Conviction

Everyone has opinions. Some are quiet with them and some shout them to the world. I've never met anyone without their own opinions. From my experience, I've also found that everyone has something that they feel strongly about.

What are your convictions? Now here's another good question: does the way you speak about those beliefs or opinions reflect the way you feel about them?

"I challenge you to speak with conviction; to say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it."

And I, too, offer you a challenge. I challenge you to resolve today to be true to your convictions. This is not to encourage closed-mindedness or arrogance, but firmness and integrity. In a world where standards are too often compromised, it's important to cultivate the habit of being true to who you are and what you stand for.

Change YOUR World | Guest Post by Kyle

Hi everyone, my name is Kyle. To this point in my life I really haven't had a Superman "I just saved the world" moment. I feel like so many people are thinking that because they haven't done anything "world-shaking" they are failures.

Well here's a wakeup call: There aren't a lot of people that have changed Earth as we know it. If your expectation is that, as a teenager, you are going to save a llama colony in Siberia (are there llama colonies in Siberia?), prove some new mind-blowing scientific concept, build a house made out of chocolate and then fly home for dinner, that's just not going to happen all at once. BUT, don't let that stop you. Because you can change the world. 

Let me tell you a story that will illustrate my point: 

So I'm a political geek. In my free time I like to play political simulation games and read my 13 dog-eared copies of The Almanac of American Politics.

In 2012 I had the great opportunity to be the county coordinator for a lady who was running for congress (every Political Geek's dream, right?). I had to make A TON of phone calls, organize events, put up signs, send out emails, and spread around literature. It forced me to get out of my comfort zone, because, truth be told, making phone calls was not necessarily my cup of tea. I remember being told no and talking to a lot of rude people. It was a lot of hard work!

I got a lot of people involved and put a lot of hard work into it. I was able to go to meeting with grown ups and seriously taking part in an election process.

I know: you are probably wanting to know the result of all this time and energy…we lost. But DON'T STOP READING. As depressing as a loss was, I still felt like I had done my own part to change the world.

Yes, she didn't win. But I was able to participate first hand in an elections process. I was able to get out of my comfort zone and meet people I otherwise would not have met.

So, what's the point of this very long and boring post? It is that YOU can make a difference. YOU can change your own world. You aren't just going to be able to wake up one day and figure out the solution to some unknown math problem. You have to work hard at it. As you work bit by bit, piece by piece, you CAN change the world. In a big way!

It takes a lot of small, little, bit by bit things first. But eventually, with a lot of work, you can change the world. 

***

Bio blurb:

Kyle is a political addict. He loves keeping up with current events. In his free time, he likes to play games, watch sports, and manage his fantasy football team. He is a student at Williamsburg Academy and loves the quality of education and all the wonderful people that he is associated with. 

Slowin' it down

Conquering your fears sure isn't an easy thing to do. After writing last week's post, I set to work to see what I could do to overcome my challenges. And I was once again reminded that it's a process, something that often comes slowly. Taking a hero's journey, a path to awesome, or whatever other name you know it by--it's a journey. It takes time, faith, trust, and sometimes a little pixie dust. ;) So don't give up on it. Press on right to the end. Put a smile on your face. Look up. Be grateful to be a part of your own adventure. And if even that is a challenge, you are definitely not alone. Finding joy in the journey is sometimes hard--really hard. But it does come.

I promised I'd come back and write about this week's experience, so what I do differently this week knowing my fears are optional?

I slowed down.

I took 10 minutes each day to meditate, clearing my mind of distractions and worries. I stopped to speak to a friend. And one night when the stars were glowing bright I laid outside on the trampoline and just wondered about this world we call home. The sky seems so big when it's just you, the cool breeze, and an endless expanse of stars above.

It's hard to forget what you live for when you take time each to remind yourself. Even when a mountain of stress seems to have taken up permanent residence in your life, a few minutes isn't too much to spare when it brings a new sense of confidence.

This here is one of my favourite short videos. Basically sums up everything I just rambled on about...in only three minutes. Enjoy. ;)