Is life going pretty well for you, but you find yourself wishing for something that you don’t have?  Or maybe you feel you could be happier if only some people in your life would just change some?  Or your job is just a job that you have to do to put food on the table?  Maybe you just don’t quite feel content and don’t quite know what your real purpose in life is?

If that is where you find yourself, are you interested finding discovering new ways of thinking that may help you move forward?  If so, while there are many things that a person can do to grow, here is one that really seems to reduce stress while building friendships and trust.

Since we were given 2 ears and 1 mouth, is it possible that we were created this way so that we could use them in that proportion?  Here’s the principle that Steven Covey suggested in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People . . . “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” 

When a person comes at you by starting out telling you what you have done wrong or how you hurt them, how does it make you feel?  After all, they don’t even know what your perspective is and aren’t walking in your shoes.   Rather, is there a chance that the conversation could simply be about fully understanding each other before any judgments are made?  It only takes one to be the ‘adult’ by leading the way to seek first to understand, then if appropriate, to be understood.  Perhaps there would be much less stress in relationships if we would be willing to take that approach, wouldn’t there?

Growing up, Memorial Day brought joy by having a vacation day, the Indy 500, and the ‘official’ beginning of summer.  Looking back, it’s humbling to now realize that I didn’t fully recognize the sacrifice that was made by many men and women to battle for a country to have freedom to enjoy such things.  So THANK YOU to the millions of men and women who sacrificed so much that we could live in such a country.

Now I also think back over our Christian heritage and realize that I never fully comprehended that the huge sacrifice that Christ made for all mankind globally.  It is only when we die to our own pride and arrogance and put on the cloak of humility that we truly can find purpose and joy right here and right now.  Heaven is for real and it can begin right now if we welcome in His gift of forgiveness.   Then we too are free to forgive and grace on other people.  That is the price that Christ paid on our behalf when He made the ultimate sacrifice. 

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!  Let Freedom Ring!

Do we think ourselves into a new way of living?  Or do we live ourselves into a new way of thinking?  And why is this important to consider?

It is true that we generally can learn things like the “3 R’s” – Reading, ‘Riting, and ‘Rithmetic” by thinking and studying books.  But can the same be said when it comes to the heart, mind, soul, and life in general?

One of the greatest lessons that I have learned and still am reminded of is that a person generally will resist learning new ways of thinking on issues of their heart, soul, and mind until they are ready to learn.  And they aren’t ready to learn until they see a need to learn.  And the need to learn doesn’t come until they have experienced enough pain that they become open to realizing that it would be good, if not necessary, to re-evaluate and perhaps change in some ways. 

So where are you at?  Are you happy with the way your life is flowing?  If you are, the book “Finding Purpose and Joy” may have little meaning to you at this stage of your life.  On the other hand, if you’re finding yourself in the ‘rat race’ of life and perhaps you’re starting to question, “Is this really what life is all about?  Is this all there is?”, maybe you’ll be open to at least considering that there just might still be hope for something fresh for your remaining days here on Earth.

Welcome to the journey!

Does your life feel like somewhat of a 'rat race' filled with anxiety?  It's important to realize that where you are today is not your destination.  Rather it's just one point in your journey.  That's the way that I felt at different times throughout my life.  Looking back, I now see that it really has been and continues to be a journey of growing and learning through adversity.  My journey revealed 10 steps to FINDING PURPOSE AND JOY.  While we all have different temperaments, perspectives, and beliefs, nearly all human beings have common elements that are fundamentally the same when it comes to body, mind, and spirit.  Today is the first day of your life.  There truly is reason for hope and a fresh new beginning by revitalizing your journey.  The choice is yours!

If you're interested, stay tuned as we continue the journey together.