 Are Americans still concerned with being pc? It's a valid question to ask in 2017. Riots aren't pc. Peaceful protests are ... riots are not. Ever. It's not politically correct to destroy someone else's property. Nor is it pc to murder or to admit you have murderous tendencies - in most cases, that is. From my observations, I've discerned we're only politically correct until the moment we feel we can't get what we want. Then ... all bets are off. I've never been a fan of pc nonsense and I seriously doubt I'd ever be accused of trying to be politically correct. I subscribe to a policy of honor, integrity and speaking the truth in love. My messages aren't always popular because the truth sometimes hurts. But on the flip side, it also sets us free. Therein lies the reality of political correctness - when the truth hurts so badly that we don't want to receive it, be pc instead or risk public shunning. We are a society of ever-decreasing morals which is the truth. But because that truth is uncomfortable, anyone who states that openly is called intolerant and worse. Political correctness is a lie. It's a facade. It's manipulation. Sugarcoating and denying the truth for popularity or bribery to gain something always leaves one party in a deficit. I say if what we're doing and speaking isn't improving and adding to the lives that'll be affected, we have a responsibility to choose differently. I desire for the people I mentor and impact to be free to live their authentic selves and truly be who they are in every situation. I want them to be confident enough to speak their hearts without fear of rejection or retaliation. I'm working on that one client at a time. I say political correctness is trash and I'm throwing it out with a bunch of other junk this year. Care to join me?  It's Spring and new things are happening all around me! Yep ... 2016 has truly turned into a true Jubilee season. I shared previously that I'm in my 20th year as a road runner and I've used this milestone as inspiration to change my game. Consequently, as I've accomplished more in my running realm that confidence has spilled over into other areas of my life. This is a normal occurrence - often once we hit success in one area, the hunger to be successful in other realms ignites and we go for it. Here are some of the firsts I've achieved already in 2016:
I enjoyed the first virtual race I did very much so I'm doing another this month. I welcome you to join me. Sometime between April 15 and 30 I'm going to run a regular 10k for The Incredible Virtual Run and collect a sweet finisher's medal in the process. You may ask why anyone would bother signing up for a virtual run when they already run anyway. Lots of reasons. My mains are I like the bling without the crowd, early race time and competition. As I mentioned above I run as my chosen form of exercise and I've been doing it alone for two decades. I've never enjoyed fraternizing when working out - which is one of the reasons I don't like gyms. With virtual races, I have all the spoils of being a runner on my own terms and schedule; and being a teacher I appreciate that Level Up Runs donates to schools' sports programs. I hope you're breaking through old mindsets and limitations in this season and making your own list of firsts. I hope this post inspired you to try something new. I'm telling you ... the right inspiration is contagious. If you find it, you'll be unstoppable. I'm a witness. I'd love to help you locate the motivation you need to achieve your next milestone. Schedule a call or book a package today. The newness of Spring is waiting for you to take hold. Do it now. #IWill   My 2016 running season is progressing wonderfully. I completed my longest run - distance and duration - of the year 3 weeks ahead of schedule. I'm a warm-weather runner, and spring came early in the Northwest so I'm taking full advantage of it. I did my first run February 17; two full months before I began last year. Here it is three weeks later and I completed my first five-miler of the year. I'm excited about that because I usually take 6-8 weeks to get up to hour runs of 5 or more miles. I did it in three weeks because I joined a running a group and a challenge to run at least 1000 KM (621.371192 miles) this year. It's amazing how little electronic badges on an app and 10,000 others who love running can motivate you to push yourself to achieve your goals. I even ran five days straight last week. Which is a quite a bit of running for recently coming off of a four-month break. I'd planned to rest Thursday but the weather was gorge so I had to get in a 5K. Then I planned to rest Friday but someone proposed #FiveMileFriday so I went for it. I ran slow and talked myself through it. The strategies I used to get through this milestone have been included in my talk on supernatural strategies for success I'm giving at The 3rd Annual Grow Your Dreams Conference in April. By pushing myself in running this year I've seen many success strategies with fresh eyes. They include:
 You will rise to the level of your expectation. Get in the habit of setting your expectations for excellence and win.  DISCLAIMER: If you're not ready for some blunt truth DON'T READ THIS. As a mentor I often help clients get unstuck and move out of wilderness seasons into harvest. But I have to admit there are a few who choose not to heed my wisdom and therefore, choose to remain stuck. That's right, dear ones, it's always our choice to take action or not. I recently spoke with someone who stated they had no control of their time. There's no truth to that testament. Even if you submit your life to someone else's control, your choice and actions of submission are always in your control. When you contract with an employer you may think you've given up control of your time, but that's not true either. You're contracting a certain number of hours per day each week to perform specific tasks in exchange for pay. You chose what to do with your life and time when you accepted the position. If you're working a job where you feel stuck and that you have no control, there are a few things you need to do.
You have the power to get unstuck. You have control of your life and can make it excellent. Sometimes we stay stuck because we're only using the information we have to date and we can't go any further until we seek counsel. If you're stuck and need a supernatural strategy to move forward schedule a call with me today.   You have to take control of what enters, cycles through and rests in your mind.  Image Copyright Geralt 2015 You know those people that get on your nerves? The ones that rub you the wrong way? We all have them. It's kind of a part of life. But it's also a learning opportunity. There's no way in the world that we'll get along with everyone. I don't expect or believe that's possible. What I do know is possible is that we can grow and improve inwardly and outwardly in situations where friction exists during interactions with others. I recently witnessed and was able to provide counsel for an interpersonal interaction where frustration was mounting and about to explode. There are several variables that determine how to behave when someone's getting on our nerves but I'll only cover a few for us here. First, we want to check our attitudes. This includes our thoughts, feelings and motives for receiving another's actions as irritations. In the situation I witnessed, the person who resembled the photo above was frustrated because of unmet expectations. Second, we need to check for understanding. We need to know if the other party has the necessary knowledge, tools and skills to meet the communicated objectives. Third, we must check our words. It's easy when someone's getting our nerves to be sarcastic, snotty, bratty and the like. Negative words and a condescending tone never correct a deteriorating interpersonal interaction. Use every opportunity possible to speak life into every situation. And if you mess up, when you realize it, apologize sincerely. If you employ these three strategies the next time someone's pushing your buttons, you'll reap the benefits of being a peacemaker. And if you're skilled at bringing peace into heated situations, that makes you a problem solver! For those of you who are need of a problem solver to release peace into your situation shedule a call or book a mentoring package today.  We must develop, practice and maintain routines and habits that foster success in all areas of life.
I've been posting some good stuff on my Facebook page recently. Here's an example: WISDOM: If you're not living up to your full potential you may find yourself going through a midlife crisis halfway through your marriage and think it's the problem. When you don't live your purpose everything else in your life suffers. #zww This is the truth. I'm a people watcher, as many of us are, and I see couples going through the motions with no connection to each other and no plan to fix it because one or both are dry inside from not expressing who they really are. NOTE: I'm speaking of life purpose not negative deviations of any sort. It's going to be difficult for you to flourish in a relationship if you've bought into the 9 to 5, I have to be that go to work and come home spouse who's safe and predictable and does what everyone else does. This message isn't for everyone, of course. I've actually heard people say they just want to be average so I'm not speaking to you folks. I tried that life and it almost killed me. I'm not average. I guess I never have been because I get bored after I master many things and have to learn something new or I get cranky. Constant growth and progress is an inherent characteristic but I believe most people don't go as far as possible because their mindset on what progress constitutes is severely limited. For example, when I was trying to be average I thought a normal progression of growth in public education was the path I took - from classroom teacher, to grade-level rep, to school rep. and mentor of teachers. I received these promotions in four years and many people who'd been teachers for decades often asked me if I was "old enough" to be an Instructional Coach because they hadn't achieved that promotion after years of service. So, looking back at that fast track I guess I wasn't even average when my mindset was limited to a safe life and career. That life backfired on me anyway because when you rise above a crowd of average folks, some of them get ugly and they want to destroy you in the spirit of jealousy. I'm special because I'm an individual and we're all special. On the other hand I'm not special because every one us has the potential to live their dreams, passions and purpose. People look at me, are attracted to me (professionally) and hire me because I'm doing what they desire to do. I'm constantly growing, learning, producing, experimenting with new arenas and have a great amount of freedom in my life. I seem special and different because there are so many who have desires in their hearts but are afraid to do anything risky. It's sad. Life is a risk. Love is a risk. Living your passion is a risk. But the rewards that come are multiplied over and above what an average existence will produce over any amount of time. I'm a witness. If you want to learn how to expand your mindset and enter realms of possibility that lie beyond the average read my book Revelation is for Elevation. Chapter 2 is all about living a lifestyle of breaking through into the new. If you're ready for a mentor to guide you on your path to living your passions book a package or schedule a call today. I can customize a package to fit your budget if you're in between standard pricing. If you will listen and follow instructions I guarantee the supernatural strategies given to transform your life will produce the desired fruit.  |
Zari Banks, M.EdLife-Hack Strategist 
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