Combating Perfectionism by Christina Barron

"Artists who seek perfection in everything are those who can not attain it in anything" - Eugene Delacroix

Therefore...

Just Look at Things Differently by Anita Durairaj

Life is hard, and sometimes you come to a dead end. Sometimes you just have to forget, and walk a different path:

 And Sometimes you just have to look at things differently:

 

 *

And, hopefully, things will look better in a new light!







*I am so sorry, I have not been able to locate the original source of this image

Compliments by Christina Barron

Compliments.

Compliments are something that hold the power to make (or break) you and another person’s day. Therefore some people think compliments are risky and should be avoided. Whether that’s your view on them or not, here are some reasons why you should give genuine compliments and some examples of good ones to give!

1.       Positivity! Giving a real compliment forces you to focus on the positive elements in someone else’s life and can in turn expand your own positivity. You’ll start noticing that life is quite a bit more positive than you realize at first glance when you take a moment and complement someone.

2.       Attractiveness! The abilities to be positive, genuine, and appreciative are all very attractive traits to have!

3.       Fun! Being nice is a fun way to spark happy feelings inside yourself and your friend/acquaintance!

Compliments that don’t have anything to do with the other person’s physical appearance are the best, because they are the most seldom given/received. 

Just remember, complements are to be given to everyone at some point! However, only give one if you really sincerely mean it, because otherwise, it can come off in the wrong way. 

Why Failure is Actually a Good Thing by Christina Barron

Failure: "lack of success"

Nobody likes to have that word applied to anything. Be it themselves, a plan, an intangible concept - anything. The word failure automatically makes your heart start to split.

But it doesn't have to!  

A couple of weeks ago, one of my speech and debate club's coaches shared a very interesting article with all of the students, titled "You've fallen 99 times? You're hired!" written by Brandon Marshall. Read the full article HERE. She shared it, not to point out that some of us are less successful speakers and debaters than others - but as a note of optimistic encouragement meant to inspire us. 

The article talks about how employers should prefer job applicants who have fallen 99 times and only succeeded once over the ones who have succeeded 100 times. But why would an employer want to hire "failures"? 

Basically, failure can be a good thing. It is a sign that you actually bothered to take risks. Most people would much rather play it safe and stay in mediocrity rather take a risk that will either have them labeled a “success” or “failure”. An example of this would be not taking the SAT or ACT at all just because you might get a less than fabulous score. You will never know the results of that “might” until you take a risk and try! Yes, it could result in “failure”, but it could also result in “success”.

By taking a chance and exposing the possibility of failure, you build your strength and character by exercising determination. When all you do is succeed, you’re not risking or accomplishing anything. All you are doing is staying cozily preserved in your warm comfort zone. But to grow, you have to get out of that zone and try something new, which could quite possibly, result in failure.

So, next time you take a risk and fail, instead of throwing a pity party and giving up; simply pick yourself up, learn from your mistake, and keep trying. Failure is a good thing because it causes you to take risks that grow you into a much stronger person than you would be if all you did was succeed. 

Before You Post That Selfie by Christina Barron

Happy [insert selfie] Sunday!#SS #ChurchWasGreat #ootd #HashTagGameOnPoint #YouGetThePicture #NoPunIntended #CheesyBlogIntro 

If you happen to follow me on social media, you know that I myself am an occasional "selfie"*  poster, as is the majority of the teenage population. I don't have anything against selfies. I honestly think they can be a lot of fun and are a great way to promote [classy] creativity  and confidence, when taken and shared in moderation. 

However, the quote* below really sparks some deep thought that usually isn't a part of everybody's "everyday" selfie game. But it should be, especially for those of us who call ourselves Christians!  

Really makes you think, doesn't it? 

Physical attractiveness is merely skin deep, but the Lord looks at the heart. So next time you decide to post a selfie, I encourage you to remember that quote. Afterall, would you really want to share a picture of yourself with the world that is not a reflection of an genuinely attractive soul underneath? 

* "Selfie" is defined in the Merriam Webster online dictionary as "an image of oneself taken by oneself using a digital camera especially for posting on social networks"

*I am so sorry but I have been unable to locate the original source of the quote.  

The Inspiration of a Humble Heart by Cara Haley

             There are many great empowering individuals who thrive for a change and create a revival for the future. Their legacy lives on for years and years to come. Many have made a deep affect in history, such as Martin Luther King Jr, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Mahatma Gandhi, and Mother Teresa. I am personally, as a young woman, imbued by Mother Teresa and her ongoing caring characteristic. She lived an exceedingly humble life, one which she fully devoted to the better of others. She spread love where there have been little shown. Claiming a goal, she went all over the world, proving with humility that there was still some good in humanity. Living with love, she displayed a certain bright light we all have in us. Seeking first salvation, Mother Teresa saw the importance in life. In her book, Total Surrender, she spoke of the calling of the future and the power of the present, as well as our presence itself. When we lack confidence in ourselves, our presence loses its power. Mother Teresa believed that everyone has a certain ability; all we need is to embrace it. Once we accept who we are, we can then lead others with a compatible assurance.
           What I admire most about Mother Teresa is that she found joy in the simplest things of life. When she gave up certain pleasures in life to instead live like an orphan, joy remained in her heart. Seeing joy in every little detail in life, she truly lived. The words of hers that remain with me the most is: "Joy is love, the normal result of a heart burning with love." Love was what she looked for when things were failing hopelessly. Never doubting, she stayed firm in her beliefs, finding lasting peace that settled in her heart. Like all humans, she had her own thoughtful opinions, and in her works, they were expressed with an amendable acceptance. I truly find pleasure inside when I read about how she opened her heart up to everyone, no matter the culture separation. She loved others, no matter the divining differences. I look up to that type of courage, for it takes a certain degree of strength to love another. She loved like she always been loved. Mother Teresa encourages us all to allow love to not  only be the flame in our hearts, but to be the fire that consumes the selfishness that lies there. Imagine if we took Mother's Teresa's example and loved without one narcissistic cause.  I believe with that bountiful love, one with no boundaries, the world will be changed once more for the better. With a refreshed heart, one with humility and much compassion, we truly can live life with a new beginning.

Gather Around, All You Young Folk by Robyn Scott

So do you remember Kony 2012? That video that came out almost a year ago? A lot of people have forgotten about it. The video was released in order to start the movement and to advocate the capture of African war lord, Joseph Kony. Joseph Kony is the head leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), and is responsible for the abduction and murder of thousands of people. Most (especially those who dislike the organization promoting the capture and arrest of Joseph Kony, Invisible Children) think that the huge movement of justice and peace was a just a fad, and to be fair, many who supported it saw it as that. However that is not what the founders, and current supporters of IC want. 

The media with Invisible Children and Kony 2012 has burned out quite a bit. The videos that IC has released since Kony 2012 haven’t gotten near the attention. But that doesn’t mean that their fight is over. A lot of people think that since it’s 2013, that the Kony movement was a failure, and we’re just suppose to give it up now. That is hardly the case. 

Since the release of that video last May, the LRA has had two of their five main commanders captured. In addition, LRA killings have decreased 67%. That’s crazy! Invisible Children isn’t stopping here though. 

They are heading up a new project in relation to the takedown of Joseph Kony, and it’s called The Fourth Estate. The Four Estate is a Summit Leadership conference happening this August. This camp isn’t just for IC and their supporters though, and it’s not exclusively to stop Kony. It’s for everyone who has a passion for humanity and justice. 

They’ll be bringing speakers in from some of the most influential organizations out their, such as To Write Love On Her Arms, Do Something, Charity: Water, and so many others. Their goal is to inspire and teach the young minds of America, and encourage them to make a difference. By bringing new ideas to the table in order to advocate peace and justice throughout the world, we’re just getting that much closer to helping thousands if not millions of suffering families. If you’re passionate about bringing healing to the thousands of people struggling with self injury, they’ll have someone at the conference to talk to. If you want to bring awareness of the affects of bullying, homelessness, human rights, and others, there’s someone at the conference to talk to. And if you want to see clean water brought to every country in the world before you die, there are people at that conference who are waiting to talk to you.

There are a lot of great things that the young people (and old people, for that matter) of America can set their minds to. I believe that with the right knowledge, inspiration, and encouragement, we can do something amazing for our future. So gather around, all you young folk, we're going to change the world. 

If you’re interested in The Fourth Estate, or just wanting to know what happened to Kony 2012, here are a couple of videos to help with things.