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A Strategy to Overcome the Fear of Rejection
By: Braeden Wolf
Tags: Rejection, Resilience, Fear, Courage

I was challenged in one of my classes to complete a Rejection Olympics Bingo card. I opted for the third column from the left.

I saw this as an interesting opportunity to apply a concept I had recently read about, and to see how effective it was at overcoming the fear of rejection.

Before getting into the concept, it’s important to understand the origin of why humans fear rejection. A commonly accepted theory is that way back in the day, when we were roaming around in tribes of hunter gatherers, our survival was dependent on fitting in. If we did something to offend the tribe, there was a risk we could get kicked out, which would make our source of food and protection from other animals much weaker. So, our brains were wired to fear taking social risks, since they could ultimately cost us our lives. We developed a strong fear of other people’s opinions or FOPO (credit Dr. Michael Gervais). In our current world, most of us have food security and are not endangered by wild tigers, so this ancient brain wiring is at best useless and at worst harmful.

I say harmful since FOPO can significantly impact our potential. In our personal lives, it can cause us to not fully express our needs in our current relationships and to miss out on forming new ones. In our professional lives, it can cause us to not voice our opinions in meetings and shy away from a new promotion.

We all instinctively know that FOPO holds us back, but many of us don’t have a strategy to overcome it. In the rest of this post I will talk about the concept I used to overcome FOPO in the Rejection Olympics, and how effective it was.
It’s Okay (A Self-love Poem)
By: Spencer James
Tags: Self Love, Resilience, Love Yourself, Courage, Poetry

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Hello beautiful.

I see you there, huddled in the corner, knees to chest, head down.

Pouring ghost tears from your heart, terrified to make a sound.

Wishing only to be left alone.

I see you, living behind invisible walls

each brick made from the pain of life.

Too hurt and tired to tear it down

Staring at graffiti messages tagged by small minds and empty hearts.

The lies they left becoming your truths.

I see you fighting demons.

Doubt, guilt, shame, regret

Four horsemen that ruthlessly decimate

and apologize for nothing

I see you; a beautiful rose wilting

Too timid to ask for water

Too proud to be pruned

I see you crumble

Hoping the Deaf are the only ones to hear your screams.

Begging the blind are the only ones to see your scars.

Praying the mute are the only ones to tell your story.

I see all these things wrapped up in the man I see in the mirror.

I see YOU, and it’s okay.

It’s okay that you’re scared; I love you anyway.

It’s okay that you’re hurt; I love you anyway.

It’s okay that you’re struggling; I love you anyway.

It’s okay that you’re tired; I love you anyway.

It’s okay that you’re not perfect; I love you anyway.

I love you because any-way you choose to be is beautifully perfect to me.
How to Find Courage to Deal With Everything Life Throws at You
By: Colin Zhang
Tags: Life, Personal Growth, Courage, Overthinking, Fear

Overthinking is a common disease.

If you’re anything like me, you replay a mistake thousands of times. Envisioning marriage with someone you met last night. But while you believe you’re learning from the past and preparing for the future, all you’re doing is compounding a problem with more anxiety.

“The future, the worry, the regret, the anxiety — these are all the mental events that do not have to be a part of the difficulty of life: these can be transcended here and now.”

~Eckhart Tolle

We understand this concept but simply can’t help it. Because we’re wired to constantly look for problems in our lives — we’re biologically outdated.

But like anything else in life, conditioning and practice will form habits. Once we start consciously rejecting unnecessary thoughts, they’ll fade away slowly.

Only focus on what’s in front of you

Problems are endless in the past and future. At this moment though, there’s only one or several.

You aren’t afraid of getting up to speak in front of the crowd. The real fear that’s preventing you comes from your thoughts. Worrying about slurring and forgetting lines, recalling the bad experience you had last time with public speaking. If you could simply stop thinking, anxiety wouldn’t exist.

And the best way to block your thoughts is to take action. Walk up to the podium before your brain can generate fear. Countdown, 3, 2, 1, go.

Similar to Mel Robbin’s 5-second rule. There’s real psychology behind it.

We can only cope with things when they are present, not before they occur. And the present always gives us the energy and courage to deal with them.

“Don’t think of yourself as having a past, don’t think of yourself as having a future. What’s left?” — Eckhart Tolle

What’s left is just the absence of fear.
Monsters and Madness
By: Joe Barca
Tags: Kraken, Monsters, Poetry, Courage

Perseus and Pressure

Photo by Rohan Makhecha on Unsplash

the Kraken rears its ugly head

extends its giant tentacles

and we cling to the little pine tree

by the collar of the sea

the tendency is to let go

but somehow we cling to hope

you cannot see or hear courage

but you can feel it, it has a spine

courage is rarely political

it is something deeper

it is part of a triumvirate

that includes integrity, and truth

courage is not the opposite of fear

it is the opposite of cowardice

courage is the sword

truth is the shield

so, we unite

fight the good fight

wage the war

jump into the maw

Joe Barca
Thank you. I still think of us as the young women we were.
By: Toni Crowe
Tags: Friendship, Women, Courage, Death, Love

I’m so sorry for your loss, for then and now.

I’m so sorry for your loss, for then and now.
What if no one cares?
By: Cj Dimaggio
Tags: Success, Science, Courage

Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto

It’s not every day that someone discovers a planet.

For 76 years after its discovery in 1930, Pluto was the 9th planet from the sun.

So when the discoverer of Pluto came to my hometown to give a free lecture, my high school physics teacher said, “I don’t care if he’s as boring as watching paint dry, I have to go see him.”

In spite of old age and infirmity, Clyde Tombaugh was anything but boring. He was funny and charming. He regaled us with the story of how he hunted the elusive little planet, how he was the low man on the totem pole at Lowell Observatory, and how shoveling snow off the telescope’s roof was a real “snow job.”

He was just 24 when he made his big discovery, and he went on to discover hundreds of asteroids, stars and galaxies and to nurture a love of astronomy among thousands of students.

So it was kind of sad when astronomers downgraded Pluto to a “dwarf planet” in 2006. But it was also inspiring.

Because what can you do when the world suddenly decides your accomplishments aren’t so important? How do you react when tastes change and people ridicule your work, even though you gave it your all and did it better than anyone else could?

You carry on. You laugh it off. You keep doing good work. And you encourage other people to do the same.

This article first appeared on the Varamark Research blog at

https://www.varamark.com/post/pluto
Remembering Redemption
By: Ani Vidrine
Tags: Redemption, Courage, Hope, Advent, Love

Remembering Redemption

photo by Amelie & Niklas Ohlrogge on Unsplash.com

Dear One,

I am writing to remind you of things you already know. You have previously overcome many hurdles in your life. Remember this.

When you are feeling worn out and hopeless, take some time to center yourself in the silence and to recall how Love has been present for you in trying times, redeeming you from the depths of despair and giving you strength and courage. Your story is not only one of tragedy and struggle, but of triumph and victory over circumstances that seemed insurmountable.

The journey of your life is one of personal growth and evolution, supported and sustained by enduring Love. All will be well, dear one. Love never fails.

Remember, this moment is an opportunity to connect to Love, and therefore, to live into the fullness of who you are.

As always, do what best awakens you to love,

Your Inner Wisdom
A Dealer in Hope or a Merchant of Fear?
By: Bg Allen
Tags: Courage, Leaders, Fear, Leadership Development

Our current situation is exposing both — there are beautiful examples of people at all levels leading well during this time — acknowledging the challenges, but meeting them head-on with hope and courage and with great compassion for those they lead.

Then, we are also seeing the pseudo-leaders, petty tyrants in my opinion, at all levels utilizing fear to give them arbitrary control over peoples lives. Unfortunately, they have been that way for a long time in organizations big and small and in governmental institutions at all levels who have been using fear to control others, it has just been “under the radar” — until now.

My hope, is that more true leaders will emerge. People who have compassion for those that they lead. People who face the “brutal facts”, but with optimism, hope, and courage and they inspire those they lead with that same hope and courage.

We need these type of leaders at all levels of our society.
Life, Should It Be Miserable?
By: Sylvia Silvers, Aka Sylvia Astuti Gunawan
Tags: Success, Depression, Courage, Miserable Life, Failure

“He’s turned his life around. He used to be depressed and miserable. Now he’s miserable and depressed.”

~David Frost~

How do we see our life? Are we happy with where we are now? If not, what should we do to be happier?

Soon we may reset our goal, again, for the new coming year.

As we know, we may wish to have something, but if we won’t take the action and stick to the plan, we’ll give up easily and go back to the old habits.

Our life is in our hands, we decide what do we want to do with it.

I remember wanting to be a fashion designer but didn’t push myself to go to Milan as my plan was. Instead, I went to China with Silver to open a trading company.

By the time I realized that I missed the chance to go to Milan, I was a breastfeeding mom.

I sighed almost every morning, feeling blue under the bright beautiful sky.

I was so blessed that I didn’t keep blaming the “unfair” life; instead, I took action to take the step, did what I believed may give me a happier life.

I felt the designer feeling when I walked on the stage, presented my designs, won the second prize for the menswear competition.

I was almost 8 months pregnant with my daughter when Silver, me, and 3-year-old Patrick went to Korea, Hong Kong, and China to purchase some fabrics, buttons, etc to start my first collection.

I remember well how we chased the taxi in China at that time.

I was holding a bag of fabric in one hand and carried my son on top of my big belly when Silver got lots of other heavy things on both of his hands.

I was so exhausted but I was so happy that I managed to step out and do what I wanted to do.

I saw how my husband supported me (well.. he chose to see me on fire rather than a nagging and whining woman at home)

He wanted me to be a happier wife.

The journey to find the answers never stops.

There were some rocks on our way, and at some point, we stood at the crossroads and had to make difficult decisions.

No one said that it would be easy.

There was a time when everything that we did seemed so useless and hopeless, we were asking ourselves, should we turn back or should we go on?

“No! There is no turn back, we must go on!” We reminded each other.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”

~Winston S. Churchill~

When we grow from inside, and we stand on our hope and faith, together we can solve whatever roadblocks in front of us.

Believe in ourselves, as long as we are doing good things, there will be an answer to every problem.
Only 3 Routines to follow for boasting “Your Personality”
By: Roshni Pasi
Tags: Personality, Routine, Courage, Confidence, Personal Development

2. The Experience

This one is so underrated term when it comes for building personality of a person but it is most important for building your core personality in for overall terms .

Let’s take one example to understand why

One day I was trying to write a small quote , which I have never done before but after completing than one of friend read it and gave me a compliment, this experience just help me realize that I can write sometimes , I updated my writing skills which changed my life & here I am writing this now.

This adds a bonus tips to my personality from that day onwards in my life .

Experience from past helps you in future for many situations but you have to work it. Work on them daily.

Experience is gained —when you work — its a bonus tip —for Personality.

So start doing new activities from today.

Drive, swim, read , play , learn , read , watch , & observe. just do it , to know about your self more and redo it for gaining experience & naturally someday is will a part of you .
Drowning
By: Coach Harlan
Tags: Business Coaching, Courage, Helping

When I was about 12 or 13, I saved a little boy who was drowning.

I didn’t really think too much about it at the time. When it happened, it was instinctual; I had never been trained in water rescue. I was too young to be a lifeguard, but I could swim. And I was fast.

It was summertime and we were visiting my aunt and uncle near Sacramento, California. My uncle had to work that day, so a family friend offered to take us fishing on the Feather River.

A group of boys was trying to cross the river just downstream from where we were fishing. The water was clear and deep, and the river current was deceptively strong.

One of the older teens held a smaller boy on his shoulders, carrying him across to the other side. Mid-way through the river, the tall boy lost his footing and slipped underwater, the small boy toppling off his shoulders.

The smaller boy could not swim. The current took him, and he thrashed about in the water, screaming for help while his friends panicked on the shore.

Hearing the screams, I looked downriver. I saw the little blond head bobbing in the water, and something inside of me screamed “GO!”.

I threw down my fishing gear and dove into the cold water.

Remember, I was just a kid, not much older than the boys playing along the river. I was just someone who saw someone else in trouble and responded. I couldn’t just stand there, listening to his friends screaming, without trying to do something. I had to respond; I had to at least try.

I swam as hard as I could and, as I got close to the boy, I saw him splashing in the water and then I saw his blond head sink below the surface. I took a deep breath and dove underwater. I opened my eyes and saw his small body bouncing along the bottom carried by the current.

Diving down, I grabbed his swim trunks, and headed for the surface. Fortunately, I was able to pull the boy from the water, get him to the shore where my older brother got him breathing again.

Teamwork.

When I told my wife about that story recently, she didn’t seem surprised at all. “That’s who you are,” she said, “That’s what you do. You help people.”

And she’s right. A lot of my memories are of times when I was able to help someone who needed something I had — an extra hand to lift, a strong back to carry, or the bravery to act on impulse and instinct.

I guess that explains why I chose to be a consultant. I love working with the leadership teams at companies that are undergoing some major change — merger/acquisition, process-reengineering, restructuring — and helping them understand the change, communicate the change, and lead their people through the change.

It’s also why I love being a coach. I love helping business owners of small- to mid-sized businesses to navigate the day-to-day struggles of entrepreneurship. I help by bringing three key factors to the table: Awareness of what they could do or what their business could be; Education of business-building best practices; and Accountability, to do the thing they must do to achieve their strategic goals.

I love helping people. It’s who I am; it’s what I do.
How Jim Carrey Gave Me Courage
By: Geoff Lane
Tags: Life Lessons, Courage, Motivation, Jim Carrey, Inspiration

And why his message is so important

Happy Sunday everyone. Just before shipping off to college about four and a half years ago, I was on one of those late-night YouTube binges when I happened to stumble upon an inspirational commencement speech Jim Carrey gave in back in 2014 (link here). It was unforgettable.

Jim Carrey is known as the funny guy right? Impressions, comedic roles and shticks galore. But what isn’t as well known about him is one of his biggest inspirations that’s guided him throughout his entire career.

Carrey idolized his father. In this commencement speech, he mentioned that his old man could’ve been a great comedian, but he didn’t think it was actually possible for him.

Instead, he made a “conservative” choice, like many of us do in life. He took a safe 9–5 job as an accountant.

“So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality.” — Jim Carrey

Let those profound words sink in.

How many of us take jobs that most people would describe as being secure, or practical? Jobs with decent salaries that pay the bills. You know the kind. Now, how many of us actually like said job?

I’m sure there are some who do; 9–5 jobs aren’t proverbial shackles for everyone. But the dismal reality is that a lot of people do feel shackled by their “practical” job. But if that were the case, you might ask yourself Why don’t people just quit?

The answer is fear. Leaving those jobs is even scarier than it is soul crushing to stay with them.

“What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never dare to ask the universe for it.” — Jim Carrey

You start to rationalize why it makes sense to stay there as opposed to leaving and pursuing something you’re passionate about. It’s not that bad. Your co-workers are nice. They pay is decent. Plus, your parents and loved ones are proud.

But as Carrey says,

“Your need for acceptance can make you invisible in this world.”

And taking a job based off of others’ expectations is not always what’s best for you. If recent times have shown us anything, it’s that the traditional 9–5 route is anything but safe. Levels of unemployment rival that of the great depression, and in a cruel bit of irony, millions were laid off from jobs they took out of security.

“You can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.” — Jim Carrey

So take a chance, everyone. Follow your professional curiosity, wherever that may take you, no matter what others think. Risk failing at what you love rather than something you don’t truly want. Have the courage to be seen in all your glory.
Be Brave Enough to Wait
By: Kyle Davison Bair
Tags: Christianity, Rest, Jesus, Courage, Life Advice

Contemplate the seemingly contradictory mystery of those who walk in power.

“They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)

Not those who pray to the Lord —

Or believe in the Lord —

Or read the word of the Lord —

But those who do all of these things and then, instead of running forward in their own ideas and plans and energy, they wait.

And these blessed waiters, those who wait for their orders, trusting their Commander, patient and waiting until the time is right, these amazing waiting people:

“shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, ESV)

21st century society declares that those who walk in power are those who act when everyone else waits. Success comes to those who never stop, never sleep, never cease, never rest.

They will grow tired and weary. Even the best of them will stumble and fall.

But those who wait for the Lord — those who wait, truly wait, trusting that the command will soon be given, at exactly the right time — these are the ones who renew their strength, because they allow time for their strength to be restored. Waiting is not defeat. Waiting is rest, re-focusing, refreshment, rejuvenation, restoration. Waiting is trusting. Waiting is obeying.

The Lord will command. The Lord will lead.

When He does, those who waited well enough to hear the command will march forward, pressing their advantage at exactly the right moment.

Like musicians filling an orchestra, each one well-trained and equipped, those who wait on the Lord wait for the right moment to play their notes. Those who rush ahead, who play swift and loud, who never cease — these are the ones who ruin the song. Their zeal eclipses their knowledge.

But those who wait on the conductor, who are ready to play the right notes at the right time, and only the right time — these are the ones who produce the beautifully-designed symphony.

Wait for the Lord.

He is not slow.

He is timing everything perfectly.
The Courage Called Waiting
By: Pamela J. Nikodem
Tags: Personal Growth, Life Lessons, Courage, Personal Development, Self

We wonder why we get so bothered. The beauty of waiting comes after the fact. You’ll experience many opportunities to choose patience versus agitation when waiting is the burden of the hour. Recently, I received an email from the DSPS (Department of Safety and Professional Services) in Wisconsin telling me they had no record of my application for my LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) my SAC (Substance Abuse Counselor) in training forms. Knowing COVID has already delayed so much, I rejoiced when I opened the email, only to sit stunned. What did the school forget to do? I wondered.

After two emails the school responded and said they will resend the forms. Another six weeks of waiting is now underway.

When my heart sank, I noticed doubt creeping in and the way my heart skipped a beat bothered me quite a bit. Taking a deep breath I counted my blessing, practiced owning my frustrations and anger so honesty stayed true. I think proceeded to step into the plan and move forward.

Here are a few ideas to consider when you, too enjoy the journey of waiting.
5 Quotes From Osho To Make You A Better Writer
By: Zach Klebaner
Tags: Creativity, Writing, Life, Innovation, Courage

5 Quotes From Osho To Make You A Better Writer

Photo by Luck Galindo from Pexels

Be — don’t try to become.

Sometimes, our desire to become something important is so strong that we miss out on what we already have naturally.

But you can’t lose your creativity. It is always there, just waiting to be discovered. So there’s no need to be bigger, better, or brighter than you are because you are already equipped with the tools of vibrant courage and innovation.

All you have to do to discover this is sit still and see.
The Tools: Preamble
By: Samuel Odewale
Tags: Life, The Tool, Courage

The Tools

Tools are how humans got to the moon. They are how we designed the human genome. The recent Covid vaccine was developed by people who understand the power of tools and how too use them. Tools is also how humans will get to Mars and achieve all the extraordinary fit that are the stuff of science fiction.

Not only have tools helped humans achieved a lot of remarkable feats, but in our day-to-day life, tools help us live a more optimal, recommendable, and fulfilling life. Just imagine going a day without your phone and you can understand the role tools play in human endeavor.

Over the next few articles on this blog, we’ll be exploring a different set of tools. These tools will help you optimize your internal world. They work in the realm of the mind. They help you shift your paradigm and look at the world a little differently.

I was listening to a speaker discussed the topic of anxiety. He commented on how he was qualified to speak on spiritual things about the subject, but not from the psychological frame of reference. That was humility. There was also a clear message of how being open to explore a topic from so many different perspectives can help you arrive at an optimal answer to different life’s questions.

Over the next couple of days, I will be discussing the five tools from a book titled The Tools by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels. The tools will help you live a life of courage, creativity, willpower, and inspiration. You will get out of being small and invisible. It will help you speak up, be bold, and live the life that God has placed you on this earth to live.

These tools will help you break away from smallness. It will help you break away from avoiding discomfort. You will no longer be afraid of rejection, failure, or hurt. A whole new world of possibilities will be available to you. You will become your boldest self. You will be able to build new relationships. It will help you deal with anger and help you confront difficult people in a way that is assertive and not petty. It will help you deal with low self-esteem and get you to see the world in a new light. It will also help you stay focused on your life’s work and mission and not be distracted by every shining fad. The tools will ground you in who the creator has made you. You will begin to approach life being confident in your worth, and you will have a completely new paradigm with which you see the world.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
What Happens to the Mind When the Heart is Torn?
By: Bruce Noll
Tags: Blue Insights, Depression, Courage, Struggle, Heartbreak

My ship ran aground and all the while I thought I was navigating correctly.

I sit in the now, motionless and listing on the beach of the unknown.

I lost all of my energy in the storm and apparently, I lost my way too!

I ask myself, “should I have even been on the open seas without experience?”

And I say to myself, “I tried, I really tried!”
What is Courage
By: Senthil Kumaran Arivanantham
Tags: Writing, Courage, Hope, Flow, Hopes And Fears

To sit down and write this. Now.

To let myself be carried away

By the powerful forces

Of Hope and Fear.

To Ebb. And to Flow.

To let it all happen to me.

Knowing what happens

Yet not knowing it exactly.
Allow Yourself Courage to Believe Differently and See What Happens
By: Carla D. Wilson Laskey
Tags: Church, Leadership, Religion, Courage, God

Be Courageous

Photo by Sammie Vasquez on Unsplash

I realized that I needed to have the courage to allow myself to believe differently and to see what would happen. This was the only way to determine what I truly believe and what I no longer believe. Fast forward thirteen years after my resignation and I have joined the ranks of millions of people who have had the courage to believe differently without fear of retribution.

So allow yourself the courage to question and re-evaluate your belief system. Determine if what you once believed, is still what you believe. You just may find that it’s time to release some old beliefs that no longer align with the reality of your current life experience. While adopting new and different ways of believing that better serve you. Consider this,

“We are the sum total of our experiences. Those experiences — be they positive or negative — make us the person we are, at any given point in our lives. And, like a flowing river, those same experiences, and those yet to come, continue to influence and reshape the person we are, and the person we become. None of us are the same as we were yesterday, nor will be tomorrow.” ~B. J. Neblett

So go ahead. If you have questions or doubts about some long-held belief. Allow yourself the courage to believe differently and see what happens. You’ll never know what’s on the other side until you have the courage to take that leap. I imagine it won’t be as scary on the other side as you may think.

And by the way. If you decide to do it (or you already have). Come back and share your experience. I’d love to hear about what happened.

Until the next time…

Much Love & Peace,

CarlaDee
Advent Adventure || Second Sunday of Advent || Call Out
By: First Pres Kids Hayward
Tags: Christian Education, Christian Parenting, Courage, Advent, Fear

Sunday, December 6, 2020 — Worship@Home resources for FirstPres Hayward

As our congregation has made the decision to move to a digital online format for our Sunday Family Gathering due to COVID-19, FirstPresKids is here to provide resources that can help you create your own at-home family worship experience or supplement the one that will be streamed on Sunday mornings, 10PST from FirstPres Hayward.

NOTE: You can also go to the FPK YouTube Channel to view most (not all) of these materials on this week’s FirstPresKids YouTube Playlist.

Scriptural Focus: the story of John the Baptist living and preaching in the wilderness, calling out to “the one more powerful” — to Jesus who will come soon!

Lesson Objective: to understand that it is OK to be afraid and brave at the same time; to acknowledge the ways the world can feel like the wilderness and that it is OK and good to call out to “the one more powerful than us” when we need Jesus to come meet us where we are; also to learn about edible insects ;)

Parent/Caregiver Resources:

Opening or Closing Prayer: Dear God, As we prepare to celebrate the arrival of Jesus on Christmas, when our lives, the world, the pandemic make us feel like we’re in the wilderness; when the roads and paths ahead of us need to be made straight, help us like John the Baptist to call out to the one more powerful then us. We pray that Jesus will meet us where we are. We know he will come! Amen.

Scripture:

Videos for Kids:

Discussion Questions:

What is something you fear? Or tell about a time you felt afraid.

Do you think fear is good or bad? Natural or not? Why do you think fear exists?

What have the adults in your lives told you about fear? About how to handle it?

Something new is happening soon on our Advent Adventure (the birth of Jesus and a new way of living!)It’s normal to feel afraid of something new. Even the angels told Mary and the shepherds “Do not be afraid!” But, you can also be brave like Mary, like John the Baptist, like the shepherds. What are things you can do to help you be brave?

Play:

Take an Advent Adventure Walk or just look out your window… use this tutorial for a “Five Senses Nature Walk”… keep an eye out for insects and other signs of animal life like in this video:

Create:

Make an insect from objects you find around the house. Here’s some examples:

Add to or create an Advent Adventure wreath/display area of your own using found materials or use this printable “Advent Adventure” resource (pdf)

Books:
Why write now?
By: Mark Fleeton
Tags: Writing, Courage, Do Something, Fear, Love

“You should write on Medium.” That's what a friend told me about a week or so ago. About 10 years ago friends had encouraged me to start a blog on everything and just write about anything that came to mind and do it regularly. I didn’t. I suppose I didn’t think I had anything relevant to say or took my lack of confidence as an excuse to do nothing. What I can tell you is that in the last 10 years I have always disregarded any form of a compliment on my writing as simple flattery and pushed on. But perhaps not today. I’ll publish this today and either jump back in the foxhole of protection from comments or worse yet, silence. Or perhaps I’ll emerge and realize it's better to be in the fight than to watch it since that is what I’ve been doing for the last 10 years and it's not like that has worked out.

Storytelling:

My kids are 12 and 10 and for about the last 9 years I’ve told them bedtime stories of various lengths and especially at sleepovers. Their friends or cousins ask me if I’ll tell them all a story. To which I oblige most often, and it usually ends in belly laughs or minds blown or groans of true and utter disgust that “your dad” or “Uncle Mark” can think up endings like that. But yet they always ask for more. We’ve had stories ranging from sewer clowns that are responsible for the current mess in this room to the highly detailed and bloody account for each of the 9 lives of Maximillian the villain cat that lives just up the road in my brain.

Influence and Support:

A few years ago I referenced the 1999 film, The Matrix in a 4 am email to our CIO, after learning about the voluntary departure of a technology leader that was in charge of culture at our company of 40000+ people. His response was to keep writing, “you’re good at it”. My email was forwarded by the CIO to that leader and she later shared that it was framed and hanging in her home office. And while she didn’t stay, she did say it helped her. Not only for the foreshadowing of a dark time in our company over the next few years where we tried to science human behavior at work with data vs. embracing their messiness. But she said it helped because it supported her and her decision.

Laughter and Love:

It’s a critical component of how and why I fell in love with my wife when we were dating in San Francisco, and why she gave me a second look. Emailing or texting and laughing at each other's thoughts or recollections of events, humorous sarcasm, Seinfeld-like observations of human behavior (mostly my behavior), vulnerability, empathy, sadness, anger. It's a form of how we figured out and knew we were/are the perfect fit. One of my favorite scenes is Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting sharing the moments of intimacy with his wife what he refers to as “The good stuff.”

So why write now?

Why not, what's the worst that could happen.
And just like that, you were gone.
By: Samantha Holmes
Tags: Healing, Recovery, Codependency, Courage, Hope

One day it became too much. One day she was in danger and I could no longer allow us to be prisoners in your world.

My head was spinning. I wasn’t sure what to do. My chest was tight. I was swimming in a sea of confusion. All I could think was no more, no more, no more.

So mustered up all the courage I had to call you back. I asked you to stay away. It broke my heart. You pretended to not know why.

On that warm September day, I stood in the middle of my driveway, lost.

Why had you done it? How could it be true? Was I making the right choice?

I had lived so long in your world. I had done as I was told. I was on the two W plan as you would call it. I did what I was told, when I was told. But not today. Never again after today.

I cried. I cried so hard and so long. You broke us. Broken promises. Broken dreams. Broken family.

Never again would we be a normal family. Never again could we pretend things were perfect. No family outings. No family pictures. There was no more family.

You pretended to care. When that lie was not believable, you became angry. Your threats flew around like tar and feathers sticking to us.

Then one day it stopped. It was quiet. So calm and peaceful. A life without has not been as horrible as you had promised.

I wasn’t as weak as you said. I wasn’t as dumb as you said. I wasn’t as unloveable as you said.

The memory of you is fading. One day it will be gone.
why are we fascinated by the forbidden ?
Tags: Questions, Courage, Forbidden, Adolescence, Secrets

should you resist the charms of the forbidden..or give in to it at times?

the hands snake out towards the chocolate hidden out of sight; eyes slide towards the one who is out of bounds, and thoughts glide to whatever is not allowed....

why do we covet the forbidden? the human mind is fascinated by things, not within our reach. In mark twan's words "there's a charm in the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable." Certainly there is an attractive seduction in whispers that we do not found in shouted words.

You many possess plenty that others crave, but your desires the one thing that you cannot have. There is a tingly excitement in pursuing the unachievable, in doing the forbidden. An element of naughtiness and rebellion gives an edge of excitement to our fairly regulated existence.

When the most of life is lived by the rule book, breaking some rules is a way to taste freedom and feel a sense of self-control. Perhaps more than the forbidden experience, it is this freedom that we enjoy.

A group of adolescents may find this euphoria in drunken drunken shouting on roads or in doing drugs. Older people find the same intoxication in an extra marital affair, eating the wrong stuff, or even in going out for a drink with someone who is off-limits. People also find pleasure in lesser crimes - sleeping in late, a drink in the afternoon, jumping red lights or parking wrong.

Every child gets curious about things he is forbidden to do. This instinct carries well into adulthood and the adrenaline flow of dangerous, risque situation continues to encourage us towards the forbidden. Doing the forbidden helps us in our search for differentiators. This process begins around adolescence when we seek to reaffirm the persona and to mark our space and field of authority the easiest way to do that is to flout authority and do what is explicitly forbidden. We crave the dangerous and forbidden in an attempt to feel fulfilled and more empowered than the next person in our sphere of influence.

Behavioural experts talk of the "forbidden fruit effect"- a likelihood thinking more of things that you're told not to dwell upon. This then explains our fascination for that which is not allowed. We strive to get the unattainable even as we fail to enjoy what's in our grasp, and to understand the unknowable, when we don't fully understand even a fraction of the knowable.

It is then wrong to attempt the forbidden? What happens when we break rules? Curiosity and the need to experience are inherent parts of human evolution - part or the basic instincts for growth and survival. If we keep doing what we are told to, how will anyone learn anything different?

Sometimes going for the forbidden gives us a sharper understanding of who we are and what we can allow ourselves. And at times, the forbidden becomes a crushing disappointment and an everlasting regret. The choice is yours. Are you willing to attempt it?
Whatever It Takes
By: Teza Lord
Tags: Self-awareness, Foolishness, Courage, Desperation, Humor

Whatever It Takes

Some of us try new things during this re-shuffle thanks to Covid’s disrupting ways. This guy here, my beloved partner, is an old jock. He figures: “This is a perfect time to try that stuff you do, teZ, yoga.”

I admire his gumption, his humor, and most of all his willingness to make a fool of himself.

teZaLord.com
Ever been in such a situation where you would have actually stood up, but you didn’t because it…
By: Shree Mishra
Tags: Friendship, Bravery, Dumbledore, Courage

It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.

Ever been in such a situation where you would have actually stood up, but you didn’t because it would be against your friend?

Or Ideally is it correct to risk our friendship just for the sake of being right?

We all have always believed that real friends should be honest with each other no matter what, and that includes standing up against them when we think they are wrong. Yet we find ourselves incapable of accomplishing that level of honesty more often than we would like to admit. Reasons we site are it might hurt their feelings, they may think us unpleasant and it may even cost us that valuable friendship.

It takes a great amount of strength which most of us lack to look at someone we love and point out that they have made a mistake, that they did something wrong and that they are imperfect at something. Swallowing it or hiding it seems a way lot more easier than a confrontation.

A part of me believes that we should stand up for who we are, for the right even when it would be against our own friends if we see them doing wrong. It might seem like we will be crucified or not liked as much in the end, but it’s only our honesty that will always have mattered. But the risk of losing a friend when we stand up to them or the fear of having a gaping void in the friendship always overlaps our beliefs and we never go for the harder part that is the confrontation. If we could do it, be honest with them and confront them where exactly they went wrong, it would never be any wrong to them nor to us at any point. If we could make our friendship more powerful than this then we shall both emerge stronger than ever before. And that is the most important and beautiful thing whatsoever.

“There are all kinds of courage”,

and this is one of the most difficult ones, a very few people have it.
The Sorry Tale Of A Project Fail
By: Farah Egby
Tags: Courage, Transparency, Poetry, Serious Scrum, Agile

The Sorry Tale Of A Project Fail

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels [cropped]

Welcome my friends, do gather round

For a grizzly a tale as can be found,

OK, not quite grizzly but still a tale

Of mistakes and woe and a project fail.

Perchance you’ll blanch when I confess

Our project seemed like a success,

We iterated and delivered,

At release sign-off I barely quivered,

Confident all would be impressed,

Imagine, then, quite how distressed

I was to find they did not care,

They behaved as if I wasn’t there;

Photo by Marcelo Jaboo from Pexels

When I returned to face the team

I tried to smile and make it seem

As if their work was well-received

But I could see they weren’t deceived,

We had done well yet somehow, sadly,

I’d failed my team extremely badly.

With time gone by I can look back

And see the places I lost track:

To start with, I was not courageous,

I found low-trust meetings were contagious,

The managers saw a Scrum Master

As a whip to make the teams work faster…

Add to that a weekly forum

Where we all maintained utmost decorum,

Dare to paint your project un-green

And you’d be seen to contravene

The sacred code of reporting status

And find your career put on hiatus;

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Such was the climate of cold fear

But that’s no excuse to be unclear:

A green project has no meaning,

In fact, it’s rather overweening,

If it means we all pretended

Until the project nearly ended,

When the truth bursts overnight:

Green flips to red in an almight-

-y mess of apparent sudden failure

Of the most catastrophic nature;

Remember it runs in both directions:

From red to green as we make corrections,

Our project’s red did dim to amber

Breathless to true green we did clamber;

But they didn’t care for I didn’t say

What really happened on the way;

I learned that it’s imperative

To tell an honest narrative.
Your Story Matters
By: Susan J Hilger
Tags: Vulnerability, Covid 19, Mental Health, Courage, Your Story

Photo by Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

We share with people who’ve earned the right to hear our story.”

— Brene Brown

Our stories create us.

We create our stories.

Most of the world is currently dealing with some level of this Covid 19 pandemic.

What this has created is a level playing field it comes to vulnerability and authenticity, Our emotions and thoughts are showing up everywhere.

Collectively we see and feel all of those emotions: fear, anger, sadness, joy, love, and some days, a melancholy mediocre.

If you happen to be someone who enjoys starting your day on social media, on any given morning you will notice who is afraid, and who is angry, and begin to see we are collectively going through something powerful together.

What is the best way to manage these emotions? Get comfortable with them. What’s the best way to get comfortable, speak them out loud, own your feelings.

I’m not implying that you share every inner thought and feeling with your social media following, but please share with those who you trust to hold sacred space for you.

Have open conversations, talk about your feelings, open up your vulnerable side, and share how this has been affecting you, your family, your friends.

Once you begin to open yourself up and share, other people will learn to open up and soon you’ll realize you’re possibly relieving someone else’s pain for fear.

What if you knew your stories were life-changing for someone in pain? Would you be more open to telling them?

I was very surprised to realize that a post I shared on Linkedin where I asked people to share ‘their best self’ story, inspired an email from a friendly stranger sharing her tender ‘story’.

I do share her story in my book, you will see for yourself, her words touch your core being, and to know she shared something so personal and powerful with me from one social media post was proof enough for me: some days we are serving others with our story.
Jumpstart with Courage (Part 1)
Tags: Personal Development, Courage, Life Improvement, Qi Men Dun Jia, Practical Guides

When I go out with my friends and talking about our ‘dream job’ and ‘dream life’, the usual answer that I get is ‘well… you know, I’m not as brave as you. I have many responsibilities and I can’t just stop doing what I’ve been doing just for the sake of living my dream.’, etc, etc.

Since I’ve encountered these quite sometime now, I am sure that it does take courage to start just about anything.

The main reason why I wrote this article was not to bash anyone. Not at all. It‘s because I would like to encourage people to channel their inner courage and start being brave. #daretodream

Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash

A lifetime journey begins from a single step.

For you to see have courage, you will need to be able to see it first in your mind. There is always a Yin and Yang part of everything. If you want to channel your inner courage, you should train your mind to see yourself (in your mind) doing the things that you are scared of.

There is a fact that your mind can’t differentiate whether it is a memory or imagination. The first step to unleash your courage is by imagining it. Break through your mental boundaries.

The second step is the Yang step. Yang represents activity or movement. Therefore, once you’ve done your Yin part (we call it manifestation), the next step that you can do is by actually doing it.
What is a transaction?
Tags: Decimalchain, Cryptocurrency, Dar, Blockchain Development, Del

🛤Transaction — a request for a record on the blockchain and a logically completed data exchange operation, which is either confirmed and entered into the block, or canceled.

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💰Transactions on DecimalChain are processed by specialized network participants-validators — for a reward in the form of new DEL coins.

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🗣Each transaction on the Decimal network begins with the formation of a special message in the prescribed form, after which the message is sent to the master node, where the request will be checked for honesty.

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Next, an honest transaction gets the status of unconfirmed. All transactions verified but not confirmed by validators are pending processing.

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🎱The place where unconfirmed transactions are stored is called a memory pool.

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The validator takes transactions from the mempool, collects them into a block, and suggests that the other validators agree on the resulting block. If the block is consistent, all transactions that are included in it receive the status of confirmed and become part of the Decimal blockchain forever.

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👨🏻‍💻For a simple DecimalChain user, the entire transaction path is hidden behind a simple and understandable form, in which you only need to specify the recipient’s address and the amount of the transaction. After six seconds, the transaction will be confirmed.
Blockchain Career
By: Arnish Gupta
Tags: Blockchain, Career Advice, Blockchain Development, Inspiration, Technology

She was listening to all this very carefully and she had many more questions in mind but we had a limited time.

She thanked me for sharing the knowledge and giving for time. While leaving, she said that such questions come into the minds of people like me who want to learn blockchain. So if you can help those people then it would be good.

Now the time has come to say goodbye. Keep in touch with me.