Daily Inspiration 4-30-11

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble,

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent

or praiseworthy--think about such things."

-- Philippians 4:8, NIV, The Bible

"Why should we think upon things that are lovely?

Because thinking determines life.

It is a common habit to blame life upon the environment.

Environment modifies life but does not govern life.

The soul is stronger than its surroundings."

-- William James

"The more man meditates upon good thoughts,

the better will be his world and the world at large."

-- Confucius

I don't often quote The Bible, but the Philippians quote above is one of my favorites because it continues to guide me to focus on what is going to be most beneficial to my psyche and it encourages love through the act of appreciation. Then William James says it how it is according to what I have learned, that thinking determines life and finding appreciation or things to appreciate keeps us from blame, which is the opposite of appreciation--indeed, it is depreciation. I love the Confucius quote in this mix of quotes because it says it all so succinctly in that the more we focus on good thoughts, the better everything looks and feels.

I would take it considerably further by being open to seeing things we would not normally think of as lovely, or good, and pretend they are. After all, what is lovely or good are judgements as much as what is not, but the main reason is that they all serve us if we will but be open to that possibility.

Can a forest fire also be a benefit? How about a crippling disease? A financial disaster? There are so many examples of things that we might normally think are bad, where it turned out to be the best thing for a wide variety of reasons. Think of some of the famous people who have had devastating losses and come back even stronger and more focused, and even more successful. Or, people who have come back from a crippling accident or disease where they refused to blame circumstance and events and instead counted it as a blessing.

It seems to me that as we blame, we hold ourselves away from the potential of joy and happiness--even as we may think by finding fault not on our court that we indemnify ourselves from harm. As I have seen it around me and in my own life, that blame game is a self-inflicted wound and does more damage to me than anyone else. As Nelson Mandela stated (although he used the word resentment, which is virtually the same idea as blame. . .): "Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies." So, blame is like trying to make yourself look faultless, and in so doing create personal harm, through resentment and anger.

The best answer I have found is to forget all about blame and when I find myself playing one of those old tapes from memory, turn to focusing on good thoughts, things of beauty, excellence and such, in appreciation of them for the purpose of getting back into alignment with love. It is in purposely and actively practicing this that I find ever more to appreciate and find ever more beauty and excellence. Therein is a fountain of joy that one would not know existed otherwise.

When I Focus On Beauty, Excellence and What I Think Is Right and Good, I Feel Great. Seems Like A Good Enough Reason To Focus There . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--The best way to spread joy is to be experiencing it!

Daily Inspiration 4-29-11

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,

but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

-- Maria Robinson

"To change what you get,

you must change who you are."

-- Vernon Howard

You've probably heard that phrase, "what is, is." It's one of those things people say about "reality." Or, maybe you heard it this way, with a bit of resignation in the voice, "it is what it is." Then, I used to hear this stuff when I was a kid: "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer," "only the good die young," "they're nickle and dime-ing us to death," and other such dreary reality statements.

Of course, when you look at all of them in a paragraph, they look like things that when people talk about them, you want to move away. But, I heard it enough that I used to believe it. And, the good news in that is that it is never too late to say, "Hey! Wait a minute! I want something better than that!"

Now, going back to the beginning is a waste of valuable time, but we can all begin today to create a better end result, along with a better and more enjoyable and fulfilling life from today forward (or whatever day we decide). That's the good news.

The other news is that it is totally up to us to do the changing, and the way for things to change is not for things to change, but for us to change. Remember the wisdom in the first paragraph: "what is, is." So, the only way for what is to change is to have different eyes looking at it, and that would be us.

Of course, they are correct in saying what is, is, because it is. It's just that what is, is different looking depending on who is looking, so we just change who and it's all good!

Sometimes I talk with people and they begin with their ailments, reasons they can't or didn't, etc. I don't even politely listen to that dribble any more. I just excuse myself and move away. Well, I might swim upstream a stroke or two, just to make sure that they are committed to their story. They usually are, so I stop swimming immediately and move away, because it ain't no good until they are ready to change their view of what is, and I can see what is, is, so I want to make sure they watch it without me.

Some people think that is being harsh. I think it is being loving.

That's What Was. . . Now What Is, Is Way Better.

Spread Some Joy Today--Talking about problems, ailments and what others are doing to us is a 1,000 lb anchor keeping us tied to them. If someone is listening, they cannot be helping. Help yourself. Love yourself enough. Spread joy instead.

Daily Inspiration 4-28-11

"Plenty of people miss their share of happiness,

not because they never found it,

but because they didn't stop to enjoy it."

-- William Feather

"People are about as happy

as they make up their minds to be."

-- Abraham Lincoln

I don't take issue with quotes I disagree with, but the first one from William Feather encouraged me to write a bit. I've grown up with these kinds of quotes about happiness. There are thousands of them with the same theme. . . stop and smell the roses, etc. One might just fill in the blank of what happiness is to you, as such: Happiness is __________. Or, get more specific: I feel happy when ____________. Not a bad exercise, for sure; however what I object to in the quote is stopping.

The reason I object to it is because we are all expert procrastinators. We put off whatever we can so we don't have to deal with it today, and that includes this issue of happiness. After all, we've got so much to do and we would love to take the time, but there is no time, and so on. To say we have to stop to smell the roses, or stop to enjoy the moment, or stop to experience happiness pretty much insures it isn't going to be happening regularly--and certainly not on demand.

Now, Abe Lincoln's quote takes all the guess work out of happiness and puts responsibility for it squarely where responsibility needs to be--on each one of us. In addition, he demonstrates that it is purely a decision of the choice of thought and that we make that decision on purpose or by default every second of every day of our lives, and that we may change that decision any time we choose. It has sheer power, and a delightful elegance. Short, sweet and very much to the point.

So, there need be no more waiting for any happiness. It is ours at a moments notice by deciding to accept it and we can do it while we are moving through our busy day just as easily and effortlessly as we can on a month long vacation in Bali.

Just In Case You Didn't Know How Much Power You REALLY had . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--That's right. Spread some! How? Be happy! It's contagious.

Daily Inspiration 4-27-11

"Where there is no struggle,

there is no strength."

-- Oprah Winfrey

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,

so as to accept the life that is waiting for us."

-- Joseph Campbell

Today the word struggle popped into my head. I looked at quotes about struggle and they were all like Oprah's quote above--all about life is a struggle, the strong survive, etc., etc.

I guess there are a lot of ways to go about a thing and struggle is certainly one of them; however, in my recent life, I have found a far better way for me: letting go of struggle and getting into relaxing my way. It's not that I don't work, because I do and I also work a lot, but it really isn't work--it's joy, fun, excitement, interesting and satisfying.

It reminds me of the old game we played as kids called "tug-of-war." There's a puddle of mud in the middle and people on both sides pulling against each other's team until one team is pulled into the mud. I always found it much more fun to just let go of the rope, but then the rest of the team thought I wasn't a team player. It's true, I'm sure.

I've noticed that life is like that game of tug-of-war, in that I see people pulling, tugging, coercing, manipulating, trying to win the tug, and back and forth it goes. Then the game spreads to most others and everyone is struggling in one way or another.

I have found the best solution for me is to let go of the rope. Think about it. It is in the letting go that stress no longer exists, worries no longer penetrate, and joy is possible.

I was talking with someone close yesterday and they were saying how someone took advantage of them and it was wrong and this and that and how they were going to confront them and take the things back and all that dribble. I told her that this was one way, but it wouldn't help the situation. The best thing to do is to just let go of the rope. Let go? she said. . . it was just plain wrong. I said, well, that is purely a judgement call, and of course, you can certainly make it, but what will you get out of that? Certainly no joy, just more stress, unhappiness and the like.

So, letting go is the best answer I have and I practice it a lot now. I let go of so many things and it is quite interesting how much better I feel and how much better I perform as a result. I let go of those judgements, disappointments, fears. Who needs that stuff? Oh yes, the strugglers. . . no gain without pain. . . okay, they can have it their way, and I'll have it mine.

One Of My Favorite Book Titles Says It Very Well:

"Love Is Letting Go Of Fear" By Gerald Jampolsky.

Spread Some Joy Today--What is that so important grudge you've been holding dear to you awaiting the final judgement? Is it bringing joy? Consider dropping the rope. . .

Daily Inspiration 4-26-11

"It seems that we have it backward in our society.

We tend to look up to people who are under a great

deal of stress, who can handle loads of stress, and

those who are under a great deal of pressure."

-- Richard Carlson

We watch sport after sport where players are under pressure to perform. We watch races that are called victories by one one thousands of a second at 200+ miles per hour. In fact, we see show after show where people are under pressure in one form or another and we look up to them when they can not only handle it, but successfully traverse it, and when they don't, we have a tendency to look down on them--they weren't prepared, couldn't handle the stress or the pressure.

I spent 30 years in the car business and over 27 of them as a sales manager. The hours were stupid, and there was always pressure to perform. I can remember going home late at night as if I had the world on my shoulders. Much of that career I enjoyed, and much of it I didn't.

I suppose you could say that I was practicing handling stress or pressure and putting on a show of doing that, but inside, that was a different story. I wanted out of it.

Today, I have a whole different attitude about this that is best expressed by the following quote by James Allen:

"The strong, calm man is always loved and revered. He is like a shade-giving tree in a thirsty land, or a sheltering rock in a storm. "Who does not love a tranquil heart, a sweet-tempered, balanced life? It does not matter whether it rains or shines, or what changes come to those possessing these blessings, for they are always sweet, serene, and calm. That exquisite poise of character, which we call serenity is the last lesson of culture, the fruitage of the soul. It is precious as wisdom, more to be desired than gold - yea, than even fine gold. How insignificant mere money seeking looks in comparison with a serene life - a life that dwells in the ocean of Truth, beneath the waves, beyond the reach of tempests, in the Eternal Calm!"

Now, I admire most, those who demonstrate calmness where others feel pressure and stress. Indeed, to them, there are no such things as pressure or stress. A hundred years ago, the word stress in terms of human psychology was nothing and today, stress is a billion dollar industry. There is stress relief, stress pills, stress therapy, stress counseling, stress-related diseases and the list goes on and on. That's just the ones trying to relieve stress, let alone those promoting the giving of it.

What's interesting is that it is just an idea. It doesn't exist outside of thought, yet it has become so commonplace in our society that this acceptance of it creates its reality. It can be undone as easily as it was done when the choice is made.

We All Get To Choose. Thoughts Become Things.

Spread Some Joy Today--There are lots of ways to get rid of stress and the first is to stop talking about it and believing that it exists. Think joy and freedom.

Daily Inspiration 4-25-11

"If you pick the right people and give them the opportunity

to spread their wings and put compensation as a carrier

behind it you almost don't have to manage them."

-- Jack Welch

Picking the right people. I think it is certainly a co-creative experience. We pick them, they pick us, there's a bond that holds it all together.

As a manager for over 40 years, I've hired a lot of people and used to stress a bit about finding the right ones. There were so many that weren't the right ones after all. I found that some people are quite skilled at the interview process, that they seemed to have been on vacation when they were teaching the actual doing of the job part.

Still, all in all, I have found (or they found me. . .) some pretty talented and good people to work with, and that is the success that overshadows the rest of it.

It's funny to look back just now about how many things I tried about interviews, even including personality testing (fun ones of course!). None of it was worth a dime. Seriously. You can't really tell until you've worked with them a while, so a breathing test to make sure they are alive is just about as good as anything. Well, almost.

I don't think you can manage people anyway. You can give them an opportunity, make suggestions, offer encouragement, state what you want, but managing them sounds like manipulation to me. I have worked for some of those guys. . . Not much fun. So, I've always tried to encourage people to spread their wings, take responsibility and even to show me a better way.

Those that actually spread their wings succeed, and I will always be open to helping people do just that, even when it may mean they move on to their own business or some other wonderful new opportunity. You don't put eagles in cages.

I think what it has to do more than anything else is loving the people you work with. When you love them, you want the best for them and you treat them like you would want to be treated: with respect, dignity, encouragement, and reward.

The right people respond to this environment and soar, the rest will move on of their own accord. It's all good.

As I see our company now, the people we have attracted have been so talented and delighted in the opportunity and have worked without supervision toward the shared vision, and it is so exciting to be a part of this. As I look back on the history of people I've worked with, I see so many of the same kind. I have been blessed and I love all of them.

It's Been A Wonderful Journey So Far!

Spread Some Joy Today--Loving the people you work with is the best way to have a successful career or job.

Daily Inspiration 4-24-11

"Appreciation is the highest form of prayer,

for it acknowledges the presence of good

wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts."

-- Alan Cohen

Love and appreciation are intertwined so that I cannot tell where one leaves off and the other begins. I think they are the same thing.

It is interesting for me to note how the volume and depth of my appreciation has come to. It is a delightful experience as it unfolds and is practiced on purpose. There seems to be no boundaries to the joy that comes from that; instead, it grows and grows, and never grows tired.

Forever Young Sounds Just Right.

Spread Some Joy Today--Start your list right now, today. I appreciate _________ and fill in as many blank spaces as you can. You may be amazed.

Daily Inspiration 4-23-11

"We can be thankful to a friend for a few acres, or a little money;

and yet, for the freedom and command of the whole earth,

and for the great benefits of our being, our life, health, and reason,

we look upon ourselves as under no obligation."

-- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

In the last few years, I've know of a lot of businesses that closed. I did not know but a very few of the people involved in those businesses. In recent years, I've known people who have lost their homes. Again, very few did I know personally, but I have known some. Those are large events in our lives and there are many more events like them. It is constantly changing and evolving.

In those kind of events, I used to become upset, angry, blameful, and sympathetic, with a willingness to discuss the situation at length to emphasize the sadness in the change--especially if it were happening to me or someone I knew well. I stopped that a couple years back, and it is a blessing that I want to share today.

I've said before, the the main ingredient that changed my life from that kind of reaction is gratitude. Even more than this: appreciation.

You see, it is so easy to be grateful, thankful and appreciative when something delightful is happening. It's easy to have and express gratitude when things are going according to or better than planned. That is good, yet it is so limiting.

It is when things go awry (I've always wanted to use that word!), like the walls are crashing down, you've given your all and it missed the mark, and you just can't keep up with the tide of things--that's when gratitude, thankfulness and appreciation take on a whole new dimension that is not only helpful, it is a life-changing blessing.

I didn't say it was easy, because it isn't; however, once embarked on this journey, it becomes easier and more beneficial with practice.

On the way to an appointment today, the thought came to me that when people are being conservative, they can no longer see opportunities. Just by virtue of the act of conservation, it is a tightening; a closing in, and opportunities that could normally be seen are hidden from view. In the same way, it is impossible to see abundance when you are focused on lack. It's not even on the radar.

So, the trick is to turn your focus using what will you might have left, toward something other than the lack; something other than the conservation. You don't have to yet see abundance or opportunities, but just turn your focus away from what is, and attempt to find just one thing to be grateful for, thankful for, or in appreciation of. Just one. Then go for two. Then three. Now you're on a roll. Keep it up. Go for five, six and more. Expand that gratitude to anything and everything in your life and those around you.

Now turn to some of the things that you were thinking were going wrong. Find one thing that it might be possible to be grateful for in it. Just one. Then go for two. Even if it sounds lame at first, go for two. Then three, four and so on.

As you do this, the opportunities that have been there all along begin to appear as if they were invisible and then became visible. You might even wonder why they weren't there before.

You will find that as you practice this in every area of your life and especially those things that would have previously left you devastated, that you will find that your new reaction to these events is one of relaxed joy, relief, gratitude, appreciation. You will find opportunities abound and stress completely dissolved.

"'Tis Nothing Good Or Bad, That Thinking Makes It So." -- William Shakespeare

Spread Some Joy Today--Don't act the way people think you should act when things are not going well for someone. Empathy is one thing, but sympathy is an illness.

Daily Inspiration 4-22-11

"Don't prepare. Begin.

Remember, our enemy is not lack of preparation;

it's not the difficulty of the project or the state of

the marketplace or the emptiness of our bank account.

The enemy is Resistance.

The enemy is our chattering brain, which, if we give it so

much as a nanosecond, will start producing excuses, alibis,

transparent self-justifications and a million reasons why we

can't/shouldn't/won't do what we know we want to do.

Start before you are ready."

-- Steven Pressfield, Do The Work

If not for these same thoughts being a part of me, I would never have ventured out on my own. What I have found out is that it is virtually impossible--yes, I am saying impossible--to prepare enough to succeed immediately. There are so many variables and unknowns even with all the research one can accumulate. Learning as you go is not only how it really is, but is a better way to go.

It's just like shooting the moon. If NASA pointed the rocket at the moon and fired it out into space, it would never hit the moon without numerous small corrections along the way. As we begin doing a thing, we will find the corrections we need to make when we need to make them and the course will be enhanced.

I just looked back on one year ago this month when we completely reformulated the way we do our business, and kicked off the new procedures. The basic idea is still the same, but nothing else is one year later. It is dramatically enhanced by many course corrections and modifications along the way. We have been learning as we are going and the going is quite good.

As much as we think we know when we begin, it will never be enough. There will be much learning along the way and that is the way it works best.

It all comes back to the what and the how. What is my job, and how is God's job or the Universe's job. It is amazing the amount of creative ideas that come to you when you start with what and allow the how. Be determined about the what and unconcerned and relaxed in the how. That allows the answers and guidance to come.

There are always good, solid, substantial, realistic, wise, prudent reasons to not do a thing. It is a piece of cake to build a solid case for holding off and waiting for more information, more money, a better economy, more free time, etc. It takes a stubborn fool to venture out anyway after hearing all the good advice people will give.

If it weren't for stubborn fools venturing out and committing themselves to staying out, our world would still be walking and riding horses.

**You can get the book Do the Work free if you own a Kindle at Amazon.com. The paper version is only $7.99 plus shipping. It's a great book and I recommend it. Here's a link to the free book: Do the Work Free Book

I Find There Are No Straight Paths, And I Find That To Be A Good Thing And An Interesting Journey.

Spread Some Joy Today--It's quite possible you've been putting something off until you are ready. That may be too late. Start now.

Daily Inspiration 4-21-11

"It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you,

but your opinion that these things are insulting."

-- Epictetus

"The rule is perfect: In all matters of

opinion, our adversaries are insane."

-- Mark Twain

It is human desire and nature to want to feel good and to be liked. Many times, others opinions have been known to have an adverse effect on us. Much of that training came from our childhood upbringing, wanting to please our parents so they will be pleased with us and so on. Here's some of what I've learned about feeling good and being liked, and it has been a critical thing to learn, and it is never too late.

I've found only one way for us to be guaranteed to feel good and be liked and that is to start with ourselves.

When I was a kid, we used to talk about self-confident people as being conceited or loving themselves (as if that is a bad thing!). Of course, some of them were what we might call overly self-confident, bordering on arrogant. However, in looking back, I recognize that it takes a certain amount of courage to step out there and be vulnerable in front of others. It's a risk that so many of us weren't ready to take.

I know that I was always looking outside of myself for approval, and of course, it feels good to have approval of others, especially people we respect and like. The only trouble with looking outside for approval is they may not approve. Their opinion may be different from ours and maybe they even feel strongly about it. We can go find another, and another until we find the approval and opinions we want, or we can do something far better and more effective: Get them from ourselves.

When we begin with the firm foundation of loving and appreciating ourselves, and trusting in our own mental guidance system and our own opinion of ourselves and what we do, there is nothing that can hold us back. When we have our own approval, we do not need it from others. If they happen to give it, fine. If they don't, fine. We can do very nicely without it. THAT is confidence.

How is this achieved? Practice. Begin, then practice. Begin by becoming aware of your thinking when it comes to your own decisions, how you feel when you hear things from others about you. Next, seek to feel good rather than bad. Look in the mirror and begin saying positive things instead of picking yourself apart. Say kind things to yourself throughout the day. Seek to find what's right instead of wrong. When someone gives you their opinion, tell yourself that this is their opinion, not your own. Always find better feeling thoughts--even moment to moment.

As you practice, your confidence level will begin increasing and you will become that self-confident person you always wanted to be. I'm proof enough that this works and I practice it every single day, even throughout the day. Never again will you be devastated by what any other, or multiple others say or think about you or what you do. That is a great day!

In The End It Is Always The Same: There Is Only One Opinion That Really Counts--Your Own.

Spread Some Joy Today--Today is a good day to start increasing the value of your own opinion of yourself. Most people are a thousand time better than they make themselves out to be. You are a brilliant, talented creator.

Daily Inspiration 4-20-11

"Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express

your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation

of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you,

and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly

appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it."

-- Ralph Marston

I've not thought of myself as being a good conversationalist, but I love people. I especially love seeing them when I haven't seen them in a while. It is joy to me. I appreciate them, and after all, that is essentially love, isn't it?

As I move forward on my journey of renewal, I find myself finding so much more to appreciate. It's sort of mind boggling how many things I find now to appreciate when in years past I found so much to complain about instead. As a common example, I used to complain about the weather. It was too cold, too hot, too muggy, too cloudy, too windy, and only rarely on target. I find it fascinating that now I love the weather every single day. Seriously. Every single day. Whatever it is.

Each day is unique and interesting and I love so many different kinds of days. For example, today was cloudy and the sun was hidden, yet it was light out. The clouds were gray, some darker than others with a hint of the possibility of showers (after all, it is April . . .). The air was almost still, there was a bit of humidity and I had all the windows open because it was in the high 60s and into the low 70s. It was a glorious day!

I am fascinated that this simple change of deciding to appreciate the weather, has me finding more and more and more to appreciate. Now as I just described, I can find many things in each moment to appreciate.

It is the same with people. I now appreciate so many more people and although I have always loved people, it was nowhere near this many! As I love them, I find more of them to love, or I find more opportunities to love them by appreciating them.

It is the same with circumstances. The more I appreciate whatever is going on in my life, the more things I find to appreciate. I find that there is nothing to be unhappy or unappreciative of.

Some say you can't love all the time, but have to have pain. I get what they are saying, but I believe that I can love all the time. I plan to do just that.

"The Root Of All Goodness Lie In The Soil Of Appreciation For Goodness." -- Dalai Lama

Spread Some Joy Today--start appreciating more today and you will find more to appreciate tomorrow. Keep it up and love will rule your life.

Daily Inspiration 4-19-11

"Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.

Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth."

-- Marcus Aurelius

 

I was listening to someone's opinion of what I was doing, and I have learned in the last few years to accept that for what it is--an opinion. It made me think of people standing in a circle and as they stand there focusing on what is in front of them, it is abundantly clear that each and every one of them has a unique and different perspective. Each would then have their own truth about what they see and their interpretation of it, whereas, someone on a different position would not agree with their opinion.

I think it is slightly important (just barely. . .) to consider what others viewpoints may be, if for no other reason than being aware that there would certainly have to be differences of opinion, different views of the same object or event, and so on to acknowledge there are other perspectives and interpretations.

In the final analysis, there is only one opinion that really matters and that is our own. Each of us is similar to the captain of a ship. A large ship may have a crew and even several officers that give advice and information, but when it comes down to it, the captain carries the full responsibility for the decisions. Consider a ship where the captain is not fond of making decisions, has to consult with this person and that, being unsure of what to do and always looking for another perspective to consider. That ship would have the most difficult time just getting away from the dock, let alone out of the harbor.

Each of us is the captain in charge of our own voyage. Listening to others viewpoints and opinions can be helpful, but in due time, if we are to move ahead, we need to rely on and trust in our own opinion.

Bon Voyage!

Spread Some Joy Today--Decision making is always the most sought-after quality, and the most highly paid too. Got decisions?

Daily Inspiration 4-18-11

"Bless a thing and it will bless you.Curse it and it will

curse you. . . If you bless a situation, it has no power

to hurt you, and even if it is troublesome for a time,

it will gradually fade out, if you sincerely bless it."

-- Emmet Fox

Having an attitude of gratitude for ourselves is one thing, but to have one for what others have is another. For example, I and a lot of people I know would talk about wanting wealth and then put down in some way the people they know that have it, as if they got it by trick of luck, or looseness of morals, and such. They have it and we don't, so we want it and are upset they have it and we don't.

What needs to take place for abundance to be able to come into our lives is for us to bless it where ever we see it. We see the guy with the multi-million dollar mega-yacht and love the boat and think the guy is just stupid lucky. That won't work. We need to bless the guy, the wealth, his good fortune, his skills, his desires, every thing about that.

I think that to look at wealth and want it and be negative about the person who has it is the very definition of coveting. Desire is wonderful, coveting is dangerous.

As we change our attitude toward abundance, whether it is wealth or any other type of abundance, then abundance has an opportunity to come to us. As we bless those who we see who have abundance, we acknowledge that it is not only desirable, but that it is doable.

I think we are all eligible for abundance. Indeed, I think we all have abundance in some areas of our lives already. Blessing that and acknowledging that is very beneficial.

I have noticed my thinking changing by the simple act of blessing abundance where ever I see it now. I just started doing that very recently and I can see how different I feel about seeing those with abundance. I am also acknowledging the abundance that I know I have in my life now and realizing that I am already wealthy in many ways. I even feel that I am wealthy in money, though it has not yet been deposited in my bank account; however, I sense very clearly that it is on its way there. It is an interesting change.

Experience joy for those that you see with abundance. Feel joy for them, bless them, enjoy their abundance with them. It will begin to turn your attitude and belief into an alignment that will be entirely beneficial for all concerned.

Since We Are What We Think, Why Think Lack? Think Abundance. It's Much More Lucrative.

Spread Some Joy Today--Analyze the abundances that you already possess. Joy is a natural result.

Daily Inspiration 4-17-11

"I found that I could find the energy. . . that I could
find the determination to keep on going. I learned that
your mind can amaze your body, if you just keep telling
yourself. I can do it. . . I can do it. . . I can do it!"

-- Jon Erickson


Today I want to change it up a bit. . . I just watched a very inspiring talk about believing in yourself and felt it would be wonderful to share it with you. Of all the things that surround being human, I have found that believing yourself to be something that many people I have met and including myself could use some great support in.

Here is the link to the talk from one of my favorite sites, TED:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyBk55G7Keo&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Enjoy!


"They Can . . . Because They Think They Can."
-- Virgil


Spread Some Joy Today--Express to someone else how much you believe in them. It is life-changing. . .

Daily Inspiration 4-16-11

"I am not God, but I am my creator."

-- Terry Josephson

"The actions of men are the best

interpreters of their thoughts."

-- John Locke

"We are exactly where we have chosen to be."

-- Vernon Howard

Continuing from yesterday's epiphany. . .

I might imagine that some who read my Daily Inspirations regularly may have thought that I am positive and I talk all the time about our thoughts and how they affect our circumstances, so what's the big deal about the epiphany? I would say that yes, I had previously accepted that my thinking and my actions and my circumstances are intertwined, and yes, I have studied this stuff long enough that I am positive and aware of my thinking and so on.

Yesterday's epiphany was sort of like the difference between knowing it well enough to quote it from your memory as if you know it, and having a keen and thorough understanding. It is like the difference between talking the walk and walking the talk. Better than this, it is the difference between understanding it and knowing it.

I don't just understand that my thoughts create my circumstances and events, I know that I created them. It's not just accepting responsibility for my actions, but accepting responsibility, or better yet, acknowledging myself as a creator. I will never again look to anyone or anything else for creating what is in my life. It is all created by me with co-creators taking part.

Here's some examples in real life: I created the credit card debt by thinking that the credit was really my money to use and that I thought it would solve problems, when in reality it created problems. I saw having it as a status symbol and the higher the limits the more status. The credit card companies were co-creators only. I created the recession by thinking lack and by having a lousy financial plan, for if I had a good financial plan and thought abundance instead of lack, there could never be a recession. And, you can easily see how the co-creators can make it go viral in either direction.

The jobs or positions that I have held, the amount of money that I earned, what I have done with my time, what pleasures that I have had and what pains I have endured, what health I have had, and what diseases I have had are all created by me. Some creations were not deliberate but more by default. Lack of making a decision is in fact a decision. Ignoring a problem is indeed a decision. Taking charge and being purposeful is a decision. Whatever the decision, it is my thinking that is the creator.

Again, it is not just accepting responsibility, it is acknowledging myself as the creator of my world, my life, all of my experience.

What is the benefit of this? I now have no one or anything to blame for anything in my life that I am not pleased with--except me. I don't normally like to use that word blame because it is entirely judgemental; however it fits here to explain. A better way might be to just say what is is and I created it all.

The other benefit to me is that this realization or acknowledgment fills me with joy and hope and a whole new future because I now know what to do to change anything to be more to my liking by guiding my thoughts and seeing how it feels. That is incredible power in my mind and it opens up a far brighter future than I could have previously imagined. It is like the difference from night to day.

When I'm In My Car, I'm Always Driving, Even When I Am Not At The Wheel.

Spread Some Joy Today--Think about how your thoughts have put you where you are now. There is joy realizing they are your thoughts and not someone elses.

Daily Inspiration 4-15-11

epiph·a·ny

"3a (1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking (3) : an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure

b : a revealing scene or moment ."

-- Merriam-Webster (m-w.com)

Today is a day that will remain an epiphany to me. It happened on the way to an all day event this morning and I couldn't wait to get home almost 12 hours later and share it with you. It may take more than one post to tell this, but I think it is well worth sharing.

First of all. How does an epiphany come about? They are rare for me, but it is most often some simple thought that just comes to me, or something happens that causes me to think differently. In this case something happened early this morning that was not very important or significant in and of itself, but was more like a feather thrown on top of the load that tilts the scale. Some call it the tipping point.

It wasn't just the event, but a combination of the event and listening to a learning CD I've listened to before. I wasn't even paying that much attention to the CD, but all of a sudden my thinking changed about this thing that happened.

I have an eBay store and have since 2004 and someone bought a book from me and had an issue. It was a seemingly small issue that to the client turned into an opportunity and desire to give me negative feedback. Since 2004 and with over 11,300 feedback, I've had only about 5 negative feedback, so getting this one was a bit irritating, especially since I ALWAYS solve the problem; however, in this case, I took about 30 days to solve it and that was too long. My bad. Still, giving me negative feedback is lame. Funny thing is that today I refunded his money in full and then I found out about the negative feedback. So be it. I sent a note thanking him for the opportunity and was sorry that he felt badly enough to give that feedback.

Then an hour or so later in the truck, I started thinking that he was right and my irritation was undeserved. I normally solve problems immediately and this one took a month (even thought we had agreed to the time). I began thinking that if I had done as I normally do, this would have been positive feedback. . .

and then came the epiphany. . .

All of a sudden in a flash instant, I accepted full and complete responsibility for every thing that I have had or lacked in my entire life. I was jumping out of my skin for joy! You can't imagine the feeling that this realization brought me.

I began to think about that and go through event after event in my life where I have blamed others, the government, circumstances, the economy, you-name-it things, and I instantly began rethinking the process and the result. It was like I was doing all this at lightning speed.

Then it came to me that I was an incredible creator and that I created all of that, every time, no exceptions. Oh, there were co-creators involved for sure, but they were participants, not conspirators.

I accepted responsibility as a creator for all of the events in my life including poor financial choices, low self-esteem, poor health choices and much more. I also accepted responsibility as a creator for all of the events in my life that served me, that were positive and helpful. It is important to accept both I think.

I now have one single person to look to for all of my results and lack of results; what I have and what I don't have; who I've become and what more I can be. And, I have to tell you that this is probably the most powerful thing that I could have. It releases me to create better, to choose more wisely, to have more confidence, and so much more.

More tomorrow. . .

I Am Alone Responsible. What A Relief!

Spread Some Joy Today--You, and you alone are responsible for your joy--whether you have it, and whether you don't have it.

Daily Inspiration 4-14-11

"All of us have wonders hidden in our breasts,

only needing circumstances to evoke them."

-- Charles Dickens

"Our doubts are traitors,

and make us lose the good we oft might win,

by fearing to attempt."

-- William Shakespeare

"What lies behind us and what lies before us

are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today, I want to talk about confidence, worthiness, and the power within us, because I see a lot of people who seem so unsure of themselves.

A long time ago, and I can never forget it, my first wife told me that if I ever started really believing in myself that there would be no stopping me. Back then, I wanted to believe in myself, but always felt like I was not good enough, not smart enough, didn't have a college degree, and the list was endless of the reasons I would state as to why I didn't do something or believe I could.

Oh, I wasn't stuck in neutral not doing anything, but I think there is one or more things that each of us can excel in and declare our specialness or uniqueness in. I just wasn't finding them, but I tried a number of things. And, at the same time, my low self-esteem kept me from trying things that required more courage.

One of the things that I always wanted from the time I was a child was to play a musical instrument, write songs and sing. I dinked around with a garage band when I was in my teens, but we sucked and I never thought we were good enough to play in public. Later, I got into a career to earn money and the music took a seat in a different stadium.

When I was 30, I left the car business for a few years and opened a musical instrument store. I went to an open mike night to listen to a friend and he cajoled me into getting up and doing some songs. I was scared to death and did it anyway and it was fun--probably not very good, but fun. That was 1979-80 time frame.

In the mid-80's I began writing songs and got into recording and getting better slowly, but still hiding in the studio behind closed doors for hours on end. I kept writing until around 1988.

Then in 1996, I started going to church and an opportunity came to play guitar and sing and lead worship with contemporary music. I laugh right now thinking of how bad I was, how nervous I was and how little confidence I had. But, I worked at it and got better, then began writing songs for church and ended up doing that for 9 years, also expanding into musicianship by learning and even doing well at playing the bass guitar as well.

It was all a joyous experience, some of it required a courageous attitude, and I found that there is so much I learned and so many people were blessed by the songs and the style I developed and the blessings were then on me.

I fulfilled most of my dream of playing in a band, singing, and so on through this period and though I no longer do that, it was such a powerful boost to my confidence level.

So, I recommend trying and doing and allowing yourself to not have to be good from the beginning, but have a willingness to grow and become more. No matter where you are, you can always become more. There is no such thing as completion, it is just the journey. Want to be a speaker? Start talking to small groups and practice. Want to sing in a band? Get out there and allow yourself to not be perfect to begin with.

This worthiness issue is all bunk. We are all worthy. I proclaim worthiness on you. Go and do and practice and improve and have fun. Whatever you do, have fun!

Dream Your Dreams. Now Do Them.

Spread Some Joy Today--There is nothing so fruitful as laughter at work. When you are laughing, you are loving.

Daily Inspiration 4-13-11

"Commit to CANI! -- Constant And Never-ending Improvement."

-- Anthony Robbins

I borrow everything I can from the world's most influential and successful people. It saves a great deal of time. Everything that I learn from my studies is of value and there are some diamonds that pop up time and again that are so profound they are game changers. Such is the case with CANI.

I learned this from Tony many years ago and it was just icing on the cake of Jim Rohn's philosophy of whom I studied and was Tony's mentor as well. Now in business for myself for just over three years, I think this one concept of CANI has continually encouraged us toward excellence in what we do. We never stop enhancing and improving our products or services, many times just adding services to existing packages at no extra fee.

I look back at when I first began. I just had an idea and a belief that I could do this, and just getting started was the biggest event. Once started, I found that I had so much to learn that it was staggering to think about it. But, I figured that I could learn as I went. I did, and am, and will never stop because there is so much to learn at every level.

I instill this in our team as well. I want to be the best that we can be, to constantly improve and never stop improving. It seems to me that if we're not growing and becoming more, we are dying and becoming less. It's not just about growth, but excellence, or at least the pursuit of it.

This has made such a tremendous difference and it is one of the best things I have ever learned and it gives me continual inspiration.

If Something Can Be Improved, Do It.

Spread Some Joy Today--Take pause today for just a few minutes and write down 10 blessings in your life. That should bring a tinge of joy back in your day.

Daily Inspiration 4-12-11

"Faith is the state of openness or trust."

-- Alan Watts

"Your weak point is the open, vulnerable place where you can

always be hurt. Love, in all its aspects, opens the self so fully."

-- Jeanette Winterson

Yesterday, I was talking about trusting other people and in thinking further on that and seeing a facebook post by someone, I remembered some things surrounding the idea of trust, vulnerability, and love.

The facebook post was a man who quit smoking two weeks ago and said he was now a non-smoker. I congratulate him because I did that for a very long time and thought I would never get away from it. It took a number of things leading up to the final decision that I would actually do it and follow through. It's now been 9 years.

About a year before I quit, I went on a long weekend men's church retreat in the mountains. I didn't smoke from the time I arrived until I left. It was I think the longest time I had gone without smoking.

At the retreat, they had some programs they had us all participate in and they were all about trust--trusting in God and trusting in each other as brothers. So, they would have one person stand rigid, hands at their sides, feet together in the center of a circle of men. Then, they were to remain stiff and fall toward the circle and the circle of men would move that person all around and the person in the circle would have to trust that they would not be allowed to fall. Each of us took a turn to experience both points of view.

There were many other teamwork and trust events where we did an obstacle course and the idea was to help make sure that the entire team got to the finish line, so we had to learn to be creative as a team, and help others who were more challenged get through.

The last and final event was what all of this worked up to and this was that each of us were to stand on a platform about 10 feet off the ground, stand stiff and fall backward and the rest of the group were to catch that person arms raised in the air and insure they didn't touch the ground. It was a challenge for the catchers and the faller to trust.

I can tell you that I remember that event with clarity and how it felt to fall backward from that height and what it felt like to be caught by about ten or fifteen people and lowered to the ground. It really changed my thinking in many ways. That whole event was powerful and I ended up writing three songs about what I learned there and played them in church and at the following year's retreat to share it with them.

What I learned was to be more trusting and I learned that trusting was "letting go." I had somehow thought trusting was something much more manly previously, but it is actually a very vulnerable thing. It was how I quit smoking. I fell backward off the platform and trusted that God would aid me in my decision and help strengthen my commitment. I do believe that trust is what allowed me to succeed.

Here's a quote that helps support that idea of letting go:

"As your faith is strengthened you will find that there is no longer

the need to have a sense of control, that things will flow as they will,

and that you will flow with them, to your great delight and benefit."

-- Emmanuel.

Is That Where The Let Go and Let God Phrase Came From? Expert Advice In My Book.

Spread Some Joy Today--Let go of some control today and experience a bit of vulnerability. It's really quite courageous.

Daily Inspiration 4-11-11

"The only way to make a man

trustworthy is to trust him."

-- Henry L Stimson

"I think we may safely trust

a good deal more than we do."

-- Henry David Thoreau

I think it is hard to trust people when we don't trust life. . . or, is it the other way around? In either case, it is just fear. What was that very famous phrase. . . there is nothing to fear but fear itself or something like that. I know Franklin D. Roosevelt didn't mean it this way, but it seems to me that fearing fear is the ultimate fear! It doesn't get any more fearful than this. And, the opposite of fear, wouldn't that be trust?

Since I began in the working world in the mid-1960's, I've seen the fearful requirements for employment mount and expand. In reality, I'm not convinced any of them have moved the needle where the insurance companies wanted it moved to. I guess I was an exception to the rules, for I think I only ever filled in maybe two job applications prior to being hired, let alone have to deal with chemical testing and other issues. Now it seems that people take all of that for granted, well. . . except me.

Sure, I've encountered people that I trusted that turned out to not warrant that, but I have to admit that it is a small exception to the vast amount that was trustworthy. In addition, I found the quote by Stimson to be generally true, that the way to make a person trustworthy was to give them trust or trust them. I think they actually rise to the occasion even if they were inclined in another direction. Isn't that interesting?

Of course, this all comes back to the premise that we attract what we think about. Coming from a place of distrust would draw people to you that are distrustful and coming from a place of trust would draw those that were trustworthy. Hmm. I guess we really are more in control than we think we are. . .

"As Above, So Below, As Within, So Without."
-- The Emerald Tablet of Hermes

Spread Some Joy Today--trust! You'll be amazed at the joy that brings.

Daily Inspiration 4-10-11

"In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

-- Albert Einstein

"Pain is inevitable.

Suffering is optional."

-- M Kathleen Casey

It is a strange and wonderful thing. The older I get, the more calm I find myself in the middle of difficulty. I find a certain joy in that calmness that I call a calm confidence. If something upsets me about a situation, it is rare, and even then it is very quickly changed into seeing the opportunities that exist that are perhaps initially hidden from view.

I was thinking today on the way to an appointment how perfectly things seem to be working out more regularly than I would have imagined. I am now beginning to look at a situation that is not to my liking or a sudden change of some kind, and instead of wondering why it happened, what caused it, and so on, I am opening up to looking for the blessings instead. What is interesting is that as I do this now, I begin seeing many blessings and then I begin praising the problem because of the blessings it brought that I may not have known of otherwise.

Something happened about a month and a half ago that seemed like a burden at first, but as I began working with it, blessing after blessing came out of it and I was able to not only improve our product, but processes as well. I think it was almost a transformation of sorts. I think it was that profound. And, I am still finding blessings in it as we speak. As I thought about that situation today, I all of a sudden felt that everything was unfolding perfectly.

As I practice looking for all these blessings in events and circumstances that at first would seem to be under the heading of adversity, I find joy and a calm confidence that is a wonderful experience. It is even becoming fun and I am looking forward to what opportunities will be coming next. What a difference!

"The Robbed That Smiles, Steals Something From The Thief." -- William Shakespeare

Spread Some Joy Today--Seek the blessings that are all around. They love to hide in quantity in problems.

Daily Inspiration 4-9-11

"The best years of your life are the ones in which

you decide your problems are your own. You do not

blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president.

You realize that you control your own destiny."

-- Albert Ellis

"Your life is the fruit of your own doing.

You have no one to blame but yourself."

-- Joseph Campbell

These are indeed the best years of my life, and I also believe they are the best because I have come to the point of accepting full responsibility for where I am, what I have or do not have, who I've become and who I will be. There is a real excitement about that in me that I have charge of my life and that if it is not to my liking, I am to blame and I am also the only one who can elect to change it. I don't think there is any more power than in that realization.

It is also a cause for celebration and for joy. Even though there are a number of circumstances in my life right now that I am not pleased with, I find joy in the celebration that I created these circumstances out of my previous thinking habits. All I need do then, is to change that thinking to be more of what I want and maintain it habitually and new circumstances will prevail.

It doesn't matter if it is financial, spiritual, business related, or any other facet of life. They are all affected in the same way by my habitual thinking and each one can be (and will only be) changed by a modification of that thinking.

The Blame Game Is Over. The Buck Stops Here.

Spread Some Joy Today--Responsibility can be joyous. Accept yours and find out.

Daily Inspiration 4-8-11

"Faith is raising the sail of our little boat until it is

caught up in the soft winds above and picks up speed,

not from anything within itself,

but from the vast resources of the universe around us."

-- W Ralph Ward

"Faith enables persons to be persons

because it lets God be God."

-- Carter Lindberg

I love both of these quotes because both of them acknowledge the limitless universe, or the abundance rather than any lack. It seems that it is often the lack that we express with talk of the reality around us, and it is very short-sighted and focused in a direction opposite that of the true abundance all around us.

What is interesting is that we as humans have created this reality of lack and through its habitual focus, it is challenging to recall and redirect toward abundance. We just don't recognize it. We've come to expect the worst, anticipate the problem, prepare for the problem, give classes on it, create organizations to combat it, create software to keep track of it, create security to protect it and so on.

The most interesting part of the quotes above seems to me to be that faith is a focus on and tapping into the abundance that has been created for our use. In other words, it is more a matter of letting go of the anxiety and relaxing in or trusting in the abundance that is God or the Universe.

I said something to someone last week who purports to not only be a believer, but a leader about God and the Bible. I said that I thought they didn't believe in God at all, and I said that based on the fact that there is no demonstration of any trust that God will take care of them, but they were complaining and moaning about all the things that were wrong and expressing a great deal of anger, worry and blaming.

It seems to me that we focus on lack and problems sometimes, forgetting the vastness of what God has made available, and even what He said He would do. Here's a favorite quote from Matthew 25-27 that demonstrates this: "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life . . . which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?" Indeed, anxiety and stress is commonly known as a life-shortener, not extender.

I'll never forget watching Ruth Graham on Larry King Live many years ago where she was talking about trusting in God and one time her car swerved off an embankment and she had the sincere trust to let go and let God take care of her with joy in her heart as her car was going down the embankment. I've always thought that to have that kind of faith would move mountains. I think almost all of us would have clenched up and been frightened and worried to say the least. She saw there was nothing for her to do and she just believed God would care for her. And He did.

Who turned on the daylight this morning? Certainly, not I since I don't know where the switch is. Who created all the air that we breathe? I certainly didn't. Who makes the rain that feeds the soil and even covers hundreds and thousands of miles with rain at the same time? I cannot hardly even fathom it, let alone do any of it. The abundance that is all around us is so vast that we may only see a trillionth of it, and we have the audacity to focus on lack and complain? This I try to remind myself of to keep my perspective.

I can choose the little boat and trust that the abundance that is God or the Universe will provide the necessary means to move it where it needs to go--even as the non-believers form clubs around me.

Relax--You're Soaking In It. . . Or Can Be. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Trust in the abundance all around you and the glow of confidence will be unmistaken.

Daily Inspiration 4-7-11

"There is nothing on earth you cannot have--once you

have mentally accepted the fact that you can have it."

-- Robert Collier

"Man is what he believes."

-- Anton Chekhov

Some call me Mr. Positive. I do try to be positive because it is much more pleasant and fun. And, yes, there are times that I am not as positive as other times, where I plug into things that don't serve me. It is when those things come about that I need refreshment and refueling.

There's been a lot going on the last month or so and so it would be easy to feel overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things to do, and I avoid that feeling as much as humanly possible. I just do something different, focus on something else, count my blessings and such and that usually works well. I realize fully that my thoughts control events, not the other way around, so I have learned to be aware and respond according to the need to move away from the negative and back to a positive point of view. But, this time it built up a bit more than normal.

So, today I had a meeting with two partners in our company because I needed to be around some positive, upbeat, focused people that I love. After a nice lunch and talking, I felt much better and back on track.

On the way home, I remember a phrase that I've taken to heart: a belief is just a thought we keep thinking. I'm going to pour that over me like a nice warm liquid and let it just cover me completely. It is so powerful to consider this. If I want to change something, I just need to keep thinking of the change--particularly where that change is going to be dependent on some kind of thinking change.

As a generalized example, if I wanted to become a fan of football, but had always been a fan of baseball instead, I would only need think about football and not think about baseball. Just the act of creating the new thoughts and thinking them over and over again while ignoring as much as possible my previous thinking, will create the new belief of loving football.

So to make that work for where I was, I need to think about what I want instead of what I don't want. It is so easy to get caught up in the reality of what is going on at the moment. It wants my attention, but that won't serve me at all. The thing that does serve me is to focus on the solutions instead of the problems, where we're going, not what issues may be raising their heads at the moment and so on. That serves me, and I can see how this will serve me in pretty much any situation.

A Belief Is Just A Thought We Keep Thinking . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Hang around some positive, upbeat people today as a refresher. Better yet--be one for someone else!

Daily Inspiration 4-6-11

"A handful of pine-seed will cover mountains

with the green majesty of forests. I too will set

my face to the wind and throw my handful of seed on high."

-- Fiona MacLeod (William Sharp)

"There may be more to life than having everything."

-- Maurice Sendak

Success is such a broad concept and so much of the talk and writing about it revolves around accomplishment and money. Having everything, or more commonly stated, having it all, is like the ultimate accomplishment.

I have a friend that I've now known for over 20 years. He is somewhat younger and so I've had the delight to watch him go from his young twenties into his forties. I hired him as a salesman when we first met and he listened to most of what I tried to teach and so has done very well. He's done well not because of me, but himself. All I did was encourage him basically. I had the easy part.

We worked together for some years and have not for many more and in his job he is in a similar place to where he was then. It is just that he's been doing it longer and has had some experiences to put in his bag of gathered knowledge and skills. I would say he is and has been a success at his job and career, but it isn't the kind of success that is talked and written about where large growth happens or larger financial success.

Yet, the thing that I respect and admire about him the most is the part that he is a superstar success in and that is as a father to his children and a loving husband to his wife. His career has always taken second seat to that--except when I first met him, he had no wife or children.

He has always had a demanding job--demanding his time and focus and the pressure of needing to perform, but he has always taken that with ease as if it was no big deal. It was easy for him and a good part of his success at work was that with this ease, he was able to do his job, perform, AND schedule time for his family. He created a flexible environment where most in that work position would have become workaholics.

He went to school events, coached baseball for many years and had two of his sons playing as well. Two and two. Two wonderful boys and two beautiful girls. He found ways to be there and to be part and to participate in growing up with them. They are in their teens now and I know that would have been so different had he not participated throughout the earlier years.

He's a people person and loves his family and extended family and is active and a part of each and every one. He loves his customers as well and anyone who doesn't love him, just doesn't know him at all. I'm so proud to call him a friend and we rarely see each other living some miles apart. Yet, I think loving thoughts of him and his wonderful family all the time.

To me, he is the epitome of success. He's never had all the answers, but he is thoughtful and concerned and caring. He's a lover. He just loves people--all the people he ever comes in contact with. I think he really does have it all.

You May Be Far More Successful Than You Think.

Spread Some Joy Today--Become a lover today. Love everyone you see just for the fun of it. You might find it is worth doing every day.

Daily Inspiration 4-5-11

"All you have to do is know where you're going.

The answers will come to you of their own accord."

-- Earl Nightingale

"When we are sure that we are on the right road

there is not need to plan our journey too far ahead;

no need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears

as to the obstacles that may bar our progress.

We cannot take more than one step at a time."

-- Orison Swett Marden

Mike Dooley, a favorite author who just published a great book called, Manifesting Change, calls it the "curs-ed how's" when we get involved in how to do things. We start analyzing and trying to figure things out and much of the time, we don't know how a thing will be done and so not knowing how causes so many to stop until they do. But the thing they miss is that the how's are not very important in the scheme of things. It is more the desire, the vision and the inspiration to move toward them that really makes all the difference. It is amazing how we can learn as we go and the how's become clearer as we move forward.

In fact, I would even go so far as to say that if we know how to do a thing, it isn't much worth doing. It certainly wouldn't be inspiring, and probably not much fun or very interesting either. Maybe it's the "f" word, faith. Surely it could never be faith if we knew how, so it can only be faith when we don't know how.

Another interesting thing about the how's, is that as we pursue a vision, act on our inspired thoughts, we will find ways to get things done that would have never occurred to us. We may even exceed the vision that we could see at the beginning. I've certainly heard that from so many ultra successful people, where they say they've achieved things beyond their wildest expectations and such.

So, next time you find yourself having a strong desire to do something, or a vision of the way you would like to see things, I suggest you avoid getting very intimate with the how's and focus on the desire and the vision, act on your inspired thoughts and you may very well be amazed at the outcome.

Life Is Such A Wonderful Adventure! Go For It!

Spread Some Joy Today--Relax in the confidence that you are totally in control of your life. You get to choose everything. There is sheer joy in that realization.