Janice Benning’s Post

Context: "I See Vulnerability as a Strength........." "See, the Lord your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the Lord, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." —Deuteronomy 1:21 Every Sunday afternoon at 4:15pm, I dial a specific number. That number is to a gentleman who has been my guide for several decades. In the Fellowship that I belong to, the first thing to start a Journey of transformation is brokenness and surrender. This weekly call helps to reaffirm that acknowledgement and physically demonstrate it. I will practically stop whatever I'm doing to make that call. Do we talk about in depth topics on every call, not always. After 3 plus decades most stuff has been covered to some extent. However, the more important and aspect is the ongoing accountability that the call shows to my affliction so it continues to stay at bay. I'm still susceptible to my old destructive thoughts patterns, if left unchecked,, seen too many others do that very thing. It's that awareness of those tiny little thoughts which slowly and over time can alter my perspective of life and how I perceive it. Having that guide has been critical as I have acquired this new way of living and more importantly plan to keep it for life...... https://lnkd.in/g-s7U7xz

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Truth of who you are Your mind is too precious, your thoughts and values too hard won, to let them be stolen by trivialities. Yet that danger lurks every time you settle for mere pleasure or convenience when serious contemplation and effort are called for. Take care that you not lay to waste everything your discipline and focus have earned. It’s tragically easy to do when you select the easiest options in lieu of the best ones. Fortunately, your diligence can keep your indolence at bay. With humility you’re able to avoid the gravitational pull of arrogance. You have the tools with which to fill each day with positive purpose, with meaning, solid substance, achievement and value. Those tools are yours when you choose the challenge of truth over the convenience of lies. You can quickly learn again to love the rarefied air of authenticity. You can allow yourself to experience and express the truth that has always existed at your deepest level of perception. Insist on living as who you are, not who it’s easiest to pretend to be. Live the purpose that is always a challenge to articulate yet ultimately impossible to deny. — Ralph Marston

Want to be an old man full of regrets ? ☃ "Don't you want to take a leap of faith? Or become an old man, filled with regret." - Movie Inception This is a powerful idea that we need to consider asking ourselves at times. It's tough to leave our comfort zones and venture into risky seas, but it's perfectly fine unless you want to be a sailor!! Life will take us to places only if you are willing and want them, and the process of wanting and being willing comes in the form of taking risks. Sit with your eyes closed and fast-forward through your life to envision yourself as an old man sitting in a nice sunset. Ask yourself: Do you feel happy, and do you regret any of your actions? Always make sure the answer is I am happy and I have 'no regrets.' If the answer is different on any given day, review your decisions, make better ones, and keep doing so. Thanks to Sahil Bloom for the thought!

Excerpt from Joyce Myers book “Starting Your Day Right” Live Victoriously through Moderation Let your moderation be known onto all men. Philippians 4:5 KJV God demonstrates our need for balance through the great varieties of foods He made available to us. We need sum of all of it, but not all of any of it. If we overdo anything, it is just as bad as underdoing it. Some people think, if it’s a good thing, then more of a good thing ought to be better. But that is not necessarily true. Too much or too little can both be big problems. Balance is the key to powerful, victorious living. Ask God to show you how to stay in balance today.

Situations which seem right or wrong momentarily are purely based on time! If time is the only judge of balance in nature then who are we to draw conclusions about someone's integrity? Example: Imagine a sparrow gets frozen because of the cold weather, which falls from the sky directly into a pile of warm dung, freshly dumped.The sparrow is technically saved because of it and if a passing cat pulls the joyfully singing sparrow out of the dung, washes it in the fresh water and gulps it down. Then probably, our thought would be like, the nature has given the sparrow a second chance in life. However, the same nature drove a hungry cat in the same direction which devoured the lucky/unlucky sparrow for it's survival seems like a sad fate. From the sparrow's stand point: Thank god, I was lucky because of the dung, I got saved. From the cat's stand point: Thank god for the food that helped me survive for the day. Hence, the conclusion is not as simple as it seems. It is a complicated fact of life which tells us to write our own book. However, the content of each page can't be predicted but only lived. Clearly, the Maya is about acting/behaving alike in any situation (Stithapragya) because the Time is the only judge. Please excuse me if I wasn't able to communicate my point clearly but if it was because of your mindset then I am not at fault. 😉

There are nine philoshophies that make me strong. 1. All people can leave, learn to be alone. 2. The more you don't care about unimportant things, the happier you will be. 3. Train yourself not to be easlily offended. 4. Happiness is not about getting everything we want, but enjoying everything we have now. 5. If advice makes our dream far away, then the advice is not for us. 6. Accept adversity as our greatest teacher, cause it will be shape our resilience. 7. Seek knowledge endlessly, for wisdom is the compass that guides our path. 8. Time is the most valuable resource, spend it wisely on what really matters. 9. Find peace in solitude, that's where your identity will be seen.

We grasp life's greatest truths when we're struggling most. It's beautiful in a way. How darkness reveals light. The jungle trains lions through hardship. Or winter strips trees to the core. When we are starved, we dream of bread. When we are drowning, we pray for air. When we are broken, we seek for grace. When we are lost, we long for home. Listen in stillness. Reflect on your trials. Extract wisdom from pain. Grow from what life gives you. (P.S. read this beautiful text in a book a few days back.) Share some of the wise words that you've bookmarked, passages that speak to your soul and deserve to be revisited and retold and reshared.

A beautiful and profound reflection on personal responsibility, self-awareness, and the determination to face life's challenges head-on.... I exist, I am, I am here, I am becoming, I make my own life and no one else makes it for me. I must face my own shortcomings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do, but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide to leave my bed and live again. And if I fail, I don't have the comfort of blaming you or life or God. ~Leo F. Buscaglia From the Book: Living, Loving & Learning Some of the key messages in this beautiful quote being...... * Existence and Becoming implying personal growth and development * Be an architect and take charge of one's life * Confronting shortcomings and recognizing them as essential for growth and self-improvement * Personal struggles * Choosing to live and embrace each new day with determination, despite past failures. * No one to blame

Have you ever wondered how to eat an elephant? Sometimes in life, we come across tasks or goals that seem as huge and intimidating as eating an elephant. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and put off by the sheer size of it. Just like eating an elephant, you need to break down your tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces. Step 1: Grab a fork and a knife. Step 2: Cut off a small, manageable piece. Step 3: Chew it slowly, savoring every little victory. Step 4: Repeat until you've conquered the whole elephant! By taking small, achievable steps and staying persistent, even the most daunting tasks can be conquered! So, let's apply this "elephant-eating" philosophy to your own life. Don't let the enormity of a goal intimidate you. Instead, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and elephants aren't eaten in one gulp! The journey towards your goals is just as important as reaching them. So, embrace the process, celebrate your victories along the way, and keep moving forward! So, tell me, what's your "elephant" right now? #EatingElephants #BiteSizedGoals