Bryan Parady's Blog, page 40

Don’t Listen

Sometimes it’s really easy to listen to the voices that surround us.  We believe really strong in something to the point where we can’t even put it into words.  Others tell us we are crazy so we doubt ourselves, we worry, and we all too often just give up on what we truly believe.

Don’t do that. Only you know what feelings, what emotions, and what burning dreams and goals lie inside yourself.  Just because people say you have to go a certain route in life to be successful don’t listen

Just because someone says true love doesn’t exist, don’t listen.

Just because someone says you won’t amount to anything because  of your past don’t listen.

Just because it didn’t work out for one person, or one time, doesn’t meant it won’t ever work out.

People may say your dumb, they may think you don’t know what you are talking about.  But you know.

So don’t listen, don’t worry.  Worrying just gives in to other people’s insecurities.  Do your thing, and don’t worry what those on the sidelines are whispering because you won’t be around long enough to hear their condemnation.

Go for it.  You’ve got this.

It’s Worth It

 

 

Some days it’s really easy to feel like you’ve been sucker punched. Like life is somehow playing a trick on you, pushing you to your limit to see if you will crack or pass the test.

Life is unfair sometimes.  It can be cruel and it can be cold.

But likewise it can also be amazingly beautiful and full of wonder, excitement, and love.

The key is to remember the good when you are having a dark day.  We have off-days. We will have days that knock us to our knees.

But we can learn from those days.  They don’t have to keep us down.  We can rise from the circumstance even stronger than we started.  We can move on and conquer even greater things because of the hardships we’ve been through.  The climb sucks, but the view can be absolutely breath taking, and well worth the fight.

Keep at it.  You’ll get through it, and it will be amazing.

Be You

We try so hard to fit in.  We keep track of what is trending, listen to the top 100 hits, buy the latest fashion trends and keep up the appearance of our homes with what is hot on pinterest.

While none of these things are bad in and of themselves, we need to realize we are not the same as everyone else, nor should we be.  Our culture tends to think we all should think, act, and look alike.   Uniqueness, and self-image is praised, and yet at the same time those who stand out are usually shunned.

The answer to all this confusion? Be you. Stop giving in, stop changing, stop trying to please.

What makes you happy?  What makes you feel alive?  These are the things you should be chasing after.  Not what other people find exciting, popular or in vogue.

Don’t ever be embarrassed for staying true to yourself.  In the end you will look back on your life and either see that you lived your own unique life, or strove to please people and still didn’t end up happy.

Be you.  It’s amazing.

Enjoy Your Day

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and get to spend it doing what you love or being with your favorite people.  Happy Thansgiving!

Work Hard

 

 

 

 

We all have our beginnings and our middles.  Few of us can say we have our endings. Only those who persevere to the end have their endings. And even then it doesn’t truly end.

No matter what your goal is in life there are 4 stages of pursuing it.

1.  The decision. This is probably the hardest part of going after your goal.  You have to make a decision.  You have to choose to leave safety behind. You have to live with risk, live in a state of faith, where you take the leap and whether there is a net to catch you, or a rock hard fall, you are choosing to begin.  Stop wasting time deliberating, you already know in your heart of heart what you want to do, and there comes a day when the planning has to end and the action has to start.

2. The start.  This is often an easy stage, you’ve made the decision and are moving forward, you are excited of all the possibilities to come.  You have energy, vitality and you are going to get this done.

3.  The middle.  This is the second hardest part. You feel stuck, like you will never hit your goal.  You feel as if you are doing everything in your power to hit your goal, but it’s just not enough.  During this time you have to keep moving forward, you may feel like you are making no headway, but keep at it.  Don’t ever, ever, ever give up.

4.  The end. You’ve hit your goal!  Congratulations!  But it doesn’t end here.  After hitting your goal life isn’t all butterflies and rainbows, you have to keep up your victory, you have to maintain it, and you have to now plan a new and bigger goal. Don’t ever become complacent.  There is always more you can do.

 

The Voices

This life is filled with so much noise.  We have hundreds of talks shows on TV and the radio that are someone’s opinion, millions of books trying to persuade people to think a certain way.

Politicians with million dollar campaigns telling you how to vote.  Pasters of mega churches telling you what your faith should look like.

The business world tells you the perfect model for becoming a business woman/man.

And then there’s the millions of opinions floating around social media and your workplace.

It’s enough to drive one crazy.

Just remember, some of the greatest people in history were told they were dumb and would never amount to anything.

They said Einstein was stupid.  They called Walt Disney a failure.  But the great people we look up to had only 2 simple things that led to their success.

1.  They knew what their burning passion was and went after it.

2.  They didn’t let anyone tell them what they should do.

Stop listening to the voices. You have your own voice, start using it.  Do whatever you have to, but ignore the naysayers.  Shut out the voices, and become who you were born to be.

What Happened to Christianity?

 

 

 

There once was a lion who we will call Christian.  At one time it’s face was set as steal. Nothing could faze it.  It minded it’s own business, and did it’s thing and attracted millions.  It didn’t have to put on a show, didn’t have to have lights, fancy music, or business plan to make it.

It was somewhat tattered looking, dusty and dirty from real work.  Scarred with wounds it had received through time.

It didn’t listen to outside voices, it knew its purpose and nothing could shake it.

It didn’t point the finger, it stayed true to who it was in silence.  There was no need for shaming, no need for blaming, no need for calling people out.

This lion was revered. Simply because of its actions, its every day life, nothing else.

But somewhere along the line this lion starting becoming more concerned with what others thought of it than who it was.  It started thinking it needed to groom itself more, look prettier, smell nicer, and speak vehemently out about things it disagreed with.

Soon the lion became someone entirely different, it lost respect in its attempt to please, and it lost sight of who it was.  It looked better, sounded better, and could draw a crowd, but it no longer was who it was born to be.  But still, buried somewhere underneath the layers, the true lion lurks, and maybe one day we will see it again.

Christianity is Lame

I know some great Christians, those who daringly step out and do bold things.  But overall I have to say our modern day Christianity is lame as crap.

It’s like a fluffy pillow that’s thrown at people to make them feel good.  There’s nothing substantial to it at all.

Our comfortable prosperity message that says, God wants to bless you beyond your wildest dreams just believe and live a good life is such a load of lies.

Christianity praises those in history who have done great things, but chooses to do no great things themselves.  As a whole church has been the very one to stop, kill, an denounce nearly every single person who has done great things.  Jesus, Paul, Martin Luther, Joan of Arc, the list goes on.

We hide behind our excuses of “I need to hear from God before I do x, y, or z”.

Christianity as a whole is like a very weak second rate fighter who is scared to get in the ring, but will make good speeches before the fight.  There’s not backbone behind the pretty sounding words, and there’s no courage to get out there and just do good.

Oh sure, Christianity is really quick to lash out at anyone it thinks is in the wrong.  It gets all on the bandwagon when it comes to political issues, marriage laws, abortion laws etc.

But what the heck is Christianity for?  I sure as heck know what it’s against, and that is extremely lame.  Isn’t it supposed to represent, fight for, and do good?  Somehow it’s become a plush little feel good sermon to it’s “followers”, and a sledge hammer of hate towards those outside the circle.

And that’s supposed to be attractive to people why?

 

Decide Already

We can miss out on so much because of indecision.  We have the opportunity to do something, but rather than just trying it and seeing if it works out, we put off making  a decision until the opportunity passes and then lamely say, “guess it wasn’t meant to be”.

Um, pardon me, but that’s not the way it works.  If an opportunity presents itself and you don’t act on it or try it, it’s your fault if what you want doesn’t pan out.  Opportunity isn’t some perfect dream that lands in your lap, it’s making hard decisions and working towards something.  It’s taking the leap of faith even though you don’t know all the cards that are dealt.

Opportunity is choosing to live today, making choices today, that affect your future, not waiting for something to fall in your lap, because that will never happen.

Christian drive me the most nuts when it comes to that. God puts these huge dreams in people’s hearts and rather than using them they use the most bull crap excuse in the world, “I need to hear from the Lord on whether I should.” BULL. This is the lamest excuse ever for “I don’t have the guts to do it.”

Unless it’s something that is just a blatant sin, if God put it in you to do, then quit beating around the freaking bush and do it.  Because if you don’t, He’s going to find someone else with the guts to do it.

Be Present

 

 

 

There is something I’m not great at but am working really hard at lately.  It’s really easy to get self-absorbed, caught up in what I’m currently going through, or what I’m in the middle of.

Things as simple as being absorbed on my phone while checking out in line at a store.  I want to live intentional every single moment.  I want every person I come into contact with to know I genuinely want to know how their day is, how they are doing, and that for that brief moment I shared with them, they were important.

No matter who I’m with I want them to have my full attention.  No distractions.

This also includes moments when I am alone.  I don’t want to just live in a fictitious world.  I want the things I do to matter and to be intentional, growing myself and moving forward with who I am as a person.