volitionv2

Reflection Through Journaling

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 20:42:51 GMT

Reflection Through Journaling

Change is hard. It’s easier to live life, operating from our old, comfortable, and repetitive patterns, rather than actually taking action to create desired change.

Though we say we want to lose weight, our actions do not always follow.
Though we say we want to improve a relationship, our old habits work against us, preventing improvements to take place.
Though we say we want to advance in our career, we avoid taking the necessary steps to get there.

Why is that?

A key reason is we lack awareness. We live and operate with blind-spots. Denial competes with what we say we want and the solution is a simple habit any of us can develop and we really don’t need to spend a penny on it.

It’s called reflection and the method I have found to work best when reflecting is to journal. If you are like most, when you hear that word, “journal” you will sigh, roll your eyes and be tempted to dismiss the suggestion. You may be a male and think, “Guys don’t journal. That’s a woman’s thing.” Well, keep reading; you may see things a little differently as we go on. Before we dive any further into journaling, let’s get clear on exactly what reflection is.

Reflection is a powerful practice that almost always guarantees improvement (aka change).

Reflection is like a mirror. It allows us to see what others see. It can also expose blind-spots. Just like the rearview and side mirrors we use when driving, reflection creates safety.

When we use journaling to reflect, it really does act like a mirror because it helps us untangle our thoughts. We think 1000-3000 words per minute, which makes it safe to say, we are not conscious of most of our thoughts. When we write them down, we bring our thoughts to consciousness, empowering us to decide what we want to do with those thoughts.

There have been more instances that I could count where I was journaling, only to find myself shocked at the words being written down on paper. Prior to the journaling, I had no idea I thought that way, which positioned me powerless to make improvements to my thinking.

Test it out right now. Take the time and for 3 minutes write or type up the answers to these two questions

What is on my mind?
What am I thinking and feeling right now?

If you do this, be prepared to be glad you did. You will create clarity and increased self-awareness.

I believe in journaling so much that I took the advice of my speaker coach and created a Volition journal, which is now available for purchase. Volition means the faculty or power of using one’s will . Volition is all about finding and exercising choice in every situation. What better way to find choice, than through reflection through journaling, using the Volition journal? Let me know if you or someone you know would like to purchase any, by sending me an e-mail.

Whether you use my journal or not, please do consider developing the habit of reflection through journaling. It is still amazing to me how much positive change you create, simply by embracing this one simple habit. You may find hitting your goals easier than ever. You may find getting unstuck not as hard as it once was. Your confidence will boost, your passion will awaken, and you will feel more empowered than ever!

Let me know how it goes!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Stretch

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 20:53:52 GMT

Stretch

“One’s mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses Stretch with Susan Husa.

Susan is passionate about encouraging others and is dedicated to helping people live peacefully, confidently, and courageously. She is a woman of faith and loves working with Christian women leaders.

Her and her husband of 27 years live in Washington. Christ and family are high priority. She loves her friendships and business relationships. She can’t imagine being without a community she supports. She supports over 900 members as the Administrator and founder of Business & Parenting Collaborative Group on Alignable. A platform for small business owners.

Susan is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach through the Co-Active Training Institute, recognized as the most rigorous and respected in the industry.

You can learn more about Susan on her website, www.animatelifecoaching.com .

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Have you ever watched a child try something new? Children are fearless. They see something that interests them and they go for it. My nephew Drake started baseball and watching him swing that bat was something else. It didn’t matter how many times he missed the ball. He would just swing again. He just kept trying until he got it.

What happens to that child-like effort, that eagerness to continue trying, and that freedom from concern regarding what we look like? The older we get, the more care we put into looking good or being right. The need to look good and be right really holds us back from trying new things and learning new things. I’ve been reading a great course book called “The Artist’s Way”, which helps you to tap into your creativity. In the book it talks about how we can’t look good and get better at the same time. That statement is exactly what causes us to get stuck and stagnant and to stop progressing. We get too caught up in looking good.

Think back to a time you learned something new, maybe how to ride a bike or swim. When was the last time you learned how to do something new? Chances are in the learning process; you may have looked silly for a bit, but looking silly allowed you to learn something new. What Is it that you would like to learn how to do now? Play the piano, waterski; speak in front of a crowd. Whatever it is that you would like to learn, I encourage you to GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE and do it. STRETCH YOURSELF. Don’t worry about looking good or being right, just get out there and do something different!

Take a moment and write down a few things you would like to learn that you know will be a stretch for you. Then write down what actions you must take to go for it. Schedule them on your calendar and do it. Stretching and learning new things will create exhilaration, fulfillment, confidence and growth. Get out of your comfort zone and enjoy what it brings you!

Prepare

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 20:48:17 GMT

Prepare

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender

what you are for what you could become.”

Anonymous

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses Prepare with Tanya Flores.

Tanya is passionate about bringing a biblical standard of care to those having difficulties with reproductive health. As Director of Reproductive Grief Care and Education at Sierra Pregnancy + Health, Tanya leads a team of reproductive grief care advocates, caring for women, men, and couples experiencing loss from a miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion decision, or infertility.

Tanya also co-founded the Reproductive Loss Network, a faith-based non-profit dedicated to educating, equipping, and encouraging the helpers who support those touched by reproductive loss

In addition, Tanya enjoys guest speaking and writing opportunities, and serving as a biblical counselor in her local church. Learn more about Tanya and her work at www.tanyaflores.com .

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Have you ever bought a new refrigerator or new furniture? Upon purchasing, you schedule a time and date for the delivery. You go home and what do you do? You move out your old items and make room for the new to be delivered, right? When you think about your new furniture, you feel excitement. You even picture how you will position the furniture. Maybe you even buy some new accessories – pillows, candles, and curtains to match. The bottom-line here is that you MAKE ROOM and PREPARE for the new.

So, how does this relate to other areas in your life? For a tree to continue to grow properly, it has to be pruned. The old, dead branches need to be cut away, to make room for new growth. The same is true for us. If we are to fit something new into our lives, we must make room for it. Everything takes up space, visible or unseen; it is taking up space. Whatever you desire may be right in front of you, at your fingertips.But if there is no room for it, it can’t come in.

What is taking up space in your world that if removed, would create space for the new, for that which you desire? It could be a mindset of fear, doubt, and worry that can be replaced with creative, refreshing, positive thinking. It may be in your finances. You know debt takes up space. So, get rid of the debt to make room for the abundance, for the savings, for the prosperity. It may be a relationship. It may be really simple, like some new clothes. Go through your closet and get rid of all the clothes that have dust on the shoulders.

Whatever it is that you desire, tangible or intangible, make room for it. Create the space for it. Then PREPARE for it!

Value

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 20:43:10 GMT

Value

“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself.”

Howard Thurman

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses VALUE with Kiley Castaneda.

Kiley Castaneda is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and the owner of Rooted Serenity Wellness Center in Redding, Ca. Kiley specializes in helping people restore hope, achieve goals and find balance so that they can live authentic, happier and fulfilling lives. After receiving her Master’s degree in Marital & Family Therapy from the University of San Diego, she went on to provide therapy and manage several county and state level behavioral and mental health facilities in both Southern and Northern California. 13 years later, she took a leap of faith and left her management position to chase her passion and share her knowledge with others. In her current practice, Kiley provides therapy, clinical supervision, coaching and workplace wellness workshops and seminars.

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Where does value come from? Supply and demand. When supply is low, demand goes up. Therefore, when something is rare it has more value. Now think about yourself. What is your value? HOW VALUABLE ARE YOU? To answer this, consider the fact that you are one of a kind. The truth is you are priceless.

For the world to experience your priceless value, you must live in authenticity. Are you living in your one of a kind expression? Are you using your one of a kind gift? You will know if you are because you will be seen as rare, as valuable and there will be a demand for your value.

Too often we compromise whom we are to fit in and conform to the average. Every time we do that, we dilute and minimize our authentic expression, which dilutes and minimizes our value. Lack of authenticity reduces our options tremendously. Living vanilla lives, going with the flow, working to fit in and avoiding rocking the boat, all restrict our one of a kind abilities. That way of living is not only boring, but it robs the world of what we truly have to offer.

Where in your life are you holding back and limiting your one of a kind value? How would your life be different, if you were to step into your 100% authentic expression? One of my favorite scriptures is, “A man’s gift will make room for him.” That is so true. Every time I am courageously living in my authenticity and in my values, doors open up and opportunities arise. My income increases, my options are many and life is so easy. The contrary is true as well. When I conform, I get stuck. My options go away and my value goes down.

If you desire greater income, increased happiness, and a truly fulfilling life, step into your one of a kind value. You deserve it and the world needs it.

Responsibility

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 20:38:54 GMT

Responsibility

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of.”

Jim Rhon

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses RESPONSIBILITY with Amanda Bracken.

Amanda Bracken is an entrepreneur at heart; her passion is helping leaders who love their people – lead well. Whether with her team or helping leaders with theirs, creating atmospheres of excellence to reveal the significance of others is what she lives for daily. Amanda is also Co-Founder and Co-Host of The Heart of Power podcast.

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Responsibility is such a beautiful thing. I didn’t always feel that way about it. In the past, when I would hear the word responsibility, I would think, “Yuck, boring, heavy burden,” and, “No, thank you.” But now that I have enjoyed the lighter load responsibility brings, I wouldn’t live any other way.

One of the best things about responsibility is that it doesn’t waste time. When we live from a place of responsibility, we don’t waste time or energy looking for who is at fault. We simply look for and find a solution, then get on with it. Responsibility creates a great sense of empowerment; no need to sit and wait around for something or someone outside of us. Because being a person of responsibility causes us to be resourceful. We can contribute, serve, and be great team players and leaders.

Thinking from a responsibility mindset puts you in the driver’s seat, allowing you to easily handle any life, family, and work problems because having responsibility creates choice in any situation. Responsibility responds to difficulties by thinking, “How can I contribute to solving this?” One of the things that I have enjoyed most by living from a place of responsibility is how easy forgiveness and compassion have become for me.

There is no space or time for complaining. Where there is complaining, there is a lack of responsibility, so when we live responsible lives, free from complaining, it inspires and encourages others to do the same. You will notice responsible people attract other responsible people; complainers attract other complainers, and so on.

Choose to live your life from a place of responsibility. Create an environment of responsibility and enjoy the freedom, enjoyment, and lighter load it creates for you.

Creativity

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 20:32:56 GMT

Creativity

“But out of limitations comes creativity.”

Debbie Allen

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses CREATIVITY with Debbie Nereson.

Debbie Nereson is a Talent Development Consultant with Sutter Health University at Sutter Health. She has spent the last 17 years designing and delivering engaging leadership programs for Health Care organizations. She received her Master of Arts in Communication Studies from Chico State University, where her main area of focus was leadership and motivation. She also teaches public speaking and small group communication courses at Sierra College. Debbie lives in Roseville with her husband and two very active boys, ages 15 and 12. In addition, she enjoys spending quality time with friends, hiking, reading, listening to podcasts, and exercising on her Peloton.

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Creativity is born in an environment of obstacles. Without problems, there is no demand for creativity. Think of what creativity does. Creativity transforms, it reinvents, it re-purposes and improves.

Life is a certain way, and then creativity comes in and increases it. Obstacles and change open the door for creativity. However, to tap into it, you must be willing and open. To be willing and open, you must see those obstacles as opportunities and inspiration to create.

One myth about creativity is that some people are creative and others are not. This is simply not true. We are all creative beyond measure. This myth is often created from the misperception that creativity is expressed only through the arts, the obvious vehicles of music, writing, dance, etc. Those expressions are just a few of the endless ways to tap into creativity. There is potential for creativity in ANYTHING — creativity with numbers, organizing, ideas, systems, computer programs, sports, and much more. Creative expression is endless in variety.

What is your creative ability? What is your creative outlet? You have many, I’m sure. Whatever creative expressions you have, know this, they are one of a kind, and they will grow when you use them. So, when problems show up, look at those problems as the stage for your creativity to perform. Most of the world’s greatest inventions were created because of a problem. My husband is a songwriter, and when he accidentally hit the wrong chord, it inadvertently created some of his best songs.

What have wrong chords been struck in your life? What new song will you write? I encourage you today to respond to obstructions and obstacles with creativity and serve the world something new.

Appreciation

Mon, 30 May 2022 20:28:25 GMT

Appreciation

“I would rather appreciate things I can not have, than to have things I cannot appreciate.”

Elbert Hubbard

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses APPRECIATION with Chris Heuertz.

Chris Heuertz has spent his life bearing witness to the possibility of hope among a world that has a legitimate reason to question Divine goodness. Originally from Omaha, he attended university in Kentucky before moving to India, where he volunteered alongside Mother Teresa for three years. While in India, he helped launch South Asia’s first pediatric AIDS care home — creating a safe haven for children impacted by the global pandemic.

In 2012 Chris helped launch Gravity, a Center for Contemplative Activism. He also published two best-selling and award-winning books: The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth (2017) and The Enneagram of Belonging: A Compassionate Journey of Self-Acceptance (2020). Both books help readers use the Enneagram to move beyond type as a mere caricature and learn how to work with the Enneagram for spiritual growth.

In addition, Chris hosts the chart-topping podcast Enneagram Mapmakers ( https://enneagrammapmakers.podbean.com/ ), where he facilitates candid and vulnerable conversations that chart the unexplored interior landscape of the ego.

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Appreciation is a habit you can develop, and it’s a choice.

In Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People, he talks about how appreciation doesn’t just come naturally, and it is something we must decide to create in our hearts. Think of children when they start talking; they don’t naturally say, “Thank you for feeding me and thank you for changing my diapers.” We teach our children to say “thank you” to show appreciation.

Knowing this, we can let go of the expectation of receiving appreciation from others. I have found myself, in the past, thinking, “He didn’t even say thank you,” or “You’d think she would have appreciated my effort.” With the knowledge that appreciation requires intention, it is perfectly understandable for someone not to acknowledge and appreciate our efforts. After reading Dale Carnegie’s book, I have stopped expecting appreciation from others, and when I receive appreciation, it’s a treat.

Though I do not expect others to be appreciative, I have decided to develop the habit of appreciation for myself. Every day, I write down 10 things I appreciate. This habit causes me to notice more things to appreciate. The rewards for this habit are huge. It has greatly impacted my overall mindset and attitude. It creates more positivity and keeps me out of pity parties.

Just yesterday, I was cleaning my house and started having thoughts and feeling irritated about how I wish I had a bigger, newer home, so we weren’t all crammed in and cluttered. Almost instantly, appreciation rose in me, and I responded by thinking of all the things I appreciated about this house: our small mortgage, less to clean, it’s cute, we have a garden, pretty flowers, we live in a cul-de-sac, it’a near a park, and on and on my appreciation grew. I felt happy.

Appreciation creates joy, happiness, and abundance. When we appreciate what we have, we create room for more to come in. Write down 10 things you appreciate today and make this a daily habit. Watch how easy it is to appreciate more every day.

Self Image

Mon, 23 May 2022 20:21:50 GMT

Self Image

“When your image improves, your performance improves.”

Zig Ziglar

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses SELF IMAGE with Lori Lara.

Lori Lara is on a mission to share hope, mental health and wellness education, and real-world self-defense instruction. As a black belt in mixed martial arts, Lori teaches a unique blend of effective fighting skills while also building the mental, emotional, and spiritual foundations of self-protection and wellness.

In addition to teaching self-defense and empowerment, both locally and on the road, Lori’s a contributing author of Hope in the Mourning (Zondervan), A Fierce Flourishing (MOPS International), Chicken Soup for the Soul, and numerous recovery sites. She enjoys recording podcasts and being a guest speaker for MOPS International, Saving Innocence, Brave Global, Yellow Ribbon Fund, and working with churches and other non-profit and empowering organizations. Find more about Lori at www.lorilara.com .

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Our thoughts about ourselves dictate how we see ourselves, and our thoughts create our self-image. Generally, we are our own worst critics, which is so destructive and sad. We could be our biggest fan and support, encouraging ourselves to be our best.

Of all the ailments in the world, one that isn’t addressed often enough is self-image. It is a priority to see ourselves at our best, in our full potential. Everyone deserves to have confidence, self-appreciation, and self-respect, and it is up to us to develop those things.

It is good to recognize that forces are working against us to have a positive self-image. Whether it be other people talking down to you or our current media telling us our teeth need to be whiter and straighter, our bank account needs to be bigger and safer, or our work needs to be faster and greater. Despite all the messages saying you are not good enough, not smart enough, not attractive enough, you must decide you are enough and perfect just as you are.

The greatest effort you can make to improve anything in your life will start with your self-image. When you raise your self-image and confidence, everything else will increase. Too often, we are focusing on the symptoms instead of the root cause of our situation. So, if you have desires or goals to improve any external or circumstantial area of your life, start with your self-image, and the rest will follow.

What are you doing today and on a habitual basis to invest in yourself-image? One thing you can do is write truths about yourself, then read them out loud. Truths such as, “I am great. I am smart. I am strong. I am creative, fun, and beautiful.” Replace any thoughts of “I can’t” with “I can.” Remove any messages or people that tell you otherwise. You may end up with a new set of friends. You are worth the change. Decide today that you will choose thoughts and friends that create a more positive self-image and experience the rewards in every other area of your life.

Happiness

Mon, 16 May 2022 20:17:09 GMT

Happiness

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

Aristotle

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses HAPPINESS with Kyle Thompson.

Kyle Thompson is a speaker, personal coach, and corporate “turnaround artist” with 25 years of experience in the real estate industry and has an athletic background as a player and coach. Her leadership, team-building, and motivational techniques are proven winners. Kyle Thompson will inspire you to dream bigger, reach higher, and go further than you’ve ever imagined! To learn more about her, visit allstarcoachingbykyle.com.

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Where does happiness come from? Many books out there address this question, like The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The basis of most books on the subject of happiness shares the same message that happiness comes from within. If this is true, which I believe it is, what can we do to create more happiness in our lives?

One thing that is very important in having happiness is that you honor yourself. I recently realized I was a bit lacking in the area of having fun. I had been so preoccupied with work, responsibilities, and taking care of things that I had neglected to have fun, so I made two lists. One list was for all the things that I enjoy doing that are fun to me, like socializing, going out to eat with family and friends, dancing, hiking, art projects, shopping, and more.

The other list is for all the things that make me feel good after doing them, such as yoga, running, cleaning my house, praying or meditating, and more. Those are things that aren’t necessarily fun at the time, but they are an investment that causes me to feel good about myself afterward. I have made it a point to do one thing from each list every day. Since I have begun this, I have been much happier and enjoying my days more and more. I am more joyful because I am honoring myself.

Where are you on your happiness chart? What are you doing every day to honor yourself? Make your lists of fun and things that make you feel good, and be sure to do at least one from each list. Honor yourself and create more happiness and enjoyment. You deserve it!

Freedom From Blame

Mon, 09 May 2022 20:11:16 GMT

Freedom From Blame

“Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.”

Erica Jong

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses FREEDOM FROM BLAME and shares her experience with this concept personally and professionally. Corry gives insight into the differences between the victim mentality, the persecutor mentality, and the rescuer mentality into an ownership and awareness mentality, leading us to freedom from blame.

Corry Mendoza is a highly sought-after speaker, coach, and author, influencing professionals to get real, work less, and live more balanced lives. Find her at www.choosevolition.com .

Watch her talk on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

The weight of blame is much heavier than the weight of responsibility. When we experience emotions of blame, does it matter if they are justified or not? To answer that question, let’s take a deeper look at what blame is, how it shows up, and what it does to us.

Blame is basically pointing the finger at whom or what is at fault for a result or an outcome. Blame removes responsibility from us and puts it onto another person or thing, leaving us powerless. Blame can show up simple in everyday situations such as, “Who moved my keys?” And in extremely complex and sensitive situations, “Whose fault was the divorce?”

Blame can sound like this: “It’s my friend’s fault I missed the plane. I’m late because my son couldn’t find his jacket. It’s the economy’s fault that I lost my house. That student misbehaves because of his parents. My child got into drugs because of his friends.” Does it really matter if any of those statements are true or false?

Does it really matter who or what is at fault? The time, energy, and emotions spent blaming others delay personal improvement and compromise the ability to move forward.

How does blame impact our lives? Because blame puts us in a place of being mistreated, it puts us into the role of a victim, powerless, waiting and hoping for someone or something to bring us the needed change. Blame stifles our resourcefulness and creativity, and blame cuts off our ability to take action. Thoughts of blame create a variety of negative emotions: feelings of offense, upset, frustration, betrayal, entitlement, jealousy, envy, anger, resentment, stress, distrust, fear, confusion, hurt, sadness, all of which dis-empower us to move forward towards growth and improvement.

So, how do we succeed in life, free from blame? OUR MINDSET. It all starts with our thoughts. Blame comes from a mindset void of taking responsibility. The way to overcome blame is by simply taking responsibility. Responding to situations with, “What can I do to improve this? What will it take to resolve this situation?” Build up your level of responsibility through your thoughts and inner dialogue. Make it a habit to respond to situations with, “What can I do? What can be done to move forward? Who would be willing to work with me to overcome this?” Do you hear how these thoughts of empowerment will get you into action? They are all thoughts free of who is at fault. They are thoughts that get you on with it.

I encourage you today to listen to your thoughts about any situation. Are these thoughts putting fault on another, or are they thoughts producing solutions? A strong positive mindset is rich in responsibility, and it produces positive energy through curiosity, growth, creativity, humility, joy, understanding, abundance, peace, and prosperity. Choose responsibility, and you will gain prosperity.

Lemonade

Mon, 02 May 2022 20:05:34 GMT

Lemonade

“The most important thing in life is not to capitalize on your gains. Any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your losses. That requires intelligence; and it makes the difference between a man of sense and a fool.”

William Bolitho

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses LEMONADE with featured guest Erik Sjolie.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Erik Sjolie brings over a decade of experience in the Financial and Insurance Industry to Sky Insurance. At Sky, Erik is tasked with agency development and growth as well as the development of its agents. With his past experience working at fortune 100 companies like New York Life and MassMutual, he was well equipped to help build Sky into a unique and passionate agency. As a lifelong Placer County resident, Erik feels blessed to be able to work with the people in the community he calls home. He currently resides in Rocklin with two daughters, Morgan and Avery and in his off time, he enjoys playing basketball and softball. He also helps coach youth sports and is an avid San Francisco Giants fan. Erik can be found at www.skyinsurancegroup.com and contacted at erik@skyinsurancegroup.com.

Every experience we have is an ingredient for success. Looking at problems as opportunities is the perfect environment for creativity to be birthed. Have you ever found yourself exhausted from efforts of eliminating and fixing problems? I have often found myself in this hamster wheel in my efforts to remove problems; it seems the faster I work to conquer them, the faster more problems appear. It’s as if they multiply.

I have since learned a new strategy with problems. I use them for my gain. I make lemonade out of my lemons. In The Power to See it Through, Harry Emerson shares, “There is a Scandinavian saying which some of us might well take as a rallying cry for our lives: ‘The north wind made the Vikings.’ The Vikings didn’t see the wind as an opposing force; they saw it as a source of strength and an endurance-building opportunity.

Where on earth did we get the idea that we need to remove or eliminate opposition and obstacles to obtain happiness and enjoyment? In the absence of difficulty, how would our strength be built? And when we obtain comfort and ease, are we ever really happy anyway?

Instead of trying to get rid of your problems, leverage them to your advantage. It’s a mindset switch from living in defense to living in the offense. Living in defense is exhausting. Change your position and switch to offense. Turn every minus into a positive and make lemonade from life’s sour lemons.

Simplicity

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 18:48:29 GMT

Simplicity

“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction.”

E. F. Schumacker

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses SIMPLICITY with featured guest Chris Heuertz.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

In addition, Chris hosts the chart-topping podcast Enneagram Mapmakers , where he facilitates candid and vulnerable conversations that chart the unexplored interior landscape of the ego.

Keep life simple. It doesn’t have to be complicated. We make it complicated. Complication makes things hard. Simplicity makes things easy. Keeping it simple is a way of life. Keeping it simple is a mindset we can choose. Don’t buy the lie that you cannot focus. Being distracted and giving over to spontaneity is just a conditioned reflex. If we are able to develop the ability to be distracted, we are able to develop the ability to be focused. Simplicity creates an environment for focus, purpose, and enjoyment.

Feeling overwhelmed disappears instantly in the presence of simplicity. Prioritizing and focusing become easy in simplicity. Simplicity allows options to be seen very clearly.

What would it take for you to create more simplicity in your life? One of the greatest steps towards simplicity is elimination. There are certain things we can simply eliminate to create the space for simplicity. I love the quote below.

“A man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied; he must know how to disengage what is essential from the detail in which it is wrapped, for everything cannot be equally considered; in a word, he must be able to simplify his duties, his business and his life,” Henri Frederic Amiel.

After reading that quote, what comes to mind for you? What knots are you willing to cut so that you can be freed up for a life of purpose and enjoyment? Take note, anytime you find yourself overwhelmed, cut away any unnecessary considerations, so that simplicity and freedom can surface. Do it today- find simplicity, and you will find freedom and ease.

Balance

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 18:42:39 GMT

Balance

“The willingness to accept responsibility for one’s own life is the source from which self-respect springs.”

Joan Didion

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses BALANCE with Tony Cooper.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Tony Cooper is the CEO of Market Force. He helps business leaders simplify complicated issues and helps them gain new skills and insights. Since 2002, Tony has trained, coached, and consulted. Prior to Market Force, he held positions at General Motors’ Saturn as a Silicon Valley product design consultant and founded Splinter Furniture Design.

Tony is an active volunteer for community-based organizations and loves water sports. In his youth, he was a nationally ranked diver and Tae Kwon Do martial artist. And now, after a lifetime of city dwelling, he is raising his family on a farm in Davis, California.

What is the importance of balance? What does it take for you to have balance? What happens when you get out of balance? These are all very important questions for you to consider when making commitments. We all have an “oops factor.” An oops factor is the point we get to, from doing too much where we crash and burn. Sometimes it shows up in our health when our body demands some downtime to recoup and get back in balance. If you know your limits ahead of time, you will be able to maintain balance without a crash and burn.

Balance is important for stability and progress. How well can you perform when you are out of balance? When I am out of balance, I find myself very agitated and less tolerant of irritating things. When I am out of balance, I am certainly not content. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes getting a little out of balance to recognize that I need to get myself back in balance.

I remember having a conversation with a friend about balance. I set a goal to obtain balance and his response shifted my perspective. His response was that balance isn’t real; it’s an illusion. Basically, balance isn’t something we can go buy or go get, then check it off our list and be done with it. When we achieve balance, we must maintain it with continual counterbalancing. Look at a dancer or a gymnast. When a dancer holds a pose, you will hear the viewers say, “ah, look at that perfect balance.” But if you were to look closely, you would see all the muscles in her body continually counterbalancing, providing the appearance that she is in balance.

The same is true in our lives. We must know our limits in keeping our lives in balance and then make sure to keep up with the counterbalancing. As life changes, our limits will adjust, and to maintain balance, we too must adjust. Take a quick inventory of how balanced you are right now. Make a list of all the areas that are important to you, and then rate them. Which areas received a low rating, pulling you out of balance, and what would it take to get you back in balance? Often, it isn’t a major change that is necessary. It may be a minor adjustment like a 15-minute walk in the morning or cutting back on dessert a few nights a week. You can create and maintain balance by keeping an eye on your counterbalancing. Tackle one area today and experience the efficiency being in balance creates.

Essence

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 18:36:32 GMT

Essence

“The sculptor produces the beautiful statue by chipping away such parts of the marble block as are not needed- it is a process of elimination.”

Elbert Hubbard

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses prevail with Laurie Cozart.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Laurie Cozart is the founder and CEO of Brain Squared Solutions, a company dedicated to using neuroscience to help create thriving organizational cultures. She is also an owner and instructor of Science2Wellbeing, an award-winning, evidence-based, advanced coaching program developed by high-profile scientists and coaches to increase life satisfaction through life-values alignment.

In addition, Laurie is the founder of the Mind2Lead Institute of Professional Coaching, an organization that supports the development of coaches through coach training, mentoring, and supervision.

Laurie is an International Coaching Federation, Master Certified Coach (MCC), a certified ICF Mentor Coach, and a certified Coach Supervisor. She has been featured in CEO Today, Smart Money and More magazines and the best-selling book series Cracking the Rich Code. Find her newest book, Coaching Conversations, on Amazon .

Too often, we look at what is on the outside as a determiner of what is on the inside. You have heard the saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Yet we do it all the time. Not only do we do this with others, but we also do it with ourselves. We focus on our need to lose more weight (external), earn more income (external), or break bad habits (external). I spent most of my life judging myself and focusing on the external things, what I was doing and what I had accomplished. It wasn’t until my external world collapsed that I was able to see what was true, which is who I am, my heart, and my essence. Who we are does not change. It is our external shells that change. When we find and maintain our essence, we are unshakable.

At the beginning of 2008, my world began unraveling and it unraveled quickly. I lost just about everything I thought I had. I was very scared because I had exhausted my mental, emotional and spiritual abilities trying to hold onto my marriage, finances, and my “picture perfect” life that I had worked so hard to build. The more I tried to fix my situation, the worse it got. It was like I was drowning and trying to save myself from drowning, which only ensured my death. I finally got smart and just STOPPED, stopped trying. I just got still. I surrendered.

In my stillness, I found a great loss heavy on my heart. My effort to fix my situation had been covering the grief, and now that I was no longer trying to fix my situation, the grief was surfacing. I made new attempts to find comfort, but every attempt proved unsuccessful, so again, all I could do was be still. And when I was still for long enough, I was finally able to see what was left: my essence, who I am. Who I am can never be taken or broken, and it is beautiful.

In finding my essence, I knew I had everything I needed all along. My external world had to be broken down and shed for me to see who I was. For the first time in my life, I was in a position to enjoy my riches. It was from this place that I was able to pick myself up, crawl out of my deep, dark, hole and take one step at a time to rebuild my life. I now look back at that painful time with great appreciation. It has given me the priceless gift of shedding my life of all that was not real. I am now able to live in a state of knowing who I am.

The weaker we feel, the greater the work. In my weak state, my strength was tested and revealed and I like what has surfaced in the shedding away. Whatever area you experience weakness, just know that it is there to reveal your strength. Who you are is greater than any external circumstance. Allow your essence to be revealed, and accept your unchangeable beauty.

Prevail

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 18:26:45 GMT

Prevail

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”

Harriet Beecher Stowe

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses prevail with Lorri Ann Code.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Lorri Ann Code is an author, certified life and career coach, a certified fitness trainer and Pilates instructor, and a clean eating expert. She specializes in helping women achieve their highest potential in wellness and fitness through her personalized training, clean eating, and life coaching services. Lorri Ann Code is an author, certified life and career coach, certified fitness trainer and Pilates instructor, and a clean eating expert. She specializes in helping women achieve their highest potential in wellness and fitness through her personalized training, clean eating, and life coaching services. She has been in the health and fitness industry since she was 17 years old and has come to realize the importance of approaching health and fitness by addressing the mind, spirit, and body. Find Lorri at www.mamabootcamp.com .

The way to prevail from life’s disappointments is to plan and prepare to prevail.

Disappointment and failure have visited us all, at one time or another. We all know we should “look on the bright side.” But when we are in the middle of a disappointment, the last thing we feel like doing is looking on the bright side. So, how then, can we? I say, “Have a plan in place for how you respond to disappointments.”

Be prepared for disappointments by developing and maintaining a strong positive outlook. When disappointment shows up in my life, the first thing I do is mentally disconnect from the outcome. I embrace the worst-case scenario and look for the good. Often times the only good I can entertain is the value in the learning of a lesson. I think of it as an award or like earning a degree in the school of hard knocks. I think, well, I’ll never do that again. Or, wow, what a small price to pay for a priceless lesson.

I have found that if I plan ahead of time to see the learning lesson with each disappointment or with each “failure,” I am able to get over it quicker. I have made many mistakes, some much worse than others, and the only thing that keeps regret and disappointment from paralyzing me and stifling my growth is that I choose to let it go and be grateful for the learning lesson. Disappointment and failure will continue to creep in, so be prepared with an outlook of appreciation for the wisdom gained in every situation. Without disappointment or failure, we wouldn’t be able to experience the confidence and strength that is produced when we prevail.

My Pig Story

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 18:18:43 GMT

My Pig Story

“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

Walt Disney

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses her pig story with Scott Ostrode.

Watch their conversation on YouTube or listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify .

Scott Ostrode grew up and has raised his family in the Sacramento area. His church family is important to him and supports the community and international children’s missions. Scott has been a licensed Realtor since 1998. In 2003 he joined Keller Williams Realty. He has been named Favorite Realtor by Style Magazine 5 times, recognized as Top Realtor by the NSBIA 3 times, and consistently ranked in the top 0.2% of Keller Williams Agents worldwide. Scott was recently recognized as an Elite Agent in the Northern California and Hawaii Region. Contact Scott at Sostrode@kw.com.

In 11th grade, I decided I wanted to raise a pig for the county fair. I went to Atwater High, in an agricultural town, and always had an interest but didn’t have the money or the space. My best friend, Kilie, was raising her first pig at her papa’s house in the country and I wanted to as well. I told my parents what I wanted to do, and they said I could. The only catch, I needed to come up with the money and find a place to raise it. I asked papa if he would be willing to allow me to use his property and if he would front me the money for food and supplies. As a result, I would repay him once I sold the pig at auction. He said yes!

I had another hurdle to overcome. How was I going to buy the pig? It was over $200, and I only had a week to get the money. I tried to think of who I could borrow the money from but had no promising prospects. As I was walking home from school one day, an idea took me on a little detour to County Bank. I walked into the bank and got in line like any other customer. When the teller asked, “How can I help you?” I responded, “Who makes the decisions here?” I didn’t know to ask for the branch manager.

Caught by surprise, she walked me over to the branch manager, and as I walked into his office, I suddenly got nervous, realizing I had no idea what I was doing or what I was to say. But since I had the manager’s time and attention, I described my situation and determination to raise a pig for the fair. I built my case as a “qualified borrower,” having a 4.0 and a plan for repayment. I can still see his facial expressions, clearly revealing his desire to help me. He asked me to provide a copy of my report card, a referral letter from one of my teachers, and written consent from my parents. By the next day, I signed an unsecured promissory note for $240, and I had my money to buy my pig.

I was so happy to pick out my pig, and every day after school, I would feed him and clean up his pin, and the closer the fair came, I began to hear the other students talking about “their buyers.” As I probed to find out what they meant by “buyers,” I learned that most of the kids’ parents had connections and arrangements for who would be buying their pig. My heart sank and, for the first time, feared the possibility of not being able to pay back my debts to papa and the bank.

As I walked home heavy-hearted, my wheels were spinning, “Who was going to buy my pig?” And just about the time I was walking by Lucky (our local grocery store), I thought, “Meat department!” So, I walked in, went straight to customer service, and asked who was in charge of the meat department. They ended up connecting me with the store manager, Roy Torres. As I began to explain my dilemma and need for a buyer, I saw Roy’s eyes light up, and I could see he too wanted to help me. He assured me that my pig would be purchased at auction.

When the auction day arrived, I saw Roy out in the stands, and my heart was overjoyed when he won the bid and purchased my pig. I not only sold my pig and paid back my debts but also earned a few extra bucks for my pocket. The next year I repeated the entire event with the help of the bank and Roy and successfully sold my second pig. It was the second year that I realized the Lucky meat department didn’t buy my pig. Roy did, and it brings tears of appreciation to my eyes, even today. When I find myself feeling stuck, like my hands are tied, I remember back to my pig story and how determined I was to accomplish my heart’s desire. I choose to live with that same belief, determination, and zeal. Whatever you want for your life, you can have. You just gotta take a step at a time. You are creative, resourceful, and able to accomplish anything you want!

How Things Happen For Us

Mon, 21 Mar 2022 18:12:40 GMT

How Things Happen For Us

“There is no security in this life. There is only opportunity.”

Douglas MacArthur

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses HOW THINGS HAPPEN FOR US with Jeremiah Miller.

Jeremiah Miller is a leadership coach and the founder of Forging Leaders. For the last 13 years, he has worked with business owners, executives, and other leaders to change the bad behaviors that keep them and their organizations stuck. Jeremiah lives with his wife, Andrea, and 5-year old son, Gable, in Roseville, California. Jeremiah is also a co-founder of a non-profit company called ForgingDisciples. Forging Disciples works to expand one-on-one biblical discipleship in the greater Sacramento area. They can be found at www.forgingdisciples.org .

Sometimes things happen in our lives that are beyond our control. Though we may never understand why difficulties arise, we can choose to believe they occur for our good. Job loss, heartbreak, losing our wallet, whatever the problem is, we have the option in how we respond. Responding with, “Why is this happening to me? It’s not fair,” are thoughts that deepen the disappointment. If rather, we choose to believe that things happen for us, instead of to us, it repositions us in a place of progress.

When my youngest brother started high school, my mom decided it was time for her to go after her lifelong dream of being a teacher. Going back to school after 20 years was really challenging, but she succeeded and got her teaching credentials. Right about that time, the economy and education system went down. The first few years after her graduation, she couldn’t get a job and took whatever sub days were offered to her.

She finally got a job, but at the end of the year got a pink slip. Every following year was the same story. She would get hired at a new school, new grade level, get established, then pink slip, and this repeated for several years.

The first few years, I was so angry. I was so frustrated for my mom, seeing what hard work she had done to get her credentials. I was thinking, “This isn’t fair. Why is this happening to her? My mom has done nothing for herself all these years, and when she finally has the time to do what she wants, she can’t get anywhere!” Well, what I witnessed from my mom is that she didn’t stay in that “Why is this happening to me?” mentality. She just made the best of her options. She made the most out of her situation, and doors have continued to open. Her positive outlook further developed great flexibility, patience, faith, and tenacity. She got comfortable being uncomfortable. She demonstrated this lesson that things don’t happen to us. They happen for us.

So, how do you respond to difficulty and disappointment? Do you ask why or do you choose to believe it is working for your good? If you choose to believe it is happening for you, then no challenge, disappointment, or obstacle will defeat you. You will be able to bounce back from anything. And when that difficult time has passed, your experience will give hope and encouragement to others. Keep heart during any challenge. Know that the difficulty will pass and will produce greatness in your life!

Getting Into Alignment

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 18:03:17 GMT

Getting Into Alignment

“The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this – decide what you want.”

Ben Stein

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses ALIGNMENT with Carl Rabun.

Listen to their conversation: https://youtu.be/geCI3WejgrI

Carl Rabun, Ph.D., has over 15 years of experience training professionals in soft skills development, 20 years of experience working with government agencies, and over 10 years of experience managing teams within various public and private sector organizations. Carl is a Leadership and Management consultant for Mechanics Bank, UC Davis Center for Professional Education, and Sacramento State College of Continuing Education. His areas of expertise are motivation, customer/client relations, communication skills, personality, generational dynamics, diversity, conflict resolution, team dynamics, strength-based coaching, and goal setting.

We all have an outer life and an inner life. The outer life is our public life that everyone else can see, composed of our behaviors and our results. We often focus on our outer life with everyone else, and our inner life is unseen and made up of our thoughts, attitudes, and motives. To be in alignment, we must connect our outer life with our inner life, and doing that simply takes a little attention.

Too often, we get busy rushing here and there, meeting others’ expectations, unaware of what our inner life is telling us. Have you ever committed to attending an event and, after you were there, realized that you really didn’t want to be there in the first place? This is a perfect example of our outer life being disconnected from our inner life. We get out of alignment when this happens. When we are out of alignment, we cannot live in efficiency and ease.

To create alignment, we must listen to our inner life or our inner voice and then take action. Our inner voice may be telling us to calm down, relax, and be still. It may be telling us to go for it and make a change, but how will we know what it is saying if we are not listening? Too often, we look outside of ourselves for direction and answers, and we look at their circumstances in our outer life to make those logical decisions. But if we were to slow down and listen to our inner voice then take action, we would be in alignment and have efficiency and ease.

Where do you feel out of alignment? Where is there a disconnect? If you are experiencing a disconnect, stop, slow down and listen inward, listening for guidance and clarity. When we line up our outer life with our inner life, we get into a prosperous flow. Our relationships have more harmony, the productivity in our work increases, and our happiness is high. Align your outer life with your inner life today.

Signals

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 18:54:56 GMT

Signals

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”

Maya Angelo

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses listening to our SIGNALS with Alla Weinberg

Listen to their conversation: https://youtu.be/_4YyuZJMfd8

Alla Weinberg specializes in helping companies build cultures where people feel safe, respected, and able to do their best work. She is the CEO of Spoke & Wheel, a people and team development company. Alla is a workplace relationship expert with training from the Co-Active Training Institute (CTI) and from Organizational Relationship and Systems Coaching (ORSC). She is the former Senior Manager of Executive Leadership Development at Salesforce, the world’s #1 CRM software.

In 2020, Alla’ book: A culture of Safety: Building an environment for people to think, collaborate, and innovate.

Learn more about Alla at www.spokeandwheel.co

When something is uncomfortable or displeasing, we generally try to make it go away. When we have a headache, we take an aspirin instead of asking, “What is my body signaling?” Discomfort and irritation are actually signals. They’re flashing yellow signs that say, “Slow down. Pay attention. Something is going on.” A headache can be provoked by thirst, so if we take an aspirin and make the headache go away, the dehydration is still there. The signal is just covered.

One of the emotions I avoid is irritation. I don’t like irritation. It’s annoying and makes me cranky. In recent days, I have found myself having an increased level of irritation. I tried all my positive attitude tricks, like reading inspiring books, writing affirmations, listening to uplifting music, but the irritation just wouldn’t go away. I found myself being snappy with my family and those around me. Since none of my efforts seemed to be working, I decided to look up the word irritation. Some of the synonyms for irritation were motivation, stimulus, and provocation.

Reading that completely shifted my perspective on this irritation and why it was present in my life. I began looking at this irritation as a tool to help me grow, a tool to provoke me into action. I was then able to recognize that the irritation was created from my stagnancy, being in my comfort zone too long. It was time for change, time for growth, and time for me to get out of my cozy little comfort bed and step into my greatness. Thank God I recognized what my irritation was signaling instead of covering it up with entertainment or avoidance.

Where do you have irritation in your life? Why is that irritation there? What is it signaling for you? It may be telling you to break the status quo and challenge yourself. It may be telling you to stretch and get out of your comfort zone. When you experience irritation, be open to seeing that it is there to produce greatness and growth in your life. Get up, get going and let irritation motivate you to take action and provoke growth.

Flow

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:46:53 GMT

Flow

“Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

Lao Tzu

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses FLOW with Rick VanDermyden.

Rick is a Corporate Trainer, Keynote Speaker, and Executive Coach with The John Maxwell Company. He is driven by a relentless passion for personal growth and leadership development. His focus is on transforming individuals, small businesses, and corporations to their highest level of leadership.

With well over a decade of coaching, speaking, and most- importantly, real-world executive-level business experience in real estate development and mortgage lending, Rick teaches and applies the mindset, principles, and strategies that will take your life and business to the next level. Rick is passionate and committed to growing leaders that are ready and willing to make a positive impact in the world.

Finding your flow is as simple as knowing what you want and where you are going while embracing everything that disrupts your plans adds ingredients to your success. Flow is simple but not easy. Finding this flow requires surrender, flexibility, creativity, and appreciation. We must surrender the need to control.

In the book Power vs. Force, author David Hawkins extensively explored this truth. He explains the contrast of forcing something versus allowing. Force and domination may appear to have power, but they are actually rooted in fear and the need to control. There is no power in fear, and in fact, the need for control is imprisoning. On the contrary, when we are free from force and in a prosperous flow, we are free from fear and free from the need to control. We are taking actions rooted from faith, hope, love, and abundance. Where in your world are you experiencing struggle, strain, or stress?

Where are you feeling weary due to effort and over-exertion? When these emotions are present, you can be sure there is some domination at work, fighting against what is and trying to force what you want into existence. When you recognize this, you can choose to release that force. Let go of the fear and step into the flow of acceptance. That is true power.

When I find myself in that place of force and domination, I pause and give myself some space to allow clarity. I make a choice to stop resisting what is. From that space of allowance, I can see options and pathways. I am in peace and ease, and almost immediately, I can take action from a place of flow.

Don’t miss opportunities by trying to force your desires into existence. Instead, choose surrender, appreciation, and enjoy the flow in your life.

Intention

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 18:40:24 GMT

Intention

“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.”

William A. Foster

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses INTENTION with Amber Barnes.

Amber is the founder and Chief Education Officer of StartHuman, a leadership and culture development practice on a mission to re-humanize the workplace. Amber is a trained organization development practitioner and educator. She has an MS in Organization Development and a BS in Elementary and Special Education. She’s certified to facilitate the work of Brené Brown and Ken Blanchard’s work, as well as several personality and behavior assessments. Amber is a certified coach through the Coaches Training Institute and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She’s trained with the Conscious Leadership Group and Susan Fowler. She is trauma-informed with training in both Internal Family Systems and Somatic Trauma Therapy modalities.

Our current environment and culture of technology, accessibility, and speed have undoubtedly created a busy lifestyle. Business often forfeits intention. And the intention is what we need to have enjoyment and fulfillment in our lives. One definition for the word intention is “an aim, objective or the quality of purposefulness.” Based On those definitions, can you see how important having intention is? Without intention, we are left to default and tossed in the wind

Would I have had such enriching conversations without the intention? Maybe…maybe not. It’s uncertain. Without the intention, it would have been left up to luck and chance.

Try it for yourself. Be intentional about what you want out of your daily routines, your meetings, conversations, or any event in your life. Our lives are precious. Time goes by with or without intention, so why not try to get the most out of our lives. Today, I encourage you to set your mind on what you want to accomplish and what you want to have. Intend on having great conversations. Intend on having a steady sense of peace or joy. Intend on achieving the success you desire. See what happens when you live with intention. You will be pleasantly surprised.

The Perfect Game

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 00:27:06 GMT

The Perfect Game

“Make a game of finding something positive in every situation. 95% of your emotions are determined by how you interpret events to yourself.”

Brian Tracy

In Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses THE PERFECT GAME with Jodie Stevens.

Jodie Stevens is the founder of “Genuine Life Recovery,” which encompasses the Genuine Life Recovery podcast, blog, and public speaking to help people overcome addiction and co-dependency. In addition, she has been a radio host, voice-over artist, and producer for 30 years. She currently works in her home studio, where she records her podcast and does commercial and audiobook production and narration. She has a BA in journalism and an MA in Leadership. She is currently working on her second master’s degree, an MS in addiction counseling, which will lead to her Addiction Counseling License. For more information and to listen to Jodie’s Podcast and Audiobook, go to Jodiestevens.org .

Our lives would drastically improve if we were to start playing The “Perfect” Game, every day, all day. The “Perfect” Game works like this…any time something goes wrong — being late to work, forgotten homework, pay cut, or a fight with a friend — no matter what it is- say to yourself, “That’s perfect.” Then think of all the reasons it is perfect. The more challenging the obstacle, the more creative you will become in finding why it’s perfect.

When you first start this game, it may be a bit of a challenge to come up with reasons it’s perfect that you ripped a hole in a new pair of pants or got a pay-cut. But if you are willing to play, you will find reasons. And as you develop the habit of playing this game, your thought process will begin to change. It will become easier and easier to see why disappointments and delays are perfect. You will be able to see how all things work to your benefit. It will become your natural thought process, and that is where the real beauty shows up. That is when your creativity will produce endless possibilities.

You can play this game with your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, co-workers, and neighbors. We have a lot of fun hearing the silly reasons my kids come up with. We are creating a culture of creativity in our world, and I encourage you to do the same in yours! Try it out today and this week. If something doesn’t work out as planned or if a disappointment pops up, remember to say to yourself, “It’s perfect!” and begin to think of the reasons why everything will work out in your favor.

Enthusiasm

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:22:35 GMT

Enthusiasm

“Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that.”

Norman Vincent Peale

On Today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses ENTHUSIASM with Tiffany Bizzack.

Tiffany is an experienced and passionate UC Davis trainer with almost two decades of Human Services experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Through her work with UC Davis, Tiffany promotes greatness through empowerment and accountability while supporting the humanity, care, and dignity of the people we work with and work for in our communities. Her highly sought-after workshops are fun, thoughtful, and enlightening. Participants leave feeling inspired to make positive changes in how they work and participate in accomplishing their organizational goals.

During a financially challenging time, I learned a great lesson about enthusiasm and hope. I wrote about my experience, and several years after that time, I was thumbing through an old journal and came across what I had written. I thought about re-writing my experience but felt it would take away from it, so I’ll keep my expressions intact and share with you exactly what I wrote.

“So, I would say in the past year, or so, I have had some tough times financially. I was at my cute little apartment yesterday taking care of my little angel, Jayden. He had surgery that morning when I heard a knock at the door. I went to open it, and it was the PG&E man. I have been behind on my PG&E since December (Christmas lights bill). I pay $100 every month, but apparently, that wasn’t enough to stop PG&E from shutting off my service. He was gracious enough to allow me to call in and make a payment over the phone, which I did right then and prevented it from being shut off. As he was leaving, we were casually talking. After some humorous conversations with Jayden and myself, we got to talking about the economy and real estate. When he found out I was selling real estate, he began in on how horrible it is for realtors making such small commissions, etc. I responded with my typical excitement and enthusiasm about the business, and my outlook was made clear to him. We started talking about the various opportunities in the current market and what was working. As it turns out, he owns dozens of rentals and just bought another. He is looking now for a fourplex! The more we got to talking, he ended up sharing his complimentary discernment of my abilities and gave me his info for me to look for a property for him.

Long story short, when you develop a genuinely positive outlook, it will shine. It will shine especially bright during the dark times, and as crazy as it sounds- the man that came to shut off my PG&E is now my client. Despite my current financial challenge, it is pretty apparent that it is only a temporary challenge and what I like to think of as a training period.”

Even today, when I read what I wrote, I can remember the way I felt during that time and on that day. I was under much more than financial pressure. My entire life was in upheaval, going through a divorce, uncertain about all I thought I had and knew. My mind and emotions flooded daily with fears, doubts, and worries. I also remember this vein of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm that kept me alive, kept me moving forward, and that is what the PG&E man saw and felt from me. I encourage you today to find your enthusiasm. Find your hope in every situation. You have it. Tap into it and let it flow out of you. Your enthusiasm will create your path from your challenge to your success. I encourage you this week; just know, whatever you are facing, it is temporary. It will pass. You can have enthusiasm and hope in every difficult situation.

Grow

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 00:15:50 GMT

Grow

“There are no failures-just experiences and your reaction to them.”

Tom Krause

On today’s Monday Motivation, Corry discusses GROWTH with Suzy Sammons.

Suzy is a brand strategy expert and creative storyteller. She has led a long, award-winning career with creative agencies like TBWA\Chiat\Day, Saatchi; Saatchi, 180LA, serving Fortune 500 brands across categories. She has served as CEO of a nonprofit in media and entertainment, and today she oversees the client services for a growing creative agency in Nashville, Tennessee. Suzy also has her own personal story of transformation and growth and is writing the story of her family’s legacy in a book (and movie) called Collisions. Suzy and her husband Steve live in Nashville and enjoy a blended, beautiful family of six children and two English retrievers.

If you’d like help clarifying your brand and growing your business, you can connect with Suzy on her website at www.hawkeye.pro .

What is failure? Some synonyms of failure are breakdown, stoppage, malfunction, crash, and collapse. Have you experienced a collapse in a relationship? A stoppage in finances? Any malfunction with your plans? A crash in your efforts? A breakdown in communication?

If you can answer yes to any of those questions, you can celebrate. Those malfunctions are opportunities for you to grow and to learn. So, how do we grow from failure? Well, the questions we ask ourselves immediately following any failure will determine whether or not we learn. Asking questions that lead to understanding creates growth. Asking questions that lead to searching for someone or something to blame prohibits growth. When we blame others for our failures we compromise the possibility to learn and grow from those experiences.

Have you ever found yourself dealing with the same failure over and over? If so, you can, again, celebrate. You see, when the same problem shows up again and again, it is providing you with as many opportunities necessary for you to learn and grow in that area. If the same failure keeps showing up, see it as extra chances to work through that problem. Don’t dwell on the failures. Instead see each failure as a highly valuable learning experience that can provide you a treasure of wisdom and understanding.

Below are some great questions you can ask yourself to create a learning experience from any failure:

• What lessons have I learned from this situation?

• What can I be grateful for from this experience?

• What can I do to turn this failure into a success?

• Where do I go from here?

• Who else has failed in this way before, and how can that person (or their experience) help me?

• How can my experience help others someday to keep from failing in this area?

• What were some of the contributing factors to this failure?

• Where did I succeed as well as fail?

I encourage you today- use every single failure as an opportunity to grow and learn. Use the questions above to grow from your most recent failure and enjoy the growth it will create for you.

Energy

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 00:09:10 GMT

Energy

“The higher your energy level, the more efficient your body, the more efficient your body, the better you feel and the more you will use your talent to produce outstanding results.”

Tony Robbins

Monday Motivation with Corry and Jill! Today, they discussed ENERGY.

Jill has been a licensed Realtor since December 2005. Her enthusiasm, integrity, and passion have led her to a successful career in Real Estate, and she continues to be in the top 1% of Realtors in the Tri-County Region. Jill enthusiastically enjoys helping her clients through the process of buying and selling homes.

Jill can be found on Instagram (@realtorjillvandusen) and Facebook (@JillVanDusenKellerWilliamsRealEstate), where she hosts her own weekly show called “Get Real with Jill.” You can also visit Jill on her website at jillsellsrealestate.com.

When I got my first smartphone, one of my biggest complaints was that the battery would drain too quickly. Before noon I had to re- charge it. What I learned is that certain applications consumed more battery life than others. Once I figured that out, I was more purposeful with how I used my phone and my battery would easily last all day. This is no different than our own lives.

Every day, we start out with a certain amount of energy- physical, mental and emotional, and it is up to us to ensure we have ample energy for our entire day. So, how do we plan, prepare and maintain plenty of energy for the day? One way is to know what our energy drainers and our energy infusers are. We make hundreds of choices each day that either drain our energy or recharge it. Our choices with food, choices with our thoughts, choices with our actions, and choices of who we hang around with, are all either increasing or decreasing our energy.

One thing I’ve recently done to keep my energy re-charging is to create an energy infuser list. I list things and people that are fun or make me feel good. The things that are fun were pretty obvious, but the things that make me feel good require a little more thought. Because there are things that may not feel good at the time, but end up re-energizing me afterward, like going for a run, eating a salad, cleaning out my car, going to bed early, etc.

What and who are your energy infusers? Keep a running list of who and what re-charge you and then make sure that you are putting energy infusers on your calendar. Delete or eliminate as many energy drainers as possible. Watch how your days are more productive,enjoyable and fulfilling!

Abundance

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 00:03:22 GMT

Abundance

Monday Motivation with Corry and Steve! Today, they discuss ABUNDANCE.

“Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.”

Wayne Dyer

Steve Heard has been serving Folsom and Greater Sacramento Area since 2002. A Bay Area transplant, he fell in love with the region, so much so that he switched careers to help others discover it. You can find Steve volunteering for community events such as the Folsom Pro Rodeo, Folsom LIVE! music festival, and many Chamber of Commerce events. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Folsom Chamber of Commerce and serves as an Ambassador, he is a former Arts Commissioner, former Treasurer for the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership, and graduated from the Folsom Leadership Academy. When not working and volunteering, he enjoys jogging, walking or biking Folsom’s many miles of nature trails, including the recently completed Johnny Cash Trail. All of this adds up to Steve knowing Folsom and it’s market very well, and he uses his knowledge to help guide buyers through the homebuying process and helps them write winning offers on their homes. You can contact Steve at http://steveheardrealtor.com/ .

Abundance is a mindset. It is not simply what we have. It is how we see. With an abundant mindset we see and feel that we have more than enough, regardless of our external circumstances. That outlook creates freedom, free from worry and stress. It is a place of knowing that all needs are met. Abundant thinking sees overflow and creates a natural sense of generosity.

With scarcity on the other hand, there is a feeling of lack, need, want, and not enough. Scarcity creates a “barely get by, survival” mentality. A scarcity mindset will cause you to want to hold onto things. It is difficult to share, with emotions of scarcity, because of the concern for oneself. Thoughts of, “It’s mine. I need.” are present. A key indicator of scarcity is fear; fear that someone or something will take what you have or that you will lose it.

Abundance cannot be present in scarcity and scarcity cannot be present in abundance, so, which would you prefer, abundance or scarcity? I’m guessing you are like me and prefer abundance. So, how do we create an abundant mindset, when lack is present? Well, it is a choice. Make the decision to develop a mindset of abundance and begin to take action from that place. From there, you will create more than enough. You will attract more than enough.

I have experienced this in an extremely challenging area, my children. Since my divorce, I have had to “share” my children. In the beginning I was overwhelmed with emotions of scarcity, wanting them every chance I could. I battled thoughts and emotions of not having enough time with them and not having enough influence on them. I battled scarcity in just about every area you could imagine. This scarcity consumed me. I eventually became exhausted from my scarcity mindset and surrendered to abundance. That choice eventually created the abundance I longed for.

You can develop the abundance you long for, in whatever area you may be experiencing scarcity, by simply choosing. Decide today to see your situation with abundance, more than enough time, more than enough money, more than enough attention, more than enough love. Watch your mindset and actions create abundance and joy.

Resourcefulness

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 23:52:30 GMT

Resourcefulness

Monday Motivation with Corry and Jennifer! Today, they discuss RESOURCEFULNESS.

“He who knows he has enough is rich.”

Tao Te Ching

Jennifer Edwards Robinson is a business and leadership advisor working with Fortune 500 companies and boards, equipping them to perform and collaborate optimally when pressure and stress hit. Her clients include top leaders at global companies, including Microsoft, and WeWork. She is a partner at Winning Streak Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund which invests in disruptive technology companies. Jennifer is the author of “Bridge the Gap”. Bridge the Gap is a framework to help you step up and deepen the quality of your relationships, especially in the workplace. Quality communication and collaboration is thelynchpin of success and it begins with you. Her Book “Bridge the Gap” is being published by McGraw-Hill Professional, and scheduled for release on February 22, 2022. You can Pre-order on Amazon at https://amzn.to/2NARXMy . You can find out more about Jennifer at howtobridgethegap.com .

Lack of money isn’t real. That’s a pretty bold statement to grasp, especially when a financial hardship is present. What I mean by that statement is thinking and believing we don’t have enough money limits us tremendously. The root belief here is, “I need money for…” Is money really the only means of being able to have or do? This way of thinking creates a very narrow reality and shuts down possibilities. It ultimately stops us from doing what we can. The truth is there are endless possibilities when we are open to seeing them and when we let go of the belief that we don’t have enough.

The belief that we don’t have enough money is a conditioned way of thinking that says we need something outside of ourselves to obtain what we want. It is the ultimate marketing plan causing us to need or want more.

Have you ever thought, “Once I have more money, I’ll be able to relax,” or “Once I have enough money, I’ll visit another country,” or “Once I have more money, I’ll be more generous,” or “Once I have enough money I’ll have more fun”?

When you find yourself thinking those thoughts, STOP. Ask yourself, “What can I do now, with what I have and who I am now?” If you are willing to let go of the belief that you need more, you will tap into a creative resource that is full of possibilities. You will connect with others that will want to help and support you. You will have what you desire and more will flow into your life.

When I was going through one of my worst financial times, I had no steady income. I was a single mom, selling real estate and I was broke. I had depleted my little 401k to ensure I could pay for my rent, gas and groceries. I had always wanted a large kitchen table to have family over for meals, and clearly now wasn’t the time for me to spend money on something like that. One day, I was on a listing appointment and the couple I was meeting with were divorcing and downsizing. In conversation I had briefly complimented their beautiful table. We went on with the paperwork and off I left. The next day I got a call from the woman, saying that she and her husband wanted to give me their table. Oh, my goodness! I was so happy! This table was exactly what I had imagined buying one day. It was dark wood. The design was very simple, elegant and rustic. I knew right there that I was going to be ok. My financial struggles would not limit me from having and doing what I wanted. I knew there were endless possibilities of HOW I would have the life of my dreams. I no longer looked at money as the only means to obtain my heart’s desires.

So, where are you today? What are you believing is possible or impossible based on your current resources? STOP believing you need something outside of yourself to obtain what you desire. You already have everything you need. Allow your resourcefulness and creativity to produce what you want.

Shift It

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 23:52:09 GMT

Shift It

“You can have everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Zig Ziglar

Corry and Amy Armstrong discuss SHIFT IT!

Amy Armstrong is the founder of “Dry but Wet”, a resource dedicated to highlighting non-alcoholic drinks and where you can find them. “Dry but Wet’s” mission is to create a positive and inclusive drinking experience for all and to normalize non-alcoholic drinking in Australia. Using their extensive knowledge and expertise in the sector, they connect their customers with the best quality non-alcoholic drinks that are suited to each person’s taste. Amy believes that by removing the stigma around non-alcoholic drinking and creating the best possible experience for the “Dry but Wet” customer, they are more likely to stay on track with their health goals and enjoy a social and rewarding life, without alcohol. Learn more about her on website: www.drybutwet.com.au

Do you have a specific challenge in your life that is bugging you? How much time and energy is your current challenge costing you? We all have our own set of struggles and disappointments. That is life. The fact is…WHAT WE FOCUS ON EXPANDS. Therefore, when we have a problem, the more we worry about it, the heavier the burden it becomes.

Would you like to shift that burden and get the weight of it off of your shoulders? It can easily be done. Simply shift your attention off of your problems and on to a more productive focus. The more productive focus would be, “WHO CAN I HELP TODAY?”

Despite the current challenges you are facing, you are always capable of helping someone else. My dad has always told me, “There’s always gonna be someone who has more than you, but there’s also always someone else who has less.” Which side do you choose to focus on? You see it doesn’t matter how low you feel or how down you are. If you stop and look around, you will find someone who could use your help. By stopping and helping that person, you will experience the shift in your cares and concerns. Through serving and helping others we gain joy, purpose, and prosperity. The very key needed to unlock your breakthrough can be found through serving and helping others.

I encourage you today to pause your busy life and find at least one person and one way to help someone. Below are some ideas:

• Send a card of encouragement or appreciation to a co-worker, family member, or neighbor.

• Anonymously send flowers to someone who could use some color in their day.

• Make a meal for a family or elderly neighbor.

• Mow a lawn for a neighbor.

• Give something you don’t use away, instead of selling it.

• Volunteer an afternoon at a shelter or non-profit.

• Go to a park and pick up trash.

Every day there are so many opportunities to help others. Be on the lookout and seize every opportunity, then watch the levels of joy and prosperity in your life rise.

Surrender

Mon, 27 Dec 2021 23:51:51 GMT

Surrender

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

Reinhold Niebuhr

Richard and Susan Ledford (aka my parents) discuss SURRENDER with Corry! They have been married for almost 45 years. My mom is a teacher and a hula dancer and my dad is a retired forklift operator. My dad loves riding his Harley and is living his best life the last 3 years after conquering a 60 year battle with alcoholism. They are known as Grammy and Pappy to their 9 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. They have a wonderful marriage, but have survived a lot to get here. They have been the perfect parents for me, fueling me to be doing exactly what we are doing today – inspiring others to have hope and spread hope to all.

Would you like more peace, joy, and happiness in your life? If you do, you can create more of it through surrender, acceptance and by simply letting things go. Stress, on the other hand, will rob or dilute our ability to enjoy life. Where does stress come from? The main cause of stress is resistance to that which is out of our hands. You may be able to recognize resistance on a vast scale and in a variety of areas. Resistance appears in situations as simple as not getting your parking spot, or as complex as the loss of a loved one. Any situation or circumstance that we resist creates stress.

Take a few minutes now to recognize and identify any areas that may be causing you stress. Take inventory of where your mental, physical, and spiritual energy is going.

Write down the things/people/events that are creating stress for you.
Next to each item write, “Yes” if you can do something about it or, “No” if it is out of your hands.
For the items you wrote “Yes” next to, write down what action you choose to take to resolve it and when you will complete it by. Pull out your calendar and book the appointment time that you will take care of it.
For the items that are out of your control, write down the method you will use to LET IT GO.

The method may be a matter of you praying or meditating to release the burden. It may be that you write in your journal. It may be you simply saying, “I let this go” out loud. Sometimes, just identifying it and choosing to let it go is all it takes.

Choose now to LET GO of the things that are out of your control.Take action on the things that are within your control and enjoy the extra energy you have from doing so.

Choice

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 23:50:53 GMT

Choice

“I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.”

Muhammad Ali

Corry and Kristina discuss CHOICE! Kristina Foerster has been in the event planning industry since graduating from college in 2014. After working in the corporate world for a little over 8 years she realized her passion was Wedding Coordination. She loves Planning Beautiful Events on a smaller scale. So, in 2016 she took the leap, and started her own business, “Events By Kristina Elyse”. Learn more about Kristina at eventsbykristinaelyse.com .

We cannot control the hand that is dealt to us. However, we can choose how we play it. Life is full of choices, but it is up to us to see that we have a choice and then to make a choice. Too often we don’t view life as a sea of choices. Instead we see it from a place of default, having to make due with what we have and settle with where we are.

One area I ask you to consider today, is the choice of who you are and who you are becoming. It really doesn’t matter where you started or what you have done. Some are given a great start with every resource and opportunity; others start out with the world working against them. Either group could go either way- into a fulfilled and purposeful life or into disappointment and misery. The ONLY difference is what they choose.

So, what do you choose for your life and your future? It is NEVER, and I mean NEVER, too late to shift your life course. Don’t waste a thought reflecting on past mistakes or misfortunes. Instead put that energy into creating your future. Just making a choice and creating a vision for who you are becoming is enough to fuel you to have the life you always wanted. If you were the author of your own life’s story, what would you write next? Where are you going? Who will you become? How does it end? It truly is up to you!

Start right now. Take a few minutes to author your story. Spend some time every day to continue creating your book. You can choose where you are going and what you will become. If you don’t author it, default will.

Prescence

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 23:50:34 GMT

Prescence

“The supreme value is not the future but the present. Whoever builds a house for future happiness builds a prison for the present.”

Octavio Paz

Corry and Allison discuss PRESENCE in today’s Motivation Monday. Allison Crow, M.Ed, is a Life and Self-Leadership coach for authentic and ambitious people. She has been teaching, speaking, and coaching in one form or another since the mid-90s. Allison helps her clients overcome fears, increase their satisfaction in life and work, navigate big changes, earn more money, and cultivate fully expressed and successful life and work. Learn more about Allison on her website, https://allisoncrow.com

One wet fall morning my cousin Sara and I were running along Folsom Lake. She asked me if I lived in the past, present or the future. I knew my answer immediately. My thoughts were consumed with the future. Her question really got my attention. In answering her, I recognized what had been robbing my joy. The solution was clear – Live in the present. Let go of the past and do not be concerned with the future. The problem of expending our thoughts on the past or the future is that we trade something that doesn’t exist for what does. We cannot change our past and there is no guarantee we will have a future, but what we can be certain of is, we have this moment.

Worry is the biggest culprit in stealing our present moment. Think of some of the biggest worries most of us struggle with – worries about money. Even if you are going bankrupt, you rob yourself of the present reality when you get stuck on what will happen in the future. So what would it take to enjoy this moment? It is as simple as that. When we decide to be present we ignite our awareness and it automatically brings us present. Being present causes sadness, longing, and regret to vanish. Being present provides space for peace, joy, appreciation, and happiness.

I encourage you to enjoy your life by being present with this moment and appreciate that you have it. Enjoy this moment right now. Use your 5 senses. Write down what you hear, see, taste, feel, and smell. Take a few deep breaths and take in your surroundings. You are probably starting to feel some appreciation come to you. Write down the things you appreciate. There, you are present in this moment. You can do this any time you feel yourself going into your past or considering your future. Make being present a daily habit and enjoy all that it creates for you.

Purpose

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 23:49:30 GMT

Purpose

“Every problem has in it the seeds of its own solution. If you don’t have any problems, you don’t get any seeds.”

Norman Vincent Peale

Corry and Linaya discuss PURPOSE! Linaya Bunbury is a business owner and artist for Belief In Eden, as well as, an associate pastor at Calvary Chapel Assembly in Seattle, Washington. You can find Linaya’s work on etsy, https://www.etsy.com/shop/BeliefAndEden.

Every storm can have a purpose. Storms test us, reveal what is within, and produce strength. We have all been through difficult times and the more turbulent the storm, the more strength and beauty it will produce in you. During one of the most difficult times of my life, I surely felt like I was in the middle of a storm. I was fearful and disoriented with doubts, confusion, and I felt completely alone. At first I spent great efforts trying to figure out my storm. I tried relentlessly to conquer it. I strived and strained to get rid of it. I exhausted my mind composing plans that only failed to make it go away. Despite my efforts to make my storm dissipate, I made no progress. When I recognized that I had depleted my will and my efforts, I resolved to embrace the storm for what it was, it was there for a purpose and that purpose was good. The storm was there to produce greatness in me.

Just like palm trees, my storm had come to break my ground and deepen my roots. When I finally made peace with my storm and accepted the uncertainty, I experienced a change on the inside, calming me. Though nothing had changed on the outside, nor did it for quite a while after. But the change on the inside created in me a new focus, one of peace, appreciation and trust. My inner strength was revealed and I am now so grateful for that time in my life. It revealed to me who I really am.

Whatever storm you may be in, know that it is there for a reason and the reason is good. Don’t resist it. Don’t run away from it. Let the storm run its course and reveal to you new insights. Allow the storm to do its work inside and you will be delighted at what shows up outside. Just know that the storm will pass and you will be stronger for it.

Attention

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 23:48:29 GMT

Attention

“Choice of attention – to pay attention to this and ignore that – is to the inner life what choice of action is to the outer. In both cases, a man is responsible for his choice and must accept the consequences, whatever they may be.”

W. H. Auden

Attention is like a magnet. It will draw in whatever you give your attention to. Therefore, pay attention to what you pay attention to. Your attention is going to be on something, whether you are purposeful with it or not. Don’t allow your attention to be on autopilot, taken over by whatever comes your way. Choose where and how you invest it.

Throughout your day take notice of where your attention is. Is it being given over to productive thoughts of creativity, appreciation, and contribution? Or is it being given over to disappointment, obstacles, and complaining? Think of your attention like any other resource. Use it wisely. Let your attention be an investment, not a liability. Know that whatever you put your attention on will grow.

You know the saying, “Give him an inch, he’ll take a mile.” That is what happens with our attention, so make sure you are spending it on an area you want to see grow. Know this; whatever you choose to focus on will expand. When you recognize that your attention has been given over to unproductive things, such as complaining, worry, gossip, or fear, simply shift your attention onto whatever it is that you would like more of, love, joy, gratitude, peace, contribution, creativity, harmony, generosity, fun, and happiness. Plan ahead. Start your day out on the right track by choosing to be purposeful in what you give your attention to and experience a great sense of empowerment and improved results.

Do it now, write down what you are willing to give your attention to today and like a magnet, watch how your attention will be drawn to those things you wrote down.

Beliefs

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 23:47:48 GMT

Beliefs

“This is how humans are: we question all our beliefs, except for the ones we really believe, and those we never think to question.”

~ Orson Scott Card

Corry and Kristen discuss BELIEFS ! Join in on their conversation.

A belief is any story we hold as true, whether we are aware of it or not. Sometimes our beliefs are accurate and sometimes they are not. Regardless of their accuracy, we hold them as factual. Our beliefs create our emotions. Our emotions develop into moods and attitudes. And our moods and attitudes influence our decisions and our actions.

Ultimately, beliefs create our reality.

Where do our beliefs come from? Though others can influence us, outside influences do not create our beliefs. We create our beliefs by the thoughts we have about our experiences. This is why beliefs can vary greatly from person to person. There could be a dozen people in the same location, at the same time, involved with the same occurrence and you will hear 12 different stories, 12 different experiences. Whose story is accurate? Each person holds their own story as true, so it’s subjective.

So, what do we do with our beliefs to ensure they are true and that they are working for us? We question them. We challenge them. Recognize a belief you are holding right now about your current situation. Write it down and then ask yourself, “Is that belief true? Is it a fact or what else could possibly be true?” By simply questioning our beliefs, we open up our ability to entertain other possible truths and this willingness creates an open mindset which is needed for growth. Choose today to create an open mindset, necessary for growth by questioning your beliefs. When you do this, possibilities are created and growth is certain.

Don’t get stuck in your current belief system, grow out of it and into beliefs that support your goals and dreams.

Thought Life

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 23:26:40 GMT

Thought life

“We are not our feelings, We are not our moods, We are not even our thoughts.”

Stephen R. Covey

We are not our thoughts. Thoughts come to us, but they are not always from us. Although we cannot control thoughts coming to us, we can decide what we do with them. It starts by being aware of them. I’ll share with you a personal experience that conveys just how irrational our thoughts can be, if left unchecked.

It’s actually a little embarrassing, but since I am not my thoughts, I’ll go ahead and share.

I received an email promoting an event. The photo of the keynote speaker captured my attention. Although the speaker was well dressed and had a great smile, it wasn’t her beauty that caught my eye. What intrigued me most was, she had no arms. As I read her bio, I learned she is a pilot, has a black belt in Taekwondo, recently learned how to surf, and is an exceptionally inspiring speaker.

I initially felt motivated by her story, but that inspiration quickly disappeared. In a split second, I felt discouraged and this shift made me wonder why? When I questioned that discouragement, I realized a fleeting thought had created the change in my mood. The thought was so quick and quiet, “You will never be that inspirational because you have arms.” Now that is just outright ridiculous. When I realized my thought was irrational I, literally, laughed out loud.

I had an irrational thought, but no more irrational than any other limiting belief that stops us from taking action on a dream. “I don’t have an education, I’m too old, I’m too young, I don’t have enough money, I have too much money, I don’t have enough experience, my upbringing was too sheltered, my upbringing was too dysfunctional”… the list goes on. Whatever thoughts you have heard as to why you can’t be, do, or have, just know, they are just thoughts. They are not you. You get to decide what you do with your thoughts!

Keep your thought life in check and choose what thoughts you will believe.

Perspective

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 23:26:40 GMT

Perspective

“Few people have the imagination for reality.”

~ Goethe

Marianne and Corry discuss PERSPECTIVE on today’s Monday Motivation! Marianne Emma Jeff is a best selling author, award winning speaker, and women’s productivity coach. She is also the founder and CEO of The Momentum Squad, a system that turns up the volume on your passion and excitement and look beyond now into what’s next as you think BIG ,start small and own your Momentum with ease, flow and satisfaction, every day! Learn more about Marianne on her website .

For most of us, we prefer to be in a place of certainty. We like to see where we are going and have assurance that we are going to get there. We want to know who is going with us. Not knowing and not seeing can be a very vulnerable place.Try this quick exercise. Close your eyes and walk around your office or house for a few minutes doing a routine task. When you do this, you may experience emotions of perplexity and frustration, even though you are in a place of familiarity. Do this same exercise in a place you are not familiar with and the emotions may increase to stress, fear, and anxiety.That’s what it’s like in our lives when we lack vision. Vision can be blurred or lost due to a change that we have initiated or that has been thrown our way. It can feel scary in these places of uncertainty, when our sight is compromised. The normal response to loss of vision is fear and panic, a frantic scurry to get sight back and re-create familiarity. When sight is lost and fear strikes, we often make decisions coming from a fight and flight energy and do things contrary to what our heart is telling us.

So, what can we do in these times of uncertainty, when our vision is blurred and our sight is compromised? How can we best respond when we are feeling frustration, fear, and stress? STOP-pause. Take a moment to access visibility by getting to a higher vantage point where you can see various perspectives. To do this, recognize where you are.Turn your attention inside. What are the thoughts you are having from this current perspective, in the land of the unknown? Physically get up and move to a different place and pretend you are looking at the situation from another point of view, maybe from the point of view of another person, not affected by the situation. What are the thoughts from that perspective? Now try a future perspective, after this time has passed. What would those thoughts be? Do this with as many different perspectives as you can think of, from a child’s perspective, from your best friend’s perspective.

By identifying other points of view, you will experience release and the situation won’t seem so tight because you will begin to see other options and other possibilities. The key is to STOP-pause and identify some other perspectives and the realities that are in those different perspectives.

No matter what situation you are in today, wherever your vision may have blurred or have been blinded, you can find a place of improved perspective, if you are willing to step out of your current viewpoint and into alternative viewpoints. Your options and possibilities are limitless, if you will open up to seeing them. I encourage you today to get up and move. Pick 5 or more different perspectives and write about what your situation looks like from those perspectives. Finding other viewpoints, possibilities will unfold.

Monday Motivation: Possibility

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 22:26:40 GMT

Possibility

“Stop thinking in terms of limitations and start thinking in terms of possibilities.”

~Terry Josephson

When an obstacle shows up in your life, the way you look at it will determine what you get from it. Whatever you believe will be your truth. If you believe something is impossible, that will be your truth. It will be impossible. Your mind will hold your belief as factual and will create blinders, limiting you from seeing anything contrary. However, if you believe something is possible your mind will be open and able to see possibilities. You will be able to see opportunities and solutions will show up. Possibility will be your truth.

Most people determine whether or not something is possible by their ability to see “how” it is going to happen. If they can see the “how,” they think it is possible. If they don’t see the “how,” they believe it’s impossible. The need to know “how” creates a far too narrow path for possibilities and solutions. It is simply limiting and it cultivates mediocrity and stagnancy.

So, where are you at today? What obstacle are you faced with and how do you see that challenge? What do you believe about your difficult situation? Recognize that you do not need to know “how” it is going to work out. However, you do need to believe that it is possible.

Test it out. Take notice when you believe something is impossible. Recognize when your mind shuts down possibility. Then ask yourself, “What if it was possible?” Ponder on that question for a while. Allow possibility thinking to do its work and watch how creativity, opportunity, and expectancy show up. Possibility thinking will carve out a new path that you have not seen before.

CHOOSE TODAY to believe that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

Corry Mendoza and Melissa Russiano discuss possibility on today’s Monday Motivation. Melissa is a licensed social worker and her passion is growth and healing through education. She provides online therapy to empower you to be the best, authentic version of you. Find her at www.melissarussiano.com.

The Missing Ingredient

Sun, 16 Oct 2016 20:12:25 GMT

The Missing Ingredient

T he other day I baked cookies and as I checked on them in the oven, I noticed a problem. Rather than seeing twelve nicely formed treats, I saw what appeared to be a tray of mush. My cookies looked more like pancakes and I was flabbergasted because I had cautiously followed the instructions to a T.

“What happened?” I asked myself, “Why is it that, no matter how hard I try, I just cannot get baking right?!?” My belief that I just cannot bake was reinforced, yet again. What was I missing?

Even though the cookies looked awful, they tasted delightful, so I brought some to the office to share. In the sharing, I learned something very valuable both for my baking and for my life. I discovered the missing ingredient!

My coworker Marissa is not only a fabulous loan processor, but she is also a finely-skilled baker. She asked me one question that unlocked my limiting perspective and guided me to the missing ingredient. She asked “Was the butter you used softened or melted?” I replied that I had “put it in the microwave, so yes, it was pretty much liquid.” She explained the reason my cookies were flat was because the butter needed to be soft, not melted.

I was shocked “What!? No way!?” I had no idea that the temperature of the butter could make such a difference in baking. I finally had an accurate explanation as to why my cookies were a flop, an explanation based upon truth. It was through true understanding that I got my answer and resolved my baking limitation.

Understanding was the missing ingredient. My limited perspective that “I just can’t bake” was inaccurate. Too often, when we face a challenge or a limit, we give it a false explanation and live with the problem. All this time that limited perspective and lack of understanding kept me from searching for what I was missing. I’m not a bad baker—I was merely lacking understanding of the science behind it. This lack of understanding is why my cookies were flat!

I began to wonder where else I was lacking deep understanding and in return making false judgments? After reflecting and pondering on this revelation, what I noticed was I did it with everything—I even did it with people.

It’s a lot easier to resolve:

She is ridiculous.
He will never change.
She is crazy.
He is clueless and a jerk!

I was once told by a wonderful man who served as a leader of a mental health organization, that all behavior (even what is often deemed as “crazy” behavior) is a person’s attempt to get a want or a need met. I’ve also heard that all unexplainable behavior has an explanation. The question is, will we put in the effort to gain that understanding or will we take the easy route and slap a label on it?

Rather than to ask:

I wonder what would cause him/her to react that way?
What does he/she really need now?
What’s the pain point in the conversation?
How am I contributing to this conflict?

It boils down to the difference between critical judgement and curious questioning. Sometimes we are more committed to making someone wrong than we are to finding solutions. We don’t have to live enslaved to that limited way of relating to others. We can make it a habit to add the missing ingredient to any issue, any problem, any frustration, or any difficult relationship. The missing ingredient works. The missing ingredient makes sense of what was once senseless.

Let’s make this a pivotal week by recognizing moments and relationships that have a missing ingredient. Let’s notice when judgment or criticism outweighs understanding. Let’s break free from those weights by seeking to understand. Remember, all behavior is a person’s attempt to get a want or need met. Remembering that, will help us add the missing ingredient, understanding. With understanding, we can work with what is in front of us, making decisions based upon truth. We will overcome any obstacle, any limitation, and any personal conflict!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

The Worst Thing That Ever Happened

Mon, 12 Sep 2016 20:23:51 GMT

The Worst Thing That Ever Happened

What’s the worst thing that ever happened to you? This can be a painful question if the worst thing that ever happened is happening right now. It can also be a painful question if the worst thing that ever happened is still impacting you, despite the amount of time that has gone by.

The worst thing that ever happened to any of us can become the best thing that ever happened, but that does not happen on accident, it happens with intent. We must decide that we will overcome and that we will come out better than as if it never happened before.

Too often, when we are overcoming a loss, a disappointment, or even a tragedy, we are looking to survive. We just want to get by, but we have got to set our sights higher than that. We’ve got to stir up some healthy indignation and say, “This worst thing that ever happened is going to become the best thing that ever happened!”

Look around at the most successful people on the planet and by successful I mean the happiest, the most influential, the ones who are making a positive difference on others and you will find a story within each one of those people. A story of their journey, of how they got to this place of success. That story will most likely include the worst thing that ever happened to them.

Truly successful people have horrible things happen in their lives, just like the rest of us, but successful people take their loss, their devastation, or their tragedy and they use it as an ingredient to overcome. They use it as their fuel and end up getting to a place where they would no longer wish it to be any different. They become successful because of the worst thing that ever happened, not despite it.

Amy Purdy is just one, of many, examples who experienced a loss, the loss of her legs, suddenly and tragically. Amy took that loss and made it the ingredient for her success and today impacts more lives than can be counted. Prior to this loss, she was an average young lady with average dreams. None of which touched the magnitude of her impact now, now that the “worst thing” happened to her. It was a journey for her, a painful journey that did not happen overnight. Yet, today when asked if she could go back and prevent the loss of her legs would she? Without hesitation, she answers, “No!”

The other day, last Friday to be exact, I was leaving the office and I was so overjoyed with fulfillment and purpose. I noticed how happy I felt and was grateful to be able to feel this level of happiness, rather than the lingering pain that often overshadows my days due to “the worst thing that ever happened to me.”

For the first time in a long time, I felt a glimpse of hope. I knew without a doubt that one day very soon, the worst thing that ever happened to me would certainly become the best thing that ever happened in my life. It didn’t happen to me, it happened for me.

The same can be true for all of us. The worst thing that ever happened can become the thing we are most grateful for, the catalyst that launches us into a higher level of living. It can become the necessary ingredient to cause us to rise beyond our current limits.

So, where are you with that worse thing that ever happened to you? Maybe it was a death, a disappointment, a failure, or a big loss? Whatever that worst thing was, where are you with it?

Is it still holding you down, bringing you pain, discouragement, or depression? Do you still relate to it, as the worst thing that ever happened? Or are you where I am, starting to see the signs of it becoming the very best thing you would have never known to pray for?

Or are you like Amy Purdy, in that place where you can look back with a smile, with gratitude and appreciation, saying, “If I could go back and change things, I wouldn’t.”

I want to encourage you today, no matter where you are, do not give up. Do not let the losses of life get you down or stop you in your tracks. Watch Amy’s video , take some notes and make a decision that you will overcome, you will rise above, and you will create something positive from even the worst thing that ever happened to you!

I’m doing it and it’s working out pretty well so far! I’ll keep you posted for that day, which I know is so close where I can say, “If I could go back and change things, I wouldn’t!”

You’ve got this! Keep going! Find hope, find possibility, decide to overcome, and you will! Let’s make this a great week!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Don’t Lose Heart

Mon, 22 Aug 2016 20:28:56 GMT

Don’t Lose Heart

Sometimes we’ve got to shut off our mind to tell what’s in our heart. The other day I got a text from a friend. It was a nice text – encouraging, challenging, and caring but something about the text put me into a state of confusion. I began overthinking my choices and doubting myself. I shared my vexation with my boyfriend, Rusty, and he asked, “Do you want my advice?”

Watch out for this question when you are in confusion. It is interference from what we really need. When we are in confusion, we may want advice but what we NEED is clarity. The solution lies is clarity, not advice. Advice is great with the right timing, but in the midst of confusion it is not the time.

Though I deeply value and respect Rusty’s advice, thank God I had the awareness to resist it. I recognized the fact that I was in confusion and since I understand the impact of confusion, I was able to resist.

Confusion puts us in our heads and disconnects us from our hearts. The key problem with this is that truth rests in the heart. It takes courage to walk in our truth and walk in our conviction, which is why we must stay connected to our heart. Hence the saying, “Don’t lose heart.” The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant “To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.”

Have you ever noticed that when doubt creeps in, it goes for the mind first, not the heart? Doubt leads to confusion, and confusion leads to discouragement. Courage leaves and we often end up compromising our truth.

How we show up for others when they are in a moment of fear, doubt, or confusion is critical to their success and when I respectfully declined Rusty’s offer for advice, he showed up like the champ that I needed, asking, “Well, what do you think?”

“What do you think?” is a powerful question that sends a powerful message. It says, “I believe in you. You have the insight. You have the wisdom. You have the truth. Don’t doubt yourself. Do not cave into confusion.” In fact, that is what all powerful questions do for us.

So, what is a powerful question?

A powerful question is a provocative inquiry that interrupts evasion and confusion. Asking powerful questions invites others to clarity, action, and discovery. That is exactly what someone needs with they are in fear, doubt, or confusion. That was exactly what I needed. Powerful questions engineer epiphanies in others, helping them come up with their own answers and solutions, ultimately building their confidence and reinforcing their conviction.

That one powerful question that Rusty asked, woke me up and helped me find my clarity by reconnecting me to my truth. I had my epiphany and was re-energized in my conviction. I became clear again and my mind settled down. With that clarity, my courage came back and I knew what needed to be done.

I learned an important truth in that short conversation. Confusion starts in the mind, confidence lives in the heart, and sometimes it takes just one powerful question to pull us up, out of the confusion, and into our confidence.

We can all use powerful questions to help others and ourselves in times of confusion. Asking powerful questions is a skill we can all develop. I’m attaching some more information on Powerful Questions for you to practice with this week.

Maybe you know someone now who is in confusion, doubting him or herself, and maybe even asking you for advice. Practice this tool of asking Powerful Questions and watch how it will build others up. You can help raise their clarity and confidence. Share it with your boss, co-workers, family, and friends – I’d love to hear how it goes.

Let’s all have an amazing week practicing this new skill. Let’s remember, don’t lose heart, but rather find it through asking powerful questions.

With Love and Volition,

Corry

I’m doing it and it’s working out pretty well so far! I’ll keep you posted for that day, which I know is so close where I can say, “If I could go back and change things, I wouldn’t!”

You’ve got this! Keep going! Find hope, find possibility, decide to overcome, and you will! Let’s make this a great week!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Accountability of the Mind

Sat, 13 Aug 2016 20:35:33 GMT

The Worst Thing That Ever Happened

Getting on a scale can be a dreadful task. Many avoid the scale like the plague, but getting on the scale gives us something, something we all need if we want to create positive change – accountability. It gives us feedback on the impact of our choices, which empowers us to make be better choices going forward.

Just like a scale can provide accountability for our physical health, our emotions can provide accountability for the health of our minds. Our weight reflects our diet and exercise choices. Our mood reflects our thought choices.

Test it out now. I’ll provide you a simple tool to “get on the scale.” Use this Emotional Vocabulary list to identify how you feel.

Which emotion(s) are you feeling?
Now, make a list of all the thoughts going through your mind.

See what I mean? If you are feeling happy, chances are you are thinking happy thoughts. If you are feeling anxious, chances are you are thinking anxious thoughts.

So now what? Now that we have a “scale” a way to see the impact of our thoughts, we can decide what we want to do from here. If we are content with our mood and we like the way we feel, let’s keep thinking the way we are thinking. If we are dissatisfied with the way we feel or maybe those around us have voiced up about a negative impact of our mood, it may be time to improve our thinking.

Improving our thinking is not easy. It can be much harder than improving our diet and exercise habits. I say this from experience. I started this year off with one goal, to develop a more positive mindset. I’ve use this scripture to guide me in HOW to improve my mindset. “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corin 10:5b) You don’t have to be a Christian or even religious to gain insight from this scripture. The guidance is that we take full responsibility over our thoughts. We take ownership of our ability and authority to choose our thoughts. We don’t have to be a slave to negative thinking. We can choose positive and useful thinking. We have authority over our minds when we do this

Too many people feel powerless to their emotions. They get enveloped and overwhelmed with fear, anxiety, stress, anger, or depression. I was not aware that I did too. It wasn’t until I made this goal to develop a more positive mindset and began the habit of taking captive every thought, that I saw the condition of my thinking. It wasn’t pretty. It was was worse than I thought and I didn’t like what I saw. My mind was filled with so many anxious and fearful thoughts. To my surprise, I discovered that I lived each day in an anxious mood. It was my norm. With this new awareness I was more determined that ever to change this.

I had dabbled on improving my mindset and mood over the years. I’ve known and practiced the power of positive thinking, along with affirmations. I had gained a lot from that, but I needed to take this to a whole new level. So, over the last six months I got aggressive with conquering my thinking and for the first time ever. I know what it feels like to live without anxiety and fear. Most days I live with a great mood and a positive outlook, regardless of my circumstances. Sure a thought of fear or anxiety pops up, but I know what to do with it. I recognize it immediately and know that it is not normal for me anymore. I zap it with a better thought – one of hope and of inspiration.

There’s no room for passivity if we want our normal mood to be positive and peaceful. We’ve got to get on that scale by taking notice of our feelings and using those feeling to reflect to us our thought – life. As soon as we spot a negative thought, we’ve got to uproot it and replace it with a positive one, one thought at a time.

Journaling is my exercise and exposing myself to positive and uplifting people and messages is my diet. What’s yours? Share with me any great practices you have to keep accountability of the mind.

Let’s all remember, negative thoughts will always create negative emotions, and positive thoughts will always create positive emotions! The good news is, we have the power to choose! Have a great week!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Don’t Give Up, Get Unstuck 3

Mon, 01 Aug 2016 21:06:47 GMT

Don’t Give Up, Get Unstuck 3

The last couple of weeks we’ve talked about the process of Getting Stuck . It happens slowly then suddenly . We’ve all been there, frustrated, in resistance, avoidance, and tolerance. We don’t like it, definitely don’t prefer it, and want to get out of it. Let’s face it, being stuck at work, at home, in relationships, or in life is no fun. It robs us of our confidence and ultimately of our potential.

Getting Unstuck is the answer, but how do we do it? Well, last week we took a look and discovered that getting unstuck happens slowly and gradually , one thought at a time. It begins with the courageous decision to set a goal for positive change and is followed by taking that first step of action towards change. Walking the long path of getting unstuck is always led with our thoughts, it takes time and dedication. We must replace our old, negative thoughts that got and kept us stuck with new, positive and empowering thoughts that will guide us to freedom. It’s not a quick process, so stay committed to walking it out. Stop and celebrate the gradual and small victories on the way.

Once we get unstuck, we think, “I will never get stuck like that again!” This intention is all good, but how do we walk it out? How do we stay unstuck? How do we prevent getting stuck all together?

Well, since getting stuck happens slowly, then suddenly, we have plenty of opportunity to prevent getting stuck on the onset. Remember it happens one thought at a time. We can recognize when we are on the road to getting stuck, through the quality or the lack of quality in our thoughts. Stuck thoughts are weeds. Unstuck thoughts are seeds. Whatever we water will grow. We must uproot the negative weeds and water the positive seeds!

And this is how staying unstuck happens- intentionally, not accidentally.

I have a simple model to help us stay intentional and stay unstuck. I have used this model in several ways and just recently discovered how powerful it is in helping me stay unstuck. Check it out: Engagement Through the Power of Appreciation

Basically, when we get stuck we are disengaged. We feel powerless and therefore just go through the motions passively, too discouraged to make improvements.

Staying unstuck and preventing getting stuck is all about living and working engaged, one thought at a time. As you can see from the model, anything below the line would be how we get or stay stuck. Thoughts of repulsion (resistance/resentment) avoidance, and tolerance are thoughts that get us or keep us stuck. Here are some examples:

Repulsion- “This is not right! It shouldn’t be this way! I can’t stand this/him/her! I hate this!”

Avoidance- “I don’t have time for this. I’ll deal with this later. This will go away on its own. Time heals all wounds.”

Tolerance- “It’s not that bad. I don’t mind this anymore. This just is the way it is. I don’t like it, but I guess I can live with it. This is just how I am.”

When we have and engage in any of those type of thoughts below the line, we are on the road to getting stuck or staying stuck. If we want to stay unstuck, we must uproot those thoughts and replace with positive thoughts of acceptance and appreciation. Here are some examples:

Acceptance- “I don’t like this, but I understand how this came to be. I’m not okay with how that person is behaving, but I can understand what it must be like in their shoes. This is really hard, but I can and will face it. These are the facts and I can use them to create something new.”

Acceptance helps us use the manure in our lives to create positive change. Manure stinks. It’s waste, but if we allow the repulsion of the stench cause us to throw it out, we miss out on the nutrients it gives into growing a healthy garden. Acceptance is all about embracing the things outside of our control and weaving them into a beautiful masterpiece. When we do that, we can move into appreciation.

Appreciation- “Though this is hard, I am finding benefits in this. Though I don’t agree with that other person, I see value in their role in my life. Though it is hard to accept this limit, I appreciate how it has strengthened me.”

Appreciation takes that which once repulsed us, into new levels of growth and opportunity. When we commit to uprooting negative thoughts and replacing them with positive thoughts of acceptance and appreciation, we won’t get stuck. We can’t get stuck. We stay unstuck! This is called engagement.

When we are unstuck, we are engaged in our lives, at work and at home. We live with passion, intention, courage, and conviction. We are proactive, not reactive. Our confidence grows and our potential unfolds. It doesn’t happen on accident. It happens intentionally and the effort is worth it!

So, where are you right now? Whether you are currently stuck or unstuck you can thrive in engagement. Use this model and keep close watch on your thoughts. Uproot the weeds and water the good seeds! Make this a great week and an amazing month, one thought at a time!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Don’t Give Up: Get Unstuck 2

Sat, 23 Jul 2016 21:13:02 GMT

Don’t Give Up: Get Unstuck 2

When you get stuck, you are strapped in a roller-coaster of resentment, avoidance, and tolerance. The ups and downs of the ride are exhausting, and the exhaustion only reinforces the stuck-ness. Most of us do nothing to create the much desired change in our life and instead vacillate between hoping things magically improve all on their own and abandoning hope all together.

The longer you stay on the resentment, avoidance, and tolerance ride, the harder it will be to get off. It becomes easier to just give up and give in to accepting that, “this is just the way it is and the way it will always be.”

It doesn’t have to be that way, you always have a choice. You can choose to no longer be stuck. The moment you recognize you are stuck is a victory because you can move into getting unstuck.

Getting unstuck doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen by accident. It happens slowly and intentionally. One thought and one action at a time.

Getting unstuck starts with a decision that enough is enough. It’s a decision to grab the bull by the horns and to step out of passivity and into purpose. Just tell yourself that “if it’s going to be, it’s up to me”.

Think of getting unstuck like the process of restoring this car. First someone needs to see the car for what it could be and believe that restoration is possible. Then they must decide to restore it, that it is worth the investment.

Why would anyone even want to restore this broken down and deteriorating car? One would have to see a value in restoration, know the cars potential, and believe it was possible. The same is true for whatever area we feel stuck in. We must:

See the value of getting unstuck—what is the benefit of taking in the project or process?
See what improvement would look like—what do you see is possible? What is your vision for improvement?
Believe improvement is possible—there is no question to ask. Only a statement of “I know it’s possible!”

Getting unstuck starts in your mind’s eye, you must see it before it happens. You must believe it is possible, make a decision to take that first step, and then follow through until the end!

Getting stuck doesn’t happen overnight, nor does getting unstuck. We must be awake and intentional, one thought and one action at a time.

Are you identifying with an area you are stuck in? Maybe it is at work, in a relationship, in your fitness, or in your dreams? If so, take heart! Take hope! Take courage! You can get unstuck. It won’t be easy, nor will it be quick, but that is okay. You can do it, you must do it!

Take one baby step towards getting unstuck. Sometimes, that first step is so hard to do but just do it! It may open up a door to a whole new level of obstacles, but that is the simple part of the process. It’s like towing that car off of the freeway and into the shop, you may be afraid of what you will be quoted for the repairs. You don’t know until you ask, so take that first step and tow the car. Just be bold and find out what is in store for you.

The effort, attention, and tenacity it takes to get unstuck, restore, and strengthen yourself to enjoy and sustain your new beginning is worth it. You are worth it. After all, getting unstuck creates a new beginning, a new beginning worth fighting for!

I’m in the process of getting unstuck. Join me!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Don’t Give Up: Get Unstuck 1

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:19:55 GMT

Don’t Give Up: Get Unstuck 1

I have two amazing children. My daughter, Skylar, is fourteen and my son, Jayden, is thirteen. I had them close together intentionally, and it has seemed to work out very well. I do recall, however, one particular challenge that came from having children “back to back,” and that challenge has given me great insight on today’s topic, Don’t Give Up, Get Unstuck.

Prior to my first pregnancy, I had always had a pretty healthy weight. I was always active in dancing, sports, intentional workout habits and I ate pretty well. I gained a healthy thirty pounds with my first, and lost twenty of it right away. When Skylar was nine months old and I was still carrying that extra ten pounds, I was elated to find out Skylar would be having a baby sibling! With my second pregnancy I, again, gained a healthy thirty pounds and shortly after Jayden’s delivery lost twenty pounds, just like with Skylar, no problem.

As the months rolled out and I enjoyed being a mom to my two little angels, those net twenty pounds were not going away. Twenty additional pounds on a five-foot frame is significant. It is multiple pant sizes and at first I was okay with it because I expected the weight to fall off, but by the time Jayden was about nine months old, I began to wonder.

I became frustrated and discouraged with my additional weight. None of my clothes fit and “I just had a baby” was becoming less and less true. I did not feel good about this extra weight. In fact, I resented it. I complained about it. I moaned and groaned about it, and I didn’t know it at the time, but I was in stage one of getting stuck- resentment.

As the moaning and groaning went on, I got tired of hearing my complaints and I’m sure everyone around me did as well. I became more silent about my dissatisfaction and began to avoid the topic all together. I avoided the scale. I avoided looking in the mirror. I avoided the mall. I was not going to buy a bigger size. I just made the clothes that I had work, and I certainly avoided setting a goal to lose the weight or create a weight loss plan. I just kept squeezing my booty in my jeans and stayed busy with my angels, family, and work, while silently hoping for the weight to disappear. This is what you call stage two of getting stuck, avoidance.

On occasion I’d slip back to step one and resent the weight and complain, but seeing that it only made me feel worse, avoidance was the more appealing option, so I avoided.

As the weeks rolled on, my avoidance grew to tolerance. I began reasoning and rationalizing my current reality. I made it the new normal. I adapted to my larger body size and started buying clothes again. I embraced my new look and made it who I was with thoughts like:

“I look good after having two kids.”
“Who was I to think I would go back to pre-baby size. That’s probably not even possible.”
“I just need to accept the fact that I am going to be bigger than I was before. That’s the way this works.”
“This is just who I am now.”
“I need to learn to love and accept myself like I am.”

I didn’t recognize it at the time, but I know now, tolerance is final stage of getting stuck. Tolerance is when we give up and give in.

Getting stuck doesn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly, then suddenly, and the stages we go through in Getting stuck is a predictable process. Recognizing these stages is one way to prevent getting stuck.

Below is our typical getting stuck process

An event occurs and changes our status quo.
We RESIST and resent that change.
We AVOID dealing with it.
We TOLERATE it.
We repeat- resist, avoid, tolerate.

If you are anything like me, you may already be thinking about certain areas of your life, at home or at work, where you are experiencing stuck-ness. It may be in your finances, in may be in a relationship, in maybe something as simple as avoiding or tolerating some much needed improvements around the house.

Getting stuck is exhausting and getting stuck is damaging. It damages our confidence, it damages our energy, and it compromises our potential. It compromises our self image. It causes us to quit! I was twenty-four and ready to through the towel in on my health, on my fitness, and on my weight. I had begun to believe, “This is just the way I am now.”

Getting stuck is a process that happens in our mind. Where the mind goes, the body follows. I have learned to listen to my thoughts and assess them. Are they negative thoughts, keeping me stuck or are they positive thoughts moving me forward?

Getting stuck happens slowly, one thought at a time. Are you stuck in any area of your life? How will you know? Well, look at your results. What are your thoughts about your results? Are they thoughts that cause you to feel resentful, to avoid or to tolerate? If so, there’s a chance you are on the road to stuckness.

If you recognize you are stuck, have no fear! You are not alone and just like there is a predictable way of getting stuck ; there is a predictable way of getting unstuck, which we will talk about next week.

So I shared with you about how I gave up and got stuck, but getting stuck isn’t the full story. It’s just chapter one, I didn’t stay there. I woke up, got unstuck and gave up giving up. I hope you will do that too! If you are stuck, don’t worry it about. Let’s just start by recognizing it.

Reflect on the process of getting stuck. What stage are you in? What thoughts are you believing? Take a moment now and write them down. Writing them down is the beginning of raising your awareness.

We’ll talk more next week, but for now, celebrate the fact that you can name where you are stuck and you can identify what stage you are in. You can’t get going on a destination, until you know where you are beginning. Owning your stuck-ness is just like getting on that scale and facing reality. You may not see what you want to see, but at least you are seeing the truth.

If you aren’t stuck, but know somebody who is, forward this to them and be sure they read next week’s message on getting unstuck. As for this week, don’t give up. Get unstuck! Step one for getting unstuck is simply recognizing and admitting it. I did it, and I know you can too!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

I’m in the process of getting unstuck. Join me!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Are you asking the right questions?

Mon, 16 May 2016 21:23:50 GMT

Don’t Give Up: Get Unstuck 1

Our mind is like a Google search engine. Whatever we ask it to find, it will find.

This can be a great thing and it can also be a detrimental thing.

If we wonder, “What would it take for me to buy a vacation home?” Our mind, just like Google, will go to work, searching and seeking the answers to that question. We will begin to come up with ways, solutions, and innovative ideas on how we can buy a vacation home. Likewise, if we question, “Why can’t I lose this last five pounds?” Again, our mind will go to work and will find all the reasons why we cannot lose that last five pounds, reinforcing our status quo.

We must be awake to the questions we ask ourselves and choose empowering questions, questions that uncover the answers we need, not the excuses we don’t.

It’s amazing how a minor tweak in how we wonder, can have a significant impact. Automatic wonder, is often rooted in fear and doubt. Directed wonder, on the contrary, can open up possibility, shifting us from being focused on the limitations, to being focused on the opportunities. But it is a matter of us asking the right question.

The greatest minds on the planet, both past and present, have understood the power of a question. Albert Einstein said, “If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask… for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.”

So, what is the proper question?

The proper question has certain qualities about it. For starters it is rooted in possibility, not limitation. “What if” questions are great for that. Einstein asked, “What if I rode a beam of light across the universe?” We can use “what if” questions to open our minds to creativity toward solving any one of our problems.

“What would it take?” is another great question, rooted in assumption that it is possible, which breaks through the limiting beliefs that would otherwise hold us back from seeing opportunity.

Asking the right question is all about searching for solutions, rather than excuses.

This week, I am going to be working on this. Anytime I encounter a roadblock or barrier, I am going to deliberately imagine typing in the right question into the Google search engine of my mind. I know, solutions don’t happen on accident. I must ask the right question to get to the proper solution.

Try it out with me this week. No matter what obstacle you face or what barrier you come up against, do not ask limiting questions that search out excuses and reasons for remaining stuck. Instead, direct your mind to search for possibility. Wake up your wonder with curious questions.

Practice with, “What if?”

What if this works out?
What if this disappointment shifts my life in a better direction than I could ever imagine?
What if this loss was just what I needed to grow to new levels?

Practice with “What would it take?”

What would it take to start my dream business?
What would it take to get that promotion?
What would it take to overcome the conflicts on our team?

Ask the right questions and don’t worry about the answers. Remember, your mind is like a google search engine. You type in the question and get on with your day. Your mind will be at work, in the background, searching, identifying and bringing to your attention the answers and the solutions. Just be sure you are asking the right questions, questions that work towards your desired outcome, not your worst fears.

Make it a great week by asking the right questions! I’ll be focusing on this and I hope you will too!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Stop, Look, and Listen

Mon, 09 May 2016 21:27:48 GMT

Stop, Look, and Listen

When I was little, my mom would walk me to school every morning. We lived less than a mile from my school, but as a child, I remember it feeling like a big adventure, like a journey. We were never rushed, so we had plenty of time to talk about anything and everything.

Before we would cross a street my mom would sing me this little song, “Stop, look, and listen, before you cross the street. Use your eyes and your ears, and then you use your feet.” I loved that song and I didn’t mind waiting to cross the street, so that we could sing that song together.

The other day, as I was walking Stella, my boyfriend’s daughter across the street, we paused and sang that little song, and I got to thinking about how applicable that song is to every day life and interactions.

Too often we jump into “walking,” before “stopping.” We immediately reply to e-mails and texts without stopping, looking, and really listening. Too often we “cross the street,” and react, without fully understanding the other person.

If we were to apply this song to our common interactions, I believe a lot of misunderstandings would be prevented and we would enjoy our daily journey in a greater way. Think about it for a moment, how quickly we run through our day in a continuous state of reactivity, responding to communication right away, without that valuable pause. Imagine how much more effective we would be if we would simply make this little song our habit. We would see more. We would hear more. We would enjoy more.

This song is going to be my mantra today and this week. I will be watching for every “road” I cross. I will make a conscious effort to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN before I respond to others. I will do my very best to STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN before I take action, before I make any decisions. It’s a simple practice that can create significant results.

Try it with me. Or maybe you are already really good at this? If so, keep going! As we go about our day and our week, especially in conversations, let’s all be mindful and present. Let’s create a positive impact with others, one interaction at a time, being sure we STOP, LOOK, and LISTEN to others. Let’s look for and listen for what it’s like in their shoes- What are their concerns; what are their needs? Let’s listen for, both, what is being said and what it not being said. To do that, we cannot simply rush through. We must slow down. I believe that with this simple act of stopping, looking, and listening, we will create greater connections, more understanding, and improved communication.

Have a wonderful week! Enjoy your journey and remember to STOP, LOOK and LISTEN before “crossing your street.”

With Love and Volition,

Corry

What are you talking about?

Mon, 02 May 2016 21:30:37 GMT

What are you talking about?

This past March I made myself a goal to give up complaining. Giving up complaining seemed like a pretty black and white goal, no complications, no confusion. It was specific- Stop complaining.

I approached this goal with practicality and realized I would need the support of accountability, so I asked the people I speak with the most to call me out if I started to complain. I even considered carrying a role of duct tape with me, for those conversations where I knew I would need strong reinforcement to watch my mouth.

I did pretty well, reducing my complaining significantly. I would often catch myself, mid-sentence, admitting the complaint and then redirect myself to a more positive and productive topic. Those moments of awareness felt empowering and worked towards success, but I began to realize the complaining was just a symptom of a different behavior I needed to change.

I needed to change what I was thinking about. What we think about, we talk about.

This became apparent to me with the prompting of a question, “So, what’s new?” I’d start off by answering with some generic response, “Not much,” and go on by attempting to say something positive, but as I continued to talk, out the complaining would spill. I’d end up talking about my problems.

In my attempt to stop complaining, I resolved to not talk at all. If I didn’t have anything nice to say, I wouldn’t say anything at all, but that didn’t seem to help, nor address the real issue. The real issue had to do with what I was thinking about. If I was going to end the complaining, I was going to need to improve my thoughts.

I was thinking about problems and therefore, with just about any question, I would end up talking about or complaining about problems. The words we speak reveal what is on our mind.

Now, I hope you cannot relate, but chances are you can, so keep reading. I’ll share how I overcame and am continuing to address this challenge.

My dad has this great saying, “There are no problems, only solutions.”

I started pondering his saying and put it into action by directing my thoughts towards solutions, rather than fixating on the problem. Considering solutions takes energy, so I had to add thoughts of gratitude to my thought-life, as well, to build up my energy and my mood. The combination of focusing on solutions and gratitudes worked for me and I believe it may work for you too!

Try it this week. Pay attention to what you are talking about. Especially listen up on how you respond to the daily formality questions, such as “How have you been?” and “What’s new?” Improve the quality of your words with the quality of your thoughts. Think on things you are grateful for and direct your mind to consider solutions, rather than fixating on the problems.

There will always be problems and challenges, but solutions won’t be thought of on accident. We must decide and focus on creating solutions and use gratitudes to give us the energy to think of solutions. Let me know how this works out for you and if you find any additional ways of improving the words that you speak!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Thinking about our thinking

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 21:35:46 GMT

What are you talking about?

Wayne Dyer has a famous quote that reads, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

In the past that quote has inspired me, challenged me, and even provoked me to positive change. I reflected on that quote this morning, as I head out for a run. I could not find the energy for my workout. I had a heavy heart and concerned thoughts. I chose to go for a walk instead and just could not kick a funk that was weighing me down. I was trying, trying real hard to think of something inspirational to send you, for today’s Monday Motivation, but nothing was coming.

I started paying attention to the thoughts that were running through my mind, and I got to thinking about my thinking. I pondered, what types of thoughts am I thinking?

We can categorize our thoughts into all sorts of groups and it is actually an empowering activity to do. Not all thoughts are created equal. Some thoughts are useful and some thoughts are downright destructive.

I started coming up with different categories of thoughts and labeling each of mine. Below are the categories I came up with:

Planning thoughts, “Will I have time to run by Costco after work?”
Anticipation thoughts, “I can’t wait for my speaking group meeting today.”
Appreciation thoughts, “I love where we live.”
Dread thoughts, “I’ll be getting a negative e-mail response from ‘XYZ’ any minute now.”
Guilt thoughts, “Another Monday that I didn’t get this message out before 5 am, like I wanted.”
Discouragement thoughts, “I have too much on my plate right now. I’m spread too thin.”
Visionary thoughts, “By the end of the summer work will be so much better, much more balanced!”
Alarm thoughts, “What if it doesn’t? What if it doesn’t work out?”
Dreaming thoughts, “It will, it always does. I can just see it now.”

So, either you are thinking I am crazy or you are feeling reassured that you are not the only one who thinks like this or maybe something totally different. Even if you cannot relate to that many different types of thoughts, I expect you can embrace the fact that we do think different types of thoughts and some types are more useful than others.

You could probably easily tag each of the thoughts I listed above as either empowering or disempowering, productive or unproductive, positive or negative.”

The minute we start thinking about our thinking is the minute we start using the top of our intelligence and empower ourselves to chose productive vs. reactive thoughts. The benefits of this transition are huge. It pulls us up, out of the drama and story of our lives and into a higher perspective. It brings us a sense of control over circumstances outside our control. It gives us the message of self-trust, self-worth, and self-reliance. It fully empowers us with the ability to choose higher, more useful thoughts, over discouraging and limiting thoughts.

Wayne Dyer’s quote inspired me today to not only change the way I look at things, but to also change the way I think of things.

When you change the way you think of things, the things you think of change.

Do we really want to use our thought energy to think about dreads, worries, fears, and failures? Or do we want to use our thought energy to think about appreciations, validations, goals, and gratitudes?

That is my encouragement to myself and to you today. Think on things that are useful, things that are encouraging, things that are inspiring, uplifting, and productive. Watch and experience how thinking of things in a positive, hopeful, grateful way improve your outlook, increase your confidence, and take your happiness to a whole new level.

There’s actually a passage of scripture that reinforces our need to take ownership of what we think about, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Phillipians 4:8

It is my hope for you and my dedication to myself and my loved ones that we all think on the positive, we take ownership of our thought life and we grow beyond our current limitations or circumstances through the power of positive thinking.

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Worry is a meditation

Mon, 11 Apr 2016 22:28:53 GMT

Worry is a meditation

Worry is a meditation. It’s not particularly useful, but it is a meditation and we are all naturally good at it.

You don’t have to put any effort into mastering the art of a worry meditation. It just happens, automatically. With a single thought of concern, you can pass several minutes, even hours, pondering that thought again and again.

I have often caught myself, deep in a meditation of worry, what-if-ing myself into all sorts of negativity.

“What if my kids don’t go to college?”
“What if I can’t afford to help pay for their college?”
“What if I lose all my clients and my business fails?”
“What if my mom or dad passes away?”
“What if I completely fail in life?”

One time, after a nice, sixty-minute run, I noticed I had a heavy feeling of discouragement and wondered how on earth I could feel discouraged after a good run like that. I, then, realized I had used my entire run to worry about my children. Some “great” meditation, rehearsing a few negative thoughts again and again in my mind, just like a broken record.

There is productive meditation, when we focus on the positive and there is unproductive meditation when we focus on the negative.

Positive meditation takes intention and does not happen automatically. It requires effort, diligence and dedication. We must look for the silver lining, find gratitude, and cultivate appreciation. It is by choosing to ponder positive statements and phrases, that we can begin to transform our thoughts of worry, into thoughts of peace.

Negative meditation, such as worry, takes passivity and does happens automatically. It is always geared toward disappointments and failures of the past or fears and concerns about the future. As you can see from the five worry-thought examples I shared above, most of the things we worry about are not rooted in fact, often times irrational, and quite honestly, unnecessary, as they don’t end up happening.

Let’s face it, worry is a waste. So, the choice is ours, what will we meditate on, the positive or the negative?

This year, my number one goal is to develop a more positive attitude. In my efforts to achieve that goal, my worry meditation was exposed. I didn’t realize how much I worried, until I started focusing on and assessing the quality of my thinking. I did this through a combination of journaling, paying attention to my thoughts and the words I was speaking, and also by empowering those closest to me to call me out on any negative talk, including words of worry.

With a simple attention to the type of thoughts I was thinking, it became evident that my worry meditation was not working for my desire to have a more positive attitude. It was, instead, smothering out any and all positivity. My worry meditation shaped a negative perspective and it had to go! I decided to transform from a worrier to a warrior!

I am four months into the year and have gained tremendous success. Just the other day, I called my mom all excited, telling her about how great it feels to live without worry. Normal for me, used to be to have a constant stream of worry thoughts flowing in the background of my mind. Now, for most days, that is not the case. New normal for me is to live in peace and joy, with a gratitude meditation stream flowing. I realized I am going to meditate on something, why not meditate on things I am grateful for or on positive statements, such as a proverb or scripture, instead of thoughts of worry?

The main key to my success has been through a second goal of mine and that is to memorize one scripture verse per week. This is not a plug to tell you to read your Bible or start memorizing scriptures, although that is what worked for me. This is a message to tell you that finding something better to meditate on and think about is key.

Our minds need to be given direction and be given something to think about because that is what our minds do. They think, think, think. Therefore, lets think on positive thoughts. Think on things we are grateful for. Select positive affirmations to focus on. Find something positive to fix your thoughts on and when you catch yourself worrying, shift your attention onto your positive affirmation or statement of gratitude.

It might sound something like this:

“I’m so grateful for my health.”
“I am getting stronger and stronger every day.”
“Everything my hand touches prospers.”
“There is a learning lesson in everything.”
“My life just keeps getting better and better.”

I hope this message encourages you. I also hope it helps you raise awareness to the type of thoughts you are thinking. Every thought is like a seed. When you think about it, you “water” it and it grows deeper and deeper roots into the belief system of your mind. Worry is a weed. Uproot it. Replace your worry with thoughts of faith, hope, and gratitude. and your meditation will transform from disempowering to empowering. You will feel stronger, more confident, and be bolder than ever!

Make this a great week, improving the quality of your meditation. I’ll be working on mine and I hope you will work on yours!

With Love and Voliton,

Corry

A lesson on mindset

Mon, 04 Apr 2016 22:35:36 GMT

A lesson on mindset

When I was in ninth grade I got caught shoplifting in the Modesto Mall. It was Christmas Eve and I had gone to the mall with a mission, a mission to get my family Christmas presents. I didn’t have any money, but I did have a plan. Using the twenty-five cent Macy’s bags you used to be able to purchase in the store, I made several trips into the dressing room with their gifts. I filled up the bags and walked out of the store.

Within minutes, two undercover security guards, came up from behind me, grabbed me by the arms, and threw my little, one hundred pound body onto the floor. I remember feeling the cold tiles on my face, laying there in shock, and wondering what was going to happen. I was afraid and realized that I had no idea about the potential consequences that were in front of me.

I was taken into a room inside the store. It was just the two under cover security guards and myself. They sat me down and began asking me a series of questions. I don’t remember all the questions they asked, but there was one question that I could not forget.

The question was, “Do you know what you did was wrong? ” That question had me very concerned. The question bothered me. I felt overwhelming confusion and I was stuck someplace between feeling insulted, misunderstood, and ashamed all at once.

I knew it was a rhetorical question and I knew how to answer it correctly, so I responded with a, “yes,” while half-heartedly hanging my head in shame.

The questioning went on and I answered all their questions, somewhat numb, but more disturbed about that question.

They kept talking, informing me of my potential consequences, but I wasn’t listening. I was too busy trying to figure out why that question bothered me so much.

I painfully wondered, “What is wrong with me?” You see, I didn’t think what I did was wrong, but they did. That contrast brought me embarrassment and shame. I “should” think like them.

I had very good reasons why I thought what I did was okay. I had full justification on why what I did wasn’t wrong, as I was not stealing from a person. I would never steal from a person. This reasoning was source of my feeling insulted with the onset of the question. It was clear that my thinking was flawed and as my way of thinking was being exposed through this situation, though it hurt and was very uncomfortable, a new way of thinking began to open up.

This situation was resolved and I learned a life long lesson about a very important topic, the topic of mindset.

One definition for the word, mindset is, “the established set of attitudes held by someone.” Another way to say this would be “an established way of thinking done by someone.”

Each and every one of us has a mindset running the show of our lives right now. Our mindset today is most likely much different than it was in our teens and much different than it was in our childhood, but the process of growing our mindset remains the same.

When have an established way of thinking that we want to grow and improvel, our current mindset must be exposed, uprooted, and then re-established.

Just like in this picture, the thoughts of our mindset are roots, unseen, but revealed through the the “fruits” of our tree, our life. Our actions, results, and the words that we speak are the fruits that reveal our mindset.

Some mindsets are useful and some mindsets are not. To make that distinction, we can simply ask, “How does this fruit taste?” Do our results and our behaviors taste “bitter?” Or do our results and our behaviors taste “sweet?”

A positive mindset will produce sweet results and healthy behaviors. A negative mindset will produce bitter results and and unhealthy behaviors. It’s pretty simple.

If we want sweeter results and improved habits, we must look to our mindset. We must uproot unproductive thoughts and beliefs and replace those thoughts with productive, empower, and positive thoughts and beliefs.

This process can be painful because we don’t want to be “wrong.” It can also be confusing because we often lack self awareness of our thoughts and are blind to our mindset. Because of this unconsciousness and our desire to be right, changing our thoughts creates deep resistance and can feel like getting blindsided and also cause us to feel “wrong.”

Life experiences are opportunities to expose and improve our mindsets, but that method is often the most painful. We don’t always have to have a wake up experience expose our beliefs. We can be proactive in exposing and improving our mindset through two additional methods. Through journaling and through conversation we can work on our mindset.

Journaling is an excellent way to untangle your thoughts. I make it a habit to write as often as possible. I cease to become shocked at the thoughts that come out on my paper. It’s a great habit to get into because it can help expose limiting beliefs and negativity before those thoughts become actions.

Conversing with quality people is another way to work on your thoughts. I highly recommend coaching because in a coaching conversation you have someone deeply listening and repeating back the things you are saying. I have two coaches right now and a counselor. With each and every conversation I have with my coach or counselor I find raised awareness on the type of thinking I am operating in.

I want to challenge you this week to think about your thinking. Pay attention to what type of mindset you are in and increase your awareness of your mindsets. Try some journaling. Reach out and talk with a good listener, someone who will hold up a mirror to the type of mindset you are in.

Remember to ask yourself, “Is my mindset useful, producing positivity- hope, joy, peace, innovation, and creativity, or is my mindset negative, producing thoughts of fear, doubt, worry, suspicion, and anxiety.

Remember that image of the roots and be ready to uproot any negative thinking, while watering the useful and positive ways of thinking.

Don’t be too hard on yourself when any “wrong” thinking is exposed. Everyone has flawed or ineffective thinking. We all have opportunity to grow our mindsets again and again. Be sure to have positive and encouraging people around you that support your desire to grow your mindset. Mindsets are contagious!

Have a wonderful week, conscious of your mindset. Let’s all work on creating a healthy and positive mind, so that we can improve our actions and results, making this our best year ever!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Some people are blessins & some people are lessons

Mon, 21 Mar 2016 22:47:15 GMT

Some people are blessings & some people are lessons

Have you ever had to deal with a difficult person? I am pretty sure we all have. At one time or another we get stuck having to deal with someone who just seems to make things a struggle. Some difficult people come into our lives on a short-term basis, maybe as short as a conversation at the bank, maybe a one-day volunteer event, or maybe even a week-long camping trip. Those encounters with difficult people are tough to get through, but they are not nearly as tough to get through as the ones who just won’t go away.

Hopefully, you have no idea what I am talking about. Unfortunately, you probably do. I am talking about that critical person at work who you have been dealing with for seven, eight or nine years. I am talking about that frustrating family member who you have known since birth. You get my point and I imagine you have a face or two popping up in your head as you read this.

I recently heard a speaker say, “Some people are blessins and some people are lessons.” I knew exactly what that speaker was talking about. He was addressing the fact that some people are going to come into our lives and cause us grief, but that doesn’t have to be a negative thing. It can be a positive thing. That was the reframe he offered, in referring to them as lessons. We must reframe the way we look at our difficult people. They do not have to be the thorn in our side, they can actually be a gift. They can be our “sandpaper.” They can be the very thing that polishes up our character and makes us shine.

I have learned a lot about dealing with difficult people. As I wrote this message, I glanced up at my bookshelf and counted over twenty books I have read on how to deal with difficult people, and I got a good little chuckle out of it because I realized, it is because of, not in spite of, the difficult person I have had to deal with, that I have acquired so much knowledge, experience, and growth. That knowledge, experience and growth has opened up doors for me and my business, that I would never have pursued otherwise.

As I continued to reflect on this and also on the many titles of the books I have read on this topic, I realized that there has been one common solution, woven throughout each and every one of those books, and that solution is understanding.

The best answer to dealing with a difficult person is to seek to understand that person, not to judge or make that person wrong. This was even the message in a book I read called “The Gift of Fear” where the author used his ability to understand serial criminals as a way to crack “uncrackable” cases. Bill Eddy, one of my new favorite authors of topics concerning dealing with high conflict individuals, wrote an inscription to his mother in his book, “It’s All Your Fault” that said, “To my mother, who taught me since the age of five that we don’t judge people. We try to understand them.”

And that is my encouragement and message for you this week. Don’t let that difficult person get the best of you. Don’t get bitter, get better by seeking to understand that person. Your difficult person is not going away and even if he/she did, a new one would show up. Our best way to grow better and not bitter from the difficult people in our lives is to seek to understand them, rather than to judge them or make them wrong. This is a very hard thing to do. “Hard thing to do” is a gross understatement with some of the most difficult people. It can feel impossible. It takes a great deal of effort to try and put yourself in the other person’s shoes to try and understand them, but your effort will be well worth it. Don’t do it for the other person, do it for you, no matter how hard it is. If I can do it, you can too.

It really starts with a decision, a decision that you are not going to let that person get the best of you. There’s a scripture that has really helped me. You don’t have to be religious to embrace the wisdom in it. The scripture basically says, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

What I love about the wisdom in this scripture is that it validated my fear in dealing with my difficult person. I was afraid that dealing with this person was turning me into a person I did not want to be- resentful, bitter, hateful, a gossiper, etc. I would badmouth, judge and criticize. I was afraid and I needed to be afraid because if I continued to deal with my difficult person like I was, I would become someone I did not want to become and this is exactly what the scripture was saying about being overcome by evil.

The second thing I loved about this scripture is that it gave me my answer. It gave me my solution of how to deal with my difficult person. Overcome the negative, the “evil” with good, the positive. And you can do this, like I did, by starting small and starting with the fundamentals. I am not talking about going out of your way to do nice things for that person, buying gifts or giving compliments. That’s great if you can do that, but for the really difficult people, I recommend starting very small. I am talking about fundamental acts of goodness, like simply stop thinking about your difficult person and stop talking about your difficult person. Those are baby steps of overcoming the bad with good.

Another way to overcome the bad with good is to fix your mind on the good in your life, the things you enjoy, the things you can be grateful for. Compliment those you appreciate. Express gratitude to the people who show up for you. Be happy. Be filled with joy and peace and don’t pay any mind to that difficult person. Let their impact roll off of you, like water off a duck’s back. That is how you overcome evil with good. And that good will grow into larger acts of goodness, that may even include you doing good things for that difficult person, but let’s just start with the basics.

I hope this message encourages you today. If you have a difficult person in your life, at work or at home, it’s totally okay. It’s actually quite normal. It’s normal because we all need the sand paper. Next week I’ll share more about that, but for now, don’t waste your energy on how difficult that person is. Shift any effort you are putting in making that person wrong, “How could they!” into seeking to understand, “I wonder what it is like in his/her shoes that would cause him/her to behave that way.” Do good. Fix your attention on what you can be grateful for and what is going right in your life, and you will prevent any negativity from getting inside of you.

Remember, you are not alone. Everyone has at least one difficult person in his or her life and that difficult person can be your sandpaper to polish up your character and help you shine brighter than ever before!

Have a great week!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Never give up with tenacity and persistence

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 22:31:52 GMT

Never give up with tenacity and persistence

It is week twelve of 2016. By now many have forgotten their goals and resolutions for the year.

Today’s message is a reminder that positive change is not going to happen on accident. Positive change, especially big change, requires persistency and tenacity.

Every year I set goals and every year, at some point, I get off track, lose touch or lose heart with my goals, especially when roadblocks and oppositions come. Just this past weekend I experienced a tremendous amount of discouragement with some of my BIG goals. I let the discouragement get in me. I did some complaining, had several pity parties, and flirted with the idea of giving up, but then I remembered why my goals are so important to me. And though, I am still wrestling with the lack of hope and the pains of discouragement, I have made the decision that I will not give up. I will keep going and refocus my attention on the finish line, not on the obstacles.

Giving up is a one time decision. Once we give up and throw in the towel; it’s done. We’ve lost the battle, but choosing to stay in the game is a decision we make again and again. That is the tenacity and persistency that I was talking about. We must get good at deciding we are going to keep going and keep moving ahead.

If you set some goals for this year and have gotten off track or have forgotten them, that’s okay. You are not alone. Recognize and get back in touch with those goals. That is one step of persistency. Rekindle your mind on the reasons why your goals are so important to you. That is another step of tenacity. Post your goals up some place visible. Do everything you can to stay encouraged and stay in the game of achieving your goals.

The only difference between the people who achieve their goals and the ones who do not, is the persistency and tenacity of not giving up!

I want to encourage you today. Do not give up. Do not give in. If your goal is important to you and you keep your focus on the reasons why, you will find that inner tenacity and persistency that will lead you step by step to the finish line.

Stay in the game. Keep your focus, and decide again and again that you are in it to win it! Have a great week!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

New and improved

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 23:39:57 GMT

New and improved

Happy Monday! I love this message, “Old ways won’t open new doors.” This is a great reminder as we start a new week. This is a new week and a new opportunity to grow and to improve, but new growth will not occur on accident. We must make a change. We must do something differently.

Change can be so hard because we are creatures of habit. Duke University did a study and 45% of our behavior is unconscious. It’s pretty hard to change something we are not even conscious of. We gotta break it down and really see what the steps are in creating change if we want new doors to open.

Most of our actions are motivated by our feelings. As much as we do not want to admit it, that is the truth. If we feel like doing something, we do it. If we don’t feel like doing something, chances are we won’t. So, if we want to improve what we do, we must improve what we feel.

All our feelings come from our thoughts, so if we want to feel better, we must think better.

Here’s the order:

Thoughts, beliefs, opinions, perspectives
Feelings, emotions, mood
Actions, behaviors, habits
Results

It all starts with our thoughts. We must improve our thoughts if we want to improve anything. We must let go and replace old mindsets with a new new mindset. That is what I have devoted this entire year to, me developing a higher mindset. The way that I am achieving that is that I am being responsible for everything I expose my mind to- movies, books, music, people, conversations, everything.

Our eyes and ears are the gateway to our souls, so if we want to improve our mindset, our soul, we must be intentional about what we listen to and what we set our eyes on.

I want to encourage you this week, to notice what you are exposing your mind to, in terms of what do you watch? What do you listen to? What conversations are you a part of? Do those things help you grow a more positive, empowering outlook or do they keep you stuck where you are?

Remember, old ways won’t open new doors. If you are like me, and want new doors, with new opportunities, let’s try some new ways by taking captive every thought we have and asking, is this thought useful? Is there a better, higher level way of thinking in this moment?

We must replace our old, negative and limiting thinking with positive, empowered thoughts. Let’s be diligent in replacing our old patterns of thinking that will keep us right here, with improved patterns of thinking that will open new doors. There are a lot of things we cannot control, but the way we think is one thing that we can take responsibility for and improve, if we really want to.

Have an awesome week creating new ways and new doors, beginning with the thoughts in our minds.

With Love and Volition,

Corry

Not even bittersweet

chris.ha@bullsai.com (chris.ha@bullsai.com ) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 01:12:23 GMT

Not even bittersweet

This past Saturday we celebrated my Tata’s 89th birthday, and it was a day I will never forget. In so many moments I felt time stand still. Contentment was contagious and I saw peace and joy on everyone’s faces.

The day was perfect. It wasn’t even bittersweet.

We use “bittersweet” to describe so many special occasions, especially as we get older and experience loss. I imagine you know what I am talking about. We may experience it at a wedding, so happy for the bride and groom, then the bittersweet emotion rises up, as we recall a past event. We may experience it on a graduation day. Though we are happy for the the child’s success and accomplishment, wishes rise up for certain things to have been a little different.

Experiencing bittersweet moments is good, and it is certainly much better than experiencing moments of regret. It is in those bittersweet moments that we can enjoy what we have, while acknowledging and accepting what is missing. But there is much more, beyond the bittersweet, and I learned and experienced it, this last Saturday.

My Tata was sitting back, enjoying the celebration; this was already a few hours into the party. He leaned over to me and said, “One day you will have all of this.”

I looked around. The kids were all playing with some laughter, cries, and complaints. My brothers were conversing. My mom and Nana were playing with Gavin, just five months old and the newest member of the family. Gavin’s loving parents, Sara and Chris were sitting back watching with smiles. My two sisters in law were setting up the birthday cake.

This was one of those moments where time stood still. So much was said in those eight words, “One day you will have all of this.”

I looked back at my Tata and our eyes locked and I received his message. It was a message about what really matters. He and my Nana are not financially wealthy. In fact, they live off of their social security income, which affords them low-income housing, in a senior community. One could have thought, from the way he said, “One day you will have all of this,” that he was pointing financial riches or your typical earthly successes, but he wasn’t talking about any of that. He was talking about the wealth and success of having a loving family, and that is truthfully, all that really matters.

In addition to the message about what really matters, those words were also a blessing. He spoke a blessing over me and I did not take it lightly. I am his oldest granddaughter and I realize that he won’t be around forever. His validation that, yes, one day I would have all of this meant so much to me. Those words went strait to my heart and I knew God was speaking through him, reassuring me that I would have my heart’s desire.

Another undeniable message was about contentment. I don’t think he was intentionally seeking to instill that message in me, but his perspective spoke it. I mentioned earlier that bittersweet is good because it is better than regret, but there is more, beyond the bittersweet, and that much more is contentment.

Contentement is finding the perfection in the acceptance of the imperfection. Contentment is fully enjoying and appreciating what we have, without giving attention to what we do not. My Tata could have certainly experienced the day as bittersweet, considering the facts- the losses, who was missing, and why they were missing, but he didn’t. He was beyond that. He was fully in contentment, not even bittersweet.

On our drive home continued to think about his happiness, his gratitude, his contentment, and I reflected on my Tata’s life, all that he and my Nana have endured in their sixty-eight years of marriage. In addition to the normal struggles in life, they have also overcame so many big losses:

Legal and substance abuse struggles with their oldest son, from a very young age
Their first born grandchild being adopted and raised away from the family, never to carry our family name
Loss of their entire retirement, just a few years in, never to be regained
Loss of their youngest son from a preventable death, a loss that no parent should have to endure

I actually made a list of all the things my Tata could have used to explain him having a bittersweet birthday and the list was long. I was so inspired and in such awe at his level of contentment, despite his losses and despite his struggles, and I resolved that if I am going to “have all of this” like he told me I would, I must make contentment my way of life.

My Tata placed a very high bar in terms of contentment and happiness and I am sharing it with you today because I hope it will inspire you too.

Being able to grow past our pain and be able to experience those bittersweet moments in life is rich for sure. It’s lovely, it’s alive, and it’s so much better than any heartache and regret, but there is another level beyond the bittersweet. It’s contentment and it is what I will strive for the rest of my life. It is a major upgrade from the bittersweet. It is my hope that I can develop contentment as a fixed mindset and a way of life. I hope you will too!

Let’s all make this a great week, remembering what really matters, speaking positive words over others, and striving to be content, regardless of what is missing!

With Love and Volition,

Corry

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