3 + 2 Inspiring Quotes

 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Looking for some inspiration? It often comes from outside, and in the best of times, it comes from right inside the personal self.

So, today I’m offering 3 quotes to you, and offering 2 “fill in the blanks” for you to complete.

If you’d like to share your quotes with others, comment on this post! Maybe you’ll be quoted by someone else~

1. Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.  ~ Babe Ruth.
2. Love the life you live. Live the life you love. ~ Bob Marley
3. It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.  ~ Abraham Lincoln
4. Your Quote Here!_____________________________________________
5. Your Quote Here!_____________________________________________

 

Make it a great week 🙂

Tess Denton

http://www.tessdenton.com

Still Doing It All? At What Cost?

That’s Some
Balancing Act!

This is an updated repost of a fan favorite from a few years ago. Enjoy!

Let’s see… there’s a lot on your plate. You work 50 hours each week, you’re almost at the end of your Tax extension,  you need to clear your desk of debris so that what’s lurking on your desk can peek through, not to mention the fact that it’s time for little leagues, graduations, and summer weddings. If you’re like me, you can do it all – but at what cost? Are you working your life away?

I can only assume that Building a Powerful Vision for your future includes a point at which you can stop the madness and enjoy some leisure time. If you’re waiting for someday to say no to the many demands on your time, that day may never come, unless you set the date yourself. To get you started, here’s an exercise that will take just 5 minutes to complete.

• On a blank sheet of paper, place the numbers 1 through 6.
• Listen to “Enjoy Yourself” – a classic recorded by Guy Lombardo.
• List 6 things you’ll do “someday”  – whatever floats your boat: travel to Greece,volunteer at a homeless shelter, get a hot tub, coach your daughter’s soccer team, do community theater, start saving for retirement.
• To the right of each of those items, set a date by which you will begin or complete the activity.
• Put today’s date at the top of the list.
• Post the list on your refrigerator, and let it be a conversation starter for the people in your life who pass through or join you in the kitchen. Your innocent list may just get others thinking about what they’d like to accomplish and by what date they will take action, jut like you.
• Three, Six, Nine and Twelve months from now, review your list and not what progress you’ve made on those items occurring soonest.

If you’re looking for ways to put your dreams into action, consider getting a copy of either of my books on the topic of Building A Powerful Vision. You can build a vision board yourself, throw a party with friends or begin a one year journey of creating a life you love. So many choices!D

A “Building A Powerful Vision” 5 Minute Jump Start…

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” –  Peter Drucker.

 

My takeaway from Peter Drucker’s statement above is: “Create Your Future”. These three words are remarkably empowering. To me, these words are a command, permission, a gift and a nudge. Like our DNA,  the statement “Create Your Future” has a different message in it for each of us.  No two futures are alike. The future I choose to create will be entirely different from yours.

When I repeat the words “Create Your Future”, I feel an internal shift. When I add a deep and resounding voice to the statement, a command comes alive.When we embrace the command, we can cut through all of the busy work that impedes our progress. We can start making significant strides in toward creating a future we adore.

For the reader whose life is filled to overflowing, I offer an easy 5 minute activity for this week that will help you Jump Start your Powerful Vision. Simply print, post and ponder the two following quotes:

“Live a life you weren’t going to live anyway”.  ~

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” ~ Robert Frost

Then, watch what happens.

When you are ready to explore ways that you can Build a Poweful Vision for your life, visit www.tessdenton.com to look at my books!!

As always, I welcome your comments, and make it a great week!
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Make Your Summer Sizzle! Enjoy The Long Days And Lazy Nights

 

Summer’s Here!

 

It’s officially summer – I saw my first lightning bug and the ceiling fans are on 24/7. My mind is turning to thoughts of fireworks, bike rides to the pool and Coppertone.

What are you summer signals, and how are you spending your summer?

This year, summer is particularly precious to me. The past winter in the Midwest (and worldwide, I think) was brutal. I made a promise to myself that once the winter chill was but a distant memory, that I would engage all of my senses and dive into summer.

I am doing all I can to keep to this promise. In the past week….

I have purchased two boxes of Popsicles – all red. I just finished one. I have the stained lips and popsicle stick to prove it.

I have enjoyed a bonfire in my fire pit. It lasted for 30 minutes, because a terrific summer storm came through.

I took a 15 mile bike ride and had a roadside picnic yesterday.

I went for a 2-hour scooter ride (with helmet), and stopped at the farmers’ market.

I gave up on growing my hair and cut it short, because it’s too humid.

I have compiled a “mix tape” of summer songs. I will now share them with you!

1. Beach Baby

2. Summer Breeze (this one goes out to my sister Ann for the 6,000 times I listened to this while she was in college).

3. Lovely Day

4. Groovin’

5. Stayin’ Alive

6. Summer Nights

7. Footloose

8. Sergio Mendes and Brasil ’66 – Mas que Nada

9. Here Comes The Sun

10. Girl from Impanema

There’s one more really important thing on my list… I’m about to begin my summer program, Building A Powerful Vision’s “Summer School For Your Hopes and Dreams”.  It’s a chance to do some creative and strategic thinking about creating a life you love. If you would like to learn more, visit: http://tessdenton.com/summer_school.php.  There’s room for one or two more in the class, if this is your summer to focus on you! We begin on 6/25, and I’m thinking of adding a second start date, so come on by and check it out!

However you make your summer sizzle, and enj0y the long days and lazy nights…

As always, I welcome your comments, and make it a great week!

~ Tess

Copyright 2014

Destiny Rising, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Improve Your Likelihood of Keeping Your New Year’s Resolutions!

Countdown To Your Best Year Ever

Season’s Greetings! 

Today begins the 5-Day countdown to the New Year.
This is my favorite countdown.
There is a fresh start headed your way.
It’s nearly resolution time!

If you’re looking for an improved likelihood that you’ll keep your resolutions, you may want to pop over to my book site to find 2 tools that will definitely insure that 2014 will be your Best Year Ever: http://buildingapowerfulvisionboard.com/.

You may also want to check out my video that will pump you up:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1_FaNbttdI

Make it a great week. As always, I welcome your comments!

~ Tess

Copyright 2013

Destiny Rising, LLC

Lights, Camera….. Anime!

On 3,2,1…

 

I’m having just too much fun with a few new creative tools. Some weeks are made for writing, and others for producing new media projects. I hope you enjoy viewing these first few cartoons and videos in the next couple of week.

Part of my Powerful Vision is to build robust You Tube Channel. I’ll invite you to tune in very soon.

Let the Cartoon begin! (Click on this link) 

Make it a great week, and as always, I welcome your comments…

~ Tess

Copyright 2013

Destiny Rising, LLC

Reminder: Stay Alert, Awake and Alive On Your Journey

Ways To Stay Afloat

This week, I’m sharing an article written by Regina Brett, a columnist for the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio . She writes: “To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 42 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short – enjoy it..

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

9. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

11. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

12. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it…

14 Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

15. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

16. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

17. It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

22. The most important sex organ is the brain.

23. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

25. Always choose life.

26. Forgive but don’t forget.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does..

31. Believe in miracles.

32. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

33. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

34. Your children get only one childhood.

35. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

36. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

37. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

38. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

39. The best is yet to come…

40. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

41. Yield.

42. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

Inspired? Terrific. Now may be a great time to find your path to what you want to achieve in life. Here’s a link to Building A Powerful Vision Board.

As always, I welcome your comments. Make it a great week!

~ Tess

Destiny Rising, LLC

Copyright 2013

Answers Often Lie In The Questions And The Margins

Enjoy a Spot of Tea While You Find the Answers!

“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.”
― Eckhart Tolle

It’s graduation season – a time for change.

I was talking with a high school senior today who is delighted that tomorrow is her last day of high school. In the moment when she drives away from campus tomorrow, she will change. On the Sunday afternoon that she receives her diploma, she will change. When she moves into her dorm room in August at her intended college, she will change. She is excited about ALL of this change.

Some changes come in our lives that we don’t expect or that we do not welcome. Relationships end, companies close, romantic partners meet someone who is a better match. The bottom line is that “Shift Happens”. Shift is constant. We grow up, we move out, we marry, we have a family. Sometimes, we make career changes or move out again, we age, our parents age, we age some more and so on. I tend to look at change as good, even if it doesn’t feel or look like it is growth in the process. Somehow, I think that the older we get, the more difficult change can be to face.

How do you face change? How do you lift yourself up, brush yourself off and start all over again when change is a surprise?

I don’t usually fit two quotes into a post, but this one called to me and seems fitting for the topic… “Talk to the restlessness, Sit with confusion, Dance with paradoxes, and sip tea with the angel of life.” (J. Rupp, Dear Heart Come Home). Let’s break this down:

Talk to the restlessness – There is a dialogue that occurs in our heads during a time of change. Take time enough to listen to your thoughts, answer the questions you are asking yourself by writing responses on paper and pledge not to act hastily to dig your new foundation. Just “be” for a while. Make space.

Sit with confusion – Being confused can be like being in a maze. We don’t know which way to turn, which door to choose, to whom we should reach out or which emotions to validate. again. Do not hurry. If possible, allow for the confusion. You may benefit from finding a short-term solution to keep your life going in the right direction while you use the change at hand to truly reassess areas of your life or career that deserve contemplation. Make space.

Dance with paradoxes – The answers that lie in unexpected change often contain propositions that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible new way to approach something in your life. Consider paradoxes already at play in your life. give examples

Sip tea with the angel of life – Slowing down to just be and to converse with this lovely angel may provide a respite from the mind chatter and intensity that can create clutter in your mind.  You may gain some interesting perspective and some gentle clarity.

When we learn to include the activities that J. Rupp recommends, we will likely make  sound decisions – the sorts of decisions that  we are glad we made years down the pike.

So, if you’ve got questions – take note of all of the spaces in your life where the answers may be hiding.

As always, I welcome your comments and make it a great week!

~ Tess

Copyright 2013

Destiny Rising, LLC

Getting to GO!

Ready For The Challenge

Ready, Set…  Ready, Set…… Ready, Set….

If getting to GO! is a problem in your life, you have plenty of company. If you perpetually remain on the starting block, you go nowhere. You are safe from failure if you never begin. However, you are safe from success, as well.

There are many reasons why people do not get to GO!.  Today, let’s look at 4 key causes of hesitation:

Lack of confidence, lack of certainty,  lack of a plan and fear of abandonment often top the list.

• Lack of confidence: Do I have the intellect, the ability and the personality to succeed?
• Lack of certainty: Is this my best option? Is this what I really want? Where will this choice lead me? Should I keep researching other choices? Can I trust this company? Can I trust myself?
• Lack of a plan: I do not know who to approach with my service or product. I don’t know where I’ll find a job once I make the move. I cannot lease an apartment without a job. I have enough money to survive for three months, and then my finances screech to a halt. I don’t know enough about this industry. I’ve never been a business owner before.  I need to know more before commit. I’m just a big ball of confusion.
• Fear of abandonment: Will my family support my choices? Will my friends help me stay optimistic and provide their support and encouragement while I build my business? If I choose to leave a dysfunctional relationship, will friends and family take sides on the issue, leaving me lonely and feeling like the villain?

If you are uptight or breathless after reading the list above,  Clarity may be the tonic you seek.  I refer to Building A Powerful sense of Clarity as the foundation for achieving your goals and what you want in life: Clarity is energizing. It is refreshing to clear away doubt about the direction you are headed, as well as what you do and do not want in your life.

Rather than talking  yourself off of the starting block, steel yourself against doubt. Reaffirm your belief in yourself and your reasons for to taking the  leap of faith to pursue your passion or give yourself permission to start over.  Use the 9 Key Points listed below to regain your clarity about key decisions in your life. Then GO!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” ~ Helen Keller

My Path/Decision:

1. Skills and Traits I possess that will make me successful in my choice:
2. Key Reasons Why I am Choosing This Decision/Path:
3. How choosing this path will change my life:
4. Experiences in my personal or professional life that make me uniquely qualified to succeed in this area:
5. Skills and Traits I’d like to develop in order to be more successful in this area:
6. The first skill I will develop:
7. People whose advice I’ll seek on my journey:
8. People whose advice I’ll ignore on my journey:
9. What success will look like for me:

Make it a great week. As always,  welcome your comment!

~ Tess

Copyright 2013

Destiny Rising, LLC

A Cure For Bright, Shiny Object Syndrome

DND

This is the time of year when bright, shiny things can steal your focus. Bright, shiny things include: Sunshine, the mercury in the thermometer rising above 40 degrees, end of season sales, daylight savings, your kids’ spring break and much, much, more.

My cure for Bright, Shiny Object Syndrome is The “DND Retreat”. DND stands for Do Not Disturb. I host my retreat right in my house (or maybe at the nearest Barnes & Noble). I let the people who are usually welcome to interrupt my productivity know that I am attending a retreat.

The DND Retreat concept is simple. Choose a topic of focus for the day and get away for 6 hours. That’s right, just 6 hours (plus drive time, if you’re going to step away from the house). The reason for 6 hours is that you can choose 8-2, 9-3 or 10-4. You can attend to  family requirements, get a haircut, or go to the market either before or after your retreat.

My most recent DND Retreat was dedicated to marketing my book, “Building A Powerful Visions Board”.  My activities included some themed readings, answering some key questions about my business and building my plan.

Whatever the focus of your retreat, make a list of questions to ask yourself. Select and answer questions as if you’ve paid $279 for the retreat. Concentrate during your 6 hours as if you’ve invested a meaningful sum of money for this opportunity to concentrate and move ahead in your  plan for the year, your writing, your online course in stock trading or your ability to create videos.

At the end of your 6-hour retreat, book the next one. If possible, make the next retreat within 3 weeks of the first. Decide the topic of the next retreat before you return to family, work and home . Once your DND Retreat is over, so is the solace. You will, however have the advantage of results from your first retreat and another date to forward your destiny.

As an added bonus, plan to share the results of your DND retreat with someone – an accountability partner. You’ll be proud of your progress as you report on the day’s events.

My next DND retreat day is just around the corner. I am looking forward to the seclusion and the creativity that go hand in hand.

Make it a great week, and as always, I welcome your comments!

~ Tess

Copyright 2013

Destiny Rising, LLC