Thursday, May 31, 2012

Think for Yourself




Think for Yourself

-I read a lot of books, web content, and magazines in the course of a month. 
-I read two or three newspapers several days each week.
-I listen to ABC news as often as I can.

But I’m not letting those sources do my thinking for me.

I’ve gone to church all my life.  I’ve heard a few thousand sermons, and sang even more songs.  But I’m not letting all of that totally form my theological foundations. 

I have some brilliant friends with amazing minds.  There is nothing more stimulating than a great conversation with these friends.  But I’m not letting them do my thinking for me.

We’re facing an election year this fall.  Millions of dollars will be spent promoting or deflating each candidate.  Will you drink what you’re offered?


You see, I want to do my own thinking.

Sometimes I drink; I just don't swallow everything I drink.  

Do you?

Best advice – Think for Yourself.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Monday, May 28, 2012

Trust Yourself




The seeds for Trust Yourself lie in the concept of “know thyself”.  How can one “trust” oneself if you don’t “know” yourself?”

I have been journaling since 1980.  Occasionally I go back and re-read my journals.  What an amazing trip this is.  I see so many instances when I wish for a “do-over”.  There are times when I did not show a great deal of trust in myself.  I allowed others to dictate my actions, my thoughts, and my direction.  Apparently I had no will of my own. 

What a travesty.


And now now I have a well-defined sense of values and boundaries in place that are proving trustworthy. 

Values and boundaries - two key starting points for this journey of trust in oneself. 

So, what do you value?
Where are your boundaries

No answers just something to ponder.


Coming next time – Think for yourself.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Friday, May 25, 2012

What Is Love?



What Is Love

Love is a like a warm blanket on a cold night.
Love is my security when I am afraid.
Love calms my fears when I face uncertainty.

Love restores my confidence when I am in doubt.
Love brings peace in the middle of messy.
Love is an oasis in the middle of the dry times.

Love proves rich when funds are low.
Love shines in her eyes in the beauty of a sunset.
Love is found in an empty ice cream sundae cup we just shared.

Love is in the ring tone that is uniquely hers.
Love is everything I need, everything I’ve hoped for,
everything I dreamed of, everything I’ve longed for.



To love and experience love is the pinnacle in human experiences.

I am a blessed man.

I am loved by Carolyn.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Monday, May 21, 2012

Learning after a Fall



Learning after a Fall

-Abraham Lincoln ran for numerous political offices and lost.  His fiancĂ© died.  He started two businesses and they both failed.  Yet he became our sixteenth president.

-Babe Ruth was the strikeout king, and he was also the homerun king.

-The post-it note was a mistake that sold millions.

-A waffle vendor ran out of plates at the 1904 World’s Fair and ended up creating the ice cream cone. 


The key is this:  Don’t let your mistakes define who you are.

Mistakes
               Misjudgments
                                      Misunderstanding

They happen.


Just because we made a mistake 
doesn't mean we are a failure.

We learn and we recover. 

Michelangelo once said, “I’m still learning.”

Ah, that is the secret. 

The ‘learning” that happens after a fall.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Blessing



The Blessing

We celebrated the 16th birthday of our grandson recently.  During the party we took a few moments for each person to say words of blessing and esteem to TJ. 

I couldn’t help thinking what an incredibly rich experience this was for all of us.  We adults and his siblings expressed observations, reminiscences, hopes and dreams that we each held for TJ. 

TJ, on the other hand, simply sat and received these words.  They were images of what his life has looked like and a glimpse of the possibilities that awaited him.

Oh to have a small part in esteeming him in this way.

I wish for you a similar experience.  Next time you have a family gathering time why not add something like this into your plans?

It will prove to be a rich experience for everyone involved.

Bless someone today.

Offer up-words of healing.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

What Everyone Loves



What Everyone Loves


Want to know one of the great secrets of the universe?

Here it is.


Everybody loves encouragement


-Want your marriage to be better?
-Want your kids to be better?
-Want to get along better with your neighbor?
-Want more productive employees?

Encourage!
     Encourage!
          Encourage!
               Encourage!

When I worked for Sylvan Learning Centers, one of our company philosophies was this:  Catch someone doing something right.

I Love That!

On any given day we get a belly full of what we did wrong.  How about telling me what I did right?

That is encouraging.

And that is what everybody loves to hear.

Improve your corner of the world …

Encourage someone today.



P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Make a Dent



Make a Dent
My new favorite author is Seth Godin.  He wrote this recently.

“Are you making a dent in the universe?  Lots of random pokes in many different spots are unlikely to leave much of an impact.”

"Random pokes don’t leave much of an impact."  

That means I need to focus.

One of my favorite books is The Winds of War by Herman Wouk.  Mr. Wouk recounts a scene in which General Tillet, military author and a commanding general for England during WWII, is making an observation about Hermann Goering.

He said, “His mission is mastery of the air, not blockade.  Define your mission!  Define your mission and stick to it!” 

What is your mission? 

Are you poking at it or making a dent?

Define your mission.

That is focus.
  
Make a Dent!





P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Like Yourself


Like Yourself

Do you like yourself?

Society teaches us that we are not enough. 
-We don’t have enough. 
  -We don’t make enough.
    -We don’t look good enough.
      -We don’t dress well enough.
        -We are not enough.

After a while, we believe that lie.  We look at others and envy their “garage full of stuff”.  They are IN and we are OUT, or so we think.

Maya Angelou wrote

“Success is liking yourself,
liking what you do
and how you do it.”

Listen to this:  God got it right when we were born.



He Got It Right.  His plan for us is perfect.  That is the most empowering idea I can give you.

Embrace it.       Like yourself.

Approve of yourself.

The day you begin this journey will be a red letter day for you.


Promise.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Sunday, May 06, 2012

What Is Defeat?



What is defeat?  Some say it is the end of the world. 

Others think they’ll die of embarrassment over their failure. 

A few throw up their hands and quit. 

Orson Swett Marden, (1850-1924) the founder of Success Magazine, said this: 


“What is defeat?  Nothing but education;
Nothing but the first steps 
to something better.”


You know, I think he’s onto something there. 

Nothing but education – our first steps to something better.

I like that. 

                 I can handle that. 

                                                  I can grasp that concept.



You failed?

That’s good.  Now you know one more thing that doesn’t work in this particular situation.

Simple?

                Yes.

                Pertinent?

Absolutely!



P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time

Tuesday, May 01, 2012

EYES THAT SEE


Eyes that See

In George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, Eliza Doolittle is a flower girl selling on the streets of London.

She delivers a stellar thought:  “I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl … But I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.”  

What do you see when looking at others?
Kids?
Spouse?
Co-workers?
Employees?


Eliza was transformed because someone saw her with fresh eyes - eyes that looked beyond the momentary. 


There was a “lady” inside of Eliza.  All she needed was some encouragement to bring this “lady” to the front. 

What a marvelous thought ...  
Others blossom because of the potentiality we see in them. 

What about you?

Just because they say it doesn’t make it so. 

Thoughts towards others thoughts towards self.


P Michael Biggs
Offering Up-Moments
One Moment at a Time