April 2014 Newsletter - Your Life ... Live It

Letter from the Editor

Spring is finally springing, and while in the mountains of Montana plenty of snow remains, spring is in the air. The snow pack is melting, the streams are quickly filling, and what I enjoy most is listening to the birds chirping. I hadn’t really thought about it much, except to enjoy it, but the other day it struck me… their chirping is about far more than entertaining us humans. Rather, birds chirp to communicate!Their chirping helps them to attract mates, warn of impending danger, identify themselves and their territory, and babies chirp to let their parents know they are hungry! (Something akin to a toddler tugging on your leg or throwing a fit. :) ) And, what I appreciate about the way birds, and other animals for that matter, communicate is that it is an innate part of their being, and they don’t care who might over-hear them or judge what they have to “say.” They simply communicate what is necessary for their existence… for their lives to work the way nature intended for them to be. It seems to me that we humans have some things to learn from our little feathered friends.Now, I realize this is a bit of an over-simplification. However, we make communication so much more difficult than it has to be. We attempt to read between the lines… our heads make up our response to what is being said to us before the speaker is even done speaking... we expect people to read our minds… we argue… we over-analyze… we judge.So, what would your life—your relationships, your business, your job, your family, your church—be like if you gave-up all of the “stuff” you attach to communication, and simply provide everyone room to fully and completely communicate when they need to? I can tell you this. There would be a lot less confusion and unhappiness in this world.Here’s my challenge to you: As you go about your life over the next few weeks, think about who you are being when you communicate. Make a conscious choice to communicate fully and completely without pretense or making others wrong, and give others room to do the same. You will see a difference in those around you. You’ll start to notice a tighter bond within your family. You’ll see projects at work getting done more quickly and efficiently. Give it a whirl. I dare ya!Warm Regards,

Clay S. Nelson

Your Life... Live It

Being unstoppable and living the life you say you want to live are not meant to be hard. As a matter of fact, you can even have fun along the way. There are lots of different ideas about what fun is. There is:

• Laughing so hard your face hurts
• Taking a drive down a scenic road
• Holding a newborn baby
• Singing along with your favorite song
• Teeter-tottering with your child at the park
• Playing on your church’s basketball team
• Watching the gorillas at the zoo
• Curling up with your favorite book
• Savoring a special meal with all your favorite foods
• Using your binoculars at night to look at the stars
• Seeing old family movies from when you were a kid
• Going to a sporting event with your favorite team
• Building a sand castle

And on and on and on!There are also many benefits from having more fun in your life. Engaging in fun activities promotes self-esteem, teamwork, physical and creative skills, friendships, and leadership skills. Health professionals tell us that having fun helps eliminate negative stress and physically active fun events can help prevent heart disease. And what about having fun while you work?As leaders, your loved ones and business teams look to YOU to set the standard! If they see you running yourself to death, not eating right, not exercising, not taking care of YOU, and not having FUN, your team is likely to take on the same “life is hard” mantra. And that won't help you or anyone else as they navigate the circumstances of life.So, remember, there is no fun prison! Go on… smile. Have some fun. What are you waiting for?

Think Before You Speak

Have you ever heard of the saying, "the sharpest and most powerful muscle a human possesses is the tongue,” and how can something so small be considered such a powerhouse? Well, we’ve all been victims and users of a sharp tongue, and it is never pleasant. So, how can you keep from hurting others knowing how deeply a simple word can cut? Think. Before. You. Speak.Here’s how:Step 1: Stop and think about who you are being. Before you communicate you should get clear about what you want the other person to hear.Step 2: Don't assume anybody or anything. Assumptions are the biggest roadblocks to clear and complete communication.Step 3: Be present to the person you are communicating with. Make sure they really get what you are saying and make sure that you listen, as well. Remember: Communication is a two-way street!Step 4: If you do speak something intentionally out of anger, say you’re sorry. Often the things we say in the heat of the moment, when we aren’t present to who we’re being, are hurtful, and when those moments happen, say you’re sorry. Ask the person you hurt to forgive you and forgive yourself, as well!And lastly, always remember the "Frog" Story:

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. You see this frog was deaf, unable to hear the others plea. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words ... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. So, from this day forward, think before you speak.