So many times, we pray and praise God when our prayers are answered. And so many times, we cry out, “Lord, where are you? Why haven’t you answered my prayers?”
Most of us know that we don’t always get what we ask for, or we get what we ask for but in a different form that what we were praying to happen. We praise God when our prayers are answered the way we expect them to be. But sometimes Our Lord has other plans for us….better plans!
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That’s it. Once and for all. I’ve decided, and I will stick to this decision. I am absolutely sick and tired of some people taking advantage of my mostly easy-going way of living life. This was me, talking to myself, not long ago, after being disrespected by someone I describe as a “me-monster” (self-absorbed, narcissistic). I began using this term and even wrote about it in my book, Joyful Soul: A Promise Worthy of Trust, after hearing comedian Brian Regan discuss those who in social situations take over the conversation because,
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*Adapted from Joyful Soul: A Promise Worthy of Trust on sale now:
AOFs, or Areas of Focus, is a term I use to describe the areas of value in one’s life. These are the areas where most of us want to feel a sense of joy and balance. There are five characteristics that can empower you to succeed in every area of your life that is important to you. They are: tenacity, discipline, goal-setting, approaching each AOF from a place of power and love,
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Hello Joyfuls! It’s never too late to start over. And what better time for a fresh beginning than during this Easter season. Springtime brings us renewed life! Take some time this month to reflect on the changes you would like to see in your life, if any. Think about your spirituality, physical well-being, emotional well-being, your intimate relationship and relationship with others, your career or educational goals, and the time you spend relaxing and re-charging. Which areas are fine just the way they are?
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The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Joyful Soul: A Promise Worthy of Trust: What traits do you need to live a balanced life and make your dreams come true? Well, there are five characteristics that will put you well on the road to success. These five characteristics, if nurtured in yourself, will empower you to succeed in every area of your life. They are: tenacity, discipline, goal setting, approaching each AOF from a place of power and love,
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If you find stress is getting the best of you, it is time to focus on stress-relieving activities! My patients or clients will often tell me that they cannot take the time to focus on themselves and de-stress. This is an example of an external locus of control way of reasoning, and it will keep you from becoming a Joyful Soul. You can find time to de-stress and problem solve in any AOF™ that is not working for you.
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As I sit at my desk, looking out the window at the powerful snow storm (soon to be a blizzard, according to local weather reports), I am filled with a sense of gratitude for all we have to keep us safe and warm at home. Heat, food, water, blankets, tea, plenty to read and/or watch on TV, and a warm bed to crawl into tonight. Although there is plenty to complain about today, there is also much to be grateful for on this Sunday.
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It is true that your work is not who you are, it’s what you do. You are much more valuable as a person than any title you may have in the world of work. Yet, our jobs are an important AOF™ (area of focus) in our lives. Whether we are stay-at-home parents, ditch diggers, movie stars or professionals in business, we will not feel a true sense of joy if we have not made an informed decision surrounding our work choices.
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We’ve all had bad days. Sometimes a lot of them in a row! Everything goes wrong. Nobody understands. You’re running late, you can’t fit in everything you want to do today, you can’t find that perfect job, your friends and family don’t understand you (or they unintentionally make your day worse) and you just don’t feel very joyful. This is the time you need to stop everything, and center yourself. If you keep in mind that you will not give up your joy for anything or anyone,
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Life is hard. And there is always something to get done. In short, it can be a bit overwhelming. I mean, we have our immediate families to deal with, intimate relationships, work, school, friends, tending to our emotional and physical health, taking care of pets and kids, paying bills, taking care of our homes, trying to stay organized….ugh! Deep breath. Then there are the extra things we take on because we enjoy them…scrapbooking, learning a language, playing a musical instrument,
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