Have you ever been frustrated with a person or some circumstance? Today, we see more and more people experiencing this emotion. Frustration is a state of tension that occurs as a result of some goal-directed behavior that is being thwarted or postponed. It is also the equivalent of disappointment, impediment and failure. The root cause of frustration is insecurity and is the outcome of persistent emotional imbalance in one's life. This bafflement is the feeling that comes when you believe you are being stopped from reaching your goals. All of us have experienced this at one time or another, but then we get our bearings straight and move ahead. For some people, it stops them every time. It begins to anger you to the point of complete discouragement. It causes us to think irrationally, take things out of perspective and begins to focus in on someone or something and blames them for our lack of success. It is something we can control, by being patient and realizing that setbacks can later on produce greater success if we handle them properly. So, when you start to feel frustration coming on, take a deep breath, take a step back and allow yourself to keep it in perspective. Understand this: if your plan gets altered it's not the end of the world. It just means you have another opportunity to succeed.

Just A Thought.  God bless.

PSS

Have you ever been caught in a downward spiral? Does it seem like nothing's going right? It usually starts with the belief that you are not good at something or that you never get a break. Then, to top it off, it seems as though the results you want just aren't happening.

People who are consistently unhappy are that way because they've been without the results they want for so long they just give up and quit living this precious life. We have to quit dwelling on the negative and start thinking about the successes and what we've done well. "What has worked out for me?" Begin to see and believe that "you can" instead of finding reasons why "you can't". How we think of ourselves determines how well we do in life. When I coached my children, the one thing I had them always repeat was "I can." Why? Because once you believe it, the world and the way you view it will change drastically as you live it.

Just a thought, God bless.
PSS

As we reflect on this weekend, and watch the whole world stop and take a moment to recognize what most call, "Easter," a better term to use would be, "Resurrection Sunday." This is the day we honor the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection from the dead. He gives everyone who willfully believes in Him eternal life and hope. Do you know that without hope we have no ambition, no vision, no future and no peace? We just fall into fear and anxiety, which, in turn, makes us selfish and self-centered.  
 
A lack of hope in our life, our heart and mind, robs us of true life. People without hope have difficulty functioning in their daily lives. They have trouble thinking, remembering and making decisions. They become nervous, they don't go out much, and they become afraid of doing things. They also believe that what they think and feel is more important than what others think and feel. Because they lack hope, they believe the world revolves around them and others are only here to meet their needs. They become people who are selfish and stingy.
 
Listen, we can never give up living and hoping for the best or for things to get better. We can have a down moment, but we can never quit hoping. Colossians 1:27 says, "Jesus is the hope of glory." So as you go through this week, keep hope alive. Things can and will change, but nothing will rob you of your hope.  

Just a Thought.  God bless.

PSS

Our values, the things that make us who we are, dictate how we act, how we live and deal with others. It really is our belief system. For instance, I value honesty and respect. In fact, I've told my staff, when dealing with people always treat them with kindness and respect. Why are they part of my value system? Because I believe God and His Word are the guides to my life. So obviously, I wouldn't marry anyone who didn't share the same values. Our values are what make us who we are. When someone violates your values, you go into a "values crisis." That's why some get hurt, while others get mad.
 
It's important to make friends and partnerships of like-minded people who share the same or similar values. Respecting others is a high value. Why? Because I believe people are God's greatest creative works. When someone shows me disrespect or one of my staff doesn't show respect to those who come into our offices, I go into a "values crisis," which causes me to react and deal with it very quickly. Today, think about what your values are. Meditate on what is important to you in your life, and how it affects your life each and every day.   

Just a thought.  God bless.

PSS

Relationships really define who we are. We are whom we associate with, like the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together." We tend to gravitate towards people who are like-minded. Eagles hang out with eagles, pigeons hang with pigeons and vultures hang with vultures. There are three kinds of relationships I believe all of us should have:

Relationships with people we look up to. Someone who has done more and who is more successful than we are, someone who speaks into our lives.

Relationships that are on the same plane as we are; our peers, those we socialize with and respect.

Those whom we mentor. Those who are younger than ourselves, who are working hard to make it, and have less experience in life.

We need all three types of relationships to be healthy. It keeps us going; it keeps us reaching forward and at the same time, keeps us balanced. Then, we can give away what we have learned to someone else. This will enable us, with more discretion, to pick and choose whom we hang out with. It will also cause us to change the way we think about ourselves. It is important to see how we view ourselves because that will determine how we act, live and interact. Let's step out and begin to cultivate new and better relationships; those that lift us up and not bring us down.

Just A Thought, God bless.  PSS