Elizabeth Lengyel, HR Consultant and Career Coach writes:

"I just finished reading the book, "Reflections from the Waiting Room: Insights for Thriving When Life Puts You on Hold". This book has been a blessing. The golden nugget is simple and profound.

Waiting is a common experience. For me, there always seems to be someone I'm waiting for or something I'm waiting to happen. Often I grow impatient with the waiting and instead of relishing the time, I find myself rushing it.

The epiphany for me in reading this powerful book is to wait with purpose, anticipating fulfillment and knowing that eventually waiting would end.

So many people seem to be waiting for the right something – right moment, right day, right circumstance, right home - that they don't relish the experience of waiting.

Instead of becoming impatient or discouraged, think of life's waiting room as a time to prepare yourself for the greatness that is to follow. Relish in what appears to be a delay in life. Don't rush it. Treat it like a pause where you can refresh, replenish and give thanks.

And remember that you don't need to wait alone. We're relational human beings who are meant to find comfort and wisdom, enjoyment in holding hands.

Thankfully, my waiting room is now changed. It is a time to pause and re-connect with the song in my heart. Dance. Rest. Prepare myself for when the waiting is done and I journey to the next big moment."

Don McCauley submitted this amusing story to the WelcomeJoy ebook. I think you'll enjoy it.

"Once upon a time, there was a man who wanted to hammer a nail into a wall. The man picked up the nail with his left hand and the hammer in his right. He swung the hammer with a mighty swing.

But, not being experienced in such matters, he missed the hail, hitting his left thumb with the mighty blow intended for the nail. The skin of the left thumb was broken and blood began to stream out everywhere, pooling on the floor.

“What the heck did you do that for?” screamed the left thumb.

“Do what for?” asked the right hand, acting rather sheepish.

It's rather embarassing to admit that one has bad habits, but it's a rare person that doesn't have a few. I know I certainly do.

Since I believe that our habits add up to become the sum of our life, I really want to change my bad habits. Easier said than done, but here's an approach that can help.

In order to break a bad habit (or develop a good habit) there has to be a more inspiring reason than “it’s bad for me” or “I should” or “I shouldn’t do it”. One way to do that is to connect your habit change to your personal definition of success.

Try completing the following sentence three times:

I know I’m being successful when…

What you've just done is to define the three things in life that you value most.

Here’s an example. A coaching client wanted to change his exercise habits. He had tried many times without success. I asked him to define his personal definitions of success, and one of his three statements was “I know I’m being successful when I am enjoying time with my family”.

I then asked him “how does exercising fit in with your value of spending time with your family?”

BINGO! The answer was obvious to him: “If I exercise I will live a longer and healthier life and be able to see my grandchildren grow up”.

Suddenly sticking to an exercise program was more than a “should” or even a “want”; it became a “desire” because he could see the link to his greatest value.

What about you? Do you have bad habits you're ready to let go of? Could linking them to your personal definitions of success help you?

One of the things I dislike most in the world is entertaining. And yet today, I am having 16 people over to my house for a birthday party. And I'm happy about it.

What? Isn't that a huge contradiction?

Let me explain. Yes, it's true that I dislike entertaining. I'm an introvert by nature and entertaining makes me very anxious. It also exhausts me emotionally.

So why do I do it? To give a good time to my family and friends. Today, for example, is my elderly aunt's birthday. She's a widow and her only daughter lives quite far away. I wanted my aunt to feel really special on her birthday. So I invited the whole extended family and am making a special afternoon tea for her.

Not only will my aunt feel special, but I know my mom (my aunt's sister) feels proud that I am doing this.

I think about these two women who have hosted countless birthday parties, Easter celebrations, and Christmas feasts over the years...and it seems only fitting that they now get to be hosted.

So that's why I'm happy about doing something I dislike.

Note added May 9, 2007: This article was chosen to be included in the Carnivals of Miracles.

A wise person once said to me, "We become like the 5 people we spend the most time with."

That's a powerful statement.

Think about it: even as adults we are subtly influenced by "peer pressure". We tend to pick up on the attitudes, language and mood of the people we hang out with.

So who are the 5 people you spend the most time with? Do they embody the "Welcome Joy" attitude towards life? Or are they negative, cynical and blaming?

And how do they treat you? Note who you enjoy being around. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself "after spending time with this person, do I feel stronger or weaker?" The answer can give you important clues on who to spend time with.

If you want to feel joyful, choose to have people in your life who:

· Treat you with love and respect

· Want the best for you as you define it

· Help you find out what you want to do and how to do it

· Encourage you to explore all your talents and interests

· Are thrilled when you succeed

· Listen to you when you need to complain

· Help you learn from failure without making you feel like a bad person

I encourage you to spend less time with critical people and more time with those who appreciate you. You'll notice a difference in how you feel about yourself and how much joy you experience.

Note added June 4, 2007: This article was chosen to be included in the following blog carnivals: Powerful Living; Positive Thinking; Observations on Life; Brain Fitness; Happiness Carnival and Carnival of Life.

It's my birthday today and I'm 50. People have been asking, "how does it feel to be the big 5-0" and I can honestly say GREAT.

In fact, I haven't been this excited about a birthday since the day I turned 10. See the little eager beaver pictured at left.

I didn't have this feeling when I turned 20, or 30 or 40. So what is it that is special for me about 10 and 50?

I remember when I turned 10 it felt so monumental - double digits! Never again in my life would I be just a single digit kid. I felt so grown-up compared to all those poor kids who were still single digits.

Turning 50, I have a similar sense. I feel like I am now a grown-up. Sounds silly, I know. But don't you find that even though the number on your driver's license says that you are an adult, you often feel like an insecure kid inside? I know I do. Somehow turning 50 tells me that I am definitely grown up. And I'm looking forward to doing grown up things.

Like speaking my mind more often.

And extending compassion whenever I see the opportunity.

And reading lots and lots about other cultures.

And being more responsible.

And being more frivolous.

And being OK with not knowing.

What about you? What does being grown-up mean to you?

In this article, Jacqui Tew shares how her sister's diagnosis with thyriod cancer taught her how to stop worrying about things that she had no control over.

When my sister was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, my need to help her leapt into action. She was ill with cancer three times and then had two back operations. All in all, she stayed in hospital 19 times over eleven years.

At first it was perhaps my family instinct to want to help her. As time went on, I became frustrated at her lack of wanting to help herself.

One great lesson she taught me was that you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink!

Her first cancer was in the thyroid and after having it removed she was put on a daily dose of thyroxin. Initially I used to ask her if she had had her thyroxin tablets for that day and she would say she had not done so. I used to worry because I knew it was essential for her to take this medication.