Goals To Live By-#7 Be Authentic

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in your joints and very shabby.
But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”   Margery Williams

Being authentic is one of the hardest things to do.  Most everyone of us seeks approval of some kind.   I grew up as a "people pleaser"and just when I began to recover I married a pastor and I suddenly became "too good or not good enough: had too much money or not enough;  drove too nice a car, wore too nice of clothes,  exercised too much," and the list goes on and on!  Just ask a pastor's wife sometime.  To make matters even worse I took full responsibility when people got angry and decided to leave the church!  I remember writing letters of apology and feeling like somehow I could have stopped their departures if only I had tried harder..  Wow!  I'm so glad I survived those years.
 Life and it's choices are tough but knowing who you are,  what you stand for, and ultimately who you belong to is important for your overall health;  emotionally, spiritually, and physically.   I like the saying, "if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything."

As I write this I admit there are days I struggle with my greying hair, my aging skin and body.  I color my hair to keep it blonde, wear a bit of make-up, and aim to exercise at least five days a week. I want to wear stylish clothes and I try to keep up with some of the latest trends.
 I grew-up in a society that rewards beauty and youth, especially here in Orange County California which is also geographically close to Hollywood.  In addition my mother was a professional model and when I was very young she got me involved in modeling too.  When I was a teenager I was a homecoming princess and I was entered in and won two beauty pageants a couple of years later.  I've spent plenty of hours in front of cameras and/or on "stage."  Needless to say there was a lot of attention placed on looks for as long as I can remember. 
 Fortunately I'm working on maturing into a person who (on most days) knows that I am a child of God and since He doesn't care about outside appearances,  or what people think about me, neither should I.  Being a grandmother has helped me with this too.  My purpose and focus in life has changed and it's awesome!

To "Be Authentic" here is what I strive to be:

-Loving

-Accepting

-Honest 

-Humble

-Compassionate

Some days I fail miserably but I set my goals and execute a "personal inventory check-up" when I am missing the mark. I am also quick to admit when I am wrong and I don't have trouble apologizing, remembering that it is not always my fault (the pastor's wife guilt stuff rearing it's ugly head).

“All people are like grass,

and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

because the breath of the Lord blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God endures forever.”       Isaiah 40:6-8 

 Being authentic and real means you are willing to take some risks and step-out in faith and trust that being true to who you are won't always be well-received by others.
 What do you struggle with or want to be?  I would love to read your comments. 

Need help or do you want to contact me?  You can email me at Donna@DonnaSchuller.com

Goals To Live By-#6, "Be Intentional"

 For an update on my father-in-law Dr. Robert H. Schuller click here


This is a body, mind, and soul health site and as such I try to balance my writings as they focus on each part of our being.   My philosophy for living is to encourage people to do the best they can to balance all three aspects of health because they are all interconnected.     In order to stay healthy it's important to schedule and make time for the people you love and the things you want to do.

Today's goal to live by is to "be intentional."  It's surprising how many people I talk to say something like, "oh I would do (----fill-in the blank---) if I had enough time in the day."  In some ways I think that this is just a "cop-out."   We all have just twenty four hours or 1440 minutes in one day.  That's 168 hours or 10,080 minutes a week.  It's tough figuring out what to do with that time, especially since most of us are pulled in this way and that and it's not easy to schedule things that we want to do because there is so much we have to do!   As I write I can't help but think about the fantastic song from the Broadway musical "Rent" titled  "Seasons Of Love."  Following are a few of the lyrics. If you don't know the tune it's worth Googling them and you can also hear the rest of the song.

 "525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.
525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.
In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?
How about love? How about love? How
about love? Measure in love.
Seasons of love....."

In my last post I talked about "Being Present" 
I hope that today's short message will keep you thinking about the last one as well.

Today is the second week of Lent and I am trying to meditate each day on the goodness of God and on all of my blessings.  It takes some discipline to read a short devotional first thing each morning as I allow a message of faith, hope,  and love to penetrate my heart and my whole being.  I have had to be intentional with this morning routine and it has paid off in so many ways.

No matter what you want to accomplish in this year, this month, this week, this day, this hour, or this minute...it takes intention and commitment.

 Maybe you need to eat better, exercise more, call your kids or your parents more, be more helpful to others, check-in with friends more often, pray and meditate more, or just take better care of your own body, mind, and soul.    In order to do this you will need to make a plan and then stick to it.  Just as you schedule (and hopefully keep) most of your appointments at work, for getting your hair cut or you nails done, seeing your doctor, or going out to lunch.  Things typically don't just "fall into place" unless you spend some time and energy making them happen.  

We measure our life in love so do all you can to help yourself and help others. Walk in love... intentionally with perseverance.  

"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  
Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Collosians 3:14, 15

** Join me for "The Call" on March 15th at 6pm Pacific Time.  Dial 530-881-1300 and key-in 642848#  We will interview former U.S. Congressman and U.N. Representative Mark Siljander about his book, "A Deadly Misunderstanding" which addresses the Christian-Islam global conflicts.  

To contact me you can email:  Donna@DonnaSchuller.com