Confidence is what I have been lacking throughout my whole life. And I can see that my confidence has been growing ever since I have been accpted Christ. And I believe there should not be a point of your life that your confidence will be at 100%, it will always need to grow.
Two weeks ago, I borrowed a book called CONFIDENCE - How to Succeed by Being Yourself (chinese translation version) at the RHCCC resource centre and started reading it. (Gotta make good use of the resources when you have). Here is the 12 golden rules to help build your confidence (I tried my best to translate it to English, so the grammar might not be rght, but I think I got the main idea):
1) 定焦於你的潛能﹐ 而非有限。
Focus on your strength, the sky is the limit.
2) 決心認識自己。
Spent time to know yourself.
3) 不以成就來定為自己。
Don't judge yourself by success or failure.
4) 找出你喜歡而擅長的事﹐ 然後充份練習。
Find out what you like to do and what you are good at, and then keep practicing.
5) 用正面的自我對話來替自我批判。
Instead of criticize yourself, talk to yourself positively.
6) 以相信自己會成功和快樂的態度﹐ 取代害怕失敗的心理。
Believe that you will succeed eventually, rather than having the mindset scare of failing.
7) 勇于與眾不同。
Try to do things in an unique way (different from others).
8) 竭力與父母和平相處。
Live peacefully with your parents.
9) 決心整合身體和靈魂。
Unite your body with your soul.
10) 決心超越神經質的罪惡感。
Dont let your sins be the barrier.
11) 結交能幫助你成長的人。
Try to meet people who can help you to grow.
12) 克服因被拒而不敢主動接觸人的心態。
Overcome the mindset of rejection, get out there and start making new friends.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Are you failing forward or failing backward?
Last Saturday I attended a John Hull Leadership seminar, the topic is on Failing Forward. I was very interested in this topic because I consider myself as somewhat a failure at this point of my life - without career and family.
But God is great. Through this seminar, I started to understand why I'm in the situation I'm in right now and what I can do about it. I will share with you some of the important quotes I have learned and hope you can benefit from it as well. (If you want the notes, feel free to let me know)
· In fact, it seems that all great achievers have made major mistakes on their journey to
success.
· Many people are eager to study lessons on how to succeed. Very few people want to train for failure.
· We all live under the same sky, but we don’t see all the same horizon.
· The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.
· An individual can consistently succeed in life only when he or she learns how to confidently look failure and adversity in the eye and keep moving forward anyway.
· In the midst of negative experiences, average people tend to fail backward.
· Adopt a new definition for failure. Regard the experience of failure as the price you pay for progress.
· Mistakes are not failures. Adversity and hardships do not mean defeat. They are merely the price of achievement on the success journey.
· People are not failures until they believe they are.
· Mistakes become failures only when we consistently respond to them incorrectly.
· Make sure you know that your failure does not make you a failure.
· “A life spend in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
· Many people make mistakes but refuse to admit them. To fail forward, a person must first utter three of the most difficult words to say: “I was wrong.”
· Leadership expert Peter Drucker, wrote: “The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try. I would never promote to a top-level job a man who was not making mistakes...otherwise he is sure to be mediocre.”
· A man is not defeated by his opponents, but by himself.
· Do not let the failure on the outside penetrate to the inside of you.
· A key quality in the life of an achiever is the ability to put past events behind him and move on. That quality positions a person to tackle current challenges with enthusiasm and a minimum of burdensome personal baggage.
· The problem of people’s pasts impact them in one of two ways: they experience either a breakdown or a breakthrough.
· You will not be able to be your best today until you say good-bye to yesterday.
· People who desire to fail forward must turn their attention away from themselves and toward helping others.
· Be more concerned with what you can give rather than what you can get.
· Giving truly is the highest level of living!
· The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the progress of getting to the top.
· It is in the difficult times that we can experience the greatest growth. We will not grow when there are no problems and challenges.
· Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or even by the probability of success or failure, but by the value of the goal. Every noble goal was reached because someone dared to take a risk. The less you risk, the greater you risk of failure. Ironically, the more you risk failure – and actually fail from time to time – the greater your chances of success.
· It is better to try something great and fail than to try nothing great and succeed.
· If you are succeeding at everything you do, then you are probably not pushing yourself hard enough. In other words, you are not taking enough risks.
· If at first you do succeed, try something harder.
· Faith is taking a risk in giving glory of God.
· Change yourself, and your world changes.
· If you whine and complain every time you fail, then failure will remain your enemy. But if you learn from your failures, then you actually benefit from them and that makes failure your friend.
· There is not much difference between success and failure, but that little difference makes a big difference! Persistence is the little difference that makes the big difference when it comes to failing forward.
· Thomas Edison once said: ``I have not failed. I just have found 10,000 ways that don`t work. ``
· Purpose is the fuel that powers persistence.
· Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another. (Walter Elliot)
· The key to persistence is passion, then the key to passion is purpose. We must run with purpose, not aimlessly.
· Highly successful people have made more mistakes, suffered more adversities, overcame more problems, and experienced more failures than most all the other people you will ever meet.
But God is great. Through this seminar, I started to understand why I'm in the situation I'm in right now and what I can do about it. I will share with you some of the important quotes I have learned and hope you can benefit from it as well. (If you want the notes, feel free to let me know)
· In fact, it seems that all great achievers have made major mistakes on their journey to
success.
· Many people are eager to study lessons on how to succeed. Very few people want to train for failure.
· We all live under the same sky, but we don’t see all the same horizon.
· The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure.
· An individual can consistently succeed in life only when he or she learns how to confidently look failure and adversity in the eye and keep moving forward anyway.
· In the midst of negative experiences, average people tend to fail backward.
· Adopt a new definition for failure. Regard the experience of failure as the price you pay for progress.
· Mistakes are not failures. Adversity and hardships do not mean defeat. They are merely the price of achievement on the success journey.
· People are not failures until they believe they are.
· Mistakes become failures only when we consistently respond to them incorrectly.
· Make sure you know that your failure does not make you a failure.
· “A life spend in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
· Many people make mistakes but refuse to admit them. To fail forward, a person must first utter three of the most difficult words to say: “I was wrong.”
· Leadership expert Peter Drucker, wrote: “The better a man is, the more mistakes he will make, for the more new things he will try. I would never promote to a top-level job a man who was not making mistakes...otherwise he is sure to be mediocre.”
· A man is not defeated by his opponents, but by himself.
· Do not let the failure on the outside penetrate to the inside of you.
· A key quality in the life of an achiever is the ability to put past events behind him and move on. That quality positions a person to tackle current challenges with enthusiasm and a minimum of burdensome personal baggage.
· The problem of people’s pasts impact them in one of two ways: they experience either a breakdown or a breakthrough.
· You will not be able to be your best today until you say good-bye to yesterday.
· People who desire to fail forward must turn their attention away from themselves and toward helping others.
· Be more concerned with what you can give rather than what you can get.
· Giving truly is the highest level of living!
· The person interested in success has to learn to view failure as a healthy, inevitable part of the progress of getting to the top.
· It is in the difficult times that we can experience the greatest growth. We will not grow when there are no problems and challenges.
· Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it generates in you or even by the probability of success or failure, but by the value of the goal. Every noble goal was reached because someone dared to take a risk. The less you risk, the greater you risk of failure. Ironically, the more you risk failure – and actually fail from time to time – the greater your chances of success.
· It is better to try something great and fail than to try nothing great and succeed.
· If you are succeeding at everything you do, then you are probably not pushing yourself hard enough. In other words, you are not taking enough risks.
· If at first you do succeed, try something harder.
· Faith is taking a risk in giving glory of God.
· Change yourself, and your world changes.
· If you whine and complain every time you fail, then failure will remain your enemy. But if you learn from your failures, then you actually benefit from them and that makes failure your friend.
· There is not much difference between success and failure, but that little difference makes a big difference! Persistence is the little difference that makes the big difference when it comes to failing forward.
· Thomas Edison once said: ``I have not failed. I just have found 10,000 ways that don`t work. ``
· Purpose is the fuel that powers persistence.
· Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races, one after another. (Walter Elliot)
· The key to persistence is passion, then the key to passion is purpose. We must run with purpose, not aimlessly.
· Highly successful people have made more mistakes, suffered more adversities, overcame more problems, and experienced more failures than most all the other people you will ever meet.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Does anyone how to track how many people has read your blog?
From the "View my complete profie" section, there is a number showed there but it seemed that no one is reading my blog (even though the # is 23, but I can see everytime I log in the number will increase.)
So if you have been reading my blog, can you please just drop a message in the "Comment" section, even though you dont know what to say (just Hi is ok). This will let me know that someone is reading my blog and will give me the courage to keep writing.
Thanks.
From the "View my complete profie" section, there is a number showed there but it seemed that no one is reading my blog (even though the # is 23, but I can see everytime I log in the number will increase.)
So if you have been reading my blog, can you please just drop a message in the "Comment" section, even though you dont know what to say (just Hi is ok). This will let me know that someone is reading my blog and will give me the courage to keep writing.
Thanks.
Being right vs Being Wise
This story took place in the ancient China. One day in the market, a man was agruing with the butcher about the price he should paid. The price of meat is $8/lb, and he bought 3 pounds, so he should paid $24 right? But the man kept saying that 8 X 3 = 23, so he should only pay $23. They kept arguing about this for a while.
A student of Confucius (孔子) walked by and found out the issue. So the student told the man that 3*8 = 24, not 23. The man still insisted that it was 23. The argument went even more furious. After a while, they agreed that they should go to ask Confucius and whatever he says is right. But more to this, they make a bet out of their angryness. If the man lose, he will cut his head off. If the student lose, he will pay the man $100.
So they went to Confucius and told them about the issue. After Confucius found out everything including the bet they had made. He thought for a while, and said: "3*8 = 23. The man is right and you need to pay him $100." So the student paid even though he was not convinced.
After the man left, Confucious noticed that the student was still very upset. He said to him: "It is very obvious that 3 * 8 = 24. But if I said the right answer should be 24, the man would have lost life. But if I said it's 23, then he would save his life and you only lose $100 which you can make it back easily. So which one is more important? A man's life or $100?"
Being right or being wise, it's up to you to choose.
A student of Confucius (孔子) walked by and found out the issue. So the student told the man that 3*8 = 24, not 23. The man still insisted that it was 23. The argument went even more furious. After a while, they agreed that they should go to ask Confucius and whatever he says is right. But more to this, they make a bet out of their angryness. If the man lose, he will cut his head off. If the student lose, he will pay the man $100.
So they went to Confucius and told them about the issue. After Confucius found out everything including the bet they had made. He thought for a while, and said: "3*8 = 23. The man is right and you need to pay him $100." So the student paid even though he was not convinced.
After the man left, Confucious noticed that the student was still very upset. He said to him: "It is very obvious that 3 * 8 = 24. But if I said the right answer should be 24, the man would have lost life. But if I said it's 23, then he would save his life and you only lose $100 which you can make it back easily. So which one is more important? A man's life or $100?"
Being right or being wise, it's up to you to choose.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Partial Obedience = Disobedience
I was shocked when I found out that the journey from Eygpt to Canaan (Promise Land) only takes 11 days to complete, yet it took the Israelites 40 years.
Let me do a quick calcualtion : 40 X 365 = 14600/11 = 1327. It took them 1327 times longer and they could be back and forth from Canaan to Egypt more than 650 times only if they could have been more obidience to the God.
Are you in the same situation as the Israelites too? Is your life bringing you nowhere? Are you lost in the desert?
I hope those few points I learn can help you:
1) Pray to God about it. Ask Him to renew your mind. Ask Him to let you know when there is something you are doing that is not pleasing to Him.
2) Charles Stanley's 30 Life Principles #5 God does not require us to understand His will, just
obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. This is not easy to do, but this is what God wants us learn. That is what trust is all about. Remember, God is the only One that knows our future, and if He loves us, He will want the best for our future. I dont think that is one person in this world have no regret until the day he/she dies. We all made wrong decision, but God had not, has not, and will not be making any wrong decision.
3) Read Bible/devotion books more often. For me, God has spoken to me using this method more often. Sometimes just few days after my prayer.
God has used many tools to reveal His mind to us. But it is up to us to go find it or not.
Let me do a quick calcualtion : 40 X 365 = 14600/11 = 1327. It took them 1327 times longer and they could be back and forth from Canaan to Egypt more than 650 times only if they could have been more obidience to the God.
Are you in the same situation as the Israelites too? Is your life bringing you nowhere? Are you lost in the desert?
I hope those few points I learn can help you:
1) Pray to God about it. Ask Him to renew your mind. Ask Him to let you know when there is something you are doing that is not pleasing to Him.
2) Charles Stanley's 30 Life Principles #5 God does not require us to understand His will, just
obey it, even if it seems unreasonable. This is not easy to do, but this is what God wants us learn. That is what trust is all about. Remember, God is the only One that knows our future, and if He loves us, He will want the best for our future. I dont think that is one person in this world have no regret until the day he/she dies. We all made wrong decision, but God had not, has not, and will not be making any wrong decision.
3) Read Bible/devotion books more often. For me, God has spoken to me using this method more often. Sometimes just few days after my prayer.
God has used many tools to reveal His mind to us. But it is up to us to go find it or not.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Dont worry about me. God will save me.
As a christian, many of us have asked this question : "Is this the will of God?" "Is this the job God has planned for me?" "Is this guy/girl God want me to marry?" Then we will ask God for confirmation if that is His will, but it never comes.
I just want to share a story that most of you probably have heard of:
Once there was a faithful Christian (let's call him John) whose town was raining hard. A police car drove by his house and told him that the flood will be taken over the town and everyone must leave the town immediately for safety. The policeman offered to give him a ride for leaving town. And John said: "Dont worry about me, God will save me." So the policeman left.
A while later the flood had taken over the ground level of the house, so John had to go up to the second floor of his house. A neighbour who was riding a boat passed by his house and offered to give him a ride. Again John answered: "Dont worry about me, God will save me."
The rain still had not stopped so John had to move to the rooftop of his house. A helicoptor who was searching for survivors found John sitting on his roof. Again the helicoptor put down a ladder and asked John to climb up. (Say it with me if you know how John answered: "Dont worry about me, God will save me.")
Did God save John at the end? NO. John was killed in the flood and now meeting face-to-face to with God. John was very upset and asked why God didnt save him. God answered:"My dearest child, I tried to save you three times. I first sent a policeman, then a neighbour, and finally a helicoptor to try to save you. But you refused them all."
Were you like John in the story? Thinking that John will be saved by God in a very special way? Like an angel flies down from Heaven and carries John out of the flood? Or the flood just suddenly stopped when it almost covered over John. Sometimes when we are in a crisis, we pray hard and expecting God to save us in a special way, a way we have scripted. And we are so focus on that special way and ignores other ways God has planned. Remember, God is the One who is doing the saving, not you. And His wisdom is 100000000000000000000..................................... times greater than our wisdom.
If your have waited long time for the confirmation of God about a decision, most likely it will not come. Because God has already confirmed His will. Sometimes you will be surprised by what you see when you take a step back and look at the issue from the different angle. When you have a tough decision to make, it's not a bad idea to
1) Go to the Bible and find a similar situation of how that Bible character did. (God's love and promise for us will never change)
2) Go talk with a pastor or bro/sis that you can trust.
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. TAKE ACTION.
I just want to share a story that most of you probably have heard of:
Once there was a faithful Christian (let's call him John) whose town was raining hard. A police car drove by his house and told him that the flood will be taken over the town and everyone must leave the town immediately for safety. The policeman offered to give him a ride for leaving town. And John said: "Dont worry about me, God will save me." So the policeman left.
A while later the flood had taken over the ground level of the house, so John had to go up to the second floor of his house. A neighbour who was riding a boat passed by his house and offered to give him a ride. Again John answered: "Dont worry about me, God will save me."
The rain still had not stopped so John had to move to the rooftop of his house. A helicoptor who was searching for survivors found John sitting on his roof. Again the helicoptor put down a ladder and asked John to climb up. (Say it with me if you know how John answered: "Dont worry about me, God will save me.")
Did God save John at the end? NO. John was killed in the flood and now meeting face-to-face to with God. John was very upset and asked why God didnt save him. God answered:"My dearest child, I tried to save you three times. I first sent a policeman, then a neighbour, and finally a helicoptor to try to save you. But you refused them all."
Were you like John in the story? Thinking that John will be saved by God in a very special way? Like an angel flies down from Heaven and carries John out of the flood? Or the flood just suddenly stopped when it almost covered over John. Sometimes when we are in a crisis, we pray hard and expecting God to save us in a special way, a way we have scripted. And we are so focus on that special way and ignores other ways God has planned. Remember, God is the One who is doing the saving, not you. And His wisdom is 100000000000000000000..................................... times greater than our wisdom.
If your have waited long time for the confirmation of God about a decision, most likely it will not come. Because God has already confirmed His will. Sometimes you will be surprised by what you see when you take a step back and look at the issue from the different angle. When you have a tough decision to make, it's not a bad idea to
1) Go to the Bible and find a similar situation of how that Bible character did. (God's love and promise for us will never change)
2) Go talk with a pastor or bro/sis that you can trust.
DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. TAKE ACTION.
Monday, July 27, 2009
please God with your eating
Just few days after the Physical Blueprint in my fellowship, I have read this article during one of my devotion where I think God is reminding me of poor eating habit. (I'm reading the The Everyday Life Bible by Joyce Meyer, there are some Everyday Life Article that she wrote throughout the Bible.)
The topic on this one is "please God with you eating"
Leviticus 11 sets forth all kinds of guidelines about what the Israelites could and could not eat. Over the years, I have needed God's help in the area of eating, just as the Israelites did. I would like the share ten tips I have learned that have enabled me to eat wisely, healthfully, and in a way that pleases God:
1. Eat when you are truly hungry and not just because someone offers you food or because it is sitting in front of you.
2. If you listen carefully to your body, it will let ou know what it needs and wants. Sometimes I actually crave vegetables; at other times I want fish or red meat. That is my body letting me know what it needs. There are times I want something sweet, and it is not wrong to eat sweets if we do so in moderation. Eating a variety of foods is one of the key to good nutrition.
3. Enjoy what you eat.
4. Eat sitting down. People tend to eat more than they realize when they are standing while they eat.
5. Eat slowly. After about twenty minutes of eating, your brain receives a signal that you are full. (I'm practicing this right now, and it is not easy when I'm used to eat fast. It will take some time for me to adjust.)
6. Stop eating when yuou are no longer hungry. Take small portions, planning to have another portion if you want it. Many times, the first small portion will satisfy you.
7. Eat small portion more frequently rather than one or two huge meals a day. Anything your body can not metabolize and use is stored as fat. Keeping your metabolism working by eating several small meals a day or healthy snacks between meals will actually help you stay fit and trim.
8. Do not make provision for "eating binges" by keeping your refrigerator and pantry full of high-calorie, high-fat, low quality foods that you know you should not eat.
9. Stay focused on things you need to do and keep your mind off food.
10. Eat necessary food. We all consume many calories that are truly unnecessary every day - a bite of this or that, the piece of bread and butter before the meal, the second helping when in reality we are already getting full. Ask yourself if you really need something before you just mindlessly put it in your mouth.
I thin it is amazing that the Bible tells us what to eat. God cares about every area of our lives, not just the spiritual parts. He wants us to be healthy, filled with energy, and looking our best.
All these can not be done in a day or a week. But I'm sure that when we know this is what God commands us, we are able to do it eventually. But You have to start take action one step at a time.
The topic on this one is "please God with you eating"
Leviticus 11 sets forth all kinds of guidelines about what the Israelites could and could not eat. Over the years, I have needed God's help in the area of eating, just as the Israelites did. I would like the share ten tips I have learned that have enabled me to eat wisely, healthfully, and in a way that pleases God:
1. Eat when you are truly hungry and not just because someone offers you food or because it is sitting in front of you.
2. If you listen carefully to your body, it will let ou know what it needs and wants. Sometimes I actually crave vegetables; at other times I want fish or red meat. That is my body letting me know what it needs. There are times I want something sweet, and it is not wrong to eat sweets if we do so in moderation. Eating a variety of foods is one of the key to good nutrition.
3. Enjoy what you eat.
4. Eat sitting down. People tend to eat more than they realize when they are standing while they eat.
5. Eat slowly. After about twenty minutes of eating, your brain receives a signal that you are full. (I'm practicing this right now, and it is not easy when I'm used to eat fast. It will take some time for me to adjust.)
6. Stop eating when yuou are no longer hungry. Take small portions, planning to have another portion if you want it. Many times, the first small portion will satisfy you.
7. Eat small portion more frequently rather than one or two huge meals a day. Anything your body can not metabolize and use is stored as fat. Keeping your metabolism working by eating several small meals a day or healthy snacks between meals will actually help you stay fit and trim.
8. Do not make provision for "eating binges" by keeping your refrigerator and pantry full of high-calorie, high-fat, low quality foods that you know you should not eat.
9. Stay focused on things you need to do and keep your mind off food.
10. Eat necessary food. We all consume many calories that are truly unnecessary every day - a bite of this or that, the piece of bread and butter before the meal, the second helping when in reality we are already getting full. Ask yourself if you really need something before you just mindlessly put it in your mouth.
I thin it is amazing that the Bible tells us what to eat. God cares about every area of our lives, not just the spiritual parts. He wants us to be healthy, filled with energy, and looking our best.
All these can not be done in a day or a week. But I'm sure that when we know this is what God commands us, we are able to do it eventually. But You have to start take action one step at a time.
We Are the World by Michael Jackson + many others singers in the 80s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Ufv65L39s (I heard this song once or twice before, but only started to like this song after MJ's death)
There comes a time when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying Oh..... it's time to lend a hand to life the greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
When you're down and out there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize that a change will only come
When we stand together as one
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
There comes a time when we hear a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying Oh..... it's time to lend a hand to life the greatest gift of all
We can't go on pretneding day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
When you're down and out there seems no hope at all
But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize that a change will only come
When we stand together as one
[Chorus] We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day just you and me
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