Reflection

Reflection was the topic for today's power lunch. I didn't share, but I while listening to others share I was reflecting on what reflection means for me.
I guess that when we take the time to reflect deeper on our actions and words, we manage to achieve a few things. We see instead of look. We listen instead of hear. We understand instead of know. And we feel instead of think. 
With reflection, we can find out our strengths and flaws. Then it's up to us to make the choice to build our strengths and to fix our flaws. 

Money $_$

Last night, the topic for the power dinner was MONEY. 
I didn't get to share, so here I am.
Money is energy. It is a symbol of all the energy that has been put into it, all the effort to have gained the money. Until it reaches your hands, there is a story full of energy behind the money, including the effort YOU put in to gain the money. 
So before you spend the money, compare the energy you spent to earn that money with the energy put into the product you are planning to exchange the money for. Is the value equivalent? Is the product really worth all the energy you placed into getting the money?
Also, your sense of self worth can also be judged by the way you spend your money. If you have a sense of scarcity and don't spend sufficient money on yourself, it's obvious that you don't value yourself enough. Worse still, if you find the need to steal, you really do not think you are worthy of having whatever you want. 
Money is a tool. It should be used for good, not for bad. Someone shared last night that 'I like things that money can buy, I love things that money can't buy.' That's true, because a lot of the best things in life are priceless. But the things that money can buy...they can either build or destroy you. Be aware of how your money flows.

What's the big deal?

Sometimes we humans make a really big deal our of nothing. We rush around doing things that are 'important', forgetting to slow down and live life. We chase after goals that seem to be of extreme urgency, but by the time we've accomplished the goal, what do we get? A little ego boost, that's all. And then we go on pursuing more. Think about it. We live in this vast expanse of a Universe. In comparison, the Earth itself is just a small piece of carbon matter in outer space. We are not more than a tiny speck troubled by big problems. Ironically, we create those problems ourselves. Human beings are funny. They want to feel important, like humankind depends on them. It's selfish, really, thinking that we matter so much. We DO matter, but the world does not revolve around us. Sometimes, things in life go wrong. When you feel like everything that matters is lost and you feel like giving up, think again--is it really so destroyed it can't be fixed? If your answer is no, good on you. Go out there and make things better. If your answer is yes, it's too late to fix anything--well, let me just tell you that every second is a chance to turn it all around. It's not too late to apologize to that person you neglected cause you were rushing to work. It's not too late to say 'I love you' to someone you've taken for granted for years. It's not too late to make amends with that person you've been avoiding all this while. It's not too late to call up a friend and go out just like old times. And when the going gets tough--think about it--is it really what matters? Stay true to yourself, don't lose who you are. THAT is what truly matters.