making a difference – Life after losing a mother

FEELING HOPELESS OR HELPLESS TODAY?

November 6, 2024 by Mershon Niesner

If you can’t feed a hundred people, just feed one. Mother Teresa

The day after a national election is always difficult for a little less than half of the population. We may feel hopeless and helpless and asking ourselves, “What more could I have done to make a difference? What can I do in the future to make the world a better place?”

Yesterday I sat in the pouring rain (I forgot my jacket) campaigning for someone I believed in for city council. I had done other campaigning for her but yesterday I wasn’t making much of a difference. Most people in the community had already voted and my sign waving was receiving little, if any, attention. I could have gotten out of the rain and gone home. And yet, I stayed. I did it more for myself than for my candidate. I did it because it was one thing I could do. I could “feed one” or possibly influence one person. Just one! I did it to feel less helpless. I needed to DO something.

It’s like the story of the star fish. Hundreds were on the beach dying and a little boy was throwing one back into the ocean. When a man asked him what difference he was making when so many were dying, the little boy pointed toward the sea and said, “I made a difference to that one.”

Affirmation: I can feed one.

Coaching question: How have you taken care of yourself in the past when you’ve felt hopeless or helpless?

Photo by Pedro Lastra on Unsplash

Take One Step At a Time

March 27, 2019March 27, 2019 by Mershon Niesner

Break every objective into its smallest pieces and take action with just one of them, even if it is the smallest one and seems insignificant. Bahram Akradi, CEO of Life Time

If you recently set a goal to run a marathon, 26.2 miles can be daunting. Break it down and think of 29,000 strides, taken one step at a time, and it may feel doable. Writing a book is challenging until you consider one word, one sentence at a time. Losing weight starts with saying “no” to one dessert or one dinner roll. Last year, when I reached only a handful of people with this blog, I never dreamed it would be read by people from 52 countries within a year. It happened a day at a time, a post at a time.

When we break our goals into smaller pieces and begin to take action, we can achieve our objectives. We can even play a role in turning around daunting, world-wide events like climate change by simple, everyday actions like eating more plants and less meat or buying locally.

Affirmation: I can reach my goals and make a difference one step at a time.

Coaching questions: Where do you want to make a change in your personal life and/or in the life of the Earth? What’s one step you will take to make this happen? On a scale of 1-10, how strong is your commitment?

Photo by Bewakoof.com Official on Unsplash

“What Are You Doing For Others?” MLK

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019 by Mershon Niesner

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. Martin Luther King Jr.

I had a difficult time choosing a MLK quote on this day that we celebrate his birth. His words of love not hate, action, justice, and his saying, “What are you doing for others?” are all significant, memorable, and meaningful. Great teachers show up in our world but it seems we learn so little. The hate, injustice, selfishness persists.

We may not have the stature nor the faith-fired strength of Dr. King but we can make a difference. We have a voice. Consider what this one man started. One voice, one person’s action can stir the winds towards positive change.

Affirmation: I can make a difference.

Coaching questions: What cause or injustice matters to you enough that you will speak up and speak out about it? What’s holding you back? Your voice is significant.

Editing Your Life

November 19, 2018November 19, 2018 by Mershon Niesner

Good or bad, change is a foray into the unknown. Bahram Akradi, CEO of Life Time Fitness.

We all know that change is part of the human experience. We deal with change everyday whether it is in our relationships, our body, our environment, or our attitude. The world is constantly in a state of change. You’d think we’d have it figured out by now but change is frequently difficult.

The manuscript for my book is due back today from the editor. All the hard work I put into writing what I thought were the best sentences, paragraphs, profound thoughts and snappy conversation will be in question. Well not all of it I hope, but editing is about helping an author create their best piece of work. I’m ready for the change suggestions that I know are coming. Will it be easy? No! It’s the most difficult part of being a writer. Will I get through it? Yes, because I’m committed to making a difference and doing my best work.

Affirmation: I can make changes.

Coaching questions: What needs “editing” in your life? What changes will it bring about? Will you make them?