Shows
#UnBlockYourselfTea Tuesday with TinaTea philosophies:
Perfection in the imperfection: Beauty in originality age, being an individual
Time: Past, present, future.
A sense of purpose: living out who you are called to be
Tea Conversations brings you into the present, in the moment, while you reflect on the past to create a better future to come
The bankable connection in tea is truly the relationships strengthened in each tea service
Relationship with God
Relationship within yourself
Relationship with friends family and others
2025-02-2111 min
#UnBlockYourselfBuilding Your Legacy 001Questions:
What good shall i do today?
( if you can answer this before the day begins you have already set goals you will be working on for the end of the day’s reflection
Where did I grow today?
Who did I help?
What did I do well today?
How can I make tomorrow even better?
2025-02-1409 min
#UnBlockYourselfIntro to Cross Cultural Convos!Yuko and Jeff deep dive into cultural perspectives on food, family, faith, lifestyles, and points of view.
2024-09-0828 min
#UnBlockYourselfGrow to where you want to grow!Tea Time 31: Grow to where you want to grow!
“You can have more than you’ve got because you can become more than you are. The other side of the coin is, Unless you change who you are, you will always have what you got.”
For things to change for you, you have to change, or things aren’t going to change.
Jim Rohn
He was also talking about how income does not far exceed personal development. Sometimes it can take a lucky jump, but unless you grow out to where...2024-07-0310 min#UnBlockYourselfStay in control of your narrativeCan you imagine waking up and reading the morning news to see how everyone thought of you because they thought that you had passed?
If you don't think that you'd like what others would say about you, now would be a perfect time to change the public's opinion.
Reflect on what you have been doing, and if there needs to be changes, how can you start?
2024-07-0111 min#UnBlockYourselfTo forgive and accept forgivenessTea Time 29: To forgive and accept forgiveness
For a relationship to move forward, a conversation and/or an agreement needs to take place. Forgiveness, and also the acceptance of forgiveness.
2024-06-2709 min#UnBlockYourselfHow you are being treated may be a reflection of youTea Time 28: How you are being treated may be a reflection of you.
Life maybe "returning the favor". How you are being treated may be a reflection of you and how you actually treat others. Many of the things we experience through relationships and interactions are the very "favors" being returned to us.
2024-06-2307 min#UnBlockYourselfHealing and Hurtful WordsTea Time 27: Healing and Hurtful Words.
Words can get under your skin and heal or get on top and grind away.
2024-06-1814 min#UnBlockYourselfYour words are heardTea Time 26: Your words are heard
2024-06-1711 min#UnBlockYourselfYou are in a good placeTea Time 25: You are in a good place…
Sometimes I get complacent where I am and I end up trying to break free and enter a space where I do not belong. This really frustrates the system. I’m frustrated because everything is against me. The environment is frustrated because it has to contend with an outside influence that it was not prepared to handle quite yet.
God has us where we are to grow and learn and then move on to next phases at the appropriate time.
2024-06-1617 min#UnBlockYourselfThings working for your goodTea Time 24: Things are working for your good.
Romans 8:28 is one of my foundation scriptures that keeps me look at things in a positive light when things don't go the way I really wanted them to go.
2024-06-1510 min#UnBlockYourselfDo you have a habit of playfully testing God?Tea Time 23: Do you have a habit of playfully testing God?
I sometimes say what I can to get what I want out of my moments with God, and that really is not a good thing.
I believe He listens to what we want, but I also believe that we should get to know Him and not test the limits.
2024-06-1410 min#UnBlockYourselfBe mindful of your viewIts easy to see what's right in front of us. But we have to look at the big picture to understand what God is doing in front, behind, and all around us, making things work for our good.
2024-06-1009 min#UnBlockYourselfUnderstanding SignsTea Time 21: understanding signs and having the right focus to deal with them appropriately.
2024-06-0706 min#UnBlockYourselfRejecting God's HelpTea Time 20: Rejecting God's Help
Many times over the years I can look beck and see where I humbly and respectfully declined God's help, even though I may have asked for it.
2024-06-0610 min#UnBlockYourselfGotta get out there!Tea Time 19: Gotta get out there!
Do you have a solution to a problem? Are you taking that solution to those who need it? Or are you waiting on them to find you?
2024-06-0506 min#UnBlockYourselfFeast of the Flying FoxTea Time 18: Are leaning on God's Wisdom?
Thinking big and according to your God given vision will put you into some God-Sized-Thinking situations!
Do you call upon His wisdom daily? Thinking small doesn't really require much, but are you thinking big enough to know that "this is going to take God to make this happen..." type thoughts?
Many of our stories and experience are setup for our testimony so that when others hear them, they build their faith too, and everyone benefits.
2024-06-0422 min#UnBlockYourselfHonor the giver by using the gift as the giver intended!Tea Time 17: Honor the giver by using the gift as the giver intended!
My reflection time comes from a statement my pastor gave today. "The giver is far more important than the gift".
As we reflect on the many blessings we've been given:
Don't let the gift replace the giver.
Don't let the gift cause you to forget the giver.
Treasure the gift, and honor the giver.
Honor the giver by using the gift as the giver intended!
2024-06-0312 min#UnBlockYourselfWhat are you looking at?Tea Time 16: What are you looking at?
How you view others is important, but where are you looking? People try to put up many faces and facades, but looking on the inside, thought process and mindsets will reveal a clearer picture to you. Showing you their character and motives behind their behaviors!
2024-05-3006 min#UnBlockYourselfAre you building your network?Tea Time 15: Are you building your network?
Two questions: Are you building your network? and to dig a little deeper, what kind? What kind of people are you trying to put in place to help you grow and go to the next level?
2024-05-2907 min#UnBlockYourselfDo You Have Any Life Philosophies?Tea Time 14: Do you have any life philosophies?
Last of the five pillars calls for you to understand your ways of life. To guide you, you should develop things like core values, and life philosophies. The things you live by help you to live through the things that try to stand in your way!
2024-05-2809 min#UnBlockYourselfCan you find peace in what you are doing?Tea Time 13: Can you find peace in what you are doing?
We are learning that we should find peace in what we do. Also we should mix and blend unlikely components or new things we learn and experience to make things harmonious and balanced.
2024-05-2611 min#UnBlockYourselfAre you learning new things?Tea Time 12: Are you learning new things?
Today we looked at maintaining a good relationship with people even when we disagree with them. On top of that, learning new things while still remaining true to ourselves.
2024-05-2509 min#UnBlockYourselfHow are you staying balanced?Tea Time 11: How are you staying balanced?
Balance, Peace, and Harmony. Let's keep ourselves level headed and radiating who God wants us to be.
2024-05-2410 min#UnBlockYourselfWhat words describe you?Tea Time 10: What words describe you?
What words are being used to describe you when others are talking about you? Does this line up with who you want to be and how you want to be described?
2024-05-2307 min#UnBlockYourselfWhat delights you?Tea Time 9: Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. So what delights you? When your desires and His desires line up, that's usually when the door is open abundantly!
2024-05-2106 min#UnBlockYourselfWho has God put in your path to help you and you haven't even noticed?Tea Time 8: Who has God put in your path to help you and you haven't even noticed?
Have you looked at your circle of influence lately? Are there ones in it who seem to really have your back? Are they there to help you and you haven't directly communicated your vision to them yet?
2024-05-2108 min#UnBlockYourselfAre your words building or tearing down the relationships you are trying to establish?Tea Time 7: Are your words building or tearing down the relationships you are trying to establish?
2024-05-2014 min#UnBlockYourselfAre your words, thoughts, and actions leading to results?Tea Time 6: Are your words, thoughts, and actions leading to results? Let the things we say and do make deposits and build relationships!
2024-05-1913 min#UnBlockYourselfWhat words are on repeat in your head?Tea Time 5: What words are on repeat in your head?
Like a never ending song playing over and over again in your head, what are words or sayings that also stick in there? How do think it affects your thoughts and actions?
2024-05-1804 min#UnBlockYourselfAre You Using Your Skills For Yourself? or Your Purpose...
Tea Time 4: Are You Using Your Skills For Yourself? or Your Purpose...
I find when we discover our gifts we usually try to use it to make a profit from them. But was that what they were intended for us to do with them? Think about it.
2024-05-1706 min#UnBlockYourselfHave positioned yourself to where you are unstoppable?
Tea Time 3: Have positioned yourself to where you are unstoppable? (all things will be working for your good!)
When we are functioning in our purpose we often find ourselves in the position where the know how and experience we have acquired keeps us in peace and safety no matter what is happening around us.
2024-05-1604 min#UnBlockYourselfTea Time 2: Are you doing your best? or is it just good enough?Tea Time 2: In todays tea time we are talking about you doing your best and giving your all. Are we doing our best, or is it just good enough?
2024-05-1505 min#UnBlockYourselfWhy not start today?Sharing my tea time with you!
Here is today's thought: Why not start today?
2024-05-1406 min
#UnBlockYourselfPerfection in the imperfection, Strength found in your weaknessWabi-Sabi overall is finding perfection in the imperfections... finding strength in our weaknesses.
Wabi deals with the beauty in uniqueness, individuality, singularity.
Sabi shows respect to the aged, weathered, antique, defects, and mistakes.
A little history:
Sen Rikyu was considered the "godfather of the tea ceremony"
- Tea Ceremony was designed to bring peace in oneself, and peace to Lords and politicians, higher ups...
- It became a way to show off, be flashy, and display how much better you were than every one else.
...2024-02-2217 min
#UnBlockYourselfPurpose As A SeedWe are all a Masterpiece, we carry a piece of the Master within us. This “piece” is purpose, which He plants deep within us to have His will fulfilled in the earth.
Adapted From Trust & Inspire:
We all have purpose inside each of us, although sometimes it is just dormant, the seed is always there it just needs the right conditions to flourish.
Our desires to accomplish something causes us to start to line up the right conditions to awaken the potential within us. We need to recognize that there...2024-02-1418 min
#UnBlockYourselfPlanning Peace in your daysOur plans are how we design them to be.
Design your day before you start it.
Design your week before you start your day.
Design your month before you start the week.
This gets you to start living life by design.
Put yourself in the center of your design.
I have a pond with a fountain in it. The water is constantly and consistently disturbed. Ripples are always flowing from the center of this distraction in the water. About 20 feet away though, the water is c...2023-09-2710 min
#UnBlockYourself5 Questions to Unlock and Unblock5 Questions to Unlock and Unblock Yourself:
Using the past, present, and future for our self-development, we need to ask ourselves:
Where did I come from?
Do I view my life and it's lessons and schooling? (Is life teaching me something to prepare me for something bigger?
What am I working on?
What am I working with?
Where am I going?
Answer honestly and you may see things you can use from your past right now, to build that future you are called to live out!
2023-09-1615 min#UnBlockYourselfInvolve and ElevateYour Mission is to Master Your Message 3
Involve others.
Elevate your position to get a new perspective.
2023-09-0811 min#UnBlockYourselfStay in your lane.Your Mission is to Master Your Message 2.
Stay your lane. To master our message, we cannot be side tracked easily which will take away our message's effectiveness. Staying on point will help you develop and earn your 10,000 hours towards mastery of your special message.
2023-09-0712 min#UnBlockYourselfWhat will be your seed?Your Mission is to Master Your Message:
To master something it will take time, focus, intention, and action.
The seed will be your focused intention on doing or creating something.
Seeds have the potential to become great orchards.
2023-09-0507 min#UnBlockYourselfDo you have your team in place?Do you have your team in place?
“I am weak, yet I am strong” 2 Cor. 12:9-10
A basket ball team has specific players with a specific jobs. There 2 guards, 2 forwards, and a center. Who is in your starting lineup?
Even though you may be the center for your team, let it be the God within you who make the plays!
2023-07-1502 min#UnBlockYourselfDo you admire any problem solvers?Who are your most admired people through history? What made them so different?
I can bet that the thing that separated them from everyone else around them is that they thought different.
Now, to you. What makes you different? Did you know that the problems you solve are there for you to solve them? (Maybe with a little help too)
Your problems may have been hand picked for your to sit down and solve, quietly, strategically, prayerfully, mentally scanning all possibilities for the best outcomes to share wit...2023-07-1302 min#UnBlockYourselfHow Do I Secure A Good Customer Relationship?How do you define success? It could be from just making it into heaven, becoming a millionaire, or just having a “happy wife, happy life”.
No matter how you define it, it is achieved in only one way. Satisfy the customer.
There are five rules to secure a successful relationship between you and your customer.
Know who your customer is.
Your rewards will be in exact proportion to your service.
The more effort you put into satisfying the customer, the more rewards you will receive.
Treat others as you want to be treat...2023-07-1203 min
#UnBlockYourselfPurpos3ful Pathway IntroPurpos3ful Pathway Intro:
Uniqueness / Wabi Sabi:
Psalm 139:13-16
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in you...2023-06-2430 min
#UnBlockYourselfUnblocking YourselfThis is where I came up with the term unblockyourself, and I started unblocking myself.
2023-03-0614 min
#UnBlockYourselfConnect to Unlock, Connect to Unblock!As I’m getting ready to leave for the day, I keep being reminded of this: I have everything I need. I’m taken care of. Also, I pretty much have access to everything I want. Like a game, it needs to be unlocked.
God unlocks.
I have to #UnBlockYourself (myself) to get to it.
So today's episode is about connecting.
Connect to God to unlock.
Connect to yourself to unblock and get out of the way of what He is doing in your life! (And Mine!)
2023-02-1411 min
#UnBlockYourselfRoadmap to#UnblockYourself 2023Roadmap to unblock yourself
Over the past 5 years we’ve pretty much developed a pattern to really getting close to the inner you. This will basically be the next 48 Episodes for the rest of 2023!
Unblocking yourself:
Getting out of our own way
Mind
Body
Spirit
Finances
Social Interactions
Summary: a closed fist
Unblocking your potential:
Aspirations
Roles
Expectations
Showing Appreciation
Summary: AREA at work
Unblocking your balance:
Harmony
Respect
Purity
Tranquility
Summary: Chowa
Unblocking your clarity:
Wabikigai
Wabi SabiKan...2023-02-0808 min
#UnBlockYourselfYou can’t physically treat non-physical issues#UnBlockYourself 2023 Thought 3:
You can’t physically treat non-physical issues.
We’ve been conditioned to treat things like depression, heartbreak, or negative forms of stress with pills, shots, and alcohol.
We tend to get hooked on treating the results, not address the root of the issue. For example, we may be sluggish and low on energy. But instead of eating healthier, or foods that may give us a boost, we may drink energy drinks.
When we do this, it only treats the symptoms and the problems keeps c...2023-01-1010 min
#UnBlockYourselfYour Wabikigai Adventure#UnBlockYourself 2023 Thought 2:
Your Wabikigai Adventure
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
There is an adventure that has been created just for you. Wabikigai is a mash up of three of my favorite words, and it is at the core of our theme for this year.
The “Wabi” in wabikigai is for Wabi Sabi.
This is how this adventu...2023-01-0608 min
#UnBlockYourselfYour Intent Will Be Tested#UnBlockYourself 2023 Thought 1:
Your intent will be tested.
Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution and failed miserably? Things large or small I notice whenever I declare, “This is what I want to do!” It gets tried immediately. From, “All I want to do is to make up the bed”, to, “I want to buy a new car”, will al be tested. If I try to make the bed, I get up late, or the bed feels so good I don’t get up on time, or an employee calls in which means I have to...2023-01-0409 min
#UnBlockYourselfBenefits and Balance#UnBlockYourself 429 - Benefits and Balance
Last episode we talked about how All roads (your thoughts and actions) lead back to your core of your being, the core values you have established within you. Your homework was to start to define your core values, so you’ll see where you will end up going with you your actions, and they also serve as a beacon of light to help in decision making too. Ultimately what you do will usually be leaning towards your success.
Brings us to today.
Prayerfully develop a work...2022-10-1212 min
#UnBlockYourselfAll Roads Circle Back To Your Core#UnBlockYourself 428
All roads (your thoughts and actions) lead back to your core of your being, the core values you have established within you.
“To put it simply, vision is what the world would be like if we succeeded. Mission, on the other hand, is what we must do for the world to reflect the vision.”
The "Core Values" you have in you are the principals, rules, and boundaries that dictate your behaviors.
We need to define our values.
Establish core values that:
Guide...2022-09-2314 min
#UnBlockYourselfWabikigai In Your Influence#UnBlockYourself 427 Wabikigai in your influence
One of my favorite mentors John C. Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.”
One of our many purposes in being in this life at this moment in time is to impact our circle of influence, blessing those who God has put in our path.
Wabikigai is a made up word consisting of 3 philosophies:
Wabi Sabi: Discovering perfection in the imperfect
Ichigo Ichie: Being in the moment
Ikigai: Living a full life through fulfilling your purposes
Influence...2022-09-0615 min
#UnBlockYourselfAbide and Abound, Nurture and Nourish#UnBlockYourself 426: Abide and Abound Nurture and Nourish
2022-08-2509 min
#UnBlockYourselfThe Choice Is Yours#UnBlockYourself 425: The choice is yours
Over the years, at the end of our prayer time with the kids and staff at the center, Ms. B. has graced us with wisdom and gave us this charge as we would start our day: “Make it a great day or not, the choice is yours.”
There is so much packed into this one statement.
First off, there has to be a decision made. Not only that, but the power to make this day a great day or not has been given to...2022-08-1717 min
#UnBlockYourselfAbiding in the Vine of Your Vision#UnBlockYourself 424: abiding in the vine of your vision
““I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father sh...2022-08-1015 min
#UnBlockYourselfIf Not Me, Then Who?#UnBlockYourself 423: if not me, then who?
Vision is a picture given as a picture of us fulfilling our calling.
“To put it simply, vision is what the world would be like if we succeeded. Mission, on the other hand, is what we must do for the world to reflect the vision.”
With this in mind, ikigai is what we say, do, and feel in our everyday lives that supplies the mission and vision. The more aware of your ikigai working itself out through you, the greater the impact you will ha...2022-08-0508 min
#UnBlockYourselfUnBlock to UnLock#UnBlockYourself 422: Unblock to Unlock
Unblocking your potential, and living a full life is the focus for this season. There are few core concepts that I’m learning about, and we’ll discover some hidden truths and some misconceived theories that and I’m uncovering almost on a daily basis.
I’m excited! New season, New discoveries, New ways to move forward into a new life.
Two Core Philosophies I’m developing myself in:
A.R.E.A - Aspirations, Roles, Expectations, Appreciation - This unblocks potential in r...2022-08-0213 min
#UnBlockYourselfThe More I Change, The More Stays The SameLike I've been saying this week, I've been struggling with trying to be everything I'm supposed to be (the I see me in my head). But God was showing me where I decided to make a change, and where I decided to surrender and allow Him to develop me. The areas are vastly different. Like this, I decided on my own that I will not be broke any more. I said I would maintain X amount in my account, and adjust accordingly to maintain that. It worked for only so long, because life made adjustments at the same time...2022-05-2112 min
#UnBlockYourselfStepping Across An Invisible Bridge#UnBlockYourself Episode 420
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Struggling in the now is not as bad as it sounds. The fight is within me trying to control everything instead of trusting in the process. I think of it as me stepping onto an invisible bridge, going from where I am, to where I am supposed to be. In my mind I can see a lot of wh...2022-05-1813 min
#UnBlockYourselfThe Struggle with being in the Now"We realize we have built our lives around who we were, and we must make adjustments to be who we are, on the way to who we are becoming."
I read this in a daily devotional and it really spoke to me. Ichigo Ichie (about being present in the moment) has been something I firmly believe in, but I have a hard time staying there with God. Reading this I finally have an understanding why.
God is always in the now. In my past, it's His now. In my future, it's still His n...2022-05-1711 min
#UnBlockYourselfRisk Ratio 2: Don’t be afraid to do it afraid“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” - Isaiah 41:10
Have you ever noticed that God gives you a giant vision that is waaaaaaaay bigger than you can handle? Then in your spirit you can hear, “Don’t be scared…” For me, it helps in knowing that I’m not alone, and that I’m where I am supposed to be, but, it doesn’t help because the task in front of me is bigge...2022-04-2608 min
#UnBlockYourselfRisk Ratio to Success“The fastest way to success is to double your failure rate.” - Thomas Watson, Sr.
When I came home from active duty, I had a little time on my hands. One of the things I wanted to do was to learn about Atlanta. All the little hole-in-the-wall places. So, the first thing I would do in the morning jump in the car, and head toward downtown. A lot of the streets that I lived near would either end up downtown or intersect a street that would lead downtown. When I went from one end to the ot...2022-04-2609 min#UnBlockYourselfWell this was unexpected.Learning from failures can be tough sometimes, but if you are learning the lessons, it will catapult you towards your success.
Everything works together for your good!
“The fastest way to success is to double your failure rate.” - Thomas Watson, Sr.
2022-04-2204 min
#UnBlockYourselfFocus Shift From FailingSo how do we become a little clearer on the things we need to bring us out of the fog? We need to snap out of focusing on failing and shift it in to what it really is, a lesson being taught. When we start to shift that focus, we can start to come up with a better plan of attack.
Right now as it stands, my Japanese is no better than it was from last week. But since I understand the problems, it seems my lessons have suddenly taught me tings I really wanted to...2022-04-1913 min
#UnBlockYourselfOn and Off the Path of FailureAs I mentioned before, because I was unclear in the things I wanted to say in Japanese, I couldn’t even begin to start to learn the necessary tools I would need to be successful at it. I called it being in the fog.
Being in the fog will almost undoubtedly put you directly on the path to failure. I was on it. The problem is this, when most of us find ourselves on this path, even though we know we’re on it, we stay on it. What keeps you on the path to un-su...2022-04-1920 min
#UnBlockYourselfIn the FogAs I was talking with my Japanese teacher yesterday she said something that caught my attention. I was explaining that I wanted to get over the language barrier keeping me from having confidence in speaking. A harsh summary of her reply was this, it’s not that you’re hitting a barrier, (not the language) it’s you. Since you are unclear on what you want to say, you can’t even begin to approach what you want to say in an entirely different language.
Now, a light of hope is starting to shine in the cloud...2022-04-1509 min
#UnBlockYourselfAnti-Fear and Failure StatementsWhat do you say about yourself?
How are you feeling towards yourself?
Sometimes what we see, know, and think about God and what He has for us does not line up with how we feel.
For me, I know that I’m fearfully and wonderfully made, and made in His likeness, but I feel stupid, old, and ugly inside and out. This is where faith and belief overcome current situations that temporarily feed us lies and circumstances that keep us down in a depressive hole.
Since everyone’s circum...2022-04-0714 min
#UnBlockYourselfFailing To SuccessFailing to Success:
You may be wondering what that means.
Failing, or plans that fail, are lessons. This is the entry point for your idea to become the success it has been destined to be. We’ll name it “START”.
When the lesson comes about, there is a fork in the road to success:
Pathway 1: Give up, crash and burn, or just ignore the lesson.
Result: Return to START and try again.
Pathway 2: Learn from lesson, Take action on learned lesson.
Result: Smal...2022-03-2909 min
#UnBlockYourselfFighting Fear and FailureWe're starting up a new session of talks!
Fighting Fear: Being motivated to action to counter our fears.
Fighting the fear of failure, because failure is the pathway to success.
Let's Go!
2022-03-0809 min
#UnBlockYourselfSeeing Beyond Sight“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” This was Michelangelo describing his process for carving marble. “In every block of marble I see a statue as plain as though it stood before me, shaped and perfect in attitude and action. I have only to hew away the rough walls that imprison the lovely apparition to reveal it to the other eyes as mine see it.”
This is vision, to be able to see what is, beyond the current state it is in. Some people see blank canvases, others may see a...2022-01-2109 min
#UnBlockYourselfYou plus God is a majority!Like the empty container shown in the video, we are called to do great things. It may seem so huge that even with our very best we can only fill so much. When we trust and rely on God's strength rather than our own we see that we (You + God) are more than enough, because You + God is a Majority!
2022-01-1303 min
#UnBlockYourselfExercising Excellence not Pushing for PerfectionExercise excellence, being consistent in doing your best. If you’re not careful, it is easy to get excellence and being perfect confused. It’s good to set high standards, but perfection will only frustrate you.
Think of it this way, you may do your best, but there always is a little something that can be added. I think of a professor giving a lecture on his jar being full. He filled it ping pong balls. No other ping pong balls could fit. He asked the class if it was full, and they said yes. Then h...2022-01-1108 min
#UnBlockYourselfIs this the best you can do?Going into this new year I want us all to strive for excellence. Do not confuse this with perfection, because there will always be room for improvement.
To really make an impact with your ikigai is to really give what you doing your all. “Is this the best you can do?” is a little reminder for me of a story of someone submitting an article to Henry Kissinger. He sent it back with a note that said, “Is this the best you can do?”. The author of the article thought it was rude, and begrudgingly reworded t...2022-01-1007 min
#UnBlockYourselfDone / Doing List for 2022Today we are creating a working Done / Doing List for the new year.
The "Done" part of the list are the things God has brought us through, accomplishments large and small. The "Doing" side of the list are the things we are setting out to do. As we do them, we move them to the "Done" side, and add more things to the "Doing" side, so it is a working list.
Let's do great things in 2022!
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Prove...2021-12-3109 min
#UnBlockYourselfDoing something worth doingMOST OF THE THINGS WORTH DOING IN THE WORLD HAD BEEN DECLARED IMPOSSIBLE BEFORE THEY WERE DONE. - Louis Brandeis
What is it that you are working on that is worth doing? What is that thing that is so worthy of your time, sweat, and tears?
Is there something urging you to press on? To move forward? That thought or idea that will not let you go? It may be your greatness calling you out to fulfill your calling or purpose. It may be your ikigai pushing you to a fuller li...2021-12-2011 min
#UnBlockYourselfExperience Something New“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV
Today’s prompt comes with a quote:
“My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been” - Diane Arbus
Where can go today? I live in a small town so there aren’t many places I haven’t been, but new things open all the time, so today I’m going to a new place for lunch.
2021-12-1007 min
#UnBlockYourselfMove to Action“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”
Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV
This was the prompt for today. I asked God for wisdom and understanding. In my mind we sat down in the garden, and a strong breeze blew through the trees. I the feeling was great, and the sight of the trees moving as if they were dancing was beautiful! I looked up and the clouds moving quickly across the sky was also amazing, I felt like a kid laying on a hill looking up and trying to fi...2021-12-0712 min
#UnBlockYourselfChallenging Fears: Get back up!Yesterday we touched on the fear of losing, and there is nothing wrong with that. We get knocked down sometimes, or maybe even a lot. Every time you get back up, it is the start of a new win! As the quote said yesterday, “Every time you win, it diminishes fear a little bit”.
Muhammad Ali put it this way, “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong!” Look at you today. You made it this far. You’ve had some setbacks, but you are here, wit...2021-12-0109 min
#UnBlockYourselfChallenging Your FearsOne of my coaches long ago said, “Action is the antidote to fear”. This has always stuck with me because I had to prove it as a false statement or a permanent practice.
The journal prompt today deals fear too. The quote is from Authur Ashe and it reads, “Every time you win, it diminishes fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.”
What’s a fear you feel you need to go ahead and get over?
What can you do to cha...2021-12-0108 min
#UnBlockYourselfThe Harder PathChallenge yourself:
Let’s grow! We can challenge ourselves to be and do better by taking small steps outside of our comfort zones!
Today’s challenge:
When two paths come before you, choose the harder one! What’s the hard thing you’re going to do today?
2021-11-3005 min
#UnBlockYourselfIkigai Pillar 5: The Here and NowHopefully you are starting to see in your day to day journey some activities that you take part in pointing to your true Ikigai. My cheat sheet has the pillars in pairs:
Kaizen and Kodawari
Accepting and Releasing Yourself
Harmony and Sustainability
Enjoying the little things
And today: the Here and Now
The here and now is the main idea behind “Ichigo Ichige”, (once in a lifetime meeting), meaning that you need to present when things are happening because it will never happen the same exact way with the same exact consequences or benefits ever again...2021-11-2712 min
#UnBlockYourselfPillar 4: Enjoying the Little ThingsQuick Recap:
Kaizen and Kodawari - to start small with high standards in the details in the things we do.
Wabi Sabi for acceptance and releasing yourself to do great things.
Ikigai flow having harmony and sustainability as you go about doing these things.
Today is about the things you do bringing you joy. It also brings back the little things, the small details, those things that warm your heart and make you feel glad to be alive as they are happening as you do the things you do. Th...2021-11-2507 min
#UnBlockYourselfIkigai Pillar 3: Harmony and SustainabilitySo far we use kaizen and kodawari to start small with high standards in the details in the things we do. Next is acceptance and releasing yourself. This is Wabi Sabi choosing to accept your imperfections and use them to define how wonderfully different you are. And now harmony and sustainability.
One of the great things you’ll notice when are flowing in your ikigai is that things you do come together with harmony and sustainability.
Harmony - an agreement or concord forming a pleasing and consistent whole.
Sust...2021-11-2310 min
#UnBlockYourselfIkigai Pillar 2: Accepting and Releasing YourselfAwakening your ikigai pillar 2
Starting small was the first pillar, and small steps to improvement is the essence of kaizen. Also in starting small we took care of the small things, the details. Kodawari is the high standard we have in what we love and do that takes care of the little things, because we love what we love.
Another pillar in our ikigai is releasing yourself. Releasing yourself to be you and accepting who you are. This is Wabi Sabi at its core. It’s finding perfection in the imperfections and knowing that...2021-11-2209 min
#UnBlockYourselfKodawari: Your Ikigai At WorkThe essence of your personal ikigai working for you lies within five things happening within your ikigai framework.
Starting Small
Releasing Yourself
Harmony and Sustainability
The Joy of the Little Things
Being in the Here and Now
Kodawari is the commitment to doing the things you are called to do to a high standard or level of quality. It is all in the details. The very small things that matter to you because you were called to do this, and no one can be you better than you because of it.
In...2021-11-0308 min
#UnBlockYourselfGetting Up EarlierOne of the many meanings of ikigai is the reason you get out of bed in the morning. Today, we are going to get a little head start on accomplishing things in our day by starting to get up earlier. One of the things about fall that I like about this country is the time change. We set our clocks back an hour and what we do with that extra hour is up to you! You can sleep in, (but your body’s rhythm will probably not allow you to do it) but I wanted to suggest this: keep yo...2021-11-0208 min
#UnBlockYourselfEnjoying the little thingsThere are many facets to discovering and understanding your own personal ikigai. We have to take time to examine our lives and notice the little things. More than likely, you function in your ikigai everyday, but since there’s is no emphasis on it, it doesn’t seem strong enough to fulfill your mission, purpose, and vision, for your life.
I think back to when I went to a certain class on relationships and the counselors there broke down the psychology of men and women, different personalities, and why people do the things they do. It was...2021-10-2912 min
#UnBlockYourselfValue PlacementFinding our ikigai in our lives will stem from the things that are important to us. Everyone is different, so no one’s ikigai will be exactly the same. Some will serve the community using their talent because that is all they will focus on. Some will try to change the world by using every ounce of everything they own, it all comes down to the balance of the four essential elements:
What you love
What you are good at
What you feel your purpose is
How you view the world and it’s needs
Value...2021-10-2912 min
#UnBlockYourselfSource and ResourceOur ikigai trickles little by little or like a flood into our work and lifestyle when we “go with the flow”. The flow is that where space and time seem to no longer bind you as you are doing the very thing you were called to do at that very moment. You are no longer just you. You are the ultimate version of you. Ultimate Super Sayan you.
That “flow” manifests itself when what you love, what you do best, meets how you see the world, and make a difference in it. When these things start to a...2021-10-2708 min
#UnBlockYourselfMind is willing but the flesh is weakA strong mindset can determine what you are able to accomplish, but the intensity of the struggle between the mind and body will dictate how fast you’ll get there, depending which one is in control.
If you are led by the body, you will see that the body:
Will give up without much of a fight when things get hard.
Will always look for the easy route and cut corners.
Will look for immediate gratification despite the consequences.
The difference is mind is lead by the spirit, and the body is led b...2021-10-2706 min
#UnBlockYourselfYou head in the direction you are lookingI was driving my golf cart this weekend looking at the sights and noticed that the cart would go in the direction I was looking. So when I wasn’t looking at the road, i kept going off of it. I wanted to talk about that today.
“We walk by faith and not by sight” - 2 Corinthians 5:7
As I was sitting in my thinking chair this experience and scripture came up. Then my favorite radio ad of all time that lives rent free in my head played right after it. It says this...2021-10-2507 min
#UnBlockYourselfKaizen and dealing with peopleWhen dealing with others today, consider the emotional bank account. Even if we do not know the person, (which makes it easier because we are not starting with a negative balance) we can make the first step by making deposits right off the bat!
Here a few things to consider if things are starting to south in relationships or encounters with others.
Big problems usually are a sum of a bunch of little problems. Remember lingchi, the relationship may be on its 999th cut. One more can be the death of it. To...2021-10-1318 min
#UnBlockYourselfRevisit your visionLast night I was encouraged to revisit my vision, to keep it before me so I can chase after it. It’s hard to chase after something that was once in front of you, but now in a notebook on a shelf fading away due to time…
It all started with at church where Pastor Eric Clark encouraged us with one of the main scriptures was coming from Habakkuk 2:3:
“For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait fo...2021-10-1214 min
#UnBlockYourselfEliminating DefectsOur last of the Seven Mudas is eliminating wasted time and resources due to defects. From a business standpoint, this is when You have products that require rework because they are not functioning the way they were designed to. Every step in production after the finished product will have to be delayed because the product has to go back and be repaired or redone. It’s good to get the kinks out when starting, but when your system is up and running and you have to stop because things aren’t working out right, delays will cost you time and m...2021-10-0915 min
#UnBlockYourselfWasteful InventoryToday’s focus will be on eliminating wasteful inventory.
In business, this is where what you have produced, sits on the shelf. If it has a shelf life, it must be sold or it will be no good. Even if it doesn’t, it must be stored at a cost, and kept safe and protected. This all will be at a cost to your business when you cannot sell what you have over produced.
In your personal life, materialistically speaking, the wasteful inventory can be the things that we accumulate and do not need...2021-10-0713 min
#UnBlockYourselfWasteful Excess ProcessingToday we look at Excess Processing:
Where in business, this focuses on products that must be repaired to satisfy customers needs after the production of the product has been completed. In simpler terms, having to go back and get stuff right when it should have been right the first time. Somewhere in the production line something is amiss or not inspected, and cutting corners may cost you you more time and money in the long run.
Today in our personal lives I’d like to continue the thought we started last episode. Over prod...2021-10-0613 min
#UnBlockYourselfEliminating Wasteful ProducingIn business, this waste is due to Overproduction: When there are more parts in the production line than customers are purchasing. Since the balance is off, where there is more time being wasted in the production of goods that will not be sold, time, money, and resources are not being utilized in different areas where they could make a difference to the company.
In our personal lives, this balance is upset in the the things we produce the most, our thoughts. We spend most of our day thinking of things that really does not matter, a...2021-10-0510 min
#UnBlockYourselfEliminating Wasteful Waiting“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint…” Isaiah 40:31
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”” Psalm 46:10
The 2 verses come to mind whenever I think about waiting. There are 2 elements to most of the scriptures that mention waiting on God.
Waiting or being still.
God is moving for you and with you.
2021-10-0409 min