Success! Accomplish! Succeed! Go forward! Job well done! All are words that can define success. Yet, success can not only be measured in the giant steps we take forward, but also in the smaller ones.  

Embrace. There are many times in our lives that we celebrate birthdays, graduations, and weddings. We need to celebrate these events, for they acknowledge a rite of passage. Yet, do we take time to embrace, to hold close, to cherish the moments right here, right now in front of us?   

We don’t have to soar to live in our greatness! Sometimes it’s okay to relax, sit on a branch, and enjoy the world around us! Let me ask you, when is the last time you took ten minutes out of your busy life to:   

Sit outside in nature?  

Lie in the grass and look at the clouds floating by?  

Watch fireflies light up the night sky?   

Embracing nature, embracing time for yourself, and embracing the little things can lead your mind and soul to the bigger things in life. If your mind is always focused on soaring, your wings eventually tire, and you must rest to flap again! You must take time out to embrace the smiles, the laughter, the weeds, the flowers, the birds, and the waves. Embracing the little things can create peace, joy, and harmony.    

Empower. Bold! Embolden! Pumped up! Brave! Ability to face whatever is before you! These are words that come to mind when I think of empowerment! Yet, many times, we allow what others think or say to us to shrink us into our smallness. We believe we aren’t good enough. We believe what we see before us is the truth about us! We are afraid of our success because we don’t think we can have or handle it! Our egos try to succeed in pulling us down so we won’t succeed. We must arm ourselves with empowerment, boldness, and bravery to do the things of our dreams. No one or no thing can harm us! We must be the creators of our destinies! The only way to do this is to believe, have faith, and know we can do whatever it is we want to do! We must think positively, speak positively, and visualize that we already have whatever it is we are facing. All of us have the power and the promise inside us to empower ourselves into our own version of our highest potential!   

Expand. Grow! To make bigger! Crescendo! Go beyond your comfort zone! We are not made to live in physical or psychological boxes for life. Just as we change where we live from time to time, we must expand our psyches and spirits as well! We must try new things! Go outside our box! Expand our worlds!   

When is the last time you:  

Took on a new hobby?  

Traveled somewhere new?  

Tried a new food dish?  

The time is now to open the door and step out!   

There’s a quote by poet Mevlana Rumi which says:  

“You were born with potential.  

You were born with goodness and trust.  

You were born with ideals and dreams.  

You were born with greatness.  

You were born with wings.  

You are not meant for crawling, so don’t.  

You have wings.  

Learn to use them and fly.”   

I challenge you to embrace all life has to offer you, big and small. Put wings of empowerment on and expand. By doing so, you may soar high, or you may embrace the sky around you. Either way, you will change the way you see and change the way you live!