Throughout the last year, through family crises, life changes, including moving to college, and general growth, I have found a solid group of ladies who make my life better and support me in all my aspirations. I have also realized how many little girls are around me, looking to me as an example for how to live as a young woman by God's design and someone who positively contributes to the world around her. All of these women and young ladies are so critical to my personal development and I couldn't imagine life without them. Why it's important to have a strong group of ladies, of all ages, surrounding youPhoto from Pinterest Older women, as mentorsWomen who are older than you have already gone through the life stage that you are living. They have either made the decisions that you have made and can share their experience, have made a different decision and can tell you why, or have made a related decision and can share any 20/20 hindsight that they have gained. They have a better sense of the bigger picture. These women will inspire you. All of the older women in your life live in ways that you either do or don't aspire to. They either embody the way you want to parent, run a business, focus your career, live your life, or they don't. But, you can learn from them either way. They are your mentors. These women have taken an interest in you. They might be your blood relatives, family friends, old teachers, bosses, etc., but that doesn't really matter-- they have taken an interest in your success, whatever the relationship. Use their time wisely, and learn from their experiences. Peer-aged women, as cheerleaders and challengersThese are the women who are your own age. They help you to enjoy each stage of your life, as you live it. They help you to live in the moment-- not to look back nor worry about the future. They understand everything that you are facing because they are facing it at the same time. They will cheer you on in your endeavors. They will also push you to achieve your goals. If any of your peers are further ahead in building a family, developing their careers, etc., they can lead you in your own path. They will cheer you in your own budding relationships and new jobs, and they will also pose as a goal, a challenge, for you to chase after. A circumstance that you see your friend in might inspire you to take hold of a promising circumstance in your own life. Younger women, as your audienceIt is so important to acknowledge the group of young ladies who look up to you. These younger women and girls, you can't choose. You can choose your mentors and your friends, but you never know which little girl might be watching you in any given moment. It could be your niece, your little cousin, your mom's friend's daughter or granddaughter, or the daughter of your family friend. You are a rock-star lady in their eyes! You aren't an authority figure to them, so, instead, they see you as a friend. They know that you aren't like their friends of their own age-- you are a different kind of intriguing to them. Take this as a true responsibility and honor, and rise up to the challenge. These are the women of the future and they need good role models. Their parents, teachers, and relatives will all lead them, but you have been chosen by them to also lead them by example. Live in a way that would make your grandmother proud and your 9-year-old self want to be your best friend. Always look to encourage the women around you, regardless of age. If you feel yourself begrudgingly comparing your life to those of others, start to replace those negative thoughts with healthier ones, such as drawing inspiration from her life for how you want yours to look. Or, reach out to these women and get their story, discover their "tricks", figure out what their inspiration is. Maybe even start a friendship or two.
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Is collaboration or competition more successful? Photo from: Hines-Sight Blog Speaking in terms of an overarching approach to group situations, is collaboration or competition a better vehicle towards personal success?
I believe that collaboration is. Of course, you can benefit from having a healthy, competitive spirit to keep you working towards improving your self. But beyond that, I have seen that collaboration truly helps individuals to succeed in any group, such as a class or a work environment. Part of being a collaborator is being excited for the success of your coworkers and/or classmates. Rather than trying to compete with them, take notes, learn from your competitors and peers. Don't drag down others for their success, even if you were also going for that certain accomplishment. Be a humble competitor and congratulate those who win awards and achieve success in your field. Learn from them and keep these valuable contacts as mentors. We can all learn from each other, we just have to be willing to collaborate and be happy for our peers. ... signed, some Instagram post that I saw a while ago! care.com One of the reasons that we were happy as little kids is that we...... didn't spend our days staring at screens.
We spend so much of each day looking at our phones, tablets, computers, TVs, kiosks and more. I am not saying that we need to cut all electronics out of our daily routines because they are invaluable and useful tools. Tools. Not substitutions, not lifelines, not extensions of ourselves. We should focus on using our devices to enhance our life, not to live it. We live life out beyond our screens; we live our lives by going out and living. What better day is there to decrease our dependency on our screens than today? Big question, I know...And I have always struggled to find a good answer. Surprise, surprise, that the answer I have found to be sufficient comes straight from the Man Upstairs, in the Good Book itself. Psalm 55:22He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. [NASB] When bad things happen to good people, some bystanders will scoff, like Job's friends, saying, 'Well, you must not be righteous so God is punishing you.' Are you not righteous? OR Is this not a stumble? God's hand is in everything that happens on this earth, and everything is made to bring glory to Him. God has a plan and a will for all of our lives. As I recently heard a preacher put it, God has a Perfect Will and a Permissive Will. God doesn't want us to suffer, we are His children who He has a Perfect Will for. However, He allows it through his Permissive Will because all will bring glory to God. When something bad happens to you, do not consider it to be God letting you stumble and fall. Consider it to be God giving you a unique opportunity to show the world your faith, and the hope and trust that you have put in Jesus to be your savior and to fulfill the promises He has made to you. I know this is easy to write. I also know that it is hard to do because I have had to do it myself. My family is going through some really big and really hard stuff. And we will be going through it for a long time to come. But I have come to realize that my faith has only been strengthened through this whole experience so far. God has proven again and again and again that my faith is surely good and that God will come through for me. "Even though I walk through the shadow of the valley of death, I fear none for God is with me." It will take time to recognize the stumbling blocks in your life as not blocks, but opportunities to share the truth of a relationship with Jesus, but it is so worth it. The negativity that you have been pouring into these "blocks" will transform into humility and gratitude when you start treating them as the planned opportunities that God has given you.
Prayers for peace, M Many people in our modern society have concocted a picture in their mind of the perfect guy or girl, the perfect relationship. These pictures are usually referred to as "relationship goals." Well, I don't really have a physical picture of me and some hunk, or what our wedding or house or kids will look like. No, I'm picturing what our relationship will be like. I imagine us laughing or relaxing, out with friends for a dinner, but I'm not imagining the faces and the places, I am imagining just how wonderful it will feel.
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