John Harrell's Blog, page 65

Compared to What???

Some people love to compare, don’t they? Yet comparison robs us of so much good. Let’s look a little closer at this.

Contentment goes away when we compare, and gratitude goes along for the ride. The truth is, we have so much to be grateful for. If you have a few dollars in your pocket you are better off than over 99% of the world. If you are alive and reading this, you have eyesight and a working mind. Equipped with assets like those you can conquer anything. You just need to use them, put them to work.

You can get everything you want in this life. Stop comparing yourself to others and get going. You don’t know how far you can go, but just know that you can accomplish your greatest dreams if you’re willing to put in the work…

What Happened?

Children are completely innocent when they are born. Yet some grow up to become murderers and terrorists. Why?

Somewhere along the way they learned evil. Some people have been so disgusting that they teach evil deeds under the veil of religion. One of the most evil things you can do is to mislead a child.

We must continue to show light to the world. Lead by example. Stand up for what’s good and right. There will always be evil in the world, but our light cannot be diminished…

Giving Up

Giving up is never an option. Resilience is built during the hard times, not when things are going well. When we find our inner strength we grow.

There are some people who have given up on fulfilling their purpose, their dreams for their life. Life isn’t easy, and the world will do everything it can to tear you down.

If you are one of the ones who gave up on a fulfilling life, I encourage you to pick yourself up and start living. You can do it.

When life gets tough, be tougher…

Significance

Most people are striving for success. Money, position and influence are the measuring sticks we use to determine how successful someone might be. But there’s so much more to success than just our possessions.

Making a significant impact on others is the truest way to measure success. People don’t care how much money you have if you make them feel seen and heard.

Success affords you the opportunity to be significant. You gain significance through serving others…

Peace

There is something remarkable about the quiet. I truly revel during times I have only peace and quiet. I love music, yet I leave it off. My phone becomes my only occasional distraction. My mind clears and my spirit is restored.

I encourage you to embrace the peace that comes when you get quiet…

Christmas

Christmas is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. People slow their pace on Christmas Day. And the closer we get to Christmas, the happier people seem to be.

Yet there are those who are holding on by a thread. They have suffered loss during the year, or maybe they feel like their luck has run out. Whatever is going on with them within, they are finding it difficult to feel any joy or peace.

Let’s stop and say a prayer for the desperate people. Let’s pray they find their inner light, and they rise again.

Merry Christmas…

Automation

We live in an exciting time. I can get groceries, liquor, books and more delivered to my home in (sometimes) less than 24 hours. How cool is that?

Automation has also brought laziness into our lives. We text or email rather than picking up the phone and calling others. Text is fine for quick messages, but it’s not conversation.

Remember that human connection is vital for our health and wellbeing. Automation cannot replace that…

Hallmark Families

Christmas is almost here and you know what that means. People are stressed. We want everything to come together perfectly and this includes the meal, presents and family time. Any imperfection runs the risk of ruining our “Hallmark moment.”

Set your expectations correctly. We are human beings living in a broken world. Things go wrong on this side of eternity. Don’t stress over little things. Enjoy every moment.

Slow down a little. This is the time of year to do some relaxing. And remember to be kind. Not everyone has a Hallmark family…

Rebellious

We are rebellious by nature. Our natural tendency to be rebellious dates back to the beginning of mankind when Adam and Eve rebelled against God. Some things never change!

Not all rebellion is bad. Think about the American Revolution. Our ancestors rebelled against the British, they won, and what eventually became The United States was established. Abraham Lincoln rebelled against slavery. Our country became divided, yet Lincoln’s resolve abolished slavery and the country was restored.

In today’s culture, we have those who choose to rebel against good. They will not prevail. In the end, goodness wins every time…

New Year. New Who?

The New Year is right around the corner. Soon it will be 2024. Many people set New Year’s Resolutions and go into the new year determined to change. But what really changes?

Starting anew and replacing a bad habit with a good one is always a good idea. Maybe you begin exercising after laying off for a while. Perhaps you start eating better. Whatever it is, commit to it and don’t quit. Do not let anyone, including yourself, talk you out of the new version of you!

Focus on improving one day at a time. Progress happens if you simply trust the process and keep going…