Daily Inspiration 12-31-13

"Revisit your past 

only to recognize 

how far you have come." 

 -- Alan Cohen

This morning I was talking to a friend and ended up telling an overview of my story of the last seven years being in business for myself. The real value in telling it wasn't for him, but for me. I realized this moments after I hung up the phone. The value was for me to see the picture of how far I've come.

Now, often, if you're anything like me--you know. . . human--you may look at today and think that you're not yet where you want to be. You may even be a bit like me in being a bit concerned about that aspect. This can go on and on and on and on and lead exactly nowhere in particular. It is a circle of nothing. So, I've learned through much trial and error and paying a little attention that this is not a good place to be.

So the story was helpful because it made me realize that I am cooler than I thought, smarter than I look, and happier than I feel because I started there and am now here. Here is relative, but at least it is here. It is not there. I don't want to go back. I like moving forward, and I especially like moving forward on purpose.

So, perhaps it is time to tell your story aloud to someone and realize how far you've come. To pay attention to some of the detail of improvement and gain. Sure, you may not be there yet as it relates to your full journey, but it is quite valuable to see the tracks in the past from time to time.

And, while you're there, congratulate yourself. Throw a party. Raise a toast. Buy yourself a little gift. You deserve it. You've made it to here and I'm sure you're better for the journey.


Enjoy Where You Are In Pursuit Of Where You Want To Go.

Spread Some Joy Today--Make someone's day. Leave a big tip. No bigger than that. Yes, that's it. Forget the percentage. Just think about how they are going to feel when they see it.

Daily Inspiration 12-30-13

"Be kind, 

for everyone you meet 

is fighting a hard battle." 

 -- Plato 

This quote causes me to think several things. First, I don't know if I would have used the words fighting, hard and battle. Maybe they are. Second, there is no doubt that some are fighting a battle, hard or otherwise. Third, it really doesn't matter if it is hard, or if it is a battle, or that they are fighting. What matters is that everyone is dealing with life, and life is sometimes messy.

Based on that last part alone, it is worthy to be kind--as if we really needed a sympathetic reason. Yet, it is true that we just don't know what people are dealing with until they tell us and that they tell us the whole story. We all have stuff. It's in the closet, it's on the lawn, it's covered in paperwork, it's emotional and can also be stressful. It's a good bet that whatever we think we have issues with, others can top it and make ours look insignificant. Even though it is never insignificant.

So take care. Give the gift of love and joy. If that is too much for the moment, try the gift of caring. It is simply amazing what we can do to help another through a bumpy place by just giving our attention.


Kindness Is A Very Generous Gift.

Spread Some Joy Today--What in the world could be better than to spread some joy?

Daily Inspiration 12-29-13

"As creators, our pursuit 

of perfection might be misguided, 

particularly if it comes 

at the expense of the things that matter." 

 -- Seth Godin 

I'm a fan of Seth Godin, author, marketing guru, and entrepreneur, among other attributes. I borrowed this quote from a post he did on December 27th, 2013. I loved this line that tells the story in the end, but I also loved the beginning, which said, "no one reads a comic strip because it's drawn well. It has to be drawn well enough, not perfectly."

Some of the very popular comic strips are not classic artists. I remember one of my favorite authors who also drew cartoons. James Thurber was his name. Famous guy, great comedy and not so great drawings, but they were plenty good enough and I enjoyed them as if they were perfect.

What is good enough? How about for you? Are you holding out for perfect, or willing to take good enough? Sometimes we expect perfection of one another when just being ourselves is more than enough.

"As creators, our pursuit of perfection might be misguided, particularly if it comes at the expense of the things that matter."


I Am Enough. How About You? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Plant those seeds and water them often!

Daily Inspiration 12-28-13

"It matters not how small

the beginning may seem to be.

What is once done well

is done forever."

 

-- Henry David Thoreau

I love this quote for several reasons. One, it points out that doing a thing means it is done. Two, it clearly points out to me that nothing is ever "done." And three, quality is important.

We are always and will always be a work in progress. It is about doing not being done. There is no done. There is only doing. In doing, we learn, experiment, teach, share, create, expand, love.

They say to count the cost before doing. Since when did cost projections ever come out correct? Besides, they want the costs counted more to insure against a thing than to do it. They want us to complete a project which can never be completed totally. Oh, sure, you can build a building and it can be built to a certain size, but is it ever really completed? It will always be a work in progress even when it is ignored and in decay.

I remember when I was in junior high and high school, they were going to build a four lane freeway on a section of highway 12 from Santa Rosa to Sonoma. Highway 12 runs from the Sierra mountains to the coast and is almost all 2 lane standard highway. Well, they build a couple miles of this freeway or so, mostly raised so it took a while and then it all stopped. The people didn't appreciate the State's thinking and felt this freeway would ruin the rural charm of that beautiful drive from Santa Rosa to Sonoma. So there it sits dead in its tracks. Is it done? Would it ever have been done? It was and still is a work in progress.

Life is not about being done. Even if we are to leave the life we know, life is still a work in progress and always will be. Besides, Socrates still touches lives he never knew today. So does Abraham Lincoln, grandma Moses, along with every other life. We are never done. Nothing we do is never done because life is in the living and doing and whatever that is is.


Let's Start Something NEW! Then We Can Enjoy The DOING.

Spread Some Joy Today--Did you know that you can spread joy to others by just thinking about them with joy? It's a small world after all.

Daily Inspiration 12-27-13

"For after all,

the best thing one can do

when it is raining

is to let it rain."

 

-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I have often used the phrase, "swimming upstream," to speak to the process of dealing with resistance in a way that does not feel good, or work very well. To me, the visual image of swimming upstream and all the effort and strength needed for such a task is empowering to help me learn to flow with the current and with life. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says it so well in a different visual way, that when it is raining, the best we can do is to let it rain. It causes me to think of the futility of trying to stop the rain and how much better the flow of life is when we simply go with it.

Another visual with the stream is in a row boat and trying to row against the current to your destination, all the while thinking that it must be upstream. Yet, I have found it to really be downstream and easy and faster to get to. It doesn't have to be hard work. Who said it had to be that?


Let Go Of The Oars. Relax.

Spread Some Joy Today--by creating your own first. All you need to do is to think of something or someone to appreciate. Then think of that. This creates additional thoughts like it. This is the way to continual joy.

Daily Inspiration 12-26-13

"Those who cannot remember the past

are condemned to repeat it."

 

-- George Santayana

To this quote, Kurt Vonnegut said, "I've got news for Mr. Santayana: we're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive."

I find that I must disagree with both. The more we hang on to, remember, lament the past for whatever reason we wish to give it, we are dragging it with us as we try to move around in the present. Pleasant memories are wonderful and it may be very good to revisit them from time to time. But, let's take this just a bit closer to what I imagine these gentlemen are referring to. I think they are talking about learning from the past, not forgetting how it was so that we don't repeat the same things over and over again.

However, I still think that by doing that we are more likely to repeat the same things anyway. Out of sight, out of mind. In sight, in mind.

I was concerned about some depressing things I saw posted by a young person on facebook. I was told that they were just seeking attention, which seems beyond obvious, but then I was told that this was normal for that age. I say, not. It may very well be the past repeating itself through a new victim, but to call it normal is interesting. Why should I or anyone else accept this as normal? What the heck is normal anyway? The other answer is often, "oh, it's the hormones." OK. More thoughts of the past exhibiting themselves into the present with a new victim that we are making into a "normal" person.

Is it normal for anyone at any age to be depressed? Is it normal to have cancer? Is it normal to act a fool? Or, how about the opposite angle. Is it abnormal to do this or that or be this or that way or talk this way or that way? Is it a majority vote that wins what is normal? Isn't normal sort of average?

I guess I shouldn't be concerned at all since it is normal behavior for that age. . .


The Problem May Be That I Am Not Normal, Nor Am I Abnormal. I Do However, Allow Those To Choose As They Will And Celebrate Their Choices.

Spread Some Joy Today--It is a wonderful choice, don't you agree? Joy works. It causes my spirit to glow.

Daily Inspiration 12-25-13

"When you serve with love,

the universe finds ingenious ways to pay you."

 

-- Alan Cohen

I went out to breakfast with family this morning (Christmas eve) at a place they raved about. I had heard some of the success story of a family owned and managed establishment that seems to always be filled to capacity and beyond. As we entered, a young man (owners son) greeted us with humor and fun and passion. We sat near the front and I heard him greeting many people in that extremely confident, kind and enthusiastic way. I

 thought about how well he did that job and as I looked around I appreciated the décor and attention to detail. One greeting came in the middle of the meal that was very memorable to me. Remember. the place is packed and there are people waiting. The customer asked if he had a table for eight. With unbounded holiday spirit, he replied, "absolutely!." It came to pass that they were seated within a short time, but I was amazed at his response because under these conditions, I have heard other people hem and haw, mention how busy it is, ask if they had reservations, or any number of other not so helpful responses.

When you love what you do and you do it with this conviction, everything you do is filled with love.


Table For Eight? Absolutely! Thank You For Stopping By Today!

Spread Some Joy Today--How many ways are there to spread joy? Count the ways, or just let it flow.

Daily Inspiration 12-24-13

"You can't worry love." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

That's great news, isn't it? Although, some find a way to love worry, even thought that is an oxymoron. But, not you. You know that love is all powerful and worry hasn't got a chance when you focus on love.


I Am And I Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--It is amazing what a smile does at the mall. Simply amazing.

Daily Inspiration 12-23-13

"Refuse to give your power away 
to people and things. 

Make this season count

 in your favor." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

People ask what I'm doing for Christmas, and I've told a few that I'm going on a trip for a few days. They say, "there will probably be terrible traffic." I say, "it's not a problem if you're not in a hurry." And so it is. It's all part of the adventure when you are open to seeing it this way. I'm not fond of congested traffic, nor am I in fear of it. It is what it is or will be. I am determined to have a wonderful time the entire journey, including any and all traffic.

 Each time I said that today, the other person just looked at me as if I was strange. I'm getting used to that. And so it is. It's all part of the adventure when you're open to seeing it this way.


I Refuse To Relinquish My Power To People Or Things. 

Spread Some Joy Today--and there's truly only one way to do this: by being joyous. It spreads automatically without any effort on your part.

Daily Inspiration 12-22-13

"Some people are always grumbling 

because roses have thorns. 

I am thankful 

that thorns have roses." 

 -- Alphonse Karr 

This thoughtful quote doesn't have anything to do with roses, and yet everything to do with everything.


A Life Of Gratitude Finds Ways To Be Grateful. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Joy is not something to find. It is the result of letting go of resistance. Just like the famous Beatles song: Let it be. And, it will be.

Daily Inspiration 12-21-13

"The bad news is time flies. 

The good news is you're the pilot." 

 -- Michael Altshuler 

There are more books I want to read than I find time for. There are more things I want to get done than I seem to have energy or time for. I seem to be behind the curve a lot of the time--especially when I think of tasks, or things that I want to accomplish. In fact, I have a long list of things. I want to learn Spanish. I've only been saying that to myself for about 40 years or so. I would love to know how to play the piano well. But, those are things that don't really fall into the time issue. They seem to be commitment issues.

Back to the time thing. . . It also seems like the holidays make time go quicker and dates approach much faster. Heck, there's only one handful of shopping days left before Christmas.

But, that's all about the bad news, isn't it. The good news is that I'm in charge. I'm the pilot. What I do or don't do, achieve or don't achieve is totally up to me. And, that's just fine. Sometimes it might feel good to blame others or the season, or the whatever, but, in the long and short run, I'm the only source to examine.


Ready For Take-Off? 

Spread Some Joy Today--While you're focused on accomplishing the mission, don't forget to give your love to the troops.

Daily Inspiration 12-20-13

"You are uniquely qualified to be you." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

What a great quote this is. Often, we may be focused on being like someone else, or thinking perhaps that someone else is better or smarter or some other attribute that we think we might be missing. But, if you think about it, there isn't any other person in the world now or ever that is as uniquely qualified to be as you. That aspect would be worthy of some grand focus and attention. A labor of love, a joy in creation.


Be The Best That Only You And You Alone Are Qualified To Be. You ROCK! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Kind words and smiles are magic potions. Use them liberally.

Daily Inspiration 12-19-13

"You can't have everything. 

Where would you put it?" 

 -- Stephen Wright 

You know, this is sort of funny and at the same time, it is sort of true. I don't know where I would put more stuff now, let alone have everything. In fact, I've been contemplating letting things go and how I might do that.

When I was 21, I was in the Air Force, 3,000 miles from California in Dover, Delaware and was recently married. We lived in a 40' mobile home (trailer) at $85 per month and that was 30% of my income before taxes. We didn't own one piece of furniture, and had very little else. Our first official piece of furniture was a $20 unfinished wood nightstand that I painted yellow with an antique finish, which I still have possession of 43 years later.

It would seem that now I have more than enough. Until recently, I even had stuff in a storage facility. What a big business that has become. They are everywhere. The truth is that the more stuff I have, the less it seems to mean to me. As I think about things all around me, there is very little that feels important. Yet, it all must have been very important, or at least important enough to buy to begin with. Who even remembers why?

Sometimes I long for those days when I had almost nothing, but the only good reason to go back there would be to have my whole possession-oriented future ahead of me. Or, perhaps if I could go with the knowledge I have now, I might make a different choice.


Who Needs All This Stuff? Yet, It Didn't Arrive Of It's Own Free Will, Did It? 

 Spread Some Joy Today--Joy doesn't require anything except a desire to feel it.

Daily Inspiration 12-18-13

"Your greatest contribution 

to helping other people live their destiny 

is for you to live your own." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

People and children don't listen to advice very much, but they do pay attention to what people do. They become great imitators. Employees become great imitators of their supervisors and other leaders within a company. This is why I've never thought much of mission statements in general because I've been involved with companies who don't live up to their rhetoric. But, anyone can see what they do and that is what is most important.

 Like helping people? Be the best that you can be is great advice. Leading by example is a great strategy.


 "What You Do Speaks So Loudly That I Cannot Hear What You Say." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Spread Some Joy Today--Don't worry about anyone else. Just be the best you that you can be. That is pure joy.

Daily Inspiration 12-17-13

"Don't put off for tomorrow what you can do today

because if you enjoy it today,

you can do it again tomorrow."

 

-- James A Michener

I was working with a car dealership this morning and I was talking about prospecting for sales. I gave them a chart I made that demonstrates the long term results of consistent small efforts or tasks. When it comes to prospecting, so many fail because they are not having fun, and often doing work they don't want to do or dislike doing.

Part of the reason for that is that they go out with the attitude of making a sale. It's truly arrogant to think you can just walk into a place and make a sale, but more important than this is that it sucks. It makes it no fun because you will receive a lot of rejection. However, if you go out to learn about them, what they do, how they do it and hope that you may find business you can send their way with this new knowledge, it becomes interesting and fun. The sales will come naturally over time, but the important thing is to meet new people, businesses and focus on them, not you.

So, back to the daily efforts resulting in much larger success over time. This Daily Inspiration happens to be number 1,540. It's amazing to see that number because all I focus on is doing it each day, 365 days a year. Over time it grows to larger numbers. The Commercial Truck Success Blog now has 2,168 posts and it began with post number one. It began a year and a few months sooner than the Daily Inspirations.

Sometimes people think that one should do ten a day and improve the efforts. That's good, but it isn't as good as smaller efforts over a long period of time. The two I was just talking about were one day at a time, one per day, and you can see how the numbers add up. Whatever it is we want can be attained with joy in the same manner. Changing one thought per day over time will lead to a whole rearranged life. One or two tasks completed toward your dream assures it's success.

Getting started is the beginning and then just keep doing it again and again and again. But, remember my edict about joy. It has to be fun. It has to be a labor of love. When it is work, it is often not fun and that leads the brain to find ways out, and it will surely find them.


Little By Little An Acorn Turns Into A Large Tree.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever you are doing today, focus on the enjoyment of what you are doing. It's a great way to live.

Daily Inspiration 12-16-13

"Never regret. 

If it's good, it's wonderful. 

If it's bad, it's experience." 

 -- Victoria Holt 

Generally speaking, I think the quote above is a healthier way of viewing things. What might be even better is, "if it's good it's experience and if it's bad it's experience." The reality is that it is just experience. How we label it is how we respond to it and how we respond to it guides us well in how to handle it. To label it good or bad is only in relation to how we feel about the experience. Of course, it's okay to label it and it is equally okay to not label it. You get to choose.


However You Label It, I Hope It Feels Good To You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--There is no more important, and no more effective goal in life than to enjoy yourself. If it isn't working out that way, stop immediately and change your mind.

Daily Inspiration 12-15-13

"Now and then it's good to pause

in our pursuit of happiness

and just be happy."

 

-- Guillaume Apollinaire

It has been said and I'm sure accurately so, that whatever we do in our lives, we do in order to feel better, feel good, be happy. Yet, we may be subject to pursuing so much that we miss the true concept that all we need to be happy is to choose to be happy. Of course, the things we do in our lives is important--at least to us, or we wouldn't do them probably; however, this is just a simple reminder to purposely choose to be happy as often as you can.


It Will Make The Pursuit All The More Fruitful.

Spread Some Joy Today--Don't let the season be your reason. Choose joy every day.

Daily Inspiration 12-14-13

"Don't get greedy.

There's only so much to go around."

 

-- My parents when I was a little kid

Today, there is more money and more opportunities than there have ever been in the history of the world. I know this is true. Because it is, that alone is support enough to consider the expansion of the "pie" that I was told we were limited to only a slice of. It appears that the pie keeps on growing and is not static. That idea is not the same idea of abundance, but it is certainly more encouraging than the world media would have us believe.

Alan Cohen said, "Your prosperity and happiness does not take away from the prosperity and happiness of others; it adds to it." He goes on to say, "Ultimately you must face and answer this question: Do we live in a universe of fixed resources in which one person's good takes away the good of another? Or is the universe capable of supplying prosperity for everyone who chooses it?"

That's a great question, don't you think? Look around. There is more now than in 2000 and more then than in 1900 and so on. There are more people, more businesses, more money, more happiness, more of everything we want if we can only believe it is true. Or we can believe there is only so much to go around and we have to try to get our fair share. The latter is an obvious belief in lack.


There Is More Than Enough. Leave Your Worries At The Doorstep And Come On In.

Spread Some Joy Today--Believe in the abundance all around you. Rest in that peace.

Daily Inspiration 12-13-13

"Trust the instinct to the end,

though you can render no reason."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is interesting to watch others who have an instinct about something, then find all sorts of reasons against following it. It is as if reason has some sort of magic authority to righteousness. Yet, from my own experience and that of watching others shows me that instinct is still superior in many ways.

I've been the places that I see others in where they make a decision and then through reasoning and fear, make a different decision. It's out of the norm, or it's not the way we are used to doing it, or so many rules that we have developed over time that preclude us from venturing beyond our own tightly controlled comfort zone.

Think back on any decisions that you have made in the last several years. Important decisions usually stand out. When you followed your instinct--and I hope you have--were those the best decisions or were they bad decisions? I think you will find they were the best. Then look at decisions where you used reason and allowed fear to corrupt your thinking. They were terrible ones, I might imagine.

The end result leads us back to Ralph Waldo Emerson and his advice to trust the instinct to the end regardless of any reasoning present. There is a place when we just know it deep inside and it really doesn't matter what other influences are giving advice. Our own inner advice is all we really need and it is worthy of our trust.


GO4IT!

Spread Some Joy Today--Relax. Enjoy your day. There just isn't anything more important in all of the world. Seriously.

Daily Inspiration 12-12-13

"The fact that I can plant a seed

and it becomes a flower,

share a bit of knowledge

and it becomes another's,

smile at someone

and receive a smile in return,

are to me

continual spiritual exercises."

 

-- Leo Buscaglia

"Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la la. . .


Time To Plant Some Seeds, Show Some Smiles, Become More Spiritual.

Spread Some Joy Today--Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. . .

Daily Inspiration 12-11-13

"There is a vast difference

between wanting and needing."

 

-- Albert K Strong

Needing to do something has often been thought of as a powerful way to accomplishment. Once in a while that might work, but generally it is not true. The main reason is that need comes from fear. It often causes acts of desperation, along with misspent time and money. It also begs for short cuts and hopes and prays for magic and miracles.

What does work is desire. Wanting is a powerful tool. It will cause one to consider options, to look at possibilities, to formulate a plan, to make a commitment and follow through. Strong desire is among the most powerful emotions for accomplishment. It is not fear-based, but love-based. It is joy and fun and child-like. It is anticipation of success, and as long as the desire remains strong, or as long as one can find more reasons to have the desire come to fruition, it becomes a forgone conclusion in time.

Need is negative emotion in action, and any time we have negative emotions making themselves known, this is an indication that we are out of alignment with our own true selves, our inner knowing of the right path for us. They are an indication of which direction we are headed and an alert mechanism to create awareness to find better feeling thoughts to get us back on track.

When we feel needy, this is a time to pause, reflect a bit and find things to appreciate right here and right now. As we find thoughts of appreciation, we will find more and more until we can get back into a grateful state of mind and back to our desire. What do we really want? I'm certain it is not desperation. I'm certain it is not being needy. I am certain that it is living in hope and joy.

This applies to everything we do in our personal lives and in our businesses. Focus on desire. Focus on what you want. Focus on the joy of being. Focus on love. Focus on appreciation of what you have and where you are and how far you have come. Focus on being of service to others. Focus.


Love And Joy Are ALWAYS The Right Answer!

Spread Some Joy Today--by taking your mind off of you and offering appreciation to someone else.

Daily Inspiration 12-10-13

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary

to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."

 

--Hermann Hesse

In 2001, I wrote a song that I played in church several times. I wrote a lot of them, but this one was always special with me personally. When I sang and played it, I was always in such gratitude and love and it brought out emotion in me that rarely came out. It is a simple song and here are they lyrics:

Nobody loves me like You, Lord

Not even one; no--not even one

Nobody loves me like You, Lord

Not even one; no--not even one

There is no One like you, not one

 

You love me when I'm at my best

You love me at my worst--and, yes,

You love me when I kneel and pray,

And even when I walk away

Your love is like an always open door (and more)

Inside I am complete forevermore, (for)

There is no One like you, not one!

I'm not much into religion. I've studied it, spent a good deal of time around it, but there are so many rules, expectations and dogma. Yet, I love God more than I ever have and that is where this song came from.

I was thinking about this idea just the other day. I was doing some things that if others had known about would have had much to say, although, not so much to my face. Yet, I felt totally free from judgment. In fact, as I thought about it more, I realized again what caused this song to come to fruition. It is that I think the Lord, God, The Universe, or whatever name someone wants to give, thinks pretty highly of me. Not higher than anyone else, but loved fully and completely. No matter what.

I can tell you that the peace of that was overwhelming and I rejoiced in a love so without condition and exclusion.

The message I bring here is to consider such a love for you regardless of anything you may think you've not done rightly. You are loved as fully as am I and we can all rejoice in such a love.


Nobody Loves Me Like You, Lord.

Spread Some Joy Today--by spreading your love and your loving thoughts whether you actually speak aloud or not. Your thoughts have power and influence.

Daily Inspiration 12-9-13

"Make the world a better place 

one person at a time. 

Start with yourself." 

 --Linda Poindexter 

It is easy for us to think of helping others. It is often that which is explained as a virtue and that to be selfless is to be a good person. Of course, helping others is a wonderful thing to do. However, we are rarely, if ever, encouraged to start with ourselves. Yet, this is such perfect selfish advice. It is from our own alignment with our own truth that we can share that effectively and lovingly to others. Getting ourselves in alignment is the perfect beginning. 


Begin With A Healthy Appreciation For Yourself. The Rest Will Make Itself Known. 

Spread Some Joy Today--"When you become aware that you're judging or censoring yourself today, suspend that thought. Take a few deep breaths instead. Inhale slowly. . . exhale slowly. Then look around you with fresh eyes. . . listen with new ears." -- Dr. Gay Hendricks

Daily Inspiration 12-8-13

"Name two winners in the 1992 Olympics.

Name four Pulitzer Prize winners.

Name one coach in the sports hall of fame.

Name on person who received the Medal of Honor last year.

 

Name two teachers who had a significant impact on your life.

Name four books, authors, or poets

who have written something you cherish.

Name a coach who taught you

some values, discipline, or persistence.

Name one person who would stand by you in your darkest hour.

 

Which group has had the most lasting impact on your life?"

 

--Alan Cohen

I thought this was a grand comparison of how personally we are connected to an event, person or situation. I know people who are die-hard sports nuts who could quote almost anything sports related, but I still bet that group two has more power in their lives.

Tell you what would be a good task today: Make a list of the group two people and items and whether they are now dead or alive, send them your thoughts of thanks and pure gratitude for having touched you in a special way that has had a lasting impact on your life.


There Is Nothing Like The Feelings Of Gratitude, Appreciation, And Love. Visit Them Often!

Spread Some Joy Today--Do only what brings you joy today and it cannot help but spread joy around.

Daily Inspiration 12-7-13

"For any marriage to be successful,

you must work at it. . .

As for spats, if a quarrel develops,

one should leave the room.

It takes two to quarrel."

 

-- Mamie Eisenhower

I was thinking about Dwight Eisenhower. I know what you're thinking. . . that is such an odd thing. And, you're right, it is an odd thing probably. I'm not even clear on exactly why I was thinking of him, but I remember a couple books on my shelf by his biographer, Stephen Ambrose, and I wanted to look at a bit of his life after his presidency. He was President when I was in grade school.

As I began reading, this quote above jumped off the page at me. I thought it was brilliant and so full of common sense. It reminds me of an old phrase that I heard many times when I was young, "it takes two to tango." I thought, of course. The way to stop a quarrel is for one to leave the room. It's logical, but only partially true. The quarrel doesn't stop by one leaving the room, it is merely postponed. It only stops when one lets go of the rope. But, I'm sure that's what she meant anyway based on other things she was quoted as saying.

I suppose one could argue with the mirror image of themselves, but it has so little impact in comparison with a real quarrel with a real human being. It is so much like a tug-o-war game. And, all we need to is let go and leave, and there is no more energy for escalation. Someone quarrelling with you on the phone? Hang up and let go of the rope. By letting go of the rope, we need to let go of the issue. Begin immediately thinking uplifting thoughts about the other and watch what happens.


A Quarrel Is Fed Or Starved By Our Response.

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing it moment by moment.

Daily Inspiration 12-6-13

"One can be very happy

without demanding

that others agree with them."

 

-- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Absolutely. In fact, I think that the only way to really be happy is to not need anyone to agree with us. Otherwise, we are looking to others to make us happy and that is not really possible. Others don't have the capacity to make us happy. This is our own sacred task alone. We certainly may be pleased that someone does or acts a certain way, and it is comforting sometimes when people agree with us. Clubs have been formed, and a million other organizations based on this idea. But, happiness doesn't come from without, it comes from within. It is strictly and fortunately a choice.

I love the power and perfection of that.


I Choose Happiness. That's As Good As It Gets!

Spread Some Joy Today--Listen!

Daily Inspiration 12-5-13

"Conclusions arrived at through reasoning

have very little or no influence

in altering the course of our lives."

 

--Carolos Castaneda

As I read this quote several times, I found that I am agreeing with it. As much as I try to think logically, reason my way through situations, I can see that it was not reasoning or logic that made any difference. It was passion. In other words, it was feelings that guided me best.

All the logic in the world cannot replace the intuition--that "inner knowing" that comes from within rather than without. The answer isn't out there anywhere, it is inside. We are equipped with a perfect "inner guidance system" that is expressed or repressed through emotion. When we pay more attention to how we feel about something, we can make better and better decisions.

Logic and reasoning may tell us to do this about that, and at the same time, we feel uneasy about it, or we don't feel good about it. This is a perfect time to make no decision at all, or delay the decision. When we get to the point that we feel positive emotions, or that we feel good, we just know that it is right for us regardless of what others might think.

The more I pay attention to this, the better decisions I make.


It Is A Flawless Design Tool Working For Our Benefit.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever will help you to feel good, better, awesome, wonderful, do that today. In fact, do it often!

Daily Inspiration 12-4-13

"Do you believe in magic?"

 

--John Sebastian

Love at first sight. It's an interesting phrase and one where some try to make it a rare thing. I've experienced it many, many times. From the time I was in grade school until even today, I know that feeling and it stirs passion in me and is among the most beautiful and wonderful feelings I've ever experienced. I remember all of them very fondly.

I've been married twice. Once for 16 years and one together for 26. Both were love at first sight. Literally. It was instantaneous. I, of course, didn't know what would come of it, but that didn't change the feeling. I didn't know if the other felt similarly, but that didn't change the feeling. It was MY feeling. And, I enjoyed it to the hilt.

I spent some time with a few others where I had that same kind of feeling, but for one reason or another, it did not last as a relationship. However, every time I think of them I have the same wonderful feeling all over again. Even today, I have experienced this and who knows where it will go or won't go. Frankly, that doesn't really matter. It's my feeling.

I've known some who are so in love but they are so hung up on the other acting in a certain way; responding to them in a certain way, and so on. This creates craziness. I know that feeling too. I've done that before, but I have learned to own my own feelings, enjoy the moments, go with the flow and let it be. Sounds like a bunch of songs, but it's so true. If another responds in a similar way to how I feel, fine. And, if they don't, fine. It's all perfect.


There Is Nothing Like It In The World!

Spread Some Joy Today--I love fully and have no expectations. It's perfect.

Daily Inspiration 12-3-13

"Be recklessly generous

and relentlessly kind."

 

--Pam Grout
 

28 million plus views on this video. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to watch at least one third of it. It will wake you up as it has so many to how we judge people by appearance before we know anything at all about them. In this case, so many judge there will be no talent and it will be a sad affair and they couldn't have been more wrong--even to the point of going all the way. Absolutely amazing. Take a few minutes and check it out.


What Do I Really See When I Look At Someone Who Does Not Look Like Me?

Spread Some Joy Today--Recklessly generous and relentlessly kind. Such good words for today, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 12-2-13

"People who have faith in life

are like swimmers who entrust

themselves to a rushing river.

They neither abandon themselves

to its current nor try to resist it.

Rather, they adjust their every

movement to the watercourse,

use it with purpose and skill,

and enjoy the adventure."

 

-- David Steindl-Rast

Most of you know that I love TED.com. So many thoughts and ideas expressed that hit home with me and hundreds of thousands, even millions of others. What a wonderful organization and their sharing of their talks has been a godsend to me and I love sharing many of their messages. Here is a most recent upload in November from a talk in June of this year. He starts off a bit slow, but trust me, if you will relax and allow him his space, he will bring an important message to life for you. Enjoy!

"Gratefulness Is The Key To A Happy Life That We Hold In Our Hands." -- David Steindl-Rast

Spread Some Joy Today--"The root of joy is gratefulness. . . It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful." -- David Steindl-Rast.

Daily Inspiration 12-1-13

"Extinguishing the tantrum cycle.

 

Consider three ideas:

 

1. Listen to the person, not the tantrum.

2. Tantrums want to deal with tantrums.

3. Create systems to avoid it in the first place."

 

-- Seth Godin

Probably every business and personal life there is one or more situations where a tantrum is trying to take charge and control the environment. As a fan of management expert, Seth Godin, he recently published a short blog piece about ways to deal with this situation. I thought it was very good and that you might get benefit from it.

See the whole piece here:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/11/extinguishing-the-tantrum-cycle.html.


It's Not Fire With Fire. It's Much Cooler.

Spread Some Joy Today--What does it feel like to have a perpetual smile? Even one that is not always in full bloom, but always in the Spirit?

Daily Inspiration 11-30-13

"If you're gonna make a change. . .

operate from a new belief that says,

life happens not to me but for me."

 

-- Anthony Robbins

Attitude is such an interesting thing. In an airplane, the plane's attitude is always relative to the horizon. Our own attitude is always relative to our beliefs. Our attitude determines how we look at life and act on things, and yet it is always relative to what we believe. So, the way to change things so we get a different result, assuming of course one is desired, we must adopt a new belief. Mr. Robbins suggests a wonderful change that will help us have a better outlook on everything.


It's Certainly Worth Considering. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--A belief is just a thought we keep thinking until we start thinking anew.

Daily Inspiration 11-29-13

"Spirit math:

The quality of your life

equals the ratio of

appreciation to complaint."

 

-- Alan Cohen

I love this quote and how it says so succinctly the simplest goal in life to have a better, more fruitful and enjoyable life. Simply increase the quantity and quality of appreciation and decrease the quantity or sooth the edges of complaint. If we did nothing else, that would be enough. No 10-point list of things to do, to wear, to drink, to eat, to rub on ourselves. Just more appreciation and less complaining.


When It Can Be Made Simple, I'm In. The Truth Is Always Simple. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Find some extra appreciation today. It's Black Friday. Use your spirit math today.

Daily Inspiration 11-28-13

"I'm thankful for every moment."

 

-- Al Green

Among the long and widely varied lists of things to be thankful for, Al Green's quote tops them all. To be thankful for every moment. . .well, that is as thankful I think as a person could get.

Albert Barnes said it this way: "We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." Being thankful for every moment covers this nicely, but I like the way it is pointed out clearly that we are better to be thankful for everything, even the things that at first blush may not look to be serving us very well. I find that it is amazing to express gratitude for the things that aren't now seemingly working out, for I believe that they always will unless we thwart the effort of God.

Last, I like how Alan Cohen, one of my favorite writers puts it: "Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts."

Happy Thanksgiving!


May Your Day Bring You Bountiful Joy!

Spread Some Joy Today--There's so much to be thankful for. One way to help remember is to make a list. The other is to be thankful 24/7.

Daily Inspiration 11-27-13

"To seek permission

is to seek denial."

 

-- Steve Jobs

I agree 100% of this phrase from the famous Steve Jobs of Apple Computer, and many other endeavors. It is very rare that I would ask permission to do anything whether it was on my job with an employer, or in my family.

I learned early on that by asking permission, I was technically seeking denial and it was most common to hear the word no, or some excuse that sounds a whole lot like no. That wasn't what I wanted to hear, so I learned to stop asking and just do.

There is an old saying that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission. I agree with that of course. But, the interesting part is that it will be rare that you will need to ask for forgiveness because most of the decisions would have been right on the mark.

You just have to trust that you are your own best consultant.


Give Yourself The Gift Of Your Own Authority.

Spread Some Joy Today--It is a effortless time to be generous. Find some ways. They are all around you.

Daily Inspiration 11-26-13

"We are not given

a good life or a bad life.

We are given life.

And it's up to you

to make it good or bad."

 

-- Ward Foley

I love the way this was stated. Absolutely true!


Make It An Awesome Day!

Spread Some Joy Today--Got your list of thanks that you're planning on giving?

Daily Inspiration 11-25-13

"A Course in Miracles tells us that all acts

are either expression of love or calls for love.

People who are angry, hurt, belligerent, or

difficult in any way are calling for love.

If we can see them not as mean people attacking,

but as children who are in pain and starving,

it is easier to be with them and respond to them

in a way that disarms their hurtful behavior."

 

-- Alan Cohen

Wouldn't it be interesting and also cool to look at behavior in the way of the quote above. Instead of returning anger from anger or hurt from hurt, we could return love for anger and love for hurt and help the healing process. For, I'm sure we all have learned full well that returning fire for fire is of no real use. Really.


Who Could You Not Love? It's A Fair Question. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Let's just enjoy this day to the fullest. Why the heck not?

Daily Inspiration 11-24-13

"If you frequently give yourself permission

to doodle, wander, and be totally unproductive,

and you actually relish such interludes,

I can guarantee that your genius, creativity,

and productivity will increase exponentially.

I've seen it happen a billion times.

Through the roof,

The Universe."

-- A Note from the Universe, Mike Dooley

www.tut.com

I love this message that came on December 7th, 2012. It resonates with me today. And, I am a work in progress on this whole idea.

You see, I have spent a lot of time finding things to do for myself. Some make an income, so do not, and all consume my time. What is worse than anything is time I spend feeling that I should be doing something that I either don't want to do right now, or need to do. Now, I've learned recently that the word need is an interesting word and statement. It seems like it is solid, firmly planted, immovable, and righteous, instead I find that it is really a variable. In fact, I think it is as much a variable as the word want.

Based on that, this new philosophy of need allows me so much flexibility in how I choose to address it. Or when. Or if. Or, if I will even pay it any attention at all.

So, recently I have been experimenting by giving myself permission and authority to doodle, wander, and be totally unproductive on purpose. At first this was a challenge for me, but as I practice, I find myself enjoying my days so much more, and I don't know that anything is suffering as a result of my playfulness. I even feel more creative, and productive in a new way.


Isn't Life Interesting. . .?!

Spread Some Joy Today--Well, there ya go. Spread some joy today. That's got to feel good, don't ya know.

Daily Inspiration 11-23-13

"We long for an affection

altogether ignorant of our faults.

Heaven has accorded this to us

in the uncritical canine attachment."

 

-- George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans)

Dogs are so simple. Eat, sleep, pee on things, look curiously at us, wag their tail, show enthusiasm for a walk going anywhere in any terrain, location or time of day, spoon over being petted desiring ever more.

Humans are complicated. If Charlie wants to go for a walk, he's ready in a moment. I, however, must put on my shoes and socks, pants, brush my hair--you know, get ready. He's sitting there watching and I'm sure he's thinking about the world coming to an end before we actually get going. Yet, when I'm ready, again is he in all his glory.

He doesn't care about any of my idiosyncrasies. He doesn't seem to think anything of it. When I go pet him, he relaxes as if he is taking a spiritual bath in complete and total safety. He loves to be loved.

You know, speaking of that--humans are challenged about loving being loved, or so it seems. We're not sure. Perhaps there is an alternate agenda that has not been disclosed. Perhaps they aren't thinking what I'm thinking. Perhaps this isn't real. Perhaps this is insincere. Perhaps they will love me then hurt me. There is much fear mixed in and this mixture leads to resistance, tenseness, questioning, and less allowing.

When we are like Charlie and we relax and allow, what a change takes place in how we feel--in fact, in how we both feel.


By Allowing Love Openly And Without Condition, We Experience Bliss.

Spread Some Joy Today--Release your fear. If only for today. Notice how you feel.

Daily Inspiration 11-22-13

"My wish for you is that

this life becomes all that you want it to.

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small.

You never need to carry more than you can hold

and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you,

and wants the same things too.

This is my wish."

 

-- Rascal Flatts

Nicely said . . .

Hear the song and see all the lyric at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrCc8VCHns&feature=kp


Remember The "Somebody Loves You" Part. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--by spreading this sentiment. Loving yourself and loving others.

Daily Inspiration 11-21-13

"Insults are like angry bulls. . .

they can only do damage

if you let them in.

You can't control what people say,

but you can control if you let it bother you.

 

No one's opinion of you

is more important than you own."

 

-- Doe Zantamata

The last line in this wonderful quote is certainly the most important. So, get a piece of paper out and write this one sentence down in bold lettering: "No one's opinion of you is more important than your own."

People may have something to say about you. Perhaps how you do your job, how you are as a husband or father, wife or mother, friend or associate. They have a right to their opinion and sometimes what they have to say lifts us up. That is a wonderful thing. Then, other times, what they may say is not uplifting. In fact, it might even be downgrading or derogatory about you.

This is important: Listen to all that uplifts you and let pass you by the opinions that don't. Let me repeat: Listen to all that uplifts you and delight in it, and let all the other opinions pass you by and be on their way.

There is no opinion of you that is more important than your own opinion on yourself. You are in charge of your own life. Let others--allow others, to be in charge of their own; however, let no one else be in charge of you except you. What they have to say can be accepted or rejected at will. You are your own best judge.


Allow Yourself The Authority To Be Your Own Judge.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever helps you to feel good about yourself today, do that. Let everything else wait.

Daily Inspiration 11-20-13

"For things to change,

you have to change."

 

-- Jim Rohn

"Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours." -- Richard Bach. It is amazing how many of us will argue and continue to argue for our limitations, even when we know better. It must be a habit from years of training ourselves. When we express our limitations, we are so focused on where we are and where we've been. The only thing we can see about the future, is some form of what we have experienced already, real or imagined.

There are some key words people use. One is because. "I can't do that because they won't give me the help, support, money, power, whatever." It doesn't matter what comes after the word because since it is all made up anyway. Another key word is but. "I wanted to do that, but they wouldn't let me, support me, give me the tools, or whatever." Whatever comes after the word but is all made up.

We look for the things that will sound really good after those words. It's so important for it to sound real, and absolve ourselves entirely of any blame whatsoever. It cannot be our fault, otherwise it wouldn't be a limitation. Limitations always come from outside of us, never inside of us. At least that's what we want to believe because it helps the whole thing work.

The truth is that we create our own limitations strictly with our thoughts. We think we can't so naturally, we can't. It's simple, but it isn't from the outside. It is from the inside. Until we accept responsibility for that knowledge and empower ourselves to act on our own behalf with power, our weakness will lead.

What are your limitations? At home? At work? In general? What do you say after, because or but?


I Am The ONLY ONE In Charge Of What I Think. Period.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do something nice for someone else today. Just for the joy of it.

Daily Inspiration 11-19-13

"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 / Pat Rodegast

Fear need not have more than a very temporary presence in our lives. It comes and we see it for what it is, and we let it go on through. The list of all the things that could go wrong are no longer relevant. They leave in the wake of fear gone. We give them passing notice at best and let them pass us by.

It is our faith in everything working out well for us that remains predominate. There is only wellness and anything less is resistance. We practice our faith in everything working out for our benefit as if that is the way it was meant to be. Because it is.

As we practice our faith there is no need for control for it is all working according to our plan. And, whatever we decide that needs to be changed will naturally and easily change.

There is a flow as if a river of life that we only need to allow. Anything other is resistance. Anything other is dis-ease. Relax and flow. Relax and flow. Faith is strengthened by relaxing and flowing with all that appears in our lives.


Strengthen Your Faith By Allowing And Understanding That All Being Well Is The Plan.

Spread Some Joy Today--Seek joy. Seek to appreciate and joy will be there. Seek to love and joy is there. Seek to allow and joy is there.

Daily Inspiration 11-18-13

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant

before receiving a meal.

It's a way to live."

 

-- Jacqueline Winspea

What would it be like to be in a perpetual state of grace, gratitude, peace and love? Some kind of ideal for people who don't have any problems, kids, spouses, family, employers, lawyers, and such. You know, those people. Right?

Who has time to contemplate all the stuff in the world? There's too much going on every day. It's more a matter of how many fires we have to put out. Doing that, how could we find time to even do our jobs, grow our businesses? That's for those monks in the cave up in the mountains with no worries, no cares.

Yet, you see people with these thoughts sitting at a table, bowing their heads, saying some combination of words meant to give thanks to God for the meal. What about all the rest of the day? Week? Month? Year?

I think we make rituals sometimes to attempt to make up for paying attention the whole of our day. Sort of like going to church on Sunday to absolve us of the rest of the week. How much better to find ourselves paying attention, being awake, finding gratitude throughout our day and staying in a state of grace as much as we can.

How many times each day can you be thankful? Express gratitude? Experience love?


Perhaps A Challenge. . . Start Or Start Again Right Now.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever is happening is perfect. Find the perfection. Find yourself being okay with it. Find yourself being grateful.

Daily Inspiration 11-17-13

"What does freedom mean to you?"

 

-- Adam Baker

I ran across this excellent Ted Talk video by Adam Baker the other day and thought I might share it with you. I thought the question stated above was one worth pondering thoughtfully and trying to answer to the best of our ability. It may even be surprising.

Text from below video on YouTube: In 2008, after the birth of his first child, Baker and his wife decided to sell everything they owned, pay off their consumer debt, and spend a year traveling abroad as a family. They began sharing their journey in early 2009 on the blog Man vs. Debt, now 15000 subscribers strong. In sharing their ups and downs in the areas of personal finance, consumerism, clutter, travel, minimalism, and passionate entrepreneurship, they realized they aren't alone in a desire to explore and grow.


Freedom Is A Very Personal Thing.

Spread Some Joy Today--Practice responding instead of reacting. It puts the calm in charge.

Daily Inspiration 11-16-13

"Just because a marriage (or anything) ends,

doesn't mean it failed. Ideally, of course,

we would like a marriage to last a lifetime.

But when it doesn't, we dishonor the relationship

by casting an aura of failure over all of it.

If you loved, learned, and grew during the time

you were together, there was real success."

 

-- Alan Cohen

"And, they lived happily ever after. . ." Well, some perhaps, but change is more likely to occur. Often that change is to another partner. It is also easy to blame each other, and to feel they failed us or we failed them. How sad that we often have to take that point of view. It is only reality if we accept it as such.

Far better it is, from my own experience and that of my study, to celebrate the time, celebrate the experience, celebrate the learning, celebrate the discovery and celebrate each other. Finding blame is fear-based. Feeling guilty is fear-based. And both are ego-centric. Let go of that rope. Lay it down and move toward loving each other, without the need to live together.

This same strategy and perspective applies to so many other areas of our lives, whether it is our jobs, careers, employers, friends, and even our own communication with ourselves. Although, in these instances, we may not consider them failures as easily as we do in a relationship or a marriage.

Movies, newspapers, and other publications and sites show how people fall into love and out of love. That is all crap as far as I'm concerned. If you love someone, it doesn't change into something other than love unless it is coerced by your ego. It's okay to not want to be around each other all the time, and still love each other. In fact, it is preferred, don't you think?

Celebrate the successes regardless of size or duration. Let all the rest fall away.


"Love Is The Ability And Willingness To Allow Those You Care For To Be What They Choose For Themselves Without Any Insistence That They Satisfy You." -- Wayne Dyer

Spread Some Joy Today--Love doesn't expect. It is a free gift, or it is something else entirely.

Daily Inspiration 11-15-13

"Letting go is always easier

than holding on.

And it's how the new stuff will find you."

 

-- Mike Dooley

It fascinates me how seriously profound thoughts like that statement above are, and yet at the same time so incredibly simple.

We fear letting go. We fight and resist letting go. The reason is because we see it as some kind of failure to persevere. However, I would suggest that we consider a different way of looking at this great quote.

Rather than thinking of letting go as painful or bad or wrong, consider instead the idea of allowing things to be. If you think about holding on as resistance, which it generally is, then this idea is easier to grapple with. By letting go of resistance, or letting go of the rope, we put things in motion in an allowing sort of way for things to come to us. It may be the answer we've been looking for, or it may be something physical we've been wanting. As long as we have resistance in force, that which we want is most often held away from us. Let go and allow and the freshness of that perspective can take over.

Give it some thought and I think you will understand fully what I am saying here.


Release Your Point Of View In Order To Have A New Perspective.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do something to show yourself some love today.

Daily Inspiration 11-14-13

"You cannot worry about someone

and love them at the same time.

Most people mistake the emotion of worry

for the emotion of love.

They think that worrying about somebody

means that you love them."

 

"Worrying is using your imagination

to create something you don't want."

 

-- Abraham, Ester Hicks

Worry is not love, it is fear. There is no fear in love. So worry has no place there. It reminds me of this powerful quote from Eckhart Tolle, where he says, "suffering needs time. It cannot survive in the now." Worry is suffering and suffering or worrying needs time. It needs the past and the future. It has no place in the now. It thrives on past experience, past judgment, future projection, personal movie and script making.

Next time you are worrying about anything, stop in your tracks and consider your emotions. Consider how you feel and I think you will find that none of it is positive. Try letting the worry go as if you are letting go of a rope you've been pulling. As you let it go, you will feel relief. You'll realize that you've been using past experiences and thoughts to create a negative situation in the future. By letting go, you release all of that and have the opportunity to just relax and allow more positive thoughts to take charge.

You may instinctively react, but with your awareness, you can stop, and change direction. This will keep you on the path you were intending all along.


Love Is Allowing. Love Is Letting Go Of The Rope. Love Is Caring Without Needing To Control. Love Is Allowing.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do something to treat yourself today. You ALWAYS deserve it.

Daily Inspiration 11-13-13

"You don't launch a popular blog,

you build one."

 

-- Seth Godin

In my company, Upward Trend, our main job and the one we spend the most time, energy and money on is blogging. We have a package called the Trend Setter Package which includes a website, blog, some social media management, an email newsletter, video and more. But, out of all of that, the blogging takes center stage. In fact, we have a team of four bloggers, with one of them doing close to 60 blogs.

I started blogging in April of 2008 shortly after I learned what the heck a blog was. Then, we went from not knowing what one was to doing well over a hundred every day. Amazing.

Yet, in today's world, people want immediate results. They want to be at the top of every imaginable Google search, and they want their website and blog to be very popular, often without providing anything in the way of content to us. That isn't a complaint, just an observation.

In the world of blogging, it takes time, patience, content and consistency to become popular. Then again, popularity is a widely defined thing. Some think of having a hundred thousand hits a day, and to others popularity is a million and others one hundred. If Oprah mentions your blog, you could get lucky. But, the main thing is just thinking about growing it day by day by day by day by day, and then one day, it is popular.

As I related this to our business, my clients' blogs and even my own blogs, I couldn't help but relate this to almost everything in life. Whether it is relationships, or our career, getting along with others, families, becoming healthy, becoming fit, or whatever, it is far better I think to look at this long term with small efforts on a regular basis than in huge efforts in a small space of time.

To have 10 books that you've written, you obviously need to start with one, and before you can have one, you have probably been writing smaller things for a long period of time. I'm a practicing writer, and as such, I have practiced since I was a teenager. Who knows when I'll get there, but getting there isn't really the issue and that is part of the point here. It is the journey. One foot in front of the other in front of the other again and again will get you across a great distance.

You don't launch a perfect relationship or marriage, you build it. You don't launch a perfect career or business, you build one. Some strides may be larger than others, but by focusing on the daily efforts, the daily positive thoughts and so on, we will get to where we want to be and enjoy the journey at the same time.


You Don't Launch A Perfect Life, You Build One.

Spread Some Joy Today--If you've been searching, stop now. Focus on this moment. Enjoy what you are doing. Seek joy. It is only found in the moment.

Daily Inspiration 11-12-13

"Be more concerned

with your character

than your reputation,

because your character

is what you really are,

while your reputation

is merely what others

think you are."

 

-- John Wooden

A quote to consider again and again from one of the world's great, John Wooden. Wonderful words of wisdom.


Character Is The Foundation. Reputation Is A Mirage.

Spread Some Joy Today--Follow only your joy today. It will lead you perfectly.

Daily Inspiration 11-11-13

"Every new day is a once in a lifetime event.

How much more exciting would our lives be

if we embraced this truth and lived accordingly?!"

 

-- Steve Mariboli

I went to bed extra early last night and didn't do this Daily Inspiration until this morning. As my feet touched the floor in getting out of bed, the thought came to me that today is a completely new day. I have never seen, or experienced this day. Whatever that has gone before need not influence it, and yet it so often does. We are carrying all that load from days gone by into this brand new day.

So I thought, what would it be like to really recognize this new day as a huge gift--say, a gift from God or the Universe, that it was specially made just for me, and that all that went before need not affect it in any way or I can allow that if I like as my sole responsibility to choose? What would that be like?

I saw several quotes about the new day. Here's a few more by Steve Mariboli for your pleasure:

"A new day:

Be open enough to see opportunities.

Be wise enough to be grateful.

Be courageous enough to be happy."

 

 

Today is a new day.

It's a day you have never seen before

and will never see again.

Stop telling yourself the 'same crap, different day' lie!

How many days has that lie stolen from you?

 

 

Seize the wonder and uniqueness of today!"

Participate in your dreams today.

There are unlimited opportunities available with this new day.

Take action on those wonderful dreams you've had in your mind for so long.

Remember, success is something you experience when you act accordingly."

"Each New Day Greets Us With No Rules Except For The Rules We Place On It. Greet This New Day With Open Arms And Endless Possibility." -- Steve Mariboli

Spread Some Joy Today--Allow the majority of your thoughts today to cause a smile to brighten your face. Make feeling good your number one priority today. Try it even if for only today.

Daily Inspiration 11-10-13

"In moving forward,

are you keeping your eyes on

the cracks in the sidewalk,

or on the horizon?

With each you will make

radically different decisions

based on what you see,

and consequentially receive

dramatically different results.

 

-- Albert K Strong

In the late fifties and early sixties as I was a kid, there were no such things as store bought skateboards. We made ours out of clamp on steel skates with steel wheels nailed to a piece of 2"x4". Any small pebble, round or otherwise that was on the sidewalk was potentially a problem when the steel wheel would contact it.

Thus, it was easy to look at the cracks in the sidewalk as we skated along so that we could look out for the pebbles or other debris that could send us sailing and landing poorly. To keep our eyes on the horizon would be beneficial to where we were going, but we had to learn to trust in order to do that. When fear was involved, we looked at the cracks in the sidewalk.

As I thought back about those days and those experiences, I related them to how business owners (and every day folks too) often end up doing the same thing. Many get so focused on the sidewalk; i.e., what is in front of them, the heat on the phone call, the problem in production, the messed up order, not trusting that things will turn out well, and much more.

Yet, if we think about it, keeping our eyes on the horizon is what really helps a company, marriage, student to thrive and entertain innovation and tenacity. In fact, Seth Godin, a recognized management expert says that, "Tenacity is not the same as persistence. Persistence is doing something again and again until it works." We could compare that to looking at the cracks in the sidewalk. Then he says, "Tenacity is using new data to make new decisions to find new pathways to find new ways to achieve a goal when the old ways didn't work." We could call this looking at the horizon.

Raising our eyes, our focus, our vision, our intent above what is, what is yelling at us, what is trying to command our attention can be a very positive and tenacious thing to do. As those persistent noises do their best to keep us looking down, we find entirely different thoughts, patterns and results by giving more attention than the noise seems to demand.

A really good question to ask is, where do you want to be, or what and how do you want to be doing it, five years, ten years from now. Looking at that distance ahead can be highly beneficial. Some highly successful companies look 50 years down the road. And, again, this doesn't just apply to companies or businesses. . .


Head's Up! Eyes Forward!

Spread Some Joy Today--See what you can do to thank someone today.

Daily Inspiration 11-9-13

"Everything changes when you

start to emit your own frequency

rather than absorbing

the frequencies around you.

When you start imprinting

your intent on the universe

rather than receiving

an imprint from existence."

 

-- Barbara Marciniak

Everything changes. Everything. It is amazing to watch it happening. It is amazing to see it in ourselves and in others. At some point, as discussed a couple days ago, our fear of things staying the same becomes greater than our fear of change. It is so amazing when intent is put into gear.

It is interesting how long we can continue doing things that we've lost interest in, that no longer satisfy us, and more. It is often called 'going through the motions.' I think it is called that because it is like a machine that keeps running even after the ignition is turned off. Ever had one of those cars?

But then one day, we decide that we've had enough of that and we go see a mechanic, or trade the car in, or sell it, or give it away. Then we begin moving again. We feel refreshed, alive, engaged. Maybe it took a bit of inspiration, some coaching, but regardless of that assistance, it is always our own affair in making the change.

After that decision or intent has arrived, it is among the most freeing, gratifying, and exciting places to be for how ever long it lasts. There will be more. It's just a process, and though some are deeper than others, the process is never ending.


I Deserve Better. . . I Want More. . . I'm Tired Of This! These Are All Good Beginnings.

Spread Some Joy Today--Are you ready?