From time to time, I will be reading a book or listening to a CD and have one of those "ah ha" moments. I like to describe it as a time where all of a sudden, things start to make sense. Things that used to be kind of foggy in my mind, now come together. Ah ha moments always seem to happen at just the right time in our lives. These special awakenings seem to be there just when we need them. This time, it came to me through a book I was reading.
The book was an overview of the various gifts we as individuals possess. It said that in one form or another, all of us possess a minimum of one or several of the following gifts: hospitality, creativity, craftsmanship, discernment, effective communication, wisdom, influence, management, healing, humor, clerical and even entrepreneurship. The gift of motherhood, fatherhood and friendship are a part as well. These, to some degree, on some level, we carry within us. This is just one thing that makes us all unique and different.
Looking back on my own life, in my twenties and thirties, my life was full of things; jobs and activities that did not utilize my gifts. Today, I understand why I never felt my life had much meaning. I had not yet "awakened" those gifts. It was almost like they were sitting on a shelf waiting for me to take them down, dust them off and put them to work doing what they were supposed to do.
I know many people, every day, throughout our cities and our towns, are looking for their spot in life of where they belong or where they fit. What are they supposed to do? How do they make a living doing it and how can they find it? I will tell you this: One of the first key steps to finding your "lot" in this life is to search where your gifts are. What is it that you are talented at? The scriptures tell us if we will search, we will find. I believe discovering what you are good at is a great first step in getting there. Chances are what you are good at you will usually enjoy doing and that is a huge bonus.
Although I did not learn until almost twelve years ago what my own gifts were, I was not sure how to use or apply them. After much seeking, I made a discovery. The gift of encouragement is something which gives me energy when I share it. It lifts me up and gives me strength. It can take my mind off a negative situation and I become fulfilled when I share it. But that's how gifts are supposed to work. They are part of your core. When you use your gifts, you are helping to fulfill your life's work. If you know what your gifts are, use them to the fullest. Don't put them on a shelf and become covered in dust like I did. There are people waiting for your gift because it is from only you that they can be touched. If you will actively seek out this part of your life, I assure you, fulfillment in your life, job or career is heading your way.
Have a great Friday and an even better Memorial Weekend.
Scott Stewart
Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.
scott@lovelossandgrowth.com
541-343-3614
P.S. Is your organization considering an inspirational or self improvement speaker at their next event? If so, feel free to contact me for future speaking engagements.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Kids: Amazing Aren't They?
There is no doubt that kids are just amazing. The things they do and say continue to amaze me over and over again. The creative ability of a young child is something adults can learn a lot from. How they ask for things, how they present us (their parents) with options rather than just a yes or no question. You have to admit, they are pretty good at asking for what they want. But they can also not fully comprehend the power of the words they say.
I have two daughters and the youngest one is three years old. From time to time, I will challenge her to do something she never has done before, like riding her bicycle (with training wheels of course) in the grass or through a patch of gravel. Something that will not hurt her but will challenge her. When I do this, often her response to me is, "But I can't." Which I always reply in a stern voice, "Don't tell me you can't, tell me you can."
My kids, like everyone else's, don't always do what they are supposed to do. They don't always listen and even once in a while, they will test their boundaries with me. All of these things I can handle, accept and deal with in the right manner but hearing my child say "I can't" strikes a nerve within me that makes me cringe! “Don't tell me you can't, tell me you can” is something I think more kids need to hear on a regular basis. Why? Because I believe kids can and do grow up to do great things if they believe they can. Hearing positive reinforcement and encouraging words from their parents may very well be one of the best things we can give them.
Our subconscious mind does not know the difference between "I can't” and “I can." It just knows whatever it hears, over and over again, is what it accepts as truth. The words we speak into our children of all ages, is nothing more than programming. This goes into their memory or subconscious mind so that in their future, they will have a "guide" to go by, helping them make choices and decisions as they go through life. The stories of young kids, some even as young as seven or eight years old, accomplishing extraordinary tasks, all started with a parent, a teacher, a mentor and/or even a friend telling them "you can do it" early on in their life. It all started with what they heard.
I have never met a parent who did not want their kids to have a better life than they did. One of the best ways to help them have a better life is to speak the right words into them. I don't need my kids to be the next Albert Einstein or even be a winner on American Idol. Ultimately, that decision is between them and God. But I do want them to be confident and secure enough in who they are and their belief in themselves. Then they can have, earn and achieve anything in this world their hearts desire.
Speak life and encouragement into your kids. Down the road you will be glad you did.
Have a great Friday everyone.
Scott Stewart
Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.
scott@lovelossandgrowth.com
541-343-3614
P.S. Is your organization considering an inspirational or self improvement speaker at their next event? If so, feel free to contact me for future speaking engagements.
I have two daughters and the youngest one is three years old. From time to time, I will challenge her to do something she never has done before, like riding her bicycle (with training wheels of course) in the grass or through a patch of gravel. Something that will not hurt her but will challenge her. When I do this, often her response to me is, "But I can't." Which I always reply in a stern voice, "Don't tell me you can't, tell me you can."
My kids, like everyone else's, don't always do what they are supposed to do. They don't always listen and even once in a while, they will test their boundaries with me. All of these things I can handle, accept and deal with in the right manner but hearing my child say "I can't" strikes a nerve within me that makes me cringe! “Don't tell me you can't, tell me you can” is something I think more kids need to hear on a regular basis. Why? Because I believe kids can and do grow up to do great things if they believe they can. Hearing positive reinforcement and encouraging words from their parents may very well be one of the best things we can give them.
Our subconscious mind does not know the difference between "I can't” and “I can." It just knows whatever it hears, over and over again, is what it accepts as truth. The words we speak into our children of all ages, is nothing more than programming. This goes into their memory or subconscious mind so that in their future, they will have a "guide" to go by, helping them make choices and decisions as they go through life. The stories of young kids, some even as young as seven or eight years old, accomplishing extraordinary tasks, all started with a parent, a teacher, a mentor and/or even a friend telling them "you can do it" early on in their life. It all started with what they heard.
I have never met a parent who did not want their kids to have a better life than they did. One of the best ways to help them have a better life is to speak the right words into them. I don't need my kids to be the next Albert Einstein or even be a winner on American Idol. Ultimately, that decision is between them and God. But I do want them to be confident and secure enough in who they are and their belief in themselves. Then they can have, earn and achieve anything in this world their hearts desire.
Speak life and encouragement into your kids. Down the road you will be glad you did.
Have a great Friday everyone.
Scott Stewart
Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.
scott@lovelossandgrowth.com
541-343-3614
P.S. Is your organization considering an inspirational or self improvement speaker at their next event? If so, feel free to contact me for future speaking engagements.
Friday, May 14, 2010
Loosing Someone we Love
Funerals are never easy to attend. Some of us will even go out of our way to avoid them. I think the harsh reality of losing someone who was once a part of our life, can hurt enough that it is easier to avoid attending the event. We do this, certainly not out of disrespect, but from trying to avoid our own pain it will cause us.
I personally do not try to avoid them but I have to say, I recently did attend a funeral service that was very difficult attend. A friend of mine, only four years older then I, finally lost his battle with cancer. This friend was an inspiration to me and many others. Despite how he felt, he always seemed to find the positive in most every situation, regardless of how "ugly" it was. During those five short years I spent with him, not once did I ever hear him say anything derogatory about another person. We had many lunches together, hundreds of laughs and we even shared some tears together. The stories he told me will forever hold a spot in my memory bank, and when I think of them I will smile and maybe even chuckle.
Death is just one of those things that I don't think we are ever really "ready" for. When a friend, family member, spouse or even a co-worker passes on, we are left with a void inside. It can't be explained very well, but it hurts and we question "why" this had to happen.
When I was twenty two, in a tragic event, I lost my Mom. I remember hurting and hurting until I didn't think I could go on. I cried out to God and over and over again asked him why this happened.
Losing loved ones to death hurts us to the core and can be so tragic. While we are here in this life, the reality is, we may never know why things had to happen like they did. Maybe losing a loved one before we felt they should have gone, and in our heart believing it was not their time, nor was it fair. My friend left behind young daughters and a beautiful wife, not to mention tons of friends. I think it would only be normal to ask: How is this fair?
I don't have any "magical" answers to why things work out like they do, all I can do is come back to the fact that a very long time ago God gave us something called "free will". Although this was one of His greatest gifts to His children, it also came with ramifications for our actions. Even this can be hard to grasp in a time of mourning. Myself and nearly everyone else who has lost someone they loved has had to learn to go on with their life and search for the answers which will bring about some kind of closure.
For me, I am giving thanks for the times I had with my friend and Mother, I will always treasure them. I encourage you to do the same. Make every day count. Spend time laughing and doing things that bring you happiness. I heard it best said several years ago: Death can be viewed a lot like a huge raffle drawing. The chances of you actually having your number called are very, very slim but when it is called, you can't simply draw another number, your number is up.
Have a great Friday everyone and make sure to thank a service man or woman this weekend in honor of Armed Services Day.
Scott Stewart
Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.
scott@lovelossandgrowth.com
541-343-3614
I personally do not try to avoid them but I have to say, I recently did attend a funeral service that was very difficult attend. A friend of mine, only four years older then I, finally lost his battle with cancer. This friend was an inspiration to me and many others. Despite how he felt, he always seemed to find the positive in most every situation, regardless of how "ugly" it was. During those five short years I spent with him, not once did I ever hear him say anything derogatory about another person. We had many lunches together, hundreds of laughs and we even shared some tears together. The stories he told me will forever hold a spot in my memory bank, and when I think of them I will smile and maybe even chuckle.
Death is just one of those things that I don't think we are ever really "ready" for. When a friend, family member, spouse or even a co-worker passes on, we are left with a void inside. It can't be explained very well, but it hurts and we question "why" this had to happen.
When I was twenty two, in a tragic event, I lost my Mom. I remember hurting and hurting until I didn't think I could go on. I cried out to God and over and over again asked him why this happened.
Losing loved ones to death hurts us to the core and can be so tragic. While we are here in this life, the reality is, we may never know why things had to happen like they did. Maybe losing a loved one before we felt they should have gone, and in our heart believing it was not their time, nor was it fair. My friend left behind young daughters and a beautiful wife, not to mention tons of friends. I think it would only be normal to ask: How is this fair?
I don't have any "magical" answers to why things work out like they do, all I can do is come back to the fact that a very long time ago God gave us something called "free will". Although this was one of His greatest gifts to His children, it also came with ramifications for our actions. Even this can be hard to grasp in a time of mourning. Myself and nearly everyone else who has lost someone they loved has had to learn to go on with their life and search for the answers which will bring about some kind of closure.
For me, I am giving thanks for the times I had with my friend and Mother, I will always treasure them. I encourage you to do the same. Make every day count. Spend time laughing and doing things that bring you happiness. I heard it best said several years ago: Death can be viewed a lot like a huge raffle drawing. The chances of you actually having your number called are very, very slim but when it is called, you can't simply draw another number, your number is up.
Have a great Friday everyone and make sure to thank a service man or woman this weekend in honor of Armed Services Day.
Scott Stewart
Author, Speaker and Inspiring others to a life of greatness.
scott@lovelossandgrowth.com
541-343-3614
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