I attended a training in Singapore, and the facilitator asked us to visualize the dreams that we want to achieve and it should be as specific as possible. I didn’t have any problem, because I know clearly what I want!
And these are some of my dreams that time:
1. living in 1000 square meter penthouse w/ nice view
2. Nissan 360Z
3. Having my own mall
4. having a monthly salary of $25K per month…
I was very proud of my answers, but to my surprised, the facilitator said that my dream is not big enough! What!!! Not big enough? The value of my dream is worth billions, and it’s not big enough?
then the facilitator explained… it’s big but not big enough, because it didn’t involve other people
She said, a big dream involves others, it involves helping people, helping the society, helping the world
From that on wards, my perspective was changed, instead of living selfishly, I dedicated my life to teaching, sharing, and helping people
Mark 12:30-31
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
What is a Growing List? Well… I invented that term,
I’m sure you’ve heard of Bucket List, which are things to do before you die?
Growing List, means things to learn before you die.
Why did I call it growing?
I always associate learning to growing,
like a plant, resembles us, and water resembles knowledge, and if we don’t water the plant, the plant will eventually die.
And growing list is always growing, it’s a never ending learning.
here are some of the things I put in my growing list, and it’s still growing:
1. ballroom dancing
2. sky diving
3. singing
4. boxing
5. aikido
6. stock trading
7. hosting
8. real estate investing
Do you have a Growing List? Have one! and let us learn together
We should keep loving our neighbors, as it’s a command from the Lord.
And I believe it’s no means for salvation, good works cannot be compared, or even measured. It’s a result of a good character from a transformed life.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Today is April 1, Monday, and it’s start of the 2nd quarter!
It will be great to start it right! We may not have the best first quarter, but God has provided us a Reset button, to have a brand new start.
I would like to share with you how I start my day right, and it may work for you.
1. Be Thankful for the countless blessings
Start with a prayer, and instead of focusing things that you want God to fulfill in your life, you may want to focus on the things that God has already fulfilled in your life, the countless blessings!
Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
I’m very thankful for a loving family 🙂
2. Exercise and Eat Right
I just had my workout this morning! And It feeeelss good, I feel sexier than before 🙂
3. Flee from temptations
Focus on finishing your planned tasks for the day, don’t be tempted and feel guilty afterwards.
4. Show some kindness
After my workout, I had breakfast in a Pares resto nearby and saw the cook provided food to the street children, and that melts my heart! That reminds me to love our neighbor!
Mark 12:31
5. Plan something exciting or learn something new!
Sometimes we are so busy, and so tired of doing the same thing over and over again, planning something exciting and learning something new, may help us break the monotony! I plan to learn how to sing this month, and will be enrolling in Center for Pop, this will be exciting 🙂
I got this comment from a great friend about the article Birds of the Same Feather, she has a point! A different perspective of it.
“Nice article… how can you explain Jesus’ association with the prostitutes and the least of the society? If you think you are dealing with negative people, infect them with your positive attitude, you wouldn’t know you might be sent by God to lead them. And if you think you’re work is done in their life, you can move on… like how best it is for people when you are not with them.” by Janis
And Birds of the Same Feather might lead to Poor gets Poorer and Negative People becomes more Negative, until someone, a leader that has the passion to help and break the chain.
When I was in Osaka, I saw a group of ladies dressed up almost like Sailor Moon complete with poster, speaker and microphone singing in the street… Nope, they are not beggars, if that’s what you’re thinking, hehe!
They are self promoting. I admire their courage, and I should learn from them. I’m sure all of us have talents and gifts from God, but sometimes some of us tend to hold back because of fear of getting rejected, fear of failure or fear of failing again.
In my journey, I was very courageous at one time, ran a 42KM marathon, climbed one of the tallest mountain, provided training to hundreds of people and left a high paying job to start a business. I feel great!
but because of challenges along the way, unmet expectations, and disappointing results weakened the courage inside of me, and lowered my self-esteem. And during these times I’ve learned a valuable lesson to overcome it and bring back that courage inside of me!
My lesson on bringing back the courage inside of me.
Forgive yourself and don’t blame others
Put a deadline to the pain
Take a bath, play a classical music on comp. and drink a chamomile tea and relax
Browse through your previous achievements
Have a gratitude heart, I’m sure you have a lot of blessings
Talk to God, not to complain but to thank him for the blessings
And just let it go
Feeling the pain means you are human, and it’s natural, but dwelling on the pain is not going to help. Overcome it! Bring back that courage inside of you. Live a happy and productive life.