By Daneen James 

When Dreams Don't Come True 
You can be whatever you want. If you believe it you can achieve it. Dreams come true. If it’s to be, then it’s up to me. If at first you don’t succeed, then try, try again. The race is not given to the swift, but to the one who endures to the end. I’m sure you’ve heard some, if not all of these phrases. Motivational marvels meant to encourage and propel us forward. As time passes, however, they can become piercing reminders of what wasn’t done and the dreams that weren’t realized.  We may still repeat the words, even say them to others. But we secretly think, that ship has sailed.
 
Making Space
Now that I’ve sufficiently sucked all the air out of the room and created such a positive and upbeat mood…let me explain. Life has a way of beating you up. We start off hopeful, blooming with potential. Brimming with the beauty of possibility. Then little by little we lose our luster. Disappointment and disillusion can replace our optimistic outlook. We can become frustrated and resentful that the life we wanted, even deserved, may be out of reach. We’d could never stand to admit it and instead camouflage our feelings in pretense and indifference. Resigning ourselves to a routine existence that never allows us to want or expect more. 
 
My Life, But Not For Me
I can relate. Life seems cruel and limited unless we understand that our life is not for us, but for the one who made us. We’ll stumble around flustered and angry until we’re willing to forgo what we had in mind and accept His plan for our lives. I tried to do it my way.  Never really considered or recognized the importance of asking what God wanted from me. But after continually coming up short, I was just tired of fighting. There had to be another way. Open and willing to try life differently, I was ready to say yes to God.
 
Yes, Means Progress
Saying yes to God means He has the final say in everything I do. Whether I want to, feel like it or disagree, I follow Him. It means trusting that He loves me, without exception. No matter what it seems like, I know He always acts to make me better, stronger and bring me closer to Him. Because the closer, I am to him, the more fulfilling my life will be. When I let Him lead my life, I experience His promises, which far exceed anything I’ve read or heard.  They sustain and elevate me in ways I could never imagine or create on my own.
 
Many of us are frustrated because of what our life is not. But if we’re willing to shift our perspective and open ourselves to ask, God what do you want from me and my life?  We’ll find our way to the significance we crave and the fulfillment we seek. 

Reflect 

• All things exist and were created by your will God. Worthy are you to receive glory and honor and power. Revelation 4:11
• If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want and it will be granted. This brings great glory to my Father. John 15:7-8
• God owns the spiritual and physical part of you. What a high price He paid. So let people see God in and through your body. I Corinthians 6: 19-20

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For more inspiring messages:
Book Daneen as a speaker:
https://www.daneenjames.com/contact.html 

Watch a video:
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Daneen James is an inspirational author, speaker and develops uplifting
products and media through her company, SPARKSAFLAME. 

You might also enjoy:
​https://www.daneenjames.com/blog/live-your-light

By Daneen James 

Longer than you think.
Though it doesn’t sound like it, 60 seconds is a lot of time. Ever been on hold. Struggled to finish a challenging workout. Waited with anticipation for news about a friend or loved one. A minute is longer than we think. If we pool minutes together, what we accomplish might surprise us.

The mind goes where we lead.
The brain instinctively acts to create the result we desire. Literally giving everything, it’s got, to give us what we want. Ever notice, when you’re looking for something you've lost, your mind creates several very realistic and viable scenarios of what happened and where you might find your lost item.
 
Tool of focus. 
The brain uses time is much the same way. Time becomes a tool of focus. Setting a start and end time for tasks helps direct our energy and makes our effort more effective. Not only that, consciously choosing how you spend your time is empowering. You feel like you are making progress, it’s satisfying. Seeing results breeds hope and excitement about the possibilities of other ways you could positively impact your life.
 
Try it. See what happens. 

1.  Pick a task and a matching time block. Make sure the task and time are a good match. Give yourself the best chance for progress.
2. Set your watch or phone timer for 10, 20 or 30 minutes. If that seems like too much. Try 1-minute or 5-minute increments, just to get going. You can always do more, when you’re ready.
3. Commit to whatever time you select, without exception.
4. When the time elapses. Decide if you want to do more. If yes, repeat. If no, it’s ok. Take a break, regroup and refresh.
5. Celebrate what you did, no matter how big or small. Play your favorite song, pat yourself on the back, give yourself a high-five, do a dance… it may seem silly. But it actually wires your brain to connect your effort with feeling good. We always gravitate toward doing what feels good.  

 
Next time you feel overwhelmed, unsure how you’ll get it all done or aren't particularly excited about doing what you know you need to do. Try this technique. When we use small increments of time to tackle tasks, we are more productive and feel better in the process. 


For more inspiring messages:
Book Daneen as a speaker:
https://www.daneenjames.com/contact.html
​
Connect and sign up to receive updates about Daneen's upcoming book:
https://www.daneenjames.com/contact.html

Shop the SPARKSAFLAME Store:
https://www.daneenjames.com/shop.html


Daneen James is an inspirational author, speaker and develops uplifting
products and media through her company, SPARKSAFLAME. 

You might also enjoy:
​https://www.daneenjames.com/blog/on-the-lighter-side

By Daneen James 

 When I think of all the ways my mom has influenced my life, I am overwhelmed. Evidence of her character and courage is abundant. The strength and integrity I so admire in her is alive in me.  She gave me an incredible foundation. Yet, I look back at my childhood and wish some things were different. My mom does too. But one indisputable fact remains. My mother loves me and I know it. 

Parents Are People
After becoming a mother, I came to better understand that parents are people. We have needs and wants and pain that can color the relationships we have with our children. For example, I didn't have the relationship a daughter should have with her father. So, I was determined to ensure my daughter experience everything that I didn’t. While a healthy father-daughter relationship is critical. My feelings were more about me than my daughter. I was projecting my pain on to her. I needed to accept that my daughter was not me. Living vicariously through her wouldn’t fix my broken places. 

Let Love Lead 
As women, we've likely had experiences that have hardened or calloused our hearts. Disappointments that make us more distant than we care to be. But once we become a mother, our responsibility is to become the best version of ourselves. We’re called to deal with our stuff and not project it on to our kids. It's our job to give them a better starting position than we had. Ironically, releasing our kids to become who they are activates the power of love to heal the splintered places within us. 
 
To every mother, caretaker and woman who answers the call to give a child her best.
We CELEBRATE you! 
 
 
For more inspiring messages:
Book Daneen as a speaker:
https://www.daneenjames.com/contact.html 

Connect, subscribe and receive updates about Daneen's upcoming book: https://www.daneenjames.com/contact.html 

Shop the SPARKSAFLAME Store:
https://www.daneenjames.com/shop.html


Daneen James is an inspirational author, speaker and develops uplifting
products and media through her company, SPARKSAFLAME. 

You might also enjoy:
​https://www.daneenjames.com/blog/bridge-to-breakthrough

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