Words of Wisdom by Sheryl Lynn
The Local Applause weekly luncheons have a fresh and new agenda that is prepared every week by Sheryl Lynn, Founder of Local Applause. Sheryl Lynn writes from her heart each week, writing short messages that incorporate successful living thoughts and ideas. Sheryl's messages are filled with celebration that gives and receives meaningful applause to all in attendance. Sheryl Lynn focuses her day to day actions on walking the talk that she writes about. Through the 4 P's in each agenda, Passion, Power, Prosperity and Philanthropy, Sheryl challenges even herself to follow her own Words of Wisdom that she writes, reminding her to stay in a place of gratitude and peace constantly.
One of Sheryl Lynn's favorite authors is Aman Motwane. In his book, Yes, You Can Change the World, Mr. Motwane states, "If you want to change the world, you must change those which are all around you, and in order to change those around you, you must change yourself first."
Here are a few examples of the Words of Wisdom written by Sheryl Lynn and presented by the leaders of Local Applause at each of the weekly luncheons.
Voice
All good questions, and Christine Aguilera’s song, The Voice Within, gives you answers to some of these questions:
Just trust the voice within,
Then you'll find the strength,
That will guide your way,
If you will learn to begin,
To trust the voice within
Your inner voice, as the song says, is like your old best friend.
It took me most of my life to discover that old best friend. I always went outside myself to the books or spiritual gurus to hear what I should do. Then I saw that all my decisions, even if they took years to get me on the right path, finally came down to, “Yep I knew it all along.” My inner voice was always right. Who could possibly know me better than me? In fact my mental voice is now so connected with my physical self that I can stop and check in 100 times a day to make sure I am on track. I trust my inner voice 100%.
There are times when I have 10 projects in front of me and all seem equally important and urgent. I will take a deep breath and close my eyes. I put both hands on my heart, sit quietly for a moment…then one more deep breath. I then ask myself, “Which project should I do first?” One more deep breath. Then I listen. The answer comes almost immediately. It is clear, based on what I hear from my inner voice, which project I will do next.
Throughout history, the world’s great visionaries -- Mother Teresa, George Washington, Paul Revere, Erin Brokovich -- took their passions into the world by looking inwardly for the right thing to do.
So the next time you are faced with a decision, perhaps about who to spend time with, what to say about a sensitive issue, how to approach a co-worker or boss about a new idea, what to have for dinner or whether or not you should come out for a Local Applause Luncheon…always take a moment to listen to your inner voice.
TODAY
Today, decide that there will be a conclusion, a result, a finished product, a goal achieved. The wishing and hoping are over. Decide today that the “maybe this will happen” days are over, and “I will do that tomorrow” is only for those who never get to tomorrow, and “someday” was just dropped from your vocabulary.
Today is a day distinct from yesterday and from tomorrow! There is nothing we can do about yesterday except appreciate the moments worth remembering; everything else can be forgotten. Tomorrow may never come, so all you really have is right now, this moment, and, for the purpose of this conversation, let’s extend right now all the way through this ENTIRE DAY. From this moment until you nod off to sleep this evening, you have thousands of opportunities to pick from, hundreds of decisions to make, and many magical moments to create. What are you waiting for?
Now let’s suppose you do live way into your 80’s and 90’s and even past 100! Then you can take the advice of Harriet Martineau: “You better live your best and act your best and think your best today, for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow.”
Today! There is no better time to feel good and to achieve our dreams and goals than today. There is no more perfect time to be happy than today. Life will always offer challenges, but the decision to be happy in spite of them is your choice. Happiness is within your grasp, right now, today.
Why wait…..
until your car or home is paid off
until you get a new car or home
until your kids leave the house
until you go back to school
until you finish school
until you lose 10 lbs
until you gain 10 lbs
until you get married
until you get a divorce
until you have kids
until you retire
until summer
until spring
until winter
until fall
until you die
Today, this minute, take out a piece of paper or your business card or someone else’s business card and write down number 1 and number 2. In the number one position, write down something that you have been planning to accomplish, something that you wish for, want or hope for, the something that will come someday. Write it down NOW. In the number 2 spot, write down one small, specific step you are going take today to get you closer to actually achieving number one.
For example, exercise and weight control have always been a challenge for me. I kept them on my “someday” list. My TODAY solution was, let’s go out to dinner and eat more, sleep more and relax more with ice cream. When my new pants size sent me over the top, I said, TODAY things are going to be different. So I wrote down 1 and 2.
1) TODAY I will start to be healthy and feel good about my weight with a sensible diet and exercise.
2) TODAY I will ask for help.
I asked my staff and my family to make sure I walked in the morning and evening, that I had a full glass of water near me, and that they help me have good choices in the refrigerator. After three weeks on this plan, the support has been wonderful and the sizes are going backwards instead of forward. I’ve already achieved way more than I expected. TODAY I have to walk twice, have a shake and some water, and look forward to a delicious dinner with my mother who is visiting from Wisconsin. That is really all I have to do, and, if I slip a little and dip into the ice cream again, I know that I will have many more Today’s to gain the confidence and support I need to keep going!
Take the time to write it down now. Have you all written your #1 and #2? If you take nothing else with you today, take this vow in your subconscious: TODAY. I will do it TODAY!
Never forget that happiness is a journey, not a destination. So, work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching.
