Daily Inspiration 9-30-13

"You are where you are right now

because of the actions you've taken,

or maybe, the inaction you've taken."

 

-- Steve Maraboli

The last two days I've thought of many things and a lot of those thoughts were beating myself up for things I've not yet done, or haven't started, or I'm not following through on. I want to lose weight and I keep putting it off and enjoying what I am eating. I was going to get x, y and z done, but I procrastinated, or took the day off and did none. These are just some of the ways I've always beat on myself.

Yet, today, I had a different thought while I was in the bathroom this afternoon. I thought that I am where I am. I am there because of my actions or lack of actions, just as Steve said. But, today, the thought that was different and uplifting was that it was perfect the way it turned out--that I'm perfect the way I am. I intended it to turn out this way and it turned out this way perfectly.

Now, certainly, I could have chosen different thoughts and had different outcomes, but today's outcomes are perfect in and of themselves. I did it on purpose. I succeeded in creating exactly what I was wanting. All the other noise is just ego.

Just imagine, that everything you have chosen to do, regardless of the outcome was chosen on purpose and it is not only okay to be pleased with, but we should be since we intended it. What a different way we would act as a result.

We're never too fat, we are what we have chosen. Or too skinny, or too anything. We make decisions every day and every decision lays us on a course and every course has a temporary end, or result. And, each of those is perfect and perfectly planned.


Why The Heck Not? It's Sure Better Than Self-Inflicted Abuse.

Spread Some Joy Today--Create a perfect day for yourself.

Daily Inspiration 9-29-13

"I have looked in the mirror

every morning and asked myself:

"If today were the last day of my life,

would I want to do what I am about to do today?"

And whenever the answer has been "No"

for too many days in a row,

I know I need to change something."

 

-- Steve Jobs

It is interesting how easy it is to just do a thing and then keep doing it, perhaps not wholeheartedly, or knowing why it still needs to be done. In fact, it may not need to be done anymore.

Lately, I'm looking as closely at what I am doing that I can let go of and be done with as much as I am looking at new or other things I may want to do. Beginnings and endings. We need them both, but I find it much harder to let go than to reach out. I find it harder to stop a habit than to start one.

Often the thing I may be doing really has become a habit; a ritual. I may even be confused as to what the value of it is. Certainly, it must have value or I wouldn't be doing it, right? We all perceive value differently I'm sure.

Sometimes someone might ask, "why are you doing that?" We might answer, "because I've been or we've been doing that for so many years," as if the length of time doing it becomes the value. Or, we might say, "because we've always done it that way." The habit is the value. How about, "I don't know. That's a great question."

Sometimes I think that we may get into a position where instead of living the life we want, we end up with the habit of supporting our stuff and our rituals.


The Old Adage, "Life Is For The Living," Has New Meaning Now.

Spread Some Joy Today--Consider. . .

Daily Inspiration 9-28-13

"The way anything is developed

is through practice practice practice

practice practice practice practice practice

practice practice, and more practice."

 

-- Joyce Meyer

I left on Wednesday morning early taking a driving trip to Portland, Oregon to work with a client I haven't seen in quite some time. In round numbers, that trip takes about 10 hours with stops for gas and letting Charlie out to pee on a few trees and bushes. Charlie was my companion on the trip, but he doesn't talk much, so I had to do all the talking, and that wasn't much. It's hard to talk to someone who just stares at you with that cute face and his ears standing tall. I made a cozy little place for him on the seat next to me in my F150 pickup and off we went on an adventure. It's the new Travels With Charlie.

I haven't driven through Oregon in over 30 years and it is more beautiful than I remember and so green compared to California. We had some rain going up off and on but it was an awesome drive. The trip back was mostly sunny and cool, but I got the pleasure of seeing it all over again on Friday.

During the first hour or so of the trip up, I turned the radio on, but only listed to music about 10 minutes and then shut it off. I took two audiobooks along, but the CD player wouldn't recognize them, so I put them away. So, ten hours up and ten hours back, there was the noise of the truck and wind, my occasional speaking to Charlie and the rest was mind-talk.

I've stated before that I am practicing being present, or in-the-moment as much as possible. What that means is that I am paying attention to what my eyes are seeing, perhaps making mental comments about what I am seeing; such as, how beautiful that is, how green it is, how large the country looks, the contrast of blue sky and green land, and the list is endless. All of that is being present. However, I would catch myself thinking of other things, and almost all of those thoughts were of the past.

I might see something that triggered a memory and then the movie would begin to get creative and going in all sorts of directions. In the past, I would have let the movie play, probably would have felt negative emotions about it, moved on to a similar, though not better movie and so on. Now, I am intent on practicing bringing myself back to the present.

So, I would realize I was not present and would say as the mind in charge, "I'm in the past, not the present. I want to be in the present." Then, I would be right back in the present, seeing, being here, safe and free of anxiety, negative feelings and more. When I am in the present, there are no problems.

All my problems are in the past and the future, and all future thoughts are built on the past. It's so much better, calmer, more loving, more fun and enjoyable in the present. And, I have to say, that I got a lot of practice with 20 hours driving with no tunes. It was good. I was in the present a great deal of the time and I thoroughly enjoyed the process and the drive.


If I Decide To And Actually Practice, I Make Progress.

Spread Some Joy Today--Just let yourself be love today. Think loving thoughts of everyone you see today whether you speak or not.

Daily Inspiration 9-27-13

"Take care what words you speak

that follow "I am."

In so speaking

you create your life."

 

-- Alan Cohen

Yesterday, I wrote about affirmations and how I've come to change my thinking about them and find their power. I want to continue a bit with that subject here.

In today's way of talking, we often take the extremely powerful, "I am," and change it to "I'm." It has the same power but sure sounds different.

Ever heard people say in real life that you know, or on TV and in the movies, such things as these:

I'm a loser.
I'm always getting in trouble.
They're always against me.
I'm sick and tired of. . . I
'm worried about ______.
I'm tired. I need a rest.

Then there are similar ones that don't actually say I am or I'm, but imply it:

I can't afford it.
They're out of my league.
I hate having to go to work.
Thank God it's Friday. I
 hate Mondays.
I need a raise.
I need a vacation.
I need a drink.
I want more money.
It's too expensive.
Prices have gone through the roof.
I hate Wal-Mart, but they're the cheapest.

There are hundreds or even thousands of other such remarks that we often don't pay any attention to, or that are commonly shared with other people, thereby finding agreement and increasing the power of the above affirmations. Yes, these are affirmations. They're just not positive ones. Often, we think these are normal and to say the positive ones is strange and abnormal. Start using positive ones and some may say, "Oh, you're one of those New Age people, aren't you?"

So often when we're saying things like the list above, our bodies are tense, we may even grind our teeth, there may be anger. All these are visible signs of the power of thought and by feeling it, we get the indication that we would rather feel better. And, the way to that result is by changing the thing being stated or observed which will tend to have a more positive feeling in our body as well as our mind. If the positive affirmation is so radical a change that we don't and can't now believe it, the negative feelings will persist. Sometimes, or at least it is with me, I need to make the changes in smaller steps so that I can believe enough of it to admit the possibility.

In doing the small steps to change, I don't have a list of 20 affirmations. Right now, for this time, I am focused on just two. One that I am using many times a day is, "things are always working out for me!" And, believe it or not, they are, and the more I say it, the more I mean it, and the more I mean it, the more it is true. The next is "I am a money magnet. Money comes to me from the most interesting places!" I love how this makes me feel. You know, many of us have a tendency to limit the sources of money coming to us; that it has to be income, or we have to work for it, or exchange something tangible for it, or inherit it, and so on. But, money can come from the most interesting places and methods. I often find this working for me in trying to give money to someone for a bill or something and them saying that I don't owe anything. It's really kind of interesting.

For your enjoyment of playing with these ideas, I highly recommend a book by Louise Hay, titled, Meditations to Heal Your Life. I have it on my Kindle and will often peruse some of the very short one page "chapters" and I always come away feeling good, and often inspired within.


Change Is Best And Easiest When It Is Many Shades Of Gray Instead Of Night And Day.

Spread Some Joy Today--Injoy your day. Be in joy as much as you can.

Daily Inspiration 9-26-13

"Affirmation without discipline

is the beginning of delusion."

 

-- Jim Rohn

Creating and using affirmations has been taught by hundreds, if not thousands over the recent past. I think of Jim Rohn as a mentor to me and it seemed to me that he always made fun of the idea of affirmations. I never really understood what he was saying until recently.

I read and followed the advice of affirmations promoters such as Jack Canfield, Louise Hay, John Demartini and others. I always seemed to lose faith early on and find fault with the idea of using affirmations. I didn't really understand why until very recently.

I've tried to change my results without changing my thinking. That, of course, is the definition of insanity, where I keep doing the same things and hope for or expect a different result. Vincent Roazzi states that "people want to change their lives, but they don't want to change." Gandhi said, "you must be the change you want to see in the world." In other words, for things to change, I must change--not someone else, or the world, but me--what I do, what I think, how I behave, who I associate with and more.

So, back to affirmations and what has changed my thinking about them and thereby my results. When I first learned about them and it seemed similar with each new teacher was to write out a positive affirmation of what I want or what I want to become or how I want something to be. So, of course, I wrote that I want to be wealthy so I can enjoy a bigger life and help people, or that I wanted better health, etc. It should be in the first person as if it has already been accomplished. I got it, and wrote them out on cards and just before bed each night I would say one over and over and try to visualize it being done, then move on to the next and so on.

The problems were several. It was as if I were trying to use exercise equipment at a certain time. I didn't believe well enough that they could or would come true; in other words, they weren't all that believable. They didn't do anything to change my thinking except in the moments I was reading the affirmations and hoping things would change.

It has to be better and easier than this. It needs to be a discipline as Jim Rohn says, but not the kind of discipline that is WORK. If it isn't fun and playful, it isn't going to take hold.

Many of us so commonly make comments about the latest negative tragedy or event on the news. We may watch it over and over listening for new details about how bad it is and then hear all the tragic cries of the people involved. For good news sake, of course. Then, we repeat thoughts about the economy and how the President hasn't got a clue, and the Republicans or the Democrats have their heads between their legs, or Social Security is almost broke and then, there's the global climate change situation, oil prices, gasoline price changes, taxes, and the list is pretty much endless. We talk about all that stuff to ourselves and to our friends and to our coworkers and family, and we try to have things change for the better.

Maybe we even start an affirmation program like I did and deal with the stuff during the day and at night read some meaningless dribble on cards. At least, that is how it began to feel.

But, the bottom line is, for things to change, I must change my thinking, my action, my speech (to myself and to others). I must choose differently.

So, here is the easy way. Substitute a positive affirmation for a negative one and then keep doing that over and over until your thoughts about your life are predominately positive. For example, a great one I found and have shared with many is this: "Things are always working out for me." I used to say stuff like, "that stuff is always happening to me, one step forward, and two back, there's more bills at the end of the money, I can't ever seem to get ahead," etc.. Now, whether something came out well or didn't, I say to myself and aloud, "Things are always working out for me."

This changes things. This changes thinking. This is fun and playful. This works. All you have to do is try it for a couple weeks and you will find that it works just like magic.


It Is Simply Amazing. . . Things Are Always Working Out For Me!

Spread Some Joy Today--With things like this, how could you not?

Daily Inspiration 9-25-13

"Somewhere someone is looking

to find what you have to offer."

 

-- Louise Hay

Take heart. You have value and there are people out there somewhere who know it too and would love to share the experience with you.

A dear friend and I were having breakfast the other day and he was talking about the "ripple effect." It was also about the Law of Attraction, the God Factor, and other ways of simply describing how people come together at the right time or the perfect time for both of them. He also talked about how you may meet one person and have a hard time with them, but they introduce you to someone that becomes a huge asset, a very delightful and strong friend, a loving companion, a great business client, and more.

You never know who you may meet or under what circumstances that can be what we might call a Godsend. If you believe in God, then all that is necessary is to be open and allowing and sort of 'go with the flow,' and the most amazing connections can be made. In case you didn't realize it, God happens to know EVERYONE! And, despite rumors to the contrary, I have it on strong authority that He loves EVERYONE!

As I think about this and look in the rearview mirror of my life, I can see serendipitous connections all over the place. In fact, some of those happenstance meetings have turned into very long term friendships that are full of love growing greater even today after 20 years or more. It's magical when you look at it that way and I am more and more open to meeting and talking with people now than ever. We need each other and can and do influence each other. I am so much more than I would have been by being open to allowing.


I'm Loving Each New Day And Who I Will Meet Today And Getting And Creating Ripples.

Spread Some Joy Today--Go create some ripples. Step 1: Love people.

Daily Inspiration 9-24-13

"You already have permission.

Just saying.

You have permission to create, to speak up, and stand up.

You have permission to be generous, to fail, and to be vulnerable.

You have permission to own your words, to matter and to help.

No need to wait."

 

-- Seth Godin

Just sharing.


Go For It.

Spread Some Joy Today--Let your love light shine today. Brighten up the day!

Daily Inspiration 9-23-13

"The most important aspect

of making a sale

is also a major weakness

of every salesperson.

Asking questions."

 

-- Jeffrey Gitomer,

The Little Red Book of Selling

I used to own a lot of guitars, then over the last several years, I sold all of them. I've been without a guitar for a couple of years, and I have a strong desire to get at least one good quality guitar. So, I've been looking around on the Internet for some specific guitars I like, and I've found some that I'm considering. But, I'm not in a hurry, nor am I dragging my feet. I'm ready.

On a fluke, I drove over the bridge to the Guitar Center, which is a huge chain of stores that sell musical instruments, including guitars, drums, amplifiers, recording gear, and more. Musicians often call it the 'candy store.' They have hundreds and hundreds of guitars--lots of different models, makes, colors, and shapes. I have not been in that store for a long time, but I wanted to see what's hot now, what's still hot and to see a wide range of instruments.

My favorite guitar brand was not even represented there except two used units, so my favorite is not hot now, I guess. But, I came to see the lay of the land, not something specific. I wanted to open my mind a bit; pry my fingers off the old and true; consider changing.

At Guitar Center, they have a lot of roving salespeople. Or, rather, I might now call them greeters and welcomers. There wasn't any selling going on--at least none with me. I was there for about 45 minutes and looking and touching a few, and in that time, I had 5 different salespeople talk to me. They wanted to know if I had any questions. They wanted to know that I was comfortable there. Several even asked what I might be looking for. I talked openly. And, after 45+ minutes, not one of them asked me to buy anything, or tried to sell me anything.

As a sales manager most of my life, I have to say that this situation was very sad. I was a buyer. I was ready to buy. I had the money. I was in their store. They have almost anything a person could want in an instrument and the low end to the high end. What a missed opportunity this was.

I know a number of music store owners around the bay area and they always talk about Guitar Center and how they cannot compete with them. It's the old Wal-Mart argument. It's crap. Of course you can.

A couple of things I learned, or relearned from this shopping experience. One, having a huge selection of lots of different brands is not as effective as a large selection of one brand. Two, it is very confusing in that store. There is so much going on and it is noisy. It is almost scary and intimidating. Three, if they had trained salespeople instead of the 'wandering welcomers,' they would actually sell more guitars. Four--and this one is kind of important--people do like to be sold. Jeffrey Gitomer has always said, "People don't like to be sold, but they love to buy." I get what he's saying. No one wants a pushy, insensitive, salesperson, but frankly, I love being taken good care of by a real and skilled salesperson.

I found a guitar there yesterday that I would have bought, but chose not to. It was an interesting experience.


The Self-Serve World Of Marketing Might Look Good, But Is Nowhere Nearly As Effective As Sales.

Spread Some Joy Today--Keep your eyes and heart open today for some very special blessings. They're all around, but you have to be open to them. Enjoy your day as if it mattered. It does.

Daily Inspiration 9-22-13

"Do not let another day go by

where your dedication

to other people's opinions

is greater than your dedication

to your own emotions."

 

-- Steve Maraboli

I love people. I love them and appreciate that they have an opinion. And, yet, at the same time, I may have zero interest in hearing it. I used to be so concerned what other people thought about me, what I might say, how I might look, what my house might be like and so on. I gave most of that up. I really don't care very much, and if it isn't positive, I don't even want to hear it.

I walked into a store I haven't been in after long time--several years in fact. I said hi to the owner and I was glad to see him, but I really couldn't stay but for a few minutes because he is one of the most negative people I have ever been around. Everything is doom and gloom and going to hell in a hand basket. He's all about what is wrong and frankly, in the time I spent there, he had nothing positive to say at all. I gave him a bit of my love and left. See ya!

Everyone has opinions. I appreciate that fact. I don't even mind hearing many of them, but I pick and choose who I will spend my valuable time with--and more important that this--I choose who I will spend my mind and spirituality with.

Generally, when people talk down about things, whether it is in person or on the phone, I do what I can to turn it to a more positive note. If I struggle with that, it will not be for long. I will find a way to get away from them and so keep my own sanity and clarity.

I've even been known to hang up on someone getting in my face for something. Oops! Dropped call. Must have been a disruption in the atmosphere. I might call them back. I might not. If I call them back and they go off again. . . oops! must be a signal issue with my cellular service. I am in total control with how I allow people to talk to me, and how long I will listen to anything that I don't want to hear. It doesn't matter if I am at work or at home. I am in control.

I used to be in the car business as a sales manager. I remember having one lady with her daughter who was a terror just after she bought a new Camaro. It had only been a week and she was giving me such a hard time. I told her that I would give her all her money back and that she could go somewhere else. That hardly ever happens in the car business by giving all their money back, tax, license, the whole thing. I didn't want her as a customer and she went somewhere else and I was relieved the whole issue. We sold the car to someone who loved it and the only thing we lost was a terrible customer.


I Always Have Veto Power. And, I Use It. I Highly Recommend It.

Spread Some Joy Today--What you think and how you feel is critical. Choose your joy.

Daily Inspiration 9-21-13

"God, why do I storm heaven for answers

that are already in my heart?

Every grace I need has already been given me.

Oh, lead me to the Beyond within."

 

-- Macrina Wieherkehr

I don't teach, although it is easy to see it that way. What I do, at best, is inspire others to see that which they already knew; to help them remember. That is why I like the idea of how ideas will resonate with each of us. That means simply that it is agreeing with our inner knowing, or you could call it an inner being. When a thing or idea or thought resonates with us, it is a remembering of what we already knew, but perhaps have just covered up for a time.

It's not as if we are empty vessels in need of being filled with knowledge. I believe that we have all the knowledge we will ever need, but many of us lose track of the pathways to and from that source of wisdom. When something resonates, it reawakens that pathway and inspires us to action.

I read a lot of things from a lot of different sources, not because I need to know the subject. I already know, but I want to teach. I want to help people remember, and it is in the little nuances of how different people express themselves in a subject that sparks inspiration in me to share and teach anew.

A long time ago, I was told that in all of life, there were only three jobs. They are these: 1. Emptying the things that are full. 2. Filling the things that are empty. and, 3. Scratching where it itches. I think in reality that in some respects, I do all three, but in my own mind, I scratch where it itches. We want to be inspired and I want to inspire. It is an itch being scratched.

Knowledge is said to be power. If that is true, then you already have all the power you could ever need. We all could use some help with the inspiration that resonates, then we can take the ball from there.


Be Open To Be Inspired. What Resonates, Inspires.

Spread Some Joy Today--Some may not understand that peace, calmness, and joy are more than compatible. They are one in the same. When you see that person exuding peace and calmness with a smile on their face, you know it is inner joy expressed.

Daily Inspiration 9-20-13

"Attachment to being right creates suffering.

When you have a choice to be right, or to be kind,

choose kind and watch your suffering disappear."

 

-- Dr. Wayne W Dyer

I love this quote and have tried to follow this advice as I come across situations where I am right, but that is not the best answer. Kindness rules!

Think about it. What happens when we argue our being right position. Even if we win the argument with some disagreeing soul, does that ever cause a good feeling in us? I seriously doubt it. It's far better to not worry about who is right, what is right. That is all a relative position at best, but by following the love signal of being kind, that always has to leave us with a good feeling, and most often the other at the same time.

Think about those times when you knew you were right and you argued for your righteousness. Remember how you felt, how it appeared that the other felt. Then think of times when you didn't worry about the righteous position and chose kindness. If that has never happened, then imagine it.


Love Rules. Kindness Rules. Righteousness Is A Rocky Unstable Cliff.

Spread Some Joy Today--Be cool. Chill. Give yourself a break. Settle into some joy.

Daily Inspiration 9-19-13

"No one can create negativity

or stress within you.

Only you can do that

by virtue of how

you process your world."

 

-- Dr. Wayne W Dyer

I hear people say that they are stressed at their job, or that they are under stress, or that certain people are causing negativity in their lives. Stress has been a huge buzzword for the last 20 years, and it doesn't seem to go away. In fact, there are billions of dollars spent every year in the relatively new 'stress relief' industries created by the hype around the concept of stress. It is commonly depicted as something that comes upon us from others; that is, it is created by others and given to us as if it were some kind of thing that we might give someone.

Stress and negativity are 100% self-inflicted. We give them to ourselves. One hundred percent.

Many years ago, in my twenties, I studied Transactional Analysis. Some might remember it by the Parent, Adult, Child, which was an easy way to understand how we think and react and interact with each other. I studied Eric Berne in What Do You Say After You Say Hello, and Dr. Thomas A Harris in I'm OK--You're OK, Stan Dale on the radio and more. In all of it there was one theme that goes along with this message today, and it was to 'own your own feelings.'

I loved that phrase and it taught me to think about that and to realize that my feelings were my own and not caused by someone else. At least I knew it intellectually. Putting it into practice was another thing, but I worked on it and tried to catch myself and remind myself that the other person, whether it was my boss, my wife, family or any other, cannot make me feel anything. Only I can create a feeling within me. It didn't stop the feelings from feeling lousy or good, but it took the blame away from the other person as the one who caused it in me.

Stress is just a feeling. Surely, that feeling, as with any other feeling, is real and it can create pressure via resistance on our minds and even in our bodies. It can cause our heart to race, blood pressure to rise, and more. Yet, it is still not a thing. It is a thought. It is only a thought in our head and we are creating all of the rest ourselves in response to the thought. Indeed, if everyone on the planet left today, you could still have stress tomorrow. It will be self-inflicted just as it is when everyone is all around.

Want to get rid of stress? Let go of the rope, which is an easy, visual way to say let go of the resistance. As soon as you let go--in that same moment--the stress is gone. Only you can bring it back with another thought and feeling.


First Accept Responsibility For Your Own Creation.

Spread Some Joy Today--Peace. It is also a thought. Wellness. It is also a thought. They are also feelings, and good ones to create on purpose, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 9-18-13

"The highest revelation

is that God is in every man."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I've talked about this a couple of times, and it bears repeating and/or restating.

One of the best things I have learned in the last few years is to be a committed practicer. I've talked about how I have learned how to practice patience and even enjoy finding opportunities to practice it. My highest calling is to practice unconditional love. I am committed to practicing it and perfection seems way off in the distance yet, but I can see and feel that I am getting closer to having it become a habit with me, or rather, normal for me.

Most of my life, where ever I found myself around people, I would think about what I liked and didn't like about what I was seeing. Never mind the fact that I knew absolutely nothing about a person, I could easily make a judgment anyway. It also seemed that the majority of my thoughts were not positive. It was more about what I thought was weird about them, didn't like the look of, and so on. The appreciation list was generally short unless they on rare occasion hit me differently.

Now, I practice finding positive and loving things about people I see and don't know. If I find one thing to like; to love about them, then I can more easily find another. If there are a lot of people around me, like at the grocery store, or a work environment, or other such venue, I may find one and move to the next. I want to see as many as possible and get more practice time because, it is obvious to me that I need it!

And, I'll bet you guess what is next. . . Yes! It works. By doing this, I find that I can love pretty much everyone--even politicians! I feel like God loves me including all my so-called faults, and He loves everyone else, so why should I not do the same. At least that is my goal and I've always sort of believed that practice does make perfect.


Consider: Where Is God Not? I Can Practice Acknowledging That In Everyone I Meet Or See.

Spread Some Joy Today--What a perfect way to spread joy: Practice unconditional love.

Daily Inspiration 9-17-13

"Write it on your heart

that every day is the best day in the year.

He is rich who owns the day,

and no one owns the day who allows it

to be invaded with fret and anxiety."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Write it on your heart that every day (today) is the best day in the year. . ." I have sort of stumbled on to this frame of mind and method of thinking just in the last few months. I've always been task-oriented, or at least, list-oriented. I may have often chastised myself for not crossing off nearly enough off the list. But, now I am leaning toward and have been practicing having one overall goal each day. That goal is simply to enjoy the day. Enjoy the weather, whatever it is. Enjoy what comes, whatever it is. Enjoy the traffic, even waiting in line, no-shows at appointments. There is actually so much to enjoy when I look at it this way.

It is also stress-resistant. If I am enjoying what is going on regardless of what it is, how can I have any stress or anxiety? I only have those when I want to be somewhere else than where I am, or think I should be doing something I'm not, or someone else should be doing something they're not. Deciding to enjoy the day, every day, has many benefits below the surface.

At first I thought it might be hard, but it isn't. It is easy. All it requires is a decision to enjoy the day, all day, every day. If I begin to feel uneasy about anything, I focus on enjoying the day and the uneasiness goes away immediately. If I'm waiting in line, as I did today for some time, I focus on enjoying those moments, watching people all around me being anxious and impatient. I see then what I used to look like, act like. Often people will say, 'sorry to keep you waiting,' and I often answer, 'no problem at all, I love any opportunity to practice patience.' Then I might get a chuckle or a look as if I'm out of my mind. I am.

Try choosing to enjoy each day, all day, every day, and I think that you too will notice no more stress, anxiety, concerns and all that is replaced with a certain level of inner joy and peacefulness.


And. . . Smile At Every One You See!

Spread Some Joy Today--because joy is a choice and you have the ability to choose.

Daily Inspriation 9-16-13

"There is no quality in this world

that is not what it is merely by contrast.

Nothing exists in itself."

 

-- Herman Melville

For most of my life, I thought of contrast as being opposites. As an example, let's use love and hate, joy and despair, happiness and depression. But, I have found that contrast need not be so stark, and in fact, see these things as white or black is not helpful generally.

They say that we cannot experience joy without despair, or that we must experience hate in order to appreciate love and so on. All this is way off the point.

Here's a better way to see this: Love and the absence of love, joy and the absence of joy, happiness and the absence of happiness. When I look at it from this perspective it helps me immensely to move forward. I no longer need to get down and out in order to find up and in. I just recognize the absence of that which I want and so then focus on the fulfillment rather than the absence. I know that sounds simple and it truly is just that.

In addition to that, there are so many levels of love; so many levels of happiness; so many levels of joy, so I can go from joy, level 1 to joy, level 6, or if that is too much of a jump, I can go from level 1 to level 2 or 3. In any case, I don't actually have to leave joy in order to see the contrast and to want more joy in my life and then move toward it.

No longer do we need to have bad with our good. We can have good with our good. No longer do we have to have good or bad. We can have just good.


I'm Good With Good. I Don't Need To Leave Good To Have Better. I Can Just Decide.

Spread Some Joy Today--Start with yourself. What can you do, or what can you think about that will give you joy today? Do and think that.

Daily Inspiration 9-15-13

"The never-ending task of self-improvement."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Just because I know, doesn't mean that I apply that which I know. Awareness is wonderful and it is very helpful, especially in catching myself as I waiver and giving me the power to bring me back into alignment.

I've been out walking again. It's been a while. In several miles on the walk, I find my mind wandering through a cacophony of thoughts, many of which are random and many turn into mini-plays of imagined conversations with others and with myself.

In the last two days, I would catch my thought wandering and I would say, "I am not present. I need to be present." Then I would come back and see the trees moving, the leaves fluttering, smell the air, feel the breeze, hear the birds, and more. Here I am present once again. It is a place where I have no problems.

Whatever problems I have are somewhere else, but not here in the present. In the present, there is nothing I could do about them anyway except to worry or play scenarios in my head. All of that creates feeling bad, whereas being in the present feels good. That is the best reason I know to get hold of the situation and change it to a better feeling place.

The fact that I know to do this is a wonderful thing, and by bringing myself back to the present, I am practicing it so that it becomes habitual to the point of not having to think about it.


Practice Makes Perfect, Or At Least, Much Improved.

Spread Some Joy Today--Find all the things and people that you can appreciate today, and then let them know about it in one way or another.

Daily Inspiration 9-14-13

"No great man ever complains

of want of opportunity."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Probably one thing I've studied more than others is biographies of successful people. In all cases that I can recall, each would not only embody, but state such similar sentiments as Ralph Waldo Emerson in the quote above.

This applies to such notables as Donald Trump, Robert Kiosaki, Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Andrew Carnegie, Ray Kroc, and the list goes on and on and on. One recent quote from Warren Buffett, after being asked about his mistakes stated that the biggest losses were those of 'omission.' In other words, it was the opportunities that were so abundant that he failed to take hold of that were the ones that could have made him so much more money. So the opportunities for these people are everywhere around them and there are so many, they don't have time to get to them all and entertain them, let alone take advantage of them.

It is those who are in want, believing in lack, blaming others and so on that cannot seem to see opportunities. They cry out for opportunities and yet are so blind of themselves that they cannot see the forest for the trees. It is indeed, a strange contrast, but also a lesson.

When we cannot seem to realize the opportunities all around us, we must use that contrast as a wake-up call, for it is just then that the opportunities are peaking. One of my top ten favorite quotes of all time speaks of taking advantage of opportunities. It is by William Shakespeare. He said, "there is a tide in the affairs of men, when taken at the flood, leads on to fortune." Remembering this quote has helped me to realize that the 'best yet may be to come.'

If you ever feel down and lacking in opportunity, take heart! Many people have been in this place, such as the likes of Warren Buffett, Harvey Firestone, Henry Ford and many others. You're in good company, but don't linger but a very short time in that space. Instead, embrace the possibilities that abundance is so near.

Here's how to speed it up. Look for things and people to praise. Look for things and people to love. Look for things and people to appreciate. As you do, you will see a brighter, more positive world all around you, and miraculously, opportunities will be appearing all around you.


It's Just Like Magic!

Spread Some Joy Today--"Scatter joy!" -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Daily Inspiration 9-13-13

"Keeping score of old scores and scars,

getting even and one-upping,

always makes you less than you are."

 

-- Malcolm Forbes

I was cruising through facebook a couple days ago and came across a question posted by a dear friend in case anyone wanted to answer. I just answered it without thinking about it much, then I looked at it later and was fascinated by all the answers.

Here was the question: "Is there a way to love and respect a person after they have deeply wounded you? Does forgiveness wash it all away?"

My response was this: "Yes. It is really simple. Holding on to hurt is resistance. It is like holding on tight to the tug-o-war rope and the opposing partner is unmoving. The harder you pull, the worse you feel and you are separated further. The simple solution and the only way to really forgive, it to just let go of the rope. It is over in an instant. There is one more challenge though. You must change how you view this person or situation. You need new eyes. Since your opponent has no power now that you've let go of the rope, your new eyes will see that the unmoving partner was yourself. And, it is not 7 times, but 70 times 7. You are loved, now love them."

It was interesting how some answered with justification for holding on to the hurt. Truth is, we can hold on as long as we choose to, and we can let go as fast as we choose to. It is, without a doubt, a choice. It is a view. It has a payoff for us or we wouldn't keep hanging on to it. It is a way for us to feel sorry for ourselves, or seek others to feel sorry for us if we disclose it, but whatever it is, the payoff exists. If there were no payoff or benefit to us, we wouldn't bother with it. We are always in full control when we choose to be--well, to be more clear, we are always in control REGARDLESS of whether the choice is conscious or unconscious.

Our opponent is generally thought of as someone else, but in reality when we see with our renewed vision, it is clear that our battle was only with ourselves.


If You Want To Analyze It, Seek To Find What The Payoff Is.

Spread Some Joy Today--There is joy and the lack of joy. Imagine going around today and spreading the lack of joy. Sounds like fun. . . or NOT! Choose joy!

Daily Inspiration 9-12-13

"You cannot change what you are,

only what you do."

 

-- Philip Pullman

Well. . . I don't know if I agree with this quote, but it caught my attention as I was considering the day I had today. In fact, I think by changing what you do, it is inevitable that you will change who you are--especially if you change very many things that you do.

I don't really have bad days anymore, but I do have strangely interesting ones for sure. Today was strange and interesting, and even enjoyable, but it was offbeat, out of synch. I had a hard time making decisions on simple things. Then I ended up not deciding anything and then I tried later and had the same scenario. It was weird.

I really enjoyed the weather today. Second day in a row with about 82 degree high after almost two weeks of 90-106 temperatures. I did a bunch of so-called errands. Not that I needed to do, but need is a relative term. It was something to do that didn't require sitting in front of the computer which I've done the last several days. I wanted to go somewhere and so I went short distances and did a little shopping. I'm not much of a shopper. In fact, I dislike shopping generally. There's too many choices and I want to make sure I get the best value and make a good choice. Who knows what that is? It's obvious to me that I have issues with it.

I think a good part of it is that it has only been 31 days since Nancy passed and I'm still not used to being alone perhaps. Much of the time I'm okay with it, but then today I was just out of sorts. I still enjoyed the weather and enjoyed moving around, but it had no focus to take my full attention.

But, to be fair, I've had many days like that when Nancy was here. So I can't really lay that on her. Maybe it was as I said, unfocused. I didn't have to do anything, and the choices I made were unfulfilling. I had a thought later that I frittered away the day. I like that phrase--frittered it away. Truly though, I just spent the day doing whatever I did. All the rest is meaningless judgment. I had a good day generally, so that is good enough.


Ever Have Days Like That? Let's Hear About Yours. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--I have found that the easiest, fastest, and most effective way to spread joy is by smiling and being pleasant. Who couldn't like that?

Daily Inspiration 9-11-13

"It is not a daily increase,

but a daily decrease.

Hack away at the inessentials."

 

-- Bruce Lee

It's interesting how life has changed over the last 30 years or so. When I was young, I don't emember seeing any storage places as you see now. Indeed, now there are so many in each city and it has become a billion dollar enterprise, and I have contributed to their incomes over the years.

I live in a small house. By today's standards, it is very small--only 1100 square feet. I was telling someone in my office how in 1965 when this house was built, people didn't have very much stuff. You know that by how small and how few closets there are here. Go into a newer home and not only are they dramatically larger, they have closets all over the place and probably several walk-in closets.

Though the house is small, it is packed with a lot of stuff. We've been gatherers. We bring it home and it never leaves. Much of the things haven't been looked at or touched in many years and yet there it is. Once acquired it is hard to let go of. It's a psychological thing for sure. We think we need it, then we don't, and yet we think we might need it later, and then we don't and then we think it is too valuable to give away, but then it isn't. The truth about 'things' is that the vast majority drop in value about 90% as soon as we buy them. That doesn't leave much monetary value left.

Now that things have changed in my household, I am on a quest to remodel my life to have less stuff. Now the challenge is which stuff to let go of and I am working on shredding my attachment to so many things. I even called in a consultant to help with the process. After all, the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same things and expect a different result. The first rule of progress is to do things differently--and that includes changing my thinking, and changing my ideas of value and need.

I've actually moved a number of things out already, but I need more work on myself. If I stay on this path a while, I'll be able to see the floor again in my office. It's been a while.


Things Do Not Equal Happiness. In Fact, After A Time, They Become More Of A Burden.

Spread Some Joy Today--Letting go is always a bit of a challenge, but it is amazing the joy that can come as a result. It is a greater joy than when the things came to begin with. Now, isn't that interesting?

Daily Inspiration 9-10-13

"Your life begins to change

the day you take responsibility for it."

 

-- Steve Maraboli

Do you know what I love about this guy, Steve Maraboli? It is the words and phrases he uses for things said by so many over a long period of time, and he also says it in a very straightforward, and simple way. He's done it with this quote above very nicely.

I know from experience that what he has said is absolutely true and real. Yet, some may take it a different way, as if then all their problems are solved, as if it is a solution to something. Accepting responsibility probably won't make you rich, although it could. It probably won't make you healthy, although it may trigger a new attitude. It isn't a magic bullet or pill, yet it is one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced.

What it does do is change how you think about things. It especially changes the people who used to get all the blame for all your mistakes, but no more. It means that you begin looking inside much more and more often than looking outside. So many of our wounds are self-inflicted, and we would never leave that safe space of never blaming ourselves, but it isn't a very pleasant place to be. It keeps us in the past.

Steve has another wonderful quote that is fitting here. He says, "Forget yesterday--it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow--you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift: today." I love that line, "forget yesterday, it has already forgotten you." What a great way to look at the past. It isn't the past knocking on our door, it is generally us knocking on the door of the past.


"Once Your Mindset Changes, Everything On The Outside Will Change Along With It." -- Steve Maraboli

Spread Some Joy Today--We are so much more powerful and empowered than we may have thought. That also means that we are totally in control of our own joy.

Daily Inspiration 9-9-13

"The thought

that you should be doing more

is a distraction.

When you are fully present

with what you are doing,

now becomes more than more."

 

-- Alan Cohen

Sometimes it is challenging enough to focus on the project or task in front of me that I've committed to, let alone have all these thoughts of what I could be doing or should be doing, or would rather be doing. All of and any of those thoughts take me off course, sometimes way off course, until I can focus the energy back and get the job done.

There are so many distractions in the world, or rather. . . in my head. The world could be at total peace and yet it can be chaos in my head. So what do I do about all these distractions?

What works for me is to take a meaningful break. I might go for a walk, a drive, water the plants, and more. The main thing is to get my mind off of the task I am currently struggling with. This has a tendency of reducing the "bigness" of the project I was working on, and then I can go back to it anew and progress is a given.

Another way to achieve the objective is to simply think differently about the project so that it can become more fun or more interesting. We always find time to do what we want to do, so finding a way to want to do it is a good way to insure it gets done in a timely manner.


"You Always Have Energy To Do What You Are Passionate About." -- Alan Cohen

Spread Some Joy Today--Get energized! Allow your joy to find expression and light up the world!

Daily Inspiration 9-8-13

"People who pressure you

usually deserve a "no."

People who are patient with you

usually deserve a "yes."

 

-- Alan Cohen

I've been in sales as a career since 1972, yet we're all in sales in one fashion or another. And, I love sales, and yet I cannot stand high pressure salespeople. I never learned those "twisting-your-arm" closes because they turned me off so much, so I avoided them thinking always that they weren't really effective, or helpful. Then, later as a sales manager, I was a sales trainer and again, I never taught hard closing.

I've been to many seminars on sales and the closing of sales, and almost all of them turned me off. The way I've always seen it, is that if it turns me off, it will turn off my prospects too. If we need sales that badly, then we don't have anything really worth selling. I have felt that way about everything I've been involved in selling, whether it was cars and trucks, business opportunities, websites and Internet marketing and more. Hard closes with pressure smacks of desperation to me.

Don't get me wrong. This does not mean that I didn't learn something about closing sales. On the contrary, I have and I ask for the sale. I present my point of view in hopes that the message resonates with my prospect. And, I do well. It is good to ask for the sale. It is good to have patience with people. Some people may come around many months or even years from now.

Whatever we sell, it is good to start with integrity and have faith in what you do and in your prospect and their needs as well. Treat people the way that you would want to be treated. The Golden Rule has always been a great philosophy. People like to do business with people they like and respect. It is also interesting that I like doing business with prospects that I like and respect.


If You're Thinking Of The Other And Less Of Yourself, The Sales Process Is Much More Fulfilling And Beneficial.

Spread Some Joy Today--Love is a great place to sell from. The selling is easy and the living is great.

Daily Inspiration 9-7-13

"No matter what my challenge,

I know I am loved."

 

-- Louise Hay

I know my own life and thoughts from a very young age until now. I know how they have changed and I have experienced emotional pain and despair. I have also known much joy and happiness, excitement and even fulfillment. I see myself in so many others and probably the biggest thing I have noticed in my own life, and through observance in other's lives is something so simple and yet very complex as loving ourselves. I mean, really loving ourselves--unconditionally.

Have you ever felt and experienced unconditional love? It seems so common on earth to have felt love, but that love in all it's myriad of shades, is so often conditional. It is conditional on circumstances; that is, things going well, others being in a good mood, we doing what is expected of us, and more. It is conditional based on timing. It is here today, and perhaps withheld or gone completely tomorrow. It is conditional based on societal selections, such as where we were born, what color we happen to be, our level of education, the color of our teeth, our behavior and interactivity with other people, following the rules, coloring within the lines, and so on.

Unconditional love is none of that. It has no condition whatsoever. There is nothing you can do to stop it from being there because it is always there. It is a love for all in all circumstances and situations. It matters not how you were born or who you have become. It is blind to all of that. It wants nothing except to love and takes no offense, and is not dissuaded by our rejection. It is waiting patiently--for and beyond a lifetime if necessary, or in the slightest moment, ready.

Now, just for a few moments today, think about being loved like that. Know that it is all knowing and all powerful and all loving. Know that the Creator of all that you see, and all that everyone else sees, hears, touches, smells, feels is that which is loving you 100% of the time, for all of your time in existence and that it never fails and never dims, and always pure and focused on you and your well-being. It is there to give you confidence, support, encouragement, joy, and connectedness. All you have to do is just open your heart and accept it and by doing so, that connection is now affecting how you view yourself, feel about yourself and treat yourself. You have no option except loving yourself unconditionally in the same way because in this connection, you and Source are one.

Continue to feel this today. Experience it. If you have a hard time with it, pretend. Where is your worry and concern now? It is gone! Where is your emotional pain now? It is gone! Where is your feelings of unworthiness now? You are fully and completely worthy! Where are all of your problems large and small now? They no longer exist! And, most important, where is your fear now? Fear cannot exist in unconditional love. It does not exist. No more fear. No more worry. No more pain. No more unworthiness. No more problems.

There is love. You are loved. Perhaps it is a love you have never really experienced before, but today you allow it, and it is so. With this love, is there anything that you cannot do? With this love are your choices limited to the lesser of multiple evils? With this love, you are all powerful and all loving.


Now Look In The Mirror And See That Gleam In Your Eyes. You Are Loved. No Matter What Anyone Else May Say, You Are Loved. Totally And Unconditionally.

Spread Some Joy Today--It would be impossible not to share that love today. Go forth and multiply!

Daily Inspiration 9-6-13

"Travel as you will.

How far you want to

travel down a certain path

is a completely personal choice."

 

-- Albert K Strong

When I was young, I was taught to clean my plate. After all there were starving people in China and other places around the world. I was punished if I didn't clean my plate, and I can remember some of them to this day, 50+ years later.

I have bought thousands of books and have even read a serious number of them, but the ones that I read all the way through were somewhat fewer. I didn't tell anyone until now, but there is no one around to punish me for not completing these books except me, and I chose not to.

I walked away from my first marriage however reluctantly, but I consider it a success not a failure. Time proved that case as well.

Incredibly, I have left hundreds of things unfinished. . . or rather, a better way to say that is that I stopped when I had finished as much as I had the desire and willingness to endure.

Some I enjoyed to a certain point and then they were no longer enjoyable. Some started off on a different path after I was involved and I didn't want to go there. Some were just too damn long for what needed to be said on the subject. Sometimes we grew in different directions.

There were hundreds of reasons for stopping. Who says that the end of a book has to be the end? Who says that we have to live together forever? Who says we have to be friends forever? Who are these authorities that tell us how we should behave?

I have accepted personal responsibility for what I do and when I choose to stop. I, alone, am the authority on this. No one can tell me otherwise. I choose.


So Be It. I'm Okay With My Choices. Life Is Good.

Spread Some Joy Today--Your joy will likely change. There is no need to leave joy behind when a change is made. Instead, leave the rest behind and follow your joy--wherever it takes you!

Daily Inspiration 9-5-13

"'Tis the good reader

that makes the good book."

 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

What a profound quote and at the same time so incredibly simple a concept. What exactly is the value of a book? What is the value of a good book? What is the value of a book written by a famous author? What is the value of a book written by an unknown author? What is the value of an author?

I own a couple thousand books. What value are they? Perhaps at one recent point in time they were worth more than today with the Kindle and Nook explosion. Most are hard cover, but what value is a hard cover versus a soft cover?

Last year, I published a book. The first edition was in soft cover. It was a summary of things I learned in the commercial truck market involved with auto dealers who are either in the commercial truck market or want to be. What value is that book?

Speaking of my book, it could potentially be worth millions. Not to me, but to the dealer, general manager or astute commercial truck manager who reads it, takes it to heart and applies it to their operation. The ideas in it made the dealers I worked for a similar amount of profit, and nearly a billion extra in gross sales. Yet, it has zero value unread, doesn't it?

I've read a lot of John Grisham books and I find zero value in the ones I haven't read.

I have a large library of business books that have no value except for a colorful background in my office had I not read them. If I gave them all away, (and I've given about half of them away) whatever value they had for me is not transferred to the receiver unless they choose to commit to read them as I did.

I have known people, some intimately, who could have been changed, renewed, and transformed by some of the books on my shelves. I know this, because I have been changed, renewed, and transformed. Yet, most of these people were not the least bit interested in reading any of them Instead, they poo-pooed them as trash, or ignored them completely. So be it. I'm not in control of their behavior or choices.

Whatever is out there that can be of help is insignificant or has zero value to those who aren't interested in finding out, but rather would hold on to what they have no matter how unhappy it might make them.

Does this make sense? It is only because we all create our own reality and our own reality is created by choices we make.


It's All Good, Isn't It? Truly, It Really Doesn't Matter If Others Ever Listen To Us, Or Read The Books. All We Really Have The Power To Do Is Choose Them Ourselves.

Spread Some Joy Today--Keep on choosing. Keep choosing joy. Keep sharing that which is you in joy and whatever effect this has or doesn't have on others will just have to do. Do it always for yourself to please yourself and if someone else is touched, wonderful. You still have joy, and that is all that really matters.

Daily Inspiration 9-4-13

"Careful where you point that thing!"

 

-- Mike Dooley, plus a few hundred movies

I wanted to expand on yesterday. I do my best to share what I am going through or have learned personally in these Daily Inspirations. In addition, I can see by interacting, watching, and listening to others, that so much of what I'm going through, they are as well in similar ways.

The world's communication tools, such as, radio, TV, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet all seem to generally promote fear, whether potential or real, past, present or future. If you pay attention to the messages coming through for just a short time, the positive messages are so tiny in comparison to the negative ones, that one might think that this is how the world actually is. That is not even close to the truth, but it does seem that the negativity prevails or they think it sells, or we pay more attention because it is different from our 'normal' lives.

All of us want more positive, whether we call that success, more money, more friends, a better relationship, etc. Yet, all too often, as I know in my own life, I have spoken of what appears to be real while wanting something different. The conflict of that is like playing tug-o-war with ourselves. It's a no win situation.

First, I had to become aware of what I was doing. Then, I had to change it whenever it came up again. Third, I chose to use affirmations, or positive purposeful messages to myself in order to affect the change faster and better.

I'll give you a recent example. I was talking with a friend about some strange (and negative) financial situation our company experienced last month. Yet, that is not what I want. If I continue to talk about this stuff, I will attract more of the same. I know this, and yet I am still in the habit--and habit is the perfect word--of talking about 'what is' as if it helps. It doesn't. It becomes a pity party, each of us exchanging a woeful moment or situation trying to see who had the worst of it for the grand prize.

What I should have said was how we closed five new clients and how what we do is making a huge difference for a lot of businesses and so on. Who really wants to hear about the negative stuff anyway? It's not exciting enough for the media, and my friend really doesn't want to hear it either.

Lately, as I become more practiced at this, I am catching myself and will stop mid-sentence sometimes, or I will add, 'and yet, things are always working out for us,' or something like that.

I need to 'be careful where I point that thing,' and by that thing, I mean my own focus of attention. If I want things to get better, and I do, then I need to put my focus on what is right, what is going well and keep it there. If something comes along that is not in that space, I need to ignore it, or acknowledge it ever so briefly like a blip on the radar, then turn my full and complete attention to what I want, or what is working.

As I practice this, I can see the benefits in my mind and in my current reality. It is the most amazing thing to learn and practice.


Somehow We Have Learned That It Is Normal And Okay To Talk About What Is Wrong Or Not Wanted, And At The Same Time That Talking About Nothing But Positive Things Is Arrogant. Time To Abolish That Thought.

Spread Some Joy Today--Be aware and be careful where you point your attention. Pay attention to more joy and more joy MUST follow.

Daily Inspiration 9-3-13

"The secret to living the life of your dreams

is to start living the life of your dreams today,

in every little way you possibly can."

 

-- Mike Dooley

Mike Dooley is famous as his alter ego, The Universe at www.tut.com. I learned of him from the audiobook and the movie, The Secret. I've subscribed to his daily messages as The Universe since then.

Here was the most recent one which goes along with the one above extremely well: "Dominion over all things doesn't come with age, spirituality, or even gratitude. In fact, it doesn't come at all. You were born with it, and you use it every moment of every day, whenever you say, "I will. . . I am. . . I have. . ." And for that matter, whenever you say, "It's hard. . . I'm lost. . . I don't know. . ." Careful where you point that thing! Tallyho, The Universe."

I've been told that the single most powerful phrase in the world is, "I am. . ." What comes after that phrase is telling and a predictor of an outcome. I have learned that it is just this.

I am a newbie to affirmations. Surely, I've known about them for 40 years, but one of my mentors that I followed, or tried to follow his ideals closely was Jim Rohn. He was known to say that "affirmations are the beginning of delusion. . ." or close to that. He was all about going to work and getting the job done. Consequently, for most of my life, I thought that it was about will power and 'making' things happen. I tried affirmations before but they didn't make sense to me from the 'I-am-in-charge-and-I-have-to-make-it-work' mentality that I thought was appropriate.

Since then, I have learned a far more powerful way to move forward. It is as simple and yet as complex as 'feeling good,' and 'being present.' Affirmations are just a convenient and very powerful tool to change your feeling state to one of a more positive nature.

I was sharing with a friend today that I've recently adopted a great affirmation and that it has changed things from my own perspective. I shared it within the last couple of weeks. It is, "Things are always working out for me." The key is to say it often and especially whenever the slightest negative or 'realistic' thought comes to mind. So, if money is not flowing, rather than focus on the lack of money by repeating the facts as they seem to be, I change it to 'Things are always working out for me." I say it until the lack thought goes away which is pretty quickly.

As a tool then, it is wonderful to put us on a better path toward that which we want instead of paying close attention to what we don't want. It matters not what reality is, but it matters completely how we feel about it.

As The Universe says, "whenever you say I will. . . I am. . . I have. . . or whether you say "It's hard. . . I'm lost. . . I don't know. . ." Be careful where you point that thing. Be careful what you focus on. You are FAR more powerful than you may imagine!


If What You Are Focused On Is Not What You Want, Or It Doesn't Feel Good, Turn Away IMMEDIATELY Toward What You Appreciate And Like And What Feels Good. You Alone Have The Power.

Spread Some Joy Today--"Look for good things about where you are, and in your state of appreciation, you lift all self-imposed limitations." -- Abraham-Hicks

Daily Inspiration 9-2-13

"Your present circumstances

don't determine where you can go;

they merely determine where you can start."

 

-- Nido Qubein

I commuted 52 miles each way for four years. It took just over an hour typically, but on occasion, it would take up to and even a bit over two hours. And, I knew three major ways to get there, so going to plan B was easy enough. There may have been more ways, but three made sense. I'll bet that you know several ways to get to a place that you may go, whether it is to work or the airport or a friend's place.

Yet when it comes to things like financial success, a great relationship, or some other important thing like so-called success, we may not even know where to begin. We may get all flustered and disconnected because we don't have the answers. Confusing the issue is an unknown number of ways that it can be achieved. Where do I start? What do I do next and so on.

We might even think that numerous things have to take place before we can even begin. Not true. I love a story one of my favorite mentors, Jim Rohn told about beginning a sales career. He said to pick up a rock, drop it on the ground and the first person that walks past the rock, say, 'Sir, you're the first person to go past the rock!' and in this way start a conversation out of thin air.

So it is with our travel whether by physical mode or mental mode, we begin wherever we may be at the moment. If I might be deeply in debt, that is as good as any place to get started on a path to financial stability and abundance. If I'm halfway to work and the road slid down the hill, that's as good as any place to go to the alternate route and safe, albeit, slower timed arrival at work (that actually happened to me one day!).

Whatever the present circumstances, there is always a way through. It may only be a change in how we perceive the current situation that allows us to find peace in the midst of challenges, but we have the power always to come through.

Wherever we may find ourselves, our present circumstances do not determine the outcome unless we choose that. We always have the power where we are right now.


A Very Good Place To Start Is To Be Thankful For Where You Are Right Now. That Will Create A Blessing.

Spread Some Joy Today--Find joy in where you are right now. Celebrate it. Then, if you want to change, do so.

Daily Inspiration 9-1-13

"Time you enjoy wasting

is not wasted time."

 

-- Marthe Troly-Curtin

As the quote says, "time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." What might be considered wasted time might be time you are regretful or concerned about wasting.

Today I had a large list of things that I planned on doing on the computer. It wasn't so much procrastination that kept me from actually doing them, but other things that seemed far more interesting and important. That includes having a strong desire to not sit at my computer all day. So I didn't, and I didn't do any of what I had planned in the way of work.

I didn't make any excuses, I just thought that whatever I really wanted to do was more important. Charlie and I went on short rides and took care of some errands I had a mind to do. We just enjoyed the day, and truly, that is the key I thing--enjoying the day. And, every day.

We need to ALLOW ourselves the opportunity, time and space to just enjoy whatever comes to mind when it comes to mind without any worry about what is in front of us, on the agenda, things we 'should' do, etc. Life is for the living and it is NOT about accomplishment. Although it is nice to accomplish, it is more about just following our heart and minds to wherever they may lead in the moment they do and enjoy the moment at the same time without any resistance.

Time is too short when you really add it all up. I don't think that looking back at all the accomplishments will matter nearly as much as we think they will at the moment. Love more. Burn more gas. Stare into space more. Go for walks. Go to concerts. See the games. Stare into someone's eyes. That's what matters, don't you think?


Your Boss May Disagree, But He Or She Is Not Living YOUR Life. You're Always In Charge!

Spread Some Joy Today--As they say in Hawaii, 'Hang loose!'. It will all get done in time. If not, no big deal.