Universal Life Church Monastery of Massachusetts: March 2011

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

LIFE: Gratitude

Sometimes we get to feeling down in life, or tend to overlook the positive and focus on the negative. I remember going through a particularly difficult season of my life and it seemed like every time I would go to my best friend about my problems, she would tell me to make a gratitude list. I didn’t want to. A big part of me just wanted to stay on the pity-pot, but I knew deep down she was right so I sat down and made a list of all the things I was grateful. I posted it on my wall and looked at it frequently.

I realized that I was blessed beyond belief and I was allowing one or two things to distort my perception of my life. I began saying thank you often and learned to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and foster a grateful heart. Zig Ziglar nailed it when he said that, “Of all the attitudes we can acquire, surely the attitude of gratitude is the most important and by far the most life-changing.”

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WORK: Most productive hour of your day

While reading about successful business owners, I have noticed that the majority of these men and women have learned an important principle for success. It’s quite simple yet so many aren’t willing to utilize this technique.

It is simply taking time each day (a good rule of thumb is 1 hour) or when making your weekly schedule and making a list of the top priorities to accomplish for the next day and beginning your business day ACTUALLY DOING THESE THINGS.

Now during this hour, it is very important to turn your telephone off and don’t allow any other distractions. That means no texting, emailing, or surfing the internet.

I suggest you make it your goal to accomplish this in the morning before you begin other activities, but you can schedule this hour at anytime during your day. Make sure it is a quiet place. Bring a cup of coffee or water and learn to love this time. It just may double your productivity!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

HEALTH: Stress

Stress affects such a high population of America that the U.S. Public Health Service has made decreasing stress a high priority. Stress has a tremendous impact on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Disorders such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and strokes are at higher risk for those whose stress levels are high.

There are various ways to reduce and manage stress. Doctors recommend various techniques such as exercising, eating healthier, getting plenty of sleep, prayer, and meditation to alleviate symptoms of stress. God does not us walking around all stressed out. In Matthew 6:34 we find the writer admonishing his readers to trust God and stop being anxious about the future. Worrying about things does not help matters. Live one day at a time and allow God to take care of your needs just for today.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

MARRIAGE: Change

Sometimes when a couple gets married, things begin to change. There is not as great an effort at winning over the other and little by little, time spent together may decrease due to jobs, kids, and other responsibilities. With a divorce rate at more than 50%, it is important to understand that relationships need to be continually nourished in order to be fruitful.

Don’t stop nourishing your relationship just because you are married. Take time to stay connected and keep the love alive and fresh. Marriage requires many ingredients to be successful, but quality time and effort are extremely important. This will also help your relationship to grow and deepen.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

LIFE: Hope

Are you tired, frustrated, disappointed? Are you in a tough season of life and ready to give up? Have you tried just about everything to get through, fill the void, and find some peace? Listen to a quote found in Isaiah 40:31:

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength."

Perhaps your hope has been in something different. Your job, your partner, your kids, etc. but this says that those who hope in God will have their strength renewed. That’s great news. When we are hopeful, it helps us get through adversity.

As the Psalmist declares that his hope is in God and he waits expectantly for Him, so shall we hope and anticipate in God, who always has our best interest at hand.