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Posts tagged ‘Success’

Embrace Thoughtfulness


Embrace thoughtfulness.
Express appreciation.
Take none for granted.

Express thoughtfulness.
Embrace opportunities
To show gratitude.

Thank you, WordPress friends,
For being so very kind.
I love your comments!

“But I rejoice with a deep and holy joy
that now at length you have
revived your thoughtfulness for my welfare.
Indeed you have always been thoughtful for me,”

Phil. 4:10

True Friends
express
thoughtfulness
to one another

Ba no kuuki wo yomu culture in Japan. The ability of “Sensing someone’s feelings” generates thoughtfulness in Japanese culture and “understanding the situation without words”

A Thoughtful Tenacious Man

Thoughtful is not just how you treat others, but it is how you treat yourself, too. It is how you embrace life.

Steve Jobs is a man who faced many challenges in his life – experienced enormous success – and endured failures that would have devastated a more thoughtful, tenacious man.

A while after he knew his life span was limited, he gave an address to a group of college graduates. It is labeled as “One of the Greatest Speeches Ever.” It will give you pause to be thoughtful … and to experience the rest of your life much more thoughtfully. Do take time to hear it (even if you have done so already).

Ten thoughtful take-aways from Steve’s message:

  1. Your beginnings in life do not have to define your life’s endings
  2. Being a drop-out does not have to make you a loser. Trust that it will work out OK.
  3. Tenaciously stumble into opportunities as you discover them. Grab them!
  4. Dropping out may give you a chance to drop in to something better.
  5. Find what you love and thoughtfully pursue it.
  6. Don’t be afraid to start over; enjoy the lightness of being a beginner again.
  7. Don’t lose faith.
  8. The only way to do great work is to love what you do.
  9. Live each day as if it is your last.
  10. Death clears out the old to make room for the new… your life is limited. Make the most of it.

Embrace Thoughtfulness.
Live thoughtfully!

What did you think of that Steve Jobs address?

Thanks for visiting – and thoughtfully responding.

See ya tomorrow (God willing)
Love,
JanBeek

Category:

Belief, God, Haiku, happiness, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, optimism, Poetry

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Embrace Perseverance


This quote came in the mail today from Billy Mills, national spokesperson for “Running Strong for American Indian Youth” – a project associated with Christian Relief Service.

The synchronicity of the arrival of this in mailbox today was not lost on me. I already had spent my hour up in my sanctuary reading my Bible, devotionals, and praying for you – and other family and friends on my prayer list (yes, you are there!). Among the names on my list is “Native American Youth.” Lord knows their needs and yours.

The word that was my “Take-Away” from that time upstairs today was “Perseverance.” And that’s BEFORE the mail came with this gift! Go back up and read it again… “Collective Perseverance…” and HOPE …Resilience and Certainty in tomorrow – – – Tomorrow: a better day!

Persevere in those choices!!

It’s perseverance
That changes maybe’s to YES.
Chase the doubt away!

To make an impact
Just practice perseverance.
Keep your dreams alive.

God says you are Unique…
Designed for Greatness!!

Being persistent
As you work to problem solve:
The road to success!

Photo by Gerd Altmann on Pexels.com

I can’t just sit here
Expecting success to come.
Gotta go get it!

It’s perseverance –
Working to make it happen
That completes the goal.

What are you working
To complete with great success?
Live with that purpose.

Persevere with Purpose

But tenacity
Ain’t easy when we don’t see
The results we need.

Positivity
Is hard to always maintain
When we keep failing.

But unless we fail,
We’re not trying hard enough!
Gotta fail to learn.

3 “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out His love
into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,
whom He has given us.…”

Romans 5:3-4

Don’t let the fact that
There’s certain failure keep you
From taking chances!

Folks who developed
The vaccines we are using
Failed many times.

Before succeeding,
They conjured up their courage
And kept on trying.

That’s the way it is!
So Embrace Perseverance
And live your purpose.

1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders
and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance
the race marked out for us,”
Hebrews 12:1

Photo by nappy on Pexels.com

Look at that runner;
He did not win his first race!
But perseverance paid off.

What race are you in?
What’s marked out for you to do?
Step out and do it!

Embrace Perseverance!

59 years and still counting

Long term marriages like ours don’t happen accidentally.
Takes lots of perseverance.
Believe me!

Thanks for visiting JanBeek today.

Before you click out,
leave a comment below, will you?
What is the “race marked out for you” today?

Category:

Bible Lessons, Faith, God, Haiku, happiness, Life's Challenges, Living in Harmony, Love, Poetry, relationships

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Embrace Success


How do you define success?

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

S tanding
U p
C atching
C laps
S alutations and
S miles

Defining success is step one to attaining it.
We have to know what we want to see
before we can know if we’ve attained it or not.

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

So, you set a goal … like getting a degree…
And when you achieve that goal,
Then you can say, “Yay! I succeeded!”
Right?

But what if your goal is elusive?
What if you’re not sure about the outcome?
How do you achieve success?
Is it a journey?

Heehee… did you laugh?
Well, the point is, success is not a journey!
Success is a cycle!
It’s not a destination.
It’s a process that has no end.

Photo by Drew Rae on Pexels.com

In my “Refuel*” devotional time a couple of days ago, I heard a theory about the Cycle of Success that made perfect sense to me. I hope it speaks to you the way it did to me.

* Bayside Church – Refuel devotional – http://bit.ly/devo020221

Cycle of Success

  1. TEST – take risks, be creative
  2. FAILURE – fail forward! Don’t lose your enthusiasm. All success involves trial and error.
  3. LEARN – it’s not what you know that counts; it’s what you do with what you know.
  4. IMPROVE – how does what you learn improve you or your quest?
  5. REENTER – back up to the top – begin again – test
Photo by Kyle Loftus on Pexels.com

Success is a series of Ah-Hahs. It is a LIGHT that keeps on shining. It is never done.

“Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” …

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” –

“The road to success and the road to failure are almost exactly the same.” … (It’s not a road, it’s a cycle!)

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” –Confucius

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

“Don’t wish it were easier. Wish you were better. ― Jim Rohn

“Setting goals is the first step into turning the invisible into the visible. – Tony Robbins

“If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way. – Napoleon Hill

“Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be. – Zig Ziglar

One of my measures of success
in this blogging world is
getting comments from my friends.

What are your goals?
How do you measure your success?
Tell me about it…

Bob says, “Here’s my definition of success!”

Have a great Thursday evening and Friday.
See ya tomorrow.
Love, JanBeek


Category:

learning, life, Life's Challenges, Love, teaching

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Care About Stats?


Do You Study Your Stats?

What do your stats tell you?

Talented musician and poet, Laura Sullivan, can look at her stats and know they spell SUCCESS.
No doubt about it! When you earn your living as a musician – and you play to be heard, getting two and a half million listeners has got to be a rush. Don’t you think?

How About You?

How about you?
Do you care how many followers you have on WordPress?
Do you count a successful post by how many likes you get?
Or by the number of comments?
Or by the viewers the stats show?

Looking at your daily stats
can reveal patterns
that give you clues
about what titles
or numbers of posts per day
can do.

BUT, they can be very discouraging.

What?
All that effort
and
only 16 likes or comments?

When I look at my stats
by the years instead of weeks or months,
Wow! How encouraging!
What a lot of improvement
I made after I decided
to post on a regular basis!

Hmmm,
do those stats
define success for me?

No! I won’t let numbers define me!
But, look at those likes and comments for this 2020 year.
Now, that can get my blood
rolling through my veins
at a quicker pace,
can’t it?

Is it Numbers?

Oh no, wait!
Are numbers why we do this?
Are we motivated by our ability to reach out?
Do our world views show us what we’re about?

Beware the Comparison Game!

When Cristian Mihai (The Art of Blogging) shows us his world map, every continent is colored in. It’s easy to play that comparison game – and decide you’re never gonna be good enough. Don’t fall into that trap!!

Define Your Purpose

Why do you blog?
Is it for numbers?
I doubt it!

Some people do it for money …
they are full time bloggers and stats mean income.
I understand that.
But, my guess is that the majority of us
are in it for the joy of
being inspired
and
being an inspiration.

That’s my purpose!
To spread positivity and optimism
and to help us all
just “Love One Another”
more unconditionally.

When I get a response
like the one below,
that’s what makes it all worthwhile.
That’s what makes my heart swell.

I want to be a “Beacon of Light and Hope.”
Don’t we all??

Yesterday I receive this comment:

Whose Light?

Yes, I want to be a beacon of hope and light …
and be unafraid to tell you where that light originates!
I can’t fulfill my purpose alone!
Only as I am connected to my source
am I authentic enough to inspire.
It’s not a candle that keeps burning on its own!

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The flame is “This Little Light of Mine” and I don’t intend to hide it under a bushel!
Let it SHINE!!!

Who or what electrifies your light?
What prompts your posts?
Is it to inspire?

Let the stats speak…
But don’t let them be your only motivation.

SHINE!

Photo by Nubia Navarro (nubikini) on Pexels.com

Thanks for visiting
JanBeek.
See ya tomorrow.

Category:

blessings, blogging, Faith, Family, happiness, Love, music, self-esteem, Sharing, writing

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A Satisfied Life


A satisfied life
Is one that applies knowledge
In constructive ways.

Use knowledge wisely.
Then your mind, soul, and heart will
Find satisfaction.

Photo by Skitterphoto on Pexels.com

Today our daughter, De, in Switzerland shared some pictures of the renovating and decorating and menu planning they are doing in preparation for the Grand Opening of their new restaurant in Vissoie. I am so excited for them! De and Andre’ are using all the knowledge and wisdom they can muster to create an inviting ambience and delightful dining experiences.

Andre’s shrimp in curry sauce
Andre’s chicken with morel mushroom sauce
Their darling new restaurant
in the Alps on the way to Zinal ski area
A cozy corner just for you
This yellow top will be replaced. with a wooden circle,
“The Round Table” was always
our favorite gathering spot
in their previous restaurant.

Our grandson, Mike, is a great photographer. DeAna does a wonderful job, too. They have chosen some of their best shots taken in and around Valais and created a delightful, inviting entrance to the dining room and bar.

Isn’t it inviting?
We told De she should offer to sell the photos.
I think there’d be buyers, don’t you?
My grandson, Mike, could use the cash!

Now, take your knowledge
And with wisdom apply it.
Gain satisfaction!

Thanks, De, for the pictures!

See ya tomorrow.
Thanks for visiting
JanBeek

Category:

art, Family, food, Haiku, Life's Challenges, Love, mountains, photography, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another, Travel

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Learning to Say No


Saying no is hard
I much prefer the word YES
Do you understand?

Health is compromised
Saying YES to everything
So, learn to say NO

“Not yet” is better
It doesn’t sound so harsh
It keeps doors open

I like open doors
Closed doors are a frustration
You know what I mean?

But there are those times
When limitations are placed
On us – and we rest

Today is that day
I say YES to getting help
No to stubbornness

I let God define
What I am doing today
Happiness is rest!

I seek happiness
By letting others help me
Thank God for helpers!

Satisfying rest
Is good for the heart and soul
God bless you, my friends!

We had a wonderful sunrise this morning in our Madison Valley.

These are the beautiful roses Bob got for me yesterday to help with my healing. Aren’t they gorgeous?

The view from my bed is beautiful… and I brought a few of the roses into my bedroom so I could enjoy them while I rest and read my devotionals and say my prayers. My prayer list keeps growing! I started it in January… and just keep adding to it. This is just page one of two!

God is good. He hears our prayers… and He responds. I feel His loving comfort today. Thank you for being here with me as I recuperate from yesterday’s hernia surgery.

TazE is here in bed with me, too.
Sweet puppy!

Have a restful day – if you can.
Practice saying NO when the time is right!

See ya tomorrow.
Hugs from JanBeek

Category:

Belief, blessings, contentment, Faith, flowers, friendship, Giving, God, Gratitude, Haiku, Life's Challenges, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, peace, pets, Poetry, prayer, relationships, respect

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When is it Enough?


Caught Enough?

Have you caught enough?
Not everyone in this world
Has caught enough fish.

Many without jobs
In this COVID-19 world
Are short of supplies.

Not every pantry
Is filled to overflowing.
Some have no pantry.

So what must we do?
Sit back and enjoy our life?
No, we’re called to share!

There is enough food
On this, our beautiful earth,
To provide for all.

The secret is: SHARE!
Just count your many blessings;
Reach out to others.

You will discover
The more you give, the more you
Have to give. That’s TRUTH!

Accumulation

Accumulation as a definition of success fails to realize that if you store up treasures on earth in excess of what you need, you may discover they bury you… and you really can’t access it all, anyway. How is that bunny gonna get that carrot outta the ground, huh?

On the other hand, if you’re all show and no growth, you won’t have enough to feed yourself, let alone give any away!

“All show” is that fancy car, extra large TV, more shoes and purses or wallets or clothes than you need, elaborate houses, etc. You get the picture. Spend it all on the “things that pass away” – and you will be one lonely fisherman!

Photo by Yogendra Singh on Pexels.com

Generosity is the Key

It was the little things you did
The sacrifices that you made
The small donations from your little
The generosity from your abundance
That made such a difference
In the lives of others

Generosity is the key
To a richer, fuller life
Not the number of your barns
Filled to overflowing,
But the love you freely gave
From the depths of a grateful heart

I wish – Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life
appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.

I wish you enough gratitude to help you live with joy.
I wish you enough generosity to help you give generously.
I wish you enough health to give you strength to serve.
I wish you enough love to give it all away.

Whatever you send into the lives of others,
comes back in to your own.
But, do not give for what you can get,
give because you have been richly blessed.

I send lots of love and virtual hugs your way.
Thanks for visiting JanBeek.
See ya later.

Category:

Belief, blessings, contentment, Faith, Fishing, food, Giving, Gratitude, Haiku, life, Living in Christ's Family, Living in Harmony, Love, mental health, Poetry, relationships, Serving One Another, Sharing

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Beeing Brave


Learning to Bee Brave

According to this

New post on The Year(s) of Living Non-Judgmentally
Day 2478: Learning how to be braveby Ann Koplow

According to that post by Ann Kaplow, learning how to be brave includes:

  • following good role models,
  • feeling the fear and doing it anyway,
  • letting go of harsh judgments,
  • having faith in your process,
  • accepting all your feelings,
  • being kind to yourself and others,
  • carrying supportive people in your heart and mind,
  • committing to the here and now,
  • learning from everything, and
  • telling your story authentically.
Looking to the Son for Bravery

For me,  

learning to be brave also includes daily asking God to free me from:

  • cowardice in the face of danger
  • weakness, knowing His power is at hand
  • anxiety about tomorrow,
  • bitterness toward anyone,
  • laziness from work,
  • failure before opportunity, and
  • doubt, when His assurances are mine.

For you,

  • looking within for the courage that’s there,
  • looking up for the support that’s yours, and
  • stepping out in faith … will start you on the path

To the Success You Seek

man in red crew neck sweatshirt photography
achievement activity adolescent arms

Step out in faith today.
Accomplish more than you dreamed possible.
What’s one of those goals you intend to bravely tackle?

 

I sent a Happy 30th Anniversary card

off to our son and daughter-in-law today.

Some goals don’t take courage at all;

they just take getting off your butt and doing ’em.

_jv_5262
Happy Anniversary, Ty & Monika.
I know you are bravely tackling several tasks today.
Just putting one foot in front of the other takes courage some days.

Bee  pexels-photo-460961.jpeg Brave!

Go for it!

red and white ribbon

See ya later.

Category:

Faith, God, Life's Challenges, Love

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Practice Tenacity


woman girl strength fitness

Photo by Scott Webb on Pexels.com

Tenacity is
Hanging on, not letting go.
It’s available.

Tenacity is
Essential for your success.
You can’t go buy it.

Tenacity is
Making it through the tough times.
How do you do it?

Try this:

write-yourself-a-letter.jpg

My List

I made it through:

  • failed interviews
  • job challenges
  • losing a prenatal baby
  • having my daughter move to Europe when she was one month pregnant with my first grandchild (that was hard!)
  • knee replacement surgery and the painful rehab
  • a burst appendix (that almost killed me!)

I could go on…. but you get the idea. What would your list look like?

Your List

Do you need to remind yourself that you’re tough? You’re a winner. You’re not a quitter. You’ve got broad shoulders and strong arms and can give great hugs. You believe in yourself. You’ve survived some rough times. Tenacity can be your middle name. Try it. What’s on your list?

pexels-photo-887349-2
Show me your
“made it through”
list!

Category:

Haiku, life, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, Poetry

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Optimism Brings Positivity


Thanks for joining me on our A-Z journey
to find ways to
Add More Meaning
and
Discover Clearer Purpose
in Life

Today we’ll explore the letters “O” and “P”
Optimism and Positivity

Optimism Brings Positivity!

Or, is it the other way around?

Does Positivity bring Optimism?

I couldn’t separate these two!

positivity potion.jpg

Like so many of the concepts we’ve explored in this A-Z series, these two (optimism and positivity) go hand-in-hand.

When you live with the “Positivity Potion” in your life, optimism is a natural by-product!

I am reminded of a story I have read more than once in various places. It’s about an elderly lady who is being guided down the hallway of a nursing home. The CNA (certified nurse’s assistant) says to her, “Your room is at the end of this hallway.”

The lady smiles at her and cheerfully exclaims, “I like it!”

“But you haven’t seen it yet,” the CNA responds.

“Oh, I know, but I like it.”

This lady had more than a sprinkle of acceptance.
She had more than a hint of gratitude.
She lived with more than a feather of hope.
Her positivity potion was overflowing with optimism about life and her future.

She is someone you’d like to have as your roommate
should the day come when you need to move into a nursing home.

Stay positive.png

These items of advice don’t suddenly become obsolete when you’re retired and don’t have to get up and go to a job every day. In fact, as a person who is aging (aren’t we all?), it is more important than ever that I remain positive in order to be happy.

When I was recovering from a knee replacement and struggling with more pain than I anticipated in the recuperation process, it was more important than ever that I remain positive, keep hope for a better outcome ahead, and work hard to remain happy.

Challenges keep coming.
Life is not a bed of feathery frolicking through the tulips!
It is more important than ever that I continue to work hard
(find meaningful work to maintain a sense of purpose),
and give my days reason to hope.
Not just a feather of hope,
but the whole chirping, red-breasted robin!

animal avian beak bird

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I never can let myself become so rigid, and set in my ways, and sure of my own way of doing things that I grow beyond the need to accept criticism. I must always keep learning. With a positive attitude, I can thank the one who offers the criticism –  thank him or her for sharing an opinion with me – for caring enough to speak their words of correction. Take it in – try the shoe on and see if it fits! And weigh its merits. Keep learning and looking for ways to improve. Always!

With an attitude of optimism
and a demeanor of positivity,
I will attract happy, warm, and generous people.
And I will be one of them.

What better way to approach my 80th birthday – and the days ahead?

 

Bring Optimism and Positivity with you into your tomorrows!

no failure.jpg

Category:

Aging Gracefully, blessings, contentment, Gratitude, happiness, learning, life, Life's Challenges, Love, mental health, self-acceptance

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