Posted on July 26, 2011 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The following are 5 more reasons why we need to have the inner strength to be courageous:
1) Your spouse, children and friends are learning from your example. It’s not what you say - but how you act - that people around you respond to, and learn from. Have the courage to live according to your personal values and beliefs. Have the inner faith to keep reaching toward your dreams.
2) Your subordinates and peers are drawing their energy from you. As a leader, others draw their energy from you. What kind of energy do you radiate out toward them? Positive? Negative? Frantic? Tempid? Have the courage to stand out in front of your people - providing the vision and engery to reach toward the summit!
3) You can't allow your enemies to derail you. It does not take courage to have a fight, it takes courage to end a fight. Figure out what you need to do to get past the cycle of anger and revenge - and then have the courage to make the first move toward peace, as well as the second and third move. Have the courage to earn the other side’s trust - even when you know it will take a long time.
4) You need to change for the better. You’ll never look in the mirror and see anyone other than yourself. Your problems will never go away until you have the courage face them. They will only amplify through time. Have the courage to deal with your own issus - to keep stepping down the path of inner healing and maturity.
5) Seasons in life will be tough. When life gets hard - Happiness, Contentment and Peace are choices we still can make. Have the courage to chose these virtuous attitudes in all types of circumstances.
Posted on April 26, 2011 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
“Still trembling, Ordinary picked up his suitcase, turned his back on Familiar, and walked to the sign. And even though his fear kept growing, he shut his eyes and took a big step forward – right through the invisible Wall of Fear.
And there he made a surprising discovery.
On the other side of that single step – the exact one Ordinary didn’t think he could take – he found that he had broken through his Comfort Zone.”
(From the book “The Dream Giver” – Bruce Wilkinson)
John Ortberg writes, “My story, like every human story, is, at least in part, the struggle between faith and fear.” Robert Kiyosaki states, “We all have tremendous potential and gifts. Yet, the one thing that holds all of us back in some degree is self-doubt… It is excessive fear and self-doubt that are the greatest detractors of personal genius.” Our fears can make cowards of us all. Fears conquered make heroes of us all!
“Everything we want is on the other side of fear.”
Many of the most enriching experiences in life will follow a time when we choose to walk through a specific fear, yet some people will do almost anything to avoid their fears. But all successful people have been willing to take a chance. They are willing to take a step of faith, trust their intuition and simply “go for it” in life.
In his book “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat” John Ortberg asks, “What do you guess is the most common command found in the Bible?” Surprisingly, it is not to be more loving, nor to be more giving, to avoid pride, or to serve others. The most common command found in Scripture is to “Fear Not.” Don’t be afraid. Instead, God instructs us to be “strong and courageous.”
Fear is the primary reason why many individuals do not reach their potential, or live out their dreams. Fear prevents one person from the commitment of marriage. For another, the fear of financial failure prevents them from starting a business. And yet another person may never make a career change because they fear leaving the security of their current position. Fears paralyze our potential!
Pursuing our dreams & potential will always demand we step through our fears. Our dreams will require us to take steps that lead us outside of our comfort zone and into the unknown. Like when a person chooses to skydive for the first time, we must be ready to courageously step through our fears so we can experience the exhilaration of falling through the sky all by our self – riding on the winds of your dream.
Challenge: What specific fear is preventing you from growing today?
Posted on December 28, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
It's not uncommon to be hurt, or rubbed the wrong way by a leader you serve under. Leaders are not perfect - and how you handle a hurtful situation will speak volumes about your character. When a leader has done something that you believe is wrong, you have three options:
-
Remain Silent
-
Complain to others
-
Talk to your leader about it
- Lets look at these options:
OPTION #1 REMAIN SILENT - While this may seem honorable, this option is dangerous. This approach actually undermines true autenticity - and can cause you to develop a spirit of self-righteous pride (and allow resentment to build in your heart.) In addition, if a leader's actions are truly wrong, not addressing the issue allows that blind spot to persist in their "leadership character." In the long run, remaining silent only hurts you and the leader. Solomon writes in Proverbs 10:18 “He who conceals hatred is a liar.” Be careful - your silence may not be as honorable as you think.
OPTION #2 COMPLAIN – For many, this is the easist option to choose when wronged. However, complaining to others only spreads discontent and division. Even the most subtly expressed complaints can undermine the authority of your leader - and weaken the unity of the tream. In reality, when you speak negatively about others, it diminishes peoples confidence in your character... for what are you saying about them... Proverbs 16:27-28 “A perverse man stirs up dissension, and gossip separates close friends.”
OPTION #3 TALK TO THEM - This is the hardest of the three options, thus is usually avoided. Though least chosen, it is the best optinon because this leads toward true reconciliation and restoration. When an issue is addressed with a gentle and humble spirit, most often a healthy and productive discussion will result. Proverbs 27:6 “faithful are the wounds of a friend.”
* Are you hurt? Offended? What are you going to do about it?
(Adapted from MacLake online.)
Posted on December 23, 2010 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
Jesus…
“The first time He came as a baby; the second time He will come with His mighty legions. The first time you can receive Him the easy way; the second time you will accept Him the hard way. He came in a manger, but we dare not forget the baby boy has grown up. He is now the King of Kings, and one day He will return in earth-shaking power, toppling His enemies and rewarding His friends and reclaiming what is rightfully His.”
– Steve Brown
I hope as you celebrate Christmas with family and friends, this season will be one of renewed focus on the Christ. Renewed focus on:
* Who Jesus is.
* On what He has already done for us.
* And on what He will do for us in the future.
** Merry Christmas to you all!
Filed Under:
Spirituality
Posted on November 24, 2009 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6-7
Karl Barth, a twentieth-century theologian wrote, “God is not deaf, He listens; more than that, He acts. And He does not act in the same way whether we pray or not. Prayer exerts an influence upon God’s action – that is what the word ‘answer’ means. The fact is, God yields to our petitions.”
The Apostle Paul knew this. That is why he tells us to not be anxious. Instead, we are to pray and petition God with a thankful heart. Why? Because we are coming to our Heavenly Father - who loves us, cares for us, is all powerful, and promised to work out everything according to His good will.
This Thanksgiving, let us remember the privilege we all have to petition God regarding our own needs - and regarding the needs of those we care about. And then, let us be quick to thank Him for both this privilege… and for His answers.
** And, while we are on the topic – Thank you for visiting this Blog every once and awhile! It is much appreciated.
Filed Under:
Spirituality
Posted on April 28, 2008 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
The east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles west of Bakersfield, CA.
Photo taken by Barbara Mathews - May 14, 2005
**Man’s handiwork will never equal the glory of God’s creation.
Filed Under:
Spirituality
Posted on September 14, 2007 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.
Something different…
From the mouths of chidren…
Press Here
Filed Under:
Spirituality
