Self Development
Who Are You?
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Who Are You?
Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moment where it is the small moments that make an impact in your life. Who taught you and how you do things is unique to each of us! Og Mandino wrote many books, but most recently I am rereading the University of Success. It is filled with stories and ideas for better living, Og helps you reflect on yourself. Listen to today’s podcast as Linda asks a series of questions that might help you to advance.
Mastermind groups are the rage today, Join Us!
Join our Mastermind that meets on Thursday at 10:30. It is support for you and for your business. Now more than ever, we all need support. Check us out at https://www.lindagullo.com/mastermind and follow the steps to become part of it. Here you get feedback and can brainstorm with other people navigating through life.
Technology
If you feel that you are being challenged by tech needs, you aren’t alone. For many people, it is something that wasn’t needed prior to the Coronavirus isolating us from one another. Now you may need to act quickly for your business and to relieve stress that is within.
Technology support is another area you may need to make life easier; especially right now. Well, I have a person who can help you. He has the skills and knows how to direct you. He is great at teaching you too. Just click here to check out John’s services, now is the time. He works on websites, integrations, and desktop needs of all sorts.
Delight in Living Studios
Groups
There is a weekly show on TV called MOM. It is a show about a group of 6 women that have addictions in their background. They come to rely on one another for support. We usually see them in a restaurant exchanging humorous commentary on a problem. Although they deal with self-made issues, don’t we all?
We too have a one-time pain workshop in addition to our Mastermind. It is on Reframing your pain and outsmarting it. It is a wonderful opportunity to grow in your own skills and self-esteem.
Our staying in touch with you is really important to me and those I work with here. We relish you and want to serve your mental health needs, to keep you motivated and inspired, and to help you be the best version of yourself. After a lifetime of detours in my own life, I want to help you find value in yourself during these tough times.
In the Delight in Living office, we offer counseling care in addition to Coaching. Let us help propel you forward to your next goal.
We are growing here and have added on Mary Gullo Balderas as our Virtual Assistant. She will be helping our office with the growing demand for online services.
Mary Gullo Balderas
Until next week,
Take one step forward, it may put you on the escalator of success.
A Balanced Perspective
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Welcome
Finding perspective in trying times is a challenge. How has your life been disrupted during this outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Can we help you process things? Here at the Delight in Living office, we are doing a lot of our contacts on the phone and thru zoom. No way do we want to leave you in a lurch. If you are feeling the loss of control, or in a place of how to be more resourceful, chances are that you are not alone. All of us are in a new environment. It is good for us to think about how we will accommodate. Self-care and taking care of our families is important. Also teaching one another not to be selfish is the greatest lesson.
“Perspective is the only thing consistently more valuable than the answer itself.” Andy Andrew
Steve Dotto teaches us online techniques. This is a time to teach one another. How to reframe thoughts. We are resourceful people. I am here for you to help you process things. A program on pain is coming up—how to deal with pain and things you are going to deal with. A program on “systems” is also coming up.
Taking Shortcuts
We all tried as children to take shortcuts. Here Linda discusses how we can’t always do that. Shortcuts don’t always work. That is when we are called to be responsible and look at the larger picture. How do you take shortcuts? What is the destination you are trying to reach? Do you find things fall into place naturally?
Shortcuts don’t always work!
Dreams and Visions
We all need to have a purpose. This is a time to look at them. Set a new series of goals. The question becomes, how can I help to be responsible. This is a time to teach one another balance. Variety in life reflects every area of our life. Eating is only one area in which we can do this. We need to learn boundaries; how to conduct business. How to care for our bodies and the expectations we set for ourselves.
Mini Miracles is designed to help you to stay in the moment. Keep balanced and feeling well is now a new focus for everyone.
Take the first step, it may put yourself on the escalator of success.
Labels, Tags, & Stigmas
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Labels, Tags, & Stigmas
Thanks to Jim Haisler who opens and closes our show each week. He continues to serve us and our community well at Heartland Realtor Organization.
One of the challenges we deal with include Technology. Many people are scared of divulging information or knowing how to navigate building a website. Are you a person who needs help with integrating different programs?
It is great fun to learn about websites, internet usage, and technology. Advance your skills in on an everyday basis. John Budd offers his skills for hire at https://www.realsimpletechnology.com
Podcasting Delights
Beware of how you interpret Labels and Tags!
Labels, tags, and stigmas can be temporary. These involve all of us. We have been labeled by our parents, teachers, and others along the way. Linda shares a comment she overheard when she was about 6 years old. As a small child in school, one may misinterpret or be confused by things being said. The comments may or may not be true. We also need to be careful not to label others either. Let this story speak to you and how it may help you jump-start success.
I am shy?
We must take into consideration that many tags are not correct. Some tags and labels are holding us back from striving and moving forward! I want to free you from the things that hold you back. As a counselor, I was made aware that the labels and tags used are very dangerous and hold people from enjoying life. Try new things. Throw away the stigmas that may be haunting you.
THINK ABOUT YOUR CHOICES CAREFULLY
Invite people onto your team to move forward. Feel free to call our office to talk about things that haunt you or things you need to get past. We can be part of the solution.
Remember to take the first step, it may put you on the escalator of success.
Discover the Solutions All Around
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Being Mindful to discover the Solutions that are all around!
How do you solve problems? What are you dealing with now? Here are a few thoughts on that matter. Have you ever found the answer to something you looking for and suddenly you have that “Ah-ha” moment? It is like finding a lost item. Bingo. You find it and the world seems so much better. What are the things you need to do to trust your own judgment and resolve a problem? Are you controlling part of finding the solution? Taking that step forward can happen easily. Listen now.
JOIN OUR MASTERMIND
Tomorrow is another Day!
Sharing your positive thoughts with other people is something that is so appreciated. We all want to be acknowledged and recognized. Everyone has issues and getting through them is made easier when one doesn’t feel isolated! Challenges of our own allow us to help others being challenged.
Perhaps you are being harassed by mental stress, physical pain, or a difficult job? We are running around putting out fires for our teenagers, grabbing groceries so our refrigerators are full, and preparing for the next day or next week. Sometimes worrying about what we are to wear to the next event. Our concerns are with what others are thinking. Our minds are racing and seldom relaxing until we crash in front of the television or from exhaustion. How can we be playful and happy when we are so confused?
My husband was and continues to do one thing at a time. Now he does it out of necessity because of health issues, but he has always done things with deliberation. He takes breaks and yet gets so much done.
When we were in our 20’s, we moved into a new home. A home that was a frame with parts of it to still be built. We had property without any trees or vegetation. It was a canvas for creating an environment we wanted. I look out the window NOW, these many years later and notice all the trees, plants, and beautiful groupings. I think of how we began by moving boulders, accepting plants from others, and working hard to make it our own.
We can also do that with our personalities. We can slowly, but with intent and passion create the ideal life; a life you want. We all have unique looks, gifts, and interests. We need to appreciate and share what we have received.
Are you appreciative of who you are? I have been thinking about that and how we are always trying to be better, smarter, and productive.
That brings me to a couple of simple solutions.
The first is Mindfulness. Much has been studied about Mindfulness. It does not require you to follow any particular belief. Nor is there is a leader to follow. Yet the effects of mindfulness include a reduction of stress, blood pressure, anxiety, depression, physical pain, risk of major medical issues, psoriasis, overeating, smoking, drinking, and loneliness.
Why is it then that we don’t exercise the simple remedy of stopping, sitting, and practicing mindfulness? It does not cost money. It can be practiced alone or with others around you. There is no risk. It is free for the taking, but so few of us take it.
Be mindful. Yes, I am laughing. Being rushed and overwhelmed is more common than not. In listening to a talk on mindfulness, one is reminded to keep the mind full. If you have ever held a baby, one just relaxes and melts. We often become as tranquil as the baby. We are aware of the beauty of a human person.
In this world, it is easy to be distracted. We are urged to read more, do more, earn more, and go more. We are engaged and thinking about the future. We are urged to watch the clock and be places.
Mindfulness focuses a person on the moment. It allows us to fully engaged at the moment. To have fuller moments.
Pray
Now I said there was another option and that is prayer. A prayer is also a form of focusing and relaxing. We can center our thoughts on the needs of others. We can communicate with God about our feelings, concerns, and desires to help others. We call upon a supreme being to help us make sense of things that are seemingly wrong. The person you love is ill, or the child you raised is striving for a scholarship. The job you wanted is serving you well and you find a sense of gratefulness for the path that led you there. You may want to relish and share the good things that happened in your week.
My dad would stop at the door of the church each week and bless himself. He would just stand there and seemed so tranquil. He would tell me that he was so thankful to be back and have time to pray and think.
To this day, I find prayer and also times of mindfulness very filling. I find it is where I get recharged and refocussed and I would love for you to have that same sensation and satisfaction.
“We deal with our mind from morning till evening and it can be our best friend or our worst enemy.” Matthieu Ricard
Take the first step forward, it may put you on the escalator of success! Linda’s own!
Confine Your Gremlin
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Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments
Keep planning even though things may go astray. Linda shares the story of Christmas Eve when her extended family gathered together. The evening was wonderful, but things went astray when she went off to Midnight Mass alone. Things rather flipped at that time; Linda did too! The kindness of people to help her up after her tripping on the sidewalk, and a spirit to start healing began immediately.
We are all saddled with problems. Some of these issues are easier to deal with than other issues. There were many upsides to this situation. We have to stay grateful for all the good things. Linda’s glasses though badly scuffed may have protected her eyes, and they were under warranty and fixed easily. The aches and pains may last a while, but x-rays showed there were no broken bones. No one else was injured and this is all temporary.
Assigning Different Words to Each Month
Two new words for this month include “slowly” and “sharing.” Going a bit more slowly may prevent mistakes and make things better. Rushing has become a way of life for so many of us and a few minutes more really do help us to stay safe. Sharing is my goal to give all of you the benefit of my experience by giving talks, writing, and podcasting.
Returning Packages to Amazon
Have you ever had to return packages? I met the loveliest lady standing in line at Kohl’s this week when I went to return a few packages. So nice to talk with a woman with red shoes. She shared how she would never have bought them because of the color. They turned out to be her most comfortable shoes and came to love wearing them. In the past, she would not have felt comfortable in red, but now she does! And all because she needed red for one of her kid’s events!
What profile do you dress for? Are you comfortable with yourself and how you dress or perform in your job? Do you find yourself continuing to learn? Know that whatever we do calls for practice and learning to do well!
Your Gremlin
Lock up your Gremlin and the terrible things he may be telling you. You hold the key to keeping your doubts locked up! Take the next step forward and put yourself on the escalator of success!
Have a Blessed Week!
Let the Race Begin
Let the Race Begin
Let the race begin is kind of ironic for me. I have assigned two words for myself as the year begins. More words will evolve each month as the year moves ahead. These are well thought out! I have chosen a few special words to use as a bridge into 2020. Here is a list from another site I discovered.
Slowly
One of the words is “slowly.” I am very guilty of rushing. Rushing to get things done. Rushing to make up for my husband who is slow due to his ailments. Rushing as if time is not my friend. What started this consciousness was a fall I took going into Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. I skinned my face, hurt my right hand and arm, injured both knees and a hip. I never got into the service. The worst part is getting into a car now, I still hurt. Are you also rushed? Time is our friend. Doing things slowly has the benefits of doing it correctly the first time and being safer!
The upside is that I didn’t break anything except my pride. I recognize this is all temporary. I am already mending although it will take a while to fully mend. It makes me more empathetic to those who have permanent injuries and reminds me to slow down. Again slowly is fine, it will ease me into the next month with care.
Sharing
The second word for the month is “sharing.” I need to share my experiences in writing, coaching, counseling, podcasting and speaking. I have been blessed with many stories and I can help you! Now is the time to do this. Expressing with other people need to have affirmed and acknowledged is my way of developing a legacy for future generations.
Now to share a photo of a gift given to me at Christmas from a cousin who had it made especially for us. As many of you know, we build an outside garden house in our yard a few years back that I have come to enjoy around the year. After many names, we came up with The Delightful Den. She had this sign made for it. Isn’t it perfect! The Delightful Den is an extension of my philosophy to Delight in Living!
During the Fall season, I began cartooning. I am sketching ideas to help me see exactly what needs to take shape. You will be seeing some of these as the year goes forward. Simple to say the least.
As with all the topics we share here, self-development is essential. We need to know our values, our concerns, and the direction we will pursue for self growth. We need to develop great relationships and enjoy what we have. Let the race begin for you. Decide you key words for the month. Launch yourself forward by connecting with people you appreciate. Enjoy!
So welcome to 2020.
Feel free to send me topics, and ideas to share. Most of all remember to take the first step, it may put you on the escalator of success!
Thanksgiving Blessings
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Yes, ultimately I believe that Blessings in our life flow from God. Throughout each day there are many opportunities offered to us that keep them coming. Our brains allow us to think thoughts that in turn give rise to emotions and then behaviors. A simple example is: If you believe someone is unkind to you, it may make you angry. In turn, you may react in a poor way by being nasty to everyone around you or even physically lashing out. Rather than see the negative things, be kind and gentle to yourself and clarify your thoughts. Then your behaviors will be gentler and more amicable.
Affirmations
Dolly Pardon encourages us to affirm ourselves. “You are good enough!” Yes, you are great! We need to stop criticizing and encourage ourselves and one another. Provide affirmations for yourself. Note the things you are good at doing or enjoy and engage in those activities. Remind yourself or your own gifts. Walking hand-in-hand with others makes everyone’s life easier.
Today’s podcast is about helping yourself and giving yourself good vibrations! Having good thoughts repeated over and over again are affirmations that we can feed to ourselves. Therefore, do it regularly. When we help others carry the load, we help ourselves too! Sometimes it is for a friend, a family member, or our 4 legged friends that we love.
Don’t isolate yourself!
Linda talks about forgiveness and how it keeps us healthy on a physical and spiritual level. The “formula” sentence she shared is “I forgive (name) for (name the specific offense).” Do this for each offense rather than trying to forgive the person for all offenses and work through them one at a time. We need to clear our minds of things that pull us down and the way someone has hurt your feelings, upset you, degraded your work or disregarded you may need to be pulled apart and deleted. Forgiveness does not mean to forget. It means to feel better about yourself and to move forward. Forgive and forgive and forgive. It will help your heart, your mentality, and your days happier.
Align yourself with a variety of fun times and as a result, you will have a well-balanced life. Relax, play, pray, and enjoy. best of all find people who joke and laugh a lot!
Playing is fun!
Join our Mastermind on Thursdays at 10:30 am. You’ll be glad you did!
Working as a Team to Propel You Forward!
Enjoy something special this weekend. Make your days count. Happy Thanksgiving!
Want to get involved in a wonderful race, then join in on the first Sunday of December.
This Sunday is our Community Santa Run!
The Value in Relationships Cannot Be Diminished
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The Value of Relationships Cannot Be Diminished
Welcome to Mini Miracles where the smallest things in our lives are often dismissed. The value in relationships cannot be diminished. Minor times develop opportunities to strengthen the ties that bind us together. Times to develop healthy relationships. They shouldn’t be because they bring us great joy. It allows us to share with other people times to smile and laugh. Linda talks about how we can be located at different places in the world and still relate.
What are your relationships? Are they nearby? What kind of work do you do? How do relationships stick? What things can you do to promote your friends, businesses you use, and people you enjoy?
Relationships are so relevant and necessary. You are an integral part of the lives of other people. Our Chamber of Commerce is always evolving as we bring new members and businesses into the area. We need to add these to our Rolodex. Linda shares a moment in time when contacts saved her house from a fire situation and serious follow-up issues. Contacts and healthy relationships do count!!!
Stay Connected
Know the links that will help you and your neighbors. Create a team of people who can reach out and take action. We grow in gratitude. Keep in touch with those you know and appreciate.
(Now is the time to sign up for our Women’s Entrepreneur Group that meets every two weeks on Thursdays at 1 pm. Enrollment is open until Dec. 25th. It is also a good gift to give someone. Call our office at 815-459-5161. )
Thanks to Jordan Debbink, the communications and resource management contact from the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. Jordan brings a background in programs and development.
Keeping yourself joy filled and strong! It’s all about working together with others no matter where they are located.
Take the first step, it may put you on the Escalator of Success
Being Grateful
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Gratitude was suggested as a topic for today because it helps us to embrace the minor moments where miracles show up. Listen to a quick story from 29 years ago. A friend recognized one of Linda’s most important needs at a stressful time while stuck in a waiting room of a hospital.
The friend went out of her way in the midst of a blizzard to provide a shopping bag of her fresh fruit. As it turned out, Linda was stuck there for 5 weeks in an ICU waiting room and a vending machine would not have been the best option. More than the fruit though, it told her someone was recognizing her needs and showing a real concern for her. Wow, don’t we all want to do that for other people? Wouldn’t you want to be that thoughtful person who took the action?
The beauty in that gesture of seeing Linda’s needs and doing something special blessed her then and the memory continues to bring joy even today. It also prompted Linda to give the friend a call in the midst of recording this episode.
Being thoughtful of others is never lost. Whether it is taking the time to send a card, attending an event, showing up at a hospital, or being silently nearby is so important. Expressing gratitude and appreciation to those who reach out to us is good for the giver and the receiver.
Counting our blessings may help to make our blessings count even more. Most of us are blessed with plenty of space to enjoy many physical possessions around us throughout the day. Are you a collector? We do need to be careful and not collect things we don’t need, but also recognize how lucky we are to have things around us that bring us joy. The Cubs hat or memorabilia from an event or trip is a reminder of a fun time. Those are indeed times for us to share our joys, our time, and our talents.
On November 3rd, there was a Busted Halo Daily Jolt. It was that “Gratitude is riches. A Complaint is poverty.” Those few words reminded me of how beautiful gratitude can be! We can be discontented and lament over so many things and find faults if we focus on that!
Stretching ourselves to help others!
We are so blessed to share opportunities. Looking for things with an open mind allows us to spread a little sunshine. A loss of a job may actually be a new opportunity for growth and meeting new friends. A car accident, although not good, makes us aware of the fact that no one was hurt. The availability of doctors when we are sick or having the money to get help is a blessing and something we must be thankful for receiving.
Our office extends opportunities to build relationships and bring clarity to you. Our women’s Entrepreneur group is opening enrollment for next year. Do contact us and enjoy the offerings, you’ll be glad you did.
Take the first step forward, it may put you on the escalator of success.
Keeping it Simple
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Keep Things Simple
Keeping things simple and enjoying life can be sweet. In today’s podcast Linda helps us think about what is important. Whether we are fortunate enough to have the best or everything, or we are struggling to take ourselves to a different level, being thankful is best. Welcome to Mini Miracles from Minor Moments that highlights education, motivation, and spirituality.
As Linda was waiting for her car to have the radio fixed she saw the positive things in the waiting room played out. While people were waiting for their vehicles, many were engaging with one another, and keeping things light and upbeat. Connecting with one another, praying for each other, and listening well help us enjoy life.
Look to People of the Past for Insights
Dwight D. Eisenhower and Linda’s mom also had a few good thoughts that help us. If we need to resolve and do things, it helps us to do them as they come along. We can conquer the issues at hand and deal with them efficiently. In the process of completing work, we learn to enjoy daily work. It can end up bring the fun things into your life.
Let your creativity sore, find a job you love, be with the people that bring you joy. Find things to be grateful for as often as possible. It will elevate your spirit. Carving pumpkins with the family is a good annual event. Many families look forward to the harvesting of apples. Whatever fits your lifestyle at this time, go for it!
When things are going your way, be thankful. Little things make our days move along well. Finding a parking spot can elevate our spirits. Receiving a request to help another person, or getting a phone call is uplifting. What makes you feel great? What helps you with your work that makes it easier? Who has given you insight that helps you many times over? How do you reach out to others?
So what simple things give you pleasure? How can you serve the needs of another person? When have you felt like Queen for a day? Or King for a day? When respect and admiration is shown to you! When has someone extended hospitality to you? Provide hospitality to someone else, it will make you and others feel great.
Today is Halloween and for some it is a Religious Celebration.
Imaginations at Work!
Halloween moments makes for great fun.