Inspiration Notes from The Land of the Rising Sun!

Take a look at my video from my recent trip to Japan! It was inspiring and fun, and I'm slowly but surely sharing all the inspiration with you here and in my videos.

Enjoy!

Different isn't good or bad...

Throughout our lives, we develop our own definition of normal. We grow to associate ourselves and our personal experiences with "normalcy" and "good" and anything else is "bad" or "weird".

While in Japan, I was thrown into a sea of things that were completely from everything I knew as "normal". I've always realized that good or bad is a meaning we assign and not one inherent to any situation or idea, but this concept was underscored while roaming through the streets of Tokyo, unable to read signs, watching people bow to one another, and seeing vending machines everywhere. The kneejerk reaction is "Whoa, this is weird." but the reality is that it's different.

Noting the difference between "weird" and "different" creates a paradigm shift that empowers us to take our tinted glasses off and see the world more objectively. Doing so prevents us from suffering needlessly in situations where we have the power to assign a meaning to a situation instead of feeling victimized by the circumstances in our lives.

Consider this next time you find yourself in the middle of a seemingly unpleasant situation. Rather than jump to the conclusion that the situation is "bad", take a second to evaluate the potential upsides and then test the assumption that the situation is negative. Ask yourself, "What if this is a good situation, working to my advantage?" and operate from a place of knowing that God has you in the palm of His hand and that everything is happening in divine order and divine timing.

Later.

Guess Who's Back?!

Please forgive my absence. Besides being incredibly productive, I took the trip of a lifetime to JAPAN!! It was an amazing journey, and I had a wonderful time.

I'm excited to share some observations & reflections from the trip. You'll get to see my video diary where I shared Inspiration Notes in real time, and I'll be blogging about the experience here as well.

Today, I want to share the importance of courtesy and being well-mannered. In Japan, there is tremendous emphasis placed on respect, honor, integrity, and courtesy. I was impressed and excited to observe how the Japanese relate to each other and even to foreigners.



I have returned to the States with a new understanding of what it means to respect another person. After all, bowing to everyone you meet puts things in a very different perspective! I've gained a deeper understanding of what it means to honor the divinity in another and today, I encourage you to look for opportunities to honor the people around you. Common courtesy goes a VERY long way, especially when you're in a new place. Simple things like a smile earned me the good graces of many people.

Decide today to be more patient, more giving, more loving, more respectful. Make a commitment to being your best, not just with those you know personally, but with everyone.

And to get you started, here are a few ideas:
1. SMILE! A smile is the shortest distance between you and another person. Warm your heart and others with a smile.

2. Consider others before you act or speak. In America, we're obsessed with ourselves - how we speak, act, dress, think, etc. Spend some time considering others and how you can improve their lives. By giving away love and goodwill, you create more of it for yourself.

3. Act intentionally. Haphazard busyness from day to day not only drains your energy, it also keeps you on a hamster wheel that doesn't get you anywhere. Slow down in the morning and spend time thinking about what you need to get done that will be truly productive, not just busy.

4. Disagree respectfully. Even when you have to deliver unpleasant news or make a request, you can do so in a respectful way that also honors the other person's needs.

Remember that the only love you keep is the love you give away!

Later.

A Fabulous Weekend in San Diego!

I took a short yet very relaxing excursion to San Diego with a good friend over the weekend. It was my first time in San Diego, and I found the city to be fun and interesting.

We took in the sights and eats in the popular Gaslamp District and also hung out at the Hotel del Coronado. We went to Balboa Park and finished Sunday off with shopping at the Las Americas outlet. A great way to relax and have some fun before the chaos of the holidays begins!

Pics!