You are Significant!

I've been reading this wonderful book written by a friend of mine, Melissa Haupt, called Apple Pie with Lucy: A Story of One Woman's Search for Significance.  I love that she took the initiative to address this subject that most if not all women struggle with. Plus she does it with a fictional character in a story line... the way I love reading books! There were several nuggets that I took that were extremely applicable to me but the one that I would like to share with you all today is this,

"When you do not know who you are you risk the chance of becoming like someone else. Like those you surround yourself with. Like those you admire. However, in life it empowers you to just be you. To be yourself."

I know that I should surround myself with good and positive people in order to not pull myself down into negativity, but I never thought of it exactly how Melissa puts it in her book.  You have to know who you are, what you are about, what you stand for. Otherwise you are just trying to be those you surround yourself with. And while they may be extremely great, talented, smart, funny, spiritual, or wealthy people, they are not you. And what you have to contribute to this world is just as important as the things they are contributing. I know when I personally am comparing myself to those around me they have wonderful qualities I want to possess, but  I can get so focused on that, that  I loose sight of who I am and what I actually need to be developing to be able to offer the best me to the world.  The one already endowed with seeds of greatness from God.

Melissa puts it so easy to understand, I loved this:

"You were birthed into this world at this very time in history for a reason. There are no coincidences about your existence. You are here to solve a problem and leave behind a legacy which continues to impact the world. To significantly leave it better than how you found it when you got here."

We are here for a purpose and I think that each of us knows what it is whether we are in tune or not is a different story, when we are pursuing it we feel fulfilled and rich (not necessarily monetarily;0)! and when we are not in tune with our God given purpose there is a hole in our hearts/soul that we can only ignore for so long before it seems to eat away at us!

And the last tidbit I will share with you is a quote from Grandma Lucy,
"The aim of the game we call life is to live as congruent with who we are authentically. The woman God made you to be. The woman who is amazing, talented, gifted, unique, and qualified to live out the very purpose which was planted in your soul when you were birthed into this world."

I cannot express the fulfillment and joy that I have found in pursuing my music congruent with my role as wife and mother (both of which I LOVE!) As I've stepped out and taken risks beyond my comfort zone I do find that I have already been given all the qualities I need to succeed. Its just a matter of tapping into them and showing myself I have them! The cool thing is we all have a different purpose. There is no need for comparison, or jealousy, we are all uniquely designed by a divine creator who gifted us talents, qualities, and strengths unique to us to help us pursue our earthly purpose.

Thanks Melissa for your courage to step outside your comfort zone and inspire women everywhere with your book! If you haven't yet read it go onto Amazon and buy it! You can even get it for your Kindle! No excuses!!!! If you need a little help remembering who you are and your significance READ it!

Becoming an Irrisistible Force of Nature......

Anne Frank said, “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

I had this discussion with my best friend last night. We (well since I learned through Klemmer and Associates that I can't really speak for everyone else)... I.... tend to wait until everything is lined up just right before we move forward in taking steps towards our goals and dreams. But I had the stark realization that if I'm waiting for things to be in place, or the money to be in my bank account, my life to look a certain way, whatever the 'reason' may be, I am never going to be able to create change or massively influence the world like I picture.

I'm currently reading a book by Darrell Knoch, Mastering a Healthy Self Image. He has an amazing way of relating how self-esteem is related to achieving more. One thing I read today that really got me thinking was this thought,

" If you were absolutely convinced that you were meant to be a great success in life, and there was nothing in the world to stop you from achieving things, as long as you persisted and threw yourself into every activity whole-heartedly, you would become an irresistible force of nature."
(www.darrellknoch.com)

Now I know I am capable of a greatness beyond my current doings. I can see it in my minds eye.... but somewhere I get hung up on the doing. It seems a little overwhelming to be the person I picture doing the things I picture. Especially compared with the girl currently sitting on the couch writing this blog!

But Darrell  is right. If I truly believe I am capable of accomplishing greatness and changing lives through music, which is my God given talent (yours is probably different), and I threw myself into this activity whole heartedly there is nothing that could hold me back and the devil would quake at the powerful force for goodness I am. I really do believe that I am capable of my goals. So I guess its time to throw myself whole heartedly into action!

So what is it you want to do in life? How do you want to change the world? Do you believe in yourself? Then throw yourself into the game and become that irrisistible force of nature!!!

Has your Ship come in?

A friend of mine snapped this picture of a plaque she saw and I LOVED it. Wish I knew where it was so I could go buy it! Guess I'll have to make one!

So often we meet people who have nothing but negative things to say and wonder when their turn for the 'good fortune' in life is. Well I think this quote says it all. Most people that appear "lucky" have put in the labor and risk that it took to swim out to meet their ship.

What is luck anyway? Laboring Under Correct Knowledge! A great formula for consistency. Last summer at the World Championships of Performing Arts Boot Camp I attended a seminar by Tess Taylor, an executive in the music business. I believe her words were it takes 10 years to create an 'overnight' success. What the general population percieves as sudden has been at least 10 years of labor for the one achieving success. Even the youtube sensation popstar Justin Bieber was turned down by every record label he went to, why because they said there was no market for him! So what did he and his team do? Spent the next few years creating that market!

At times I set out all prepared with everything I need for that swim and sometimes the swells are so high I lose sight of my ship and turn around not sure if its still there! But behind every success story is a story of trials, labor and just plain grit. Because they knew what they wanted badly enough to swim out to whatever distance they needed to in order to reach that ship! And they had the faith that if they just kept swimming they would actually FIND the ship!

That's the kind of person I am striving to be. If I just keep going I know I'll get there. Even if the ship looks different than I had originally pictured, it will still feel sweet to climb aboard. I can't help others do what I have not been willing to do myself! So watch me swim friends! Cheer me on! Swim on out with me, your ship might be anchored close to mine;0)!

Excuses Excuses!

I saw this on someone's facebook page the other day and thought I'd repost it on my blog as well. It really got me thinking about the amount of times I use this excuse. I never really thought about it being as ridiculous as a reason for not accomplishing things I really want to do as telling my college professor that the dog ate my homework.  Even if the dog had eaten my homework I still would have figured out a way to get my paper in on time in order to maintain my grades.

So what grade point average are we living our lives at? We often pride ourselves on the busyness of our lives. Because if we are busy then we must be accomplishing great things and leading very productive lives right? WRONG! Being busy is not enough. We need to be busy at the right things!

Sometimes things happen in our life that forces us to slow down and remind us of what's important! These are usually unexpected and unwanted little crisis! So before we have to be forced to have a crisis to recognize what is the most valuable way to spend our time take a look and get rid of the unnecessary busy that is actually keeping us from reaching our goals. Life will get just a little easier!

Here's to a great day!!!



SONGS ARE IN!!!! Vote your Favorite!

Exciting day in my life! My tracks came back from my producer! Take a listen to tracks 1-7! These are all the ones I co-wrote in Nashville last November. Let me know your favorite! Cast your vote for your favorite to decide which one would you like to see a music video for?

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss!!!

In honor of one of the greatest authors ever...... Dr. Seuss, on his birthday thought I'd share a few quotes that I find relevant at any age!

There is no one like you on this earth, so why waste your time trying to be someone else. Be confident in the talents, qualities, and strengths that God gave you. You are placed in people's life because the Lord knows they need what you have to offer!

Enjoy the Journey! My husband and I have been talking lately about how we need to be focused on our goals, but at the same time be happy along the way there. What are we learning and what memories are we creating as we move forward in life!!!

Think outside the box! Amazing how our eyes are opened to new solutions to the same old problems!

 My favorite explaination of Love!

I just went to a bridal shower yesterday and watched the bride to be bounce off the walls with excitement to marry this amazing man she found. The journey to find him came after a few wrong ones and broken hearts, but the right one is sooooo worth the wait.

And finally, always be learning.... it keeps us moving forward into the unknown. We can be a hamster on a wheel getting our exercise and enjoying a good run in place, or we can be the mouse in a maze, making wrong tunrs and hitting a few dead ends, but with the smell of our goals in the air always learning and moving forward!

Make it a GREAT Day!!!!

Life Solutions from a 3 year old!

As I was getting ready this morning I was only half listening to my 3 year old play with her toys, smiling at the cute little conversations she was having, until she caught my full attention with a question she posed to one of the little people she had in her hand.

"So Saralynn, What's your favorite problem?"

I chuckled to myself and thought, I should correct her, and almost instantly had the impression/insight, no she just course corrected me!

I thought, we don't love our problems, or have "favorite problems".....  do we?  How often do we talk about the problems we have in our lives? It could be health, finances, relationships, family, weight, whatever. We all have them. Our own favorite problem that seems to be a never ending struggle or recurring scenario in our life. But I don't WANT this problem you might argue, I didn't ASK for it, I would LOVE it if it would disappear. Really... well how often do you find yourself talking about the actual problem in all its juicy details and glory without ever turning the conversation to solutions. I do.  How many times do we go to the Lord in prayer to take this problem from us or help us through it, "cast your burdens at His feet" as the scriptures say, only to pick it back upagain at the end of your prayer, focus on it, dwell on it, stew over it and don't really ever actually turn it over to the Him to help find the solution because we are so busy having a problem!

As I explored this little concept I thought no wonder our problems seem to stick around so long. We hold on to them like security blankets, they start to define us, who we have become because we are carrying this, or dealing with this problem.  Its nice to have others pat us on the back and say you can do it, I'll pray for you, oh look how strong you are to deal with that, I don't know how you do it. Now I'm not trying to mock or offend. I can only speak from my own experiences with life. But I regret to say sometimes its fun to share my problems with people because it somehow helps me feel like I'm a good person for going through it.... when really what kind of person could I be if I was focused on finding and carrying out the solutions to the different problems that arise in my life.

 I learned recently in a seminar by Klemmer and Associates that we all deal with pain, what causes the pain in your life is different from what causes the pain in mine, but the emotions, reactions, and chemical response if you will in our bodies is all the same. Pain is pain.  It doesn't matter what caused it verses what caused someone else's, the fact is you have it. But rest assured then that the path to overcoming it is similar and we can help one another find joy again. Though the scenarios may be different the healing path is the same. How nice that we can walk the solutions path together!

So let's examine  the favorite problems in our life and start focusing on our favorite solutions! Thanks to my 3 year old for allowing me some beautiful insight into how to be a happier, kinder, more successful woman!