Zee Power of One

c/o Stephanie Staples, an inspiration of mine.

She writes,

"If you have ever doubted the power of one, its’ time to reconsider. One cannot only make a difference, it can make thee difference.

Consider Kathy, a past audience member of mine who told me that when she was a young child she played piano. One day at a reception after a piano recital, she was pouring tea for a gentleman who said to her, “I hope you pour tea better than you play piano.”

Young and impressionable, Kathy was devastated. She took this information to heart and never played in public again. After our talk about limiting beliefs, old beliefs that we still hold onto, ones that don't define who we are now, she decided to let this one hurtful statement go and finally played in public five decades later.

One of anything, has the potential to make a huge impact-good or bad.

Think about some ‘ones’ in your world, for example: one person who caused you to feel 'not good enough,' one person who made a positive difference in your life, one idea you acted on that started a huge shift your life or one fear you conquered.
Here are some 'ideas of one' that, if implemented, could significantly increase your quality of life.

• Take one minute per hour to close your eyes refocus and reenergize your self
• Use 1% of your day for your own personal growth, that’s about 14 minutes
• Every month, write a thank you note to one person who has helped you on your journey of life
• Pull one tip out of every magazine/journal you read
• Pick one course/activity and try it before your next birthday
• Ask one new colleague to share your break with you
• Give one chocolate bar to the gas jockey
• Use one commercial to do an exercise.
• Let one old, limiting belief go.
• Go one day without looking in the mirror
• Plan one weekend this year to go away with a friend/loved one, just for FUN!

In this world there is no shortage of ideas, but what seems to happen is that when we are overwhelmed with information, we freeze and don’t do anything!

Just pick ONE little, itty-bitty thing to do and DO it!"

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Tikkun Olam

This is a newsletter I get regularly from Stephanie Staples, a personal life coach and wanted to share because the message is SO RIGHT.

Tikkun Olam.
If you are not Jewish, this is very likely a new phrase to you, it was to me. Traditionally, it means 'repair of the worlds' or in other words, making the world a better place for all living things.

I thought it an appropriate time of year to consider this statement since we seem to be quite consumed with either 'getting the perfect gift' or just 'getting it over with.'

How are we making our world a better place? I am not convinced that the latest video game, piece of jewellery or novelty mug is doing the trick.

Personally, I have been struggling with taking a mission trip to El Salvador this summer. My 17 year old daughter has committed to going and I told her some time ago that I would go if she would go. I really thought she wouldn’t go, but she is. Truthfully, I am petrified. Not of the danger so much as the emotional toil I know it will take from me. I do not want go, but feel I ‘should.’

When speaking with a woman who has done trips like this many times, I was talking about my fears. She told me in no uncertain terms to ‘get over myself’ and that this was not about me or saving the world. It is just about helping others who need help, period.


Then I learned about Tikkum Olam- and it seemed to be a perfect fit. Whether or not we travel to a third world country to help or simply consider how we can make the world a better place by simply BEING this holiday season and beyond..., what can we do TODAY, to make the world a better place for all living things? We can't all go to a third world country to make a difference but we can do things here.

· Foster a pet, visit a shut in
· Hold the door open for someone else
· Put $$ in the Salvation Army kettles
· Hug/ laugh/ smile more

The list is endless and your ideas matter. The thing is it doesn’t help if the thoughts stay in our heads and we don’t actually DO anything.

My challenge for you this Christmas and New Years is to consider Tikkum Olam- Repairing the World.

While we can’t do everything, we all can do something to make our world a better place.

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