It's All About The Stories

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #35

The other night as I was going up to bed I noticed that the ottoman was out of place. Instead of it being in the middle of the living room, it was right by the stairs. I could have easily taken 2 seconds to move it to the right place but instead I brushed the task of for tomorrow.

A few hours later in a hurry to get my day started I ran down the stairs and right into the ottoman. After grimacing in pain for a moment I started to laugh at myself. I was laughing because it was my fault. If I took the time to move the obstacle yesterday, I would have reached my destiny (the kitchen) more smoothly.

That humbling experience reminds me that I can reach my goals a lot more smoothly if I only remove the obvious obstacles today. The most obvious obstacles that hinder success are the television, the internet, addictions, poor time management, disorganization and the most deadly of all is fear.

If you want to reach your destiny smoothly I recommend you examine your life. Are any of the obvious obstacles hindering your success. If so then move them. Move them today that way you can arrive with less bruises.

Originally Featured in The Javien Chronicles #25

Today I’d like to share with you an aspect of my life that is a work in progress. That aspect is my ability to listen. I know that it is a work in progress because I am reminded of the fact.

The Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word listen is to pay attention to sound or to hear something with thoughtful attention.

That’s my flaw, I neglect to give thoughtful attention. My process of listening is to hear what my wife has to say and quickly respond with a solution.

I can now see that I wasn’t really paying attention. You see how can you possibly pay attention if you are already thinking of a solution.  In my goal to be Mr. Fix a-lot, I forget to just listen.

I think that is why God gave us two ears and one mouth. He wanted us to listen more and talk less.

I’d like to leave you with this quote. “The world belongs to the man who is wise enough to change his mind in the presence of facts.” God’s Little Instruction Book for Men