Daily Inspiration 2-28-14

"You're too young 

to be so cynical." 

 -- Nick Campbell, played by Owen Wilson 

in the movie, The Internship 

Yeah! Cynicism should be an old-age disease, not available for young people, don't you think? Yet, maybe you've heard young people express this attitude in your presence. Truly, it isn't an age thing, but a choice in thinking--often a choice based on perceived reality all around them.

I am going to write several posts about the things that I have learned, or have been expressed so nicely by this wonderful movie called The Internship. As a sales manager for over 40 years, it is especially interesting and there are many lessons in this flick about sales, business, teams, psychology, turning things around and much more. So, I begin with this great comment from Nick.

It's easy to be cynical. It is encouraged all day every day by the media and the so-called reality all around us. I mean, the shit is hitting the fan and it is just a matter of how close you are to the fan, right? It's affecting everyone, right? It is the way it is, right? We got statistics to back it up, you know? You gotta pay attention to it and be real by living in the real world and none of that fantasy stuff, ya hear?

OK. That's a way. But, is it working for anyone? Probably not. It's not meant to. It's meant not to. It's like walking into a lighted room and turning on the dark switch.

In the case of the movie, a couple of older guys find a way to give some hope and a more positive outlook on the present and future which changes the results. Yet, it need not be older age, but there is value in looking for more hope; for looking for more love; for looking for a better answer; for looking for a way around or through. It has to start there. There must be at least an interest in considering something better. Cynicism is meant to be temporary, I think. Not permanent.


Hope Is A Universal Language. Reach Out. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Elvis Presley said it nicely: "When things go wrong, don't go with them."

Daily Inspiration 2-27-14

"Remain established in your calm center, 

and everything will take care of itself 

in miraculous ways far more wonderful 

than you could manipulate." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

People can be worried all around you. They can speculate on all the things that could go wrong. They can try to get an "agreement rant" going counting on like-minded people to bolster their position. Yet, if you as only one, will remain in your natural calm center, everything will take care of itself and may even surprise in delight at how that may come to fruition.

It is an amazing thing to operate from this calm center place. It is magical. It feels good inside and it feels good on the outside. It is power and authority without the ego labeling. It is peace and prosperity for everything is already done.

One last thing on this. It is not serious, or stubborn. It is joyful inside and out. The joy comes mainly, I think, as a result of the peaceful feeling surrounding it. It is pure and very interesting enjoyment.


Relax. Let Go. Smile. Reassure Others. It's All Okay. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving yourself wherever you find yourself. Enjoy it.

Daily Inspiration 2-26-14

"Grace needs you 

as much as you need it." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

Isn't this an interesting concept? Grace needs you as much as you need Grace. I saw another quote from my favorite mentors of all my time, Abraham, and Esther Hicks: "You might say, "How do I know if I'm in a receiving mode or not?" And we say, you always feel good when you're in a receiving mode. When someone offers you a compliment, do you receive it, or do you sort of just shrug it off? There's something about believing that you must justify your existence through your effort or through your perseverance, through your struggle. And many of you just have not practiced the receiving mode."

Practicing the receiving mode. . . There is a lot said in that short phrase. How many of us practice that? I know more of us practice giving compliments more than accepting them, giving things rather than receiving them, and so on. I know I was brought up with the noble notion that to give is better than to receive. In my lifetime-learned wisdom, I now see them as equal rather than one better or more important than another. Grace needs you as much as you need it. Receiving needs you as much as you need it. Giving needs you as much as you need it.


Something To Ponder Sincerely. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing joy to be a part of your life. I know spreading it is good, but receiving is just as good. I think it is even best, to begin with, that aspect.

Daily Inspiration 2-25-14

"The deepest secret is that life 

 is not a process of discovery, 

 but a process of creation. 

You are not discovering yourself, 

but creating yourself anew. 

 Seek, therefore, 

not to find out Who You Are, 

but seek to determine 

Who You Want to Be." 

 -- Neale Donald Walsch 

I've heard myself and other people ask questions, such as, "what am I supposed to do?" or "Who am I supposed to be?" or "What is God's Will for me?" or "I was born for something. What is it that is meant for me to accomplish?" and other such things. Sometimes we might think that everyone is perfect for something and then we feel that we haven't found it yet, and don't know what to do in order to find out.

I have come to agree with Neale in that I have found it works best for me to consider myself a creator and to create what I want next. There was a time when I did that and might have been disappointed in the results of how it came about, yet now I know that it all has worked out so perfectly and it is easy to see that from my 20/20 hindsight of today.

As a result, I have reinvented myself many times over. I love watching others be even more creative with their choices too. My step-son, Guy, is a world-traveling adventure seeker, filling his passport with stamps from so many places I would never even think of going. He is thrilled about finding out and talking with the locals and learning and doing strange and different things. I so admire him for that. At the same time, he's a father and husband and they have worked out among the family how to make all that work. I'm impressed with their creativity, flexibility, and love of life.

It is amazing what we can create when we simply decide that we have the capacity and desire to do so. There are so many things to sample. No one need stay any longer than they choose, and can go back anytime as well.


How's Your Creation Going? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Allow others to be what they will and think what they might without any insistence that they need to please you in any way. The joy of creation.

Daily Inspiration 2-24-14

"Why are you trying 

so hard to fit in, 

when you were born 

to stand out?" 

 -- Oliver James 

In my later wisdom, I have developed a huge and loving respect for those who act out their true being--their unique-self. Oh, there's a lot of people who try to be different, but as my mother did when she was young, this is often more to get attention than to express our inner unique personality.

It's funny to me now (it never was when I was younger), how people try so hard to fit in and be like everyone else. The droopy pants is a perfect example and I am amazed at the longevity of that. In junior high and early high school (1963-65 for the date fans), it was all the rage for guys to wear "pegged-pants." These were the forerunner of skinny jeans today, and we created them with a sewing machine.

Then they were so tight at the bottom that we had to wear nylon stockings and often use a shoe horn to get them over our heal. Then we would wear brogue shoes, which was especially freaky because our feet were size 11 or 12 typically. You just have to see how dorky this looks today as I am standing in the yearbook ad photo below trying to look like a customer wearing my green Levi's, white socks, plaid shirt and those stupid shoes.

So, I can't laugh too much at the droopy drawers young boys and young men wear today after what I wore then. Heck, I'm laughing right now looking at this and the hairspray hairdoos of 1966 and 1967.

Well, back to the subject at hand. . . I wasn't letting my own personality out like I certainly could have, but I was trying to fit in and trying real hard I will have to admit. And now, I try so little in comparison. Now you get more of the real me, but never, ever will anyone get all of it probably, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

However, the more we let out and the more comfortable we get with ourselves and our own uniqueness, I think we not only serve ourselves so much better and are happier for it, but we serve others better too. Each of us in unique. We may have all come from the same source, but each is like a snowflake--the same and yet so very different.


Celebrate Your Uniqueness! Let More Of That Out. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Be yourself. I celebrate YOU!

Daily Inspiration 2-23-14

"If we counted our blessings 

instead of our money, 

we would all be rich." 

 -- Linda Poindexter 

Consider this quote from Alan Cohen: "To recognize that you are bigger than any label you have been given is one of the greatest insights of a lifetime." Money is one of those labels, and often we may give some of the labels in our lives far more importance than they really deserve.

He goes on to explain, "Take some time today to consider all of the limiting attributes you usually identify with: your name, age, address, job, income, house, friends, ethnic background, skin color, genetic makeup, religion, political views, and on and on." This is just a very basic list of which another hundred could be added.

How about adding some of these: creator, enjoyer, living-in-the-moment, grateful for all that comes however it comes, lover, encourager, uplifter, lifelong learner, compassionate, respectful, allower, and blessing counter. I like these much better myself.

Becoming a blessing counter is a great place to start. Indeed, as we count our blessings, we are all rich. What a great thing to count, should we need to count anything at all.


One, Two, Three, Six, Ten, Twenty, Forty-Five. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--Can you think of a better way to expand your own joy than focusing on all of your many blessings? Once there, sharing is totally natural.

Daily Inspiration 2-22-14

"The problem with taking offense 

is that it's really hard 

 to figure out 

what to do with it

after you're done using it. 

 Better to just leave it

on the table

and walk away. 

Umbrage untaken 

quietly disappears." 

 -- Seth Godin 

I saw this quote from Seth Godin this morning and I was amazed at how it hit me. I absolutely agree and I particularly love the line, ". . . what to do with it after you're done using it." We all must realize how true that is. We do use it. We take offense and then we make a case about it. We use it. We make it more than it could have ever been. But, after making such a big deal out of it, what do we do with it then? Does it just go away? Or does it linger? Does it become part of our psyche? Or, are we able to let loose of it completely after we've done the deed with it?

Based on my own experience, it never seems to go away entirely until and if we come to the point that we stop taking offense. When we allow instead, we have hope.

Besides, the whole idea of things that off-end-us means that we let a thought take control of our lives. It takes on a power of its own. It gets us off-kilter--off our mark. It takes us off where we want to be.

Maybe it's time to find things that on-end-us. Things that inspire, enlighten, enliven us. Perhaps it's time to let go of the idea of what might be wrong and consider all that is right. Maybe it's time to align with the flow of the river of life rather than swim upstream against the current.


Or Not. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--because, after all, it is a personal choice. Why in the world would anyone choose not joy? Only those who know no joy. Share it so they know it.

Daily Inspiration 2-21-14

"You just never know who in the crowd, 

standing beside you in line 

or passing you in the street, 

might be raised in spirit, 

or even lifted from despair, 

by the kindness in your glance 

or the comfort of your smile." 

 "But they may never forget." 

 -- The Universe, a.k.a., Mike Dooley 

I have subscribed to Notes from the Universe from tut.com for a long time now, and some of these are so timely and I save the ones that sparkle in my spirit so that I can share its message with a mix of my own. This one is perfect to share today.

I would add to this quote by my friend and mentor, Mike Dooley, that not just a glance or a smile, and not just in person, but via phone, text, email, or any other communication that can touch another is equally good.

I have learned that when I think I want to call someone and give them a bit of love, I need to do it right now. You just never know what they are going through at that moment and the fact that they are on your mind is an indication to reach out. And, that door swings both ways.

I had two special phone calls today. One from a client and friend and the other from my business partner. They each made my day. The first was early this morning. I was up at 5:30am and this call came at 7:00am. He said he wanted to hear my voice and get charged up, but little did he know that the opposite happened. I was charged, he was charged up and it only cost us both a few minutes of fun talking. Thanks, Gary!

Then, later I was driving to take something to a client about 70 miles away and my business partner called me to say how much he enjoyed an email I sent to another client telling them what we've done so far. I don't think he has ever done that before, but this time he was so upbeat and complimentary and I felt like I was driving on air. Thanks, Ryan!

Many times I reach out and touch someone, smile at someone, engage in light conversation with a stranger and who the heck knows what comes of that, but the lesson is how we feel not them. If it makes us feel good--really good, there is a very good possibility that they may feel even better.

I love how Mike Dooley says that they may be "raised in spirit, or even lifted from despair." People deal with all sorts of issues. Some of them may weigh heavily on them, and the light touch we may give them, or the encouraging words, loving smile might just take them away from their troubles for even a brief moment. Maybe just long enough to remember that whatever they are dealing with is far larger in their mind than it is in reality.


Reach Out And Touch Someone! You Never Know Who You May Be An Uplifter To. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by paying attention to your inner voice suggesting to you people to share your joy with--or even allow them to give you joy! It's a two-way street.

Daily Inspiration 2-20-14

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks." 

 -- Common phrase 

I was talking with a sales manager friend today about a sales team that has some old dogs on it. In fact, they are past typical retirement age. We were talking about training and the company was hoping to get them to become motivated.

I started my sales management career with old dogs. In fact, I had just turned 25, and the youngest on my sales staff was 36 and the oldest was 64. Then along the way on my travels, I found other old dogs on the staff that I inherited, and I learned a lot about old dogs, motivation, and performance.

Here are some things I've learned about this subject:

Old dogs can learn new tricks. The key ingredient here is not capability or capacity, but desire. If they want to learn new tricks, they will learn as fast as any other age, although on certain things such as current technology they may be behind the curve a bit, but they will make up for it in the long run.

Trying to motivate old dogs or anyone else for that matter, is a waste of valuable time and energy. The only motivation that holds any value besides a short burst from fear is self-motivation. Motivation comes from within, not from without. I learned this valuable lesson early in my sales management career, and though I may have had temporary amnesia from time to time, I came to my senses soon enough. Any motivation that will be helpful will come from desire, not fear.

Old dogs will test the new guy in charge until they arrive at mutual respect and trust. I got better with the old dogs when I didn't try to force feed them but developed a respect for the value they brought to the table, and the experience compounded over time.

Old dogs can be your best advocate. In time and with some of the above, old dogs can be your best advocate and help bring along others to the overall goal.

The new broom sweeps the cleanest. I never much liked this phrase which I learned from the wise old first dealer I worked for, but there is more than some truth to the phrase. There comes a time when if we are to move ahead at a reasonable pace, we need to lighten our load from the dead weight of people who refuse or are otherwise unwilling to change.

Holding on to people who are dragging the rest of the team or the organization down is counterproductive. Sure, they make some sales and have a bunch of accounts, but everyone is dying because there are so few new ones. Growth is life. Life is growth. We, our team, or our organization is growing or it is not. When it is not, this is a clue. Perhaps it is time for a change. I have been here and once we finally decide to pull the trigger, there seems to be a release of energy that feeds everyone positively, including the one who is leaving, because it is not doing them any good staying around either.


Some Old Dogs Never Quit Growing Until They Fall Over Dead. That's My Personal Plan!

Spread Some Joy Today--Are you growing? Are you having more joy in your life than before? It's okay to ask for more! There is a never-ending supply.

Daily Inspiration 2-19-14

"There is nothing like getting started 

to bring a task down in size." 

 -- Albert K Strong 

I don't know about you, but I sometimes have these tasks that seem monumental when I look at them, and ever grander as I procrastinate all the more. My thinking is usually that I don't want to get started until I'm ready to complete the task. I find all sorts of reasons to avoid getting started. I got a lot to do, it's too big a project, and the list is long, yet every last one holds no real value. Then, I beat myself a bit about it and well, it's not a pleasant sight.

Yet lately, I've tried a new tact. I begin. Yes, that is it. I begin. Once begun, the size of the project seems to get smaller, and the longer I work on it, obviously it gets smaller still. Sometimes you just have to dive in, get started, begin, and miraculously, the project not only seems doable, but potentially a success.

I just had two of these in the last week. Yes, they took time to complete; however, I decided that I would begin, and then I would do what I could and then tomorrow, I would begin again, do what I had time and energy for and then tomorrow, again, and just keep doing that until it was done.

Strangely, it took less time that I had imagined as I was in the starring role of Procrastinator. Yes, it was a big project, but in bite size chunks it got done with ease. If I got tired, or some other thing stole my attention, I would just come back later. And, success on both accounts was the end result.


The Big, The Bold, And The Piecemeal. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Plan for joy today. Plan for joy everyday. Don't let anything get in your way today. Joy is yours.

Daily Inspiration 2-18-14

I've had this great quote from an ad by Nike for over a year, and now is a good time to share it. I hope you enjoy it and get a lot out of it. I think it's wonderful.

"Life isn't about keeping score. 

 It's not about how many people call you 

 and it's not about who you've dated, 

 are dating, or haven't dated at all. 

 It isn't about who you've kissed, 

 what sport you play, 

 or which girl or guy likes you. 

It's not about 
your shoes or your hair 

or the color of your skin 

 or where you live or go to school. 

 In fact, it's not about grades, money, 
clothes, or colleges that accept you. 

 Life isn't about if you have lots of friends, 

 or if you are alone, 

 and it's not about how accepted 

 or unaccepted you are. 

 Life just isn't about that. 

 But life is about who you love 

and who you hurt. 

It's about how you feel about yourself. 

 It's about trust, happiness, and compassion. 

 It's about sticking up for your friends 

 and replacing inner hate with love. 

 Life is about avoiding jealousy, 

 overcoming ignorance, 
and building confidence. 

 It's about what you say 

 and what you mean. 

 It's about seeing people 

 for who they are 
and not what they have. 

 Most of all, 
it's about choosing to use your life 
to  touch someone else in a way 

 that could never have been achieved otherwise. 

 These choices are what life's about." 

It's A Great Question. What Is Life About To You? 

Spread Some Joy Today--or, spread some rumor, or share your pain. I'm sure you'll soon figure whether those work better than joy.

Daily Inspiration 2-17-14

"If you have to measure a result, 

it's not big enough." 

 -- Nicholas Negroponte 

I haven't been on the bathroom scale for many months. I don't plan on ever stepping foot on one again. It's a waste of time, and more important, it is a misuse of my energy.

I know where my body is in its size and shape, and even in comparison to what it may have been some years ago, so to have a mechanical device like the scale remind me is unnecessary. When I want to change it, I can change it. In fact, I am the only one who can change it.

My business is the same way. If I have to pay much attention to the financial statements and how they have changed over the last many months or versus last month, or last year, or the last six years, it's not big enough.

What are we measuring? Are we even measuring things that truly matter?

I love Albert Einstein's famous quote on this subject. He said, "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." This always causes me to think of either looking at the cracks in the sidewalk or on the horizon. One thing that I have learned about counting things is that this can become a full-time occupation and almost no one will ever see the reports--or give a damn about them. Even if they ordered them.

In some places I've worked they would have these planning meetings and have us give forecasts of what we were going to do for the next 12 months. The weather person cannot even be 100% predicting the weather for the next week. Those sessions were pretty much a total waste of time for everyone involved. After the meetings were over, there was never anything done about it until the next 12 month meeting a year in the future. It's as if we all have crystal balls or something. Silly. And, to top it off, the forecasts had better have a minimum of 10% growth over that last 12 months!

These are all such small things to measure. They can be counted, but hardly ever really count. The things that really count are how we feel about what we are doing, how we interact with each other and our customers and clients. How we feel about ourselves and our desire to be of service, be a part of the whole, and support and encourage each other. What really matters is our own personal joy, enthusiasm and love. What really matters is mutual respect and compassion. These are the things that really count and they can all be counted in how our business is doing, and how our marriage and family is doing, and how we are doing with the one person we spend 100% of our time with: ourselves. Anything done to raise the count in these things has a grand payoff.


What Are You Measuring? Does It Count? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Does it all come down to feeling good? Isn't that why we do what we do? In the hopes of feeling better? Joy is just a couple steps up.

Daily Inspiration 2-16-14

"Every thought is a seed. 

If you plant crab apples, 

don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious." 

 -- Bill Meyer 

My Valentine's Day message was short and sincere. It was easy for me to say and absolutely true that I meant it, when I said, I love all of you.

One friend reposted my message on facebook, and added this note: "Thank you, Terry Minion! You "live it" each and every day!" You know, if I were looking for a compliment that really means something to me, that would be it.

I used to hear all of this talk about walking your talk. And, I used to try to walk my talk, but more often than not, I was talking my walk. I began studying psychology and what they now call self-help publications back in the mid-1970s. I really got a boost with a book I just pulled off my shelf a few days ago by Wayne Dyer, titled, Pulling Your Own Strings, along with his first big book, Your Erroneous Zones.

In Pulling Your Own Strings, which came out in paperback in 1979, and I probably read it in 1980 or 1981, when I pulled it off the shelf with the dust of decades, there was a sticky note on the chapter called Judgments VS. Reality. In the second paragraph, he talks about how people often say, "It's a really lousy (or nice) day today," and other similar phrases, but in reality, the day just is and whether you label it lousy or not is of no consequence to the day itself. We make so many judgments about everything, and so often are unaware of what we are even saying. It's become an automatic response like when people say, "how are you?" and so often we say, "I'm fine."

Though I studied a lot of material over the years, for me to actually do it was the thing that was very inconsistent. In recent years I began to be dedicated to learning and knowing, and acting on what I know. Each day is better. Each effort, each day has built one upon the other to the place I am now where I have grown so much and now feel that what Gary said on Facebook has become me. There isn't much that causes me so much joy as this.


Walking Along Life's Highway Listening To The Road. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding 25 or more things to appreciate today. It's a practice session!

Daily Inspiration 2-15-14

"More things are wrought by prayer 

than this world dreams of." 

-- Lord Alfred Tennyson 

I guess today will be a bit of commentary. It's not like I haven't done that before. But, it's interesting that the place I have come to in my life is full of peace, and though I might see some who are fighting against something, or trying to get others to join in that fight or share a mutual disgrace about some wrongdoing somewhere on the planet. It's interesting because I have no interest in going there. On Facebook, I just pass those things by, no matter how close the friend may be, and focus on appreciation and joy.

So, I was looking at quotes tonight and I see the title of a piece called When to Pray in School. It reminded me of so many posts I've seen about not being able to pray in schools and a long list of other places.

The first thought that came to me was, who in the world could ever stop one from praying? It wouldn't matter if you were in prison in solitary or in school, or in the desert or on a mountaintop, or in church. Just pray. Whenever prayer requires circumstances, it becomes a ritual. Saint Paul said to pray constantly, but I don't recall anything about having to be in certain circumstances for that to take place.

That reminded me of all the things I see on the Internet or Facebook where people are fighting something or other and trying to get others to like it, like the pledge of allegiance in schools, what Obama did or didn't do about something or another, and the list is endless.

The more we fight something, the more it expands. It's exactly like trying to swim upstream in a river. Fight, fight, fight. Struggle, struggle, struggle. Yet, there is an ease of life by just letting go of any of these things and go with the flow of the river rather than try to fight it. Besides, who really feels good swimming upstream like that?

Some say, "well, you have to fight that injustice or you just don't care." Baloney. If it is true, and I know it is, that by fighting anything, you create more of the same, then to fight would be the opposite of what we really want to achieve.

One of the best stories I ever heard to compliment this idea was by Mother Teresa. She was asked to go to an anti-war demonstration and she refused. But, she said, "if you ever have a peace demonstration, count me in." It may be paraphrased from passing from one to another, but the point is well-taken. Fighting gets us nowhere but to create more to fight about or over. Yet by an appreciation of what is, or what could be, we not only live in more joy, we create more of that. Wouldn't that be a better world after all?


I've Been Praying All Day, But No One Stopped Me Or Even Protested--Or Even Knew About It--Except Me and God. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Find ways to feel good. However that comes about is good.

Daily Inspiration 2-14-14

"Our highest value; 

our highest ideal; 

our greatest emotion;

our best projection 

is love."

 -- Albert K Strong 

I love each and every one of you, 

whomever you are, 

wherever you are, 

whatever your path. 

 It is pure joy 

to be a part 

however small 

in your life. 

 Thank you! 

Gee. . . And It's Friday To Boot. . . Happy Today! Create An Awesome Weekend! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Sharing love is as good as it can get. Joy to you.

Daily Inspiration 2-13-14

"Words can have a great deal of power, 

but only as we associate them with 

our own meaning, feeling and beliefs." 

 -- Albert K Strong 

Yesterday, I wrote about walking away or quitting. I used this wonderful quote by Robert Tew, "Sometimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, but because we finally realize our own."

Since writing about this yesterday, I thought about the word quit and quitting. Some words have a power that we may not realize. I think it is because we have many associations about the meaning of these words, and it may even have several meanings for us. The word quit or to quit, or quitting, or being a quitter, is one of those words with many variations that can have a powerful influence on our ability to make a decision, and certainly to follow through on it. We may feel remorse and then question our own integrity, authority, and actions based on how we are feeling about the beliefs that these words remind us of.

There are many words like this. One that is used so much is losing, or to lose, or loser. We say we are losing weight, but this is a terrible word to use here. In a similar way to being a quitter, to become a loser is something we avoid and that we've been taught not to do or be. On the surface when we talk about losing weight, it all sounds so benign, but under the surface we know that we aren't losing it, because we always, or most of the time, seem to find it again, don't we? We're trained to find things that we lose. We're trained to be upset about losing. We're trained to fear being labeled a quitter.

Some better choices for these situations might be to stop or cease or even better, make a different decision, a course correction, choose differently. As in losing weight, we might say to let it go, I don't need to have this anymore, I feel light and it feels good, etc.

Walking away sounds like hurting someone else, relinquishing responsibility and so on. Choosing to have more joy, to make better decisions sounds like building a life. How we say these things to ourselves about decisions we know inside we need to make matters. New age people call that spiritual work. It's also calling coming into alignment with your inner or higher self. Traditionally, we call it following your heart.


"Don't Be Too Hard On Yourself. There Are Plenty Of People Willing To Do That For You. Love Yourself And Be Proud Of Everything That You Do. Even Mistakes Mean You're Trying." -- Susan Gale 

Spread Some Joy Today--Ready, Aim, Decide. The best decision is always more joy. Truly, what good is anything with out joy?

Daily Inspiration 2-12-14

"Sometimes walking away 

has nothing to do with weakness, 

and everything to do with strength. 

We walk away not because 

we want others to realize 

 our worth and value, 

but because 

we finally realize our own." 

 -- Robert Tew 

Sometimes I run across a quote that says something I know so well, yet says it so much better than I could say it myself, and better than anyone I've ever heard. This quote above is one of those rare and exciting quotes to me. I just want to underline the last part: We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth and value, but because we finally realize our own.

Walking away because we want others to realize our worth and value is martyrdom. It's an ego sandwich. It is a poor decision and for all the wrong reasons in general. But when we finally realize our own worth and value and we love ourselves enough to say enough, that is a life giver, and it would be impossible not to grow from that place.

I've been in some of those places, such as, working for the people who never have anything uplifting or positive to say. I've even seen that in church. I've been in places where I wasn't really wanted and felt like I had to walk on egg shells as I passed by. I've been there where my days were crap and then I took that home and complained all night about all of it. I've been in relationships where I didn't want to be.

Now, I know now that I attracted all of that. I accept full responsibility now. But, back then, if someone would have told me that, I might have punched them out. It's not something that you accept and adapt to overnight, but I surely encourage getting on the path.

Nonetheless, there has to come a time when you value yourself enough, respect yourself enough, and love yourself enough to call it quits. Everything doesn't go on forever like me might have learned in kindergarten. Things change. That's a good thing in the end for everyone involved. I suspect that if you're unhappy in a relationship or with your job or your coworkers, that the feeling may very well be mutual.

One thing I've learned about leaving. The people who stay have determined that you could never do anything right ever again. That's why going back is a waste of time usually. However, you can do things right on your end. Move forward and get back into growing again instead of running and hiding and complaining. Who cares what they think? This is the best place to get to. Let them think whatever floats their boat while you're moving on.


"There Is A Time For Everything. And A Season For Every Activity Under Heaven. . ." -- Ecclesiastes 3:1 

Spread Some Joy Today--Allow the joy of your tough decisions to drive you. I have never experienced such joy as some of those decisions and actions.

Daily Inspiration 2-11-14

"We must assume every event has significance 

and contains a message that pertains to our questions. 

This especially applies to what we used to call bad things. 

The challenge is to find the silver lining

 in every event, no matter how negative." 

 -- James Redfield 

Today, I am sharing a guest post by one of my clients, Gary Rohmann, of Ultimate Life Services, who has become a good friend. This little piece he titled, Something Powerful About Momentum. I hope you enjoy it as I did.


If you have a dream to go into any particular area, consider the opportunity, no matter how small, to move in the direction of your dream.

Don't be afraid to take small steps. There's something powerful about momentum. Many times what may seem to be impossible, is simply the untried.

I can remember a season in my life when I was immobilized with fear, consumed with what I thought I was supposed to do, and beating myself up about it, yet making no decisions and having no movement. Finally, a close friend suggested, "Just DO something!" It was the push that I needed at the perfect time, and as a result, I began taking some small steps. Those small efforts layered one upon the other created a momentum that not only propelled my professional life, but my personal life as well.

If you are ever at a point of paralysis in your life (and we all have been there at some point in our journey), just do something. Often any decision is better than no decision, and by taking the first step, the next will be easier and soon momentum will create a flow toward accomplishing your desires.

There is no better example of what I am trying to convey here than the life story of Shay Eskew. Shay lives in Franklin, Tennessee, just down the road from where I live in Spring Hill. I was privileged to meet Shay at a recent Spring Hill Rotary meeting where he shared his incredible story.

Shay is referred to as "the one ear wonder--one man, one ear, one passion, living life to the fullest." He is a thirty year old man that has overcome serious burn injuries that he experienced at the age of eight to become an inspiring influence to everyone that comes into his life. He just completed the World Ironman Championships in Kona, Hawaii, which is undoubtedly the most difficult challenge of a man or woman's physical and emotional endurance. After finishing the race, Shay shared the following:

"God has a plan for each of us and we have to have the courage to let go of the safety rail and trust in Him. The first step starts with not fearing failure and realizing we experience growth through suffering."

You can see more about Shay Eskew at http://oneearwonder.wordpress.com.

No matter your circumstances, take the first small step. With each step, you will be able to see more of the road ahead, and momentum will be your friend, helping you to keep going, while experiencing the great joy of moving forward.


Sometimes Even A Mistaken Decision Holds Great Benefit. Consider Thomas A Edison And The 10,000 Failures That Led To Electric Light! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Worry not. Love yourself. Find joy first and the rest will be easy.

Daily Inspiration 2-10-14

"I am only one, but I am one. 

I cannot do everything, 

but I can do something. 

And I will not let what I cannot do 

interfere with what I can do." 

 -- Edward Everett Hale 

I was having breakfast with a dear friend this morning. It's an interesting story about how we met and came to be friends. He is also an avid reader of these Daily Inspirations. Recently, he introduced me to one of his friends and at that meeting, his friend expressed thoughts about his knowledge in his industry and how his perspective was interesting and helpful to others. So I suggested that we could do a Trend Setter Package for him that would give him the platform to spread that knowledge in a professional and effective manner.

As I was remembering that this morning (you know how one thought leads to another and so on), I recalled a gala event I attended in Indianapolis, Indiana two years ago. There were hundreds of people seated around large round tables scattered all around the ballroom. I don't recall exactly how it came up, whether I mentioned something or someone else did, but it came to be that there were about six people at my table and the table next to mine who were long time readers of my Daily Inspirations messages. They were pleased to meet me in person and I, them.

Here we are, me being about 2,000 miles from home at an event and then meeting these people. What I think is interesting about this is that I do almost nothing to expand the reach of these Daily Inspirations. I put a little sign up box on a few websites, and once in a while offer to sign someone up if they have a mind to. I do publish it in various ways however, so it mainly goes out via this email program from Constant Contact. It is also published on a blog where every post is available to see at www.ctsdaily.net. . It is also posted on two facebook pages, Tumblr.com, Twitter and Linked-in. It is also shared by others to their friends in various ways.

My point with this information is that I put it out there for those who want it to be able to see it. I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. This I have done and it is pure joy in the doing. Who knows who will benefit from it? I don't know. I didn't know those people I met at that event, yet they were very complimentary about how it touched them in a positive way.

So, the value is in the sharing--having a willingness to put yourself out there and take what comes. Whatever my friend's friend has to share I am certain would be of value to others. The only thing is that it needs to be shared. We need to take action and make a commitment to doing it to the best of our ability. I am only one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And, I pay no attention to what I cannot do. I just do what I can.

This we can all do. We all have something to share. I say, let's hear it! Or read it. There is much value in the doing for ourselves, as may be in the receiving of it by others.


Who Knows What Uplifting And Positive Things You Can Do Until You Actually Do Them?

Spread Some Joy Today--Bust a move!

Daily Inspiration 2-9-14

"I have never let my schooling 

interfere with my education." 

 -- Mark Twain 

And, neither have I.


Here's To All The Life-Long Learners Out There! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Have a wonderful time today. On purpose!

Daily Inspiration 2-8-14

"Let history be what it was, 

with its blessings and errors. 

The only reason to pay any attention to history 

is to make the now and the future better." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

Alan Cohen is a prolific and inspiring author that I only found in the last two or three years. He and John C Maxwell in their writings share a lot of stories that they pick up in their travels and I love the way that all works in presenting the meat of the message.

I also subscribed to a years worth of daily messages called Wisdom for Today from Alan Cohen, and so many of them resonated in various ways with me in my own travels. The quote above came from one of these called, Leave the Note in History.

In it he quotes two musicians. One is Dominic Miller, a guitarist with Sting's band, and he is quoted as saying, "Life is like playing a piece of music in concert. If you make a mistake, you can't go back to replay it and you can't afford to grind about it. Any time you spend thinking or worrying about it will only detract from the note you are currently playing and possibly lead to more mistakes."

Then, he quotes my favorite songwriter and musician, Sir Paul McCartney, who said, "Some people thought the White Album could have been better. But I'm not the kind of person who goes over things already done. Come on, it was the Beatles' White Album!"

Then Alan talks about his own books by saying, "Sometimes I read books I wrote earlier in my career and I realize that I wouldn't make certain statements now in the way I made them then, and there are passages I am tempted to correct and update. Then I realize that that book was a sincere and perfect expression of where I was on my journey at the time. Moreover, there are people reading that book for the first time now, and it is a match to where they are on their journey today, and it is helpful to them."

I absolutely loved this last quote and his statement resonates very nicely with me in several ways. One, I have just read one of his very early books that isn't even in print anymore that is available on the Kindle. It is titled, Joy Is My Compass, and it is a wonderful book for me where I am right now. I have enjoyed it so much, I am reading it again.

Two, I have published two books. One was self-published and I have often thought of rewriting it since it was written and produced in March of 1990 and I am so much more skilled as a writer and thinker now than I was then. I recently found a copy of that book titled, Accepting the Sales Challenge. I've offered a pdf version for free on one of the Commercial Truck Success websites, www.comtrk.com under Training Resources. Yet, I've just now allowed myself to let that stand as it is and never again think about rewriting it because it was perfect at the time. It was the best I had in me at the time, and according to others who have read it, the book had an impact on them.

Whatever we have done in the past is done. We are constantly making new choices today and will do so in the future when it becomes today. If we can just let go of what was as it was and celebrate that, allow it to be okay, and even perfect the way it was, it is more powerful for our lives today because it frees up our focus to enjoy the present as fully as is possible. What a blessing that is for all of us.


Today, Right Now Is Where We Are. Be There. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself the luxury of personal joy. That is even more important than spreading it; however, when you have personal joy, it is impossible for that to not have an effect on others.

Daily Inspiration 2-7-14

"It's better to fail in originality, 

than to succeed in imitation." 

 -- Herman Melville 

The last few days I seem to be having a number of memories about the car business which I spent 25 years in directly and for the last 16 indirectly. I think the auto business is a great teacher--at least it was for me. I learned a ton.

One thing that I learned stands out and apart from much of the rest, and that is the idea of competition. I call it the 'C' word, and I don't believe in competition anymore, but the car business and other businesses I've been around seem obsessed by it more often than not.

Many dealerships seemed to have a policy about not trading with other dealers too close. The fear (and that's really the right word for what it is) is that a tentative customer (a prospect) may come in to our store, then go to the other store and want that dealer to get this unit so they can buy it there. Now, to me, if that is the case, we had nothing to begin with except a vehicle that someone desired. We didn't have anything we could have lost because we had nothing to begin with.

Another way to handle it might be to just be straight and honest with each other. I've done that with close by dealers where I said, 'you know, I have had this customer for a long time and they just happened to see this unit on your lot. Would you mind trading with me so I can satisfy their desire?' It usually worked out perfectly.

One of the issues that becomes what I call, 'competing over the lowest gross profit' becomes a negative when we're trying to sell the same thing as the other guy and all that is left is knocking the price. There are no real winners here.

The 'C' word that I do believe in is creativity. I also like the 'I' word, innovation. There's room enough for everyone to share and attract.

I see a lot of commercial truck dealers stocking the same exact products as the other dealers all around them. What is the sense in this? Innovate. Take charge. Think about it. Strategize. Be purposeful. Those are excellent words to live by to change perspective and profits. If everyone is stocking the same 8' service body with a rack and hitch from the same suppliers, there isn't much left except price, is there?

One of the many commercials with Lee Iacocca back in the 1980's was him saying at the end, 'lead, follow or get out of the way.' I love that. I choose lead.


What Is Your Choice In Your Business? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Tell someone you love them--someone other than your spouse or family!

Daily Inspiration 2-6-14

"I will act as if what I do 

makes a difference." 

 -- William James 

It does.

It is a very beneficial thing to realize that you make a difference. The only thing better than this is to act as if what you do makes a difference. Realizing it is like school learning. You learn about something and you can approach an understanding of the subject, or at least a better understanding than you had before, but it isn't until you apply the knowledge that it becomes real to you. By acting as if, you put it into action.

This doesn't mean successful accomplishment is immediate, but by practicing the activity and the knowledge behind that action, success is just a matter of time.

Believe that you make a difference to other people. You do. It is virtually impossible to interact with other people and not make some kind of a difference. You will.

This leaves only one thing. What kind of a difference will you make? This is a great question and here's a better one: What kind of a difference would you like to make? Intention is important. Think of the action as the car and the intention as the fuel that feeds it.

One last point. There are a lot of things that you do. If you will act as if whatever you do makes a difference, you will find that it does. Apply the question of what kind of a difference would you like to make to each.


There Is Love And There Is Fear. They Both Make A Difference. What Kind Of Difference Would You Like To Make? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Believe in yourself and that you do make a difference.

Daily Inspiration 2-5-14

"Argue for your limitations, 

and sure enough they're yours." 

 -- Richard Bach 

I was thinking today of the car business and being a sales manager. Car and truck inventory was always a fascination to me and I was also amazed at how other sales managers viewed inventory. Since no dealer can be big enough to stock everything, trading units with other dealers is a very common thing, and at one point I remember averaging about 25 dealer trade calls a day. That's a lot of work and time spent looking stuff up and if they actually decide they want it, working out the trade details.

I'll never forget one sales manager who wouldn't take a unit I had in stock. This is what he said to me: "brown, brown, stays around. I have no use for brown." I burst out laughing thinking he was just joking around, but I found out how serious he was about never stocking anything brown. I guess he will just have to miss all the profit from those brown ones I was selling.

Another dealer wanted only one truck. It had to be a 4x4 Extended Cab 1/2-ton. And, the kicker is that it had to be white and only white and it had to have gray interior. I could just see his fleet of white Extended Cab trucks and nothing else on his lot. Of course, all the profits went to me and our dealership on all the other colors we were selling besides white. . . and brown.

I used to have so much fun with inventory and learn more possibilities. One dealer wanted a unit and I asked him in return for the morphodite he had on his lot. I wanted the unit that everyone refused to sell or couldn't sell. I got a pretty strange truck, and I challenged my staff to see if they could sell it when the other dealer couldn't. It was gone in less than two weeks and at a nice profit too. You just never know what can be done until you do it.

Later, working for a truck body company, I took an order for two 8' service bodies with a cargo bed enclosure to cover the cargo area. Our wires were crossed somehow and they were produced as "low pro units," meaning the top of the side boxes was lower than the standard body. I do admit that this combination with the cargo bed enclosures was unusual, mainly because dealers didn't order them that way. The manager at the dealership who I had known for some time was so upset. I was surprised how upset he was. I agreed to work on getting them out of his inventory, but within two weeks, he sold them both to one customer. He refused to replace them thinking it was a total fluke. But, I have learned over the years that everything sells if you don't stop it from selling.

Isn't it interesting how we argue for our limitations? We take a thought and by repeatedly thinking of it, this becomes a belief and then we say it can't be done. But, it can be done by those who think that it can be done.


In What Ways Are You Creating Your Limitations? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Yes. Do that. It will be amazing how that returns like a boomerang.

Daily Inspiration 2-4-14

"Practice doesn't make perfect. 

It just makes you better." 

 -- Tawa Suleman 

This is the seventh post in a series of posts on gratitude and thankfulness.

The following quote by Rabindranath Tagor is one of my favorites and it is a place that I have arrived at which brings me much joy. "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." I do believe that it is gratitude that brought me to this place, and one other thing: practice.

Becoming aware is good, and what is better is putting that awareness into action in my life. One day it occurred to me that I needed to practice it. It's sort of like having the workout machines in your house and never using them. It doesn't make sense and it doesn't help. Practice makes use of that which I have learned and in the practice, my learning is expanded.

My ego is still intact. I still have those ego thoughts. However, the difference now is that my ego is no longer in charge. I used to think that I was supposed to feel that way, and I have learned that I am in charge when I choose to be. Practicing being in charge has brought this to fruition.

It is one thing to know a thing and another to put it into practice. So, I have learned with joy to practice all the time. I do it now everyday, even all day long. Here are some examples.

When I'm driving somewhere, I practice the intention that I will enjoy my travel, that it will be safe and efficient travel and that I will arrive in a timely manner. It is calming as I was rushing to an appointment in the next city. Yet, my ego jumps in an I get tense and my heartbeat increases speed and negative thoughts about being late wash over me. I sense this immediately, and now I take a deep breath, and repeat my intention and I am calm again. It is amazing how many times I have arrived on time when that seemed impossible.

I'm at the grocery store, or some other place where I am getting in line to check out. Just this morning, I had a guy cut in line quickly in front of me and I welcomed another opportunity to practice my patience and joy. Sometimes, I offer people to go ahead of me just for more practice. It is fun and interesting and I never get upset anymore in lines. I don't seek lines out; however, I don't worry about them.

A client hasn't paid their invoices for a few months, or a client leaves our services owing a balance, even sometimes a significant balance. This would have made me very upset in the past, and I might even watch my ego try to upset me for a few minutes, but then I take charge (practicing) and talk myself through it. I have not paid people in my past sometimes, so I cannot be the judge here. If they no longer want our services, that is okay. If they won't pay the balance, that is okay. I will ask for it, but I refuse to pursue it, for in the pursuit of it, I am the one upset, and I choose peace. In fact, this has become our company policy. We put our focus on those who do and want our services.

These are but a few of the real world ways I practice my gratitude. I no longer have storm clouds in my life, and those clouds that come passing through instead offer contrast and interest. It is gratitude that allows this to be and it is pure joy as far as I am concerned. People can be upset all around me and I still get to choose.


And I Choose Peace, Love, Joy, Appreciation, Enjoyment Through Practice. 

Spread Some Joy Today--It has to start with you and me. We must serve joy to ourselves, then others will see it and want it for themselves.

Daily Inspiration 2-3-14

"You are the only one 

 who creates in your experience--no one else. 

Everything that comes to you

comes by the power of your thought. 

If there are changes you would like to make,

 it will be of great value 

to begin telling a different story-- 

not only about your body, 

 but about all subjects 

 that have been troubling to you." 

 -- Abraham & Esther Hicks 

Today is the sixth post on the subject of gratitude and thankfulness.

This post is about self-talk mainly and how the only way to make changes you would like to make is to tell a different story in your head and to others too. It is so a part of becoming a grateful person. I'll give you a couple examples.

Since my wife died just less than 6 months ago, I've been living a lot of memories in my head and in my sight too. I've gone through thousands of photographs, chosen a strong number of them and have pasted them on my cabinets in my office. It has been all part of coming to terms with the last few years of our lives together. I remember similar situations in the past whenever there was a change from something that has been for a good period of time.

There was a tendency for me to think of things I should have or could have done to make things better. What could I have done differently that would have changed things? You probably know the drill. It's not feeling sorry for myself, but thinking that somehow I wasn't enough.

So, I began telling a different story on purpose. I began thinking how good a husband and provider I was. I began thinking about all the good things I did; the positive things; the important things. I began talking this out as if I were talking to her about how I did this and that and how much this meant to me and that and so on. It was perfect and it turned me around toward such gratitude--not only more gratitude for her and all that she brought to the relationship but gratitude for all that I did as well. When I might think of something she was upset, angry or unhappy with about me or something I did or failed to do, I would mentally speak back of what I did do and that I did what I knew and was capable of and so on. In other words, I rejected the idea that I had failed in any way.

It's about experience. We can't grow forward ten years and then take that wisdom back in time with us to make better decisions. It was what it was. If we are doing the best we can with what we have to work with, then that is exactly what it was. What I would do today is of zero importance. It is not possible to merge the two, but what I can do is praise her for her choices and me for mine. I can see the love that was the foundation under it all. And, last, I am the only one in charge of me and I can choose to change, grow, become a grateful person even if she may have chosen otherwise.

These kinds of things happen not just with losses of loved ones but in business with old bosses, old friends that may not be in favor today and so on.

The tendency was for me to find myself blameless by affixing blame on my boss, my wife or some other person. My self-talk was always justifying what I did or didn't do and how the other parties were the ones to blame for anything off kilter. Now, my self-talk is finding what they did right and well and how much I appreciated them for all that they brought, and equally important, that I appreciated myself in the same way. I began seeing scenarios working perfectly instead of previously being problems or ugly situations. As I focused on appreciation and gratitude, all the other things faded away.

In this process, I have found more love and respect and admiration for Nancy and for the other important people in my life. I have at the same time found love enough for me to be enough.


Gratitude Changes Everything. It May Require Practice. No. It Does Require Practice. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by changing your self-talk to appreciate yourself and all those on your path.

Daily Inspiration 2-2-14

"We can't really praise God

without being thankful

for the thing we are praising Him for. 

And we can't really be thankful

without being happy about

whatever we're thankful for. 

Praising, then, involves both gratitude and joy." 

 -- Merlin R Carothers 

Today is the fifth post in a series about gratitude and thankfulness.

I talked about regret and yesterday was about mistakes and how we label things good and bad, etc.. Those were easy compared with what I would like to offer up today.

I don't talk in religious tones much, but about ten years ago, my late wife gave me a copy of a book to read. It moved me deeply. I've shared it a couple of times because I think it is a very powerful book and especially for a religious person to contemplate deeply. It is called, The Power In Praise by Merlin R Carothers.

On the very first page of this book, Merlin gets right to the heart of the matter. I'll quote part of it. It starts where Jim's father was an alcoholic for over 30 years and he got angry when anyone talked about religion. The family was praying for his healing and nothing happened.

It continues, "One day Jim heard me speak about the power that is released when we begin to praise God for everything in our lives instead of pleading with Him to change the circumstances that hurt us."

Jim brought home a tape of the meeting and played it over and over again for his friends. Then one day it struck him; he had never tried praising God for his father's condition." He shared with his wife and they decided to "thank God for his dad's alcoholism and praise Him that the condition is part of His wonderful plan for dad's life."

It was the beginning of an unexpected and very uplifting change in Jim's dad, and in Jim and his wife too.

It is easy to praise God or the Universe or Higher Power for things that bring us joy, but so many of us have grown up thinking that prayer is set aside to ask for God's help to fix something wrong (or at least wrong in our minds) and then wait and see what happens. It is a foreign thought to think to praise God for the so-called problem or wrong situation because somehow we think God had no part in the bad thing and only does good things. A really good question to consider about God is this: Where is God not? When you get your head around that, it opens a whole new world.

So, today about gratitude is to be grateful for EVERYTHING always. Whatever label we give something is not necessarily true for everyone, but withholding our gratitude harms no one but ourselves. Got fired? Praise God! Lost a loved one? Praise God! Got a speeding ticket? Praise God! The blessing has a hard time finding its way through when we are holding on to unhappy experiences and finding someone else to blame. And, there is always a blessing. Sometimes people even blame God. Praise instead of finding fault will change all of that and it will change your life too.

Before I found The Secret or many others that have helped me grow into a whole other understanding, my transition began with this book. I found that by praising God I uplift myself and have found peace in the process. It also completely changed prayer for me. I no longer ask God for things or situations but thank Him instead for the blessing that I may not yet see, yet I've come to know is absolutely there.


"We Praise God, Not For What We Expect Will Happen In Or Around Us, But We Praise Him For What He Is And Where And How We Are Right Now!" -- Merlin R Carothers 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding praise-worthy things all around you today.

Daily Inspiration 2-1-14

"To err is human. 

To make a mistake is unforgivable. 

But, I could be wrong." 

 -- Albert K Strong 

Today is the fourth post in a series of posts on the subject of gratitude.

It is so easy to become grateful for the "good" things. Those things and events that feel good, or positive, or bring us joy are easy to love. This requires no practice. It is something everyone does. However, to become grateful for things we don't agree with, feel crappy about, or just don't feel right is a serious challenge to most.

If we were to look at this detour from our trip to become grateful as a problem, the problem would be our beliefs. A belief is just a thought we keep thinking over and over again and a belief can be changed by changing the underlying thinking that creates the belief. In other words, we have to change our minds and think differently. The symptom of this problem is labeling. When we call something good or bad, mistakes or success, positive or negative, and so on, these are just labels we have assigned to these feelings. They are judgments.

If we are going to become a grateful person, we need to change our thinking and our labels or our judgments. An easy way to do this is to call all things experiences. When we do this, it eases the judgment and allows us to consider gratitude for the experience and the outcome. After all, the outcome is the outcome. Whatever it is or was, is or was. It isn't really good or bad except in our thinking and labels.

Mistakes in the past cannot be corrected or put behind you. They cannot be done over. They cannot be fixed or repaired. They are what they are. If we call them mistakes, we give that event or experience far more power than it deserves. Our best hope is to release our hold on it. It isn't holding on to us, we are holding on to it. We do that for a variety of reasons but rest assured, we are always in charge even when we say we are not.

As with yesterday's post, I think the metaphor of letting go of the rope is so appropriate and effective. Just drop the rope. Let go completely. Rename this thing an experience. You might even say, "I had this experience and this was the outcome. It is what it is and it was what it was. It has no hold on me. I release my attention to it right now." Lay the rope down and do not pick it back up.

Now see if there is anything you have learned from that experience. Find something you have benefited from, anything. Begin to appreciate the experience. Be grateful that it happened and praise yourself for making that choice then. There is always a benefit. Every experience has value and importance. Accept responsibility for making the choices, and allow it to be.

One day I was fired from a really good job. It was the happiest day of my life. It was sheer joy and elation. It changed my life for the better and released me to make the changes that have led me to where I am now. This is always true and would be accepted this way if people would allow this thinking. Instead, they are often depressed, or lost. But remember, we are always in charge. I created my own firing. It wasn't something that happened to me. I arranged it consciously or unconsciously, but I arranged it nonetheless.

With this approach, you can become a grateful person for everything in your life regardless of what you or others have previously labeled things. The calm contentment that follows is amazing.


You Get To Choose Your Labels And Your Thoughts On All Levels. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Isn't it joyful to realize that you are so in control of things? It is a joyful thing.