there are many people around you (whether you realize it or not) that will struggle to provide any kind of Christmas for their children again this year.

 

This doesn't have to be about Christmas, however. It is a GREAT way to bless the lives of other people ANY time of the year. Keep that in mind and plan to incorporate this all through the year...I think it can become highly addictive!

 

But, for now, I want to focus on the few days that are left before Christmas and challenge and encourage you to JUMP ON BOARD and make some magic happen! I know I'm right when I say that many of us wish there were more ways to help others...well, here ya' go!

 

Take a $10 bill and PAY IT FORWARD!

 

Sure, by itself, that $10 bill may not be able to do a whole lot but, at the same time, in the hands of a person that is really struggling, it may do far more than you can imagine.

 

But, what IF you can easily multiply that $10 bill into an amount that is far beyond what you may imagine? Here are some simple ideas that I will share with you but I want to challenge you to brainstorm even more and come up with MORE ideas to make this EXTRAordinary!

 

1. FAMILY: Get each member of your immediate family to add $10 each and then find a family that would be blessed by this contribution. With all of these ideas, find such a family and bless their life.

 

2. FRIENDS: What if you could call 10 other friends and have them contribute $10 each? You can do this easy math, right? That little $10 bill turns into $100 very quickly. Do the math and find out what would happen if you got 20 friends involved...30 friends? Do you think this might make a difference in the life of someone? You might even consider helping more than one person or family, depending on how many people you get involved.

 

3. GROUPS or ORGANIZATIONS: Do you belong to a group or organization? Do you attend a Bible class at your church? How about a civic organization? What about your workplace? The list is endless and I want to encourage you to STEP UP, have fun, get excited about this idea and see what can happen!

 

Here's a couple of more ideas to make this fun:

 - Deliver this money yourself and see the joy and happiness on the face of the one(s) that you bless.

 - Send someone else to deliver this gift and remain anonymous.

 

MAIN POINT: Have fun with this and know that you can QUICKLY make a huge impact on the life of an individual or a family.

 

I just wanted to get this out there and share it with you as quickly as I could and, yes, I've done this myself.

 

GET YOUR FAMILY - ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN - INVOLVED IN THIS and teach some valuable lessons on what it is to share and bless others.

 

Until next time, whatever you do...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is goin to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

VALUE...What's Yours?

Now, before I even get started on the thoughts in this article, I want to make sure that I clarify something, o.k.?

As you read this article, understand that I am NOT talking about your "value" as a person. Not at all. Too many people base their "self-worth" (value) on what kind of job that they have, the position that they hold with that job or on a number of other factors. That's NOT what I'm talking about today. Clear?

Now let's move on to what I AM talking about in this article.

Here's a definition for the word, "value" that I found on the computer...
     value (noun) - the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something: Ex. "your support is of great value"; synonyms: worth, usefulness, advantage, benefit, gain, profit, good, help, merit, helpfulness, avail, importance, significance

Before we talk about this definition let me say that we are going to be talking about your VALUE at your workplace. We can ask the question, "What value do you bring to your workplace?" and really get down to the point of this discussion.

As I type this, it was yesterday that I shared an article by Dani Johnson that discusses the importance of VALUE in relation to your PROMOTION at work. You can find it by going to my FYU fan page and scrolling down just a little. Take the time to read it if you haven't done so already.

Let's take a look at the definition again but, instead of the actual definition, I would like to direct your attention to the synonyms listed for the word, "value". Take each one of those words and ask yourself the following question about YOU at your work place. For example, "What is my WORTH at my job?", "What is my USEFULNESS at my job?", "What ADVANTAGE is there by me being a part of this position?". Get the idea?

Be as honest as you can in answering these questions. How do you think your supervisor/manager would answer these questions about you?

Are you a POSITIVE addition or do you bring NEGATIVITY to the workplace? Are you HELPFUL or do you sow seeds of discontent at your job? Are you one that those in charge would do just about anything to keep as part of that company or would it be a blessing to the company if there was a way for you NOT to have that job? Are you so "neutral" (neither valuable or destructive) that it really wouldn't matter to the company either way if they "let you go"?

I''m not really trying to brag but, at the same time, I AM going to brag about my wife a little here. I've shared with you before how she goes into ANY job determined to be a positive influence on those around her. Here's a perfect example of what I'm talking about in today's discussion and it became evident just today. She had started a new job a couple of months ago, part time, but with the promise of "plenty of hours". However, just the other day one of her supervisors basically told her that her hours had to be very limited and that this was something that was just figured out. My wife loves her job and the people she works with and, to be honest, we were both a little worried about what she would need to do to get the hours that she needed. Would she need to get a completely different job with a different company?

My wife is trained in three different areas within this company and one of her other supervisors found out about this situation. The MAIN supervisor (over all of the other ones in this situation) also found out about the situation and, the main supervisor made it very clear that they needed to do whatever they needed to do to make sure that my wife got the hours needed because "we do not need to lose her!".

Do you think she has established some "value" at her workplace? Sure she has!

So many people miss this point completely. Many people "go to work" and gripe and complain the whole time that they are there and it rubs off on those around them. They do "just enough" to get by and wouldn't even consider doing something that's not part of their "job description" if it would help the company in any way. You get the idea.

Is that you? I hope not.

Yet, it may be you and you may not have intended for that to happen. You may find that you have allowed yourself to slip into that type of action and mentality. What will you do now? Will you just continue along this path of self-destruction or will you make necessary changes to improve your value at your workplace?

No one else can do this for you. As with everything else that we talk about in these articles, it is up to YOU!

Improve your position by improving your value. This applies regardless of what position that you hold at your company.

Think about it and then take action. My guess is that ALL of us can probably do a few things to improve our attitudes and, in return, our value at work. You CAN do it and I'm here to help with information such as this. Hey, be sure to listen to the podcast as well. Just click on one of the links below.

Until next time, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University    "Like" FYU on Facebook!    Podcast on iTunes

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What Goes Up...

 

We've all heard the saying, "What Goes Up, Must Come Down", right? I even have some "Blood, Sweat and Tears" featured on the podcast, singing the song, "Spinning Wheel", which starts off with this phrase.

 

The idea behind the phrase is, basically, your actions are like a boomerang...what you "throw" out there WILL come back!

 

Are you o.k. with that?

 

Yes, this is a continuation of what we discussed in the last article and podcast. Yet, I feel the need to continue this discussion because I see the lack of understanding of this concept literally, every single day.

 

My supervisor is completely stressed out every time I see her. As a matter of fact, before I was officially hired at this company, she told me that it was a stressful job...VERY stressful. Yet, what I have found to be true is this: SHE is stressed...VERY stressed and MY part of the job is not really stressful at all.

 

Sure, my job is completely different than hers but, this makes a very important point in how all of this works. Because she "speaks" stress in her work environment, she assumes it's that way for those that do what I do as well. She SPEAKS stress, she SEES stress, she FEELS stress and, in my opinion, stress will END her position with this company within a few more months, if that long.

 

Here's another thing that I have noticed about this situation: my supervisor CREATES stress in this work environment and it's not producing positive results for her. I have observed that my co-workers do not respect her nor do they respond well to her. I'm not trying to over-simplify this but, one main reason this happens is because "what goes up, must come down" or, in other words, she is getting back what she is putting out.

 

What about you?

 

Take a moment and write down some descriptions of your life. Break it down to descriptions of your typical day if you prefer. Use "descriptive" words (adjectives) on this list and see what you come up with as you do so. Don't think too much about it...just "brainstorm" and write down what honestly comes to mind.

 

How do you feel about what you discovered with this list?

 

This can become a vicious cycle in which YOUR stress can cause stress to others around you which, in turn, can cause YOU stress and on and on it can go.

 

You may not agree with me and that's o.k. But, can I get you to at least consider what I'm saying to be true? Try this - and I mean REALLY give it your best shot - and see what begins to happen. CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS which, in turn will CHANGE YOUR WORDS and your ACTIONS.

 

Yeah, again, I acknowledge that this is easier said than done but, listen, stop trying to fit everything into our "microwave-mentality" culture. THIS MAY TAKE SOME TIME but, if you really put the effort into this, I believe that you will see positive results pretty quickly.

 

CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS: Make an even stronger effort to immerse yourself with positive information. Stop watching the news and start listening to positive recordings as well as begin reading more positive articles. Hey, just turn the television OFF and see what happens. Consciously "chase out" any negative thoughts that begin to try to find a home in your mind. DO NOT allow it to do that...chase it off!

 

CHANGE YOUR WORDS: Changing your thoughts will begin to change your speech! You will begin to THINK more before spewing out some negative poison and your words will follow your thoughts and become more positive. And, by changing your thoughts and words, you will also begin to...

 

CHANGE YOUR ACTIONS:  You haven't forgotten the message from the last article already, have you? "Your feet will follow your mouth!" Once you begin to think differently (more positive) and you begin to talk differently (more positive and encouraging) then, it will not be long before your ACTIONS themselves begin to change. What you "put out" will become more positive and productive and, YES, you will begin to see this having a positive impact on those around you. If you are in any kind of management or supervisory position you will actually see more positive actions and, believe it or not, more positive production from your team.

 

Hey, you can choose to give this a try and see what happens or you can keep getting what you are getting from what you are doing. What's that definition of "insanity" again? "Doing the same things over and  over again and expecting different results."

 

So, as always, it's up to YOU.

 

Choose wisely, friend. Your "life" really does depend on it.

 

Until next time...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike 

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Your FEET Will Follow...

That is some kind of UGLY picture there, isn't it? :)

Sorry. I apologize for that. Once you catch your breath, just use  your hand to cover the picture and continue reading.

I was watching a video clip of Dani Johnson (DaniJohnson.com) the other day and she mentioned a phrase that she had heard some time in the past. "Your feet will follow your mouth" was the phrase and it has stuck with her for years.

And, it's TRUE!

You speak the direction of your life and your daily actions. You may or may not quite understand that, friend, but just know that your words ARE that powerful.

WHAT you speak and HOW you speak determines your direction. Are you kind? Considerate? Encouraging? Affirming?

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Put your money where your mouth is."?

There is more truth behind that phrase than you may realize!

What - and how - you speak may very well bring extra MONEY into your life and, just as easily, it may actually take money AWAY from your life!

I'm not talking about being a "suck-up" or "brown-noser".

I'm talking about being genuine (you can't fake that stuff for long!) and actually caring about people. The REAL you cannot help but come out for others to witness...good OR bad.

Your words - and use of them - may lead you to promotions and/or new job opportunities. They may also keep you from these things and cost you money that you didn't even know about.

Isn't there enough strife in the world? Isn't there enough strife just around YOU and YOUR world? The same is true about stress, unkind words, and all other kinds of negativity.

Don't make this a seasonal thing, make it a way of life...YOUR life.

Because, after all, your feet will follow your mouth!

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   "Like" FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes

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Think About This

"...Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." (Philippians 4:8b) NLT

 

In the last blog article we talked about the need to control our tongue. As part of that, I brought out the fact that, the only way to control our TONGUE was to control our THOUGHTS.

 

You control your thoughts by deciding what you ALLOW in your mind!

 

That's right...what YOU allow.

 

Now, I understand that sometimes things get in that we don't want to have in our mind but, for the most part, we can keep those kinds of thoughts out. Even if an unwanted thought sneaks in, we can OVERCOME and OVERWHELM that particular thought with positive thoughts and positive thinking.

 

YOU are in charge of what is in there (your mind). YOU!

 

Become "top-notch serious" about defending that space between your ears, friend, and see what happens.

 

Control your thoughts and you control your words. Control your words and you control your relationships. You control your relationships and you control your world.

 

I understand that some of you may be thinking that you cannot control all of your relationships. I'll give you that because it is a struggle to even know what relationships are actually good for you. So, yeah, I get that.

 

Too, don't take the word "control" and apply it in an incorrect way. I'm not talking about "making" people do what you want or be what you want.

 

I DO mean that you have the ability to - over time - have a positive influence over ALL of your relationships if you stick with it. Some will take longer and some won't take long at all.

 

What are you allowing in your mind? Look at the graphic and also notice the scripture beneath the graphic. They are both very similar in what they say. Now, be honest with yourself and do a quick check to see how many of those things listed you actually think about very often.

 

Replace the drama, the stress and the negativity with more thoughts of kindnes, being honorable and inspiring. Don't you wish everyone that you know would do that as well?

 

Let it start with you...let it start with you.

 

Think about it.

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

Future You University    "Like" FYU on Facebook!    Podcast on iTunes

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