Posts tagged ‘Inspiring blog’

February 11th, 2011

GMDL Day 17: Things That Make You Go Hmmm…

{flickr image by: dcosand}

It’s the end of another week of tips to inspire you to do less. Whew it’s been a good one. Hasn’t it?

So far, I’ve had one awesome and courageous entrepreneur sign up for the challenge and another beautiful and talented photographer send me the sweetest email with the subject line, “I love your blog.”

It’s been an amazing week. Good and bad (did I mention a power outage and almost getting hit by a car?), but I’m embracing both. I’m alive. I’m grateful. And I’m still as motivated to do less as ever.

And we’ve still got a few days left in the challenge. I hope you’re still here with me.

To end the week, I have a few inspiring things including something I found in an inspiring book entitled The Purpose of Your Life by Carol Adrienne. Hope it will keep you motivated on your own challenge to do less!

Be Inspired


1. Accomplish More, Do Less: Find Your True North

This Care2 blogger and reader has a lot going on in her life (things like yoga, blogging, school, daily chores). Sound familiar? I’m sure we can all relate. But I was over the moon excited when I read this part of her blog:

“At least once a week someone asks me, ‘How do you do it all?’  My answer is always the same – I do less.”

In her blog, she shares her journey from doing too much to slimming down to the necessities. She also provides helpful tips on how to get there.

2. The Power of Vulnerability

I can’t take credit for finding this awesome, honest and super inspiring video. It was a colleague that discovered it.

You may be wondering how being vulnerable has anything to do with doing less. Here’s the thing. Sometimes we feel ashamed and fearful of being vulnerable. And instead of embracing our fears and imperfections, opening our wounds raw for everyone to see, we avoid the pain at all costs. Sometimes we do so by filling our life with busyness. It’s a powerful 20 minutes and I hope you will take the time to watch.

3. Anything is possible.

That is the title of chapter 4 in Adrienne’s life changing book. This weekend, reflect on this statement, what it means, and say it to yourself every time you stumble or encounter a mental block. I have been reciting those three beautiful words to myself and with it have found peace. What will you find?

If you’re new here, welcome! Don’t worry about starting on day 15 of the challenge. You can start at anytime. If you want, you can start here on day 1 of the challenge. Feedback’s always welcome. I would love to hear how you’re doing.

January 14th, 2011

A Lesson from Simon Cowell

Finding Your Own Destiny on OWN

I was watching a preview from Oprah’s newest endeavor: OWN network. In it, a chosen few were part of a Masters course discussing their life story and using it to help inspire others. {photo from Oprah.com}

Oh how I am drooling to get my hands on the station. One that my husband smiled and said to me, “If you had it, you could watch it all day, couldn’t you?”

Yes. I could and I would.

But I digress, the quote that gave me chills up and down my spine and made me rewind and replay twice, was none other than Mr. Simon Cowell.

How does a wise-cracking former American Idol judge have to say that was SO inspiring?


“Every single negative can be changed into a positive.”

-Simon Cowell

It’s simple, yet true. {photo by IMDb}

The car that died? The illness you got? The disappointing promotion you did not get. None of them can get by without the opportunity to change your life unless you let it.

My kids parents sometimes say the darnedest things. My mom said, for example, that some people don’t change because they haven’t gone through anything BIG in their life.

I say that it doesn’t matter about the experiences. Yes, it’s true that getting married, having a child or going through a tragedy changes us. But sometimes, it is the way we react or don’t act on our life’s experiences that shape who we are.

If for a moment, we can believe that everything coming at us now can be transformed into something positive, through our own control, how much would that change who we are?

  • Maybe that is why they are there.
  • Maybe we’re in need of transformation.
  • Maybe it is the key that will unlock our fears/worries.
  • Maybe it is a hint to our true purpose.

{photo by Michael D. Dunn}

Isn’t that an exciting thought?

It makes every unknown an exciting prospect, even the scary ones.

September 7th, 2010

How Your Education Can Stand in the Way of Your Dreams

By guest blogger: Sue Mitchell, Your Business Your Self

When Barack Obama visits schools, he writes on the wall, “Dream big dreams.” It’s an inspiring sentiment. But are schools really giving us what we need in order to pursue and achieve our dreams?

In order to persistently pursue a dream, you have to have a certain amount of faith. You have to believe the dream is achievable, first of all. And you have to believe that you personally can achieve it. If schools are designed to give us the necessary skills and attitudes to pursue and achieve our dreams, then giving us faith in ourselves would seem to be Step 1.

So is this what actually happens? read more »