Step Away From the Complaint Counter!

“Some people seem to go through life standing at the complaint counter.”

~Fred Propp Jr.

Who do you know that is stuck at the complaint counter?!  If you are coming up blank, it may be you!  Of all the things in the world that do not contribute to greatness or success, complaining is definitely in the top ten.  It has the power to kill dreams, solidify fears and damage hope for anything more than what we currently are.  There is nothing wrong with being able to recognize when something is wrong.  However, there is a ton of detriment in dwelling on it instead of doing something about it.  In the past, I have discussed attitude and its importance in this life.  Today I wanted to touch on the unnecessary art of complaining!

Life has been—and will always be—about ups and downs.  When we find ourselves down, it can be easy to find fault and problems with everything.  Using your voice to complain can do more than get on everybody’s nerves.  It can leave you drained, aggravated, sad, broken…all the bad emotions.  As you know, I am a huge fan of focus!  When you find yourself prepping for the worst in your conversations, take a second and say something positive about whatever is going on.  If you cannot, remember that silence is golden.  It can help you filter things out in your head before burdening someone with your drama.  Which leads me to my next thought…      

Blah, blah, blah!  Womp, womp, womp!  This is exactly what I hear when someone around me is complaining.  Recently, I found myself behind the complaint counter for someone in my life.  Venting is one thing, but the negativity of complaining grows and thrives.  Complainers are like Gremlins after midnight; the more attention you feed them, the angrier they get!  All of this can result in an extreme waste of energy for both parties.  The next time someone comes to you with incessant complaints, gently remove yourself from their presence.  Do not allow their adverse attitude to drag you down.  

We can all find ourselves in a moment where complaining seems like the best and only option.  When you look up and find yourself at the complaint counter, stop and reflect.  Before you fix your mouth to spew out negative banter, remember these things:  EVERYTHING in life is temporary.  If you give it time, the content of your complaints will dissipate.  Know that there are no mistakes in life and regardless of your circumstance, things could always be worse.  Spend your time talking about and dedicating yourself to fruitful and positive endeavors.  Oh yeah, one more thing…

"If you have time to whine and complain about something then you have the time to do something about it."

~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Until next time my loves!

Broaden Your Scope! Live a Big Picture Life!

“One day, after work on his cathedral had begun, Sir Christopher Wren unrecognized by the workforce, walked among the artisans and stonecutters. He asked one of the workmen:  “What are you doing?”

“I am cutting a piece of stone“, the workman replied.

He asked the same question of the second stonecutter. “I am earning five shillings two pence a day", the second workman replied.

He asked a third workman the same question and the man answered, “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build a magnificent cathedral to the glory of God.”

*Story found on http://www.the-happy-manager.com/leadership-quality.html *

  

Zoom out to
your BIG PIC!

As you can see in the above story, the three workmen all had very different views about their work.  When it comes to life, some people focus on their single actions/events, some focus on their gains/losses and others focus on the end result of it all.  The third workman saw his work as more than his responsibilities for the day or how much he would make; he saw the big picture of what his work would result in.  If you were a part of this story, which worker would you be?  It’s time to stop looking at the small pixel in front of us and broaden our lens to capture the full mural that is our lives.  Today’s challenge is to find a larger frame and focus on YOUR big picture!

You got to visualize!

Your BIG PICTURE can be whatever you want it to be.  If you don’t know where to start, first pinpoint your goals, dreams and aspirations.  Once you do that, start a process I like to call visualization.  Visualize yourself where you want to be and do not focus on the roadblocks that will get you there.  You can do anything with a little belief in yourself.  The most successful people in this world may not have known the exact location or magnitude of their success, but they did see what could be as opposed to what is now.  This is a trait many leaders have and we all have it in us to be leaders; even if it is only over our lives!  Although it can be difficult, I can promise you it is well worth it! 

Focus on your long
term goals!

When you stop focusing on the small pictures, it can become much easier to see yourself in a better state whether emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically or financially.  That old saying about not being able to see the forest for the trees can affect the level of joy we have in this life.  If you are constantly finding yourself stressing about individual hurdles, a handful of negative people or a particular portion of your life, it may be time to take a step back and capture what it all means.  There are no mistakes and we have to be aware that every situation; whether good or bad, plays a pivotal role in our development (or lack thereof J)!  So I will leave you with an Ebonism that I keep in my mind whenever I find myself stuck on a single frame in life…       

“Release a narrow mind.  Life is much broader than a single frame…keep your focus on the big picture”

~Eboni N. Faulkner

Until next time my loves!

Don't Wait For the Fan Club To Pursue Your Fame!

 Working on new material for next week, but I didn't want to make you wait!  Here is a gem that I wrote back in September for my other blog http://mochafoxx.blogspot.com. Hope you enjoy! 

Even without a stand full of fans, the game
must go on!

Goals.......Check!

Plan to Reach Said Goals.......Check!

Self-Motivation.......Check!

Becoming More Successful By The Minute.......Check!

Fans- ???....... “Where are my fans?!”

It is almost an unspoken rule that when someone you care about does something phenomenal, you should be there for them. Be their biggest support and encourage them to expand on their success and strive for more. Sometimes when you start exercising your inner genius that is when you realize who your fans really are. It means a lot for me to have my friends and family support my goals, but does that make me any less influential if they don’t? The answer to this is NO! Take a peek at some of these greats that didn’t wait for a following…

This club is not for the weak
or needy!  Are you working
your genius?!

• Sigmund Freud was booed from the podium when he first presented his ideas to the scientific community of Europe. He returned to his office and kept on writing.
• Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
• Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
• Van Gogh sold only one painting during his life. And this to the sister of one of his friends for 400 francs (approximately $50). This didn't stop him from completing over 800 paintings.

These success stories and many more courtesy of this fabulous link:

But They Didn't Give Up!

I couldn’t have said it any better if I tried! When you set out on the road to success, you will sometimes find that you are on it alone. That doesn’t mean this is the wrong road to take, it just means nobody has discovered how much potential is there yet. Give it some time and people will come around. The ironic thing is that it may take for a stranger to stumble onto your road and let the rest of the world know about it.  We can’t always wait on the people in our lives to give us the green light to achievement. Finding motivation within ourselves should be our constant. When I think of my love for writing, I want to share it everyday! My blog is an expression of the woman I am and how far I have come. It is my hope that someone will read it and gain exactly what they need in the time that they need it. Here are some tips for you to follow!...

 For the Fam & Friends of a Determined Loved One: 

Often times jealousy, pride and a selfish attitude will prevent us from being there for someone. Decide today that you will discover what was placed in you to share with the world and focus on that! When you aren’t focused on being the best person you can be, take a walk down a road someone else is paving. Whatever you do, give a fair chance to this person in their pursuit of success. The work they are putting in is some of the freshest, untainted gifts they could give. Count yourself blessed that you know them before the fame and don’t take for granted the time you have to show your support. Besides, it makes no sense to give someone the flowers after they are dead!

Don't stop to check who is
watching!  Keep going and
see who watches you!

For the People Creating Their Destiny: 

If you are chasing your success, don't worry about who isn't there.  Be the best you can be regardless of who is watching.  If you spend too much time looking back, you will never get too far.  Also, the road ahead will have at least one person who takes notice and assists in your journey. THEY are your fan club!  We can place a lot of pressure on the people we love to be there, but they are not obligated to.  Work hard for what you want and don't ever question if it's worth it.  It's not the people who start that matter; it's the people that finish.  You would be surprised who is invested in your dreams at the end of it all.  

So strive for the best, don't worry or stress, and let God handle the rest!  Until next time my loves!