Category Archives: Change and Personal Empowerment

1. WIN: Learn Something New and Change Your Brain.

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  1. Learn Something New and Change Your Brain. Every time you learn something new, you win and you win big!  Recent neuroscience discoveries have uncovered new information about our brains.  Every new experience changes our brain!  The old science operated under the belief that after age four our brains were already formed but the new science of neuroplasticity is causing neuro scientists to rethink everything they thought they knew.
  2. The following is an excerpt from a  fascinating article,  by the Practical Memory Institute,  ‘Introduction to Neuroplasticity:

“Groundbreaking new research suggests that, beyond modifying pathways and forming new ones between existing neurons, the human brain is even able to generate entirely new brain cells. While this neural regeneration was long believed to be impossible after age three or four, research now shows that new neurons can develop late into the life span, even into the golden years of age 70 and beyond. Thus, the old adage “use it or lose it” is brought soundly home. If one’s brain is constantly challenged by and engaged with a variety of stimulations and new experiences, while also exposed regularly to that which it already knows, it is better able to retain its adaptive flexibility, regenerative capacity, and remarkable efficiency throughout life.”

If you prefer to watch and learn, check out these Youtube videos, Neuroscience of emotions and Norman Doidge on the brain and neuroplasticity.  Now that’s what I call winning!  Your brain is ready, capable, and waiting to catapult you to success.

I’m Barbara Talley, The Poet who speaks and inspires.   To find more about me, visit:  www.thepoetspeaks.com

3 Ways to Always Win Big

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Nobody Likes Losing

That’s right! It’s game day and time to get your game on! Let’s face it; nobody likes losing, so much so, that many refuse to even get into the race of life.  (Note: I define the “race” as any meaningful goal, wish, desire, or passion that defines what you want out of life.)

Meanwhile the ‘watchers’  vicariously just watch life go by and waste their precious existence watching others (via unlimited connectivity to media) live the lives they wish they had the courage to pursue.  Perhaps that’s why Americans spend as much as five hours a day watching television and the insatiable addiction to following the lives of celebrities.

What grand ideal are you putting off pursuing?

What great goal is languishing because you are procrastinating?  What wonderful wish is remaining, well … still just a wish.  Come on, don’t just watch the race of life, get in a lane, any lane! Most successful people will tell you, that most of the rush is in the race, not in the finish, and definitely not on the sidelines.  Many experience a, “Now what?” after they’ve achieved a goal.  But the real excitement was in the start, in the perseverance, and finally in the moments before and after the finish.

How Do You Know You Will Win?

So, what is it that you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t started yet for fear of losing?  Claim it now and go after it knowing that you will win.  How do you know you will win?  Because you are allowed to change the rules! Read my next three posts on three simple rules to get you started: 1) Redefine what winning means, 2) Improve on your own personal best, and 3) Learn something new and change your brain.

I’m Barbara Talley, The Poet who speaks and inspires.   To find more about me, visit:  www.thepoetspeaks.com

Lessons Learned from Competing #6A: Integrating Faith with Works

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You must make sure you integrate Faith with your Works if you wish to see any significant results.  Faith is our sincere belief in what we are doing.  It’s easier to believe in something when we’ve prayed about it, feel love and have passion towards it, and can see it in our visions.

Our work refers to our deeds and means that we are actively doing something to achieve that which we say we believe in.  It’s so much easier to work at something when we know that it provides a valuable service, excites us, and makes a difference in the world.  But, we need both faith and works to accomplish our goals and be successful in our pursuits.  Performing arbitrary meaningless mundane actions and not really believing in what we are doing is as counter productive as believing strongly in something but taking no action at all.  So before you begin, ask for what you really want and believe it is possible, the rest is in the details.

Faith Is The Absence Of Fear and Fear Is The Absence Of Faith

So, why is it so hard for us to ask for more out of life so that we can reach our highest potential?  Two reasons come to mind when I think about why people do or don’t ask for more out of life, fear and faith.  And, when you really boil it down, it’s only one thing, for fear is the absence of faith and faith is the absence of fear.  Fear and faith are like two sides of the same coin.   You can only see one side at a time, when you flip it over you see the other side, but not both.  So choose!

Faith is the Catalyst to Attracting Success and Supporters

I’d now like to share two quotes from, ‘A Course in Miracles’ on faith, the first, “If you knew who walked beside you, at all times, on this path that you have chosen, you could never be afraid.”

If you only knew who walked beside you at all times, you would never be afraid to reach your potential.  You would never be afraid to ask for what you want and you would never be afraid that you would not receive.  The second quote is, “Alone we are all lowly but, together we shine with brightness so intense that none of us alone can even think of it.” The key to seeing is to integrate faith with works.  You have to take action and do something. Your actions and your faith become the catalyst to attracting your success and supporters to you.

Nothing Happens If You Don’t Act!

When I entered the OWN Show Competition, I only had a 8 days to get the word out and I knew I could not do it alone.  Stan put together the video and made it all possible.  Maxine emailed people, called people, and even passed out flyers at the metro without me even asking.  Maxine, Roya, Tony, and Clif became my online warriors, voting continuously and telling everyone they knew to do the same.  Roya was so passionate about helping me that she inspired her friend Kadijah, who didn’t even know me  to pass out flyers at the metro too.  It was their magnanimous support and love that gave me the courage to get in the game and stay in the game in spite of the odds.  My sisters (Betty and Linda), my husband Gile, and my children voted and asked their friends to vote also.   I was truly blessed by the outpouring of support.  But, nothing would have happened if I did not act first.  Acting is the key to attracting. Click below to continue to Part B of Lessons Learned from Competing: Integrating Faith with Works

(Continued)Part 2: Seven Lessons Learned from Asking

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Click to listen.

4. Asking Is Not Begging, It’s Choosing

So what are you neglecting to ask for?  Is it for more respect or better treatment, a raise or promotion, more help around the house, your debts paid, a new house, a new car, a new career,  or a better way to share your talents and natural gifts through meaningful service? One of the most  exciting things about life is that we get to choose.  But, I think we need to redefine what asking means.  Asking is not begging, or a sign of weakness, greed, discontent, or lack of appreciation for what you already have.

Asking simply signifies that you are taking responsibility for making your life magical, that you have made a choice, and that you are open to receiving your spiritual gifts and blessings.  That’s how polite people get what they want out of life.  They ask, they receive, they say, “Thank You.”  Choosing is a spiritual act that focuses your energy and power and attracts resources to you.

5. Refusing to Ask for Help Is Denying Others

Before, during and after the competition, I had to ask for help.  And, thank God that I was humble enough to ask.   Ric Ocasek wrote, “Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful.” And aren’t virtuous actions the real source of our spiritual currency?  To my surprise several friends came to my aid with a greater commitment than I could have asked for.  I’d learned long ago that I am not alone.  But, even knowing this fact, I too find it hard to ask for help sometimes.  Thank God, that this time I asked.   When I first heard about the competition I needed help in making the decision.  I fortunately had people around me encouraging me to get in the game, affirming that what I had to offer was indeed valuable, and offering their support.  This made it easy to make the decision.  But even then, I still needed a video.

6. Asking is a Sign of Faith, Wisdom, and Trust

I prayed, meditated, and a person came to mind.  I didn’t have the budget for a video at the time, but in faith I put it out there and just asked.  I wanted a high quality video and I had to ask for help from someone who had the equipment and skill that I did not have.  I asked and Stan said, “Yes!”  I asked and I received.  And, by the way, he didn’t charge a dime.  One thing is for sure is that we won’t know if we don’t ask.  So, don’t be afraid to ask for help.  You are not alone.

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness.   It fact, it takes a strong person to ask others for help.   Asking for help does not make you vulnerable.   You can’t receive unless you ask and open yourself up to receive.  Remember, asking for help is not a sign of failure.  It is a sign of wisdom.  It is a sign of faith.  It is a sign of trust.  Trust, faith, and wisdom build character and, you can’t lose when you are becoming more virtuous.

7. Asking Is a Way to Give More

And, finally, getting into the competition was in essence “asking for something more out of life.” But, more importantly for me, it was a way to potentially give more too.  So, why then is it so hard to ask for more out of life  so that we can reach our highest potential?  We’ll cover that in our 6th Lesson Learned from Competing: ‘Integrating  faith and Works.

Lessons Learned from Competing #5: Seven Reasons to Ask for Help

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Click to listen.

1. Only Those Who Ask for More Get More!

Please enjoy seven reasons to ask for help.  “Only those who ask for more can get more and only those who know there is more, ask,” wrote Alan Cohen in his book, ‘Mr. Everit’s Secret.’  Ponder those profound words for a minute.  I repeat, “Only those who ask for more can get more and only those who know there is more, ask.”

One thing that I know for sure is that there is more, a lot more in this awe-inspiring and wonderful universe: so much more to see, to experience, to connect to, to create, to understand, and to manifest and behold, so therefore, I ask.  You can’t be afraid to ask.  I ask God for help.  I ask more of myself.  I ask others for help.  I believe that I receive more out of this life because I am not afraid to ask.  And, we don’t only ask through words.  We ask by what we focus our minds on: through our prayers, our thoughts, our speech, our feelings, our expectations, our service, our fears, and our faith.

2. We Set Our Transformation into Action by Asking

I believe we humans were born to imagine and create, to change, to grow, to reach higher, and to transform.  A challenging, inspiring, and worthy pursuit is what keeps us alive and gives meaning to our lives.  And since we each have been given free will, we get to choose where we reach, what we will reach for and what changes we desire to see in ourselves and in our world.  We set our own transformation into action by just asking.

3. Not Only Is It Okay to Ask, It’s Necessary to Ask

The universe is abundant with unlimited possibilities.  And each of us is an heir to this boundless kingdom and all that was and will be created is for us. The Bible states: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door shall be opened.” It is not only okay to ask, but it is necessary to ask.  For every effect is due to a cause.  Asking sets things into motion and causes things to be given to you.  If you don’t ask, you don’t get.  Remember the biblical promise, “For everyone who asks receives.”  So asking is really about faith.  Do you believe that you will get what you ask for?  Do you expect to receive?  Have you made space for your grace?