Monday, June 16, 2014

The Secret to Reaching your Fullest Potential

As you may already know, I typically write my Monday blog post on Sunday nights unless something interrupts that routine like a business trip, my crazy schedule, or a holiday..... in this case it was Father's day that led me to wait until tonight. I am happy however, because I was not really sure what I was going to write about and just as it often does (because everything happens on purpose) the delay did me good. Tonight, as I read Abrielle one of her favorite bedtime stories, I was inspired with this blog topic. So.... as I sit here with Pandora "classic lounge radio" piping through my headphones as I type, I deliver to you a little secret.

How many times in your life have you wondered "why me"? How many times have you looked at the people around you and felt that they were much better off than you as you struggle through every single day, every financial woe, jump every hurdle and exhaust all your efforts to gain what you feel is a bunch of nothing? We have all been there at some point, maybe more points than we care to admit. I can certainly share that I lived that way for many years. I had direction in my mind and even had my written plan of how it would all happen but doors would shut and waves came crashing; yet something inside of me kept making me get back up... a drive, an ambition, a will to continue on ran deep in my veins just as it does today. Today, however, I look at things very differently... I realize that every hurdle is a gift that will lead me to the greatness that is meant for me just as it is for every single one of us if we merely pay attention.

As I read my daughter that story tonight, I smiled as I do every time I read this particular book because the moral behind  it regardless of what you faithfully believe is so true. The name of the book is called "Hermie" the Common Caterpillar written by Max Lucado. In the story there are two common caterpillars; Hermie and Wormie and they are living life feeling very common. What they do that is not common is that they talk to God. In the story Hermie and Wormie often wonder why they are so common and ordinary and continuously ask God why they are. Each time they talk with God, God tells them that He is not finished with them yet and tells them to be patient. This answer makes them happy each time until they come across some creature who is more beautiful or has something more extraordinary than them and then they question everything again. God continues to tell them not to worry.

How often do we size ourselves up against things that surround us, comparing our worth to that of what we see others accomplishing? It's normal, but it also stops many people from reaching their fullest potential, it is exactly what causes so many to simply give up hope. This is exactly what kept me running in circles for years. All of us have this "explosion" inside of us that needs to happen, that we want to happen, that CAN happen, but we stifle it by comparing our lives to the lives of others, by wanting more and not appreciating the blessings and talents that we already have, and then giving up when we think that we will never become something extraordinary.

The story continues...

Finally, after several feelings of disappointment that he is just a common and ordinary caterpillar, questioning God about his intentions, Hermie has a heart to heart with God one night and tells Him that it's okay he is just a common caterpillar... and that because He loves him, he realizes that alone makes him special.

How many of you can stop right now, in all your chaos, disappointment and strife and accept yourself for who you are and realize that you too are special regardless of it all?

And so the story ends....

Hermie goes to sleep after his talk with God that night with peace and acceptance in his heart and overnight God blesses Hermie with all that he has ever hoped for. As Hermie wakes the next morning he is in a cocoon and as he wiggles out of it, beautiful, colorful new wings spread... for he has now become a beautiful butterfly. He quickly flies to show and tell his friend Wormie that God wasn't finished with him after all and his friend cannot believe how beautiful Hermie has become and with this Wormie finds hope that he too will become a beautiful butterfly.

You don't have to believe in God to get this message or to understand the moral of this story. Whether you think it is God, the universe or simply a coincidence.... we can all be beautiful butterflies. However, life must often humble us before we can reach our fullest potential. I was completely humbled back in 2005 and with that also came the beginning of my renewal in faith. Since then, I have grown so much, more and more each year, and I am now sharing hope with others through my writing, mentoring and speaking... for my wings have been revealed.

I hope that this blog makes you think, that it inspires you to change a little, or a lot. I hope that it helps humble you so that your wings can spread too allowing you to soar high above anything you have ever dreamed of. For until you have reached your fullest potential... you are not finished.... you have more to become and I encourage you to simply go after it.

Wishing you a productive and positive week. See you next Monday!

xoxo

Shells

                                                          
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Monday, June 9, 2014

If I Were More Like Most....

Hello blog... hello friends, I have missed you. It's been two crazy weeks! Between my busy schedule and life happening, I had to forfeit blogging. With the warm Florida sun comes seasonal allergies and having two seasonal asthmatic kids, a season change means flare ups. As a result, Abrielle ended up in the hospital last week with double pneumonia... (which by the way was also the last week of school)  It was triggered by her allergies and an odd string of the flu. I felt so blessed and fortunate to be able to be there by her side the entire time. I knew I could pick back up where I left off when things calmed down. I continued to post on all my social media pages and sites so you would not be left without, so hopefully you follow me there too. I'm always sad when I cannot deliver on my commitments, but it happens to us all and we simply must prioritize.

After an exhausting week, I sat down and watched a movie tonight... one that turned out to be incredible! Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close truly exceeded my expectations! Then, of course, it inspired me with a thought provoking blog topic. I related to the young boy in the movie so much, he was searching for answers... for hope, that maybe his father left him something... a clue to what happened and why. I got so choked up as he practically went crazy on this search to find what he hoped would give him peace. Although I am not sure how old the boy was in the movie... I remembered me as that young little girl who lost her sister and everything she knew and then reflected on how my life unfolded afterwards. It really was an incredible movie for so many reasons; if you have not seen it, I highly recommend it!

Life is really short, you must truly hold onto every awesome moment, every meaningful word, gesture, or person that comes into your life. Cherish what you have and never stop going after what you want in life. Hug your kids, your spouse, your parents, your siblings, your friends, and tell them how much you love them EVERY DAY even if it's in a text or on Facebook. We are never promised tomorrow and as cliche as that may sound after hearing it SOOO many times, we still need the reminder that we are not invincible, we are not here forever and we need to be conscious of what we will leave behind when we are gone.

You can never truthfully say that one person cannot make such a significant difference with their words and actions that they will be remembered for years and years after their death. Too many people have come and gone in this world who have spent their whole lives using the gifts that they were given to inspire, impress a message or feeling upon others to help them. Many and most were shunned, made fun of, ridiculed and called strange only to be celebrated and quoted for years after their death; at some point the ridicule lessens and they prove to be an inspiration to others.

We never forget the extraordinary ones, the ones that never gave up, the ones that were consistently "different", the square pegs, the misfits, the ones that discovered their purpose, their passions and did everything they could to share with others what they have learned along their long and windy path. You see... without people that are willing to do what you are not willing to do, you would never know the meaning of significance.

So I ask you today... how significant are you? Are you willing to do what others won't in order to make a difference? Are you hopeful that you can change peoples lives in a positive way or are you the one who wants to sit on the sidelines quietly? Are you willing to stand up for what you believe in or take a stand for what you are passionate about?

I am, and all of you have it in you to do the same. It may not be something that will yield you a huge income... but it CAN be significant and you CAN make a difference in someone's life no matter how uninspiring you feel. When I sat down to write my book, I did not "feel" inspiring... I felt deflated, depleted, lost and defeated. Ironically being in that spot allowed me to be vulnerable and to just pour out my heart and be REAL with people, to be raw and full of emotion and it ended up being the very reason it has inspired so many people now. Humility became my lesson and with that lesson came the biggest growth spurt and peacefulness I had ever had and it is awesome. It was not about me anymore, it was not about MY success or MY winning the prize or proving something to the world about me; it became about what I could do for others. It became about making people laugh, smile, cry, think, or change. My life shifted at that moment and has been in high gear ever since.

If I were more like most, I would be ordinary, I would be unwilling to do more, sacrifice more, and seek more in order to have more; not more things... not more money, but simply more impact. For me, being like most is not an option, I choose to be as significant as I can be, as extraordinary as I was meant to become and to use every single gift and form of knowledge that I have gained to better the lives of others. I hope that no matter how insignificant you may feel , that you realize that you have gifts to share; experiences that would inspire others. I DARE you to discover them, to use them,  and to be humbled by them.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL week...
xoxo

Shells

                                                          
I HOPE THAT YOU WILL:

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