Yesteday, I had an interesting experience with our Epiphany Community at SC DJJ. This is a ministry in which we share the love of Jesus Christ with incarerated youth. A friend of ours presented a program on the power of our words. Before words are spoken, however, they are thoughts. So the question to ask is where do thoughts come from? We cannot experience them with any of our five senses. They are first recognized by our brain. As my 4 1/2 year-old grandson said the other day, "Nana, it's all about the brain." How true this is.
When we consider that God simply spoke and all of creation came to be, we can start to consider the power in thoughts and words. If we but look at recent history, we can see some amazing examples of how thoughts become words which set into motion the actions that produced powerful results. An example is President John F. Kennedy's speech describing his vision of a man on the moon before the end of the decade. As a result, others caught the vision, and we just celebrated the 40th anniversary of that feat.
Another example is Martin Luther King, Jr. The civil rights movement itself started as a thought which became words, which ignited the vision and determination of a nation to end segregation and foster equal rights for all people. This is powerful stuff resulting from thoughts. I mentioned some positive examples but there have been negative examples as well. One of the most horrible of course was the Holocaust. Angry, hate-filled thoughts resulted in the murder of millions of people.
Reflecting on how powerful our words can be should cause us to examine our thoughts before turning them into spoken words. Our thoughts come from the people we associate with, the books we read, and the movies we watch. With this in mind, we really need to take great care that we associate with people who we admire and who speak the truth. Also, we must fill our minds, from which our thougts emerge, with material that results in growth and abundance. Focusing on positive, loving ideas begets thoughts of speaking and acting in loving and positive ways.
There are plenty of negative words resulting in fear, anger, and isolation in the world today. Since I have freedom to control what I think and say, I choose to fill my mind with powerful, positive thougts. A powerful example of positive thoughts resulting in a powerful result occurred just this past week at a conference sponsored by our company, Liberty League International. Erik Wahl was a speaker there who paints as he speaks. As a result, he produced some lovely paintings. Three people were admiring the paintings and thinking how wonderful they would be to own. Then one had a thought about using them to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She shared the thought and a project took form. 2 days later, the paintings were auctioned with $179,034 being raised and donated to Make-a-Wish of Hawaii.
For a thought to become powerful, it must be shared and acted upon. Then miracles can happen. Let's all be grateful for thoughts, words, and the wisdom to share those that are beneficial. "A wise man's heart guides his mouth and makes his lips persuasive." Proverbs 16:23 Lets all celebrate our ability to impact the world in a powerfully abundant way by our thoughts and words.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Socialism Does Not Favor Abundance
I received an interesting email this morning about socialism. It seems an economics professor challenged a class on the viability of socialism. Young, idealistic minds like to think that sharing equally by taking from the rich and giving to the poor will fix everything. To prove this does not happen, he assigned grades along socialistic lines. All test grades were averaged and every student received the same grade. After the first test, everyone got a B. They all received a D after the second test and an F after the third. Working hard to achieve more was no longer beneficial so no one did it. As a result, all failed and no one was happy. The professor had an abundance of A's at his disposal but they had to be earned.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Mark 14:7, to be precise. Jesus told his disciples "You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me." Good News Bible There are some key words in this verse: always, want, and can. There will always be poor people. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes poor people indeed need our help. Jesus gave us the free will to choose who to help and when. In my experience this works far better than forced aid by taxation, or stealing from the rich to give to the poor by the government.
Some people are actually poor by choice. Haven't you heard people say they can't get married or earn more money because they will lose their welfare or social security income? As long as people perceive they deserve to be paid regardless of their productivity, many will choose to be unproductive. And when the productive realize that no matter how hard they work, what they earn will be taken from them and given to those who do nothing, they will lose their ambition. And where is a society when people are no longer motivated to be creative and productive?
Please note that I believe in missions and giving to those with burdens that are too great for them to carry. A good example is Katrina Relief along the U.S. gulf coast. People were hard hit by a natural disaster and needed all the help they could get to rebuid their homes and lives. The last time I was there, however, I saw some examples of people who were not helping themselves but complaining about the government. It actually put a negative thought in the minds of many volunteers who were using their vacation time, money, and energy to be of assistance only to be met with ingratitude. Right now I have a choice about where to go on my next mission.
I have this choice because right now I have the time and resources to be self-directed and spirit-led. If the government strips me of these resources and loses them in a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, does anyone really benefit? This has happened along the gulf coast. Are there still people there who really need our help? Of course there are. Many didn't qualify for government funds the first time around for whatever reason. In fact every volunteer agency has paid social workers who take applications, fill our forms, and continually follow up to see what help is available and when. And everyone has become despondent because the government proved frustrating to both the poor and those who would like to help them.
You see, the residents there and the volunteers from out of state no longer see themselves and their hard work as the solution. So, I ask you. Are we all better off in a system where everyone has the potential to achieve an A? Or are we as a society better served when no one is allowed an A becaue all must receive the same grade? Remember, socialism does not favor abundance for anyone.
This reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Mark 14:7, to be precise. Jesus told his disciples "You will always have poor people with you, and any time you want to, you can help them. But you will not always have me." Good News Bible There are some key words in this verse: always, want, and can. There will always be poor people. There are various reasons for this. Sometimes poor people indeed need our help. Jesus gave us the free will to choose who to help and when. In my experience this works far better than forced aid by taxation, or stealing from the rich to give to the poor by the government.
Some people are actually poor by choice. Haven't you heard people say they can't get married or earn more money because they will lose their welfare or social security income? As long as people perceive they deserve to be paid regardless of their productivity, many will choose to be unproductive. And when the productive realize that no matter how hard they work, what they earn will be taken from them and given to those who do nothing, they will lose their ambition. And where is a society when people are no longer motivated to be creative and productive?
Please note that I believe in missions and giving to those with burdens that are too great for them to carry. A good example is Katrina Relief along the U.S. gulf coast. People were hard hit by a natural disaster and needed all the help they could get to rebuid their homes and lives. The last time I was there, however, I saw some examples of people who were not helping themselves but complaining about the government. It actually put a negative thought in the minds of many volunteers who were using their vacation time, money, and energy to be of assistance only to be met with ingratitude. Right now I have a choice about where to go on my next mission.
I have this choice because right now I have the time and resources to be self-directed and spirit-led. If the government strips me of these resources and loses them in a quagmire of bureaucratic red tape, does anyone really benefit? This has happened along the gulf coast. Are there still people there who really need our help? Of course there are. Many didn't qualify for government funds the first time around for whatever reason. In fact every volunteer agency has paid social workers who take applications, fill our forms, and continually follow up to see what help is available and when. And everyone has become despondent because the government proved frustrating to both the poor and those who would like to help them.
You see, the residents there and the volunteers from out of state no longer see themselves and their hard work as the solution. So, I ask you. Are we all better off in a system where everyone has the potential to achieve an A? Or are we as a society better served when no one is allowed an A becaue all must receive the same grade? Remember, socialism does not favor abundance for anyone.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Spiritual Health Reflects True Abundance
The third component of health is as vitally important as the first two. Spiritual health is a little more difficult to define and describe than either physical or mental. There are physicians and other practitioners for these but how do you define and receive treatment for spiritual health? Some people are actually afraid to discuss or consider how important our spiritual well-being actually is.
In a secular world that is very focused on political correctness, poeple are very wary of expressing beliefs in the Divine. We have become so conditioned not to offend anyone, that we are no longer sure if it is actually okay to believe in a Divine Creator who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. I'm sure my upbringing has a lot to do with it, but I have no doubts that each of us was divinely planned and created. How could someone as wonderful and complex as humans, animals, plants or any part of creation, have appeared accidentally?
So spiritual health is connecting with the Divine being that created us, inspires us, and desires a connection with us and other created beings. The first step to spiritual health is getting quiet and letting your subconscious mind connect the spiritual realm with your conscious physical realm. This exercise is known as meditation or prayer. Too often people think prayer is speaking to our creator when it is also being quiet and listening for a spiritual message. This is so important for getting to the essence of our being. This is where we connect with our passions and purpose.
Just like physical and mental illnesses have symptoms, so does spiritual illness. In the Christian tradition, which is where my beliefs center, we often refer to the fruits of the spirit. These "fruits" are very powerful emotions which I hear people describe often. Having them confers spiritual health while lacking any of them leaves one spiritually empty. These "fruits" are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. "There is no law against such as these." Galatians 5:23
As we end this third component of health, think about how each affects the other. The most important emotion I use to bring about health is gratitude. As Andy Andrews says, "The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart." So to begin developing health, and especially, spiritual health, write down ten things you are grateful for. Didn't that feel good? Being alive and having air to breathe is a gift. May you find ways to improve your health and live happier more fulfilled each day.
To your abundant health,
Sandra Hayes
In a secular world that is very focused on political correctness, poeple are very wary of expressing beliefs in the Divine. We have become so conditioned not to offend anyone, that we are no longer sure if it is actually okay to believe in a Divine Creator who loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. I'm sure my upbringing has a lot to do with it, but I have no doubts that each of us was divinely planned and created. How could someone as wonderful and complex as humans, animals, plants or any part of creation, have appeared accidentally?
So spiritual health is connecting with the Divine being that created us, inspires us, and desires a connection with us and other created beings. The first step to spiritual health is getting quiet and letting your subconscious mind connect the spiritual realm with your conscious physical realm. This exercise is known as meditation or prayer. Too often people think prayer is speaking to our creator when it is also being quiet and listening for a spiritual message. This is so important for getting to the essence of our being. This is where we connect with our passions and purpose.
Just like physical and mental illnesses have symptoms, so does spiritual illness. In the Christian tradition, which is where my beliefs center, we often refer to the fruits of the spirit. These "fruits" are very powerful emotions which I hear people describe often. Having them confers spiritual health while lacking any of them leaves one spiritually empty. These "fruits" are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. "There is no law against such as these." Galatians 5:23
As we end this third component of health, think about how each affects the other. The most important emotion I use to bring about health is gratitude. As Andy Andrews says, "The seeds of depression cannot take root in a grateful heart." So to begin developing health, and especially, spiritual health, write down ten things you are grateful for. Didn't that feel good? Being alive and having air to breathe is a gift. May you find ways to improve your health and live happier more fulfilled each day.
To your abundant health,
Sandra Hayes
Monday, June 22, 2009
How To Achieve Mental Health
Mental health isn't quite as obvious as physical health. It can't be measured by a weight scale or a lab test. However, it is readily observable by behavior and emotions. The ideal mental health is self-confident and positive. It is knowing one is living in accord with the natural order of the universe. It does not require absolute physical health but simply an awareness of well-being.
In addition to self-confidence, mental health is knowing that all is well in spite of any external conditions, and especially in spite of imagined conditions. Most things that disturb a person's mental health and "peace" are imagined rather than real. Right now we are driving to Gainesville, Florida, at 78 miles per hour. There are many things I could imagine might happen that would be frightening. I'm not even going to begin thinking about them because then they will be planted in my subconscious. At the very least, they would be disturbing, and at the very worst, my focusing on them could actually bring them to pass.
As a nurse, I realize there are disorders attributed to chemical imbalances. As a result, chemicals have been created to hopefully correct those problems. If you watch television, which I don't advise if mental health is the goal, you will be bombarded with advertisements that treat everything from depression to erectile dysfunction. Even if you didn't realize you had these disorders, these commercials will have you wondering about them and possibly even developing them as a result of focusing on them.
Mental health, rather mental illness, is big business. As a business person,I'm all for product development and profit margins. However, successful businesses create a desire for their products. That's how advertising works. We realize there is something out there that we don't have but that would somehow make our lives better. This is also true for mental health. We know that regular aerobic exercise, like jogging or even walking, causes our brains to release chemicals called endorphins. We also know there are many physical benefits to physical exercise as well. So, why not take some personal responsibility and try this remedy before scheduling a doctor's appointment to request a medication you think you need to help you feel happier?
I am not negating true mental illnesses. I'm just pointing out that we were created for health and wellness as our natural state. The human race has survived for thousands of years without the need for artificial chemicals to create this state of health. Normal is common. Abnormal is uncommon. So take a few minutes to look inside yourself. Are you happy or unhappy? Are you confident? Do you enjoy your work and your life? Are you willing to take responsibility for your situation and do the simple things that we know make us healthier and happier.
Our relationships, both personal and professional, either make us happier or unhappier. The same is true of our jobs and hobbies. Our natural state is to be creative and productive. We were put here to bring increase to ourselves and others. It is our responsibility to realize this and take action to be in a state of increase rather than stagnation or even decrease. It is these last two that rob us of happiness, self-confidence, and mental wellness. Feel free to contact me to learn more about how to achieve mental health.
To your abundance of wellness.
Sandra Hayes
http://AchieveProsperityToday.com
In addition to self-confidence, mental health is knowing that all is well in spite of any external conditions, and especially in spite of imagined conditions. Most things that disturb a person's mental health and "peace" are imagined rather than real. Right now we are driving to Gainesville, Florida, at 78 miles per hour. There are many things I could imagine might happen that would be frightening. I'm not even going to begin thinking about them because then they will be planted in my subconscious. At the very least, they would be disturbing, and at the very worst, my focusing on them could actually bring them to pass.
As a nurse, I realize there are disorders attributed to chemical imbalances. As a result, chemicals have been created to hopefully correct those problems. If you watch television, which I don't advise if mental health is the goal, you will be bombarded with advertisements that treat everything from depression to erectile dysfunction. Even if you didn't realize you had these disorders, these commercials will have you wondering about them and possibly even developing them as a result of focusing on them.
Mental health, rather mental illness, is big business. As a business person,I'm all for product development and profit margins. However, successful businesses create a desire for their products. That's how advertising works. We realize there is something out there that we don't have but that would somehow make our lives better. This is also true for mental health. We know that regular aerobic exercise, like jogging or even walking, causes our brains to release chemicals called endorphins. We also know there are many physical benefits to physical exercise as well. So, why not take some personal responsibility and try this remedy before scheduling a doctor's appointment to request a medication you think you need to help you feel happier?
I am not negating true mental illnesses. I'm just pointing out that we were created for health and wellness as our natural state. The human race has survived for thousands of years without the need for artificial chemicals to create this state of health. Normal is common. Abnormal is uncommon. So take a few minutes to look inside yourself. Are you happy or unhappy? Are you confident? Do you enjoy your work and your life? Are you willing to take responsibility for your situation and do the simple things that we know make us healthier and happier.
Our relationships, both personal and professional, either make us happier or unhappier. The same is true of our jobs and hobbies. Our natural state is to be creative and productive. We were put here to bring increase to ourselves and others. It is our responsibility to realize this and take action to be in a state of increase rather than stagnation or even decrease. It is these last two that rob us of happiness, self-confidence, and mental wellness. Feel free to contact me to learn more about how to achieve mental health.
To your abundance of wellness.
Sandra Hayes
http://AchieveProsperityToday.com
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Here's To Your Health
This is part 1 of a series on health. Having been a registered nurse since 1976, I have seen many changes in the field of health care. Most of the people I encountered professionally were seeking sick care rather than healthcare. It seems to me that people are not willing to take responsibility for where they are in life. Healthcare is no different. People would rather be at the effect of outside influences instead of being at cause for their own health. If I can assist one person in changing their perspective on this, my efforts will be rewarded.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
It's interesting to note that nurses are among the top trusted professionals in the United States. I feel honored by this trust and seek to uphold it with all I say and do. For this reason, everything I share will be something I truly believe with all my knowledge, wisdom, and experience. What is the most important health concern to people today? Is it cancer or such chronic illnesses as arthritis? I invite comments to this blog to assist with this answer.
From my observations, I would say that failure to take responsibility for their own condition is the number one healthcare issue. Ignoring advice about diet, exercise, and weight control contributes to all kinds of problems including the 2 mentioned above.
You can rest assured that I am not immune to these issues either! As part of my own overall goal to improve my health, I plan to lose 12 pounds in the next 6 months. Wii Fit is assisting me with this. We all need a coach of some sort to challenge us and hold us accountable. To achieve this goal of course, I must think about what fuel I put into my body. As with any goal, every action I take is either taking me closer to the goal or moving me farther away from it. Can you guess which category a Dunkin donut falls into?
Ask yourself what benefits you can expect from improving your health. Having more energy and stamina as well as looking better are adequate motivators for me. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but if it were simple, wouldn't everyone be doing it? My goal with this blog is simply to help you take a look at your own health and focus on some realistic changes you can make to feel better and enjoy life more.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
How To Honor God With Our Words
The moment we recognize where all our blessings come from, we feel grateful and humble, right? I cannot name one single thing in the universe that I personally created. Any thought or talent I may have comes from my creator, not from me. So what gives me the right to feel superior to anyone or anything? We are all created equal in the sight of God.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
Our pastor, Jody Flowers, gave us the most amazing message in church this morning. And Jody was simply the messenger, since his message came straight from God. The Scripture verse he based his sermon on was Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Jody said that the Greek word for unwholesome translates as unfit for use or rotten.
To become more aware of our words, Jody challenged us to have a Fast of Negative Words for the next 14 days. As an avid student of personal development, I am well aware of the power of our words. Words and the way they are used carry a lot of weight whether spoken by ourselves or others. We know this because all of us can remember instances where someone's words hurt us deeply - may even have caused us major self-doubt.
Before I speak, I plan to ask myself the following questions: "Is what I am about to say helpful to others?" and "How can I say what I'm about to say to build this person up?" I don't have to be right nor do I have to always speak the truth - only if my words can be of service to the other person. It's never about what I need to say but rather about what they need to hear. Sometimes people need to hear that they need to improve in certain areas. I am obliged to tell them so in a manner that is helpful to them.
The final three things Jody told us to remember are to ask for the other person's input in the conversation so they know we care about them. Secondly, we are to compliment often - we all do better when we feel loved and esteemed by someone. And finally, we are to exhort sparingly. One thing I would like to add is that we should also use these principles when talking to ourselves. We can correct ourselves in a loving way too. I use affirmations everyday to feel empowered in my life.
In closing, I am reminded of a sentence I have often told my husband of 32 years, "When I need love the most is when I deserve it the least." Think about this and see if you think this same statement holds true for everyone. I am grateful and blessed by the words I heard and shared today. I pray that you are as well.
Have an abundant week.
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