A Bit of Inspiration for VERVE

Are you looking for something that sparks your interest or ignites a fire in you? Perhaps an idea, a thought, or a book that fuels your passion?

I offer you a Bit of Inspiration. These “bits” are meaningful to me and people with whom I work. Perhaps something here will arouse you, motivate you to leap forward, or help you find your way.

Thursday Thoughts are thoughts I have about life’s blessings, challenges, and everything in between. Inspired by what I read, listen to, observe, or somehow experience. Published on Thursdays! (usually)

My Thursday Thoughts began as text messages to my family. I wanted to get my voice out into the world and they were “willing” participants. A friend said, “I want ‘my’ Thursday Thoughts, too!” and my mother (yay for our moms!) wanted to receive “hers” as well. When I launched my website, I expanded my “audience” by posting here and sending via email. Sign up to receive yours below!

Possibilities
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Possibilities

Today I revisit lyrics from the song "Everything is Possible Now" by Clouds and Thorns. As the new year gets rolling, these words seem particularly appropriate!

"As time rolls on, I won't let life leave me behind
I can see the future coming
And man it's such a sight
But time will waste me if I don't stop wasting time
Let's dream out loud 
'Cause all we know
Has been turned upside down
Everything is possible now"

This song's upbeat tempo feels good and the words energize my soul. Everything IS possible now.

What possibilities exist for you today?

Create your life.

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Control
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Control

What can we control? What's out of our control?

As I think about what happened in our country yesterday, it saddens me deeply. That type of activity happens in other countries, not the U.S.!

One way I'm able to keep the sadness from becoming despair is the recognition that this occurrence is out of my control. I cannot control a crowd I'm not part of. On the flip side, I can control my right to vote. I can control how I respond when hearing and seeing horrible things happen.

It's a choice.

Create your life.

P.S. My word for 2021 is BOLD. I want to show up in my life with a fearless and daring spirit. I want to reveal an ability to take risks and be confident and courageous in who I am and who want to be.

What's your word?

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One Word
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

One Word

Happy New Year!

Start the year by choosing One Word that will provide you with clarity, meaning, and purpose throughout the next year. One Word will help you personally, professionally, and even while playing. You will build new habits focused around your word.

Skip the resolutions that become forgotten within days or weeks. Reconsider your list of goals.

Choose One Word that will stick the entire year!

Next week, I will share my word for 2021.

What will your word be?

Create your life.

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Humility
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Humility

"When we feel humiliated, the best reaction is humility." - Simon Sinek

How often have I reacted less favorably than this when feeling humiliated?! Can I count that high?!

This resonates with me because I often react from a perspective of "I'm right" and that separates me from myself and others.

I do not have to be right. When I react with humility, I give power to the relationship. I see the possibilities that arrive with another perspective.

What possibilities might exist when you react with humility?

Create your life.

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Your Strengths
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Your Strengths

The better part of my life has been spent seeking perfection. I often focus on what I did not do well or areas where I could improve. The pursuit is exhausting.

As a recovering perfectionist, it's hard to not notice the chinks in the armor. However, during the last few years, I have tried to shift my focus toward what I do well.

Let's choose to focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses. It's a conscious choice.

Choose to amplify your strengths.

Create your life.

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Be Thankful
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Be Thankful

I am grateful for family and friends, health, smiles, laughter, sunshine, and family gatherings (even when they are virtual).

Take a moment today and reflect. 

We have much for which to be thankful.

Create your life.

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Choose Love
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Choose Love

The opposite of fear is love.

What becomes available to you when you say no to fear?

What happens to your world if you say yes to love?

Fear is a choice.

Leave fear behind.

Choose love.

Create your life.

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Spread Kindness
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Spread Kindness

World Kindness Day 2020 is Friday, November 13.

Large or small, all acts of kindness make a difference. How does seeing, receiving, or giving kindness make you feel? Notice the ripple effect that occurs. The world is full of kind people. If you can't find one, be one. :-)

What will you do to spread kindness?

Need inspiration? Visit https://inspirekindness.com/

Create your life.

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Choose Life Giving
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Choose Life Giving

We all lead busy lives. Really busy lives.

Ask yourself, is what I am doing, life giving or life diminishing?

I started participating in a men's group a couple of months ago, partly for my own personal growth and partly as research.

In the process, it became clear this group was not for me, not right now at least.

I decided to stop participating. It's not what I wanted.

While I feel grateful for what I discovered, the experience was life diminishing. I did not look forward to the meetings. I left the (long) meetings feeling unfulfilled.

What might you need to stop doing because it's life diminishing?

Choose life giving.

Create your life.

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Catch Yourself Winning
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Catch Yourself Winning

Doing things day after day can get tiring.

Take a moment to consider, what are you doing well?

It's important to keep an eye on your wins, successes, and lessons learned.

Do not let losses or failures distract you.

Look how far you've come!

Notice what you've achieved and catch yourself winning.

Create your life.

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Victim or Creator
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Victim or Creator

Are you a victim or creator?

Do you feel as if other people or situations are acting upon you?

Do you feel out of control, powerless, helpless, hopeless, and at the mercy of unseen forces?

Do you place your focus on what you don't want?

Do you say "poor me" and feel sorry for yourself?

Or

Do you focus your attention on outcomes instead of problems?

Do you focus on those things in your life that hold meaning and purpose?

Do you focus on what you do want?

Do you take action to bring into being the outcomes you envision?

What is your choice, victim or creator?

Create your life.

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Being Positive
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Being Positive

Focus on what's going right in your life instead of focusing on what's wrong.

Accept that you are going to have bad days because you're not perfect.

Focus on what you can control rather than letting situations control you.

Remember to smile.

Create your life.

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Go For It
Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve Thursday Thoughts Mark Staelgraeve

Go For It

What dream do you have? How excited are you to reach it?

You might have everything going in your direction or you might feel like the odds are against you.

Do not play it safe.

Do not hold back.

Go for it!

Create your life.

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