I love “Eves” because they’re very different from plain old “evenings” or “nights”. An “Eve” is the evening or night immediately preceding a special day, and on the most popular of “Eves”, there is always a powerful energy of eager anticipation. “Eves” tend to vibrate with childlike imagination about the specialness of the day to come, ever hopeful of fresh starts, and new beginnings. The “Eves” we share in common are incredible, but I have to wonder. What if we treated every single evening or night as an “Eve” that was about to give birth to the most incredible day of our entire life? I think that it would somehow revolutionize our whole existence. As every evening approaches, and every night arrives, treat it as the “Eve” of an incredible tomorrow!  When you lay your head upon your pillow each night, fill your imaginings with outrageously beautiful and abundant thoughts of the day to come. And remember, “Eves” are magical, and dreams do come true.

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

More than a state of gratitude within oneself, “Thank you” is a statement of deep connection with another. “Thank you” conveys humility, surprise, and perhaps a little bit of awe. After all, it’s always “awesome” when someone delivers on our desires before we’re fully aware of their existence. “Thank you” acknowledges that, “I let go, and your love took hold!” It’s a statement of childlike excitement, celebrating the giver as much as the gift. Yes, I think it’s better to give than receive, but think it through. What better gift is there than “Thank you” expressed from a heart of delight?

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

I love the idea of “mutuality” in relationships. For me, being “mutual” implies “an exchange of persons” where “I am yours, and you are mine”. If something troubles you, it will trouble me. If something troubles me, it will trouble you. My heart senses your desire, and your heart senses mine. I’m clearing the way before you take the next step, and you help to guide and protect my steps as well. This isn’t codependency where there is a loss of self and a confusion of boundaries, it’s cherishing! Mutuality is a “state of being” where healthy and aware egos set themselves aside to serve one another. It represents a condition of love where there is absolutely no room for fear. Mutuality is a value where each gives one hundred percent, and no one keeps score. This is the level of care I want to provide for others. This is a level of care I desire for myself. May we all be inspired to aspire to this kind of love.

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

Not everyone has faith, and that’s fine along the way, but almost everyone has hope. Hope is that thing you sense will happen even as your “head” tells you it’s impossible. You know it’s hope if the vision keeps coming back despite your psyche’s pesky insistence on logic. Hope is intuitive, and it springs from a place of knowing that knows a whole lot more than your head! Don’t ever allow logic to discourage any dream that’s alive within you. Remember, the dream is the reality. Hope in the hope!

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

You’ve all heard the expressions when someone exhibits a particular interest, potential, or passion. She’s going to be the next “this person”, or he’s going to be the next “that person”. As for me, I don’t want to be “the next” anyone! I mean, why would I want to do that? I’m having way too much fun in the process of becoming “the very first me”! I’m so grateful that you’re here reading this and becoming “the very first you”. Keep becoming the unique and special being that you’re here to be, and never, ever settle for anything less. Remember, you have the freedom to become the very best you that you can be!

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

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!

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.

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

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.