Evolution

I was looking through a carefully constructed album of pictures of me put together by my mom and I noticed how my smile seemed to evolve over the years.

The introverted book worm who felt compelled to read everything, even cereal boxes, evolved into the ambiverted cheerleader who needed to express herself through movement, who turned into the military officer known for smiling, actually laughing loudly and frequently.

And since all of those versions of me sill exist, maybe the evolution was my confidence in and comfort with all aspects of my personality.

Inhale Growth, Exhale Fear…
Inhale Awareness, Exhale Fear…
Inhale Confidence, Exhale Fear…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Compassion

Have you ever watched someone you’re close to make a stupid choice and wondered, “Why can’t she see this is NOT going to turn out well?”

I’ve done that…and then I remember the stupid thing I did when I didn’t pay attention to my accountability partners or my own inner knowing…my God voice whispering, then shouting… “Don’t. Do It!”

And I work on being a little more compassionate…

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt?” Matthew 7: 3-4 MSG

Inhale Compassion, Exhale Judgment…
Inhale Compassion, Exhale Hypocrisy…
Inhale Compassion, Exhale Contempt…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

You Mad…?

A friend of mine once said he was mad at God when the choice he made didn’t work out as planned. I wondered out loud if he was mad at God…or himself for not listening to his God guidance.

“People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?” Proverbs 19:3 MSG

Inhale Listening, Exhale Ignoring…
Inhale Guidance, Exhale Blindness…
Inhale Knowing, Exhale Undiscerning…
Just Breathe

#JustBreath
Reflections With Renita

Blind Spot

One of the lessons I’ve learned from coaching is how easy it is to see the possible negative outcomes from the choices others are making…and how difficult it is to see when the mistake is MINE.

And that’s why the coach has a coach!

“Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.” ~ Al Franken

Inhale Objectivity, Exhale Obsession…
Inhale Detachment, Exhale Deception…
Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disposition…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Core Self

I have a tendency to see the good in people and I’m somewhat surprised when people behave in ways that are contrary to my experience of them. I’ve learned that often, bad behavior is in response to fear… something we believe about ourselves, or something we believe we can’t have or something we have but don’t want.

What we believe about who we are at our core will eventually surface.

“Most bad behavior is about that person’s core fears about themselves; it is rarely about you.” ~ Kimberly Giles

Inhale Truth, Exhale Fear…
Inhale Realness, Exhale Fakeness…
Inhale Authenticity, Exhale Duplicity…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Representative Self

Have you ever heard something about another person that was totally contrary to your own experience? I believe part of that is because the energy we exude impacts how others interact with us. So my (mostly positive) energy elicits a totally different reaction than someone else’s energy.

Or maybe the person in question hasn’t discovered and/or decided who they want to be …

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15 NIV

Inhale Ownership, Exhale Irresponsibility…
Inhale Intention, Exhale Unconsciousness…
Inhale Focused, Exhale Meandering…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita

Space for Impact

My years in the military taught me there is always someone else to do what needs to be done. Just when you think NO ONE else could do it better, someone else comes along to engage your heart, take on the impossible and raise the standard even higher for maximum impact.

All you have to do is make space.

“When you create space, you create possibility.” ~ Dr. Maryska Taylor

Inhale Open, Exhale Closed…
Inhale Space, Exhale Cluttered…
Inhale Expansive, Exhale Constricted….
Just Breathe…

#JustBreathe
#Impact

Core Truth

If we are connected to others from a place of truth, is there space for jealousy? If we understand the truth of who we are at our core, can we speak negatively about another? If we believe in a Higher Power, is it necessary to take on the responsibility of judging someone else’s truth?

“The mind judges what is good or bad. Love brings only good.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Inhale Truth, Exhale Jealousy…
Inhale Core Self, Exhale Negative Energy…
Inhale Love, Exhale Vengeance…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Risk Love

Our move to Scott AFB in southern Illinois was the sixth move for my sixth grader and probably the most stressful. In addition to the general meanness of girls on the cusp of junior high, my daughter experienced the isolation of being the new kid, and not just any new kid, but the child of a military member always facing the possibility of being reassigned to a new location.

As one mother explained, it was difficult for these elementary school kids, who had known each other since first grade, to open their hearts to someone who might not be around in a couple of years.

They were too young to know that to love is to risk loss.

“You have to be willing to lose in order to win. In love. In Life. In everything you’ll ever do.” ~ Evan Sanders, The Better Man Project

Inhale Love, Exhale Defensiveness…
Inhale Risk, Exhale Protectiveness…
Inhale Loss, Exhale Insecurities…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Love

Innocence

When my daughter was growing up, I kept a picture of her three-year-old self next to my bed.

When I was angry with her adolescent self, it was a reminder of her core sweetness.

When I expected more than the teenage version wanted to give, it kept me from giving up.

When I’ve been frustrated with her efforts at adulting, it’s a reminder that she has the right to actions that reflect her values.

“All of us are human. And in God’s eyes that makes us perfect. We’re simply, sometimes, mistaken. And God loves us anyway. Immensely. Completely. Eternally. Just as we are.” ~ Neale Donald Walsch

Inhale Innocence, Exhale Shame…
Inhale Innocence, Exhale Blame…
Inhale Innocence, Exhale Regret…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita