motivational

The Gift of Independent Thought Makes My World A Better Place

The Gift of Independent Thought Makes My World A Better Place

By: Dani Perry

“Our age is retrospective. It builds the sepulchres of the fathers. It writes biographies, histories, and criticism. The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. Why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight and not of tradition, and a religion by revelation to us, and not the history of theirs?” – Excerpt from “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blessed are the few who know the true beauty of their existence through their own eyes and experiences, and not through the guide of their oppressors who would have them only experience that which has already been experienced by another. The grass is green, it is written, and therefore you must accept on faith that it is so. How many understand the true nature of the grass, why is it green?

Some accept the grass is green “Because I said so” or because it appears so, without question and without wonder. It was the Scientist, the Thinker, who discovered why the grass was green. The thinker is never content to simply accept what is known or what is written. The thinker is not manipulated or confined by archaic thought and reason. He would never be so cruel and close minded as to confine the thought of those he has the pleasure of guiding.

If we stunt the growth of the corn plant, it will still feed the people. But then I have to wonder the possibility if it had grown freely beyond it’s potential. The tiny seedling, against all odds, pushes its limp stalk through the hardest bits of land. It has an unstoppable desire to reach as far as it possibly can. The gardener can stake the persistent plant and impose restrictions on its growth pattern, and it will grow straight along the path which was forced. It will still bloom and you will garner enjoyment from what it becomes. However, you will never know the natural beauty of the blossom or the sweet scent of its achievement of becoming what it was meant to be, rather than what you commanded it to be.

Blessed are the few who are able to enjoy the natural flow of their own life. The past does not dictate the path of the Thinker for he is impassioned by curiosity. He seeks understanding and wisdom of his own, not of another.

The Importance Of Breaking Cycles

“We must break the cycle before it breaks us”

Cycles can be vicious and are often hard to break. To break them, we must continuously focus on the big picture. We have to focus on the positive side of breaking the cycle. By focusing there we will find the cycle broken sooner rather than later.

If we opt not to break the cycle, it eventually will break us more than it already has. Not to mention there are already plenty of broken people in the world. By breaking the cycle, we can then begin to help those broken people in the world who are in a cycle quite like ours was.

“We know we have broken the cycle once we find ourselves helping

others break that same cycle. And with that, there is much hope.”

© Angela Bininger and The Empowerer, 2009-2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Angela Bininger and The Empowerer with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Day 3: Removing The Anchor

When restoring happiness and peace it is important to untie those anchors that keep us in treacherous waters.  After all, how can we get to a new destination if this anchor keeps holding in the same location? If we remain anchored we take the risk of being shipwrecked with one storm, or even one wave.

By removing the anchor and entering the captain’s seat we take control. We can then head into the open waters and travel around future storms  vs. sitting through every storm anchored and praying for survival. By steering ourselves, we are then given the option to plow through the waves and storms with determination. It also allows us to  keep a better eye on the forecast.

Our survival rate will increase significantly by simply taking control of the boat.

For day 3:

It is time to untie the rope, leave the anchor behind and set sail.

Once you start steering, you find that you are closer to Paradise Island than you had originally thought. However,  in order to get there we must first let go.

© Angela Bininger and The Empowerers, 2009-2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Angela Bininger and The Empowerers with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Take Time


I don’t usually write personal blog entries on here, however, today is different. The meaning behind this quote and photo deserve an explanation. This photo was taken in route to meet the president of a publishing company in Nashville a few weeks ago. I was there in  pursuit of my dream.  I was in the midst of becoming an official author.

It was all  just a simple twist of fate that I met this man, especially the way we met. We met on eBay, when he asked a question on an item I had listed. As we wrote back and forth we decided it would be worth both of our while to meet, and we did. It was an answer to my prayers, and a dream come true.

This dream of mine is becoming more real every day. My work will soon be in s15,000 stores across the country. It will be on shelves, which is amazing. Most know that it is hard to get shelf space in this country nearly 1600  books published daily by various authors. So to me just as any other author, this is a huge deal.

I am excited, I am passionate, and I have a zillion things to write. I can’t wait to see what the future holds, as I have more hope now than ever before. My happiness tank at this point, is pretty full. Now if I could land a job with the local newspaper, I would be in heaven.

“Find a dream and chase it. Happiness will then chase you.”

© Angela Bininger and The Empowerers, 2009-2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Angela Bininger and The Empowerers with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The ABC’s Of Life


© Angela Bininger and The Empowerers, 2009-2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Angela Bininger and The Empowerers with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Beauty In Pain


~ We will often learn more in ten days of agony than in ten years of contentment ~

Pain is a wonderful motivator that breaks down the walls that keep old behaviors intact. It guides us towards thoughts and ideas we may otherwise suppress, and forces us to seek answers from places we have never looked before. It opens our minds to ideas that hold the key to new insight, understanding, and freedom.

© Angela Bininger and The Empowerers, 2009-2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this websites author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Angela Bininger and The Empowerers with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Fighter

I went to see a band this past week, and received validation that I have been given a gift of discernment. As the gals in the band sang Fighter by Christina Aguilera the crowd sang along. I walked over to a man, and said “keep fighting”. I could feel it, despite his smiling outwardly and appearing to be enjoying his evening. When I spoke those words to him, he said “You have no idea. I’m fighting. I’ve had 5 brain tumors”, and he began to list a series of medical complications. He then looked at me and said “Out of everyone in this room to have said that to, you picked me. I’m fighting! This is weird! I have chills!”

Needless to say we became quick friends, and this experience gives me chills to even retell. We never exchanged numbers, or even our names. But it reminds me of the old saying “Be nice to everyone you see, they are fighting a battle you know nothing about!”

Breaking Cycles: Focusing On Who You Want To Be, Not Who You Once Were

“Life is full of cycles. Some are very short-lived, while others can become a habit.” 

When attempting to break a cycle our point of focus will determine our success rate in breaking that particular cycle. Whether it is a lifestyle change or a breaking of bad habits, “We must focus on where we want to be and who we want to be, not where we are or who we are, or were.”

In the midst of breaking a cycle, people may snub you. But that’s ok. With every snub you get there will be people sent to make up for what those judging your positive changes lacked.

Just smile and hold your head high. Focus on who you want to be, and when you get there you can look back and say “aHa! I sure showed them!” You will be glad that you became who you wanted to be all along, and that you didn’t let those doubting you interfere with who you are meant to be.

We all make mistakes, and we all fall down. People who stay down like to pick apart those who get back up, try again, and succeed. Ignore their non-sense, and keep doing what you are doing. Only you can make it happen. And there is a satisfaction in accomplishing things that others think we can’t. It makes me smile anyway.  


Knowing We Are Worth It, Being Treated Like We Are Not

We all know that we are worth something. That we have something to offer. That we have something about us that others can benefit from. For some reason, some of us choose to stay among people who don’t allow us to blossom. We allow people to treat us like we are not worth it, when we know we are. Why do we do this to ourselves? Is it our forgiving nature? Are we just insecure? What is it we are holding on to?

If you know you are worth it, then pamper yourself. Surround yourself with only those people who know you are worth it too and who value you. It is all too easy to get sucked into helping others and lose sight of our own self-worth. Don’t compromise your values, or beliefs. Don’t compromise your morals, or standards. And if you have, get away from the people who are sucking your life dry. You are worth it, and you should be treated as such. There are too many good people out there, to congregate with the bad ones.

Patience 101 – God’s Delays Are Not His Denials

Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials.  Hold on; hold fast; hold out.  Patience is genius.   -Comte de Buffon

I think of many scenarios when I read this quote. When I first read it I thought of a friend from my school years who had several miscarriages and still births. Finally on number six she carried a baby to term that lived.  God was not denying her anything, he simply had a better person for her child to have as a father figure. He had a different plan but still honored this woman’s prayer, over time. This woman believed she would be a mother, and she didn’t give up. And by believing it would happen, it did. Her patience gave her the life she dreamed of. Her refusal to hear from doctor’s “You can’t have children, stop trying” got her where she is today. Most women, would have stopped after a couple times. But this woman is strong, and knew in her heart she deserved this prayer to be answered. And it was. She has a beautiful baby girl. Her story gives me chills every time I think about it.

I also think of that friend with the “strained” marriage.  I think of how her dream as a child was to have a family. Something stable for her children. Some normalcy! I think of how they struggled recently, but by holding on and being patient they are now on the cusp of have that family they dreamed of. Something far better than what that marriage has known for so many years. By getting to the root of their marital problems they are discovering more about themselves and each other. God wasn’t denying them a happy family, He was just making sure they still wanted it. It took a little bit of heartache to move the couple closer, but it has moved them closer together. They held on, they are being patient, and because of that their golden years will be beautiful.

This quote reminds me of one of my favorite Bloggers as she works diligently to restore her marriage, and let go of the past. By God denying her love that resulted in an extra marital affair; her and her husband’s patience in restoring their marriage, the hours of counseling, and soul-searching will give her more love than she has ever known over time. If they are patient. God wasn’t denying anything in those moments of despair as the love affair ended. He was just giving her something better. He gave her a strong man to love her unconditionally, along with a chance to know more about herself. The situation that was once bad, has the potential now to bring a lifetime of happiness. Pure bliss!

When I read this quote I also think about how long I waited for a career. I stayed home with my children many years, and although I have a PhD in child rearing I felt inadequate when it came to careers. I felt like I had not done much with my life. I began nursing school and felt it was the best thing for my life. Every day I would leave for school excited. Thinking about my future as a nurse gave me chills.  It appeared to be the only solution to many problems. But as I sat enrolled in school spending 60 hours a week between my books and classes, it just wasn’t an option for me at this juncture in my life. I felt like I was missing out on my kids lives for something I can do when they are older. The timing just didn’t seem appropriate, and I will never get these tender years with my children back. So I stopped nursing school.

When I stopped nursing school I said I would find a career. That I didn’t need that degree yet. That my children were most important and that I need to be available for them. For  months I waited,  I cried, and I prayed. I watched my savings take a nosedive as I patiently and diligently searched for employment. I knew in my heart of hearts that God wouldn’t let me down. I knew there was something good out there for me.

As  a result of denying what I once thought I wanted, God gave me something better. Something better than a career I was only entering for money and job security. In fact, He gave me my dream. He gave me a career  that works around my children’s schedules. He gave me full-time pay for part-time hours. He gave me a place of employment but I can still  be here to put my kids on the bus every day, and also be here to get them off.  The income potential with this career He gave me in exchange for my patience, surpasses that of the degree I would have received this June. My patience landed me a higher paying career, without that piece of paper that says “she graduated college, she is smart enough to do this”.

These are just some of the things that came to mind when I read that quote. What comes to your mind? What has happened in your life where you thought God was denying you something? Have you thought He was denying it only to find out He had something better planned all along? Was  His plan was just different for you than your plan for you was?