Solving The Puzzle

My wife and I have started playing a game called Kami 2 on our mobile devices. It’s a puzzle game where the player has a predetermined number of moves to change colored segments into one, unified color. It is addicting and if you really get into it, you will become frustrated. But if you keep at it and solve the puzzle, you will be satisfied...until you start the next level and become challenged all over again!

My wife introduced the game to her friend, who fell in love with it, even though she continually cursed it out!  She would play all night.  One morning, after staying the night at our house, she woke up tired. I asked her if she was ok. She stated, “Your wife has ruined my life!” I ask, “Why? What’s wrong?” She stated, “I stayed up until 1AM playing that darn game!  I got stuck on this level.” She wanted to feel the satisfaction of advancing to the next level of the game.  

We all want to do that! Whether it is a video game or real life: It may be a challenge you are facing on your job, a bully in school, a relationship issue, an emotional struggle, a financial trial, or a physical test with your health. Whatever you are dealing with, try the following:

1. Give yourself a head start - read all you can about what you are attempting to accomplish.
2. Focus on your task. Don’t allow your surroundings to distract you.
3. Don’t stop trying. Keep plugging away. Your experience is what will prepare you for the next level.
4. Connect with someone who can help you.  Community is so helpful when you are burdened. People can comfort and encourage you. They can also offer you helpful tips that you may not have thought of previously.

Many times, in real life, we keep ourselves up at night; we get frustrated; we fuss and cuss because we have spent SO much time on this level, when we know we should be at the next level by now.  

Try the tips above and see if they help you become successful this week in whatever you are facing.

Share your positive story with us below. The more we share, the more we help each other!

Grow

Have you ever seen a tree grow?  Did it strain and struggle to push out fruit or leaves?  Did you hear it say, “Uuuhhhgggg!  I have to try harder to make more branches today! Arrrggghhh, my leaves aren’t full enough. I have to struggle to get them to grow!”  No, you haven’t, because as long as it gets water and sunlight, as long as it is in the right environment, it will grow.

Babies naturally grow...if you take care of them.  If you feed a baby properly, giving them the nutrition and quantity that they need, they will grow.  I was checking on my daughter as she slept last night and I noticed something, she is now sleeping in her bed diagonally. I realized, she is almost too long for her bed!  Now, my wife and I need to invest in a larger bed that will facilitate her growth for the next few years.

Growth comes naturally when it is properly facilitated.

1. What area are you growing in?  
   
2. What do you need to change around you to facilitate your growth?
   
3. What can you do to maximize your growth?
   
4. What is blocking or hindering your growth?

Sometimes we hinder our own progress by putting off the steps we need to engage.  We may become distracted by life, our kids, our job, our health and/or our circumstances.  I know there is an area in your life that you want to grow in. You may have already started and become distracted.  I want to challenge you to choose ONE area in your life that you would like to grow in and take ONE step this week to fulfill that, to grow, to develop, to achieve success. Most positive things in life won’t happen overnight.  They take preparation, determination and focus.  

You can do it! You can grow.  You can progress. You can advance.  You can develop. You can be all that you want to be, plus more!

Leave a comment below and tell us what step you will take this week.