GROWING THROUGH LIFE CHALLENGES

When we face life challenges , we must find a way not only to survive them, but in time, to actually grow from them. We must find a way to keep on keeping on, no matter how hard or painful life becomes. As a result we can avoid getting "stuck" and live life in spite of our circumstances.
It may be a difficult time in your life right now, and it may take a significant amount of time to make progress, but if you start right where you are, and just concentrate on taking the very next step, you will eventually be able to grow through your life challenges as well.

Let me take you through these five stages to help you grow through life challenges.

1. Grieve the way you want- know what to expect . Don't ignore your grief. Don't let anyone take your grief away from you. Run to God and be determined to keep on keeping on

2. Ask God "why?"- When the pain is deep, "Why?" is the most natural question to ask. Jesus asked God why on the cross when the pain was too much to bear. God does not owe you an answer, even if He gave you an answer, you would more than likely disagree. As we search for the answer, our goal is to develop a relationship with The Answer.

3. Keep living- Never use your life challenge as a crutch, get out of bed every day. Keep up your responsibilities and relationships. Be grateful for those who are still alive in your life. Treasure the breath of life you have at this moment. Never for a second stop living because you think life hasn't treated you fairly.

4.Reach out to others- Remember the love, encouragement, and the comfort you have received. Don't be selfish, pass it on to others. It is extra meaningful to receive encouragement from others who are also hurting.  

5. Sing it loud and proud- Never waste your life challenge education. Take inventory of the treasures God has given you. Live a life of significance and impact from this day forward. Rediscover your melody. Sing through your storms like never before. Praise your way out of your troubles for you to be raised.

May we enter into the next month refreshed and strong to face all the challenges of life that awaits us and become victors and not victims of life.

LIFE CHALLENGES ARE A HIDDEN TREASURE

If life challenges are a treasure, why do very few people desire it? Why isn't everyone searching for it? When i think of treasure i think of diamonds, mansions, lots of money,etc. I wouldn't naturally think of challenges like grief, disappointment as a treasure, especially since so much pain is involved and it takes so long to complete the learning process. 
I once walked into an office of a senior housemistress and i saw this inscription on her door that says " the storms of this life is only to make us better not bitter". Since then i kept thinking about it.  I came to understand that the only thing to keep me from becoming bitter is that i understand the value of it. I hate the pain , but i have to accept that in order to experience the future blessings.
Life challenges are actually one of life's best kept secrets. If you change your perspective and learn to respond wisely to it. Don't get me wrong, I do not want to always enjoy a healthy dose of this wonderful secret and if i could experience these benefits in another way other than enduring challenges i would gladly do so. But at the end of the day, it makes me a better person. And that is what life is all about.
Challenges grow opportunities like none other and always focus your time and energy on the things that matter and not waste time or opportunities. Always make the most out of it when they come your way.

BEWARE HARMING YOUR 'PERSONAL BRAND' ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that on August 27th, “1 in 7 people on earth used Facebook to connect with their friends and family” -- which means about 1 billion people in a single day.

It's a startling statistic and it means human connectivity is evolving at an exponential rate. It also means that when we are online someone, somewhere is watching what we’re doing, what were saying and what we’re posting.

Because of the higher level of visibility social media brings to our lives, it’s important to apply the golden rules of etiquette, manners and respect to your online life just as you do in real life, helping ensure you build and maintain your personal and professional brand now and into the future.

TMI – too much information?: Social media is the perfect vehicle for the narcissist in all of us, with many users believing that we are the stars of our own little movie.

But that doesn’t mean we are and not everyone is interested in the minutiae of our daily lives. Whether lamenting about missing out on the perfect parking space at the grocery store or sharing intimate secrets of a broken relationship, the simple fact of the matter is, no one really cares to read the constant details of your daily life.

So do yourself a favor and edit your postings before updating by asking yourself, “Is this an important detail that my friends and family (and their friends and family) really need to know or is it TMI?”

Negativity: No one likes a 'Debbie Downer' and online negativity can adversely influence both your personal and professional relationships.

On personal social networks like Facebook and Twitter, posting negative comments online can be viewed as passive aggressive or simply mean-spirited.

On professional platforms like LinkedIn, any postings that portray you as anything less than calm, cool and collected should never see the light of day.

Further, more and more companies routinely search personal and professional social sites as part of background checks for prospective employees (and to check up on current ones). You don’t want any negative posting that could brand you as uncooperative, uncollaborative or simply uncool.

Picture Imperfect: If a picture is worth a thousand words, an unflattering upload could paint you into a corner. Whether you’re chugging a bottle of champagne at your sister’s wedding or showing a bit too much skin in a party dress, an inappropriate photo can come back to haunt you.

So before you hit upload in Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat, think hard about what a particular photo can do to enhance or detract from your image.

We live in a culturally diverse world and social media puts us into contact with a host of people who may not share our same views on religion, social issues, politics or intellectual interests.

Variety is truly the spice of life, but not everyone has the same tastes. So even if you have a strong opinion about a particular issue or belief, you may want to consider saving your thoughts for the appropriate audience in real time to ensure they do not come across online as discriminatory or inflammatory, particularly in regards to race, gender, religion, sexuality and other hot button issues.

By showing cross-cultural respect and tempering your comments, you can leave an impression that extends way beyond an ill-conceived, reactive rant.

SOUCE: www.reuters.com

(editing by Michael Roddy)

BE LESS BITTER, MORE CONTENT

Do you ever catch yourself starting sentences with the phrase " just my luck"? Do you see yourself as doomed? Are you a brooder over past failures? Do critical comments from other people linger long in your memory? Do you feel cheated in life? Are you surrounded by other people whose lives are carefree and easy?

The extract from all the above is a bitter bile that sits in your belly and wells up your throat. If you are looking for an expecting disappointments and brokenness and failure in your life, you will find them every time. The amount simply depends on the time you spend looking. In our broken and sinful world, there is plenty everywhere. If you approach life with that mind-set, however, you will make yourself miserable and probably others too. "see to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many" ( Hebrews 12:"15)

If on the other hand you go about looking for gifts from God, boosts and treats and blessings, you will find them too. If you look for kind and decent people, daily guidance from the Word, and assurance of your worth and value to God, you will find that too. If you inventory your marvelous assets from heaven more than obsess over what you don't have, you will experience a contented heart. 

DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

Psychologist Richard Carlson is given credit for this wonderful two-part advice on dealing with stress: 1. Don't sweat the small stuff. 2. It's mostly all small stuff

Most of us find ourselves getting wound up over issues that, in larger scheme of things, are not at all important. We want to badly to be right that we fry relationships to prove our point. We argue, but to what end? We hold ancient grudges, but whats the point? We assume that we are cursed, that we are doomed to have everything go wrong for us in the end. When we are looking for bad news, we can usually find it.

God has a better way. Just as he choose to forgive us, giving fresh supplies of grace and mercy each morning, he invites us to show that same bigheartedness to the 'fools'around us.
"A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense" (proverbs 19:11) We don't have to be right all the time. We don't have to point out every sin and flaw in the people around us. We can let go of the judging and trust that God will get it right in the end.
What matters is enjoying God's love for us and loving the people around us.

IT'S GOOD TO BE HUNGRY

It's good that you don't always get what you want. It's good that you have to wait, that unfulfilled longings make your heart and soul restless. It's good to be hungry.

 Well, ponder this: " The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on" (Proverbs 16:26). Think about it from God's point of view. If we were totally full and satisfied in every way, we would slow down and stop. Why work? Why exert yourself? Who needs other people?

Our needs and longings and unfulfilled desires provide the drivers to move us to grow and develop, to seek and explore, to work and toil, to need people and helpers and friends and build relationships for survival.
some degree of struggle and hardship and hunger is also good for us to remind us of our dependence on God. If we had everything, our prayers would droop and finally cease. We will not yearn and desire to put in any more effort in whatever we do.

Don't curse your struggles. Let them drive you on. Let your hunger work for you.

OVERCOME YOUR INFERIORITY COMPLEX

You will never be perfect, and neither will anyone else. Your talents and abilities, past history and circumstances, and dreams and potential are different than anyone else – and these are not liabilities, they are assets. Be you, and be proud of that! Realize that your dreams and goals don’t have to mirror the accomplishments and successes of others, nor should anyone else define what ‘dreaming big’ for you means. You ‘dream big’ for you, and remember that in order to ‘be big’ you have to stop worrying about others’ dreams and accomplishments and cease comparing your different and unique talents to theirs. 

The moment you develop the ability to not worry what others say and think about you, it is then that you have unlocked the key to achieving your potential. 

There will always be people who doubt you and your abilities – unfortunately, many of these people are your closest friends or they actually share your last name. Develop the ability to train your mind to ignore the nay-sayers, the dream-busters, and the opinions of others. 

Ironically, it is these same people who often epitomize the definition of mediocrity because they have never learned how to dream big, take risks, and put in the effort necessary to achieve their own goals and dreams.

WORRY BLINDS OPPORTUNITY

The most recent economic hardships in Ghana serves as a perfect example of masses of people unnecessarily worrying about news and events that are out of their control; all the while, a select brilliant few see the ‘doom and gloom’ as an incredible opportunity to make money and achieve success. 
These optimistic people who have not only learned how to stop worrying, but actually don’t have time for it, have realized that opportunities come before they are prepared and leave before they realize it. They likewise know that had they been worrying during those times, their minds would have been clouded and distracted which would have resulted in them not being able to see and recognize opportunities when they came. Perhaps even more importantly than not worrying – they put forth action. Seize every little opportunity and make the best out of it.

Success does not wait for anyone. Dreams are not achieved as a result of procrastination. Goals are never accomplished when idle minds and actions fill our time. The more you worry, the less you act – the less you act, the more you fail. And if part of your worrying includes the excuse that you do not have time – the reality is that you do not make time.

STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE FRUITS AND START FOCUSING ON THE ROOTS

Each of us fall victim to spending too much time thinking, dreaming, and worrying about the end result and do not put in the effort to achieve that result. That end result, or ‘fruit’ has many names: financial independence or retirement, promotion or position, award or certificate, wealth or time freedom, knowledge or talent, dream or goal being realized, etc. Like any tree, the ‘fruit’ will not be produced unless and until the ‘roots’ are nourished. Those ‘roots’ are: hard work, daily action, faith and belief, overcoming fear and doubt, persistence and never quitting. we need to cultivate the spirit of keep on keeping on. if we fail for the 1st time we shouldn't throw our hands in despair but rather take the bull by the horn and face it. we will be an inch away from success if we are able to do this. Remember quitters never win and winners never quit. The nature of your roots will determine the kind of fruits you bear. Work on a stronger root that is able to withstand any form of wind and pressure and definitely your fruits will be joy and success.

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT (2)

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I’m afraid most in life is mediocrity. For me, life is too precious to be lived in mediocrity. Life is a golden opportunity, and we should use it as good as we can. Living in mediocrity means we do not use the opportunity as good as we should.

Unfortunately, many people are trapped in mediocrity. I believe one of the main reasons is they do not dare to be different. You need to be different if you want to be above the average. The question is:

Do you dare to be different?

This question might not be easy to answer, but how you answer it will make the difference between excellence and mediocrity.

Here are some more specific questions to help you check yourself and take actions:

1. Do you have a dream?

This is the first question you should ask yourself. I believe one of the main reasons people just follow the herd is they don’t have a dream. If there is nothing to pursue then why bother being different?

But a dream is what sets you above the average. Not having a dream means going to mediocrity on autopilot.

If your answer for this first question is “no” then start searching. I’m sure you have a dream deep inside of you. It might be something from your childhood. Maybe for long time you have been too busy to let the little voice of your dream be heard. This is the right time to heed that little voice.

If you have found your dream, the next question is whether or not you have the courage to follow it. Questions two through five will deal with that.

2. Are you doing what you want or what you should?

There are often implicit “rules” about what someone should do in a particular situation. For example, when there are two job opportunities, the “rule” says that you should take the one with higher pay.

But is that what you want? I mean, does it help you achieve your dream? Maybe the job with less pay will help you achieve your dream while the one with higher pay doesn’t. Do you have the courage to be different and follow your dream?

3. Do you worry more about being loved than being what you love?

Another reason why we don’t dare to be different is because we are trying to meet other people’s expectations. We often worry more about what other people say than about what matters to us. But living someone else’s life is a bad way to live your life. Why should you lose opportunity just because of what other people say?

4. Do you choose what is safe rather than what is right?

Maybe you are not trying to meet other people’s expectation. Maybe you just don’t want to take risks and therefore you choose to play safe. But this is exactly what many old people regret. When they were asked in a study about what they regretted most and what they would do differently, most of them answered: “I wish I had risked more.” Don’t let the same regret happen to you.

5. If you had only six months left to live, would you do what you are doing now?

You can only answer “yes” to this question if what you are doing matters to you. Doing what matters to you is a sure way to excellence since you will do it with all your heart. But you need the courage to be different and follow your heart. Do you have it? I hope your answer is yes. Life is too precious to be lived in mediocrity.