Conversation, struggle, pause, reflection… “I’m fighting my own destiny!” How pure, honest, and true. How we all fight our destinies through the traps of analysis and logic until we find ourselves deep in the hole of second-guessing, paralyzed. The situations and people you find before you today ARE your destiny! Engage them, love them, treat them respectfully, and leave them all just a little bit better than you found them. Fulfill your destiny today and believe me, the world will be a whole lot better for it tomorrow!

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Someone told me, affectionately, that I was a “pain”. I immediately shot back with, “I’m not a ‘pain’, I’m a gentle stimulant in the ‘oyster’ of your group. Eventually, I’ll help you to produce a beautiful pearl!” Don’t settle for the status quo! You have a great brain and a playful spirit, use them to gently stimulate growth in everyone and everything around you. We’re all here to create life and most times, that process requires a little bit of friction. Please, don’t be afraid to stir things up, creating pearls! Eventually, people will love you for it.

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

If “Plan A” fails, there’s always “Plan B”, right?  Well, not so fast! Now I’m thinking that if “Plan A” failed, then it wasn’t the “A-Plan” we thought it was after all, was it? If you’re struggling with the tatters of lesser plans, learn from them, and then let them go. Handled with enough grace, this process will always allow the “A-Plan”, the true “Plan A”, to emerge in victory! Remember, your dream has you, you don’t have it, and it will never give up!

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

This mini-blog first emerged as a “Simple e-Couragement”. It received such a strong response that I decided to post it here as an official Simply Encouraging® Blog. If you don’t receive them, you can subscribe to “e-Couragements” at the link above.

I love core values. Do you have any? If you don’t, you probably do! Go ahead and study your thoughts, feelings, and actions over the next few days. You’ll come to see what you stand for, and I bet you’ll be pleased. I love teaching about core values, and I think the best instruction is to simply share mine. 

“Simplicity” is my first core value. It speaks to the characteristics of honesty, clarity, and a wholehearted commitment to innocent faith. Saying, “Simplicity” out loud feels light, easy, and a little bit playful. I guess that says it all! (And if you want to remember this one just think, “Simple City”. See how that works!)

“Excellence” is my second core value. Being committed to my very best in any given moment frees me from artificial standards and judgment. I’m always good enough, and sometimes I'm more! Always remember that you have the freedom to be the very best you that you can be. It’s true!

My third core value is “Transcendence”. For me, transcendence is an actual place where I nurture hopes and dreams that exceed what might seem practical, or even possible! Remember “Simple City”? Yep, that’s where I reside these days, and it's a magical experience! Special things happen here, if you can just believe. I know, that makes me kind of odd, but thanks for noticing!

“Charity” is my fourth core value. It’s a state of the heart that always loves others more than it loves self. Think about it, that’s a standard of care that lives and breathes “simplicity”, “excellence”, and “transcendence”. May we always give more than we take!

My last core value is “Serenity”. In its stillness, the truth speaks quietly. I love the Psalm that says, “Be still, and know”. “Know what?” you ask? Don’t worry, if you become still and stay there long enough, you’ll eventually figure it out. By the way, is “sarcasm” a core value?

That’s the course! I sure hope you enjoyed this Simply Encouraging® Experience. If you made it this far, you get a great big smiley sticker on your forehead. :)  

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

Frustration! I’m having to deal with a completely fresh start, on my computer at least. After years of laying one updated “operating system” on top of another, something went wrong. I have to totally erase my hard drive, install a fresh “operating system” and then “cherry pick” the data I want to add back in. 

So now I’m thinking, wouldn’t it be nice to do that with my brain! In some respects that might be good, but we simply don’t get to do an “erase & install” on our lives. We don’t get to neatly “route out” our bad judgments, poor choices, or negative experiences. And as I think about it, I’m glad that it’s this way for us “human-types”. Every mistake is precious if we will just face them in the light, and we would lose so much if we could neatly erase them all, somewhere off in the shadows.

The process of learning from our mistakes actually has a wonderful effect. If I’m willing to face my “corrupted files”, understand them, and invite them to higher ground, then I grow in faith, character, and maturity. This can be a very scary process, but what incredible rewards! 

We try to “erase & install” in a gazillion ways, but we just end up doing more damage until our lives don’t work anymore. You know, kind of like my computer. Listen, I don’t like my “pockets of corruption” any more than you like yours. I’m just suggesting that if we’re willing to “Speak light to darkness”, then we can gain so much. 

Never fear your “corruption”. I know it’s there, and I love you anyway! And I deeply respect your courage to shine a light into it, learn from it, and grow in wonderful ways. Stop placing corruption upon corruption! You’re not a series of products that are good or bad. You’re SO MUCH MORE than that! You’re in the process of becoming more beautiful.

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I love to see surprise in motion. I love to see the reactions that come with it!  “I never imagined I would be rich!” “I never dreamed I could own a home!” “I never saw myself with a college degree!” The list goes on, and you’ve all experienced this phenomenon. Perhaps there is a “Law of Attraction” that serves to make specific things happen for people, but certainly, given all the "never's", there is a “Principle of Surprise” that thrills to delight us in unexpected ways. This “Principle of Surprise” loves to visit from time-to-time, inviting us all to live in anticipation of things we could never have seen in our mind's eye, dreamed of, or imagined for our lives. And who knows? Today could be YOUR day for a visit! Be on the lookout for good and surprising things. 

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

Early Sunday morning finds me pondering grace, and the way I’ve spoken about it over the past few years. Here are some of my all-time favorite thoughts on the matter, each with a brief narrative to provide depth. Enjoy!

Grace is kind, gentle and she covers others in beauty. Deep down, we all long for her touch.

Here I personify grace as a feminine power. It seemed to upset a few people who immediately unsubscribed from “Simple e-Couragements”. That wasn’t graceful. We all have the capacity for both feminine and masculine energy, and grace weds them seamlessly. Think of it this way, wouldn’t you like others to cover you with beauty when you feel less than attractive in your being? Of course you would.

Grace is a state of the heart that can move mountains.

Grace is powerful. By “mountains”, I mean those difficult relationships that challenge us all from time to time. It’s natural to want predictability, virtue, and kindness from others but in case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t always the way that it rolls. Be kind and gentle when people are less than perfect. See them as beautiful when you feel they’re not, and you’ll begin to experience the power of grace. 

If love makes the world go 'round, then grace keeps it on its axis.

I smiled as this line was inspired within me. I always love when a lot is said with a little. Love and grace have a special relationship. I haven’t quite figured it out yet, but I know that they do. I’m learning that I don’t have to figure everything out, and that embracing mysteries can be very sweet to the soul.

Encouragement offers a graceful hand, and travels lightly with others.

I think encouragement and grace also have a special relationship. I suppose this is a mystery as well, but I do know this. Simple Encouragement® is never in a hurry, and it never has a goal since its motive is love. We’re living in some particularly challenging times and we all need a little tenderness. Today is always a good day to gently take someone’s hand, and simply enjoy them.

Encouraged is the heart touched by grace. 

Please take some time to read about The Simple Encouragement® Movement. When we meet others in a spirit of loving engagement we are likely to see a hidden potential that the other can barely see, a buried hurt begging for expression, or a pocket of darkness begging for release. An attitude of loving engagement can release hidden potential, heal buried hurt, and bring light to darkness in a way that frees souls. This is the heart of Simple Encouragement®!

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My friend called early to ask how things were going, and I told him, “Oh, I’m off to a cynical start on yet another broken day”. He laughed and said, “Great, ‘Mr. Simple Encouragement’, I dare you to blog about that one!” Given that I’ve been dubbed “a cynic to tradition” I thought, “Sure, I can do that!” So, inquiring minds want to know. When is the last time you went for a twenty-four hour period without someone or something frustrating you, hurting you, ticking you off, or generally letting you down? Just as I thought, yet another broken day. I know that all the days of our lives are precious, but each one holds a wrinkle of brokenness right out of the box. And you know what? We’re supposed to be ready to iron out those wrinkles as they appear, and we do this by giving forward the “right stuff” as the sun comes up. You know, “stuff” like understanding, grace, compassion, and acceptance. There’s even a name for it, and I call it “fore-giveness”. Here’s how it looks in “real time”. Ooops! There’s that fender-bender caused by the other guy. Covered with understanding! Someone just made a mean-spirited comment. Covered with grace! A hurting person just appeared from nowhere sending my whole schedule sideways. Covered with compassion! My vacation starts tomorrow and the forecast is rain. Covered with acceptance! You see, love in all its forms is the warmth that smoothes out the wrinkles that come with everyday life. At some point in the next twenty-four hours, you’re going to have a wrinkle, guaranteed! Just remember to apply the loving warmth you started with this morning and if you do, you’ll make it all just a little bit smoother for you, and for everyone around you. Always keep in mind that warm, forward-giving love will always make for smooth sailing, even upon the stormy seas of our otherwise broken days. 

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

I search for the essence of people. You know, that intrinsic, irreducible element that makes them special. Essence only reveals itself in relationship, and as a verb. Of course, a verb is a word that expresses an action defining the connection between two or more people. Verbs have something specific to do, an impact to make, and life to share. Verb-Essence is so special that when it flashes from beneath the swirling dust cloud of otherwise messy humanity, you experience it in a profound and deep way. It’s there inside of a newborn baby, it’s there upon the face that wears a hundred years, and it’s there within every human being of every age. Deep on the inside, you have an intrinsic and indispensable quality that only you can bring to this time, and to this place. This is your essence! You definitely have it, and it’s right there, right about where you place your hand over your heart. Your essence gains expression in so many ways and now, it just needs a name. Breathe, ponder, and watch what you do that lights other people up on a consistent basis. Eventually, this laser-like energy will reveal its name, and your life will take on new meaning. You will join the “movers and shakers” of the world, and that’s a wonderful tribe to belong to. We always know who they are because they express essence, and essence always compels others with its graceful, life-giving power. 

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging areTrademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.

“You know, I think I’m going to make it through another day!” This is what I find myself saying when people ask the perfunctory, “How are you?” I like it because it seems to draw folks from a state of “minimum gesture” into maximum engagement. You have to admit, my answer does create a certain dissonance, like an odd chord in a beautiful symphony. Is it cynical, or hopeful? Is it flippant, or sincere? Is it dismissive, or reaching? The answers to these three questions depend upon the heart with which the statement derives, so here’s what I think. It’s hopeful because it has the entire day covered with victory. It’s sincere because it’s what I truly believe deep on the inside. It’s reaching since I think the statement ends with an invitation to share in an atmosphere of caring. Can we get any better than “hopeful of victory”, “sincerity of belief”, and “reaching that cares”? I genuinely do think I’m going to make it through another day, but it’s really more than that. I want to live my moments victoriously, faithfully, and deeply connected with others. How about you?

Simple Encouragement and Simply Encouraging are Trademarks of Simple E Creations, Inc.