I find it very difficult to maintain my faith in something when the anticipated outcome ends up not to my liking. I can think of numerous times I did not get what I wanted. For example, I had to withdraw a contract on a house purchase because I didn’t sell the home I owned. The job I wanted was offered to someone else. The vacation plans I made fell through. The speaking engagement I anticipated was cancelled. Each time what I thought was in my best interest was not mine to have. It’s during situations
such as these I began to doubt myself and the universal plan. Why are my wants going unfulfilled? Why am I not getting the results I want?

This is what I have learned. If I feel doubtful I will experience doubt. When I have faith that everything unfolds according to my best interest and not according to what I think is best, I can maintain faith. The only way to eliminate doubt is to embrace faith. Faith and doubt can not co-exist. Regardless of the circumstances around you, choose to maintain faith within you. Choose faith over doubt If you doubt today, you will limit your trust and faith for tomorrow. Strong faith moves us forward without fear. Faith refuses to acknowledge doubt or render you discouraged. Faith is blind to impossibilities. The essence of faith is to believe that every possibility exists. Faith is the fuel which moves us forward. It is essential to peace of mind. The weak person remains doubtful, but the strong person maintains belief.

Faith requires patience and trust. It defies logic, believes in the impossible, expects miracles, and renders explanations unnecessary. When one has faith one has confidence in the outcome of our circumstances even when we don’t understand them.

Life is a continuous battle between faith and doubt. The beginning of doubt destroys faith; the end of doubt restores faith. It is challenging for those of us who like to be in control because we want to insure the outcomes as we imagine them. However, experience shows us that the universe doesn’t always view things with our set of eyes. It sees beyond what is visible to us. For us to maintain faith we have to believe in the unseen.

All that I have experienced so far is evidence enough to trust what I have yet to see. For me, life is worthwhile when I combine faith, and commitment with enthusiasm for something. When I am on purpose and my actions are in alignment with that purpose I have faith in the journey, including the outcome. Faith stems from the heart; doubt from the head. Life is a series of choices. You can choose to live in faith or you can choose to live with doubt. What will your choice be?

Albert Einstein was quoted as saying, “There are only two ways to live life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle.” One of the most wonderful principles known is the miracle principle. It has revolutionized the lives of many people who have learned its secret and how to put it into practice. The practice, described in only six words is: Expect a Miracle ~ .Make Miracles Happen! The truth is miracles happen only to those who believe in them.

When you keep your eyes open each day expecting wonderful things to happen, it is amazing that great and wonderful things do happen. Miracles are the direct result of how we view the world and belief in our ability to manifest what we want. A miracle has been defined as something no reasonable person would have expect. It simply shows up. It may be the coincidence of meeting someone or an opportunity that presents itself when you are least expecting it. The key here is to look at your life with an open heart and trust that the universe will provide what you want and deserve. What I continuously think will happen will tend to happen. “My own shall come to me.” What we give out in the universe mentally and spiritually comes back to us. We manifest what we think.

Seeing, hearing and feeling are in themselves miracles. The miracles of nature do not appear as miracles because they are so common every day. One can see evidence of miracles everywhere ~ in nature, in birth, in love and in life itself. Miracles occur naturally as expressions of love. The real miracle is the love that inspires them. Everything that comes to you through love is a miracle. Everything you give to others is a miracle. When we look at our lives as part of the grand scheme of the universe we honor each piece of the whole, including the role we play.

There is a French Proverb that states, “There are no miracles for those that have no faith in them.” “Don’t believe in miracles ~ depend on them,” are the words of Lawrence J. Peter, a writer. You don’t need an explanation for everything. Some things can only be defined as miracles. Have the vision to see the invisible.

Why be average when you are capable of excellence? Think for a moment about the satisfaction you experienced from a job well done. Years ago while working full time and raising
two small children I earned my Master’s Degree. I poured myself into studying evenings and weekends. I attended classroom instruction for two consecutive summers.

At graduation three years later, when my name was read, as I crossed the stage and handed my diploma, I knew that I had done my personal best. In spite of all the responsibilities
I had during that time, the challenges associated with keeping my life and family together, and doubting whether I could really accomplish what I set out to do, I proved to myself what I am
capable of achieving.

For me, excellence is not about perfection; it’s about doing your personal best in every endeavor and continually striving to get better. Fulfillment is experienced by those who pursue
excellence.

From that experience forward I learned that excellence is achieved by self-training and habit. Half-way is never enough when one is capable of playing all out. When you play your best, you win. It’s essential to make plans and set goals with confidence and carry them out to the best of your ability. The only measuring tool you ever need is the one you measure against yourself. We each recognize when we are performing well. When we really acknowledge the value of everything we do, no tangible reward can substitute for our inner peace and satisfaction.

I encourage you to make excellence a habit. Every task you undertake has your name on it. It is a reflection of who you are and what you’ve accomplished. Separate yourself from others
by setting a higher example. Be worthy of your own approval. There is infinite distance between average and excellent. Decide to give up “ordinary” when you are capable of “extraordinary”. Make room for self-improvement. Increase your standards and deliver more than you had thought you were capable of. Excellence is always within your reach. Simply stated, simply do your best.

Make Every Connection Count

Think of all the contacts you make
Even in one day.
Do you ever take time to acknowledge them in some way?

You simply never know where any one connection will lead
Or the impact of reaching out to someone in need.

Offer compliments, appreciation or a kind and friendly word
Given from a loving heart with no expectation in return.

Isn’t it time in this fast, often impersonal pace
That we share and care about others when face to face?

Imagine the ripple effect of making every connection count
And the difference you can make of which there is no doubt.

So, I ask that you to consider
Leaving positive, indelible footprints while along your way
In everything you do
And everything you say.

Just remember – introduce people you meet
To people they need to know
And people you know to people they need to meet.

You simply never know where any connection will lead
Or the impact of offering even one small deed.

~ Bonnie Ross-Parker

By Elizabeth Gordon

You often hear about entrepreneurs getting lucky – getting on Oprah or selling their business for $50 million to a big conglomerate. When you hear these stories of seeming overnight success, it makes you think, “Wow, they are sooo lucky.” But what sometimes appears to be luck is actually the result of a well laid plan and strategy that is finally coming to fruition. Every time you hear the story of an entrepreneur’s big win, you are probably not going to hear about the 100 times before that they failed, but trust me, they did.

What allowed them to eventually get to their big win? They didn’t beat themselves up after they failed, nor did they let it make them fearful of taking future risks. Instead, they viewed each small failure as simply a stepping-stone on the path to success. The good news is you can improve your luck. When you recognize that there is no such thing as “the overnight success story” and instead make the goal of each day to move the ball one step closer to your goal, you’ll increase your odds every day. If so-called good luck is really just persistence, creativity and determination that have finally paid off, there are some ways to stack the deck in your favor.   Continue Reading »

By Jewel Diamond Taylor
motivational speaker and author
www.WomenOnTheGrow.com

Lord, I am a woman-on-the-grow.
Please help me…

* to find the strength to get up when I just want to give up.

* to speak up the next time he/she disrespects or abuses me.

* to guard myself from family/friends who challenge my trust, patience, time, faith and money.

* to be grateful and show up for my job even though I don’t enjoy it.

* to be a good provider for myself and my family with less stress and struggle.

* to resist my additions. Continue Reading »