by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 18, 2014 | Accountability, Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Self-Leadership
We all experience some despair when setbacks occur. That’s quite normal.
It is one thing to rejoice, give thanks and praise when things go right. But it’s not as easy when things go wrong. A couple of weeks ago, I shared how emotions can paralyze you and keep you from moving towards recovery.
Photo credit: Psychiatric News Alert
It’s important to take time to reflect, even grieve so that you can move on. The important thing is that taking the time to deal with your emotions is the first step. The problem is that too often people get stuck in that emotional state. Instead of merely reflecting and then moving on they get stuck there. You can read Part 1 HERE.
What most people don’t realize is that rejoicing is a very deliberate step on the road to recovery from setbacks. “What’s there to rejoice about?” you grumble. If you think about it there’s lots to be grateful for. (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 12, 2014 | Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Motivation, Self-Leadership
Saying no is among the most useful skills you can possess, especially as it pertains to pursuing and living an abundant life.
Saying no to unnecessary distractions allows you to concentrate on what is important to you. And saying no to temptation helps you accomplish your goals and stay on track. So how do you do it?
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Mar 4, 2014 | Accountability, Decisions, Empowerment, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Success
It is not easy to accept that things haven’t worked out as planned.
So how do you deal with it? To start, it’s okay to take some time to deal with the disappointment. Whether we like to admit it or not we are all emotional beings. We all experience some despair when setbacks occur. That’s quite normal.
Take some time to reflect, even grieve so that you can move on. The important thing is that taking the time to deal with your emotions is the first step. And step implies that you are moving forward, not staying where you are.
The problem is that too often people get stuck in that emotional state. Instead of merely reflecting and then moving on they get stuck there. They stew over the fact that things haven’t worked out. They focus on what hasn’t happened, what has been lost instead of trying to move forward. When you get stuck here that’s when bitterness sets in. Bitterness is easy. It doesn’t require thought, movement or progress. It just requires you to sit and stew. (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Feb 28, 2014 | Empowerment, Encouragement, Motivation, Success, Thanksgiving, Vision
Why do so many people reach success and then fail?
“One of the big reasons is, we think success is a one-way street. So we do everything that leads up to success, but then we get there. We figure we’ve made it, we sit back in our comfort zone, and we actually stop doing everything that made us successful,” according to Richard St. John.
In this TED talk, Richard St. John reminds us that success is not a one-way street, but a constant journey. He uses the story of his business’ rise and fall to illustrate a valuable lesson — when we stop trying, we fail. Check it out!
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by Clarence E. Stowers | Feb 19, 2014 | Bible Journey, Christian, Christianity, Decisions, Encouragement, Motivation, Worship
Let me be honest with you…the desert IS NOT a fun place. It’s dry, lonely, and HOT!
Everyone goes through dry seasons. Be honest, you can recall times when you didn’t feel “spiritually high,” You attend church weekly, go to Sunday School or Bible Study, perhaps you even study your Bible, but God feels a lot more like a distant relative than somebody you’re connected to. The toughest season, and one that so many Christians seem to fight through, is the dry season–the desert months. During this season our relationship with God feels distant but lifeless. Again I repeat, everyone goes through desert seasons.
When I sense God is distant, I cringe when people tell me to “pray more” or “have more faith.” Really? That’s the best you have when you see I’m thirsty! When you go through your desert season, here are 3 key truths you can hold on to: (more…)
by Clarence E. Stowers | Feb 17, 2014 | Decisions, Encouragement, Goals, Motivation, Success
Let’s face it…Setbacks can be disheartening.
They can leave us feeling disempowered and discouraged. Mostly setbacks can leave us feeling as though we have no real control over our lives. Yet there are some people who are successful despite the challenges and setbacks they experience. What is their secret?
The difference is that successful people have a different perspective on setbacks. While they realize that they can’t always control the world around them, they can control how they respond to circumstances. In other words, successful people use setbacks to gain perspective when they encounter circumstances beyond their control. They see setbacks as an opportunity to REFOCUS and find an EVEN BETTER WAY to meet their goals. Setbacks don’t stop them, they simply slow them down for a short period of time.
If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not you’ll find an excuse. – Unknown (more…)
