Archive - February, 2012

3 TIPS FOR PARENTS WHO OCCASIONALLY SCREW UP

February 28, 2012 in Family with 2 Comments

I’ve been a parent now for several years and I’ve learned a few lessons. In fact, I’m going to share three things that I haven’t always done well. I hate to admit it but I’ve probably screwed up more times than not. I guess you can’t have it all: good looks, charm, great sense of humor and good parenting skills. Oh well, 3 out of 4 isn’t bad! Just kidding, that’s my sense of humor coming out!

There are many great parenting skills that everyone needs but lately these are the ones that I’ve been working on the most. It’s certainly not an exhaustive list but this is my blog post!

1. Be quick to apologize to your children when you blow it. As parents there are going to be times that we over react or say something that we shouldn’t. It might be that we drop the ball on something that we had promised or that we had good intentions but didn’t follow through like we should have. It’s important that you apologize to your children when you screw up. It shows them that you’re human and it models humility to them.

2. Learn to take a “chill pill.” The are some things that we get upset at now that really won’t matter in 10 years. I wonder how much energy we waste on getting upset over things that shouldn’t merit our time or emotions? The Holy Spirit told me recently to quit being so uptight about my girls cleaning up the way that I wanted them to. He quickly reminded me that it won’t matter in ten years anyway. This thought leads us to the last one.

3. Teach your children responsibility, but not perfection. I have caught myself falling into the trap of perfectionism. Recently, I got upset at my children because of the way their room was cleaned. I wanted it to be spotless or better yet perfect! Their room was cleaned like a 9 year old and 6 year old would clean it. The Lord reminded me that I wasn’t perfect either!

In any case, when I teach my children perfectionism I am setting them up for failure in their future because at some point they are going to miss the mark and crash and burn. It’s easier to teach them to be responsible adults than it is to be perfect. Jesus was perfect so I don’t have to be!

Again, these are just three that I’m working on at the moment. The good news is that by doing these I have taken some unwanted pressure off of myself and my children. Try doing these and you might be surprised as to what happens!

Do you struggle with any of these? If so, which one?

The Secret To Achieving Life Goals

February 22, 2012 in Personal Development with 4 Comments

Have you ever wondered how some people accomplish more in life than others? I have often asked myself this question but I didn’t have an answer until now.

The key to achieving lifetime goals is to constantly work at it. I know that sounds too simple but it’s the truth. The way this is done is to create short term goals.

Let me provide you with an example from life my life. I mentioned this in a different post but it’s worth repeating. I have a goal to publish a book. I can’t publish a book without writing a manuscript.

My book has an estimated 11 chapters in it. That is approximately one chapter a month for one year.

Most chapters have an average of 20 pages in it. There are 4 weeks in a month which means that I could write 5 pages a week and it would equal a chapter at the end of the month.

That is about 1 page a day or 2 or 3 pages a couple of days a week.

This life goal certainly feels within reach now! My short term goal then is to write 5 pages a week per month. By the end of the year I will have the first draft of my manuscript complete.

You eat an elephant by doing it one bite at a time! What life goal can you apply this to? What would it take to take small action toward your big goal?

Questions To Ask Yourself To Get Unstuck!

February 20, 2012 in Personal Development with 4 Comments

Are you stuck in one area of your life? Do you ever feel like you’re just digging a hole? Do you wish you could get going in one particular area? If there was one area of your life that you could change what would it be? As a life coach these are questions that I ask people all the time. As a coach I know that most everyone could you use some help to get unstuck in their lives.

C

Ever feel like you're just digging a hole?

At some point you’re going to get stuck. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but everyone at some point is going to experience difficulty or failure. The good news is that it doesn’t have to end that way. The first thing to do when you’re stuck or digging a hole is to quit digging! Continue Reading…

Why God Never Seems To Be In A Hurry

February 10, 2012 in Devotionals with 13 Comments

Have you ever asked God why he doesn’t do something immediately for you or all at once? Do you ever want God to do something today and not tomorrow? I think all of us have probably asked these questions or a variation of them.

There’s a story in the Old Testament of where God promised the Israelites that he would give them the Promised Land, but yet he seemed to drag his feet on the promise. Have you ever felt God make you a promise or give you a desire but wonder why it hasn’t happened yet? I think the answer to this question can be found in Exodus 23:29-30 where it says,

“But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”

In this portion of Scripture God was speaking to Moses and telling him how the Israelites were to live in the land that had been promised to them by God. (Thus the name Promised Land!) God also spoke to Moses and reminded him what he was going to do for them.

I believe there are a few lessons that we can learn from these verses:

  1. God will only give us what we are prepared to handle, both good and bad.
  2. God will never bless us with more than we can handle.
  3. God’s blessings in our lives usually don’t come all at once.
  4. Most miracles in our lives are progressive in nature.
  5. God doesn’t give us everything at once because we are usually not ready to take possession of it.
  6. When we have to wait on God it forces us to depend upon him more.
  7. God is just as interested in the journey as he is the destination.

I wish God would move faster but if we are honest, he never seems to be in a hurry. I suspect this is because he doesn’t want us to miss anything along the way. Have you ever drove somewhere and been so focused on the destination that you missed everything along the way? I know I have on several occasions.

Instead of getting upset with God for dragging his feet maybe you should quit asking, “When” and start asking “What?” What might God want to teach you along the way to your Promised Land?