Category: My Thoughts

Find your voice simply by activating it

It has been six months since I wrote my last post. I have been feeling quite restless, and lacking motivation. It is like looking at a closet full of clothes, and saying, ‘I have nothing to wear’..! I think a few ladies can relate to that! Haha!

So why have I resumed writing? I just completed Brendon Burchard’s book, The Millionaire Messenger. He shared a story of very shy girl in his class, who requested to make her speech after she missed a few important class, and was not expected to give that speech. We find our voice simply by activating our voices. That was the important message I got. Each one of us have a story to share, insights to enlighten others, struggles that others can relate to, and a heart longing to connect and reach out to others. Hence, I can find my voice simply by activating it – through my writing and sharing with others.

A few years back, I learnt from Live Your Legend about the 3Cs – Consume, Connect and Create. I consume by reading voraciously, and I plan to share a few books that I have read recently. In terms of connection, I have started to reach out and connect with people intentionally. Hence, this blog is my creation. Not just my creation – it is my creation to have an impact and to influence others. It is also a journey that I would like to share with my readers…!

Attitude of Gratitude

Attitude of Gratitude

Last month, I did a short talk to a small group of women on the Attitude of Gratitude. These are the three insights I shared:

  1. Being intentional in showing gratitude – show your gratitude with a token of appreciation if possible, or return a favour back – find the opportunity!
  2. Be specific with what you are thanking for, not just a general ‘Thanks!’ but be as specific as possible, e.g. thank you for taking care of my daughter when I was rushing with my work yesterday
  3. Being grateful gives me an opportunity to be a blessings to others – being grateful gives me the mindset of abundance and a willingness to share my resources and time.

Recently, a friend advised me that the best way to melt away my stress is to choose – gratitude! Write, write, write – write for what I am grateful for, write as much as possible! Then my mind has no time for stress, but it will be filled with joy, joy and more joy – through the gratitude and abundance in my life. What a wonderful advice to counter stress, and it works!

As I celebrate Malaysia’s 63rd National Day today, on 31st August 2020, I am truly grateful for the wonderful people and land of Malaysia, where I enjoy the most delicious Chinese, Malay, Indian, Asian, Western and fusion foods! We are a people of warm hospitality, generosity and compassion. And I shout with one voice with all Malaysians today, ‘Merdeka! Merdeka!‘. 

First Day of the Decade

The first day of a new decade! 1st January 2020. The letting go of the past year, and the beginning of a new year holds so much promises, especially when it is also the start of a new decade! How wonderful that we have new year to start, just like how we have a new slate to start with Jesus when we are forgiven and have a new life in Him.

Looking forward, I want to have an intentional life driven by my important values of faith and courage – to focus on what is important in my life, and do the meaningful and hard work required (not just the easy or expedient ones).

For those who are still drifting in life, it’s time to wake up and be truly alive and excited! May this new year and new decade be full of learning opportunities and exciting adventures!

Last Day of 2019

As I ponder the year that is coming to an end, on the last day of 2019, I am filled with gratitude for the many blessings I have received this year. God has truly been great and I have grown in confidence.

Starting this blog in July help me believe that ‘I can do it!’. And I treasure the friend who pushed me to start it, pushing aside my many excuses and setting a deadline for me!

What I learnt this year is that when things go wrong or when it doesn’t go as planned, I can trust God to redeem the situation and make something good out of it. As I have read somewhere, God will not waste our sorrows…

More importantly, I have learnt to know how God will put in place the things He wants me to do. He would plant the desire in my heart, present the situation and opportunity to me, bring in the people, remove the obstacles, and pave the way for His Will be done. This was most obvious when a friend sent me a message about Compass, brought in the people for this pilot Catholic group in Malaysia, set the time, provided the venue and brought in the facilitators! When God makes plan, He can part seas and move mountains! Alleluia!

May God continue to bless each one of us as we seek His Will in our lives. That He will bless us abundantly for the coming New Year and many more New Years to come!

Setting Goals to Spend Time Wisely

Setting Goals to Spend Time Wisely

It’s good to have a few good friends to remind me to set my goals for next year. So I reminded a few of my other friends too. One of them asked how I have the time to reach my 9 Power Goals? So I explained that it is due to my limited time that I need to focus on what is important, where I am heading and what I want to achieve. That way, I can spend my precious time wisely, to achieve the goals that I have set, in the important areas of my life.

For me, the basic 7 Power Goals are in the areas of: Business (Career), Finances, Family, Health, Spiritual, Growth (Personal Development) and Creation (create something – art, craft, write a blog or book, podcast, etc). You can have other areas like hobbies, relationship, whichever that is important to you.

The other two Power Goals that I have is ‘MicMarie’, which is my side business in photography and album designing; and lastly, ‘Soul’ for lack of a better word, where I feed my soul by writing this blog.

So, let me persuade you to think of the important areas of your life, and set goals to achieve for the year. This will also help you make better decisions in light of your goals and what you want to achieve. Time is so precious – spend your time wisely.

Now, Turn North!

In my last post, I talked about Seasons of Life. However, there are times when our seasons have overstayed – when we refuse to move on due to being too long in our “comfort zone” or other reasons. Then it is time to discern our season.

You have circled this mountain long enough! Now, turn north! Deuteronomy 2:3

As we come to the end of the year, it’s good to reflect and think of wrapping up some loose ends in our lives – especially things or situations that we have been stuck in a season for too long – to know what are the things we need to cut loose, things that are dragging us down, or detrimental to us. Seek God’s wisdom when He tells you that you have circled in a situation long enough, and commands you to “turn north”! It could be business or job situation, a long-lost family member, so-called complicated relationship, deteriorating health, dry spiritual season that is gnawing at you, mid-life crisis that is causing havoc, etc.

Discern what is your “north” as you advance into the new year, at least move into the direction of your solution or resolution. God had made plans for the Israelite to move into The Promised Land when He asked them to turn north. Seek God’s plan for His promises to you for the new year.

Seasons of Life

Four seasons of life – planting, nurturing, pruning and harvesting

It’s important to recognize the different seasons of our lives so that we know how to live according to the seasons, and not be impatient or give up too soon.

During the Planting Season, we start a new season or projects from the seeds of ideas, with the right people and tools, in the environment of fertile soil.

Once the season has started, we have to water the plants in the Nurturing Season, with our attention, love and care. We also need to build our skills and our team.

The Pruning Season is the season of facing the challenges and hardships, and persevering through them. We need to cut the excesses and excuses, and focus on what’s important for our survival and growth. This will take as long as it takes for us to learn the Lessons of Life for this season, so it’s best to ask: What is the lesson(s) here?

When we recognize this painful season, we will not give up easily, as the perseverance will bring us to the next Season of Harvesting. Many people do not know how close they are in achieving their success have they recognized that they have to persevere through the pruning season to harvest the success of their effort.

In my life, I’ve found that recognizing these different seasons in my life help me to persevere through the seasons, and to learn and grow in compassion and greater resilience.

Side Mirror

Recently, I lost my car’s side mirror at the passenger side. I felt so handicapped without it, as I felt so unsure when changing lane or parking or reversing as I can’t see my blind spot! It made me think of living life with blind spot and wondering what is my blind spot.

I figure that one of the blind spot I have is my limiting beliefs. Past bad experiences has shaped what I believe I can, and cannot do. Fear of Failure has kept me away trying new things. Fear of Winning has kept me within my comfort zone, as winning might mean more responsibility and new challenges.

My analogy of having a side mirror in life is to have friends, in particular, Accountability Partners, who can see your blind spots and hold you accountable for your actions. If you set any goals, be it health, business or any goals, your accountability partners can help you see through your excuses and justifications, guide you in your journey, get you back on track when you have sidetracked, and make you accountable. They should “mirror” who you are and show you your blind spots as you drive along your journey towards your goals. It certainly has a significant impact on my life having accountability partners!

Your Unique Combination of Talents

Many years ago, I read an article that had a profound impact on me. For years, I searched for my so-called talent, but could not quite figure it out. This article pointed out that we might not have just one single talent, but multiple talents, in which our combination of talents make each of us unique.

So, we may have many talented photographers, or singers, or authors, speakers – but the combination of my interest in photography and designing albums, my skill in organizing things and getting things done, my unquenchable thirst for knowledge through reading and listening to talks, my deep self-awareness and faith – this combination, is totally unique! Each of us have our unique combination of talents, and that’s so amazing to know!

Let us be truly grateful for our unique combination of talents, strengths, skills and interests! Then find a way to use them to make a positive impact and be a contribution to the world.

Welcome!

A warm welcome to my site, Blessed Abundance!

I had declared during a Women Empowerment Workshop by Milestone Trainings that I would start an online blog. That was end of October of 2016. I guess it’s not too late yet, eh?

I would like to encourage any of you who has a passion project you’ve always wanted to start – do it Now! I guess I ran out of excuses, plus a good buddy sat me down one breakfast last week, made me decide on this domain name – BlessedAbundance – and set a deadline to start it! Thanks, buddy!

The trick is to start small, but start!!! Dare to fail, learn from your experiences, improve, and just keep on going on! It’s way better to have tried and fail, rather than stay safe and regret not trying! So, don’t wait too long, as it will end up not happening at all!