The Power of Words

"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." -Charles H. Spurgeon  

Happiness is a choice, not a destination, something well within our power and control. In each of our lives we are met with obstacles and hardship, unimaginable difficulty, yet we hear stories time and time again of ordinary heroes that somehow make the best of the life they are given. But I think we are all powerful, in the sense that we can make each day worth living through the choices we make and the attitude we present. We are not the victim of our circumstances, but truly capable of making a difference in our lives and the lives of others, that is our personal challenge. This is one of my favorites videos, a true testament to the power of positivity. Through the eyes of a blind man we see the way people respond to a changed perspective, and thus see the power of our words, actions, and attitude. I know this week has been difficult for many of you, but I challenge you now to revise your outlook, and make the conscious choice to be happy. :)

ENFP

"You have your way, I have mine. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Stereotypes and labels seem to never disappear. We are judged by them, confined by them, and redefined to fit them. This week in class we were asked to complete the Myers- Briggs Personality Test, a type indicator that measures personal preferences in how we as individuals choose to perceive the world and make independent decisions. I for one was quite pleased with my results, it seemed to incorporate all my strengths and weaknesses, a true representation of me. But as I spent more time thinking about the 4 letters that supposedly summarized who I am, I think I realized that I am much more than an ENFP.

What if I told you I'm punctual, organized, and responsible, does that take away from my being spontaneous, fun-loving, a risk-taker? I think I can be all of the above, even if all of the above does not necessarily fit within the definition of what it means to be an ENFP.

"When we put people in boxes where they can only be one or another, we miss the opportunity to see people as diverse as they are."

In this day and age we preach the beauty of diversity, and taking pride in who we are as individuals. Though we might differ in simple letters and preferences, that does not define us, we are given the opportunity to define ourselves through the choices we make and values we stand for.

I am an ENFP: an Empowered, Noteworthy, Fearless Person. And that is all you need to know :)

A Social Change

" When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." -Audre Lorde

The Social Change Model is an approach to leadership development focused on the process of enacting social change from multiple perspectives. This image, to me, captures the moment in which we as individuals choose to change. Given that the idea of change in itself is unnerving, we must realize that to better ourselves require the strength to learn and listen. Though we may be confident in who we are and what we believe in, we are redefined by the ideas and beliefs of others, and to give in to such a change is the mark of a true leader. We cannot be afraid to venture out of our personal fish bowl.

The Leadership Challenge

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As we all take a must deserved break this three day weekend we are given the opportunity to celebrate a man that truly made a difference. Born into a much different America, Dr. King rose to the challenge and fought for the freedom of his people. Though he inspired a leadership theory known as the Charismatic Leadership Theory, I think his story serves as a shining example of another: the Leadership Challenge, a theory that truly resonates with me. The Leadership Challenge serves as a call to action theory, one that places the power in each of us regardless of where we come from. The five practices stressed in the Leadership Challenge are: model the way, inspire a shared vision, challenge the process, enable others to act, and encourage the heart. This challenge is modeled for and after the everyday person, reminding us that ordinary individuals can achieve extraordinary things. The first step, "model the way" speaks to the notion that our actions speak louder than our words. The second, "inspire a shared vision" relates to the ability of leaders to connect with people and inspire change. "Challenge the process" encourages us to actively challenge the status quo as true leaders do, we must have the courage to speak up in the face of difficult times and back firmly the truths and beliefs we hold important. The fourth step "enable others to act" displays the idea that we as leaders are expected to pass the torch, to actively involve others, and instill them with confidence and motivation. Lastly, "encourage the heart" is a reminder to keep hope alive in the hearts of those that believe in us and our cause. And so tomorrow we commemorate a man who made a real difference and inspired the world to discover the leader within each of us.

"The Footsteps"

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." -Benjamin Franklin

One, two, three

I count, I wait, I am, I be,

But who am I?

I love, I learn just the same as you.

I am anonymous, I am undefined.

A clean slate, a blank page,

Ready with pen in hand.

And so I walk.

One step, two steps, maybe even three.

Right, left, right, left, and so it goes.

The path unknown unfolds before me.

But I do not know, I cannot see.

With hope, with fear, with trust,

I jump.

And here I am.

Arms wide open, Eyes stretched to the sky,

I found it.

I am myself.

And so I continue walking,

One, Two, Three, Four,

Until we meet again.

I wrote this poem a while ago in an attempt to address the struggle we all face in discovering who we are. I truly believe that we are all given the opportunity to make an impact in this world, however we so chose, yet we are not confined to remain the person we once were. For this reason I entitled this poem "The Footsteps", an impermanent imprint that marks our progress in realizing not who we were nor who we are, but who we can be.   

Home

" Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need." -Sara Ban Breathnach

Saturday night I got to visit home and watch the niners game with my dad and brother, DIE HARD NINERS FAN just by the way so of course I couldn't watch without my boys :) Anyway the view from our hill is truly breathtaking and I snapped this photo on the way back. Driving has always been my time for reflection, and this time I was stuck on the idea of home in itself. Growing up I always wished to journey on my own, I wanted to experience life away from the comfort home provides. And now with my visits and nights at home limited and restricted, I find myself wishing for the opposite. So here I go: I miss home. 

Silent Speaking

"Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." -Winston Churchill

Our words and thoughts are so compelling, allowing us the ability to move people, inspire them, inspire ourselves. But sometimes our silence, our ability to listen is equally, if not more powerful. Words Unspoken is a compilation of the words and thoughts I have protected in the confines of my mind. Question now is determining for myself what must be heard and what is better left unsaid.