Tag: life lessons

How to Hear The Voice of God

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It was Saturday night 23th May, when I heard a loud bang outside my window. My mind filtered through all the sounds that it could be, none of them registered.

It was very loud but didn’t sound like it came from outside my window. This got me worried, as a sound that loud, to not be close, would mean that something serious must have happened.

I went outside, looked around the house and down my lane to the main road, nothing. Looked up, maybe it was an aircraft, again nothing. The night was calm. It got me wondering was it just my imagination, but I knew that it wasn’t.

I went back inside, confused. Unsettled, I went back to watching TV.

Later that night I went to check my emails, no Wi-Fi so I just used my phone data not thinking much about it. Next morning same thing again, no internet. Went to check my hub no signal, and the landline was dead.

So, I rang my phone and internet provider to report the fault.

They informed me that with Covid-19, there were fewer people on the ground, but work would be carried out within 3 days. Then a neighbour told me that on Saturday night, a joyrider had crashed straight into a pole, and the pole was down.

That was the sound I had heard the night before.

The pole in question was a reasonable distance away from the house so it must have been some crash to create the level of sound I heard. It was good to link the two as it had been playing on my mind.

My next thought was the internet engineer. If they came out to fix a fault to find that a pole would have to be replaced first, it would probably delay the job, meaning having no phone or internet for longer.

So, I called up the internet provider to let them know. Long story short it took several phone calls to sort out and a week without internet.

Up until this week, I would class myself as a person that doesn’t use the internet much; it’s only when I went a few days without it did I realise just how much I use it.

The Voice of God

With the time I would usually be browsing the internet, I spent going through old notes and records, which resulted in me discovering some files that I thought were lost. That helped me with the current problem I was having.

A series of events had to happen to lead me to the discovery of the files. A joyrider had to crash into a pole at high speed, meaning that rather than a usual couple of days fixing time, it took a week, long enough for me to find the records.

This, for me, was my prayers being answered.

There is no way I would have went through and tidied up my old files for months, and by that time, the records that I found would no longer have helped.

I found out many years ago that if something goes wrong, if you are slowed down in a certain area not to fight it. Of course, you need to resolve things, but if you find yourself getting stressed or becoming impatient can be a sign to change direction.

Many people would have become stressed over the fact that they had no internet, they would have asked their neighbour to use their internet or for their internet password, but I have learnt that in my life that God can speak through events and people.

Answers to prayers can come in so many different forms; God doesn’t speak to us with a loud booming voice like in the movies, its through subtle messages that most do not pick up on.

I think technology is a fantastic thing, without it you would not be reading these words, I would not be writing these words in this medium, but on the flip of that, it has separated us from the spiritual, from the metaphysical.

I believe that God is speaking to us at all times, but we are too busy to hear the subtle messages. Even the sound of traffic is enough to distract you from hearing Him. That is why moments of silence is vital each day.

Turn off the notifications, the internet, the TV.

Only then can we connect with our inner vibrations, only then can the stress and anxieties that build up begin to fade away. Only then can we appreciate the gift of health that is keeping us alive.

Take a deep breathe in…

HOLD the air in your lungs for a couple of seconds…

then slowly exhale.

This simple exercise relaxes the mind and connects us to the world around us, as we can so easily get caught up in negative thoughts.

Enjoy your weekend.  

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To Change Everything Simply Change Your Attitude

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Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice!” Philippians NKJV

Cheryl continually complained that she didn’t make enough money, couldn’t afford the things that she wanted, and therefore wasn’t going to amount to anything.

Her counsellor said, you’re wasting your energy complaining, instead of using it to get ahead. Cheryl countered, “You don’t understand. the job is the problem, not me.”

The counsellor said, “Your low-paying job may be a problem and your boss may demand to much, but when you’re continually upset, you’re causing yourself more harm than either your boss or your job.

Cheryl asked, “what can I do?” the counsellor said, you can’t control your boss or job, but you can control how you feel about them. Change your attitude. Cheryl took his advice.

When she stopped whining about her life, people noticed. She got a promotion, and with her new job statue she was more marketable.

Within a few months she was transferred to a position with higher pay and a more supportive boss. Good things happen for people with a good attitude. And your attitude is something that you can choose regardless of circumstances.

Paul wrote, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. Where was Paul? In prison! Who was he writing to? People outside the prison! Why did he repeat himself and say? Again, I will say, rejoice? Because we forget and lapse back into negativity so quickly.

True joy is an inside job that’s not subject to people or outside situations. Jesus said, “These things have I spoken onto you, that you might be full.” (John 15:11 KJV)

Enjoy your weekend.

How To Think Like God?

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When you go beyond simply reading your bible and take time to meditate each day on its truths, you begin to think like God. And when that happens your life changes for the better.

Peter was so dependent on the words of Jesus that he said, “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the of eternal life.” (John 6:68 KJV). And job said, I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.” (Job 23:12NIV 2011 Edition)

How often do you set time aside to meditate on the Scriptures?

As you meditate on God word you develop a mindset that enables you to rise above your fears. ‘My word will not return to me empty. But will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it’ (Isaiah 55:11 NIV Edition).

Did you get that?

God’s word will accomplish Gods purposes in your life. That why meaningless things over you finding the time to read the bible and pray. The truth is, you don’t find time, you make it!

The prophet Isaiah said, ‘Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will’ (Isaiah 50:4 NLT).

In a world that’s often devoid of commitment God promises. ‘I won’t give up on you. I’ll keep working on you until you’re clear in your perceptions, strong in your faith, and balanced in your spiritual walk. As you meditate on My precepts, you’ll start moving in a new direction. And when that happens, your life will begin to prosper.’

So, begin today — meditate on God’s word.

Enjoy your day. 🙂

11 Powerful Ways to Overcome Self-Doubt

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Self-doubt can hold you back. It can keep you from seizing opportunities. It can make getting started harder than it needs to be.

I’ve struggled with self-doubt for many years. I doubted my ability; I thought I was never good enough. And my choices reflected that.

I let self-doubt stop me from pursuing the things I wanted. It held me back from being who I wanted to be. Who I am today.

Self-doubt and negative self-talk became such a habit; I was comfortable with it. They kept me from improving and stuck me in an endless loop of negativity.

Self-doubt and fear go hand in hand. We can become so afraid of trying new things. We fear change because we’re afraid of the unknown, and we are so scared to try something new, in case it doesn’t work out, or turns out to be worse than what we have now.

We can come up with the worst-case scenarios in our heads instead of focusing on positive outcomes. We worry about what could go wrong instead of focusing on what could go right.

Fear and self-doubt can stop us from trying anything new, keeping us in our current situation. We adapt to our circumstances even if those circumstances aren’t benefiting us because it’s comfortable.

To overcome the self-doubt, fear, and lack of confidence, you need to intervene in your own life and take control. And these are 11 ways that you can do so from today.

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1. Say stop

When your inner doubts bubble up, be quick. Don’t let them spin out of control or grow from a thought to a stream of discouraging sentences. Instead, talk back to that doubtful part of yourself.

In your mind, voice a positive thought. If the thought says, ” the interview will not go well.” Immediately answer with, “Getting the interview means that I have what it takes.” Stop that negative thought in its tracks. Speak your truth.

By doing so, you disrupt the thought pattern and stop negative thinking from taking over.

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2. Reflect on memories

Be honest with yourself and ask: How many times have I doubted myself or feared something would happen, for it not to materialize?

The answer for me – on many occasion.

Self-doubts like to keep you within the comfort zone.

If you look to the past and see how many times things worked out despite your self-doubts, then it becomes easier to let go of them and to focus on the more likely positive outcome and to take action.

3. Talk to someone about it

When you keep your negative thoughts to yourself, they can become exaggerated. So let them out into the light. Talk to someone close to you about your self-doubts.

They will confirm what you already know deep down, that you are more than capable; you’re just letting fear control your thinking.

By talking with someone supportive you will get a change in perspective.

4. Don’t get stuck in the comparison trap

If you compare yourself to other people, self-doubt can creep up on you.

A better way to go about things is to compare yourself to yourself. Look at how far you have come, and what you’ve overcome.

It to easy to look at everything that you want to achieve; rarely do people look back and look at what they have already achieved. Reflection gives us the added motivation that we need to keep going.

5. Start keeping a journal

Keeping a journal can be a helpful habit for many reasons when it comes to self-doubts, it can help you to remember the positive things, all the successes you’ve made. How you have overcome obstacles in the past can give you great insights if you’re crippled with fear.

When you write down your problem, you will be surprised at how little is holding you back. Plus, writing things down can give you a fresh perspective on the issue, making it easier to find solutions.

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6. Don’t worry about other peoples opinions

When you worry about what others may think or say if you do something, then self-doubt can lead to in-action and fear.

The truth is, people don’t care that much about what you do; they are too busy thinking about themselves, their worries, their bills, and their insecurities.

This is one of the most important lessons I have learnt in my life.

7. Get a boost of optimism

Let someone else’s enthusiasm, motivation and constructive optimism flow into your life.

Spend 10-20 minutes with an audiobook, a podcast or a book that increases your faith. Now with platforms like YouTube wisdom and encouragement is only a click away. Instead of turning on the TV, tune into some inspiration or motivation for 10-20 minutes a day.

A daily boost of positivity can help you to shift any self-doubts into optimism.

8. See a setback as temporary

When you have a setback, then you may start to see things through a negative lens. You might even let the set-back fill your mind with doubts.

Negative thinking can stop you from taking action, so instead, remember: You are not a failure just because you failed. Failure is a vital part of success.

Sometimes things go well and sometimes they don’t. So don’t let a failure determine your destiny.

Ask yourself: what is one thing I can learn from this setback? Use the mistake to your advantage and take a better approach.

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9. Don’t beat yourself up about it

A common way to handle self-doubt is to get angry at yourself. Being hard on yourself for a weakness or mistake is not a good approach.

I have found that being kind and constructive is a better choice. So I may ask myself a question like; what is one tiny step I can take to move forward in this situation?

Then I take that tiny step and start to step by step move towards where I want to go.

10. Celebrate that small step and win

When you’ve taken one small step forward – for example, do your first CV/Resume in years– then you have a win. It may be a small one, but it’s still a win. So celebrate it.

This will recharge your motivation and make taking action feel more exciting and fun. And that will push self-doubts aside so you keep moving and getting more small wins.

11. The map is not the territory

In the carrying out of plans, many things can change, so it is essential that you don’t allow self-doubt to creep in.

Your plan might be A-B-C-D, but the journey of life may take you from A-D-B-C. As long as you are aware of this fact it removes self-doubt when your life takes a slightly different turn than you expected.

For example; your plan might be to work within an organisation that campaigns for human rights, but your life journey presents you with a job where your working along side the very people that make the laws; where your influence could make a massive change.

But if you dismiss that job because it doesn’t line up with your set plan then you may never get that opportunity.

Overcoming self-doubt is a process that we must work on each day. I hope the above tips have inspired you in some way.

Thanks for reading.

7 Things You Should Give Up If You Want to Be Happy

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Let’s face it; we all want to be happy. If you didn’t want to be happy you wouldn’t be reading this.

If you want to be happy you don’t need to add more things to your life — you need to give some up.

Here is a list of things that you need to give up to create more happiness in your life.

 

Give Up on Your Fears

We are born with only two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. All other fears we learn from our environment.

Some of us have a fear of snakes. Some of us have a fear of heights, others flying. We all have some kind of fear, but the fears that hold us back the most are the fears that stop is from doing what we want.

You want to change jobs, but fear of the uncertainty that brings keeps you where you are.

You want to attend the evening class, but the fear of what others will think stops you.

Unfortunately, fear and happiness can’t exist at the same time. So, fear becomes a problem.

The best way to give up your fears is to take small steps towards what you fear. If you fear to change jobs, it doesn’t stop you from doing out an up-to-date CV/Resume. It doesn’t stop you from looking for an available position or even applying. It doesn’t even stop you from attending the interview, as you can always decline if you get accepted.

Most people let fear stop them from even taking the first step, which could be as simple as making a phone call or sending an email.

When you take the first step to do the thing you fear you will start to believe that you can take the next step, and the next. Your faith grows, and you will be happier that you are moving towards the life you most desire.

 

Give Up on Your Negative Self-talk

I am my own worst critic. I have a constant conversation going on in my head telling me, “I will never be successful.” When I forget things, it tells me that, “I am such an idiot.”

Negative self-talk leads to poor self-confidence, low self-esteem, and a bad attitude.

Some of the most common forms of negative self-talk include:
• Filtering — when you increase the negative and decrease the positive things in your life.
• Personalising — when you blame yourself for things that go wrong.
• Polarizing — when you only see things as black and white.
• Catastrophizing — when you expect the worst in every situation.

If you want to be happy, you need to get rid of your negative self-talk. Pay attention to your negative self-talk and when you hear it….Stop!

Change your thinking and turn your negative thought into a positive. Change, “I will never be successful” to “I will find a way to make this work.”
“I can’t” to “I will learn.”
“It’s impossible” to “I will give it a try.”

You can change the way you talk about yourself. It will not happen overnight, it will take time, but you can do it. Like scratching a DVD over and over, eventually, the negative thoughts will no longer play.

Learn to be kind, gentle, and encouraging to yourself. Start by not saying anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to your best friend. Example, If a friend had a chance for a promotion you wouldn’t tell them not to apply because they’ll probably not get it.

 

Give Up on Your Past

“Just because someone screwed up your past, it doesn’t mean you should give them permission to screw up your future.” — Zig Ziglar

We all have a past. It can be filled with good experiences, or it can be filled with negative experiences. If you don’t want your future to look like your past, you have to let go of the baggage that is holding you back.

You have to let go of the people who have held you back, or hurt you. Forgive them, and move on. Once you do that, a huge weight will lift off your shoulders; you will immediately feel lighter.

You will finally be able to let yourself be happy.

I know how hard it can be to let go of the past. Your past shaped who you are today. But remember, the people that hurt you would like nothing better than to know that their actions are still affecting you.

Let them go; they are not worth wasting your time and energy on any more.

Decide either to let the baggage of your past weigh you down or to let it go, so that you can be happy now.

Don’t forget that life is a journey, and not a destination. So, don’t carry the baggage of your past with you. Lighten your load and be a happier traveller.

When you look back, you will be glad that you did.

Give Up on Living Other People’s Dreams

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born, and the day you find out why.” — Mark Twain

Too many people spend their lives living other people’s dreams. They are living the dreams of their parents, or the dreams of their friends, or the dreams of their social media following. Doing what others are doing.

They are so busy trying to live up to other people’s dreams, that they dismiss their dreams. Thinking they are insignificant.

If you don’t focus on your ambitions and dreams, then you will not be happy. You will never know what you want or need because you will be looking for direction from others.

You only have one life, and you must live it on your terms. Quit living other people’s dreams and find what makes you happy.

Give Up on Seeking the Approval of Others

We all want to be liked, but too many of us are living our lives based on the approval of others. We spend our lives trying to please others by living up to their expectations.

For most of my life I would try to impress others, but the older I got, the more I learnt. You will never please everyone, and even if you do it will not make you happy.

So, permit yourself to stop trying to please others. It doesn’t work.

Instead, focus on what makes you happy.

The second that you decide to be yourself, and to stop trying to please others, you will find that the right people will be drawn to you.

 

Give Up Comparing Yourself to Others

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” — Eleanor Roosevelt

There will always be someone smarter, better looking, and more successful than you. Always. You can never win.

So, quit comparing yourself to others. It will not make you happy. Instead, focus on your strengths, the things that make you a remarkable individual.

The day you stop comparing yourself to others is the day that you will become much happier.

 

Give Up Negative People

You cannot expect to live a positive life if you spend time with negative people.They are the people that complain all the time, and run others down.

Negative people will manipulate you to get what they want. And if they don’t get it, they will get angry or upset at you.

You know who they are. Why are you spending time with them? Why are you allowing them to steal your happiness?

If you spend your time with negative and unhappy people, you will become negative and unhappy. If you spend your time with positive and happy people, you have a higher probability of becoming positive and happy. It’s not hard, but we like to make it so.

Happy people know that who they surround themselves with can mean the difference between a happy life and a miserable one.

Stop wasting your time with negative and unhappy people. Get rid of them. It may be difficult in the beginning, but you will be happy that you did.

 

Conclusion

We all get what we tolerate. So, stop tolerating excuses within yourself, stop tolerating limiting beliefs, or fearful states.

Happiness is a choice.

You are in control of your happiness. Every day you get to choose to be happy or not.

Quit making excuses. Quit blaming others. Quit blaming your circumstances. It’s time to take responsibility for your happiness.

You all have gifts and abilities, its time to share them with the world to make it a better place for all.

Enjoy your week.

Wisdom From a Billionaire

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steve jobs

You have probably heard of a man called Steve Jobs. He was the co-founder of the computer business Apple.

Steve Jobs was also a writer and today I read the last essay that he wrote as he lay dying. It contained a lot of wisdom.

“I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world, ” he said. “In some peoples eyes, my life is the epitome of success but at this moment lying on my bed recording my life I realise that all the recognition, and wealth, that I took so much pride in, have paled and become meaningless in the face of my death.”

You can employ someone to drive your car for you, to make money for you but you can not have someone bear your sickness for you.

Material things lost can be found. But there is one thing that can never be found when it is lost — Life.

Whichever stage in life we are at right now, with time, we will face the day when the curtain comes down.

Treasure love for your family love for your spouse, love for your friends.

Treat yourself well. Cherish others.”

Despite the best and the most expensive medical care, a lung transplant, the skill of the worlds best doctors Steve Jobs died in the days after he wrote his last essay.

When I put it down, I felt humbled. Inspired. Energised. I had been complaining about a few minor ills when what I should have been doing was celebrating the greatest gift of all,

LIFE.

True happiness does not come from material things. When you have mates and old friends, brothers or sisters who you can chat and talk with, that is true happiness.

The six best doctors in the world are, sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence, and friends. Make these things the foundation of your life and everything else will fall into place.

Spend time doing what you love, and with the people that add value to your life

Have a good week. Thanks for reading.

 

 

How To Feel Love and Be Happy — Free Ebook

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Many problems that we face come from our relationship with others; often started over trivial matters.

Someone speaks to us in a particular tone. Rather than thinking they may be under stress we can take it personally, shutting them out of our lives, telling others of how much they hurt us by what they said or done.

Unrest of any kind can lead to unhappiness and pain. Life can be complicated; we can feel misunderstood, taken for granted, or hurt.

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The problem arises when we let these feelings consume our spirit. We can become critical and judgemental of others, and ourselves. We can become defensive, distant, unwilling to connect with people the way we once did.

Don’t allow bitterness, stubbornness or un-forgiveness extinguish the light of God that’s within your heart.

Feelings of negativity can separate us from His love.

Many people are unhappy because they have allowed negativity to cloud their vision. Living this way can be stressful, frustrating and can damage your relationships, your health and your faith.

When you focus on negativity, it’s almost impossible to see the positives in your life.

If someone hurt you, and you hurt him or her back, it may seem like payback, but it only adds more negativity to the world.

What you give out you will get back in return.

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Many people focus on their needs instead of focusing on what they can do for others. The result is they are never fulfilled.

Throughout my life, my outlook has been one of happiness with a deep love for everyone. For the longest time, I took this attitude for granted. Recently, however, I decided to encapsulate the reasons behind my philosophy.

The result is my new book, How to Feel Love and Be Happy.

I would like to share with you the ways to live a life of harmony and happiness, which will give you a great feeling of love in your life.

You can download my book free today on Amazon, click on the image below.

Thank you.

 

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