Let it burn.....

Good morning!

This weekend I attended a life studies class and it was just what I needed. The title of the lesson was “Transformation: The role that trials play in the process”. This lesson just reinforced what I have been saying all along but it was said so much better. There is a cycle that we go through. The cycle goes as follows: Resurrection, Sufferings, and Death. Resurrection is to start anew. Sufferings are when we battle with our lives. Death is the letting go of something so that we can start a new life.  We will all have seasons of suffering but that’s not the time to throw in the towel. We should rejoice during our trials because it is during that time that GOD is shining his light on our darkness. The life studies instructor explained how the Spirit presented itself as fire and that it is that fire that burns internally. He said that’s why we hurt when we are going through a storm. It is burning away the old so that we can live in the new. We start anew in a situation and no matter the situation, there will be some sort of suffering. The great thing is that whatever that suffering is will have a death so that you can start anew again. It doesn’t mean that we have to leave the situation it just means that trial will be burned away. SO, during our trials we should rejoice in the blessings we still have and in knowing that whatever we are going through will eventually have a death. GOD only wants what’s best for us but that’s doesn’t mean that we will not have any trials. The AWESOME thing is that HE loves us enough to not let us stay that way. J

So today, look at your trials and smile because you know that the burn you feel is a sign that your resurrection is near!

AND remember just because a day is terrible it doesn’t mean that tomorrow won’t be the best day of your life….. You just have to stay strong and get there…….

MAKE IT GREAT

E

That's it?

Good morning,

You know when you are a positive person you never know how that positivity will affect someone else’s life. What you need may not necessarily be what someone else needs. What you have to offer may not seem like anything to you but could mean the world to someone else. Giving does not always have to be something big. The desire that one has to want to help is the first step in making a difference in someone’s life. The next step is knowing the needs of that other person. Again what you are able to provide may not mean much to you but could mean so much more to the person that you are helping. Never think that what you are doing is not enough. Every effort is movement towards better. Let’s continue to have hearts that want to see better for everyone.

Sharing is caring…. So help where you can.

AND remember a leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way……..

MAKE IT GREAT

E

I see you

Good morning,

Ok so my friends (Female and Males) are always asking the question, “Where does one go to meet new people?” I honestly have no idea because if I did I would be there….O_O. I was reading this and I thought I would share (Sharing is caring…lol)

Modern Day Matchmaker: 9 Proven Ways to Meet Someone New

Everyday I schedule an hour to respond to questions on Twitter and Facebook. It's a very interesting part of my day because I never know what I'll be asked. The questions range from what you would imagine is typical: "Do all men cheat?" While some are more outrageous and crazy: "Paul, what do you do with your clipped toe nails?" (Answers: 1) the most extensive studies on infidelity and marriage suggest the majority of men do not cheat. 2) I collect my nails in a silk satchel and put them under my pillow at night... just kidding!)

This past week, something stood out in the questions. Several people asked, "How can I meet someone new?" I found this interesting because normally I get the question of "Where can I meet someone new?” Typically it’s not "how." For the record, I like "how" much better because there's not one spot where you can absolutely find a partner.

The key to meeting "the one" is in the expansion of your social circle. It's important to remember that the number one way, over the last 100 years, that women and men meet for marriage has been through family and friends. And, while you can't expand your family, you can expand your friendship circles.

Here are nice well-researched ways to expand your social circle and therefore give yourself the highest likelihood of finding the one. Get ready to jot these down, ladies.
Join A Sports Team

I’m not asking you to tryout for Jay Z’s Brooklyn Nets. I’m simply suggesting you get active in an organized way. Tip: don’t join a team in your city — participate in a neighboring town so you can network with people you don’t know.

Make Eye Contact and Smile

If you walk around with a frown or distant eyes, people are less likely to approach you and be receptive to your friendship. No mean muggin’!

The Harvard Business Approach

There’s an interesting article in Harvard Business Review called “How to Build Your Network.” It describes a very innovative process I currently use: After you identify your key contacts, think about how you first met them. In the center column of the work sheet, write the name of the person who introduced you to your contact (if you met the person yourself, write “me”). This column will reveal the brokers in your network and help you see the networking practices you used to connect with them. These are the people you already know who are clearly able and willing to help you branch out. They should be the first people you call and where you invest a disproportionate amount of your time and energy.

Introduce Two People Who Do Not Know Each Other But Ought To

You strengthen your position within your own network when you become what is called a “superconnector.”

Volunteer

This is one of the best ways to meet people of all backgrounds and ages. The more challenging the project, typically the stronger the bond you will build with your fellow volunteers.

Create An "Interesting People Fund"

I learned this through a very interesting book called The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career." The authors suggest we create an “interesting people fund” to which you automatically funnel a certain percentage of your paycheck. Use it to pay for coffees and the occasional plane ticket to meet new people and shore up existing relationships.

Visit MeetUp.com

I believe this is the single best social media platform to platonically expand your social circles. Test out my theory and go try it.

Talk to People

You can join a sports team, volunteer, or go to church but you still won’t make new friends if you don’t actually talk to them. Don’t be shy, people don’t bite…well, some of us do but unless you’re talking to Mike Tyson, you’re probably safe. Don’t be too picky. Most conversations will be a dead-end of sorts, when you may never talk to that person again, or you just remain acquaintances—but once in a while you’ll actually make a friend.

Reconnect With Old Friends

Now, I’m not talking about your girl that double-crossed you and stole your boyfriend four years ago. I’m talking about actual good friends that for one reason or another you lost touch with over the years. In a great book titled Dormant Ties: The Value of Reconnecting, the authors argue that getting back in touch with people is the most overlooked and underutilized source of building social capital.

http://www.essence.com/2012/05/22/modern-day-matchmaker-9-proven-ways-to-meet-someone-new/#ixzz1vnhzMOum

AND remember you get out what you put in!

MAKE IT GREAT

E

My favorite things........

Good morning, good morning, good morning…….

I am so in love with the movie, “The Sound of Music”. I have been singing “My favorite things” all morning. That song just puts me in a good headspace.  I needed to sing this yesterday. I was not right at all…… I was trying so hard to get back to happy. It seemed like every time I would get close to happy something else would rain down on my head.  I found myself thinking about too many negative things at one time. Then it spread like wildfire into a blazing inferno and I felt like poo. By the time I got home, I was worn completely down. Thank you to all that called and inquired…..I apologize for not being more forthcoming I just need to strip down so that I could build back up. I was listening and I heard all that you said. I appreciate each of you. This morning I woke up with the determination to focus on getting back to happy. (I’m almost there!) What are my favorite things? Of course, that’s when the song popped into my head. So, as I type this I am listening to the song and smiling. I am going to sing, dance, laugh, and tell jokes because these are a few of my favorite things. I wore a cardigan today because GOD, bacon, bread, shoes, and cardigans make everything better! I am not going to worry myself with things I cannot change at this moment. There will be an opportunity to make things better and I just have to wait for it. When it does present itself then I will jump on it and things will be good again. Right now, I’m going to pretend as if I am sitting at a red light enjoying the a/c and my favorite music. Eventually that light will change and I will be able to move forward. My life is soooooo far from perfect but it’s still a wonderful life because I stay on my job making sure that it stays that way.

What are your favorite things? Are you thinking about them? Are you actually doing the things that you like? Let’s get on it! I hope that all of you have a wonderful morning!!!!!!!

AND remember that an idle mind is the devil’s playground…..so don’t get caught slippin’!

MAKE IT GREAT

E

Happy..... The How to......

Great morning,

Here I go again reading and of course seeing the words “How to be happy” you know I stopped to read it. So, since sharing is caring here you go!

Modern Day Matchmaker: How to Be Happier With or Without a Relationship

You are responsible for your own happiness.

That’s what our marriage counselor told my wife and me a few days before we jumped the broom. At the time, I didn’t get it. I thought that, as a couple, we were supposed to complete each other, and therefore make each other happy. It didn’t fully register until a few years into our marriage that no matter how well intentioned my wife or I were, we could not “change” each other. Therefore our ability to “make” each other happy was futile. Sure, I could tell a joke and make her laugh or she could surprise me with tickets to the game and light up my face with a smile but ultimately those things were not happiness, they were kind acts with kind responses.

If you are struggling with your own happiness, whether or not you’re in a relationship, the following are 14 things you must know.
Buy More Experiences And Fewer Material Goods

This means more putt-putt golf and vacations. Fewer cars and new TV’s. In a survey from the Journal of Consumer Psychology, people were asked which of two purchases made them happier, fully 57% of respondents reported that they had derived greater happiness from their experiential purchase, while only 34% reported greater happiness from their material purchase.

Know the Ingredients of Happiness

There are three keys to happiness. You must have all: 1) Pleasure (stuff that feels good in the moment – go anywhere you want with that statement…lol), 2) Meaning (belief/religion/philosophy), 3) Engagement (interaction with family & friends.)

Know that Rich People Are Not Happier

Don’t think Diddy is truly any happier than you. Well, on second thought, Diddy might be, but know the super-wealthy aren’t that much happier than the average person. Studies show once you make 75K a year, more money doesn’t make you all that much happier.

Visit The Double G (Gold’s Gym & God’s House)

Exercise and religion both make us happy and it’s because they provide small boosts to well-being on a regular basis. Although, I did once workout at my church and it was a miserable experience.

Spend More Time With Friends

Happiness expert Daniel Gilbert, who wrote the book Stumbling on Happiness, in an interview I once saw him do stated ”We are happy when we have family, we are happy when we have friends and almost all the other things we think make us happy are actually just ways of getting more family and friends."

Givers Are the Happiest

It’s the first of the month, you just got paid, and you’re thinking making it rain on yourself is the quickest route to happiness. WRONG! Several studies show that those that give or what’s called buy “pro-socially” (ex: day-to-day activities that include friends and family) are happier than those that simply spend on personal items

Drop the Mean Muggers In Your Crew

Research by Nicholas Christakis, a social scientist and internist at Harvard, states “the reality is straightforward: our friends strongly shape our behavior. We imagine ourselves as individuals, responsible for our own choices and emotions, but that sense of independence is a romantic myth. There is no wall between people.” So this means happier friends, happier you!

Set Ambitious Goals

People who set conservative goals have a harder time achieving satisfaction than those who set ambitious goals. This is according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Happiness Can Come In A Few Seconds

Thinking about the absence of a positive event from your life allows you to better appreciate the presence of that positive event in your life. Try it.

Do This Gratitude Exercise

Take a few minutes to write down five things you’re grateful for each week. Do this for 10 weeks. Studies show those that follow this simple exercise exhibit higher levels of happiness.

Tell Someone Thank You

“Thank you” is one of the most powerful word combinations. Use it often but use it genuinely. The result is a sense of overwhelming gratitude.

Don't Move to Russia

I found this to be fascinating, here are the happiest and least happy places in the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_happiness.png

Take Vacations

Jamaica, on the beach, Red Stripe in one hand, favorite book in the other. Not much else needed to explain here.

Think Faster

The Psychology of Science reports that we experience an independent increase in positive mood when we think fast rather than slow. Therefore, I’m going to need everyone to read this entire blog post again, but do it in 30 seconds.

Read more: http://www.essence.com/2012/05/29/modern-day-matchmaker-how-to-be-happier-with-or-without-a-relationship/#ixzz1wMlwe91e

AND remember you hold the key to your happiness!

MAKE IT GREAT

E

Forget about it..... (in my best Goodfellas voice)

AWESOME MORNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You know why today is awesome????? Today is AWESOME because it’s a new day. Any troubles, sadness, guilt, storms, and failures are behind me. I have the opportunity to move forward into the newness. I am going to streak into my future. I have to tear away residual negativity. I do not have room for old baggage. I am making room for the newness. Seriously, if we keep dragging old baggage along happy will never come to us. GOD makes a new day for us so that we start with a clean slate. It is we that decide to hold on to the past. Then we want help to make things better. Well……… first, you have to let go of the old to be able to receive the new. This concept seems very easy but we make it sooooo hard. I was reading my devotional and it says that if you climbed a mountain and reached the highest peak you would not sit and ponder over every rock, stumble, faint, and failure…. You focus on the accomplishment. So, we need to focus on the goal instead of the path it takes to get there. We are not perfect and the thing about it is that we are not expected to be perfect. We are required to keep attempting to be better than we were yesterday. Let’s stop talking about what shoulda, coulda, woulda and go get what it is!

Today smile and enjoy life……

AND remember you have to forget what’s gone, appreciate what still remains, and look forward to what’s coming next!

MAKE IT GREAT

E

If it ain't "Happy".... I ain't trying to hear it.......

Good morning,

My aunt is always saying, “Never let them steal your joy!” and I totally agree. Do you know that most of the time when someone upsets you that they usually sleep well while you are still upset? While we are holding on to the negative situation, they have moved on with their life. That’s why letting go is really important. When we sit in the negativity of any situation, we are actually giving away our happy.  In order to make room for the negative you must get rid of the happy. WHY???? It’s because we want to understand why the situation is happening. Well, there are going to be some things in life you will not be able to change. We cannot change people. They are going to be who they are. So, that means they will never think they like you do nor do things in the same way you would do them. LET GO! I do not have time to attempt to figure out why people do the things they do. I have a certain amount of time that I will give to negative situations and then I’m moving on. I’m not saying that I will not attempt to rectify any situation. What I am saying is that I do not respond well to foolishness. Let’s work it out and get back to happy. My happiness does not live in any negative situation so please believe I will not be hanging around for long. I have made up my mind that Happy is what I want. When I’m not happy, I will be on the ball trying to find my happy again. Right now, I am feeling stupid happy. I know that the “Joy Stealers” are out there but they are not going to stop no show. This happy train will always be moving forward. The feeling of happiness is just too good to give up. Now if someone needs assistance finding their happy I am more than willing to help. J Learn from all situations and focus on making you a better person. You have the ability to change you and you only so stop wasting your time attempting to change someone else. GOD gave us the ability to “choose” soooooooo choose to be better. Happiness is a decision and JOY is the result of that decision.

Today go get that happy!

AND remember dwelling on the negative simply contributes to its power.

MAKE IT GREAT!

E