Category: Purpose

CZD Feature Student of the Month: Dredon Lackey

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

In life, God blesses each of us with wonderful gifts… things we do exceptionally well with less effort than most.  Since we are not born with an instruction manual that tells us what those are, we can spend a significant stretch of our journeys searching for what we do best.  In fact, many of us don’t discover our gifts until the mid to late portion of our lives, and those who do know their gifts often don’t develop or pursue them.  As a result, many people go to their graves without ever knowing what they were capable of doing.  However, there are a select few individuals who have a finger on the pulse of what they are meant to do well before the rest of us.  By the age of nine, Dredon Lackey had already...

If Even Kobe Can Die Young, What’s the Point?

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Beyond being stunned, a sudden tragedy like this can trigger many confusing thoughts.  Kobe had smoothly transitioned into his post-basketball career and seemed to be on the verge of matching or surpassing his on-the-court success off the court.  He appeared to be much more at peace after basketball, and the radiant joy on his face when he was with his daughters was evidence of a man who loved being a father.  Such an abrupt end to an incredibly successful and happy life brings to mind the question: Why?  Why them?  Why so soon? Why now, when life was going so well and Kobe was doing so many good things?  If Kobe can have so many accomplishments and do so many positive things and then have them all cut short by sudden death, what hope is there for every-day people like us? 

Anxiety Sobriety: Freedom from Being Overwhelmed

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

Full of adrenaline, I paced the room with a nervous energy that wouldn’t go away. I tried sitting down, but then instead of pacing I began wringing my hands and rubbing my arms and legs. My body seemed confused… searching for a movement, any type of movement, that would release the energy I was carrying. My mind was spinning, and I’m sure at some point my lips actually moved, mumbling in an attempt to process the flood of thoughts swirling through my brain. It started with one thing I was worried about, then snowballed forward into a torrent of unpleasant thoughts that consumed me with fear and worry. The restlessness extended into the night and I could hardly sleep. For some reason I just couldn’t relax. This might sound quite familiar to anyone who has battled anxiety.

What to Do When Stuff Keeps Interrupting Your Goals

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

I had everything planned out.  Creating a schedule was a regular part of my routine, and I planned my day down to the minute to make sure I achieved all my goals.  I even built in some cushion between tasks to allow time for any delays or hiccups that might come up.  What could go wrong? I was about halfway through my day, and suddenly I got a call from my wife.

The Price of a Dream

~ Jonathan Clark ~ Leave a comment

Big dreams require big sacrifices.  The strength to make those sacrifices requires focus, clarity of purpose, and the willingness to swim upstream. The road to success can often be a lonely one.  There will be times when you are up late or up early working alone while your friends or family hang out laughing and having a good time or sleep in late.  There will be precious moments that conflict...

Cra-Z-Dreams Feature Student of the Month: Ryanne Foster

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Cra-Z Dreamer of the Month:  Ryanne Foster Sometimes you meet a person who has a light… an aura that glows softly with goodness and compassion.  It’s not forced or calculated but sewn into the fabric of who they are… as much a part of them as their eyes, mouth, hands, and feet.  The first time I met Ryanne was at a career fair at the local high school.  We were promoting our Cra-Z-Dreams life skills programs and she asked for some information.  She later attended one of our Love Yourself First workshops for girls.  Her warm spirit was undeniable and immediately stood out to our instructors.  We absolutely loved having her in class because she affected the energy and helped put the other girls at ease as we talked about self-esteem, self-love, and empowerment.  We later decided that she would be an excellent choice as our May feature student of the month.

How To Avoid Losing Interest In Your Day Job While Pursuing Your Dream on the Side

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On-the-job ADD (Active Dreaming Disorder) Have you ever had difficulty concentrating or staying emotionally invested in your day job after you’ve ignited that fire inside to pursue your dream?  The flames start to rage inside, and you can hardly contain your energy and desire to make it happen.  The mental dam that once withheld your creativity breaks, and a gushing torrent of ideas starts to flood your brain with no regard for timing or convenience.  Whether you’re in the middle of a project that’s approaching deadline, or in a monthly team meeting, thoughts of how you can bring your dream to reality continue to occupy your brain at all hours of the day.  They sometimes even keep you up at night to the point...