by Lynn Sanders | Nov 16, 2024 | DMM Blog
Imagine what it might take to be a champion for civil rights over a lifetime.
To live the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
To honor that spirit for peace and justice over 60 years.
To make a difference in the quality of lives for countless people across the country.
I made that champion a few decades ago. It was on a sales call, and I was immediately impressed by this man’s values, character, and positive spirit.
That man is Reverend Clyde Brooks, Founder/Chairman and Executive Director of ICDHR (Illinois Commission on Diversity & Human Relations). Through his leadership, ICDHR is now sponsoring its 55th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Dinner. After last year’s brush with death, Reverend Brooks has persevered to bring people of all races, religions and backgrounds together – to learn, get inspired and take action.
The year’s event takes place on December 14th at The Cotillion Banquets, 360 S. Creekside Drive, in Palatine, Illinois, and everyone is invited to participate. You can reserve a seat, a table, make a donation or place an ad in the program book. Deadline to register is December 6th.
This may be the final year for this historic Dr. King Remembrance Dinner. Approaching 90 years of age, Reverend Brooks reveals he is getting tired. Through his educational programs, speaking, training and consulting, Brooks has touched thousands of lives.
I did an impromptu interview with him, and here’s an excerpt for you. See: https://bit.ly/BrooksReflects
Reverend Brooks has done so much in his lifetime…
His outreach helped provide jobs for minorities. Opportunities for women. For youth. For those facing drug addiction. For economic development. For scholarships. For supporting law enforcement. He serves as a consultant, theologian and minister. While many don’t know him, Brooks is recognized throughout the United States as a human relations building scholar.
Funds from the Dr. King Remembrance Dinner provide college scholarships for deserving high school seniors. Notable past speakers included Andrew Young, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and past President Ronald Reagan. This year, the keynote speaker is the Honorable Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives. There is nothing like this event in the country.
How did Reverend Brooks meet Dr. King? Initially working at a local YMCA, Brooks was assigned to be a “go-fer” for Dr. King and his family. He remembers picking them up at the Chicago airport, driving them to a rundown apartment building on Chicago’s west side, and taking them grocery shopping. Before long, Brooks was elected to the Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the only organization that was led by Dr. King during his lifetime.
After Dr. King’s assassination, Reverend Brooks got even more inspired to become an activist. He knew Dr. King wanted us to live in peace and harmony. “Those who believe in God and His leadership understand that God has no color, God has no religion, God has no culture. He is a God for all times.”
Favorite message from Dr. King? “This is our minute in time. This is our minute to lead. Not to dream. But to act.”
What does he want people to remember? “I preach a sermon called, ‘The Dash.’ On tombstones, there is a birthdate and an ending date. If the date is not at the end of your dash, that means you’re still living. You’re in the dash of your life. The question becomes, how do we spend the dash of our lives? I hope that’s a challenge for people to reflect and act upon, and treat people right.”
To learn more and reserve your table or seats, visit: https://icdhr.org. There are also opportunities to donate, place an ad in the program book or offer a gift for the raffle. Flyer-KingDinnerFlyer-KingDinnerYour action makes a difference!
by Lynn Sanders | Oct 26, 2024 | DMM Blog
Your Story Starts On The Inside
Growing up with a dad who was a psychiatrist and a mom who was a Sunday School teacher gave me plenty of opportunties for reflection.
Mom posted a poem in our kitchen, “Children Learn What They Live.” At an early age, I became aware of the importance of our values.
Dad encouarged the four of us kids to feel empowered by starting a tradition of family meetings. Whwenver we were concerned about anything or anyone, we could call out, “FAMILY MEETING!” And we all had to sit around the kitchen table to talk.
During Covid, I asked my three siblings if we could start online family meetings to stay in touch. They agreed, and we still meet every Sunday. I love having time to be together, and we can share whatever is on our minds across the miles.
As I’ work with a wide array of clients – large and small — I help them become aware of their words when they tell their stories, Every word we write, speak and share carries an energetic frequency. Words can attract or repel.
It wasn’t until after my mom’s sudden passing of a heart attack on December 16th, 2004, that I realized the impact of the words we tell OURSELVES.
Those words are the MOST IMPORTANT of all. That’s because we live with ourselves. When my mom passed away, I felt like a part of me had died too. I didn’t know if I wanted to continue living. How could I manage? I was saying words to myself like, “I can’t stand it..,,”
And then my back gave out. My body heard what I was saying. It got to the point where I couldn’t stand. I couldn’t walk. And I couldn’t even sit without pain. I found my way to a grief counselor, and I’d have to lie on the floor to talk.
Somehow, divine intervention happened, and I was led to an energy healer. When he asked me if I wanted to live, I answered, “I guess so.”
Then he said something that I’ll never forget.
“You can choose to be dead on the inside and alive on the outside. How do you choose to live? How do you want to honor your mother’s memory?”
At that moment, I knew what to do. I needed to start putting positive thoughts into my head. I needed to start telling mysefl positive words.
What stories do you think about yourself?
Can you tune into all the wonderful qualities that make you who you are?
How do you move in a more positive direction in crafting YOUR story?
Here’s a powerful journaling exercise, courtesy of Hal Elrod, to help you reclaim who you truly are.
- Write a letter to yourself in the 3rd person, acknowledging all that you’ve overcome.
- Remember and identify who you are when you’re at your best, so you can project that version of you into the present and future.
- Set aside time each morning for meditation, affirmations and journaling
If you’d like more help in bringing your story to life in a positive way, feel free to be in touch.
You can get regular tips, stories and strategies by opting in for my free story guide at: https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com.
You can also feel free to schedule a complimentary chat through my website. For those who want more indepth support, check out: https://asklynnsanders.com/CraftYourStory
Here’s to YOUR stories making a difference!
With Love,
Lynn
by Lynn Sanders | Sep 16, 2024 | DMM Blog, Personal Stories
Every morning (well, almost every morning), I consciously choose to start my day with six spiritual practices that set the tone for a GREAT day.
These practices are referred to with the acronym of SAVERS. They continue making a difference for my inner state and how I approach life. And I’m not the only one. These guidelines were developed through the wisdom of Hal Elrod, internationally best-selling author, speaker, and founder of The Miracle Morning. Hal faced two different near death experiences, and the SAVERS kept him going strong on the inside.
The SAVERS represent::
- Silence
- Affirmations
- Visualization
- Exercise
- Reading
- Scribing
It’s incredible how much clarity and inspiration can emerge when we dedicate time to nurture our mindset. The SAVERS awaken me to making the most of each day, because I become more conscious of my values.
Often, we’re focused on the gaps in our lives—what we haven’t achieved, what didn’t go as planned. Those negative thoughts can easily take over, but the truth is… they don’t have to. When we know our values, and live in alignment with those values, then we can feel good about ourselves. Even when things don’t go as planned, we can turn to a positive affirmation… and shift our thinking into a positive state.
For instance, last week, I was facing technical issues a day before my book launch party. My new zoom subscription suddenly required a password, and no one had been told of that password. Meanwhile, several people were having difficulty in locating the zoom link on my Eventbrite page. My anxiety level started rising. In my mind, all kinds of negative thoughts were popping up.
But then — like sun breaking through the clouds, something good happened. Unexpected clarity and encouragement. And from an unexpected source…. my mom’s spirit on the Other Side. Yes, I know that may sound strange to some of you, but to me, it was a blessing.
You see, I awoke on the morning of the book launch with a forgotten poem that my mother used to post in our kitchen. I hadn’t thought of in decades, and yet it was suddenly in the forefront of my mind. While I didn’t remember every word, I did recall enough of the lines to do a quick Google search and find this classic poem by Walter Wintle.
Its words were exactly what I needed to hear. They reminded me that we create our own reality with our thoughts, and I was determined to make that book launch a positive and memorable experience. Written at the turn of the century, this message is forever relevant…
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost certain you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lost.
For out in the world, we find,
Success begins with a fellow’s will—
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late, the one who wins
Is the one WHO THINKS HE CAN!
This poem gave me the boost I needed that day.
Our thoughts shape our destiny. And we get to choose those thoughts.
Sure enough, the book launch party was a success. It all began with one powerful thought: “I think I CAN!” For a peek at our festive gahtering, filled with uplifting, compelling stories, you can visit: https://bit.ly/BookPartyVideo
For those who’d like to empower youth, check out my new best-seller on Amazon: Adventures In Ecuador: Diary of a Volunteer. https://bit.ly/AdventuresBook
Here’s to your success,
Lynn
P.S. Get the 7 Keys To Build Your Business WIth Your Story at:
https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com
by Lynn Sanders | Sep 4, 2024 | DMM Blog
My dad’s health was declining, and I knew I needed to visit him in Florida while I could.
When I got to his condo, I noticed my brother and his wife, sitting nearby. I approached them with my blue “Who I Am Makes A DIfference” blue ribbon, and they shooed me off. They didn’t feel comfortable. Especially because it seemed silly, inconsequential, unnecessary.
Everyone was in such a somber mood. My dad wasn’t talking anymore.. He just responded to questions with a “yes” or “no.” I wanted to get the group smiling. I keep a stack of blue ribbons in my purse to lighten people’s spirits, and I definintely wanted to use them with their permission.
I turned to the caregiver, hovering beside my dad. She allowed me to honor her with this ribbon, a globally recognized tool to unite humanity through the power of love. She listened to me, as I acknowledged her kindness, compassion and dedication to my dad. I spoke freely from my heart, and her eyes brimmed with tears.
“You’re going to meke me cry,” she said. I smiled as I placed the ribbon above her heart.
I then turned to my dad’s wife, Hana, who had been my dad’s loving companion ever since my mom passed away so suddenly. Hana’s smile was so bright as I honored her. As I placed the ribbon over her heart, she exclaimed, “You made my day!”
Then it was time to honor my dad. I leaned close to him in his wheelchair, and showed him the blue ribbon. His eyes followed me intently.
“I have a gift for you,” I said. “It’s a blue ribbon that says, “Who I Am Makes A Difference.” Then I started reflecting about why he meant so much to me.
In my mind, I was remembering the year after my mom passed, and my dad had gone mentally off-balance. His anger was at himself, but he couldn’t face those recriminations, so my husband and I became scapegoats. Dad and I didn’t speak for at least a year. Forgiveness took time. Yet the sadness remained etched into his face. Hana had been a blessing to ease his pain. I didn’t want to dwell on those unhappy times.
So I focused on the good he did for me: supporting our family, caring for me as I grew up, taking me to Riverview when I was small. I asked if he’d accept my gift, and he nodded “yes.” He heard every word.
“May I have permission to place it on you?” He nodded “yes” again.
We both knew that love was the most important thing to remember. As I gently secured the ribbon over his heart, a small tear fell from his eye, sliding down his cheek. Everything was still. Dad motioned with his hand, beckoning me to move even closer.
With a great deal of effort, he spoke in a raspy, whispery, slow voice – “May I – kiss your – cheek?”
“Of course,” I answered softly. Dad’s head leaned towards me. In that instant of his kiss on my cheek, I was thinking – this might be the last time I ever see my dad again. A wave of sadness swept over me.
Yet in almost the same instant, another thought arose. If that’s the case, I’ll be glad that I have this memory – of honoring dad.
I then kissed dad’s cheek too. For a minute, we were swept up in a timeless love. No words needed to be spoken. I mentally took a picture of that moment, savoring the sweetness of just us together.
Over the year, my dad’s health worsened. Before I could catch a flight out to Florida, he passed away… alone in the hospital due to Covid. My brother Mark was able to sneak into his room just once, to see him for a few minutes. By that time, my dad was mainly unconscious.
In that final week, I was so sad that I didn’t get to see dad again. I felt some consolation in knowing that at least we shared a precious memory. That moment of us wrapped in a cocoon of memories filled with love. I’ll never forget it.
“Who I Am Makes A Difference” Blue Ribbons have touched over 50 million people worldwide in 12 languages, and the mission is to reach one billion people. Most people are never honored for simply being who they are. It takes just a minute to honor someone and uplift their life. The ribbon has even saved lives.
It certainly made a difference for my dad and me. A final tribute to my his life. And my acknowledgement of gratitude.
For those who want to learn more about this amazing empowerment tool, visit: https://blueribbons.org.
You may never realize the power of your words… or the power of a “Who I Am Makes A DIfference” blue ribbon unless you go out of your comfort zone, and decide to honor someone. It can make all the difference in your life.
.
by Lynn Sanders | Aug 22, 2024 | DMM Blog, Personal Development
Our inner story is the foundation of everything we do.
It’s the quiet, often unnoticed narrative that plays in the background of our minds, shaping our beliefs, mindset, and, ultimately, our actions.
This inner dialogue can either lift us up or hold us back.
The outer story, the one others see, is simply a reflection of that inner conversation.
We have the ability to choose how we are at each moment.
While watching the Democratic National Convention, I’ve been impressed by the recurring theme of joy. The choice to recognize the unity among us. To choose to dream in a better future for everyone together. That’s an inner story that deserves attention… because it’s focused on positive values.
So — what brings you joy? What are you grateful for? What thoughts run through your head that can be focused on a positive perspective? We need to be mindful of those inner thoughts every day.
To prepare myself for each day. I choose to do a meditation practice. It keeps me in a positive inner mindset.
I remember hearing the great motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar talk about the power of our thoughts. He said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing. That’s why we recommend it daily.”
When my new children’s book, ADVENTURES IN ECUADOR: Diary of a Volunteer needed to be reformatted four times — four times — it tested my patience. A wave of frustration swept over me. After a few minutes, I took a deep breath and calmed down. I decided to focus the positive thought — Let’s make this better!
I was able to rely on a very talented person who also shared my positive thinking. She redid the technical details. We collaborated with the vision and belief that everything will work out for the best. And it has!
Now, we’re planning a book launch party on September 5th at 7:00 pm CST, and I’d love for you to join us. You’ll meet Zully JF Alvarado, Founder/Director of Causes For Change, whose healthcare mission in Ecuador inspired many, including me, to help children in need. You’re invited to celebrate the launch of ADVENTURES IN ECUADOR — and receive a free gift too! I’ll soon be posting a registration page. We’re celebrating this journey of publishing, and would love to have you there.
You can check out my book on Amazon and on my site. Stay in touch with story tips and strategies by getting my free 7-Keys To Grow Your Business Story guide at: https://DifferenceMakersMedia.com.
Remember — the key to stepping into your greatness rests in your inner beliefs.
When you truly believe in your ability to overcome challenges, your actions naturally align with that belief. Then, the results you see in your outer world start to change.
It’s all connected—inner mindset, outer actions, and the results that follow.
So, as you navigate your own journey, remember to tell yourself positive thoughts.
Let your inner story be one of resilience, determination, and hope. When you get up after falling, you’re telling the world that you believe in your strength.
And that belief? It’s contagious.
by Lynn Sanders | Jul 4, 2024 | DMM Blog
Whenever you communicate, your feelings get transmitted along with your words.
Be conscious of your feelings when you reach out to someone new.
Are you connecting from an authentic feeling of wanting to serve? Or do you feel propelled to take action due to feeling needy?
Whether you say anything or not, people will pick up on your feelings and thoughts. So put yourself in a mindset of giving. You’re here to solve someone’s problem. You don’t need this exchange to be a sale. You’re here to serve.
The Irish poet, William Butler Yeats in 1823 expressed it best, “There are no strangers here: Only friends you haven’t met yet.””
If you’ve hesitated to follow up frequently, you’re not alone. Statistics prove that a “sale” typically occurs after 5-12 times of contacting. You heard me correctly…. 5-12 times of being in touch!
How often are you in touch with your ideal clients?
My friend and colleague, Bob Burg, an incredible speaker, internationally recognized best-selling author and trainer has this to say from his book, Endless Referrals…
” All things being equal, people do business with people they know, like and trust.”
That’s more relevant today than ever. With the whirlwind of negative stiff happening in our world, you need to BE THE ONE. Step out with kindness. Cultivate relationships built on trust. Be available.
While most people only follow up two or three times, you can follow up regularly. Demonstrate that you care.
The success you seek is in the follow-up. Nancy Matthews, one of the co-founders of The Women’s Prosperity Network, offers a 12-Step Follow-up System. Here are the first three tips…
TIP #1: Call to simply say, “Hi!” If you consider each person as a friend or a future friend, it’s natural to want to know how that he/she is doing. When you reach out to find out what they are up to, they will inevitably respond with – “What’s new with you?”
That’s your opportunity to share your news… Here’s a simple example.. “I’m doing great! One of the things I’m most excited about is a new program that I’ve launched ____________. (Then, you fill in the blanks.)
TIP #2: Email (or mail) something that matters to THEM (your prospect). For example, I want to congratulate you on your _________. Or “I just saw this article and thought of you…”
TIP #3: Send a card with a personal message. People rarely get letters or cards in the mail anymore. I use the excellent service at Mailbox Power. You can automate your cards for birthdays and holidays, as well as customize cards for any occasion. Here’s my link to learn more: https://mailboxpower.com/lynnsanders
Remember this: People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care!
Think of follow up as keeping in touch with a friend — or “friend-to-be.”
That makes it a LOT easier!
To Your Success,
Lynn
