If you have read any of my writings on biblical principal and scripture you know that I often advise you to pray and meditate on the “Word”.  However you should pray and meditate on everything of importance in your life including your personal and financial success.  Don’t be mislead by religious arguments about “prosperity gospel” and poverty somehow automatically making you holy.  Understanding that your Creator encourages you to be the best you can be and scripture teaches and reinforces this.  

However the difference between looking at God as an intergalactic ATM and praying for success both as a way to have a better life and honor your faith is the serious intent.  By serious intent I’m speaking of your goals and the pursuit of them. Are they in writing?  Do you pray and meditate daily, or at least regularly, on your goals?  Do they represent your good character and integrity? Do you regularly seek out true scriptural reinforcement?  Do you take regular real action in their pursuit?  If not can you really be serious about pursuing success? 

If you are goals are moving along towards fruition then congratulations. If they are not moving then it is time to properly identify the obstruction(s).  You should list your 3 to 5 most important goals, such as, go to college, find a suitable spouse, get a better paying job, pursue your true vocation, etc.  Having done that list the major obstacles that you feel are preventing them from progressing.  If your mental state or outlook is an obstacle then list it.  Honesty is necessary for forward movement. 

In the book What They Don’t Teach You in the Harvard Business School, Mark McCormack describes a study conducted on students in the 1979 Harvard MBA program. For purposes of study that year the students were asked, “Have you set clear, written goals for your future and made plans to accomplish them?” Only three percent of the graduates had written goals and plans; 13 percent had goals, but they were not in writing; and a massive 84 percent had no specific goals in writing or otherwise!  This is at the Harvard Business School so its easy to imagine how so many in the general population are frustrated with their lack of success. 

In my book “The Wisdom Compass“, now available on Amazon, I explain how to go about setting quality realistic goals and also share how I how set a goal to write the book within a certain timeframe and met my goal. 

The author Brian Tracy in his book “Goals!” explains the SMART approach to goal setting.  SMART means the goal must be:  Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-certain. Unless a goal meets each of those criteria do not consider it to be a valid goal. 

He gives the following examples of true written goal setting. He contrasts some common “goals” people aspire to with the SMART goal alternative. Why are the SMART goals better? What’s “wrong” with the common “goals” most people set for themselves?  See for yourself.

Common “goal”: To lose 10 pounds in two weeks.

SMART goal: I walk one mile every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and I weigh 175 on November 30.

Common “goal”: To make more money.

SMART goal: I have increased my income every month this year and am earning $250,000 per year on December 31, 2011 

Common “goal”: To get published in a magazine.

SMART goal: I send a targeted query letter pitching article ideas to Redbook magazine every week.

You are probably thinking this is way too much work and time.  Guess what? You’re right. it will take time and some real thought. That’s why such a large percentage of Americans have no written goals.

You can either drift through life or you can have direction through life by taking the time to think through where your Creator wants you to be. The choice is simple a life discipline or a lifetime of regrets.

A vision plan is important because it is the map of your journey. Every journey has two things in common, a beginning and an end point. It may sound like common sense but so many of us have no direction and no focus. We must literally take the time to determine where we are in life.

• Where are you in your career?
• Where are you spiritually?
• Where are you financially?
• Where are you emotionally?
• Where are you in terms of your relationships with family and friends?

Keep asking yourself these types of questions about the key areas of your life. Your direction is determined by the quality of the questions and the content of the answers. The answers will define what needs to change. Your response will determine what will change.

The next step is to be very precise about what you want. You wanting to become a millionaire is not precise. You wanting to become a millionaire because you have determined that amount or more will allow you to pay off debt, send your children to college, invest in your faith and community, and start the business you have planned for is precise. It has emotional impact and forms the basis to drive forward.

Vague goals generally don’t work and get you nowhere. The more general they are, the less power they have. But the more specific they are, the more sway and authority they have in your life.

Define your goal in terms of the positive or desired outcome not the problem at hand. As per the Merriam-Webster dictionary a promise is a reason to expect; especially: ground for expectation of success, improvement, or excellence <shows considerable promise>.

Compare this to a problem, which is a source of perplexity, distress, or vexation. Therefore the question is should we focus on the promise or the problem? I chose the promise because if you focus on disease you get sick but if you focus on good health the likely hood of better health dramatically increases. You can focus on previous bad relationships or you can focus on the good one you are in (or to come). Either way whatever we focus on we move toward. Move toward the promise and put distance between yourself and the problem.

An excellent biblical representation of this is in Genesis chapter 24:7 “The LORD, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring [a] I will give this land’-he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.” This was the promise.

12 Then he prayed, “O LORD, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. 13 See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. 14 May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’-let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.” This was his plan.

15 “Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham’s brother Nahor.” The promise fulfilled.

These verses are excerpt from the story of Isaac and Rebekah in Genesis chapter 24 and it contains all of the elements of focusing on the promise, a compelling goal, successful planning and fruition. It is a lesson worth remembering.

Rainy days have power. Sometimes, you need the peace and quiet of a rainy day to slow down and meditate.

Meditating on what really matters to you is a great way to use a rainy day. Listen to the soft sound of the rain hitting the earth and the buildings around you. Go outside and smell the way rain makes everything fresh and clean. Feel the renewal that rain brings to the earth and the creatures that inhabit it. Rain is cleansing, and you can be cleansed by it too.

You deserve the cleansing that rain brings. Rain can provide you with just what you need to feel healthy, whole and strong again. When you learn to appreciate the rain, it can lead you to a place of amazing peace and serenity.

Appreciate the Change That the Rain Brings to the World

Rain and change go hand in hand. They match and mirror each other. Without water, there would be no life – no people, animals, or plants to enjoy. Everything that exists, grows, and develops in this world does so because there is rain available. Take time to appreciate the rain and be thankful for the chance to enjoy it!

Each and every day is a gift. Even the gloomiest of skies can bring sunshine into your heart. Rainy days invite your weary body and soul to slow down and count your many blessings.

Here are some things you can do to make the best use of a rainy day:

• Meditate, pray, or get in touch with the Creator.
• Catch up on the sleep that you’re missing out on during busy, sunny days.
• Read something of value that you’ve been putting off.
• Practice a self-improvement activity you’ve been putting off for a while.
• Get together with like-minded people who share your goals and values.
• Call or write an old friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.
• Play a board game or reminisce with your family.
• Get rid of some of the clutter in your home that competes for your attention and robs you of peace.

Use a Rainy Day to Achieve Peace

A full calendar often drowns out your body’s cries for rest. Rain brings a slower pace that forces you to steer your day in a different direction than the hustle and bustle that you’re used to. When you do, it’s easier for you to see the value in the simpler things. Embracing simplicity and living life at a slower pace sometimes are vital components to a balanced life. 


The next time a rainy day comes your way, choose to slow down and embrace the opportunity to rest your mind and body. Pay attention to the softness that the rain offers. Experience a gentleness of spirit as you listen to the soothing sounds of the thunderstorm outside. And remind yourself that, when the storms of life come, you can experience this same peace!

by Theodore Henderson

What you focus on will generally manifest itself in your life. Many people call this the Law of Attraction. Unlike the speed limit, it’s one of those universal laws that you really can’t break. Sooner or later, what you focus on will be what your life becomes.

Finding the right life focus can be a challenge. Plenty of things catch your attention and drag you away from your passions. If you spend too much time looking at the distractions of life, those distractions can keep you from accomplishing the things that you value most.

Activities to Focus on in Your Life

Many thoughts, ideas, and obligations compete for your attention every day. Consider the following questions when you’re trying to decide on the activities you want to focus on more deeply:

1. Where do you want to be in your career? If you’re not where you’d like to be, what can you do that will move you forward in the direction of your career aspirations? 

2. How are your personal relationships? If these bonds aren’t as strong as you’d like, what can you do to strengthen them so they can endure hardships?

3.  Where are you spiritually? What can you do to further develop your spiritual life?

There are many paths to happiness. The path you choose depends on your deepest core values and desires, and those values can be very different to what matters to other people. Instead of aiming for what makes others happy, focus on what matters most to you.

Decide to spend your life focusing on activities that work for you, make you happy, and add purpose and value to your future. If you’re focusing on something other than that, you’re missing out on the most important things life has to offer. Your life focus directs your steps and shapes your destiny. Choose the destiny you deserve.

Ways to Find Your Life Focus

If you want to find your life focus, spend time with people who know where they want to go with their life and are passionate about fulfilling their purpose. The company you keep makes a huge difference in the direction your life takes. How you look at the world, what you think about, and the way you spend your time also shape your future.

When you evaluate your life to determine the right direction for you, consider your ultimate destiny.

• What would you allow yourself to do or dream if you knew it was impossible for you to fail?
• What relationships would you pursue?
• What career decisions would you make?
• What experiences would you try?
• What’s stopping you from getting started today?

Everyone’s life focus is different. For some, a happy family is what’s most important. Others dream of attaining a degree, reaching a certain income level, or experiencing a life of thrills and travel. The key to your happiness is finding those life activities that feed your soul and fulfill your purpose. When you do, you’ll enjoy the rich, full life you’ve always dreamed about.

by Theodore Henderson

Your life belongs to you, and you can avoid letting others control it with some careful planning and the courage of your convictions.

Doing what others want you to do with your life robs you the success, fulfillment and happiness you deserve. Stand by what you really want to do and go for it with all your heart and you’ll achieve what you desire.

Are you a people-pleaser that tries to make everyone else happy instead of focusing on your own needs? Finding a balance is important, and it’s within your reach. You can begin taking charge of your life, right now, by remembering some simple rules and making a few choices about the direction you want to take.

Life is Full of Challenges You Can Turn Into Opportunities

Do you hide when you see a challenge coming up? Instead, you can take that challenge and make it into a great opportunity to do something important. Challenges help to shape who you are and what you do with your life, so face them and get through them to experience the truly fulfilling life you crave.

You’ll be a stronger person for taking charge of your life. Prove to yourself that all you really need is your abilities, as they’re sufficient for the task. You can face and conquer anything, provided you refuse to give up. Even when things don’t go your way, you can learn from the experience and still press forward toward your victory.

Ways to Take Control of Your Life

Try these techniques to help you become truly in charge of your life:

1. Learn how to say ‘no’ to people. This can take some practice, but it’s important that you realize it’s okay to say no when someone wants you to take on too much or do something that you aren’t comfortable with. 

2. Take time to focus on your goals. If you’re unclear about what you’re doing or where you’re going, how can you have control over your life? Decide on a direction and take it. You can change directions later if you find that you’re not following the path of your heart. 

3. Enlist help. Taking control of your life means drawing strength from the support of those you love. Advice from a neutral party can be very helpful. Just remember to take it only as advice. Trust your heart and give yourself permission to go against the advice you receive. However, seeking wise counsel will speed you toward your goals.

If you follow your heart and take steps toward what you want, taking charge of where you’re going will be easier than you think. Acquiring this control may take time, but you can start working on it right away.

When you begin taking charge of your life, people may disagree with you and challenge your direction. Remind yourself that you have the right to your own life, without interference from others, even if they mean well.

Show those who challenge your new direction your happiness and love. When they see the smile on your face and the spring in your step, they’ll know that you’re following your heart and chasing after the dreams that matter to you.

How to Maintain Happy, Healthy Family Relationships

Few things in life are more important than your family. Yet few challenges in life seem as great as keeping your family together. However, you can experience close, healthy relationships with your family!

The foundation of a healthy family is a rock solid child-parent relationship. It’s important to provide structure and discipline so your children learn vital skills that will serve them well later in life. But it’s also important to provide an environment of safety and security that sends your children the message that they’re valuable people.

As a parent, you envision your children as successful and desire to put them in the best position possible to realize their fullest potential in life. With these important steps in the right direction, you can provide your children with the best opportunity possible to succeed while experiencing a deep, soul-nourishing connection with them at the same time.

1. Identify your child’s strengths. Every child has unique strengths and abilities. Every child differs in the way he thinks, works, and learns. If you find out what your child is good at and feed his confidence through encouragement, you’ll automatically gravitate toward success. The best way to find out what your child is good at is to discover what interests him the most. What is he passionate about? What does he like spending time doing? Encourage him to use his gifts and abilities in that area. He’ll feel closer to you and more confident in his abilities.
2. Spend time together. Quality time together as a family on a regular basis can open doors of communication that you thought would be shut forever. Regularly make time to spend together doing fun things with no distractions. Help your kids with their homework and school projects. Eat meals together at the dinner table.
   Invite your children to choose a fun weekend activity to do together.
3. Take a family vacation each year. Choose a destination that has something exciting for every member of your family. Seek input from your children and spouse and choose somewhere that everyone agrees on. Pick out a destination that is educational as well as fun.
4. Talk to your children about your own childhood. Show your children that you understand the struggles that they go through. Your kids may receive correction better if they realize that you truly understand their point of view. While some things are best kept private, letting your kids in on some of your experiences as a child can draw you closer together. For instance sharing with your children the fact that you dabbled with drugs as a teenager is very likely not a good idea. The minute you try to explain to them why drinking and doing drugs is a something that you believe they shouldn’t do, your past will be thrown right in your face. After all, if you did it and survived, why can’t they? Use common sense when sharing with your children.

Most of all, strive to communicate to your children that they are your priority. The most effective communication between you and your children is your actions. What you do speaks much louder than the words you say. Choose actions that communicate your child’s worth as a person and your appreciation for his unique talents and abilities.

All it takes to create love, health, and harmony in your home is time, empathy and consideration. When your children know that they are your priority, that you understand their viewpoint and that you value them as people, they’ll trust you and you’ll experience a close relationship that will stand the test of time.

I am the body in motion that stays in motion.

This universal law of physics applies to both my body and mind. Once I start an activity, it’s easy to maintain momentum. Knowing this, I can soar past obstacles in my path and remain focused on my tasks and goals.

I create my action plans so they begin with undemanding tasks. This allows me to start any project with ease. Then I can quickly complete that task and move effortlessly onto the next, gaining momentum as I move forward.

The energy of my forward momentum helps push challenges aside. My active and focused mind is able to figure out a way to work with or overcome difficulties. Sometimes I may have to alter my plans, but I always maintain momentum.

It is similar to a game of pool. Once the cue hits the ball with enough energy to give it a strong push, it continues its momentum regardless of anything in its path. When it hits another ball or the wall, it simply changes its path and keeps going.

Like the ball, each and every day I have a chance to take my turn and do with it what I will! I choose to maintain my forward momentum with my eyes on my prize, even if I must change my plan from time to time.

Just as the ball comes to a stop at the end of its turn, I wind down at the end of the day and rest. The next morning I feel rejuvenated and I have the energy to take another exciting turn in this wonderful game of life!

Today, I strive to be the body in motion that stays in motion. With my forward momentum, I can handle anything that steers me away from my tasks. I may change my route to overcome challenges that arise, but I am still on course to attain my goals.

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. Do I include easy tasks at the start of my action plans?
2. What challenges in my life do I allow to stop my momentum?
3.  Can I alter my path to get past my challenges so I can keep moving forward?

Dreams have enormous power. Think about the dreams that reside deep within your heart. They mean a great deal to you, or you wouldn’t hang on to them, right? Well, it may only be a very short time before they come to pass. And even if their fulfillment is a long way away, hold on to those dreams as you experience progress towards them.

When the time is right – and when you’re ready – your dreams will be realized. In the meantime, you can unleash the power that your dreams offer you. But how do you do that?

Do your dreams bring you wealth? Health? Love? Something else? Whatever means the most to you and brings you immeasurable joy will often appear in your dreams.

Your dreams might not even be for you. They might be for someone else. You can bring joy, love and light to many people by using the power of your dreams for the good of others. You can teach others to realize their dreams and unleash that power as well.

Dream a Powerful Dream

Your big picture goals can keep you going. They provide motivation and fuel for life. Many settle for less than the best life they can live, but you can decide today that you’ll accept no less than the fulfillment of your dreams.

The key is to keep putting one foot in front of the other, taking small steps in the direction of your dreams. At the same time, continually visualize what your life looks like at the finish line. As you complete each step along the way, you’ll gain more power to complete the rest of your journey.

You may have a setback or two before you see your dream completely realized. That’s normal. Roadblocks only serve to show you the strength of your desire for this dream’s fulfillment.

You can unleash the power of your dreams by:

• Taking small steps each day toward their fulfillment
• Using them for your own joy and for the joy and good of others
• Turning a small dream into a large one by thinking big
• Staying brave and courageous when challenges come
• Spending time with people who are encouraging and helpful
• Encouraging others to follow their dreams and realize their desires

Always Remember the Power of the Dream

Your dreams are an extension and expression of who you are. When you dream something, give it everything you’ve got and see it through until your dream is fulfilled. The only thing stopping you from achieving your most important dreams is you! Refuse to accept defeat and resolve to keep taking action to get what you want until you achieve the victory you deserve.

Dreams have power, but you must continue to feed them. Do everything you can to realize your dream by taking massive, consistent action. As you go, notice what is working and isn’t. Adjust your course continually, and nothing can stop you from experiencing the realization of the dreams that you hold in your heart.

Universal Lessons About Friendship:

1. Thank your friends. Like the theme song says, sometimes you want to thank someone just for being a friend. Celebrate your friends’ achievements, and remember to let them know that their presence alone enriches your life.
2. Pals and confidants can help you get through rough times. The girls faced a lot of tough issues over the years, from heartbreaks to hospitalizations. Talking things over with friends who care can help you face major challenges.
3. Focus on quality over quantity. A few good friends can add more to your life than a long list of so-called friends. The quality of your friendships is more important than the total number.
4. Be open to unlikely friendships. Part of the delight of The Golden Girls was how mismatched they seemed on the surface. Open yourself up to people with backgrounds and personalities that are different from your own. People from other walks of life can expose you to new experiences and fresh insights.
5. Accept your friends for who they are. Rose’s endless stories about St. Olaf may have elicited some groans, but everyone listened. Relationships require some compromises and accommodations. Accept your friends with all their quirks.
6. Eat together. Many of the show’s best moments happened over cheesecake. Sitting down to eat together makes friends and family feel closer to each other. Conversation goes deeper when you’re face-to-face, relaxing over a meal.

Lessons About Friendship for Older Women:

1. You’re never too old to make new friends. The girls met late in life by answering a grocery store ad to share a house. While old friends are precious, important figures may enter your life at any stage.

2. Life may take you in directions that are very different from your initial expectations. One of the most striking things about the show was that all the characters were previously married. You never know who will be sharing your golden years. Women often outlive men, so it’s good to cultivate a broad network of support.
3. Treasure friends that tell you the truth. One running joke on the show was the outspokenness of the character of Sophia. It’s easier to make progress in life if you surround yourself with people who are truthful with you. Appreciate people who care enough to be honest with you. Strive to be both candid and tactful in your relationships.
4. Keep having fun. There is no age limit on sharing fun with friends. Even the most serious subjects on The Golden Girls were treated with constructive humor. The girls did lots of things just for fun and made even the most unlikely things seem funny.

The Golden Girls delivered many laughs and a lot of wisdom about the importance of friendship. Good friends can add joy and meaning to your life at every stage. For older women, having pals and confidantes can help you stay happy and connected.

Golden Girls Lyrics

Thank you for being a friend

Traveled down the road and back again

Well, your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidante.

♫ And if you threw a party, invited everyone you knew,

You would see the biggest gift would be from me

…And the card attached would say “Thank you for being a friend” ♫