Lorna

Instead of blaming politicians, bankers, CEOs, your parents, your significant other, your boss, your friends, the weather, your whatever’s that make you unhappy and frustrated…you choose to speak about the people and experiences that bring you happiness and empower you?

How awesome would it be to see status updates that empower rather than dis-empower. Filled with gratitude rather than condemnation. Share hope rather than despair. Updates that are filled with love rather than hate.

Let me let you in on a little secret….you can disagree with a political party, a religious group, a corporate organization, and an individual and still choose kindness. Oh – and you can also create positive changes in your life and the life of others through kindness.

Doesn’t that feel better than fighting those you disagree with?

In 2011 we…

• Offered 270 mind-body-spirit, service-charity, or fun-social events
• We started our first Gratitude Chapter (CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS) in Lexington, KY
• Fed over 1,800 patrons at A Just Harvest
• Made 360 sack lunches for the residents at Lincoln Park Community Shelter
• Gave out more hugs than we could possibly imagine
• The founder, Carol Miller, was recognized as LiteFM Woman of The Week for having a positive impact on the City of Chicago. CLICK HERE to hear the interview.
• We held the 6th Annual Global Free Hugs event
• We laughed, grew, made new friends, and empowered each other to live life fulfilled.

As we move into 2012, we are looking for a secretary/organizational manager for Positive Focus, NFP. So if you love what we’re about, want to be part of the team nurturing positivity globally, and you enjoy keeping the team organized and focused, we’d love to hear from you. Email PF@positive-focus.com and let’s talk.

Note: Our Secretary/Organizational Manager isn’t in the meetings simply to take notes, we want you to be fully present in sharing ideas and vision on growing PF.

Secretary/Organizational Manager (Open)

• Attend monthly executive board meetings (phone/Skype/in person)
• Attend quarterly advisory board meetings (in person)
• Adhere to general board member agreements
• Create and send Board agenda to members 1 week prior to meeting
• Monitor individual action items derived from meetings from start to completion
• Draft minutes for the Executive Committee and Advisory  Board Meetings and distribute within 1 week of meeting
• Mentor individual committees/event coordinators on best practices for organizational needs and notes
• Collaborate with the Executive Committee on bylaws and legal documents
• Collaborate with the VP of Communications to oversee internal and external communication strategies
• Time commitment 5-40 hours per month

Are you looking for some positivity added to your life? Join us for an event soon. We’d also love to hear what events you’d like to see us offer, so if you have an idea and/or want to help be part of the team to facilitate positivity here in Lexington, we’d love to have you join us.

If you find yourself living life less than you deserve, ask yourself ‘What excuses am I using?’ In Wayne Dyer’s book “Excuses Begone” he outlines 18 excuses we use on self-defeating thinking habits.  See if any (or all) ring true to you and then reframe them into a thinking pattern that uplifts you to be your best self.

1. It will be difficult

2. It’s going to be risky

3. It will take a long time

4. There will be family drama

5. I don’t deserve it

6. It’s not my nature

7. I can’t afford it

8. No one will help me.

9. It has never happened before

10. I’m not strong enough

11. I’m not smart enough

12. I’m too old (or not old enough)

13. The rules won’t let me

14. It’s too big

15. I don’t have the energy

16. It’s my personal family history

17. I’m too busy

18. I’m too scared

Now, you have no excuse not to shine!

Originally posted at All Things Positivity

Have you ever been stung by a bee? A wasp? A hornet? I sure have and it hurts! The initial sting is the most intense and slowly it lessens and fades. Why do they sting? Bees don’t start their day seeking people to hurt. Bees sting when they feel threatened. Bees sting as a protective device.

Bee stings got me thinking about people stings. Why do people sting you with their words and actions? Ah, people sting too when they are feeling threatened and need to self protect. Some people sting in response to others as they feel stung by your words and actions. Others sting first to keep you from stinging them. Is it possible that knowing the words and actions chosen by others are coming from fear rather than hate will lessen the hurt? Perhaps if you realized their harsh words and actions were there coat of armor (stingers), it would lessen the pain for you? Perhaps you wouldn’t take it as personally and be able to look beyond their hurtful words and actions and see the fear behind it. Perhaps knowing this, you wouldn’t swat them away as your own self protection armor engages and allow gentleness and compassion to show up.

Affirmation: I choose kind and loving words and actions.

(S)he Said:

“To carry a grudge is like being stung to death by one bee.” ~ William H. Walton

“Forgiveness is a funny thing. It warms the heart and cools the sting.”  ~ William Arthur Ward

“Speak with contempt of none, from slave to king, the meanest Bee hath, and will use, a sting.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Music to My Ears:

Bringing Home My Babe Bumble Bee

Flight of the Bumble Bee  ~Maksim

For the next week I invite you to become aware of:

Your words – do they lift you and others up, or do they hold you back?

 Your reactions – do you knee-jerk react expecting what was said and done came from meanness? Or do you look behind it and see the fear creating the situation.

Your worthiness – by affirming and validating you are worthy of great love, great happiness, and great abundance. Others words and actions can’t sting you when you are filled with self love, as you fully understand you are simply a mirror of their internal fears.

Mostly, I wish you a week of seeing the good in you and others, seeing the love in you and others, and seeing the possibilities in you and others. When you see the honey rather than the sting, you allow goodness, love, and possibilities to expand.

Until next time, BEE good to yourself and others and have a positive focus kind of week.

Thanks Marilyn! We are so grateful to have you part of the PF community!

I find seasonal changes very similar to personal changes. When we are on a new path there are times of great love, happiness and excitement similar to of our favorite season. There are times where doubt and fear filter into the experience not unlike how we feel when our least favorite season is impending.  When you are able to look at the big picture of life and see how the ebbs and flows, the peaks and valleys, and the happy and contrasting experiences blend together to create a life filled with amazing opportunities to love bigger and live better, wouldn’t each experience be more vibrant and love filled?

Affirmation:  Each season allows me a time to love deeper.

(S)he Said:

“To be interested in the changing seasons is a happier state of mind than to be hopelessly in love with spring.”  ~ George Santayana

“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy”  ~ William Blake

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant:  if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”  ~ Anne Bradstreet

Music to my ears:

Seasons of Love ~ Rent

Seasons in the Sun ~ Terry Jacks

Seasons Change ~ Expose

For the next week I invite you to celebrate the current season by:

Appreciating whatever season you are in. Find the beauty in the moment; even if it’s not your favorite, there is great love there.

Looking for the good in all experiences as when you look for the good, the challenging moments are lessened.

Mostly, my wish for you this week is to enjoy life moment by moment, experience by experience, by seeing that each season offers the opportunity to love, laugh, grow, and become your best self.

Until next time, season’s greetings!