Failure-Stealing from Midas

I have spent the last couple of weeks feeling like a failure...a failure at being a business owner, a failure at being a friend, a failure at being a Christian, a failure at being as healthy as I could be. It has just been an all encompassing time of failure.

But as I mull over these feelings of failure it got me thinking...

What truly makes a failure?

One of the definitions I found for failure is "falling short." This made me wonder, how many of us feel like we fall short on a daily basis?

I know I do.

But I think the only time we truly fall short is when we give up. So I may have spent the month of December feeling like everything I touched turned to crap (as opposed to that delightful Midas who turned everything to gold.)

However, I think that we can't truly call ourselves failures unless we quit trying. Because in the midst of failure may come a morsel of success.

Because ultimately, all of us will fall short. We aren't perfect, we are human. I worship a perfect God because I know how much I fall short. But that doesn't mean I am going to just roll over and play dead. I am going to choose to continue to move forward, wade through this season of crap and hopefully come out strong on the other end.

Hopefully you will too.

Besides Midas turned his daughter to gold...who wants to be like that idiot anyway:)

Helping Others

Many people spend the holidays feeling alone or frustrated. Some feel that they haven't accomplished what they wanted this year. Others feel lonely or grief stricken over the loss of a loved one. While this time can be devastating, it doesn't have to be.

I have noticed that when I am looking inward at what I haven't done and feeling frustrated over relationships; serving others will help me remember what I'm here for. Someone once told me that the most emotional healthy people are those who are passionately involved with helping others.

I agree.

Because when you buy clothes for a family in need, mentor someone or buy a cup of coffee for a hurting friend all of a sudden what was once devastating doesn't hurt so badly. In fact, life looks brighter and more joyful. All of a sudden, your sadness can be channeled into something positive.

So take some time and figure out how to give back to someone today. Believe me, it will change your life.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive" Acts 20:35b

Why Gratitude Changes Everything

It’s amazing how much gratitude can do for a person’s emotional health. I spent the weekend with family members discussing how many things there have been to be thankful for this year and I realized something; even on the worst day of my life, I am blessed.

It’s easy to get caught up in the land of “not enough” We start focusing on all the things we don’t have and all the areas of our lives that we haven’t accomplished what we wanted. Today I challenge you to step away from the burden of inadequacy and focus on all the things to be thankful for.

Did you get to spend your holidays with family and/or friends who care about you? Do you have a job that pays your bills? Do you have arms and legs and the ability to walk? As the weather moves closer and closer to a blistering cold, do you get to go home to a nice warm home or apartment?

Many people would kill for one tenth of the blessings that the average American takes for granted on a daily basis.

So today, make a list of all the things to be grateful for and see if it doesn’t bring a little more joy to your heart.

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie

Why Relationships Are Vital to Emotional Health

The last few days I have noticed that I have been smiling more. I have taken more joy in the little things. I have rested. But more importantly, I have spent the last couple of days catching up with some friends. Sometimes in the midst of our busy lives we can forget how important relationships are to our emotional health.

No person was meant to get through life on their own. Friendships provide laughter and happiness. Good friends allow you to be yourself, quirky parts and all. Investing in relationships brings rest…a resounding sigh of relief that yes, you are ok and no matter how successful or unsuccessful you are, your friends love you.

Take time today to invest in some relationships; remembering that your heart was not meant to be secluded inside a box, but rather shared with those who are blessed enough to know the real you.

Owning Your Inner Geekiness

Why do we ever pretend to be someone that we are not? Everyone has a little bit of a geek side to them, whether it’s a desire to dress up like Harry Potter, an affinity for “Dr. Who” or a love for comic book conventions. My ode to geekiness involves reading fan fiction from the show “Castle.”

Owning your geekiness is what makes you unique. By allowing others to see the things that get you excited but may not seem “cool” you are letting people into the real you. Stop trying to be what someone else wants you to be. Freedom comes from letting the world see everything, comic book collection and all. You may even find that you make new some friends that can “geek out” with you on the thing that you love to talk about in your free time.

So put on your Dr. Spock ears and let the geek hang out. After all, if you don’t represent you…who will?

Besides being cool is soooo 2010.

Sometimes You Just Have to Rap About It

Have you ever had those weeks where it just seems like everything is going wrong? Family problems, money problems, work problems all raise their ugly head. During these times a part of me longs for my elementary years when my biggest issue was choosing between a Barbie or a Strawberry Shortcake lunch box.

When the problems of an adult life grab on and refuse to let go, sometimes it’s helpful to revert back to something that makes you feel young again. I choose to break out into a rap song (even though my street cred landed somewhere along Park Avenue). It helps pull me out of myself and remember that life should be fun and adventurous. Stop caring what other people think about you. Dance around your room, sing a song, or go down the slide backwards. Try to remember all of the things that brought you joy when you were young. Being an adult shouldn’t be all about problems. Rather it should provide an opportunity to experience greater joy because we have gotten a chance to conquer setbacks. Now it’s just time to rap about what we have accomplished.

Word!

Battling Winter Blues

“Ugh, I just don’t want to leave the house,” becomes the cry of many people when the weather goes from sunny and warm to dark and gloomy. When the snow and rain starts to pummel the outside, how do you keep yourself emotionally healthy? Protecting your emotional health becomes essential during the winter season when every part of you just wants to go to sleep and wake up when 60 degree weather comes back.

Start a Project
Have you been meaning to organize those pictures from last summer’s family reunion into a scrapbook? What about that closet that you have been meaning to clean? Starting a project when the weather gets bad will cause your brain to become engaged in something meaningful and allow you to feel as though you have accomplished something of importance.

Get Coffee With a Friend
Catching up with friends during this time will allow you to engage in relationships and continue to feel connected with people. A conversation with a good friend can lift the mood and cause you to become more productive in other areas of your life.

Find A Fun Winter Activity
Snowboarding, cross-country skiing and ice-skating all offer examples of activities that can help you maintain your exercise during the winter. Trying a new activity may help you gain an appreciation for the winter. You may find yourself looking forward to the season where you can engage in your newfound fun.

Turn On The Lights
Many people can become depressed during the winter simply because of lack of light. Open your window shades, sit next to a lamp, or start a fire in the fireplace. The lights will help lift your mood.