Category: Inspirations

So many of us are stuck in the same place mentally, physically, and professionally because we have convinced ourselves that certain things are not attainable. We won’t go to the car lot and check out the latest vehicle because it’s out of our price range.  We fail to apply for the promotion because we are not ready for the challenge yet.  We overlook the guy in the three-piece suit who owns the business because we feel like he is out of our league.  Well, let me tell you something!  You will never get that new car if you could never see yourself driving it.  You will never get that promotion if you are afraid of the challenge that comes with it.  You will never catch the eye of the business owner if you feel that you are beneath him.  As long as you think small then you will continue to play small.  I want everything that God has for me and then some.  You should always believe that what you have to offer is valuable.  Everyone at the top started somewhere below where they are now.  There are successful careers and marriages that were built on struggle alone.  What we see on the surface does not show the steps that were taken to get there.  You could be sitting at the table with millionaires and not know their struggles to maintain what they have.  You don’t know whether or not they sleep at night or stay awake wondering if they might lose it all.  We all think that we want to walk in another person’s shoes, until we learn about the strength and tenacity that it took to get those shoes.  You don’t know how many doors were slammed in someone’s face before they finally got the job.  You don’t know how many times their car broke down on the side of the road before they were able to afford a new one.  What about all the failed marriages before they finally met the right person and was able to make it last.  We really don’t know what it takes to be another person.  All we know is what it takes to be ourselves, and most of the time we limit that because we are afraid to test drive outside our price range!

I was watching a live video a few days ago with advice on how to move forward and get what belongs to you in life. Although I wrote down all six of the steps that were mentioned, that last one really struck with me and resonated in my soul. Hate that thing! She talked about how we hate our job but we show up every day.  Obviously we don’t hate it enough to find another one or do what we love on the side until we can turn that into a viable source of income.  We hate our relationships and marriages, but we don’t hate it enough to seek help or try to correct what is wrong.  We’d rather be in a bad relationship rather than be alone.  Oh my God!  Just stepped on somebody’s toes!  We hate the house we live in and our neighborhood, but we must not hate it enough because we are not doing anything to change our circumstances.  We are not saving money so that we can get out and make a better life for ourselves and our families.  So, I guess we really don’t hate that thing, do we?

The above is a compilation of what I heard on the video and my interpretation of it.

 

 

Do the next thing!  In my daily reading I ran across those words and they really set the tone for my day and my week.  On many occasions we find ourselves stuck on solving a problem that is right in front of us.  We don’t think that we can accomplish another thing until we move this item off our plate.  But that’s not true.  Do the next thing and watch how your level of stress drops and eventually the problem almost solves itself.

I remember a few weeks ago I was looking for my business license to determine the exact renewal date.  I knew it had to be renewed in August, but I wasn’t sure if it was early, mid or late August.  I tore my office up looking until I finally said, “Well, I have no idea where it is.”  The next day I was doing my morning meditation and God said check the copier.  To my surprise there was the business license right where I had put it when I made a copy to send to someone earlier.  You will be shocked at how easy it is to find something when you stop looking for it.

Photo: By Seemann at Morguefile.com

Layover, not a cancellation!  When you are on the flight of your life and suddenly the announcer says, “We are experiencing turbulence therefore we must do a layover in the next city,” those are not the words that you want to hear. You started on this flight with the understanding that you would arrive at your destination according to the flight schedule that was listed.  No one warned you that there were things in nature that could alter the flight.  You have people at the other end expecting you to arrive at the designated time.  So what will you do?  Will you turn around and get a flight back at the next stop?  No!  You will welcome the layover and use it to your advantage as you await the takeoff again.  This is not a flight cancellation.  It is simply a layover!  So pick your chin up and go forth with greater determination for your next stop.  As I experience a layover in my own life I will do my best to take my own advice.  God never makes a mistake and there is no failure in Him.  It can be hard sometimes when people always expect you to be at the top of your game.  However, I believe in doing things in decency and in order.  I strive to bring you only the best when it comes to “Geri Speak.”

You cannot fool you!  There are times when no matter how much you try to convince yourself that all is well and you can move forward at full speed, you know that you need to do a ‘shutdown.’ I’m talking about things that are on your mind, your desk, or your list, that you know are driving you crazy.  As much as I wanted to follow my schedule that I made for today, there was no way it was going to happen.  I knew that I had to bring closure to a number of things before moving forward, so I decided to change my whole agenda and work on the things that were driving me crazy.  With that done I know tomorrow will be a more productive day because I released some things from my brain and my eyesight as well.  There are things that I could see needed my attention and could no longer be overlooked.  So, like I said in my title, you cannot fool you.

You need to be teachable at every stage of your life.  There was a point in my life where I would tell people that I have learned everything I want to know. Even with computers many years ago, I would only do what was absolutely necessary to accomplish the little that I thought my mind could handle.  I used to think why bother learning after a certain age anyway.  Well, I am amazed everyday how God has shown me that age ain’t nothing but a number, especially when it comes to learning.  A few years ago I used to get frustrated when I would set up an event on Facebook and someone would message me and ask to have the “link” sent to them.  My first thought was, “I don’t know how to do that.  Why can’t you just find the event on your phone?  I already invited you, so how hard could it be?”  That was when I was first started learning how to navigate Facebook.  Now!  Oh my God!  Every day I choose to learn something new before I need it.  I watch what others are doing and I either ask questions or do my research so that I can be better at this modern technology.  It’s all about making it easier for the person on the end.  When we learn that, then we will have learned a valuable lesson.  Be teachable whether it’s through conversation or technological research.

You don’t have to look very far to find people who are successful. Although they may not be right outside your back door they probably aren’t far down the street.  However, what one person considers success may be different than what you and I consider success.  To me, success is doing what you love and enjoying life without stressing over where your next blessing will come from.  Some people base success solely on how much money they have.  I’m not saying that money isn’t important, but being financially set does not make one successful.  What about your home life once you get the money?  Is there peace and joy found within your walls?  Then there’s your spiritual well-being.  What role does that play in the picture?  Do you believe in a higher being that controls all things, good and not so good?  Would you still be happy if you had no money?  So many people work so hard to have everything, yet they do not enjoy what they have.  Others are so rich that a small crisis in their financial situation can cause them to go overboard, once their lifestyle has to change from what they are used to having.  Some have committed suicide rather than deal with the stock market falling, or Wall Street crumbling.  When you are up so high on the financial pedestal, the fall from grace is much larger than the little man who already knows what it’s like to be on the bottom.  So, don’t be quick to jump on every band wagon that seems like a good opportunity, because what’s good for the goose is not always good for the gander.  That’s an old saying from my mom back in the day!  It is important to know which opportunities to avoid as much as it is to know which ones to partake.  When I consider my business endeavors, I am well aware of what I expect to give and receive by my association or attendance.  I seek to be among like-minded individuals who are upwardly mobile with sound judgment.  That doesn’t mean I disassociate myself from people, it means I know what I bring to the table, therefore I come with expectations of being better once I leave.  That can be done through inspiring others to do better as well, while finding encouragement for my journey.  Be picky about who you allow to take up your time because you can’t get it back! Every opportunity is not for you!

Kicked off the treadmill!  There are days when you are rolling along like exercising on a treadmill.  Everything is working in your favor and there seems to be no stopping you.  Then BAM!  You get thrown off the treadmill.  What in the world has happened you wonder!  You made all these plans for the day and then all of a sudden your world is turned upside down.  How will you ever catch up to what lies ahead?  Every action you planned to take was based on the previous action.  It was a step-by-step process that you had lined up.  Now you feel as though God has forgotten the agreement that you made.  He didn’t forget!  God’s checking to see if you really trust Him and how bad you want what you say you want.  A lot of times we learn what we don’t want by asking for what we think we want.  Now that’s deep!  So the next time you get knocked off the treadmill, take a break and get back up with a new determination to get the job done.

The other day while doing my morning devotion one of my daily reads said that I like to plan for things ahead so that I can control the outcome. The next line stated that if I truly trust God then I need to enjoy life one day at a time and let Him handle the details of the future.  Although I know that to be true it is still hard to relinquish my control, even to God.  As soon as I finished my devotions, I said, “OK God, I’m ready for the fight!”  And the fight came much quicker than I thought.  In less than twenty-four hours I was having a problem paying an extremely important bill online, in addition, to having a debit card declined from another account that I knew had money.  The next day a source of income that I was counting on was threatened to disappear.  Throughout all this, I continued to operate my life according to the plan that God had shown me.  I am happy to say that as of this writing, which is three days later, all is well with my soul and my plans have not changed.  I must say that I am still learning how to trust and depend on God in all circumstances.