Life Decisions

A friend of mine said she was mad at God when the choice she made didn’t work out the way she planned. And I started to question her… then I remembered the stupid thing I did when I didn’t pay attention to my inner knowing, the God voice whispering, the feeling in my gut.

I thought about the clear revelation I didn’t hear … the thing right in front of me that I didn’t see … the mistakes made more than once.

And I shut my mouth.

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

Inhale Discernment, Exhale Disregarding Your Knowing…
Inhale Action, Exhale Discounting Your Options…
Inhale Ownership, Exhale Diminishing Your Responsibility…
Just Breathe

#Leadership
#JustBreathe

Necessary Solitude

Finding a quiet space when you’re a part of a large family can be difficult but necessary when you tend toward introversion. I have always been an avid reader; as a child I would take my latest biography and try to find a hiding spot where I could lose myself in someone else’s life.

Of course, I didn’t have the awareness to know I was an ambivert or the words to explain why I needed to be alone and I seldom had the agency to not have to explain. I just knew I needed time away from younger siblings, chores and homework and felt relieved when I had quiet time and frustrated when I didn’t.

Inhale Instinct, Exhale Hesitation…
Inhale Awareness, Exhale Uncertainty…
Inhale Action, Exhale Frustration…
Just Breathe

#Awareness
#JustBreathe

Rooted in Fear

At the root of all of the reasons you’re not doing what you need to do is fear …
Fear that someone will say no.
Fear that the people currently in your life will no longer be in your life.
Fear that someone will feel inconvenienced or disappointed and the relationship will be damaged.
Fear that those you expect assistance from won’t offer it.
Fear that you will build it and they won’t come.
Fear that pursuing your dreams won’t sustain you.

“Love is what we are born with. Fear is what we learn.” ~ Marianne Williamson

Inhale Action, Exhale Inertia…
Inhale Assured, Exhale Doubtful…
Inhale Achievement, Exhale Fear…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Image by Stephan Keller, Pixabay

Mission Accomplished

There can be unintended consequences to any action. But a well thought out strategy that takes into account the possible reactions to every action taken to achieve a clear mission, is likely to succeed.

And then there is action for the sake of doing something…

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” ~ Sir Isaac Newton

Inhale Action, Exhale Distraction…
Inhale Reaction, Exhale Distraction…
Inhale Strategy, Exhale Distraction…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Laws of Motion

The inability of the leader to see beyond the immediately satisfying but negative action to the long-term consequences could create chaos for the organization, to include the leader.

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Isaac Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion

Inhale Vision, Exhale Delusion…
Inhale Action, Exhale Reaction…
Inhale Consequences, Exhale Chaos…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Vision

American Rights

I spent the entirety of my last visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the art gallery on the 4th level. The relentless nature of racism so palpable throughout the museum is present in this space as the catalyst for uniquely American art.

The piece that haunted me, “Increase Risk with Emotional Faith” by Kevin Cole, looks innocuous enough: wide, colorful ties intertwined in a haphazard even whimsical fashion. But the chilling inspiration for the piece was the artist’s grandfather’s story of a lynching tree in Tarry, Arkansas and the memories of black men, lynched for trying to vote, their ties wrapped around the noose as a warning to other black men.

Especially in the states of the confederacy, people of color fought and died for the right to vote in this country. I pray it’s a right we take advantage of before it is lost to all Americans.

“You have to tend to this garden of democracy, otherwise things can fall apart fairly quickly. And we’ve seen societies where that happens…so pay attention and vote.” ~ President Barack Obama

#JustVote

Internal Compass

Everyday we receive guidance about what we’re supposed to be doing.
If we’re still enough to pay attention, we can hear it.
If we’re paying attention, we can recognize what it is.
If we recognize it, we can choose to be obedient.
If we’re obedient, we will act on the guidance we’re given.
And our actions can impact the world…or at least OUR world.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3: 5-6 MSG

Inhale Stillness, Exhale Distraction…
Inhale Recognition, Exhale Rejection…
Inhale Action, Exhale Ignoring…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Focus

American Complicity

I suspect the one third of Americans who still approve of #45 is the same one third who frequently invite the one third they’ve identified as the “others” to just leave America. Or if they stay, to be denied full access to citizenship, preferably while serving time or detained in an ICE center….and servicing the government for free. OR be exterminated.

And if the remaining one third is disengaged, that could happen.

“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” ~ Haile Selassie

Inhale Engagement, Exhale Indifference…
Inhale Speaking, Exhale Silence…
Inhale Action, Exhale Complicity…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe

Unfocused

Maybe at some point, Americans will recognize that unchecked, unabated hate is also often unfocused…

“Until we are all free, we are none of us free.” ~ Emma Lazarus, who also wrote the words on the Statue of Liberty

Inhale Humanity, Exhale Apathy…
Inhale Ownership, Exhale Excuses…
Inhale Action, Exhale Guilt…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
#Humanity

American Privilege

I saw a post from a fellow, former military member who was tired of seeing posts about race. What privilege it is to be tired of READING about race…to be exhausted from SEEING images of people harassed, arrested and murdered because of their skin color…to be weary of HEARING about race-based religious persecution.

Maybe instead of wishing the marginalized in America would accept their status and keep their persecution to themselves, those who aren’t having the same experiences could exercise a little empathy and effect some change.

“Don’t just stand by when your neighbor’s life is in danger…” Leviticus 19:16, MSG

Inhale Compassion, Exhale Contempt…
Inhale Humanity, Exhale Hate…
Inhale Action, Exhale Anger…
Just Breathe

#JustBreathe
Reflections With Renita