Special Short, Defining Success for Self
On the door to success, it says: Push and Pull. Source Unknown Each month, Succeed and Soar shares a little video chosen to lift the heart and spirit, awareness and humanity. This encouraging, 5-minute short about defining success for self is narrated by Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey and has inspired over 19 million. Here are five more success wisdoms, Six essential qualities that are the key to success: Sincerity, Personal Integrity, Humility, Courtesy, Wisdom and Charity. – William C. Menninger Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement. –Foster C. McClellan Successful people succeed because they learn from their failures. –Bettina Flores The successful always has a number of projects planned, to which he looks forward. Anyone of them could change the course of his life overnight. -Mark Caine You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. — Woodrow Wilson Please enjoy Matthew McConaughey’s marvelous encouragement below. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire. Comment Where you are not is as important as where you are. Click Here to View. Defining Success for Self 5 Minutes 18 Seconds ************************************* Radiant Tree Books Wise Ways Making the Most of Each Moment Wise Ways shares observations and meditations on how to make the most of each moment. Topics range from time management strategies to handling Sub-Optimal decisions a/k/a mistakes, fearful situations and more. This book is beautifully illustrated, encouraging and offers lots of inspiration. 5×8, 36-page sketch journal $15 Preview / Purchase 8×1064-page sketch journal $20 Preview/Purchase Immediate Download PDF Full size $8.49 Visit Radiant Tree Book Store . All books 25% off through August 27, 2025. CODE: GOALS25 Thanks for your support!
Thrive! Fennel Season
Nature itself is the best physician. – Hippocrates Thrive! presents practices that can improve life. This post explores fennel. Of this vegetable, Whole Foods Markets says, “All parts are edible and delicious!” The bulb is often enjoyed raw in salads, salsas and slaws or braised, roasted or grilled. The stalks can be chopped and added to soups, stews, chowders and stocks. The leaves make a perfect garnish or addition to any recipe calling for fresh herbs.” Read more. Peak season for this six-foot tall, yellow-flowered herb is autumn through spring. WebMD reports fennel belongs to the carrot and celery family, is “common in Italian and Greek cuisines” and has a licorice flavor. Benefits include: Improved digestion by reducing bowel inflammation and the bacteria that cause gas: Less menstrual cramping by reducing the hormones oxytocin and prostaglandin that add to painful periods Colic relief for newborns Antioxidants. The rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid quercetin and apigernin help fight free radical cell damage. Lots of nutrients, like fiber, potassium, vitamin C and manganese. While taking care of allergies, while pregnant and breastfeeding as well as of interactions with medications, fennel works well as, Soothing tea made by steeping the seeds A cooking oil and for aromatherapy Soup by pureeing with lees and potatoes Thin slices that garnish salads Sausage ingredient In “Is Fennel Good for You?” Medical News Today reports the plant’s, Phosphate and calcium help maintain strong bones. Iron and zinc are, ”crucial for the production and maturation of collagen.” Manganese is necessary for bone matrix formation. Vitamin K intake reduces risks of bone fracture. Vitamin C supports skin health GaiaHerbs.com’s “Fennel Seeds, 9 Benefits,” recommends, Chew seeds after meals Throw Fennel fronds into smoothies Try fennel seeds in popcorn Add Fennel bulb to roasted veggies See 8 more tips. Why not try this Pasta with Fennel, Kale and Lemon recipe? From Serious Eats, here are “21 Fennel Recipes That Everyone Will Love.” For enriching information, see, Fennel Uses and Benefits Click Here to View Length: 4 Minutes, 16 See Also: Benefits of Fennel Seeds / Remedy for Good Digestion / Perfect Digestion 1:0011 Surprising Benefits of Fennel to Know 05:42 Incredible Benefits of Fennel Seeds 1:00 COMMENT Succeed and Soar! ******************** Radiant Tree Books Beyond the Sky’s Limits shares encouraging wisdom and uplifting images about going beyond boundaries and making dreams come true. Space is open for notes, sketches and journaling.Contact to arrange in-person and online Illustrated Wisdom and Writing workshops. 36-Page, 5×8 soft cover, $15 Preview or Purchase 48-Page, 8×10 soft cover, $20 Preview or Purchase, View All Books Thanks for shopping!
Leadership Choices, 2nd of 2
Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together. ~ Jesse Jackson Part 1 of Succeed and Soar’s Leadership series listed Harvard Business Review’s least effective administrators, the Diplomat who avoids conflict and Opportunist who wants to win any way possible. The self-oriented Opportunist manipulates and believes “might makes right.” This “psychologically damaged,” tyrant would also bully. As former Disney CEO Michael Eisner asked of the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show suspension, “Where has all the leadership gone? If not for university presidents, law firm managing partners, and corporate chief executives standing up against bullies, who then will step up …” The Harvard Business Review’s “Seven Transformations of Leadership” found the two most effective leaders are the Strategist who “generates organizational and personal transformation” and the Alchemist who “integrates material, spiritual, and societal transformation. For over fifty years, the Center for Creative Leadership has conducted programs in 100 countries and helped over one million alumni. Their list, “12 Qualities of Effective Leadership” includes: Self Awareness, meaning this trustee understands their “personality traits, behaviors, anxieties and emotions. While this is a more inwardly focused trait, self-awareness and humility are paramount qualities of leadership.” Learning Agility, knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do. Anybody can foster and increase learning agility through practice and effort. Integrity, to be consistently honest, moral and trustworthy. Gratitude, sincere thankfulness can lead to higher self-esteem, reduced depression and anxiety, and better sleep. Resilience, bouncing back from obstacles and setbacks. Responding well to challenges. See seven more Keep in mind, The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers. ~ Ralph Nader The goal of an effective leader is to recondition your team to be solution focused rather than problem focused. ~ Jim Rohn Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better. ~ Bill Bradley Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT.
Leadership Choices 1st of 2
People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader leads, and the boss drives. ~ Theodore Roosevelt This post opens a two-part invitation to consider people management, both personal and internal as well as external and chosen, including those elected as trustees and guides. The Harvard Business Review reported, Different leaders exhibit different kinds of action logic—ways in which they interpret their surroundings and react when their power or safety is challenged. … The least effective for organizational leadership are the Opportunist and Diplomat; the most effective, the Strategist and Alchemist. Of the two least effective, HBR found Diplomats are much more problematic in top leadership roles because they try to ignore conflict. They tend to be overly polite and friendly and find it virtually impossible to give challenging feedback to others. Of the Opportunist, HBR wrote, Our most comforting finding was that only 5% of the leaders in our sample were characterized by mistrust, egocentrism, and manipulativeness. We call these leaders Opportunists, a title that reflects their tendency to focus on personal wins and see the world and other people as opportunities to be exploited. Their approach to the outside world is largely determined by their perception of control. “The Toxic Bully Boss, Echoes of American Slavocracy Tactics in Adverse Workplace Leadership Styles,” could carry the Opportunist model further by stating that tyrannical leaders “express rage when things go wrong, and use blame and shame for motivation.” Tyrannical leaders often exercise unrestrained dominance to abuse the authority they have in their roles. The article “Bully is Not a Leadership Style,” calls these bosses “psychologically damaged individuals” and lists their primary tactics: He doesn’t have to physically push you against a wall like he may have done in grade school. Now he has the ability to fire you or destroy your career and he is not shy about making you aware of that constantly. The bully-boss loves to isolate his target from the team. This ‘leader’ will make disparaging comments regarding his target to the target’s teammates. He will often discuss the poor performance of his target and usually makes sure it’s personal, stating that “this guy (or gal) isn’t very bright, he just doesn’t have what it takes.” Sound familiar? Read more. Of the forces steering lives—whether within or external—John Quincy Adams offered noteworthy advice, If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. * Next Week: Part 2 of 2, Positive, Growth-Enabling Leadership Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Journals Record dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping
Word Rich: Dark Energy
I once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded, love lifts me. — Hafez Succeed and Soar’s first, the 2022 “Words” series explored phrases that could help appreciate and heal human experiences. The 2025 theme is astronomy. Although Dark Energy is invisible, this force fills 85 percent of the universe. This power pulls the galaxies away from each other. The closest galaxy to our Milky Way, Andromeda grows more distant by 1,122 miles each moment. The most distant, observable galaxy is now considered MoM-z14. It formed 280 million years after the Big Bang and grows more distant by nearly a quarter million miles each moment. Essentially, “dark matter” is the vast parts of the universe that cannot be seen but which affect what’s visible. While the universe contains a power that pulls things apart, the same energy exists within and around people. In the post “4 Hidden Influences That Are Holding You Back,” inc.com lists, Personal experiences Family Beliefs Cultural Patterns Social Imprints The well-being site Arcto360 reports, Since the day we are born, we are constantly inundated with the influences and opinions of those around us. Over time these influences often shape our default way of thinking, unconsciously guiding our perceptions and decisions. Since we have thousands of thoughts every single day, we usually don’t recognize how often our mind is making interpretations and judgments about the world around us without our conscious consent. To discover the ‘hidden influences’ creating distance from what the heart and soul desires, the Arcto360 article suggests these three ways to address personal ‘dark energy,’ Practicing mindfulness which involves separating events from responses. Mindfulness can be learned by paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Taking a walk and practicing yoga can help. Meditation can enrich mindfulness. Further, the Mayo Clinic finds “meditation reduces stress, anxiety, and blood pressure, while also improving sleep, attention, and memory.” Journaling promotes self-reflection and awareness that can uncover unconscious influences. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Click Here to View Dark Matter and Dark Energy Explained in 6 MinutesSee Also: Neil deGrasse Tyson: What is Dark Matter? What is Dark Energy? 10 minutes What is Dark Matter? 02:25 Fine Art America Journals Record dreams, hopes, plans and achievements in these beautiful, inspiring notebooks. Details: 6” x 8, spiral notebook 120 pages, ruled on both sides Art printed on front Cover is thick paper stock. Back cover is medium gray Inside front and back covers have pockets for storing extra paper and pens View All Notebooks Thanks for shopping!
Special Short, Pound for Pound
Consider Screenwriting is like ironing. You move forward a little bit and go back and smooth things out. Paul Thomas Anderson Each month, Succeed and Soar shares a little video chosen to lift the heart and spirit, awareness and humanity. This 2-minute short is from Dare to do, a favorite producer. The subject: Karma. This Hindu Buddhist concept suggests that one’s fate is based on past deeds and current intentions . [Like the saying, What goes around comes around.] Here are five thoughts on Karma: Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity. Edwin Hubbell Chapin But this was what happened when you didn’t want to visit and confront the past: The past starts visiting and confronting you. Bret Easton Ellis By each crime and every kindness, we birth our future. David Mitchell When you carry out acts of kindness, you get a wonderful feeling inside. It is as though something inside your body responds and says, ‘Yes, this is how I ought to feel.’ Harold KushnerS how a little faith in someone when they need it. It’s amazing how it comes back around to you. Garon Whited Please enjoy the two minute video below. Succeed and Soar!Sandra Gould Ford Presenting art to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thing and inspire. Comment Click Here to View. Pound for Pound 2 Minutes 2 Seconds Radiant Tree Books Wise Ways Making the Most of Each Moment Wise Ways shares observations and meditations on how to make the most of each moment. Topics range from time management strategies to handling Sub-Optimal decisions a/k/a mistakes, fearful situations and more. This book is beautifully illustrated, encouraging and offers lots of inspiration. 5×8, 36-page sketch journal $15 Preview / Purchase 8×1064-page sketch journal $20 Preview/Purchase Immediate Download PDF Full size $8.49 Visit Radiant Tree Book Store . All books 25% off through August 27, 2025. CODE: GOALS25 Thanks for your support!
Authors Speak: Belief
You may have tangible wealth untold: Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be I had a Mother who read to me. ~ Strickland Gillilan Authors Speak This Succeed and Soar series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. Welcome Lori Jakiela Lori, what phrase inspires your writing and life? Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies: God damn it, you’ve got to be kind. – Kurt Vonnegut Lori, share how these words helped your writing, your life. I love Kurt Vonnegut. As a prisoner of war during World War II, he survived the bombing of Dresden by hiding in a meat locker. He saw the terrible, nearly unimaginable things humans do to one another, and yet his focus, in these lines, is on kindness. Kurt Vonnegut, who had every reason to despair, chose hope and humor in the midst of tragedy. It’s not easy hope—he’s sensible, of course. But it’s there stitched between the sorrow. He is a great teacher of empathy—that essential element that makes writing and living possible. Belief Sample Text: When my real mother dies, I go looking for another one. The Catholic Charities Counselor’s word for this other mother I want after decades to find is biological. Illegitimate is another word for people who end up like me. It’s what I feel now, unlawful, unauthorized, unwarranted here in this office that smells like antiseptic and rubber gloves, hot teeth drilled down to bone. Review I’ve been having a hard time writing about Lori Jakiela’s beautiful new memoir Belief is Its Own Kind of Truth, Maybe. I think I love it too much. I think it hit too hard. As with the best art, I needed to chew on it and keep it to myself for a while until I found the proper words to express just how much the work matters to me. … About Lori Jakiela Lori Jakiela is the author of eight books, most recently the essay collection, ALL SKATE (Roadside Press). She received the Saroyan Prize for International Literature from Stanford University for her adoption memoir, BELIEF IS ITS OWN KIND OF TRUTH, MAYBE (Autumn House Press), has been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Pittsburgh Magazine, and more. She directs the undergraduate writing program at The University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg and teaches in the doctoral creative writing program at The Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Web Site Keep in mind, Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Beautiful and inspiring Succeed & Soar art can be purchased as posters, framed, metal and canvas. Art also available as puzzles, totes, blankets, mugs, greeting cards, notebooks, phone cases, pillows, towels, clothing and more. Shop All Art HERE. Collections change. Visit often. Thanks for your support!
Sweeter Than Sugar
Our bodies are our gardens – our wills are our gardeners. – William Shakespeare Thrive! Presents practices that can improve life. This post explores sugar and sweet alternatives. Six thousand years ago, the sugar cane plant’s juices were first extracted in India and Southeast Asia. Four thousand years later, sugar granules were produced. In time, they were refined into crystals. Cane growth and sugar manufacture then spread throughout the early Islamic world. Later, to the West Indies and tropical Americas, along with enslaved Africans. Until the 1500s, sugar was rare and expensive. When technology allowed cheaper production, more people could buy those sweets. In 2014, JAMA Internal Medicine reported adult men eat an average, added 24 teaspoons of sugar daily. Dr. Frank Hu, professor of nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health continued, “Excess sugar’s impact on obesity and diabetes is well documented, but one area that may surprise many men is how their taste for sugar can [cause] a greater risk of dying from heart disease. Of non-sugar sweeteners, one concern is their potential negative impact on the gut microbiome. This is a distinct ecosystem inside intestines. Its trillions of microscopic organisms include over a thousand species of bacteria, as well as viruses, fungi and parasites that help the body. Read more. According to Dr. Axe’s “12 Best Sugar Substitutes,” side effects from artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose, ace-K and saccharin have been linked to,” headaches and poor digestion to cravings and even mood disorders.” Are there healthy sugar substitutes? Dr. Axe reports, “Some experts like fruit the best because there are no empty calories involved and the sugars are naturally occurring.” Here are some popular, natural sweeteners listed by Dr. that Axe, Stevia (0 calories) Dates (1 Medjool date = 66 calories) Coconut sugar (1 tablespoon = 45 calories) Banana puree (1 cup = 200 calories) Monk fruit (0 calories) Manufacturers are now developing new ingredients that can sweeten foods and beverages without adding calories or chemicals. Sweet proteins are naturally-occurring compounds in some tropical plants and berries native to West Africa and Southeast Asia. Unlike conventional sweeteners [which are typically sugars or artificial compounds], sweet proteins are amino acids. Their names include thaumatin, brazzein, monellin, curculin, and miraculin. They are 400 to 3,000 times sweetener than sucrose [table sugar]. The better-known stevia and monkfruit are 200-300 times as sweet as sucrose. Because sweet proteins are metabolized differently from sugars, they do not raise blood sugar levels. Plus, their intense sweetness means eating fewer calories. To be used in US food products, any new ingredient must receive GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status from the FDA. While thaumatin has been approved, ongoing studies are testing safety and usefulness of more sweet proteins. Recipes Sugar Free Recipes 340+ trusted sugar-free recipes from appetizers to main dishes to desserts [includes cookies, cakes, cobblers]. 30 Days of Sugar-Free Recipes From enchiladas to salad dressings and more. Resources: 12 Best Sugar Substitutes Are Sweet Proteins the New Stevia? History of Sugar Sweet Danger of Sugar See These Videos Sugar Alternatives, 04:37 [Yes, sugar can cause health problems. But there’s another, hidden dietary culprit.] If You Quit Sugar for 30 Days, 6 Healthy Alternatives, 03:52 The HEALTHIEST Sugar-Free Sweeteners at the Grocery Store, 13:29, COMMENT Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Radiant Tree Books Beyond the Sky’s Limits shares encouraging wisdom and uplifting images about going beyond boundaries and making dreams come true. Space is open for notes, sketches and journaling. Contact to arrange in-person and online Illustrated Wisdom and Writing workshops. 36-Page, 5×8 soft cover, $15 Preview or Purchase 48-Page, 8×10 soft cover, $20 Preview or Purchase, View All Books Thanks for shopping!
Each Life Decade Well Lived
We arrive at the various stages of life quite as novices. ~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld Each decade offers obstacles and opportunities. Executive mentor Bobb Biehl, author of Decade by Decade, believes life has these predictable stages, Childhood Seek security Adolescence Self awareness Twenties Develop survival skills Thirties Career success Forties Struggles and finding significance Fifties Find one’s stride Sixties Strong strategic thinking Seventies Nurture next leaders Eighties Savor accomplishments Nineties plus Reflect and rest TheWheelofCreativity.com reports that, from birth to ten, “If we do not build trust, autonomy, initiative and industry in these early years, we end up developing mistrust, shame and doubt, guilt and inferiority instead. In short, we need to feel our world is safe, we can rely on ourselves, we are inherently good and we can do good in our world.” Wheel of Creativity adds, “as we develop social relationships outside our families, we begin to form our own identity and gain confidence in ourselves in the world. If we don’t develop this sense of self – either through too little guidance or too much control – we get confused and can spend a lifetime looking outside for someone else to tell us who we are and what we think and feel.” Of the next three decades, Carrie McEachran, executive director, Mooretown, Ontario, Canada says, “My 20s taught me the true meaning of unconditional love with the birth of my two babies. Setting goals and working hard took on a whole new meaning when I became a mom. “My 30s taught me that it’s okay to put myself first sometimes. It taught me the importance of self-care for not only my own well-being, but for my children. “My 40s are teaching me to let go of everything that has been weighing me down (negative friendships, habits, etc.). The 40s have also taught me to stop worrying about what others think.” For the grand finale, “The Ultimate Checklist for Every Decade of Your Life” recommends, After 40, find a solid mentor and take time to reflect on how you want the last two decades of your working life to pan out. … build meaningful and deep relationships with peers, friends and family. Remember, this stage is all about maximizing your own potential. From 50 to 60, stay relevant. Learn from those younger than you – and provide them with mentorship and guidance … carefully choose what you have the best shot at and commit to it. Beyond 60, maintain your legacy. … enjoy the finer things in life. Travel the world, potter around in your garden and give back to your community. Spend time with friends you never really had enough time for in the past. Tick those remaining ‘to-do’ things off your bucket list. Along the way, remember, There are three stages of life: youth, maturity, and ‘My, you’re looking good!’ ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower Aging is not “lost youth” but a new stage of opportunity and strength. ~ Betty Friedan You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing. ~ Arthur Ashe NOTE: If a life stage disappointed, one resource can be NIH National Library of Medicine’s “The Recovery Process“ Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Radiant Tree Books Life Well Lived offers floral photographs, wise words and invitations to see life as a garden of possibilities. This book also offers instructions for creating Illustrated Wisdoms and allows lots of space for personal notes, sketches and meditations. Here are opportunities to both enjoy life’s seasons and find enrichment. Details: 8 x 10 inches Sketch Journal [with guides and prompts] 60 Pages $20 Preview Purchase View All Books Thanks for shopping!
Author Speaks: Deep and Wild on Mountains
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader. – Margaret Fuller Succeed and Soar’s “Authors Speak” series invites writers to answer questions about their artforms and special inspirations. This post welcomes Laura Jackson Laura, what phrase inspires your writing and life? Somewhere someone’s listening to trees talk in a language like song, a song that’s been going on longer than time. —March Harshman, WV Poet Laureate, “Dispatch from the Mountain State” Laura, how do these words help your writing, your life? My writing about West Virginia always comes back to nature. The mountains, the rivers, the trees. They all have a language, and it’s easy to miss the words when we’re disconnected from nature. When my own words fail to come and my life takes a dark turn, I return to wild places to find myself, and once I’ve done that, my writing sharpens and I can push through the noise of everyday life to reach what I want and need to say. I hope I can do a good job of lending nature the human voice it so needs. Sample Text The irony of meeting a familiar face far from home is that, while we’re so excited to be out of state and seeing something new, the sight of another West Virginian strikes the sweetest note. We’ve found someone in this wide world who understands what we’re so unable to convey to the other forty-nine states. Review Winner of the 2023 Nonfiction Prize from Autumn House press About Laura Jackson Laura Jackson is an environmental writer, humorist, and native West Virginian. The author of Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums, & Finding Your Way in West Virginia, she’s been called “one of the true voices of West Virginia.” She writes for Wonderful West Virginia and West Virginia Living Magazines and lives in Wheeling. Web Site: www.Laura-Jackson.com Photo Credit: Heather Kalb Keep in mind, Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary. – Jim Rohn Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Beautiful and inspiring Succeed & Soar art can be purchased as posters, framed, metal and canvas. Art also available as puzzles, totes, blankets, mugs, greeting cards, notebooks, phone cases, pillows, towels, clothing and more. Shop All Art HERE. Collections change. Visit often. Thanks for your support!