Mistakes and Failures Are The Birthplace of Success!

I'm reminded of the story about the great Walt Disney who pioneered animation and created the greatest theme parks in the world. He was a visionary before and beyond his time. We all know his amazing talent but what about his failures that predated his success?

Walter Elias Disney was born in 1901 to his Irish Canadian father Elias Disney and German American mother.  His artistic talents were discovered and nurtured as early as age 7 when he sold some of his sketches to neighbour's. As a teenager he attended the Academy of Fine Arts, to become a better artist and at age 17 he joined the Red Cross and went to France. He drove  an ambulance which he covered with Disney cartoons.

When he returned to the US he decided to work in commercial arts. He created  his company called Laugh-O-Grams  which went out of business. Not deterred he went to Hollywood. Walt had at least 3 significant failures in his life but persisted; his failures birthed his great success. One hundred and fifteen years since his birth we are still amazed by his talent and perseverance.

Have you experienced loss or failure in a relationship,  job, project, hope or dream? Don't give up. You are on the verge of something or someone wonderful! Failure and mistakes are the birthplace of success.

This year 2016 be intentional about love, life and joy, the world is waiting for you!

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Sometimes it gets Worse Before it Gets Better

Sometimes things get worse before they get better. I know that might sound ominous but often it's the truth. Often during a trying season it's like walking steadily down into a black hole but you will arise.

Let's look at the story of Joseph from the Bible; I like to call it, The P's of Purpose!

First Joseph gets an awesome PROPHECY through a dream he learns that he will be a leader and his family will bow down to him, wow! 

The only one thrilled about it is him; his family is insulted and angry with his big ideas. 

One step down in the black hole

His brothers decide to do something about Joseph's insulting dream, they throw him in a PIT. 

Two steps down into the black hole.

If that's not bad enough, Joseph moves from a favored rich son to a worthless slave in a day.

Three steps down into the black hole.

POTIPHAR buys him and he begins to have a pretty good life considering he is a slave then Potiphar's wife takes an inapproriate liking to Joseph. He does the right thing and refuses  her advances and then is sent to PRISON as a PUNISHMENT for attempted rape.

Four steps down into the black hole.

This is where his true PRACTICUM begins. How do you become a favored slave in a cold, disgusting prison where you have been sent because you've been falsely accused? This is where he learns how to serve in dire circumstances.

Five steps down into the black hole.

As he learns the way of the Egyptians, he remains falsely accused in PRISON for many years. Whewwww.

Six steps down into the black hole.

A butcher and a baker arrive at the prison. He interprets their dreams. They PROMISE to remember him when they are released by telling Pharoah about the injustice done to him. Joseph hopes this will speed his release from prison but they forget about him for a couple more years. 

Seven steps down into the black hole.

Times in the the black hole are hard. Like Joseph,  sometimes you are deserted by family and friends, you're accused of things you didn't do or you're suffering from the guilt of what you have done. Sometimes you loose your place of familiarity, stature and reputation. It's a lonely place; a place of isolation and sometimes baroness.  At this juncture some choose to quit and loose hope in people and a positive future.

Joseph took this time of hardship and pressed in. He took the very thing meant to break him and turned it into purpose. In both Potiphar's home and the prison he became the BEST servant. He pushed past despondency, pity, blame  and shame and moved into being the best in the midst of hope breaking circumstances.

BUT GOD! 

Two of the most simplest and powerful words that turned his life around.

Time Met Destiny....

Pharoah has a dream that torments him; none of his scribes can interpret it.

One step up out of the black hole.

The baker remembers the dream that was  interpeted by Joseph while he was in prison.

Two steps up out of the black hole.

Pharoah requests to see Joseph and brings him out of prison.

Three steps up out of the black hole.

Joseph, with the help of God, interprets Pharaoh's dream.

Four steps up out of the black hole.

Pharoah needs a man to implement the strategy to save Eqypt from the impending drought.

Five steps up out of the black hole.

Pharoah chooses Joseph to be the man to save Eqypt and makes him PRIME MINISTER of Eqypt.

Six Steps up out of the black hole. 

From accused and sentenced attempted rapist

to Prime Minister in one day serving Eqypt; Joseph finds his PURPOSE.

Seven steps up out of the black hole. 

Joseph's family, who he meets as they attempt to secure food from Eqypt during the drought, ask forgiveness  from Joseph and reunite.

Out of the black hole and into destiny.

By the way, Joseph became Prime Minister while he was still serving a sentence as an attempted rapist. He was never aquitted of the crime nor was it ever identified in the bible that Potiphar's wife recanted her lies.

Our trials and circumstances are our practicum for what God has planned for our lives. God had a plan for Joseph and knew that that rich, spoiled and entitled little Joseph needed to learn how to serve because of the destiny He had planned for him. 

He had given Joseph a sneak preview in his dream well over a decade previously but didn't tell him what it would take to get there. Joseph needed to  know the ways, language and culture of the Eqyptians since he would become Prime Minister in the future.

But why did he have to stay in prison so long? I believe it's because Pharoah needed to know where to find  him at the appointed time. At times we feel stuck in a really awful place and can't seem to get out; often it's there where your answer is; where your redemption will begin.

When reunited Joseph profoundly says to his family, God sent me ahead of you to prepare the way;  what was meant for evil turned out for good.

What practicum are you going through now?

It may be the key to your future. What lessons are you learning? Necessity is the mother of invention;  what good thing can you create out of your challenging circumstance? 

Remember,  sometimes it gets worse before it gets better but there is purpose in pain.

YOU WILL ARISE!

Alone but Not Lonely

In 1971 Gilbert O'Sullivan wrote on iconic hit called Alone Again. Strangely, this whimsical sounding song, contained lyrics about sadness and despair. As a child I sang along to this tune ignorant to its true meaning. Although he spoke about being alone, I think the song was about being lonely; there is a difference.

Aloneness is a state of being, a choice or due to circumstances. There is usually not a feeling of void or required presence of someone else. There is comfort and ease; contentment in being in your own space. Loneliness  is a sense  of  unwelcomed detachment from others, feeling of despair,  even rejection. Loneliness can be felt in a crowd, with others or even within the company of loved ones. It can be the result of situational factors such as moving to a new job or country or it can be  psychological.

We all experience either situation, both have opportunities for personal growth. Time spent without the presence or connection with others can be a time for self reflection and assessment. During either time what are your feelings about yourself and others? What can you do to change your circumstance? What is good and bad about it? How did you arrive into this situation? What have you learned about yourself?

Most inventions and great achievements have been birthed in times of solace. There is something symbiotic about personal quietness that can allow the mind to explore it's potential. If you are lonely or alone you're in the perfect place to achieve greatness!

Be blessed!

Big Girls Do Cry!

Have you ever felt like having a good cry but heard the voice in your head telling you that you shouldn't?  Crying sometimes feels like a weakness;  something that certain people do because they can't handle their lives or emotions?

I have good news for you stoic ones; crying brings good health to your bones. First,  there are three types of tears; basal, reflex and emotional. Basal tears lubricate your eyes, reflex protects your eyes and emotional tears express feelings.

Sad tears serve a purpose. When you cry out of sadness chemicals are released. Tears contain higher levels of stress hormones released out of the body through your tears.

Do you notice that after a good cry you feel really tired; a  natural pain killer and  endorphin is also released to calm your body down.

Here’s an important fact,  if you don't cry, the stress hormone that is released through your tears remains in your body and can be linked to disease.

So the next time you feel really bad,  grab a box of tissues and have a good long cry; big, smart girls DO cry.

Sticks and Stones....

Pain is something that we all like to avoid whether it is physical or emotional. One day I was experiencing a lot of pain and I decided to do some research on it.

Pain has three purposes; to alert you to an injury, to make you get the necessary medical intervention and finally, to cause you to leave the injured area alone so that healing can begin. I  started to think of these three purposes in terms of emotional pain. 

Often when we experience emotional pain we do not approach it with the same intervention, but we should. Emotional pain, unlike physical pain can be transferred generationally. If I hurt my leg, I experience discomfort but it exists solely with me. Emotional pain however,  if not healed, can be transferred to others through our attitude, beliefs and behaviors.

If we examine the three purposes of pain and translate it into emotional pain that means that we should be alerted to the emotional injury, seek help or counsel and finally, do not repeatedly place ourselves in the toxic circumstance inorder for healing to begin.

This thought is not popular; after all we are relational beings and encouraged to work things through. I'm not saying that we should walk away from every situation that causes emotional pain but rather we should assess the seriousness of the emotional injury and then utilize next steps if necessary. A huge, bloody wound needs more than just a bandade and a good night's sleep.

Sticks and stones may break my bones but names WILL always hurt me.

Effective Weight Loss in 30 days Without Counting Calories!

I've figured out the best way, bar none, to lose maximum weight in the shortest period of time.

Here's the diet plan; take one or two stressful major life events, concurrently or one right after the other, add despair fear and uncertainty liberally; take away any thoughts of hope or thankfullness.

Maximum weight loss becomes very effective if you prolong this negative feeling over one month since it will usually create a loss of appetite accompanied by diarrhea,  headache and sleeplessness.

I've known people who have lost over 20 pounds at least in 30 days; very few diets can accomplish this. Granted,  friends and family may believe that you have a physical illness but it's just a psychological thing; it's amazing what worry can do!

Now, keep in mind,  any positive thoughts or hopefulness will not allow you to maximize the weight loss during this period so stay in that negative frame of mind, keep company with negative friends who will remind you of your problems and, oh yes,  listen to very sad music and tadaa,  instant weight loss without even really trying!

Good luck, or should I wish you...... bad luck!