The Missing Piece

Have you ever tried putting a puzzle together, only to get to the end and discover that a piece is missing? You anxiously put the puzzle together, constantly examining the picture of your anticipated outcome, and a piece is missing. Piece by piece you work, only to realize that something is missing -- and only one piece. One piece of the puzzle is missing, and that one piece makes a huge difference because the puzzle is incomplete. That missing piece changes not only the picture, but also the anticipated outcome. You search and search for that missing piece out of frustration because of your desire to complete the puzzle in its entirety.

If you find the piece -- joy and a sense of accomplishment are felt. And if you do not find the missing piece -- frustration and a sense of disappointment set in.

Much like a puzzle, we spend a great portion of our lives searching for that missing piece. Because of our desire to be whole and complete, we search for a missing piece of our lives, sometimes looking in the wrong place. We think that finding a mate and falling in love will make us complete. We think that finding that job with the eloquent sounding title will make us complete. We think that wealth alone will make us complete. But in the end, what we find is that nothing outside of us will make us complete. Wholeness comes only by finding the right piece to fill that void within.

The extraordinary thing about a puzzle is that nothing can fill that void except the piece that is made to go there. No matter how much you try to force another piece into that void, if it was not made to fit, it will not fit. So, the puzzle either remains incomplete, or you search until you find the missing piece.

Search until you find the missing piece. Is there a missing piece in your life that will make the authentic you come together? You have the choice to either search within to find the missing piece, or continue to live with a void. No person or thing can fill that void unless it is meant to be -- and when it fits -- you will know.

Copyright ? 2003 by Audrina Jones Bunton. REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this article only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged. You can find other articles to choose from at http://www.purposefully-living.com/mail ing%20list.htm

Motivational Speaker, Audrina Jones Bunton was born the seventh of eight children in her household in Pinehurst, North Carolina into a loving and committed Christian home. As she has 2 children, over 40 nieces and nephews and great- nieces and nephews, it is not unusual to find her under the same roof with many of her maternal five-generation family on weekends and on holidays. In her youth, she fondly recalls traveling throughout the U.S. with her family, as her parents ministered from state to state year after year-helping people as they traveled.

A graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, Audrina is a Competent Toastmaster of Toastmasters International and serves as the North Carolina District Sergeant At Arms. She is a former counselor of the Durham Pregnancy Support Services, a Christian-oriented crisis pregnancy center in Durham, North Carolina and is currently a Social Research Assistant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Audrina is currently studying at the Master's Divinity School in Evansville, Indiana with a combined concentration in Biblical Counseling and IABC certification.

She also serves as the Youth Director at the Come As You Are Evangelistic Center in Aberdeen, North Carolina where her mother, Lydia Jones is the pastor.

Modeling after a song that her mother so often sings, and one that Martin Luther King, Jr. often quoted, her life and speeches are based on the following lyrics, "If I can help somebody as I pass along, If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain."

Audrina resides with her husband William, and 2 children, Audrina Lorraine and William Woodrow.

---

Stained Glass Windows

Elizabeth Kubler Ross once said, "People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun comes out, but when the darkness sets in, their beauty is revealed only if there... Read More

For Those Who Have Suffered!

As one who has suffered from the long, term effects of trauma I feel compelled to share some experience and hope with those who seek to heal themselves and create true quality of... Read More

Our Life ? Our Choice

OK, maybe that's a bit of an overgeneralization but it applies most of the time. Basically, what I am saying is that we are what we are because that's what we've decided to... Read More

Glass Half Full

YES MY GLASS IS ALWAYS HALF FULL AND YOURS CAN BE TOO!Clients, friends and colleagues often comment on the fact that I am a walking and talking field of positive energy. They wonder,... Read More

Remember, Worse Things Can Happen At Sea, So..... Dont Ever Quit!

Throughout the many pages of scores of motivational books, with the Bible being at the forefront, we are encouraged to "not give up." We are told to believe that we can come through... Read More

Self Determination - Making the Most Out of You

Breaking the mold of being a child is difficult. The mere addition of years does not make that happen. The dependency many adults choose, in fact, keeps them in a child-like mentality. If... Read More

The Time to Act

Engaging in genuine discipline requires that you develop the ability to take action. You don't need to be hasty if it isn't required, but you don't want to lose much time either. Here's... Read More

2 Simple Ways To Cure Procrastination

Curing procrastination is not necessarily about will power or forcefully advancing in your goals but rather it is about learning why we procrastinate, what we are afraid of and finding ways to face... Read More

No, Fear! The Success is Yours (1)

Fear is the minds great mortal sin.And isn't it just at times when you have to risk something, that you Fear? Think about it! You've had a great idea but you don't tell... Read More

Creating Your Best Year Ever

January is synonymous with resolutions and getting organized is high on many people's list. Unfortunately, perhaps some of us make a resolution, when what we really want is a revolution.Twenty years of accumulated... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management ? the Value of Challenge

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation whilst innovation can be defined as idea selection, development and commercialisation.There are other useful definitions in this field, for example, creativity can be... Read More

Motivation To Change, Why Is It So Hard?

We encounter constant changes throughout our life; it could be educational, health, relationships or financial, and of course with oneself. Maintaining or increasing one's sense of self-worth and happiness are strong incentives for... Read More

Grit or Grace?

The grit of life is hard to swallow. You make a presentation at the office and someone points out a small mistake. The traffic was terrible that morning and you were late to... Read More

Motivation By Daily Applause

One of our most powerful psychological needs is the craving to be appreciated by our fellow humans. Often the quickest way to receive the applause we desire is to keep working hard without... Read More

Believe

It's like that old joke about how long did it take Bell to discover the light bulb. Then realizing it was Edison who did it. Though I like to think he developed it... Read More

The Conversation of Recovery - Part One

Transformational Counseling is all about assisting another human being to live a life that they love and to live it powerfully. Transformational Counseling is about creating a space for others to learn how... Read More

Are You the Motivator

We're all aware of how important teamwork is and how an inspired team, working together toward a clearly defined goal, can accomplish tremendous results. But how do you get all co-workers to pull... Read More

Contemplating Change And Moving Into Action

Do you ever have the sense that there has to be more to life than what you are presently experiencing? Those are the moments in time where you become consciously aware of your... Read More

Increase Your Energy!

It was only about 18 months ago that I could not even keep up with a 90-year old's energy levels. At my partner's family functions, I often sat with his grandmother who, by... Read More

How Much Fight Is In You?

"All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the... Read More

No Excuses

Don't you just hate it when people make excuses for their failures? So do I. But do you know what I hate even more? Finding myself making excuses for my failures! I have... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know what I mean by "complicated ? the dates and the duties and the things-to-be-remembered, the stuff that piles onto your plate with a... Read More

Have You Said Thank You Today?

'When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.' --G. K. Chesterton (1874 - 1936) English essayist, novelist, journalist, poetHow much time... Read More

What Motivates You?

As a life-long student of personal development, I've attended dozens of motivational seminars, listened to hundreds of tapes, and read untold books on the subject of motivation . I've presented motivational seminars. And... Read More

Boost Your Bottom Line by Asking Powerful Questions

"He who asks questions cannot avoid the answers." -African ProverbPowerful questions yield powerful answers. Here's an example...One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He... Read More

Motivation-- The Key Is In Your Actions

Have you ever read something like this as a "way to increase motivation"? :"When you open your eyes get yourself excited to be awake each new day !! Joy is contagious, and so... Read More

How You Developed Bad Habits That Rob You Of Motivation

Bad habits rob you of your motivation.Today I want to tell you why I decided I absolutely had to take charge of my self-motivation. And why you must do the same.As you read... Read More

Money Doesnt Finance Dreams

Are you putting off your dreams until you have money? Well, each day that you put off your dreams, you lose a little bit of time for that dream.Have you made choices that... Read More

Personal Motivation: Without Struggle There Is No Progress

As each day ends and another begins, the words of Frederick Douglas ask us as individuals to recognize the relationships between life's daily struggles."The whole history of the progress of human liberty shows... Read More