Live on Purpose

Raison d`etre.... what`s your reason?

2010-01-07T21:09:00.002-06:00

rai⋅son d'ê⋅tre : [rey-zohn de-truh; Fr. re-zawn de-tr^uh ] reason or justification for being or existence: Art is the artist's raison d'être.

I have had writers block for awhile now. I have started many a blog only to leave them unfinished drafts. But now I have a reason to push myself to finish what I start!

I have often wondered why I blog. What do I have to say and what need might it fill. Well, that is all starting to become more clear to me now after meeting a new friend on FaceBook by the name of Jacqueline Gates aka: The Goddess Jacqui Gates! While getting to know her, she introduced me to Kimberly Castleberry. Kimberly helps people get their blogs heading in a focused direction. She helps you find your niche... your reason for being or should I say ... blogging!

Funny enough, that is what my blog is about. Living full out... ON PURPOSE. Being Focused. Having a reason for everything you do and doing everything for a reason. Whether it is eating, raising your children, schooling, your social situation, relationships, marriage... you get the picture.

For the majority of my now 47 years on this Earth, I have NOT lived my life on purpose or full out. I have wandered around, flailing about being tossed to and fro. But 2010 is my year of purpose!

In all actuality, I have been making choices over the past 10 years or so that have brought me to this very point in time. And I have make some huge leaps and bounds in my life. As the Virginia Slims cigarette woman in the commercials used to say... "You've come a long way baby". I use to smoke Virginia Slims. I quit 12 years ago. That is one choice I made on purpose. January 1st was also my 10 year anniversary for being clean and sober. That is another thing I have been doing on purpose. But I realized that although I have come a long way, I had not been putting all the lessons I have learned into practice to get the specific results I have been looking for.

This blog is really about my journey.... to create the life I choose instead of feeling that life is something that just happens to me... and if you might be in the same place I am, I invite you to join me on this journey.

We are currently looking for more bloggers to join our Tribe on FaceBook. If you would like to learn more about how to get more traffic and followers to your blog, come check us out!

http://syndication.kimberly-castleberry.com/

Maybe we can help you find your rai⋅son d'ê⋅tre.

The heart of the matter.....

2009-10-26T23:56:00.001-05:00

Every year I have to take my youngest son to his annual Heart check up. Every few years they ask us to make the trip to Arkansas Childrens Hospital in Little Rock for his annual heart check up.

He was born with a condition called Aortic Stenosis. He has a Bicuspid Aortic Value. Which is shown in the diagram below of the Two Valve Leaflets.

This is a journal of a trip we took last year.

Aortic stenosis is narrowing of the aortic valve, impeding delivery of blood from the heart to the body.
Aortic stenosis can be caused by congenital bicuspid aortic valve, scarred aortic valve of rheumatic fever, and wearing of aortic valve in the elderly.
Aortic stenosis can cause chest pain, fainting, and heart failure leading to shortness of breath.
Echocardiogram and cardiac catheterization are important tests in diagnosing and evaluating severity of aortic stenosis.
Patients with aortic stenosis are usually given antibiotics prior to any procedures which might introduce bacteria into the bloodstream, such as dental procedures and surgeries.
Patients with aortic stenosis who have symptoms may require surgical heart valve replacement.

This was diagnosed when he was 6 weeks old when he was put in the hospital for the RSV virus. He is fine and doesnt have to take any medication or restricted activity other than they dont want him to do heavy weightlifting.

It was a great trip and I enjoyed the time I got to spend with him one on one. We dont get much of that together. It gives us a chance to talk and just to "be" with each other.

On the way back from his check up I was driving down the road and saw these clouds that looked like rolling ripples in the sky. I immediately thought of Mike In Tucson as he loves cloud formations and has blogged about them several times. It was trying to storm but it went around us thankfully!

We had to leave rather early in the morning to make the 2 1/2 hour trip to Arkansas Childrens Hospital. Then of course you have the dreaded wait in the waiting area. He had to have an EKG as well as an Echo on his heart and then we have to see the Doctor. The whole process takes about 2 1/2 hours.

On the way back home he of course got sleepy.

He would shoot me if he knew I posted this on my blog!

We had decided to stop at a Sonic on the way home to grab a drink since it was happy hour! Sonic is a Drive~In restaurant in the Midwest. Nothing better than a drink from Sonic half price! I used to Manage a Sonic years ago and when we pulled up to this one I was so impressed I had to take a picture of it. It was one of the cleanest, nicest Sonic Drive~In`s I have ever seen! This was in Atkins, Arkansas.

Atkins was hit by an F4 Tornado on Feb 5th 2008 and killed 4 people.

This was a fun little trip for my son and I and I enjoyed spending the time with him. I am so thankful to God that his heart condition has not gotten any worse.

Susan

A gift given ....and now given to you

2009-09-27T18:40:00.008-05:00

A friend of mine named Victor Lee recommended a book that he thought I would enjoy reading. We are both on a similar journey of self improvement and growing closer to God and others. I had not heard of the Author, Andy Andrews, so I thought I would read the book. I went to Amazon and ordered the book... from the used books section of course!!!

I started reading the first chapter and it didn`t start out as I expected. It was more of a story than a "self help" book. I was intrigued....

The basis of the book is about 7 decisions that determine personal success. By the time I got to the 1st Decision... I was hooked.

I have only read through decision one so far but wanted to recommend this book to all my friends. I will begin blogging about what I learn from this book after I have followed the principles in it.... I hope you will get this book and let`s Travel this journey together!

Making better decisions,

Connecting increases your influence in every situation | John Maxwell on Leadership

2009-09-01T00:58:00.000-05:00

This is a must read for anyone who wants to connect on a deeper level.

Connecting increases your influence in every situation | John Maxwell on Leadership:

* Chapter 1 is LIVE: Come read & comment on Everyone Communicates, Few Connect.

To your success through connections!

TheFoggBlogg: You've got to treat your business like a __________.

2009-07-04T18:38:00.001-05:00

TheFoggBlogg: You've got to treat your business like a __________.

Shared via AddThis

Clear Thinking and Common Sense......

2009-06-03T20:55:00.000-05:00

Dear friend, guard Clear Thinking and Common Sense with your life, don`t for a minute lose sight of them.

Why you ask?

Kind Solomon tells us in Proverbs 3:21-26 that those two will keep us alive and well, fit and attractive. That they will help you to travel safely and neither tire nor trip. You will be able to nap in the afternoon without worry and enjoy a good nights sleep!

Now I could go on and on about Clear Thinking and Common Sense will do for us but I am only going to focus on what the particular scriptures in this chapter of Proverbs has to say about them.

This is Day 3 of my 24 month journey through the Book of Proverbs. Please read my blog post about Being smarter than your bosses to see how and why it began.

The following is what God has said to me today through His word.

Proverbs Chapter 3

S: The Scriptures that spoke to me out of the chapter were Proverbs 3:21-26

O: The observation I had was in the area of health and wellness and the fact I had said just last night that I needed to come up with a better system to get more sleep. But if I was thinking clearly and using my common sense I would have slapped my head and said... "Oh I could have had a V8!!"

A: I realized that all there was to do to apply this to my life was to use common sense and organize my day so that I maximize my hours, get my work done early, relax, and go to bed early so I can get up early and start my day. Simple truth right..... but how often do we do the simple things that can make a lifelong difference in our life.

P: Lord, I pray that you will help me to organize my day in such a manner that I have the time and energy to accomplish all the things you have for me to do. Amen

I would love for you take the 24 month challenge also and share what God reveals to you as well!

Be Blessed,

Lady Wisdom,Brother Knowledge, Good Sense and Insight....

2009-06-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

Who in the world are Lady Wisdom and Brother Knowledge and what do they have to do with Good Sense and Insight....

Well according to my new friend King Solomon, If I will make Lady Wisdom my close friend, Brother Knowledge will become my pleasant companion and the Good sense will scout the trails ahead for danger and Insight will keep an eye out for me!

I don`t know about you, but I could use some friends like that!

Today is Day 2 of my 24 month journey into the Wisdom of King Solomon and the Book of Proverbs. If you are not quite sure what I am talking about, read my blog post from yesterday.

Here is what God shared with me today.

Day 2 June 2nd

Proverbs Chapter 2

S: The scriptures that spoke to me today were Proverbs 2:9-15
So now you can pick out what's true and fair, find all the good trails!
Lady Wisdom will be your close friend,
and Brother Knowledge your pleasant companion.
Good Sense will scout ahead for danger, Insight will keep an eye out for you.
They'll keep you from making wrong turns, or following the bad
directions of those who are lost themselves and can't tell a trail from a tumbleweed,
These losers who make a game of evil and throw parties to celebrate perversity,
Traveling paths that go nowhere, wandering in a maze of detours and dead ends.

O: My observation of those scriptures was that I need to be careful who I chose for friends. And if I choose the right friends and take their counsel, they can keep me from making bad decisions, they can help me to not follow false leaders or warn me of forthcoming dangers. They can see me from the outside in. I am just a fish swimming in my own fishbowl and if the water gets dirty, I can`t see it. I just accommodate for it. And left alone, the water ends up getting so dirty that I could just end up dying from the dirty water. But if the people on the outside of the tank are looking and paying attention and care, they will take the time to maybe clean the water so i can see a liter clearer and breath a little better.

A: I can apply this in my life today by praying for and about my relationships and to begin to seek out those friends and mentors that God would like for me to have in my life. To seek knowledge and wisdom and I will receive good sense and gain insight.

P: Today Lord I pray for your Wisdom and Knowledge. That you will reveal to me the paths you want me to follow and the people you want me to meet. Help me to seek you harder than I ever have before. I thank you for all you ever have done and ever will do in my life. Amen

I hope you find something in what I share that may speak into your life. Please join me in this journey. It is never too late to start over.

Be Blessed,

How would you like to be smarter than your all your bosses?

2009-05-31T20:37:00.000-05:00

That is the question that caught my attention after following the "rabbit trail" from a post on FaceBook from Melanie Eatherton. She had posted a quick snippit from Zig Ziglar and Dale Calvert, and I did what I am sure many of you do.... I started clicking on link after link. I really got intrigued when I heard the host of this online TV show called "What I Do" pose the question.... "How would you like to be smarter than all your bosses"? It was the question posed to the guest, Steven K Scott by his good friend Gary Smalley.

Scott had been fired 6 times back to back right out of College. He had a degree in Marketing, felt like he had it all together but couldn`t understand why things just weren`t clicking. While on a visit to Scotts house, Smalley posed the question to him after Scott and he had a conversation about Scotts situation. He went to tell him that he had something, that if Scott would do it for 2 years, would totally change his life and that after 5 years would probably lead him to become a millionaire.

He had my attention for sure....

Smalley went on to tell him that there were 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament and there is a chapter for every day of the month. He challenged him to read the corresponding chapter for each day of the month. And to not just read it, but to write down what he observed and then apply it throughout the day, for 24 months straight.

It hit me like a ton of bricks..... I felt like God had reached through the computer screen and grabbed me.

So... long story short..... I started on this 24 month journey with one of my best friends in the world. I figure, what we have got to lose? So, this morning I woke up, read my chapter, went to the gym, came home and read it again and here is what God spoke to me.

I am going to journal this publicly, in hopes that my journey might inspire someone else. I will be using a bible reading method called the S.O.A.P method.

S: is for the Scripture that speaks to you in what you have read.

O: is your observation about what God said to you through that scripture.

A: is how can you appy that observation to your life today.

P: is the prayer about how He can help you apply what you observed.

So, with that being said, I hope you will join me on this journey. I would love for you to share what God reaveals to you. Lets just see what God has in store for all of us!

Day 1, July 1st 2009

Proverbs Chapter 1

S: 1:7 Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God, only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.

O: That the answers I have been looking for in so many other places, have been right in front of me all along. There really is only true place to get the road map for living a successful life..... and that is through the Word of God.

A: I have to start my day on my knees, asking God to show me and lead me and teach me. The tools for living a successful life have been in front of me all along, I just looked everywhere but to God.

P: Lord, help me today and every day to put you first and to always turn to you for the answers I seek. I think you today for the gift of wisdom you gave Soloman that he passed along to us. I look forward to what you have in store for me!

I read this from the Message Bible.

My day has been incredible and am I am looking forward to following God closer and deeper than I ever have before and seeing just what He has in store for me..... and you!

Will you join me?

Be Blessed,

Do you know your desires?

2009-04-25T22:11:00.000-05:00

"What you desire is not what you really desire. What you really desire is to be the person you must become in order to achieve it." ~ Ralph Marston Founder of http://www.greatday.com/

We all have our goals that we want to achieve. Whether they are sales goals, personal goals, spiritual goals. And they are worth having. With out goals you are aiming the dark. But the secret to truly being successful is in becoming the person that you need to be to achieve those goals.

In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Steven Covey teaches us that the desire to reach our goals is a good thing, but in order to achieve them, we must be the kind of person who will put in the work of making them happen.

Are you being the kind of person you need to be to achieve the things in life you say you want?

If not.... why not?

Make it an AWESOME day!

Habits and Attitudes

2009-04-24T22:36:00.000-05:00

Affectionately coined "hatitudes" by John Milton Fogg... they are the road map or blueprint for your life. If you want to know why your life is the way it is. you need not look any further than these two things. Except for maybe your spiritual life ....

No matter whether they are positive or negative they serve you accordingly.

I am currently reading The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson.

I have never read a book that gets straight to the point about how to go from failure to success in any area of your life. He tells you exactly how its works... it is so simple, yet we make it so hard.

Jeff shares that the kinds of choices we habitually make are what take us either up the success curve or down the failure curve in life.

We sit and read books, go to seminars, read blogs, and ponder the age old question about why we don`t get ahead in life. Why the same problems keep resurfacing. We don`t need more information. We need only look at our philosophy. A positive philosophy turns into a positive attitude, which turns into positive actions, which turns into a positive lifestyle. The opposite is also true. A negative philosophy turns into a negative attiute, which turns into negative actions, which turns into a negative lifesytyle.

Do you know the definition of Insanity? It is doing the same things you have always done but expecting different results. If your life isn`t working, all you have to do is look at what you think about and what you`re doing on a daily basis.

What do you watch on TV, what books do you read, who do you associate with, what time do you go to bed and get up, do you expect great things or do you think life sucks. Really take a look at these questions and see where you land.

Because if you really want to know why your life is the way it is... they hold the answer.

I have been doing a lot of self awareness lately and I see this so clearly right now in my life. One example is in the area of my health and fitness. I was complaining about being overweight and how much I "wished" I could be thin. I had kind of become resigned that I was just going to be this way and this is how "maturing women" eventually looked! What I was really saying is that I was just too lazy to get up and exercise and didn't want to change my eating habits.

My oldest son is a fitness guru. He is studying exercise science in college and wants to become a personal trainer. He doesn't put anything unhealthy in his body, and works out religiously. He has done this for years now and he is only 19. He is 6`4 and is about 230 but looks amazing. He is always nudging me about what I eat and drink... I was addicted to pizza and soda and candy. Finally just after Christmas, I made the decision to get healthy. Not to go on a diet.... but change my habits and the way I thought about food. I joined the gym, and started changing what I ate. I gave up drinking soda, and eating pizza, except I had a couple pieces tonight.. 1st time in 4 months! I eat 100 calorie chocolate snacks instead of candy bars, I drink water and take my vitamins. I have lost 20 pounds so far. I am not looking at the scale everyday like I am trying to hurry up and get to certain weight. Instead I am looking at my choices everyday and asking myself if the choice I am making will serve me in what I am committed to which is being fit and healthy.

It took some getting used to, and I have battled with my old self now and then, but I know that I will always go back to making the right decisions because I am committed to the journey.

I have also recently gotten a personal life coach. Someone to help me get out of my own way and to help me be the best me I can be. I recommend everyone have a coach. Every successful athlete has a coach, why shouldn't you!

One of the most powerful things I have read in the book was this....

Every day, in every moment, you get to exercise choices that will determine whether or not you will become a great person, living a great life. Greatness is not something predetermined, predestined or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control. Greatness is always in the moment of the decision.

So choose to have an awesome attitude. Choose to make decisions that serve the success you want to achieve instead of feeding the failure you are trying to avoid.

Make the right decisions with the right attitude and live a life of purpose!

Live full out,

Personal Victory

2009-03-15T17:08:00.000-05:00

victory (vĭk'tə-rē) n., pl. -ries.

Defeat of an enemy or opponent.
Success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle.
The state of having triumphed.

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor." Henry David Thoreau

In January at the annual awards banquet for our business, our owners challenged us corporately to read

by Stephen R. Covey. I had skimmed through this book before but never read it cover to cover. I guess I wasn`t ready to learn the information... or should I say, I wasn`t ready to apply the knowledge I knew I would learn.

You see, knowledge is NOT power.... it is putting that knowledge into ACTION that gives us power.

In reading just the first chapter this time around, I found myself having an "a-ha" moment. Stephen is talking about a principle called "the inside-out approach". He advises that , "The inside-out approach states that private victories precede public victories, that making and keep promises to to ourselves precedes making and keeping promises to others. That it is futile to put personality ahead of character, to try to improve relationships with others before improving ourselves."

He also states "that inside-out is a continuing process of renewal based on the natural laws that govern human growth and progress. It`s an upward spiral of growth that leads to progressively higher forms or responsible independence and effective interdependence."

I seemed to struggle most of life with keeping promises to people. I had the best intentions... but something would always come up that would cause me to choose to not keep my promise. I would blame it on the circumstances instead of taking responsibility for my own lack of action or follow through.

When I read that it was futile to try to make promises to others until we can first make and keep them to ourselves it was like the light bulb went off. I was terrible at keeping promises to myself. In fact, I never kept my own promises.

You may relate to this concept to the New Years "resolutions" you make to yourself every January. It usually only takes a short time before you forget what they were, let alone see them through.

I have a friend who called me the other day to tell me that, for the first time in a very long time, he had kept his promises to himself for a full week and he was celebrating how great it felt and the awesome results of his actions. I had to share the following passages with him from the same book.... I had just read the chapter about an hour before he called....

"Through our human endowments of self-awareness and conscience, we become conscious of areas of weakness, areas for improvement, areas of talent that could be developed, areas that need to be changed or eliminated from our lives. Then, as we recognize and use our imagination and independent will to act on that awareness - making promises, setting goals, and being true to them- we build the strength of character, the being, that makes possible every other positive thing in our lives.

By making and keeping promises to ourselves and others, little by little, our Honor becomes greater than out moods. The power to make and keep commitments to ourselves is the essence of developing the basic habits of effectiveness."

It was the principle in action. I had been experiencing the same thing in my life since making a promise to myself that I was going to be healthy. I was going to eat healthy, get physically healthy, become more mentally and spiritually healthy..... for myself. I have not had any soda since that day, this is huge for me. I eat healthy, I have been investing in my physical health by working out at the gym and have lost 20 lbs so far. I have been reading self growth books and I have made a commitment to return to a more active role in my church and with my my Lord and Savior. And I am looking for ways to become more active in my community.

The thing that I found the most interesting about this experience was that I had started this blog before I read the book. I had started to make promises to myself that I promised myself I would keep this time. Before, I had made the promises to others or for others sake. It amazes me how God allows the teacher to show up when the student is ready.

I challenge you to invest in this book. If you will read it, and put into practice the habits, it will change your life and help you to live full out by design.

Make it an AWESOME, POWERFUL day,

Choose to live on purpose

2009-03-08T21:04:00.000-05:00

in-ten-tion [in-ten-shuhn] –noun
1.an act or instance of determining mentally upon some action or result.

I use to live my life by the seat of my pants. Taking each moment of each day with a grain of salt. I never had a purpose, or a vision for my life and how I wanted it turn out. I had " dreams"... you know them; have a great job while being married to a great guy, who has a great job, have great kids, who have great kids, retire and die.

But the sad thing was that my dreams didn`t even look that good! It was just a nice thought... to live a great life ... the reality to me was that life was hard and you just do your best and take what comes.

In looking back at my life, I have come to the realization that I was just living to get by.... day to day. I had no clear, distinct goals for my life, my marriage, my children, my career, my destiny. I have become very aware that my life could have looked so much different if I had lived my life on purpose.

We can not go back and do our lives over. We can only go forward and choose to create a different path. One that you choose. Now; I do believe that God knows the path He has for us but I also believe he lets us choose the steps we take along that path or whether or not we want to take a detour.

I am dedicating my life to creating my life. The life full of purpose and meaning. The life that God has called me to live. I hope this blog can become a tool for others to also look into the mirror and see what path their life is on. If it is not the path you desire then I invite you to make a change. Live your life with intention.

I have a print of the following quote from George Bernard Shaw that I received a few years back. It use to hang up above my desk and on occasion I would read it and feel guilty that even though I had the desire to life my life this way, I did not have the intention.

"This is the true joy in life. The being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can.

I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

Now, that is my mantra. It is what I am dedicating every day of my life to. To make a difference in the lives of those I encounter every day.

Here are some things you can do to live your life on purpose and to make a difference in the lives of others.

Really be honest with yourself about you want of life and write your goals out. Written goals are more powerful.
Make promises to yourself before you make promises to others. If you can`t be your word to yourself, you will have a hard time keeping your word with others.
Ask yourself every day "What have I done today to make me feel proud".
Use a daily planner... I mean really use it.
Tell others how much they mean to you. Whenever you have a "prompting" to call someone or talk to someone or send a card or letter... do it. Take a moment and do it. If you can`t right at that very moment... put it in your planner to be done that day. God gives us those promptings for a reason.
Smile at the cashier in the checkout line.
Buy the person in line behind you at the coffee shop their coffee.
Visit a nursing home and just give your time to someone and listen.
Give your child your complete attention at least once a day.
Eat healthy and get some form of cardio and strength workout 3 times a week.
Volunteer.... anywhere
Do something for someone who can`t repay it.
Speak nothing but positive comments. Be aware of what comes out of your mouth.
Turn off the TV.
Read books that inspire you.

There are so many more things that you can do. I could write for days. I hope this will at least get you thinking and cause you to act. The best intentions have no power until they are given action.

What do you want for yourself and your life? How will your choices effect your family and the others in your live? Decide how you want to live and choose it.

Make it an AWESOME day.... on purpose!