My thoughts on success.

Are you struggling with success, or rather lack of it?

I’d like to speak to you about success. Do you think you’re reaching your full potential? What is success anyway?

Success is different for everyone. To me, success is being happy where you are, while striving to get where you’re going. Success isn’t necessarily having the biggest home, or the latest car, although some people see that as success.

I feel successful, although I only own a modest home and drive an older model car. I’m comfortable financially and although I work, I feel I have a good work/life balance. I feel successful, because most of the time I do what I love. Sure, there’s bills to pay and housework to do, but most of time, I do what I love. And I enjoy good health…what’s more important than that! (Although even that, doesn’t have to define your success.)

Am I where I want to be yet? No, but I continue to strive and I’m doing what I love and what makes me happy, as I work towards my personal dream, the dream I envisioned for my life. I’m financially comfortable. I have good relationships with family and friends. I work on what I’m passionate about, throughout my week and I’m happy and content. For me, that is success. 

What’s my dream, you might ask? My dream was to become an author and I have achieved that, a number of times. My dream now, is to become an author, where book sales support my lifestyle. That’s the thing with dreams, they’re flexible and changeable.

I have a very nice job. It’s not my dream job, but I like it and it keeps the roof over my head, while I work towards ‘the best seller.’ Having a job you like, is also a form of success. It’s so much nicer to work in a job you like, rather than one you hate. If you hate your job, changing your job, might be the first goal you set, towards becoming successful.

You see, success isn’t linear. It’s not stagnant and in one place, but covers many different aspects of one’s life. To be truly successful, I think you need to know you can cope with what life throws your way. To be successful, as I said, is about having a comfortable lifestyle, with good relationships, a job which you like (or a business, if that’s your dream). It’s about finding peace in the storm and remaining calm, no matter what. It’s about creativity, love, joy, passion and purpose. And if you can reach this point, you’re in the small minority. Not many people in the world, have this level of peace.

So how did I get here? Quite simply; I followed biblical principles. I went from complete looser, where I was so depressed because I couldn’t seem to make anything work, to so joyous, that even on a bad day, you couldn’t knock me off my perch, or steal that joy.

Every day, I feel truly grateful, for that second chance at life and I thank God, for His word, love, provision, help, passion and comfort. It didn’t happen any other way, but through reading my bible and believing what God’s word said, about me, about life, about love, blessings and protection. 

Does that mean everything I’ve tried has worked? No. failure is the step you take, before success. So, if you fail at something, don’t let it stop you. Tell yourself, you’ve just found one way not to do it and get back on the horse. Try, try, try again. Eventually you will win. 

There’s a lot of information about success, on the internet. Many different ways of getting there. And I think I tried most of them, before coming to the bible and seeing that particular one, work in my life. The bible is the success manual for living, although most of us don’t believe it. And I was one of those people. I didn’t believe the bible was for me, however, at the end of the line and with no where else to turn, I prayed and it literally turned my life around. 

You need a mental transformation and the bible will give you that. You need to know what to do, in different situations and the bible will give you that. The bible teaches you nothing is impossible and if you serve the God of the impossible, He will make everything possible in your life. 

If you have a dream, it’s most likely God given. Write your dream, for the bible tells us to write our dream and make it plain. Work out the steps it’s going to take, to turn your dream into your reality. Make sure the dream has purpose and passion, for if it doesn’t, you’ll quit during the rainy season, when the going gets tough.

You write your dream, so you can keep it before you and so you can see what you’re aiming for, because nothing changes until your mind changes. Change how you see yourself, change how you think about yourself and seeing your written goal, will give you the momentum to keep going, when you feel it’s too hard, too much, or too slow. 

You know, we’re not put on this earth, to work, pay our bills and die. We’re here to create, love and enjoy life. So, find your passion, write it down, look at it every day, work towards the steps, which will help you get there and never quit. 

You’re created to live with meaning and purpose, not drudgery and boredom. Discover your potential and build on it. If you don’t have a dream, pray that God gives you one. Think about what you love and enjoy doing. How can you turn that into your passion? Your passion doesn’t necessarily mean you have to make money, either. If you love it and love to do it, then go for it.

These small steps are half the fun, for it’s the journey you’re on, which brings fulfilment, not the destination. The destination is the reward once you arrive, so don’t stop in the arrival lounge. Set another goal and take another journey. 

I’ve had so many fun things happen to me along the way; things I never thought would, or could happen. I’ve spoken to trading guru’s – at least conversed by mail. I’ve spoken and sung, in public – something I never, ever thought I would do. I’ve even had a phone call from Arnold Schwarzenegger – Ok, it was a recorded message on my phone, but how many of us can say “Big Arnie called me!” It’s been a wild ride, with it’s ups and downs and I wouldn’t change it for the world.  And don’t rest on old stories of wild rides. Create new ones. 

I achieved my goal of running 10 k’s. I became a JP (Justice of the Peace), studied dressmaking, journalism and photography, as well as how to trade shares and have written many books and articles (and continue to do so). I failed at cycling from Bowral to Adelaide, (it wasn’t lack of preparedness, but lack of knowledge – see, I found the way not to do it next time). I’ve read my bible from cover to cover…four times – Ok, I get it. That’s not everyone’s idea of a goal. All I’m saying is, I’ve set and achieved a myriad of goals. Even before I finish one, I’m planning the next. 

I’ve always got new projects on the go. Sometimes they’re simple, like taking a bus ride, just for fun. Others are bigger, like renovating my home. Set your goal and work at it every day, and every day, you’ll make a little more progress to achieving it. So what if it takes five years? You’ll be five years older, in five years anyway.

Don’t let fear stop you. To quote the late Susan Jeffers; “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” 

Don’t wait! Make a start today! Live life to the fullest!  

Lonely

For those who are beside themselves, being shut in for two weeks, spare a thought for the lonely. There are lonely people all over the world, who live in isolation most of the time. Maybe, when life returns to normal, some of you might have the heart to visit the lonely. 

Our gorgeous big man...

Mr Kai McGubbles

Baked Beans, My Style.

                 Baked Beans, My Style

 

Serves: 4. Time: approx. I hour.

Ingredients for frying;

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 tsp garlic

1 chili (optional)

1 tbls olive oil

1 tsp sweet paprika

1 tbls white vinegar

1 ½ tsp honey

1/2 each of red, yellow and green capsicum, chopped

1 tin tomatoes to add after frying the above.

Further ingredients;

2 tins beans (white, or cannelloni, or butter beans. I’ve even used red kidney, although it changes the flavour slightly)

Grated cheese (parmesan, tasty or cheddar)

Crusty bread

Rosemary to garnish

Method;

Preheat oven to 225 degrees. 

Fry all the ingredients from the ingredients  for frying list. Once cooked through, blend to a paste, adding the tinned tomatoes last, after all else has been fried. 

Without blending, mix in the 2 tins of beans, including bean liquid. 

Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Add grated cheese to your satisfaction and mix through.

Tear crusty bread into chunky pieces and add to top of mix.

Sprinkle rosemary over dish and place in oven.

Cook for 15 minutes, or until crusts turn golden. 

©AlexandraGrose2020

Just a simple dish, but tasty.

Ravioli and roast pumpkin, with baby spinach, crushed walnuts and grated parmesan.

Strings in the Shadows

Strings in the Shadows, where the wolf of wall street meets biblical end times. A conspiracy theory, written by Alexandra Grose. 😀

How to have the best year

How to have the best year, in spite of what you’re facing. 

Some of the best things in life are free and as we face our time in isolation, all the rush and bustle of life, slowly grinds to a halt. What do we do now? We can’t go out, so now is the time to sit back and take stock of our life. 

Are you where you want to be, in life? Many people, who have lost their jobs, during the coronavirus, would say no, right now to this question. Many people already, were not living the life of their dreams, even before this world wide pandemic. 

So, now is the time to take stock, to think about what you want out of life and how to get there, from where you are at this point. 

For those with money worries, now is the time to think of new ideas for making money from home. What can you do at home, that could earn you some money? Do you have a hobby, that you could turn into a buck? What areas can you cut your spending down, to help you through this time of economic uncertainty?

For those who aren’t happy, in their job anyway, now is the time to think about studying something you’re passionate about. Even if, right at this moment, you can’t afford tuition, get a jump start, using all the free materials available on the internet. 

For some, you are stuck in relationships, which aren’t good for you, particularly if you’re both stuck at home together right now. What can you do about this? This is often a silent battle, where it doesn’t matter what you do, you’ll be found at fault. 

Some of you may not want to hear this, but the bible talks a lot, about building good relationships. If you’re not a reader, there’s a movie called; The War Room, which will tell you how to battle a relationship and win. 

If you could see the workings of God, with your own eyes, you may just find it’s a worthwhile pursuit. You know the saying…Don’t knock it, until you try it. 

Now is not a time for hoarding! It’s a time to share, to spread love and smiles and to be thinking of others. That doesn’t mean it has to cost.

If you’ve recently lost your job and are feeling useless, now is the time to add value, to yourself and to others, who’ve lost their job. 

We can add value to people, without cost; by a smile, by asking if they need anything, or just letting them know that you care, in a quick phone call, email, text message, or an online chat. Adding value, not only encourages, but also empowers. It empowers people to believe in themselves. Adding value, not only lifts the person you are in touch with, but lifts you also.

As the world worries; about the pandemic, about money, about how they’re going go survive the next few months, you can be the staunch rock, in their life. You can tell them, it will be alright, in the long run. You can let them know, this is just a blip, in the time line of life and we will move past it. You can be a shining light, in their darkness.

For those who feel they are sliding into depression, remember: You have the innovative power of God and you can use it, to bring change. You might need to think outside the box, but if you pose the question, your mind will bring forth the answer. 

People are scared at the moment. Scared of the virus, scared for their family and friends, scared of isolation, scared of financial ruin and scared of being homeless. Jesus knew what it was, to have great stress, and yet He still chose to serve. 

Right unto the last, He served, leading the man on the cross next to Him, into Paradise. If Jesus can serve, in that moment, we can serve, in this moment. And when we serve others, we serve Jesus. And when we bless Jesus, we’re blessed in return.

It was Jesus who said in Matthew 25:35-36 “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.”

Matthew 25:37-39 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You a drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?”

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”’ (Holy Bible NKJV)

Don’t let your emotions control you, at this time. Put your character, over your comfort and don’t let go of your moral standards. It’s important to be unselfish, to be giving of what you can and to stand firm, in what you believe. And if we have nothing else to give, we can give value, for it costs nothing. 

How can you give value? Believe in people and in their potential. See things from their perspective and create an environment of encouragement. Look for ways to add value, every day. Think of things you might say or do, to add value. If you put your mind to it, you will think of something. Do things that add value and encouragement to people and encourage others to do the same.