The Best Opportunites are not always FREE!!!!

Yesterday I had the opportunity to audition for America's Got Talent. It was so much fun and always when its all over I can appreciate the stretching of my comfort level a lot better than in the moment.

2 years ago my husband and I happened to be in Chicago around the time when AGT was auditioning. So we stood in line with the rests of the thousands and waited in the freezing cold for 8 hours before we were let in to wait another 3 hours. I think we got there around 8am and I didn't even audition until 8pm. What a supportive husband right! Well obviously nothing came of that audition, except personal growth ;0)!  I left there kind of justifying that I didn't make it because I didn't have a big enough sob story for TV, or if you think I was tired, think about the judges who'd seen thousands of acts before me, and on and on. Talk about limiting self talk! But I started looking around for more opportunities.

In the last 2 years I've had a couple of awesome opportunities come my way, 1. for the last 2 summers I have been able to represent the USA  competing in the World Championships of Performing Arts (www.wcopa.com) an international Olympic style competition for all the performing arts. I competed in Modeling, acting, and singing and walked away with 11 medals and a Grand Champion Plaque for Senior Division Spokes model.   2. I just completed recording my very first country album with all of my own songs. I spent 3 weeks in Nashville rubbing shoulders with awesome songwriters, musicians, and a fantastic producer and am now anxiously awaiting the final product.

Both of these opportunities contributed to my growth. The competition pushed me harder than I've ever pushed my self before, not only physically to get in shape, but to try new things like acting, and vocally my voice is so different than it was 2 years ago its amazing! The work I did for the competition got me ready for the opportunity of Nashville. But mostly what I want to point out is that neither of these opportunities which majorly contributed to my success and who I am were free. I had to pay for both of them. They came at great sacrifice and hard work. I even recorded a Christmas & Patriotic Album and went door to door selling it, talk about discomfort. But I learned more about who I am, what I want, what I stand for and where I will not bend, than if I had been handed a spot on America's Got Talent that very first audition.

I read this this morning and found it fitting:

Never Let the odds keep you from doing what you know in your heart you were meant to do! (Jackson Brown Jr)

So as I finished my audition, received a wow from the producer, and then listened as he told me how difficult it is for a solo singer to make the show and how all the odds were against me. I had to smile and say I know! But I'm here anyway.

Don't the odds always feel like they are against us? And sometimes the opportunities in front of us come with an expensive price tag. But I LIKE who I am today because of the odds I face, and the opportunities I took. Do I still hope I make the show and win the million bucks???? Heck yeah! But even if I don't I'll go out and make my own million bucks. Whichever route is the one God has designed for me it will be the one that I can touch the most lives for good on the way.

Want your Goal?

So this last weekend I spent in a personal development workshop by Klemmer and associates. If you haven't heard of them, look them up.  What they offer will totally shift how you think about yourself and change your life patterns!
 Well I spent the weekend stripping away all of my excuses and taking a good hard look at myself to learn how to create results. Brian Klemmer who developed this program has a saying that I have chosen to live by:

Results, while often harsh are always fair!

Results are the only real way we can measure whether we are truly committed to our goals or not. It doesn't matter how much I say I want something. If the results are different then I have not been truly committed to my goal. For example, I have been talking about this last 10 pounds that needs to be released! SO I thought I was committed to my goal... well guess what, their still attached to my body, so judging by results I have not been truly committed to this goal.

I have lots of goals in all different areas in my life, better spiritual communication with my Father in Heaven, more patience with my daughter, increased romance with my spouse, picked up by a record label. But I always seem to have a million excuses as to why I don't have them yet and will pat myself on the back for trying! But as you well know trying doesn't get you anywhere. SO I have been able to take a good hard look at my life and the results I have and recommit to the actual accomplishment of my goals based on results. Sometimes it takes courage, other times trust in my own abilities and the fact that the Lord can give me the extra strength, insight and confidence to achieve them.

So I am making a declaration to the world and to all my friends out there! I am an Accepted, Confident, Focused and Committed Woman. Go ahead.... hold me accountable. Ask me about my results. I am choosing that when a 2x4 comes along in life and tries to knock me off coarse that I will step into whatever qualities is takes to stay committed to the results I know I can have.  I have come to know that when we are truly committed, only then can the Lord step in with His Grace and make the difference where we might fall short, or raise us up to where we need to be.  When we are in this state our eyes will be opened to opportunities that we may have never known existed.

Know you are worth it. Whatever your goals and dreams are, be committed to them. No one is judging you or your actions. Based on results you yourself will know how truly committed you are!

I am normal?

I have little patience and even get a little mad when people put a label on who they THINK I am, and what I need to do and change based on their perspective. Now I'm not talking about constructive criticism in helping me move forward in my goals and life, I'm talking about the ones that place you in a certain box, get an idea in their head about who you are and because they think they have you all figured out, never really do know you or what you are capable of;  you know the type. Every once in a while I come across them in my life and today was one of those days... soooo for those of you who happened to run into the same type today....

I'm in the mood for a little Disney. That guy created a magical kingdom from a whistling mouse! Walt said a few things that have made me confident to continue pursuing my dreams and thinking outside the box!  The first thing I like that he said, and I ad lib since I can't find the direct quote, but....

If you run an idea by 10 people and 9 out of 10 don't like it, then its probably a good idea!

Walt was backed in this thought by Mark Twain who said

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect.”

So I guess to find out if I'm on the right course I ought to run every idea on facebook to see if the majority agree with me or not right?!  I have to admit that I'm always a little wounded when I come up with a fabulous idea and no one else seems to catch my vision! But call it pride or determination my heart goes, I'll show you! I am learning that it's probably not because its not a good idea, but their thinking is not quite out of the box enough to see my vision. These thoughts were a good reminder to me today that its OK that not everyone likes my ideas, mannerisms, songs, or even me for that matter! (though that I can't fathom ;0)!)

So I encourage us all to chase our crazy ideas and quit telling the nay sayers all about our ideas, just show them the end result!
Walt Disney says,

"All our dreams can come true- If we have the courage to pursue them"

Dreams are work, but I'm going to like who I become in the process, and people all along the way are going to tell me to get real, and even laugh at my ideas.... but those are the ones I'm especially going to use ;0)!

Think Big, We are Divine!

As I sat here thinking about my day and what I wanted to write about I read a few words by Donald Trump that stuck in my brain....

If your going to be thinking, you may as well think big!

Now I'm not a huge fan of Donald Trump, although our dog is named after him,  (courtesy of my husband getting the name stuck in our 3 year old's head....) But I do like this thought, as I tend to think a lot.  And as I sat here reflecting on what it exactly means to think big and how I can think bigger, I heard through the baby monitor my 3 year old start to sweetly sing the song I am a Child of God. If you've never heard it follow this youtube link http://youtu.be/JOrcqqpHCt8  its worth the 2 minute listen.

The lyrics are I am a Child of God, and He has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday.

As this sweet song came drifting over the speaker I thought, how can you think any bigger than that? To know that I am a daughter of God! The daughter of an all mighty, all powerful, all knowing, and loving God. He sent me here to earth to learn, grow, and to succeed.

I know as parent I only want what's best for my daughter and I want her to be able to succeed in anything she tries. Sometimes so badly I like to intercede to do it for her, and other times I can't, I just have to watch her give it her best effort and then pick up the slack where I can.  I picture my Father in Heaven the same. He wants us to succeed in all that we try and work towards. Sometimes He can intercede and hand us the successes we desire and other times we have to give it our all before He can fill in the gaps.  (And sometimes I think, like my 3 year old, I shove the help I could have to make it easier aside and say Let ME do it! Making the process alot longer and harder than it had to be.)  So knowing this why not attempt anything!  We have an all powerful, all knowing Heavenly parent on our side!

So now that we know who we are we can set all our fears of failure aside and just give it our all right?! Actually, I thank my 3 year old for that sweet reminder of who I am, and why I have big goals and dreams. Sometimes our fears and doubts can crowd out faith and determination, but thank goodness for a perceptive and loving God who sends sweet little reminders to our hearts to think big!