How many times has your “knowledge” stopped you from achieving your dreams? I have felt for a very long time that it is our dreams which have been sacrificed in the name of reality.

Take just a moment, close your eyes and go back in your memory to your childhood. What were the things you were going to do with your life? How were you going to conquer the world, not to rule, but to change something that needed to be changed? Remember how it felt as you stood victorious and the world was a better place? What did it look like? What were the sounds all around you?

What happened?…

It is important that we remember our dreams and that we set goals and make a plan to achieve them. We need to have rewards to mark the moments of achievement. (See Marta’s blog later this week for an experience in following through on a reward when the goal was accomplished.)

Rewards do not have to be expensive. In fact, they can be as simple as a feeling of accomplishment. We have spoken before about listing each day the things we have accomplished and why we accomplished them.

Why we do what we do is so powerful! The “why” allows us to push beyond what we thought we could do and achieve all we can be.

I am currently in a pain cycle. By evening, I can hardly move because of pain. But, I still keep moving. I may need help to get out of bed; I may need my husband and son to make dinner on my night; I may need to rest and give my body a chance to heal. And I still keep moving. The next morning, I get up and start again. It is not easy. There are days when I absolutely want to give up and never get out of bed again. I push those thoughts aside as I struggle to accomplish the dreams of my life. And the rewards for accomplishing those dreams motivates me to move to the next dream or the next level.

Sometimes, we forget our dreams. Sometimes, we get drawn into all the “have to” lists that we forget that we are human beings. Human beings need to make dreams come true. Some of those dreams are our own.

Empower yourself each day by closing your eyes and visualizing your dreams coming true. Then make your plan. Take action and follow it. You just might be surprised how it lifts you up. You are wonderful. You have the power within you to accomplish and live your dreams. I’d love to hear how you do it. Have an MPowered Day!

As I pulled one costume from a rack, a person came behind me, held me, and tried to squeeze my neck. As I struggled to break loose of the tight grip, I noticed that my mouth was unencumbered; I could yell for help. Several people were walking around the road, and certainly one of them could offer assistance.

I shouted, yelled, and screamed, yet my cries rang through the air with no return. As I finally found relief through waking, I pondered my dream. I was disturbed that I felt threatened, but I was more unnerved by the fact that, after hollering my heart out for help, no one came to assist me in my struggles.

So, what in the heck could this have to do with empowerment? Well, I think many people find themselves in the world screaming for help, for peace, for understanding. They are struggling with issues maybe even they cannot identify. Are we going to walk idly by, ignoring their cries, or are we going to look up from the details of our own lives long enough to notice and even to help? Truly, helping others is empowering. Sometimes we just need to wake up; at least, I do. How about you?

He told them with such conviction it made my insides shake just to think about it. There was no room in that practice speech for talk of failure. There was no place for doubt or laziness or quitting. No giving up, no giving in, no reason to not make it to the very top. I watched the team as they began to soak in the words of their coach and began thinking to myself about how true this is to life. We are here to win everything. There is no reason why we can not shoot for that. There is no excuse for not doing the very best that we can and making it to the top in everything we aspire to become. There should be no room within ourselves for talk of failure or place in our lives for giving up on our dreams.

That day on the field I heard from the coach some very profound words that chisel away doubt inside of me and remind me of one very important thing. We are in this to win everything! Let’s go out there and do it!

It really wasn’t the milkshake that was the best part though; the milkshake was simply something that sounded good to me after realizing the achievement which I had made. It was something I had been working toward for a long time and was so happy to finally reach this point.

I am not finished with this endeavor, but with each step comes a realization that I am closer to my final goal. Each significant landmark that I reach means that I am getting to where I am trying to go. Time goes by each and every day and it’s the choices we make that determine whether that time brings us closer of farther away from the dreams we are chasing. So my thoughts for you today are to take those steps and savor those proverbial chocolate milkshakes along the way.

What goal will you work toward accomplishing today?

This morning, I was doing some handwashing of various articles of my clothing.  I have said before on this blog that I enjoy handwashing because I feel more connected to the women who have helped give me life–my fore-mothers, if you will–who often used their hands to perform the work we now do mostly by machine.  This morning, I thought of them.  I thought of their dreams for me.  I wondered if, in their minds’ eyes, they pictured me, generations away, struggling and laughing while raising my six children in the best way I know how.  I wondered if they had dreams for their children–a “better” life than they had…less worry, more joy.  I could almost see and feel them calling to me in a difficult moment–”Hang on.  I did.  It was worth it for me.  It will be for you, too.”

Thank you, my mothers past.  I may not know all your names or your stories, but I feel your power.  I feel your strength.  I want to be like you–strong and able, willing to face my challenges and put fear behind me.  I want to love my children and dream of their better lives to come.

I have determined to write–as the Friday tip of the day suggested–my dreams.  I think I will start with the dreams I have for my daughters.  I am feeling close to them today, and to my mothers from generations past.  Someday I hope to thank them properly for their dreams for me.

 What in the world is an inconsistency pill anyway?  What does it do?  How can I get one?  Answers to these questions and more follow.  Read on….

If I take cold medicine to get rid of cold symptoms, then logically speaking, I would take an inconsistency pill to get rid of inconsistency in my life.  Okay, so an inconsistency pill would help me be more consistent, right?  Is it desirable to be more consistent?  For me, it is.  At least in the areas where I am growing as a person and working hard to be more loving and kind.  Upon waking, I wrote this in my journal:  “What would my life be like if I were more consistent?  In what areas would I like to change before becoming consistent?  [I would love] to replace habits that are destructive or fruitless with productive, loving, accepting behaviors while consistently becoming more kind, patient, long-suffering, diligent, meek, humble, and full of love.”

In my waking hours, though, I think I would refuse the pill.  I am not looking for a quick fix; I’m looking for the growth that comes from the daily practice of being consistent, thank you.  I am sure my daily life will give me plenty of opportunities to work on it!