It has been one of those weeks. There has been a ton of activity. There has been accomplishments and setbacks. It has been busy and frustrating. You know what I mean right? Just one of this weeks.

I started a new training program this week. I just completed day 7 of VShred. It kicked my butt. I thought I was in decent shape. I have been lifting for a couple years consistently now, so I expected to fair a bit better. (The flip side is if I hadn’t been working out, how much worse would it be?) It has been an adventure for sure.

Even though it was different, I did it. Even though it was tough, I did it. I was tired, but I got it done. I am proud of that. I am tired, but content. I like that feeling.

Now to week 2. Let’s do it again, only better.

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success. – Dale Carnegie

I don’t like failing. If I am honest, I hate it. You start with grand plans and then you fall on your face. Or, you knew something was going to be a certain way, but it didn’t materialize. Have you been there too?

It is easy to see failure as finality. Like if we fail we will be stuck there permanently. It Amy even keep us from wanting to try. I am reminded of this quote:

Remember that failure is an event, not a person. Yesterday ended last night, and today is a brand-new day. – Zig Ziglar

This quote reminds us that failure is something that happens to us, but it doesn’t define who we are as people. We learn from it. We keep moving forward.

I will leave you with a quote from Dennis Whitley:

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.

Keep moving toward your goal. I am going to do the same.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see someone who is strong, capable, and confident? Or do you see someone who is weak, unsure, and filled with fear? It’s easy to get caught up in our own doubts and insecurities. It is easy to think we will never overcome. But, if you are like me,  that is not where we choose to stay.

You have more strength than you realize.

Life can be tough, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face. But the fact is that you have already overcome so many obstacles in your life, and you can find the strength and resilience to face whatever comes your way. Take a moment to reflect on all the times you have overcome adversity, and remember what got you through.

For me, God is who has gotten me through. I have strength because He gives it to me.

You are more than your fears.

Fear is a powerful emotion that can hold us back from achieving our goals and living our best lives. But the reality is that fear is often just an illusion. We are afraid of the unknown, of failure, of rejection, but these fears are often unfounded. By acknowledging our fears and facing them head-on, we can begin to exert power over them. When you have been faced with fear, what got you through?

For me, the answer is God. Every time.

You can achieve if you start where you are and put in the work.

Achieving success requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. But it’s important to remember that success is not a destination; it’s a journey. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. Start where you are, with what you have, and take small steps every day towards your goals. With time and effort, you will get there. Keep your eye on the prize. Keep moving forward. What is the prize you are after?

For me, it is making God smile. I want to achieve. I want to grow. I want Him to be proud of me.

In conclusion, it’s important to remember that you have more strength than you realize, and that you are capable of achieving great things. Don’t let fear hold you back from living the life you are meant to live. Embrace your strengths and face your fears. Make God smile. You will be glad you did.

I wrote this post 12 years ago. It showed up out of the blue this evening and I wanted to share. My boy was almost 3 at the time. He is big now, but I still wonder the same thing.

Now to the post:

I have to wonder what he is thinking when I walk in the door and he spots me from across the room. He smiles and let out a squeal and rushes over to me. He makes coming home extra special.

There are times when I look down at him though, and I wonder if he ever feels small. Like he is a little person in a big person’s world. I know he doesn’t feel that way all the time, but when he is tired and when he doesn’t feel good, I am sure he does. For some reason, I think he is ok with it. He knows his mom and dad love him and want to take care of him.

He reaches up his arms and sticks out his lip and lets out a cry, but moments later when I’m (or his mom is) holding him close everything is ok. The bad is gone and the world is made right again.

The question I have is this: do we ever outgrow this? I am not sure we do. We all have times where we are going to feel small and we need someone stronger, and more able to lift us up where everything is ok. That is why it is essential to have friends and family around who will walk with you through this life.

Just like my son can’t stay up and going all the time, neither can any of the rest of us. This life was not meant to be lived alone. We need each other. When I have had time to be with the ones that uplift me, my problems don’t seem as big anymore. I don’t feel so small.

Do you have people you can go to when you are overwhelmed? Just being with them makes a world of difference doesn’t it?