I’m Fired Up!

Inspiration is everywhere, all you have to do is keep your eyes open

                                                                                                   -Devlyn Steele

You never know where inspiration will come from.  Each week I wonder, “What will I write about? What will inspire me to inspire you?”  I never know, but life keeps rewarding me by teaching me something new, and delivering inspiring moments.

This week was no exception. I got my inspiration from a group of people you might not consider inspiring, but they pumped me up.  In fact I admire the strength and perseverance of members of this group. 

Homeless men.  Maybe you can’t imagine that.  I run a support group for homeless men once a week and have for the past two years. It’s through a non-profit organization called Chrysalis.  It’s an amazing experience. 

The motto of Chrysalis is “Changing lives through jobs.”  It was this mission that inspired me to begin work with them. Although soup lines are important, they do not effect change; they sustain the status quo.  As the Chinese proverbs goes, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime."
It’s this action based philosophy I stand behind. Because of it we see people make tremendous changes in their lives.

The homeless clients of Chrysalis learn job interview skills, resume writing, goal setting and more.  An employment specialist supervisees their progress, and they have access to phone and computer banks to search for employment.  The clients who come to Chrysalis want to make changes in their lives; they want off the streets. 

Even with the desire and all the support Chrysalis provides this transition is tough.  They face endless rejection.  Even when employment is secured imagine trying to organize your cleanliness and clothes, and get to work on time day after day, when you live on the streets. Most likely that first job pays a minimal wage, yet you are expected to save enough to get off the streets. That means rent, deposit and a bank account and how about having no possessions like dishes or pans or an extra pair of socks—to get off the streets. Trust me, this is no easy task and I’m describing the least of the hardships.  On top of basic obstacles there is weather, police, disease, theft, violence and still, this is the short list. Most people are quick to judge but few understand the real difficulty it is to get off the streets.

That’s where I come in.  The goal of the support group is to provide a supportive respite in this battle, where they know they are not alone, and help motivate them to keep at it no matter how tough their journey.

This week from the second I walked in I knew it was going to be a tough session; the air was thick with anger and frustration.

Clients were really upset about some things.  Although I work hard to redirect their energy, this particular evening it was simply not enough.  But then a magical thing happened, where a support group works at its peak. Group members began to share their experiences with each other. The empathy, compassion, the deep level of understanding could only come from people who have been there. One member said, “I understand you, because I am you.  I see me in you. I see me in him and him and him and in Mr. Steele, because we are all the same.” He went on to say, “I used to have the house, the cars, a wife and prestige. Now these last two years were nothing but tremendous hardship.  So I understand your frustration. But you can’t let it get to you.  You can’t stop.  No matter what, I am willing to do what ever it takes-- clean toilets, scrub floors, and hold signs in a chicken costume--to make it.  You can’t let life beat you. We have to be willing to do whatever we have to, and keep going.”

Story after story followed, each one inspiring me more and more. This dedication to change regardless of obstacles had me “fired up!’ 

So this week I would like to pass that inspiration on to you.  There is nothing that can stop you other than you choosing to stop. There is nothing that is over until you decide it is over.  There is nothing that you cannot change unless you decide to stop changing. 

I know change is possible. I work with people all over the world who face massive and seemingly endless challenges, yet they make change happen. Get fired up and look life in the eye:  You are powerful!

By the way, Chrysalis has a 92% success record in helping clients get jobs and take back their lives.  Change is not only possible, it is real.

If you want to get even more fired up come listen to me live, no charge, no advertising, during my Internet Talk “I’m Gonna…” on Wednesday February 20th at 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.  Learn a new Tool to help you take action to create change. To register go to: http://www.helpingourplanet.com/events/