Watch your vision come to life!
Posted by: catherinew on: January 23, 2010
I just started a new job. After years of experience in different industries, bringing skills I have developed together to take on positions I had never even dreamed of, exploring new possibilities and continuing to learn and grow in the process, I can say I finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up. And I am finally in a job where I can be that and do work that allows be to be completely self expressed!
I am working for an outstanding organizational development firm, SVI, with a fantastic team and an awesome vision. Not only that, one of my colleagues started a nonprofit organization, The MACC Initiative, as a resource for women pursuing successful careers who are also committed to being great mothers. The MACC Initiative is also a resource for companies whose leadership recognizes the value of understanding how they can support working mothers in their organizations. I have the privilege of being able to work with her as well.
As I was reflecting on how grateful I am for this amazing opportunity and what brought me to this point, I remembered that I had put this new career on more than one vision board I had created. (A vision board is made with pictures cut out from magazines or other sources and words that represent goals and dreams for your life.) In fact, I also had pictures representing marriage and family, public speaking, a great living space, visiting the mountains and shorelines, getting massages and having a great wardrobe. I haven’t looked at these vision boards in a while and decided to take them out. Much of what is on them has manifested in my life and is still growing!
What I have come to realize is that it is not simply that I put these things on a vision board that have brought them to pass. I’d like to share with you what I have come to understand about the power of doing a vision board.
First, it is playful. Creating a vision board is a creative process that is fun. The process of creating it puts you in your heart and, I believe, connects you with God. I’ve found it helpful to invite God into the process because things appear on the vision board that go beyond what I might have thought possible for my life.
Second, it keeps you focused. Focusing on the images gets your mind working on the goals. I find I have, because of the new awareness and focus, been drawn to people, opportunities, books, classes that I may have otherwise missed or overlooked. I feel that one key to success is to surrender your dreams to God and have faith that if these things include what God has planned for you that they will come to pass. Faith includes taking action and doing your part by believing in and talking about your dreams, sharing them with people, learning what you need to learn and following up on opportunities.
It has taken several years for some of my dreams to come true. When I look back, I can see how I have been guided toward their fulfillment little by little. I have had to learn and grow a lot to get here. I have had to strengthen my faith in God and lean on Him more than ever. I have had to let go of control and needing things to happen in a certain time. And I have had to take time to heal and get stronger through some trials and challenges. The years still pass and here I am – watching my dreams come true!
I invite you to dream if you haven’t – and if you have, do one thing to move yourself toward those dreams. Use whatever tool works for you – a vision board, writing and journaling, sitting quietly in nature – connecting with God, visualizing, sharing with a good friend or reading about someone else who has pursued your interests successfully. Do what works for you. But do it. You will not only be making a difference in your own life, you will make a difference for the people whose lives you touch.
Why do I care? I do care that you pursue your dreams – you, who I have never met, you whom I have yet to meet and those who are my close friends and family members. Why? Because I have come to know and even experience in small spurts that we ARE all connected. As you are self expressed, doing what it is you love and what you were put here to do, as you fulfill your God-given purpose in this life, you open the door for others to do the same, you make an important contribution to the world and you will experience fulfillment and joy. Your success multiplies exponentially to all the people you, with your skills, talents and purpose, touch with your love expressed through your work.
My big vision is world peace. World peace starts with peaceful people – one peaceful person at a time. God created us in His image to continue His creation through the use of our gifts, skills and talents so that we can have fulfilling and abundant lives. I know when I pursue my dreams and put my skills to work doing what I love and allowing God to work through me I experience the greatest success, the greatest fulfillment, the greatest peace and the most amazing joy.
Won’t you join me?
Day 16 Thankful for my family
Posted by: catherinew on: November 26, 2009
My Family
On days like today I realize how much I miss my family. Growing up the oldest of five children, there was never a shortage of people around for the holidays. Once we all have spouses and then families of our own, family gatherings became a time to break out the folding tables and chairs and a new game or family favorite. When the crowd gets that big, SPOONS always works. And my youngest sister, Lisa, and her husband, Greg, have become quite good at scoping out new favorites like LCR. When I look back on the holidays, it seems like Thanksgiving was the one holiday when we would remember the funny stories of growing up together – like the time we were all supposed to be in bed while my parents were next door and my brother saw the man in his closet that turned out to be an odd placement of hat and glove in just the right places so that the image through his slatted closet door looked like a man waving – and I, being the oldest and attempting to be brave, announced that “we won’t hurt you if you don’t hurt us.” No, I will never live that one down even though it’s been almost 40 years since it happened, nor do I want to. And then there are the confessions that are made because Mom or whoever can no longer do anything about it now any way. Ah, like my sisters confessing that they used to “borrow” my clothes without me knowing.
As you can imagine, five kids can have their good times together – and those times of bickering and chaos. While I cannot IMAGINE raising five kids myself – God bless my mom! – I would not trade growing up with all of my sisters and my brother for anything. If you were to look at us together, you may not see a striking resemblance. Each of us is very different and we each have our own approach to life, our own experiences and personalities. At the same time, there is an energy about us that I think you an see that we are siblings. And we have a common bond that keeps us close even when we live in different parts of the country.
I am very grateful for my family and the love that we share. It is a tremendous blessing!
Day 14 – Thankful for my health!
Posted by: catherinew on: November 24, 2009
In the last few days I have had conversations with people who either need surgery or are recovering from surgery. I had a conversation with someone today who has to take medication for a condition and deal with the side effects.
The health challenges that people have seem to evolve and morph over time. It does seem that some diseases have become alarmingly prevalent while others seem to be insidious.
We all have challenges in our lives that we have to face and get through one way or the other. I have come to experience and believe that that which doesn’t kill us really does make us stronger – and wiser, and more humble and accepting and empathetic to others. And I am very grateful that, in spite of any other challenges, I have my health!
In fact, I just realized that I have gotten a little sloppy lately with my self care program. So I think I will use this extended weekend to kick my exercise back into gear. While I’m at it, I will also raise the bar on my diet. Why wait until January 1? There is no time like the present! And every day is a gift to be treasured and enjoyed.
Day 13 – Thankful for the People In My Life
Posted by: catherinew on: November 23, 2009
Friends
Friends
Let the Love of Friends
Give You Comfort
The Love of God
Give You Peace
This is engraved on a little heart that is in front of me on my desk. It was given to me by my friend, Donna who has been a good friend since just after we graduated high school. I have other small tokens from friends that I have kept, reminding me of the precious times we have shared over the years. And FaceBook has made it possible to connect with friends who go even further back as well as stay connected to the friends I have made all over the country and the world.
If the value of my life was based on the people who have been and are my friends, I would be one of the richest people on the face of this earth. And I am because of the people who have come into my life. People with big hearts. Creative people and brilliant people. People who have been incredibly generous. People who have been mentors and coaches. People who have shared their friendship for a season. And people I know I can always count on to pick up the phone – either to call me or answer my call. People who have taken me shopping or who have shopped with me. People who have opened my eyes to new places and people who have opened my awareness to new aspects of life. People who have helped me become conscious of new parts of myself. People who have loved me unconditionally and people who have forgiven me. People who have accepted me and people who have believed in me and given me new opportunities to see what I could achieve. People who have challenged me and people who have joined me in learning on a deeper level. People who have made me feel welcome in a new company, church or state. People whose wise words and encouragement I often hear in my mind. People who have left an impression on me and people who will always have a place in my heart.
I am thankful for the people who have come into my life and those I have yet to meet. People are the greatest treasure on the face of this earth!
Day 12 – Thankful My Mom Taught Me How To Bake
Posted by: catherinew on: November 22, 2009
Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie
Day 11 – Thankful my son is okay!
Posted by: catherinew on: November 21, 2009
I am very grateful days like this are few and far between. I got a call from the school nurse. My son was hurt. As it turned out, I had to take him to the emergency room. It was scary for a bit. They had to do a cat scan, blood tests and check that he was able to remember what day it was. Thankfully, he only has a minor concussion. Everything else came back clean.
Now I have to wake him up every two hours to make sure he is okay. It’s been a long time since I have had to do anything like that. And it’s okay. I’m thankful that it isn’t anything more serious.
That is what I am most thankful for today.
Day 9 – Thankful for my gifts and experience
Posted by: catherinew on: November 18, 2009
Today, I am extremely grateful that God has given me gifts, skills and a passion that allows me to make a contribution to the world and to other people. My gifts and skills have served me in many ways – in building friendships, finding great job opportunities, contributing to the community around me, and in helping and supporting others in pursuing their dreams and goals. So I would like to take a moment to reflect on those skills.
I have always loved to write. Since I was quite young, I wrote poetry. I had a love for the English language and for putting words together in a powerful way. That love for writing still shows up as poetry now and then. More often it shows up as an article, a proposal or an e-mail sharing ideas on how I think something can get done. And it is so much fun for me.
I love public speaking. When I was young it started as acting. I was in several plays and even joined a theater guild as a young adult. Now I love teaching, facilitating groups and presenting ideas that make a difference for others in business and in life. The gift I get is seeing the light bulbs go on for people and gaining reinforcement that I make a contribution.
I love networking and building relationships. One of the most enriching experiences is working in partnership with others who are aligned with my vision and my values. While I am a self starter and fairly driven, it energizes me to brainstorm, collaborate and toss ideas around with others who are also creative and innovative. The ideas that come to me are beyond anything I could come up with alone.
As creative and right-brained as I can be, I have a strong grasp of technology. At one point I thought I had outgrown it, but I have come to accept that the same curious mind that wanted to figure out how computers work and thrilled at the idea that I could write a program that would produce useful business reports is still going strong and living inside of me. I love what technology can allow us to accomplish in terms of communication and, at the same time, I have developed wisdom about proceeding with caution and greatly appreciate those people who have been willing to teach and mentor me.
I also have a great deal of empathy and an ability to hear beyond the words people speak. It has helped me to be a strong coach when supporting people in getting past their self-limiting beliefs and gaining clarity about what they truly want to achieve in a situation or in an area of their lives. And what I get back when someone allows me to coach them are new perspectives and insights I can apply to my own life as well as the gift of watching another human being flourish.
The gifts I have been blessed with bring enjoyment, richness and fulfillment to my life. When I am expressing my gifts, those I work with amplify those blessings with all they give back to me!
What skills and gifts have you been blessed with that you can express gratitude for today?
Day 8 – Thankful for my son
Posted by: catherinew on: November 17, 2009
I have been very blessed by my son. He is an amazing young man – very creative, intelligent, compassionate and really fun to hang out with. I am very grateful that I have been inspired to enjoy every minute since he was born.
While there are always challenges in raising a child at each stage, there are so many wonderful things to enjoy at the same time. I have always kept in mind that each stage would pass eventually and the things we enjoy together continue to evolve. There was a time to nurse and a time to wean and get him on solid food. There was a time when I could carry him in a back pack. Now he will spontaneously pick me up. There was a time to do everything for him. And a time where he started letting me know in no uncertain terms he can do it himself. There was a time when hanging out with friends meant I was hanging out with the mom while he was playing with his friend. And a time where he started telling me when he would be home and asking if I could pick him up from his friend’s house. Before you know it, he’ll be driving. And soon after that, he’ll be on his own.
If there was one bit of advice I would give other parents, it would be to enjoy every stage and every moment because they pass so quickly. It’s hard to believe my son is almost 16. It’s shocking to think he will be graduating from high school in less than 3 years. And I’m grateful that I can say, I have been intentional about enjoying him as much as I can. I look forward to many more years of watching my son develop and grow into his full potential. I am grateful to God that He has given me Devan to raise, to teach, to support and to love.
Day 7 – Thankful for Mothers’ Centers
Posted by: catherinew on: November 16, 2009
Catherine & Corinna
As I prepared for this evenings Moms’ Money Makeover Forum organized by the Mothers’ Center and sponsored by nwaMotherlode.com I thought I would like to share a personal story to help people get what Mothers’ Centers are all about. Instantly what came to mind was my own experience of becoming a mother.
I had just gotten married in January 1991 and my husband and I moved from New York to Iowa in February 1992. Essentially, I was starting all over again. He had friends who were living there. It was the first time I left my family and friends for the unknown. Being an outgoing person, I made friends quickly, but it takes time to forge the kind of deep relationships that will see you through the challenges, triumphs and transitions that ultimately come at you in life. I think getting pregnant and having a baby definitely qualifies as one of those transitions.
I got pregnant in April 1993. The community we were living in was filled with people who were committed to a holistic life-style so many of the mothers I met chose to have their babies at home. Since I was terrified of the thought of having my baby in the hospital, that sounded really good to me. I was grateful to have been introduced to other women who were pregnant at the same time as me and were like-minded. Once I was in the mom-to-be world, I began to learn about what that world looked like for other mothers in the community. I was fascinated and impressed to learn that many mothers had meals brought to them for 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth.
What I was not prepared for was the idea that I might be the recipient of such generosity. I will never forget the day that my midwife’s assistant asked me who would be cooking for me. No one, of course. I couldn’t ask anyone to cook for me. She insisted I give her a list of my friends. The result was that we had meals brought to us every day for five weeks after my son was born. It was such a blessing that I wanted to pay it forward. I got a group of mothers who were happy to cook for moms they didn’t know and created “Meals for Moms.” When a mom was getting close to her due date, I would get a call to help fill in days for meals and my friends and I would schedule ourselves to cook for her.
The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” has a great deal of truth in it, not just for the child but for the parents as well. It takes community to support each other through the challenges that come with being a parent. That community has all but disappeared for many people. Mothers’ Centers fills that gap.
Gwen and Shannon
Tonight we created a Mothers’ Center experience and shared our tips, our questions, our funny stories and useful resources we have discovered. We shared our support. We created community. Not only did everyone have a positive experience, I even had one mother ask me if she could start a Mothers’ Center closer to her home.
I am thankful for the women I have met because of Mothers’ Centers and for the team of women I got to work with tonight to organize and make this event a success. Thank you Corinna Dranow, Rhonda Porter, Shannon and Gwen from nwaMotherlode.com, and. I am very grateful for your efforts and commitment to mothers and families!
Day 6 – Thankful for Sundays
Posted by: catherinew on: November 15, 2009
I look so forward to Sunday and the opportunity to worship God at church. And I am very grateful that there are so many wonderful churches to choose from here in Northwest Arkansas. But I didn’t always feel that way. In fact, reading the Bible seemed like something out of reach – not a way I wanted to spend my time.
Thankfully, a woman I worked with, Gwen, introduced me to Joyce Meyer in 2003. I know there are many evangelist preachers who broadcast their messages and share God’s Word on television. Joyce Meyer is one who resonated with me right away and still does. She was the one that brought the Word to life for me. She helped me to realize how applicable the Bible really is to my life and how important reading the Bible is to building a relationship with God.
I am thankful that God has led me to people, pastors, churches and preachers who have helped me to grow in Christ. I am thankful for Joy, who opened her home to me and any other woman who would join her to discuss Biblical teachings. She ministered to people at work and everywhere she went and was a wonderful example of including God in every aspect of your life for me.
I am thankful for my Long Island church, Church On The Sound, my friend, Manette and others who supported me, the home group I was part of, the pastor and his family and all that I learned there. It was there I was baptized and there that my husband and I were married nearly 11 months ago.
I am thankful for the new churches I have been introduced to in Arkansas – particularly Central United Methodist Church and the Discipleship class I am taking there. I had just begun a commitment to reading the Bible every day when this opportunity came up. Now I am reading much more than I would have on my own and I’m also blessed with the opportunity to share questions, understanding, insights and learning with others. I also enjoy Fellowship Bible Church and their Saturday evening service.
I am thankful to Rhonda Holmes and her book The Word Diet which has blessed me so richly already. It is a wonderful book of prayers that provides journaling space with each one. The prayers are just what I needed, especially during those times that the words I need just don’t come as easily.
I am thankful that my relationship with God grows deeper every day, that I am growing in understanding and wisdom, that my faith is growing stronger and that I can share God’s Word with other to encourage them as well.
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