How important do you think it is to be open to learning?

Creating a mindset that searches for new experiences, new ways of looking at the old and acquiring knowledge reaps immeasurable dividends. However learning simply for the sake of learning is not as effective as learning on a deeper moral character level and becoming a better spouse, partner, employee, parent and leader.
You might be asking, how do you learn on a deeper level, how do I achieve this?
Here are a few ways.

Curiosity. Asking questions and being genuinely interested in the responses without thinking about what you will say next, is one way.

Being open to seeing things from different perspectives. Making it your intention to look at things or people through a different lens.

Listening. Avoiding the automatic defense mechanism from firing when someone is challenging you. Thanking them for their input whether you agree or not.

Self-reflection. Taking time to think about how satisfied you are with what you are doing and where you’re going in your personal or professional life and letting your needs and wants guide and move you forward.

Searching for opportunities and recognizing them when they present themselves can be a powerful learning tool like for instance, volunteering. Talking to people from different cultures with different interests, unusual jobs or experiences and learning what you can.

Learning from your mistakes. Everyone makes them. You want to figure out what you did wrong to avoid them from recurring.

Learning can be difficult, especially if it challenges your beliefs.
It is however a natural process that occurs daily and continues a lifetime whether you are aware of it or not.
The potential for learning is abundant. How fruitful it is for you rests with you.

The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn.

                                                                                           Alvin Toffler

~Lesia S.

    A Winner’s Creed

      If you think you are beaten, you are;
            If you think you dare not, you don’t;
            If you’d like to win, but think you can’t,
               It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
           For out in the world we find
        Success begins with a fellow’s will;
               It’s all in the state of mind.
          If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
              You’ve got to think high to rise.
         You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
            You can ever win a prize.
        Life’s battles don’t always go
        To the stronger or faster man;
               But soon or late the man who wins
             Is the man who thinks “I can”.

                          Walter D. Wintle

What do you think?

~Lesia S.

Here are a variety of questions to consider, keeping the goal of Making Mom Happy on Mother’s Day in mind. You know yourself and your own mother better than anyone. Trust that the right questions will resonate with you.

What does my mother mean to me?
What do I want her to know?
How do I want to make her feel?
What do I think she’d really like?
What would she really like?

What can I buy her that will make her happy?
What is a feasible price point for me?

Knowing mom, how will she feel if I spend money I don’t have?
How will I feel if I buy her something knowing it will put me into greater debt?
How else can I acknowledge her and show her what she means to me?

What can I do for her?
What can I say to her?
What can I write?
What are some of my fondest memories with her?

How would asking her for forgiveness or forgiving her be a gift and move our relationship in a new direction?
What can we do together to create new memories?

What does my mother do for me that I can show her I noticed and I can thank her for?

~Mothers do the best with what they know, what they can and with all they have at any given time. On this day and everyday, acknowledge her, love her and know that doing so will be as much a gift to you as it is to her.

                Have a Special MOTHER’S DAY this Sunday!

~Lesia S.

~What can courage and change do for you?

“I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I couldn’t fail.
    The same four walls and busywork
         Were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I’d never done before,
    But I stayed inside my comfort zone and
        paced the same old floor.

I said it didn’t matter that I wasn’t doing much.
I said I didn’t care for things like diamonds, cars and such,
    I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
   But deep inside I kept longing for some victory of my own.

I couldn’t let my life go by just watching others win
        I held my breath and stepped outside
           to let the change begin.

I took a step and with new strength I’d never felt before,
    I kissed my comfort zone goodbye and
        closed and locked the door.

If you are in a comfort zone afraid to venture out,
        Remember that all winners at one time were filled with
       similar doubt. A step or two and words of praise can
make your dreams come true. Greet your future with a smile –
          success is there for you”

                        Author Unknown

~Lesia S.