"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
- Wayne Gretzky
***
Was the Great One" talking about taking shots in hockey or taking shots in life? Regardless, Gretzky is 100% right! You can't score unless your willing to take a shot. I ask you, how many shots have you past up? How many missed opportunities? How many wouldas, couldas and shouldas? I f you want to eliminate the wouldas, couldas and shouldas from your life, you have to take the shot! At least once you take the shot, you'll know!
If you take a shot and miss, keep shooting. Don't quit, make the adjustments needed and be prepared to take the next shot. Don't let a missed shot get you down. Tell yourself, next time I'll score.
Babe Ruth, another legendary sports figure, tried to maintain a positive attitude after striking out. Ruth would often smile on his way back to the dugout after having struck out. When a newspaper reporter questioned "The Babe" about why he would smile after striking out, "The Babe" said, "I smile because I'm that much closer to hitting my next home run."
Don't wait, take the shot when you have it! If you do, someday they'll be saying about you what ever NHL announcer loves to say, "he/she shoots, he/she scores." Keep shooting!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
The "Rip Cord"
“Do the thing you fear and the death of fear is certain.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
***
Emerson is right on! I learned first hand this past summer that if you face your fear head on, you claim power over it. Fear is elicited either instinctually or emotionally. Fear that is elicited instinctually serves as a survival mechanism for living creatures. Instinctual fear allows one to have a heighten awareness of their environment. It is instinctual fear that gives rise to the most basic element of survival; the fight or flight mechanism.
Like instinctual fear, emotional fear has a protective basis. Emotional fear serves to protect one's ego. Emotional fear holds you back: it's the fear of success; it's the fear of failure; it's the fear of being rejected; it's the fear of letting go; it's the fear of not being capable of doing something, it's the fear of embarrassment, the list goes on. The basis of emotional fear is the unknown. You see, emotional fear is elicited when you are challenged to step outside of your comfort zone. The more you stay in your comfort zone, the more power you give to emotional fear. Your comfort zone is your known zone; things are relatively safe, comfortable, and predictable. When you allow emotional fear to operate and thrive in your comfort zone, you become a victim; a victim of missed opportunities, opportunities that could lead to growth and development, and a more exciting and enriching life.
This past summer at Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park, I experienced two very important life lessons. The first being, that if you do the thing that you fear, the death of fear is certain. The second and more important lesson was that the emotion of love is much stronger than the emotion of fear.
Each summer we make the annual trek to Michigan Adventure. Each year, I look with amazement and trepidation at an 18 story, steel structure called the "Rip Cord." The “Rip Cord” is a top attraction at the park. On the ride, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are fitted in a harness and winched to the top of a launch tower, 183 feet above ground. On command, a rider pulls a cord and the riders are dropped toward the ground; a cable tether swings the riders in a pendulum motion until brought to a stop.
My two daughters have experienced the “Rip Cord” on other occasions. This year was to be my son’s first experience on the ride. The plan was to have my daughters and son ride together. I was excited for my son because he had his heart set on riding the “Rip Cord.” He had talked about it for weeks before the trip. Things don’t always go as planned. My daughters went on the ride with one of their friends. My son was left out. I reassured him that he would be able to ride the ride later in the day. Fast forward to later in day. I tried to convince, plead with, and bribe my daughters to go on the ride one more time, this time with their brother. Both were well worn out from the day and did not have enough of the excitement factor to go on the ride one more time. My son was quite disappointed. Although he said it was alright with him, and tried his best to cover it up, you could see right through his facade.
I had always thought about experiencing the “Rip Cord.” But, as each summer would have it, I would allow my fear to take control, and keep me in my comfort zone. You see, when I actually gave it some serious thought, panic, terror, fear, call it what you will, overcame me and seized the moment. This year had to be different! For the sake of my son, I had to confront this fear head on. So, I agreed to go on the ride with him. As we waiting for the ride, fear prompted me to kept look for an escape route, or for some type of excuse for getting out of the ride. However, something kept telling me, you must do this for you son.
As we were being winched to the top of the ride, I told my son of how terrified I was, but he was the reason I was on the ride. At the top of the ride, I told my son that love is a stronger emotion than fear, and it was because I loved him so much, that love could conquer fear. He told me he loved me too and with that he pulled the cord. Away the two of us flew, flying head first toward the ground. The cable caught us and we began to enter into the swinging mode of the ride. The worst was over. Love had conquered fear and fear had turned to exhilaration.
As the ride came to a stop, I could not help but feeling a sense of accomplishment. What a proud moment; my son and I had just rode the “Rip Cord” together.
I'll always remember that day; the day the love prevailed over fear. It was also the day that I learned first hand that if you do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain. I ask you, what are the “Rip Cords” in your life? Are you allowing fear to hold you back, to keep you in your comfort zone? I’m so pleased that last summer, I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I no longer fear the “Rip Cord. The “Rip Cord” no longer has power over me.
Next summer, guess who will be first person in line to ride the “Rip Cord."
***
It's your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD
***
Emerson is right on! I learned first hand this past summer that if you face your fear head on, you claim power over it. Fear is elicited either instinctually or emotionally. Fear that is elicited instinctually serves as a survival mechanism for living creatures. Instinctual fear allows one to have a heighten awareness of their environment. It is instinctual fear that gives rise to the most basic element of survival; the fight or flight mechanism.
Like instinctual fear, emotional fear has a protective basis. Emotional fear serves to protect one's ego. Emotional fear holds you back: it's the fear of success; it's the fear of failure; it's the fear of being rejected; it's the fear of letting go; it's the fear of not being capable of doing something, it's the fear of embarrassment, the list goes on. The basis of emotional fear is the unknown. You see, emotional fear is elicited when you are challenged to step outside of your comfort zone. The more you stay in your comfort zone, the more power you give to emotional fear. Your comfort zone is your known zone; things are relatively safe, comfortable, and predictable. When you allow emotional fear to operate and thrive in your comfort zone, you become a victim; a victim of missed opportunities, opportunities that could lead to growth and development, and a more exciting and enriching life.
This past summer at Michigan's Adventure Amusement Park, I experienced two very important life lessons. The first being, that if you do the thing that you fear, the death of fear is certain. The second and more important lesson was that the emotion of love is much stronger than the emotion of fear.
Each summer we make the annual trek to Michigan Adventure. Each year, I look with amazement and trepidation at an 18 story, steel structure called the "Rip Cord." The “Rip Cord” is a top attraction at the park. On the ride, riders in groups of 1 to 3 are fitted in a harness and winched to the top of a launch tower, 183 feet above ground. On command, a rider pulls a cord and the riders are dropped toward the ground; a cable tether swings the riders in a pendulum motion until brought to a stop.
My two daughters have experienced the “Rip Cord” on other occasions. This year was to be my son’s first experience on the ride. The plan was to have my daughters and son ride together. I was excited for my son because he had his heart set on riding the “Rip Cord.” He had talked about it for weeks before the trip. Things don’t always go as planned. My daughters went on the ride with one of their friends. My son was left out. I reassured him that he would be able to ride the ride later in the day. Fast forward to later in day. I tried to convince, plead with, and bribe my daughters to go on the ride one more time, this time with their brother. Both were well worn out from the day and did not have enough of the excitement factor to go on the ride one more time. My son was quite disappointed. Although he said it was alright with him, and tried his best to cover it up, you could see right through his facade.
I had always thought about experiencing the “Rip Cord.” But, as each summer would have it, I would allow my fear to take control, and keep me in my comfort zone. You see, when I actually gave it some serious thought, panic, terror, fear, call it what you will, overcame me and seized the moment. This year had to be different! For the sake of my son, I had to confront this fear head on. So, I agreed to go on the ride with him. As we waiting for the ride, fear prompted me to kept look for an escape route, or for some type of excuse for getting out of the ride. However, something kept telling me, you must do this for you son.
As we were being winched to the top of the ride, I told my son of how terrified I was, but he was the reason I was on the ride. At the top of the ride, I told my son that love is a stronger emotion than fear, and it was because I loved him so much, that love could conquer fear. He told me he loved me too and with that he pulled the cord. Away the two of us flew, flying head first toward the ground. The cable caught us and we began to enter into the swinging mode of the ride. The worst was over. Love had conquered fear and fear had turned to exhilaration.
As the ride came to a stop, I could not help but feeling a sense of accomplishment. What a proud moment; my son and I had just rode the “Rip Cord” together.
I'll always remember that day; the day the love prevailed over fear. It was also the day that I learned first hand that if you do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain. I ask you, what are the “Rip Cords” in your life? Are you allowing fear to hold you back, to keep you in your comfort zone? I’m so pleased that last summer, I stepped outside of my comfort zone. I no longer fear the “Rip Cord. The “Rip Cord” no longer has power over me.
Next summer, guess who will be first person in line to ride the “Rip Cord."
***
It's your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Choosing Your Life Plan
"You don't get to choose how you're going to die, or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. "
- Joan Baez
***
Christians believe that an individual's life span is determined by God's master plan. Because it's God's plan, it doesn't make sense for we as humans to try an interpret why and when God calls us home. There is no way possible for us to explain in human terms what God has designed. We are not suppose to be able to understand, it is not a human plan. We are, however, suppose to have faith in God's plan for all of us.
No, we do not to choose how we are going to die, or when. That's God's plan. We do however, get to choose how we live. That's God's plan too! When God created man and woman, he gave them dominion over all of the earth. What sets us apart from every living creature is free will; the freedom to choose.
Humans are not hard-wired to live a certain lifestyle. Humans are the only living creature that can alter it's direction in life. An acorn is an acorn. With the proper soil and water, the acorn grows into the oak tree. The acorn has a rigid genetic code. The acorn, by itself, cannot one day decide to alter it's direction in life. As an oak tree, it cannot one day decide this fall, I will not shed any of my leaves. Certain animals hibernate in the winter; not by choice, but according to their genetic code. A bear cannot one day decide, this winter I'm not going to hibernate.
Humans have the ability to choose. We have the ability to change the direction of our lives. We cannot change the past, but we can create our future. In order to alter the direction in your life, you must first take complete responsibility for where you are at currently in your life. You can't point the finger at any one else. It's true that people in your past may have influenced you, but you chose to allow that influence to become a part of your life. The choice was yours! When you accept responsibility for your life up to this point, you'll experience a freedom; a freedom to choose a different life. When one denies this responsibility, one is not capable of choosing a different life, because they have given up their power of choice. Their life was created, not be their choosing, but by several external factors which exert control over their life.
You can decide how you are going to live, because God gave us the gift of free will. Keep in mind that God has a master plan. Most certainly, there is date and time set aside for each of us. But until that time, remember that God has given you power to be the engineer of your life's plan. Take steps now so that when God's plan for you is finally executed, people will say that not only was your life plan well designed, but it was well executed.
***
It's your life: Live it, Love It & Celebrate it!
MJD
- Joan Baez
***
Christians believe that an individual's life span is determined by God's master plan. Because it's God's plan, it doesn't make sense for we as humans to try an interpret why and when God calls us home. There is no way possible for us to explain in human terms what God has designed. We are not suppose to be able to understand, it is not a human plan. We are, however, suppose to have faith in God's plan for all of us.
No, we do not to choose how we are going to die, or when. That's God's plan. We do however, get to choose how we live. That's God's plan too! When God created man and woman, he gave them dominion over all of the earth. What sets us apart from every living creature is free will; the freedom to choose.
Humans are not hard-wired to live a certain lifestyle. Humans are the only living creature that can alter it's direction in life. An acorn is an acorn. With the proper soil and water, the acorn grows into the oak tree. The acorn has a rigid genetic code. The acorn, by itself, cannot one day decide to alter it's direction in life. As an oak tree, it cannot one day decide this fall, I will not shed any of my leaves. Certain animals hibernate in the winter; not by choice, but according to their genetic code. A bear cannot one day decide, this winter I'm not going to hibernate.
Humans have the ability to choose. We have the ability to change the direction of our lives. We cannot change the past, but we can create our future. In order to alter the direction in your life, you must first take complete responsibility for where you are at currently in your life. You can't point the finger at any one else. It's true that people in your past may have influenced you, but you chose to allow that influence to become a part of your life. The choice was yours! When you accept responsibility for your life up to this point, you'll experience a freedom; a freedom to choose a different life. When one denies this responsibility, one is not capable of choosing a different life, because they have given up their power of choice. Their life was created, not be their choosing, but by several external factors which exert control over their life.
You can decide how you are going to live, because God gave us the gift of free will. Keep in mind that God has a master plan. Most certainly, there is date and time set aside for each of us. But until that time, remember that God has given you power to be the engineer of your life's plan. Take steps now so that when God's plan for you is finally executed, people will say that not only was your life plan well designed, but it was well executed.
***
It's your life: Live it, Love It & Celebrate it!
MJD
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wisdom from the General
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubts; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear; as young as your hope, as old as your despair."
- General Douglas McArthur
***
Picture General Douglas McArthur commanding the Allied Forces in the South Pacific. His troops hanging on his every word. Picture McArthur telling his troops that in order for a solider to survive the turbulence of war, the soldier must have faith, self-confidence and hope.
A solider must have faith in his/her comrades, his/her commanding officers and his/her country. Faith is believing in the unknown. For a soldier it about believing your comrades have your back, its about believing your commanding officers have implemented the best strategy, it about believing in the ideals of your country and your country believing in you.
A soldier must have self-confidence. Self-confidence develops from mastering a task. The more training a soldier undergoes, the better he/she becomes at a task. The better a soldier becomes at a task, the more self-confidence the soldier acquires.
A soldier must have hope; hope for a better tomorrow. Hope that things can and will change. Hope that his/her effort will make a difference. Hope is the true catalyst of change.
If a soldier is to survive war, faith, self-confidence, and hope must become a way of life. When things seem turbulent in your life, don't allow doubt, fear and despair to paralyze you. Soldiers fail to serve their country, their commanding officer, their comrades and themselves when they allow negative thinking to control their lives. And, so it is with you, if you allow negative thinking to dominate your life, you might as well wave the surrender flag. You'll be surrendering opportunities for growth, development, and happiness.
Take heed of the wisdom of General Douglas McArthur. It was his faith, self-confidence and hope that inspired him to say "I shall return," and return he did!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
- General Douglas McArthur
***
Picture General Douglas McArthur commanding the Allied Forces in the South Pacific. His troops hanging on his every word. Picture McArthur telling his troops that in order for a solider to survive the turbulence of war, the soldier must have faith, self-confidence and hope.
A solider must have faith in his/her comrades, his/her commanding officers and his/her country. Faith is believing in the unknown. For a soldier it about believing your comrades have your back, its about believing your commanding officers have implemented the best strategy, it about believing in the ideals of your country and your country believing in you.
A soldier must have self-confidence. Self-confidence develops from mastering a task. The more training a soldier undergoes, the better he/she becomes at a task. The better a soldier becomes at a task, the more self-confidence the soldier acquires.
A soldier must have hope; hope for a better tomorrow. Hope that things can and will change. Hope that his/her effort will make a difference. Hope is the true catalyst of change.
If a soldier is to survive war, faith, self-confidence, and hope must become a way of life. When things seem turbulent in your life, don't allow doubt, fear and despair to paralyze you. Soldiers fail to serve their country, their commanding officer, their comrades and themselves when they allow negative thinking to control their lives. And, so it is with you, if you allow negative thinking to dominate your life, you might as well wave the surrender flag. You'll be surrendering opportunities for growth, development, and happiness.
Take heed of the wisdom of General Douglas McArthur. It was his faith, self-confidence and hope that inspired him to say "I shall return," and return he did!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Getting Ahead - It's About Motion
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
-Agatha Christie
***
Why do we seem to struggle and not get ahead in our lives? Sir Issac Newton's First Law of Motion sheds some light on this question. Newton's law of motion states that a body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion unless outside forces act upon them.
We don't get ahead for two reasons: 1) We may say we want to change, but never take the action to change. Hence, Newton's principle of a body at rest remains at rest is at work. There is no outside force acting upon us, hence we take no action to effectuate a change. 2) When we decide to make a change and begin acting upon it, we quickly give up because we listen to negative self-talk ( e.g., "I can't do this" or "I'm not worthy") and we believe the negative comments from the cynics, critics and naysayers in our lives. Hence, Newton's principle of a body in motion will stay in motion unless an outside force acts upon it is at work in our lives. The outside force that causes the motion to cease is attributed to negative self-talk and believing in what other say about us. We start, but don't finish.
Think of how much further ahead you would be in your life right now if you would taken certain action in 2009. Think of the missed opportunities. Think of the challenges you would have overcome. Think of the growth and development that would have taken place over the past year.
Don't let 2010 be a repeat of 2009. Instead, take action! Don't allow outside forces to be a detraction. Stay focused and believe!
Remember the cornerstone of success is passion and belief!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
-Agatha Christie
***
Why do we seem to struggle and not get ahead in our lives? Sir Issac Newton's First Law of Motion sheds some light on this question. Newton's law of motion states that a body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion unless outside forces act upon them.
We don't get ahead for two reasons: 1) We may say we want to change, but never take the action to change. Hence, Newton's principle of a body at rest remains at rest is at work. There is no outside force acting upon us, hence we take no action to effectuate a change. 2) When we decide to make a change and begin acting upon it, we quickly give up because we listen to negative self-talk ( e.g., "I can't do this" or "I'm not worthy") and we believe the negative comments from the cynics, critics and naysayers in our lives. Hence, Newton's principle of a body in motion will stay in motion unless an outside force acts upon it is at work in our lives. The outside force that causes the motion to cease is attributed to negative self-talk and believing in what other say about us. We start, but don't finish.
Think of how much further ahead you would be in your life right now if you would taken certain action in 2009. Think of the missed opportunities. Think of the challenges you would have overcome. Think of the growth and development that would have taken place over the past year.
Don't let 2010 be a repeat of 2009. Instead, take action! Don't allow outside forces to be a detraction. Stay focused and believe!
Remember the cornerstone of success is passion and belief!
***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)