ChuckBehrens

Let Your Life Shine

October 30, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Often when I’m giving a presentation or workshop of “Palliation For The Soul,” I show this film clip.

I believe I’m the only bald man that actually buys Pantene Shampoo because I love what this makes us feel.

Every day, several times a day, we have opportunities to be Victor’s or Victims. Sometimes those lines blur seamlessly so it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between the two. And then we don’t look, so much as Feel. . .Experience the Difference.

When’s the last time, just by showing up, your life became EXTRAordinary? We all have the capabilities of inviting, making, allowing the very best of our lives to Shine and yes, it often does that best on our darkest days, our bleakest, grayest moments.

Make your Life ExtraORDINARY. Play your own Music. Be the Instrument that everyone needs in their Orchestra. Bring your Shine to the Shadows that lurk and haunt; Not just Today, but especially THIS DAY!

See. Be. Free that Luminosity Beaming to get out of you. . . .

Flat Compassion

October 28, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Yes…this is correct! Your eyes Do Not Deceive you. I’m not a huge fan of Flat Stanley.

For years our sister-in-law, Tracy, lived in Arizona and taught elementary school and had her class send Flat Stanley’s all over the country and one of them would inadvertently would find itself here in Bay Village, OH. It was great for the youngster who didn’t have anywhere else to send Flat Stanley because he would go everywhere in Northeast Ohio. The Art and History Museums, The Rock & Roll Hall of fame, Church, Lake Erie, Diners, Parks and yes, even my colonoscopy, unbeknownst to me, with his little blue booties and cap on.

I hate him. . . .

But, I’ve go to admit, Flat Stanley has been more places and and has touched more people’s lives than I will ever in the next 1000 years. He’s brought more smiles, stimulated more conversations, brought more people together and generally have made more people/kids feel good than my wildest imagination could ever conjure.

Hey, if Flat Stanley can do that, what about me, you, us? Maybe it’s a uphill battle or an unconquerable feat, but what a horizon to chase, huh? Because when it’s all said, done and complained about, Flat Stanley’s greatest trip is the one that takes us to the very center of Compassion. Now maybe, just maybe that’s the greatest, most adventurous trip he’s ever taken. . .and one that he continually invites and inspires!

Besides if you can’t strangle, dispose or beat him. . .uhhh, yeah, Join him. There’s much Compassion to not only receive, but ultimately to share and share and share again and again and. . . .

More Sunshine

October 25, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

You know what’s great about Sunshine?

Sure, it’s nice, it’s bright, it’s warm, it’s comforting and soothing. It makes for great lyrics and in moderate amounts, it’s extremely healthy.

Still, the best thing about Sunshine, especially when it has all of these benefits is simply this: MORE OF IT! A Second Dose! A few more rays just when you thought it was gone, buried behind clouds or the lateness of the day, only to show to you IT’S RAYS ARE A LOT STRONGER AND SOMETIMES MORE SURPRISING than you’ve ever imagined!

I wrote a previous blog post on the great song, BRING ME SUNSHINE performed by the Jive Aces and Alex, a member of the band, read the blog, saw the video and suggested to me how I not only might view IT better but how it is that you the Reader and better still, the SEE-er of video might be able to view it as it was intended.

You want to know what’s better than Brought Sunshine? M O R E Sunshine brought with even brighter, warmer rays.

A huge SHOUT OUT to Alex and the Jive Aces. . .let this be yet another opportunity for you to enjoy their GIFT, and more, a better, more enriched, way to be inspired to not only to Share your own Sunshine, but to throw in a few extra illuminated and Warmed rays to some unexpected person living in a Black & White World, begging for the Color you promise just by Showing UP!

Get your SQUINT ON as you reach for those Sunglasses that don’t so much Block, but let in THAT warm Light so much needed by ALL. . . .

Hearing What I Didn’t Say

October 23, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it

deosn’t mttaer

inwaht

oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt

tihng is taht the frist

and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be

a total mses and

you

can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae

the huamn mnid

deos not
raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Amzanig huh?

Except, you’ve probably seen this before and the point still is pretty resounding, isn’t it?

We all know what we say, but we honestly don’t know what’s heard or applied. Sometimes a “Hmmmmmm,” or a “Uhhhhh-huh,” is the most profound thing we could say or hear. . .especially if it allows another to say what WE didn’t hear!

Listen. . .again!

Bring Me Sunshine

October 21, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

I am often asked to do Team-Building, which in may ways, is just telling folks what they already know, what they know they know, what they bet their lives that they know, but for the life of themselves, never act like they actually know.

Often, what I actually do is just hold the mirror in front of them–very steady–so that they can actually not so much just take a quick glance, but an actual LONG LOOK at who they are, Right Now!

I ask, who has the Best Job in this room?

I wait and listen for the answers, always hoping for that ONE who says: “I DO!”

That’s the answer we should all be answering, isn’t it? I mean, if we don’t have the best job in our agency, our office, our department, well–WHO?

I have been a fan of The Jive Aces ever since I’ve seen this YouTube Video: BRING ME SUNSHINE.

It’s us, isn’t it? WE bring the Sunshine, the color to so many living in a dull, black&white world. That should always be our intention, our goal, the never-say-end-till-it-happens-affirmation, right? Well the good news is you don’t have to attempt it, or put it as a goal or even a priority or number one Intention: JUST DO IT–better than Nike’s favorite way of putting things.

Bring Me Sunshine.

Hey, it won’t hurt to throw in a pair of Sunglasses, either!

BE ALL to ALL. . .Every time! Bring Me Sunshine. . .be the reason I squint and reach for a fan because of the abundance of warmth. . .BRING ME SUNSHINE. . .Bring IT not when you’re ready to Give IT. . .but when it’s NEEDED!

Bring Me Sunshine–NOW!

HAPPY BEGINS WITH “I”

October 16, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Well, Are You? Are you Happy? Now? Today?

Is now the happiest you’ve ever been in your life? If not, when was it. . .or When Will It Be?

Poets, Philosophers, Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Song-Writers, Ministers, Parents, Men, Women, Children, You–all have an answer, a definition of what Happiness is. . .but if Happiness is anything at all, in any form, shape, size, sound, taste, feel, smell or touch really starts is an “I” doesn’t it.

The World will tell us where Happiness can be found and where it exists or how it’s concocted, but if it doesn’t begin, continue, end with, “I” then does it ever really exist at all or can it until the ‘next One thing’ that promises IT like so many things before IT?

I use to ask people, in passing, like so many others, “What do you do?”

I’m feeling more and more that it’s not what we do for a Living that contributes to our Happiness so much as what we do for a Life.

Happiness begins with an “I” Maybe John Lennon felt that, maybe someone you’ve always admired, respected, love, feels that way or thinks differently.

The Truth: IT doesn’t make much matter–IT’s what You think, Believe, Know, Live. H appiness with a Capital H begins with you and, oh yeah. . .how it Spreads best. . . !

Rearview Mirror Living

October 10, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Did you ever wonder why the Rear view Mirror in your car is about 100 times smaller than your windshield?

Asking the question SHOUTS the answer, doesn’t it?

We’re meant to LOOK AHEAD and NOT BEHIND. It’s always significant that we take quick glances at what’s behind us, maybe even following us–But, we are not going THAT way! If you try driving straight ahead by looking behind, would you please ALERT everyone, because it’s not going to end well for you or any of us.

Yes…glance, DO NOT GAWK, Behind often, quickly but keep your eyes where they need to be–ahead, always to what’s in front of you, to where you need to be heading!

And reaching your nearest Horizons, glance quickly back, remember, log the lesson, and look for the next Horizon out there inviting you Forward!

Meet me there. . . .

Filling IT up!

October 10, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Get this Image…you are traveling down the highway at least 10 miles OVER the speed limit not so much because you’re in a hurry, but because you are in a hurry to DO GOOD!

All of a sudden you hear a distinct little PING from your Dashboard that alerts shouts to you, “GET FUEL NOW!” But you’re in a hurry to DO GOOD and you have no time to spare. You pass one exit, two exits, three exits that are begging you to get off and FILL UP!

At first you see it out of the corner of your eye on the driver’s side mirror and then, well then it’s unmistakeable…it’s a BP truck, just in the nick of time and it’s amazingly pulling right up beside you. You make eye contact with the expert driver and he winks back at you and it is instantly known exactly what’s to be done next.

You hit the button and your gas tank pops open and the truck’s magical fill-up-your-tank-without-spilling-a-drop-mechanical arm extends and begins to give you exactly what you need without pulling off the road or even slowing down.

In a matter of moments, the task is completed. The Mechanical arm is detached from your car and your gas tank is not only filled to capacity, but it shuts your little gas tank door and your continue on–smiling and feeling extremely satisfied.

When’s the last time that happened to you? What? Never? Let me get this straight. We, who DO GOOD, actually have to take time to go get FILLED UP? Unbelievable!

Eating an apple a day doesn’t really count if you eat 7 of them on Saturday night! If we truly want to be Filled up–We actually have to do it–daily.

You can burn the candle at both ends and in the middle as long as you know where to get the wax and the wick. Psssst…we all know where to get that wax and wick, and though it may be different for each of us, we still actually have to go GET IT!

The fantasy is a great one–a BP truck pulling up beside us and filling us up without slowing down or even slowing down–but it’s a fantasy.

STOP. Pause. Go get your wax and wick and not only insure that you’ll burn unceasingly Bright, but you’ll go a very long way in your DO GOOD efforts in warming and lighting another’s Way, too!

The TEST

October 4, 2013 By ChuckBehrens Leave a Comment

Just the word alone: T E S T strikes severe Fear into the heart, doesn’t it?

But what kind of TEST are we talking about? Pop Quiz? Finals? Mid-Term? Or just a simple Stick-your-foot-in-the-water-to-see-how-cold-it-is-TEST?

Psssst…Every day is filled with all kinds of Tests and maybe the ones that are the most brutal are the ones we don’t even recognize as tests at all.

What if they’ve all been passed even before the taking?

Hey, is that question really on The Test?

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