Category Archives: Motivation and Inspiration

Part 1: Seven Steps to Keep from Getting Stuck in the Wrong Pot

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Today’s question is, “Have you outgrown your pot?”  or “Is your pot in the right spot?” Let me explain.  Sometimes we don’t notice that we are stagnant because the process of growth is so gradual or the people around us and in the same pot as us enable or discourage us from rocking the boat.  The seed does not instantly become a tree, the mineral does not rapidly become a stone, and the human embryo does not reach perfection all at once.  We are designed to keep growing and growing, and growing.

To Stop Growing Is to Begin Dying

Although growth is a natural gradual process and requires patience, we must be clear, the goal is always to progress, to perfect ourselves, and to keep striving to become the best we can be.  No matter what our age or accomplishments to date are, no one should ever choose to ‘stop growing.’ That’s the point when we begin to die.

It Is Our Vision That Gives Us the Will To Keep Growing

Look around you, there are dead people everywhere, (vision-less, goal-less, and unhappy people).   The Bible states that, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”  It is our vision that gives us joy and the will to keep growing, striving, serving, and living.  Outgrowing your pot simply means that you are no longer growing, progressing, feeling like you are making a difference, or moving ahead. To continue reading Part 2 of Seven Steps to Keep From Outgrowing Your Pot, All Living Things Are Growing or Dying, click here http://wp.me/ppImQ-gS

Barbara Talley is a workshop leader, keynote speaker, author, and publisher who speaks and writes on value-based living themes.

A Leap of Faith Is Not Risky

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What “risky” venture is exciting your senses or calling to you? Remember, it’s not considered a risk when you are stepping out on faith.  It is a risk when you are making fear-based decisions.  Faith is a much more powerful motivator than fear. What would you do if you knew you could not fail?   What dream is whispering to you now to not give up?

About a year ago, my sister called me to ask my advice on a life changing decision she had to make within 24 hours.  Her job of over 25 years had given her an ultimatum, move across the country to keep her job or be unemployed.  Together we weighed the pros and cons.  Of course it was a difficult decision to make in light of the current economy.  I thought she had decided to make the move.  My final words to her were to just make sure that her decision was faith-based instead of fear-based.  Those words must have resonated with her, because the next day she informed me that she was “stepping out on faith,” and remaining in her own home, familiar surroundings, and using the year of severance pay to finish her Masters Degree.

Take the Leap of Faith In Spite of Your Fears

Fear abounds everywhere so it may be harder to find people willing to encourage  or support you to take “a leap of faith.”   Everywhere people are telling you to take it easy. Don’t rock the boat.  But what if the boat is crowded, going no where, going in the wrong direction, or slowly sinking?  Do you just hold on until it sinks or start swimming now?

You May Have to Take Your Faith Walk Alone

2009 was an extremely challenging year for me.  I had tremendous pressures on me and at times could not see a way out, so I just prayed harder and held on.  I got by, so to speak, “on a wing and a prayer,” and “with a little help from my friends.”  I had to make some serious changes, set some new goals, and go into uncharted waters. At times I couldn’t get encouragement from my most trusted friends.  The economic times made them think about survival instead of thriving.   So I had to go within, and purely on faith, take my faith walk alone.  Jumping from the boat was scary and perhaps even risky, but I knew I had to be true to myself.  That meant continuing to hold on to my dreams and not giving up.

Barbara Talley is a speaker, author, and poet who speaks on the themes of vision, values, and virtues.  Her life mission is to help others live a more meaningful life.  For more info or to book Barbara to motivate your audience, check out her website.  www.thepoetspeaks.com

A New Day: A New Blessing

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This morning as I watched the beautiful shades of pink, gray, and gold painted across the sky at sunrise, I couldn’t help but think of how blessed we are.  I felt grateful and remembered the Bible’s promise that “A grateful heart attracts blessings.”  The dawn of each new day symbolizes promise, order, wonder, and beauty.  Each new day is a gift holding within it unlimited possibilities to create, observe, appreciate, and serve.

I uttered my favorite dawn prayer from the Bahá’í Writings, “Illumine my inner being oh my God with the splendors of the dayspring of thy revelation, even as thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of thy favor.”

Prayer in the morning protects me and puts me on the right track.  The words of God awaken, open, and excite my heart and soul, the same way that the sunrise delights my physical eyes and humbles me.  I think to myself how blessed I am to be a human being, to have the potential to mirror the attributes and qualities of God, to be so valued and trusted that I have been given free will.  With this power, I can create or destroy, love or hate, believe or fear, take from others or serve them unselfishly.  I pause and feel at this moment that I am blessed and highly favored, just as every other person is.

So many people are asleep, or if awake, are too busy scurrying about to notice this wonderful gift of awe and beauty.  I’m in that same category some of the time myself.  But this morning, I stopped and recognized and acknowledged this daily gift from God and felt refreshed and privileged.  The sunrise is just the beginning of the gifts that the aware will notice throughout their day.  With each step we can appreciate the ability to move.  With each sound we can be grateful for our hearing.  With each smile we give and receive we can be thankful for our ability to touch others and feel their warmth and love.  With each thought we can be thankful for our ability to create new realities.  Haven’t we been taught that the reality of man is his thought?   With each word we can encourage others or depress or sadden them.  We can spread hope and joy or fear and doubt.  As humans, we have a choice, that’s what makes us human.  But, with this choice and blessing comes great responsibility.  We are here to grow, mirror the qualities of God,  and make things better.  Today is a wonderful new day and it’s ours to do as we wish.  I’m determined to make mine magnificent, what about you?

Barbara Talley is a professional speaker, poet, and author.  Her presentations focus on vision, values, and virtues.  You can find more about her programs at www.ThePoetSpeaks.com

Conscious Acts of Kindness Bring Joy to All

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Remember all the buzz years ago about ‘Random Acts of Kindness?’  It was about doing deeds for strangers.  This is noble and worthy, and while it may end with charity to strangers, we all know that , “charity begins at home.”

In this spirit, a couple of years ago, my daughter Radiance who is now twelve and I decided to do something consciously to make the people we know happy.   Each day we picked a person and together consulted on what we could do to make that person happy.  I wish you could have seen us.  We looked like sneaky schemers, grinning from ear to ear, excited about the joy we were creating.  We were happy and the person we were doing something for was happy.  She loved it!  You might want to try this yourself or with your kids if you have any.  Pick someone right now that you care about and think about what you can do to make them happy.  It’s contagious!

Volunteering and Charity Are Paths to Joy and Happiness

And finally, volunteering and giving to charity are great paths to joy and happiness.  I’d like to tell you about a couple of friends of mine.  Maxine tutors a seven year old boy teaching him how to read.  When she speaks about how his face lights up to see her, her own voice lights up.  It’s clear that they bring each other joy!

Another friend of mine, Judith has a non-profit that among other things fills backpacks with food so that disadvantaged children can eat over the weekend.  Making a difference in the lives of others brings immeasurable joy to her and to the children and families she helps.  If you are interested in volunteering, donating, or doing a fundraiser to raise funds to feed a certain number of children or to sponsor a particular school, contact Judith at http://www.womenwhocareministries.org/contact.

Create Joy by Serving and Giving

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A best kept secret of the universe is that real and lasting joy comes from giving and serving.   When you give from the heart it makes you happy.  When you serve someone in need it gladdens your heart and brings you joy.  And, giving doesn’t have to be costly.  I’m a vegetarian and cooked ‘barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese, and peas for my husband on Friday night.  He commented, “What day is this?; This is a Sunday meal.”  He was so appreciative.

I’m getting my 83 year-old step mom tomorrow from North Carolina to stay a few weeks with the family.  She had congestive heart failure a  week ago.  She was so weak and frail lying in her hospital bed last week when I went to see her.  I asked her if she would like to come stay with me for a while in Maryland, she responded, “Yall want me?”  Just the thought of coming to spend an extended time with us gave her the strength to recover quickly.  Before that  she was only eating a few spoonfuls of food at each meal.  When I asked her if she was eating any better a few days later by phone while she was still in the hospital, she  responded with, “I ate all my food so I can get out of here!”  It gave her something to look forward to.

Now she is out of the hospital and preparing for her trip.    I talked to her today and she was as spunky as ever telling me to make sure I bring her home in a week.   I’m off to NC in the morning to get her.  You’ve probably got a similar story to share if not, think about who you can make happy right now?

[2011 Update- My stepmom passed away late July of this year.  Now all I have are memories and the motivation to live a no regrets life.  Take care of the people in your life that are still here. Never let anyone doubt that they are loved and wanted.]