A Generous Dose of Info To Help Receive What You Want

Is there a special formula that gives you a better chance to receive what you want? In one way, I would have to say no. There are many factors involved. However, if you are looking for a way to enhance your success, reach your goals, and receive the blessings you are looking for, I have something that can help you get there.

How do you get want you want? The answer is quite ironic and may surprise you….give it away! What? How can I give away something I don’t even have? I will say that in most cases, you already do have it. For example, some people are looking to be appreciated more. In that case, the best way to receive that appreciation is to show greater appreciation for others. Seeking more money? Be more willing to share what you already have. Many of us say we don’t have enough time. If that’s the case, give yours away. Spend time helping and serving other people, and watch how much time you will find that you really have. The same is true with the other examples. By appreciating others, you will find people appreciating you more. By sharing your money, you will find it coming to you from unexpected sources. It’s amazing how it works.

This information is well backed in the Bible. “A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” Proverbs 11:25. “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap” Luke 6:38. These are just some of the many verses that stress the importance and benefits of generosity.

A key concept is to avoid doing things for others simply because you want to be blessed yourself. Don’t go seeking the blessing. When you do for others, you will atomatically have it done for you. Besides, there is the verse in Matthew 25 where Jesus says, whatever you do for the least of these people you do for me. You are doing it for Him and His glory. You will be blessed as a result. In addition, think of how you feel when you give to someone else. Doesn’t it feel great? That great feeling will give you more positive energy, and you will feel like you can do more with your time. The desire to give to others simply becomes natural.

Today, think of what you can do for someone else. Think especially of what it is that you are seeking in your life. Then give as much as you can of it to someone else. You will see major blessings for them, and especially in your own life. I encourage you to make it happen. Please share your results : )

Seeking the Best In Ourselves and Others

Why is it that so many people tend to see the negative in themselves and other people? I would consider myself a positive person. However, I too notice that sometimes I tend to focus a bit much on the faults of myself and those closest to me.

It is true that we all have our faults, so they are quite easy to find. However, I believe we also need to remember that we are gems created by God. So the next time you look around at God’s beautiful creations, please consider yourself as one of them.

I want nothing more to make positive impacts during my time on earth. Here are a couple of suggestions I recently read:

• Love ourselves – This is a dangerous one for me. I am already a bit too self-centered for my liking, and this can be taken as encouraging that behavior. However, I believe that is not what is being offered. An old book by Josh McDowell says we should see ourselves as God sees us. Nothing more, nothing less. We are unique creations of the creator of the universe. That in itself is enough to be grateful for. Here’s the key…if we can love ourselves in a healthy, Godly way, it will not only make our own lives better, but it will also overflow into the lives of others. Joy is contagious, and what better way to share with others by just being happy ourselves.
• See the positive in others – As mentioned, it’s easy to see faults. The problem is that if that’s what we look for, that’s what we’ll see and get. Everyone has something positive about them. Why not focus on the positive in all individuals we deal with? We are much more likely to bring it out in them if we do.
• Show Appreciation – Why is it that the words “thank you” are not heard half as much as they should be? I’ve heard so many stories about how a simple word of appreciation completely changed individuals and situations for the good. Words of appreciation can positively impact any individual of any age.

So the challenge for myself and anyone else who wants to join with me is to see the good in ourselves. Yes, we all have faults, but we have so many positives to offer. Let us focus on those positives and then watch as our worlds change for the better each day. I can’t wait to see and hear about the results.

A Sure Way To Make Any Sale

There are millions of people in our world looking to sell something. It could be a hot new product, homes, cars, or whatever else you can think of. Some seem to sell with ease, while others seem to struggle. If only there was a magic formular to make it easy.

The more I read, the more I see that there actually is a way to dramatically increase your sales. Before I discuss it, I will say that it applies to more than just the selling of things or services. For example, I am a teacher, and I need to “sell” the importance of the subject I teach. Pastors need to be credible in order to share the Christian message effectively. Anywhere in life, people need to sell themselves or something to be effective.

So here’s the magic formula. The more people like you, or the more they can relate to you, the greater your success will be. I was inspired to write this from a story by Gary Hanley called “The Window Salesman”. It is a story about a window salesman who is brand new to the field. His first assignment is to sell windows to a high-class invidual in the richest part of town. What a first assignment! He takes it on, though nervous and feeling inept. He arrives, and is welcomed by the prestigious older lady. He stays for 3 hours, drinking her tea and politely listening to her old stories. As it turns out, she buys thousands of dollars of windows from this new salesman after he barely said a word. The crazy thing is, she was approached during the week by about 6 other salespeople with much more experience and pizzaz than this guy. Even crazier, is that they all offered a lower price than this gentleman did.

How does something like that happen? As the author of the story says, it was the rookie salesman’s courtesy, attitude, politeness, and likeability that closed the sale. It was not sales-hype, low prices, or benefits. That, my cherished readers, is the magic formula for selling goods, services, or ourselves. The more we demonstrate those qualities of courtesy, positive attitude, politeness, and likeability, the more we will succeed in anything. People will buy from us, we can effectively teach, and we can positively impact people. Contrary to what some people still believe, those little things still count, and still make a dramatic difference. Let us take the example of this window salesman, and be our best towards other people, and make them feel appreciated. You will be blessed as a result.

Praise You Like I Should

There was a song that played regularly on radio in the late 1990s by an obscure artist known as Fatboy Slim. The song was called “Praise You”. It was one of those songs that I never really figured out if I liked it or not. No offense to the singer but the vocal was mediocre, the line “praise you like I should” made up about 3/4 of the songs lyrics, and the same musical riff continued throughout the song. However, that continuous riff was catchy, and the song was stuck in my head on many occasions.

I write about it now because those words still ring through my head as I think about the topic of praise. I appreciate the people and things I have in my life, yet I find that I don’t praise these people and the God that gave them to me like I should.

There are several reasons I believe it is very important to do so. In regards to people, several times in his book “How to Win Friends and Influence People” author Dale Carnegie stresses this theme. He says one of the greatest ways for us to be likeable and influential is to be “hearty in our aprobation and lavish in our praise”. Think about how we feel when someone expresses sincere appreciation for something we’ve done, or if someone comliments us for something, even if it is only a small thing. It can make our day, year, or even sometimes our life.

How many times is the subject of praise brought up in the Bible? it seems countless to me. What strikes my attention most is how the great characters of the Bible start their prayers by first praising God for who He is and what He’s done. Then they present their petitions before Him.

I believe we owe the people in our lives the praise they deserve. I need God’s help with this, and I now pray every day that I can praise the people in my life in voice or action (or both) on a daily basis. Sincere, honest, specific praise for something, no matter how big or small it is. The rewards are instantaneous. The smile on my kids’ faces as I compliment their manners and abilities. The sincere thank you I receive from my wife as I do something for her without her asking. The smile on my students’ faces as I compliment their work. The surprising reaction I get from the stranger on the street when I say something like, “I like that jacket”. These actions make our day, but once again, think about what it can do for someone else.

Finally, God also appreciates our praise. The Bible says it is His will that we are thankful in all circumstances. It also says “let everything that has breath praise the Lord. From my own experience, it seems like the more thankful we are, the more we receive to be thankful for. Also, a thankful heart just makes every situation, good or bad, that much better.

So I challenge myself and anyone else to live our lives with a thankful heart and “praise like we should”  God Bless : )