You've Got 10 Minutes: GO!

A game was started among our bloggers back in 2009 and was included in my Feb post from that year. I've decided to continue the little blogger tradition and the letter chosen for me this year is "V". These are the ten words that come to mind as I think of this letter:

1. vocation- No matter what I do with my life, being a mom is by far THE most pleasurable task I've ever been given.

2. vacation- I would like that very much!

3. vegetarian- I could never be one. I love chicken too much.

4. view- My views have been changing with the help of the Holy spirit. I'm still wrestling with some that are long standing, but I'm getting there.

5. varmint- Gross! Makes me think of a dirty animal. Did you know it also refers to an annoying person?

6. victory- To experience this at every level of life. Guess it depends on your view of things.

7. vast- That's the kind of difference I'd like to make in just one person's life. That would be awesome.

8. vocal- Let my words be few and meaningful, that's my prayer.

9. Vistaprint- What a life savior for me this year. Love this website!

10. vintage- My daughter is a huge fan of everything vintage. I'm thinking she needs to make a lot of money to support this love of hers, starting with the VW Micro bus!

Hoping you will choose a letter this year and see if you can think of 10 things within 10 minutes. It's a good brain teaser for ya. :)

The Law of Empowerment:

Only Secure Leaders Give Power to Others- Many people gain their personal value and esteem from their work or position. Threaten to change either of them, and you threaten their self-worth. -John Maxwell, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

There's not much that equals the feeling of being empowered. It is absolutely invigorating. And there is not much equal to the feeling of defeat. It is absolutely depleting. My question for us to ponder today: Do we empower others or deplete them?

Let's look at leaders and followers...
In the words of John Maxwell, he says, leaders practice the Law of Empowerment by living out priorities. They live and lead from principle rather than from reaction.
Leaders are to...
1. Act from their principles.
2. Empower others even when it's difficult.
3. Live off of character.

Followers often...
1. React from their feelings.
2. Withdraw in difficult times.
3. Live off of emotions.
(taken from The Maxwell Leadership Bible, NKJV)

All of us want to be empowered, yet we leave it to others to give us our empowerment fix. We are constantly looking for someone to make us feel better about ourselves. Let us stop today! May I present that if we begin to empower others, we in turn will be empowered? You might not consider yourself a leader but you need to reconsider the idea. It is a matter of the heart.

If you are teetering between the two, leader and follower, then I challenge you to a duel! You have principles don't you? If not, get some. You need them. You have character for sure. Make certain it is character worth cloning. And when you feel the urge to wallow in self doubt and withdraw from everything around you, stop and think. Is this how I want to be known? Is this the legacy I want to leave? Draw your line in the sand. Decide this is the last day you will suck the life out of others and have others suck it from you. You are worth the fight for your own dignity and confidence.