Finding Inner-Peace!

Inner-peace refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of discord or stress.

Being “at peace” is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. [Wikipedia]

“The life of inner peace, being harmonious and without stress, is the easiest type of existence.”–Norman Vincent Peale

“My faith helps me understand that circumstances don’t dictate my happiness, my inner peace.”–Denzel Washington

“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset.”–Saint Frances de Sales

One of the first steps in finding inner-peace is to think carefully about your goals. What are you trying to achieve, and what are you doing that will take you there?

Can you realistically reach your goals, or are you setting goals that are far beyond your reach? Do you even have any goals?

By putting your priorities in order, you will be on the path to inner peace because only chaos can result from clutter and disorganization of the mind. You can begin by setting small goals which can be easily achieved. Then, instead of focusing on failure, you will be able to see the good job you’ve done in reaching your goal.

If you fail to reach a goal, use this situation to learn how to do better next time. Don’t wallow in your failure use it as a stepping stone to achieving success.

“Never continue in a job you don’t enjoy. If you’re happy in what you’re doing, you’ll like yourself, you’ll have inner peace. And if you have that, along with physical health, you will have had more success than you could possibly have imagined.”–Johnny Carson

When you feel good about yourself, you will have an easier time finding peace of mind. Peace is essential for happiness. If you constantly feel sad, you are living under a great weight that brings you down to a point where you could sink into a permanent state of self-pity.

Self-pity only encourages negative thinking. Remember, you are not the only person facing rejection or hurt in life. There are other people much worse off than you are.

People with negative thinking miss out on inner peace because they let every little setback throw them off track. They criticize themselves for no real reason and go down a road that only leads to misery.

“Chaotic people often have chaotic lives, and I think they create that. But if you try and have an inner peace and a positive attitude, I think you attract that.”–Imelda Staunton

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."--John 14:27

There are people who have pessimistic attitudes who tend to go through their lives fighting their thoughts and emotions every day. If they are rejected for a job position, they  take it personally and feel that they are not good enough to have any job.

Pessimist can also start to think that everyone believes they are stupid, and the cycle of pessimism traps them into psychological immobility, not realizing that everyone experiences rejection at some time during their lives, but when your mind focuses on the negative aspects of a situation, it is hard to find inner peace.

At times, hearing the word ‘no’ is a good thing. Even if you’ve lost out on a job, maybe that was for the best.

We need to learn to turn our rejections into positive actions. Taking action can lead you to inner-peace because activity makes you feel more positive about a situation.

Positive attitudes result in peaceful states of mind.  You can train your mind to think more positively. It will take work and effort, but  be assured this will lead you to inner peace, and this will be worthwhile.

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Angela Valadez
210 601 0267

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Generating Effective Leadership Skills

Generating Effective Leadership Skills will take time and practice and comes into place  when you are focused on your vision and your goals have an action plan in place.

“Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes.”–Peter Drucker

“Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.”–Stephen Covey

 Personal Attributes of Effective Leadership:

A blend of knowledge, expertise, and competencies, encapsulated in the approach, the behavior, of the leader.

The essential personal attributes are as follows.

1.  Ethical Behavior

2.  Thinking Strategically

3.  Supporting Team Goals:

4.  Effective Communication

5.  Information Gathering

6.  Making Decisions

7.  Developing Effective Teams

8.  Assertive Behavior

9.  Concentrating On Results

10.Managing Yourself –  Reflective thinking.

11. Presenting a Positive Image

“Leadership – leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses.”–John C Maxwell

The Attributes and Attitude of Effective Leaders consist of:

a.   A Leader is always full of praise for others.

b.   A Leader learns to use the phase “Thank You” and “Please ” on his/her way to the top!

c.   A Leader is “always” GROWING.

d.   A leader is possessed with his/her Dreams.

e.   A Leader launches forth before success is certain.

f.    A Leader is not afraid of Confrontation.

g.   A Leader talks about his/her own mistakes before talking about someone else’s.

h.   A Leader is a person of Honesty and Integrity!

i.   A Leader has a Good Name.

j.   A Leader makes other’s Happy.

k.   A Leader makes other’s Better.

l.   A Leader is quick to praise/encourage the smallest amount of Improvement.

m. A Leader is genuinely interested in Other’s.

n.  A Leader looks for opportunities to find someone doing something right.

o.  A Leader takes other’s to the top with him/her.

p.  A Leader responds to his own failures and acknowledges them before others have to discover and reveal them.

q.  A Leader never allows murmuring from himself or other’s.

r.  A Leader is specific in what he/she expects.

s.  A Leader holds accountable those who work with them.

t.  A Leader does what is Right, rather than what is popular.

u. A Leader is a “Servant.”

v.  A Leader is a “lion,” not a “sheep.”

These are some of the essential attributes of Generating Effective Leadership Skills. They have to be learned, can be learned, and should then be continuously developed and enhanced.

With these Personal Attributes in place, as well as the Attributes and Attitudes of Effective Leadership Skills being demonstrated in behavior and actions, business leaders will be more effective and more successful.

Effective Leaders also recognize the fact that “Faith and Patience” are the Power Twins.

Click here to watch an Important Video:  

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Angela Valadez
210 601 0267

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Innovation and the Power of a Dream

Innovation along with the Power of a Dream gives you the ability to see the “Vision” so clearly that you will never give up.

“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”–Steve Jobs

“A noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates innovation and encourages perseverance.”–Gary Hamel

Innovation is a creative talent that everyone has. It just requires some practice and a lot of time before this mind function comes easily when called. However, because successful people focus their creative energies on progress, they tend to take hold of their dreams and run with them.

If you want to succeed you must first have a dream.  However, in order to dream, you must first believe in yourself.

Never listen to what other people say. Follow the beat of your own drum. When you allow the input of other people in your mind, this will only bring cacophony to the music  you are trying to make.

“Business has only two functions – marketing and innovation.” –Milan Kundera

“The heart and soul of the company is creativity and innovation.”–Robert Iger“

If you have an original idea, don’t waste your time and effort trying to make people understand. They won’t!  And the help you will probably get usually comes in the form of negative feedback. If all those geniuses listened to their peers, we would probably still be living in the middle ages.

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” –William Pollard

Record your dreams.

Some of them will be just the craziest things that your conscious mind would never have thought of?

If you’ve had these dreams before, and I’m sure have, this only reveals to you the untapped innovative power you have lying within.

So jot down those notes. Those dreams may just create an innovative spark in you.

What your dreams can do for you:

1.   A Belief which will inspire your actions

2.  Richness in the soil where your seeds are being planted

3.  Focus –  along with a clear picture of an unlimited future

4.  A road to follow and a reason to follow that road

5.  Desire to wake up every morning and live a lifestyle that most other’s can’t

People will appreciate your innovation more because it is uniquely yours.  This will let people see just how valuable an asset you really are.

“Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement. Those who initiate change will have a better opportunity to manage the change that is inevitable.”–William Pollard

Innovation and the Power of a Dream can not only make a difference in your life, but may have the possibility to make a difference in the lives of many.

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Angela Valadez
210 601 0267

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From the Ashes – I Rise!

There’s never a time when you have gone down so far that you can’t “rise from the ashes” of a negative situation.

“Though I have fallen, I will Rise.”–Micah 7:8

It’s time to start seeing your failures as an important investment in future knowledge.   Be assured that you have paid too much to get to where you are in order to understand what you know, to quit now.

Every time you plan, risk, fail, re-evaluate and adjust, you will then get another opportunity to begin again.   This time though, will be even better than the last time for sure.

Realize that every problem in life has a solution.  Problems exist because these problems are indications that there is a necessity to improve on everything that people think about or do.

Allow faith to be backed by action, then new ideas will appear to help you improve on whatever it is you are doing.

It’s a fact that any constant effort provided in the right direction will ultimately produce good results.  This is also why the correct type of practice leads to perfection.  You’ve heard the saying:  ”Practice makes Perfect.”

Keep learning, keep growing, keep producing.

Remember:  “God helps those who help themselves.”

Everything that you truly desire in life, can be accomplished when you truly believe that it can be done.  It’s a truth that if you desire  and ask for what is right and proper you will receive what you desire at the appropriate time and in the appropriate manner.

If you don’t “ask” – you won’t “receive.”

If you truly want to delivered from the ashes of any given situation, say to yourself in faith and belief, “I rise.”  Knowing that with God’s help, “All things are possible.”

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Angela Valadez
210 601 0267

P.S.  Another way to rise from the Ashes is Here.  Click Now…

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Having A New Year’s Resolution

Having A New Year’s Resolution is like establishing  ”objectives” for successful change.

Any type of change will always cost you something, if it isn’t monetary, it will be in time, energy and creativity.

The truth is this:  If change doesn’t cost you anything, it isn’t really change.

First change must happen within you, before it can begin around you.

Here’s a very special New Year’s Resolution I’d like to share with you which will in deed bring about change.

A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

I WILL….

…like Paul, forget those things which are behind and press forward;

…like David, lift up mine eyes unto the hills from which comes my help;

…like Abraham, trust implicitly in my God;

…like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my Heavenly Father;

…like Jehoshaphat, prepare my heart to seek God;

…like Moses, choose rather to suffer than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

…like Daniel, commune with God at all times;

…like Job, be patient under all circumstances;

…like Caleb and Joshua, refuse to be discouraged because of superior numbers;

…like Joseph, turn my back to all destructive advances;

…like Gideon, advance even though my friends be few,

…like Aaron and Hur, uphold the hands of my Spiritual Leaders;

…like Isaiah, consecrate myself to do God’s work;

…like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to a closer walk with Christ;

…like John, lean upon the bosom of the Master and imbibe of His Spirit;

…like Stephen, manifest a forgiving spirit toward all who seek my hurt;

…like Timothy, study the Word of God;

…like the Heavenly Host, proclaim the message of peace on earth and good will toward all men;

…like my LORD HIMSELF, overcome all earthly allurements by refusing to succumb to their enticements.

Realizing that I cannot hope to achieve these objectives by my own strength.  I will rely upon Christ, for;

“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”–Philippians 4:13
—unknown

We may be resistant to change, as well as, resistant to making a New Year’s Resolution, but we have the ability to bring about change because we have Christ living within us.

Truth:

“At first people refuse to believe that a strange thing can be done, and then they begin to hope it can be done, then they see it can be don—-then it is done and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.”—Frances Hodgson Burnett

Having a New Year’s Resolution, such as the one above will not only bring about positive changes in your life, but in the lives of others as well.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014

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Angela Valadez
210-601-0267

P.S.  A great way to start the New Year – Click Here!

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Removing the “Sucker-Shoots!”

From time to time we must evaluate our past behavior and take time to remove the “Sucker-Shoots!”

Sucker-Shoots are tiny offshoots which will literally drain and disable the “vine” so that it no longer produces fruit – only leaves.  These shoots are a slow downward spiral based on the wrong choices we’ve made.  If you ignore them and let them continue to grow, in time they will drain or disable you from being Christ centered with the will to do good.  In fact, you will lose all sensitivity to wrong altogether.

Insensitivity to “Sucker-Shoots” will place in your life:

a.  Insensitivity to the needs of others

b.  Your drive for success at the expense of your family, as well as spiritual well being

c.   Laziness and lack of personal discipline

d.  Insecurity

“He cuts off every branch..that bears no fruit.”–John 15:2

It’s a great value that the Creator is determined to remove “Sucker-Shoots.”  He is committed to this purpose and there is nothing which we can do to dissuade Him!  He is relentless and never runs of out creative ideas for destroying them.

A PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR
(2014)

Lord, I would ask for a holy year,
Spent in Thy perfect will:
Help me to walk in Thy very steps;
Help me to please Thee still.

Lord, I would ask for a busy year,
Filled up with service true:
Doing with all Thy Spirit’s might
All that I find to do.

Lord, I would ask for a dying world;
Stretch forth Thy mighty hand;
Scatter Thy Word–Thy power
display
This year in every land.

Lord, I would ask for a year of
hope,
Looking for Thee to come,
And hastening on that year of years
That brings us Christ and Home.
–A. B. Simpson

What are the “Sucker-Shoots” in your life?  What is keeping you from being fruitful? Realize that they didn’t spring up overnight.  There’s absolutely no one who makes a “single leap” from the pinnacle of commitment to the deadening swamp of carnality. This occurs over time by giving a deaf ear to the Spirit.

Isn’t it great that we all have the gift of “choice?”  Choose this day for a new life and a new beginning at the brink of this Year End 2013.  Ask God to remove the “Sucker-Shoots,” then, allow Him to do so.

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Angela Valadez
210-601-0267

P.S.  This may be a blessing to you as well! Click here now!

Learning To Think Clearly

Learning To Think Clearly is a “Process,” not an overnight Achievement.

The mind has to be trained.  In order to learn how to think clearly will take effort on your part. In fact, the quality of your thinking is what leads to the quality of your results.

At times the mind will become cluttered and filled up with a lot of static. It can feel like a television station that you’re unable to tune in to.  Your favorite program is on,  but you’re unable to tune in to it, and the static is unbearable.  Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to “tune in” whenever you wanted to?

“Action to be effective must be directed to clearly conceived ends.” –Jawaharlal  Nehru

10 suggestions to help you learn to think clearer:

1. Take a short walk daily.

Exercise clears your mind and opens the way to clear and creative thoughts.  In the end your mind as well as your body  will be refreshed.

2. Stay away from refined sugar.

Sugar takes you up and then drops you down just as fast.  If you want to understand what brain fog is, eat a sugary donut on an empty stomach, then watch for the outcome twenty minutes later. What you will experience, along with the “sugar blues,” is brain fog. Make sure that you eliminate sugar and simple carbohydrates when you need to think clearly.

3. Organized Working Space leads to clear thinking.

It’s rare that a person can actually work better in a mound of clutter.  Having an organized working space means you won’t have the thought “where is that…” distracting your mind.

4. Get “enough” sleep.

Sleep requirements will vary from person to person, however, the minimum for most is somewhere approximately five hours.  Some suffer if they sleep less than eight hours. The research, however, indicates that after a certain minimum quantity, the quality of sleep is more important to normal brain function.

5. Meditation.

Sometimes you just need to close your eyes, relax, and watch your breathing  for a while. Accept the fact that your mind will wander, but when it does, continually return your attention to your breathing. After about five minutes of this you’ll feel a boost in your brainpower.

6. Remove your “mind irritations.”

Beware of your busy brain.  If you have  a call that you need to make and it keeps popping into your thoughts.  Either make that call, or put it on a list, and your mind will let go of it for the present. Sometimes, just seeing a problem and saying to yourself, “There’s nothing I can do about this until Friday,” will often stop unconscious worrying.  Identify any such “stressors”, and then do something to let them go.

7. Don’t over indulge in Alcoholic Beverages.

Never over indulge in the use of alcoholic beverages.   While moderate amounts can be conducive to creative thinking, all the evidence states that it is bad for the long-term health of your brain.

8. Make decisions quickly.

Nothing gets in the way of clear thinking like a dozen decisions hanging around unmade. If nothing else, decide when you’ll make the decision.

9. Take in some fresh air.

Stop and then go outside and  breathe deeply through your nose. Not only will you get a good dose of oxygen to your brain, but the change of surroundings will help clear your mind.

10. Satisfy your physical needs.

Clear thinking is much easier to maintain if you’re not hungry, thirsty, or hot.

“Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day.” –Ralph Wald Emerson

It is possible to learn to think more clearly starting today.  A clear thought can become a great thought once partnered with a great idea.  Remember this:  In the right environment clear thinking is valued because your ideas will flow more freely, and those ideas will then stimulate even better ideas.

Think Clearly while making more money:  Click Here!

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Angela Valadez
210 601 0267

Happiness: A state of mind!

Happiness is a state of mind.  It is an attitude chosen by your inner being, or a state of well being.

“Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude.”–Dale Carnegie

Happiness comes from within. It is the inner contentment which survives the roller coaster ride of life which has its roots deep within our being. The source of happiness comes from finding and embracing who we are as a person, and living a life of purpose.

It is important that we find Happiness and Peace in every aspect of our life:

a.  Physical

b.  Mental

c.  Emotional

d.  Spiritual

In order to receive a sense of completion in life,  it’s important that we discover acceptance, purpose as well as peace in all of these areas. If we neglect any one of these areas, we will experience a sense of emptiness and feel that something is missing.

There are many people who feel that happiness is indeed an elusive butterfly in the garden of life.  If you can imagine a young child outside playing in the garden on a warm summer day who sees a beautiful butterfly flitting from flower to flower. With eyes of wonder the child will want to see this butterfly up close, catch it and hold it in their hands.

As the child moves towards the flower where the butterfly is resting they will reach out to catch it in their hand, with their arms out stretched,  and just within reach, the butterfly moves to another flower. Undeterred the child follows the butterfly to the next flower, and then the next, but the butterfly always stays just out of reach.

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.”–Benjamin Disraeli

Even as adults, happiness can seem just like that butterfly for the child, always just out of reach. It can become almost an obsession and the words “if only…” can become an increasingly large part of our thoughts and vocabulary.

– If only I had more money I would be happy.

– If only I was in a great relationship I would be happy.

– If only I could have a different job……….and the list goes on.

Sometimes even if we achieve one of our “if only “desires, the happiness we seek will, in fact, still be just out of our reach.

Happiness – INNER CONTENTMENT:

The truth is this:

“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”  becomes your focus and perception. If this becomes your focus, you will find that dissatisfaction and unhappiness will increasingly keep growing in your life and experience.

If there is a form of unhappiness within, you will not be completely satisfied by external events or circumstances.  In order to find happiness in life, you must first be at peace with your internal self. There will be external events and circumstances which can bring you happiness in the moment, but they often will not have an lasting effect on your inner self.

Life experiences brings both a mixture of good and bad circumstances to everyone.  If you choose to rely on life’s experiences for your source of happiness this would mean living life on a constant emotional roller coaster ride.

Spend some time in quiet reflection.  Find out if you are neglecting one of the four important parts of “who you are”and experiencing a sense of emptiness within?

When you learn to discover, embrace and accept your uniqueness and purpose, the more you will begin to experience the butterfly of happiness alighting your shoulder.

Happiness comes from within:  ”Be still and know!”  Reflect and Discover!

“Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product.”–Eleanor Roosevelt

Strive to keep the right state of mind so that you can release your happiness!

Replace error with Truth, anger with Peace, hate with Love, sadness with Joy, and despair with Hope.

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”–Abraham Lincoln

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”–Epictetus

The real truth about Happiness is that you can have it.  You don’t have to wait.  You don’t have to hesitate.  Create your own happiness with pleasurable thoughts, a decisive positive attitude, determination and inner action.

Believe you are Happy.

Receive Happy Thoughts.

Create your own Happiness.

Even in dark times, you can create a Happy mindset.  Don’t Worry!  Be Happy!

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Angela Valadez
210-601-0267