Daily Inspiration 11-30-15

"When you have the choice 

to be right, or to be kind, 

choose to be kind." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

Here are a few good questions: How often does being right actually serve you? How often does being right serve those you love? How often does being right serve you at work? How often does being right serve you with your children? How often does being right serve you with your spouse? How often does being right serve those around you?

How about this? How often does being kind actually serve you? How often does being kind serve those you love? How often does being kind serve you at work? How often does being kind serve you with your children? How often does being kind serve you with your spouse? How often does being kind serve those around you?


Hmmmmm. That Is A Bit Of Perspective. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--by being kind. Why? It serves you, and everyone around you.

Daily Inspiration 11-29-15

"Once you find your why, 

you will be able to find your way." 

-- John C. Maxwell 

Continuing reading in John C. Maxwell's newest book, Intentional Living, I love the chapter titled, Search Until You Find Your Why. Here's what John says about why our why is important:

"If you know your why and focus on going there with fierce determination, you can make sense of everything on your journey because you see it through the lens of why. This makes the way so much more meaningful and complete because you have the context to understand the reason you're on the journey in the first place."

I would rather use the word focus than fierce determination; nonetheless, understanding why we want a thing, why we do things can be very enlightening.

At the end of the chapter, John shares an idea about starting with one word: "Another way to help you discover your why is to focus on the core of who you are and see what grows from that."

He shares that in his book, Aspire, Kevin Hall writes, "The first thing I do when I'm coaching someone who aspires to stretch, grow and go higher in life is to have that person select the one word that best describes him or her. Once a person does that, it's as if he or she has turned to a page in a book and highlighted one word. Instead of seeing three hundred different words on the page, the person's attention, and intention, is focused immediately on that single word, that single gift. What the individual focuses on expands."

I thought that was fascinating. If someone asked me, "how would I describe myself," I might have come up with several paragraphs and touched on many key attributes, but to distill it to one word? Wow. That seemed hard at first thought. Then all of a sudden I got excited and the first word that popped into my head to answer that question is Love.

Then this morning, I took that one step further. Why not describe all the major things that we do each in only one word. So, I thought about our business, Upward Trend Management Services, and the first word that came to me was, Relief. Our customers are or can be relieved to know that we are taking care of posting information about them consistently week in and week out for as long as they choose to be a client. That spells relief to me. We relieve them of that burden. We relieve them of that seeming necessity, and we relieve them of worrying about it. We've got their back so to speak, and we do it with or without any help from them regarding needed content. That's relief!

Then I thought about Commercial Truck Success, our consulting company. I thought, Teaching. Yes! That's what CTS is all about. We help expand knowledge about the beginning, building, and operating commercial truck departments from top to bottom, and especially the management of them. The book, Commercial Truck Success is helping change the game for many dealers all around the country--or at least, plant that seed in their mind in the reading of it. And, of course, this CTS Daily Inspiration is a teaching.

In my overall work-related life, I would use this word: Student. Constantly learning and wanting to know more. In my personal life, I would use this word: Appreciation. I am always finding things and people and events to appreciate and now that is pretty much all I see. It is certainly what I pay attention to. In my spiritual life, I would use the word Awe. The more I learn, the more I am in awe of all of life.

So, before this gets too long, what one word describes you in your career, in your personal life, in your business, in your spiritual life, and so on. We have all these life-compartments that we are in and out of, all of which make up our whole life. For my overall life, as I stated, the word is Love. And if I could use two, it would be Unconditional Love. It's an inspiring process to consider these one-word descriptions and I hope that inspires you today, tomorrow and beyond.


I Have One Word For You Today: Enjoy! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing that when you are connected with joy, you are connected with God, Source, All-That-Is.

Daily Inspiration 11-28-15

"The only thing that holds you back 

from getting what you want 

is paying attention 

to what you don't want." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

They say that it is hard work that creates success. I don't believe that anymore, but I used to believe that to be true. I have come to believe that being a success is about focus. It is about focusing energy (not physical energy), time and resources (not physical resources) on a specific objective. In fact, I think that focus is more important and beneficial than knowledge, skill, and talent.

Years ago when I was a sales manager in auto dealerships, I would take note of the salespeople who did well and those who did not. The ones who did well were not better or more skilled than those who didn't do well, but there was something there in the ones who did well that was missing in those who did not.

I remember one in particular that I kept somewhat longer than I probably should have. I really wanted him to succeed. He was a cheerful and delightful person. He had a lot of general knowledge and tried really hard. I might be close by so that I could hear if it was the things he would say that would cause the prospect to not buy, but I didn't find that to be true. In my awareness of life at that time, I would have to chalk it up to being lucky or unlucky. But, I didn't really believe that it was just that I couldn't explain it then. I know it now.

Have you ever seen anyone who seemed to be joyous but inside they were a complete wreck? It's probably pretty rare, but this guy was that I think. The Law of Attraction brings to us that which we are in alignment with--that which is like unto itself is drawn. So you would think he would have drawn happy, easy-going, easy to sell prospects, but that wasn't the case. I know now that he was drawing toward himself those that matched how he was inside not how he was on the outside. A better way to say that is that it isn't our actions, but our thought, and even more accurate is that it is the way we feel from what we are thinking.

I remember hiring a salesman who had a good deal of experience, had a confidence about him, and had an enjoyable personality. He was a massive success from day one. He was at or near the top of the board every month. Yet, he seemed to not try. He just seemed to be very lucky. His closing ratio was the highest I had seen in my entire career. I wanted him to stay forever, but he was not with us for long. Soon he was off to become the General Sales Manager, then the General Manager, then part-owner of a dealership. You just knew he was going places, and he was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet.

He was skilled, but it wasn't his skill that caused him to succeed. He was knowledgeable, but that wasn't it either, and he had talent, but it wasn't that. He was in alignment with his desires, lined up with his objective, lined up with his inner being and as a result of that, he couldn't help but succeed. They call people like that naturals, and the reason they say that is because it just seems natural to them. They are comfortable in what they do, where they are going, who they are. They are in alignment with themselves.

In my long career, I saw a lot of salespeople, successful and no so successful. It's an emotional journey that sets them apart. It's something that is so powerful that you can actually feel it coming from them. It's a resonance within. Whether they are visually focused, or whether they are so-called naturals, they are in tune with what they want and so they attract that. They attract the buyers instead of the lookers. They attract those that cause larger commissions than minimum commissions. They may not always be on the top of the board, but they are always in that vicinity and they also enjoy what they do. In fact, they love what they do. They can't help it.

One last thing. This is true in every aspect of our lives, whether it is being a great parent, or a lousy one, a generous person or a stingy one, a truly joyful person or one who tries to make people think they are. It is the emotional journey within that creates the life without. When we line up our thoughts and our consequential emotions with our desires, or what we want, we will feel good. That is how we know that this is happening. When we are not feeling good, that is how we know that it is not working and it might be time to make a change.


Focus On What Is Desired. Line Up With That. That IS Success In A Nutshell.

Spread Some Joy Today--real joy. That real joy that wells up within you and begs to spill out. You know it from the way you feel. Let your heart lead the way.

Daily Inspiration 11-27-15

"We see what we want to see. 

Change what you want to see, 

and what you see will change." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Do you remember what it felt like to graduate from school? As I remember, it felt so good to get to move on to a whole new adventure, while leaving all that it took to get there behind. Like a snake casting off its skin, a butterfly coming out of the cocoon. Yesterday, I felt as if I graduated. It was an interesting realization and feeling.

It's been coming for some time. I realize the Law of Attraction working to help me along my chosen path. I wanted to see the good in the world. I wanted to see the good in other people. I wanted to see the world growing and becoming and serving. As I would find one thing that matched my desire, another would come, and another, and another, and now it has become rather consistent and predictable.

Can you look at tragedy and see the value of it? Can you look at the negative things going on in the world and see beyond it to the positive things? Can you see beyond the inflamed anger and unhappiness expressed by other people and see their cry for love? Can you find peace within regardless of what may be going on without? These were issues that I struggled with, but no more. 

Earlier in my life, I didn't even struggle with those issues, I joined in. I wrote a song many years ago mirroring the ideas in the book and movie, 1984 by George Orwell, called Watching You. The world against the individual and all that stuff. It was my reading, and better said, my re-reading of a book that changed my direction. I've bought and given hundreds of copies away. It is Love Is Letting Go Of Fear by Gerald Jampolsky, MD. Such a simple, easy fast read, and yet so powerfully profound. That book started me on my healing journey.

Much later and so many authors later in April of 2007, I found the audiobook version of The Secret, and that led me to many authors and it was the Teaching of Abraham as presented by Jerry and Esther Hicks that resonated the most with me. I've mentioned this a few times, but on my wall for many years now is a statement from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "Today, no matter where I'm going and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see." I took that idea to heart and began practicing it. And yesterday, I feel like I graduated to it becoming me.

I'm so excited about this that I can hardly stand it. There is much ahead of me that I want to realize I already know deep inside, and yet I am reveling in the sight of new eyes as if I were blind and now I can see.

I can look through the newspaper without any qualms now. I can see past it. I can see past the pain. But more than this, I just don't see much of that stuff anymore. I see good things, people loving people, people serving people. I see people struggle too, but I see that they are in charge of that and that it doesn't come from the outside, but the inside, and that they can let go of that rope any time they choose to do so.

I hold ill will for no one. I have no enemies. My enemies from the past were always from within, not without. My previous blaming of others, holding grudges, feeling mistreated, was my fault, not theirs. I have realized something, that at first, and even so long on this path, was very hard to accept at full value. It is this: We really do, or rather, let me say it this way, I really do create my own world. I create what I see. I see what I choose to see. I feel as I choose to feel. Any contrast that I see is there to spur my desires to what I would rather see next. I choose it all.

To realize that I am there at that place now, with a whole new, fresh, bright, fascinating world ahead is something to celebrate. I am celebrating still, and will for some time I'm sure. I am so grateful, thrilled, joyous.


It Works. All This That I Have Learned And Taught, Is Real If You Want It To Be. It Is Always Our Choice Of What We Will See And Believe.

Spread Some Joy Today--Wow. The magic of all of this is mind-boggling. I am in joy!

Daily Inspiration 11-26-15

"Though I may not always succeed initially, 

I intend to practice what I preach 

and do my best to lead by example." 

-- Terry Minion 

Good day to you! It is Thanksgiving Day in this part of the world, and so it is completely appropriate to do just that: Give Thanks.

Yesterday, I shared some quotes from Jeffrey Gitomer about changing things up and thanking ourselves first by finding those things about us that we appreciate, can sing about, be proud of, and love about ourselves. From that foundation, we can be more sincere in our appreciation of others. So, I will lead by example.

Here is a list of things, attributes that I appreciate about myself that I give thanks for and celebrate today:

• I celebrate my sense of humor. I love to laugh, and I've even learned to laugh at myself. I love being around people who help me to laugh. 
• I am grateful for my desire and appreciation of learning. I am constantly learning and I think this is one of my greatest assets. 
• My willingness to invest in myself. Since I was about 21 years old, I have constantly invested in myself and my personal development. 
• I celebrate my willingness to try things and to choose the things I try. I am willing to learn how after I begin doing it anyway. 
• I completely delight in my desire and practice at being an unconditional lover. I have always loved, but it used to have conditions. Now, I love mostly without any conditions. That alone has changed my life forever. 
• I'm happy about my willingness to share; to teach. This has become my life's "work." 
• I appreciate my work ethic. It is amazing what I am willing to do when I am delightfully and/or intensely focused on an objective. 
• I love with an open heart. I can still remember the day in my kitchen when that change happened within me. The Holy Spirit softened my heart to never be the same again. Now I cry at the drop of a hat and mostly about the good things that happen and the spirit in others. 
• I appreciate my ever-expanding spirituality, and one thing interesting about this is that I now appreciate my body more than I have before as a direct result of stepping outside of it. 

There's my shortlist. I haven't really focused on gratitude about myself like that, but it is a powerful and enchanting process. I hope you try it yourself and see how it causes you to feel or see yourself. 

And, now, I am so thankful for all of you. Thank you for subscribing, for reading, for skimming, for allowing me to share and perhaps touch a resonant chord within you. I am so blessed by those who share with me and so I know how that can feel when it really hits home. Thank you for being a part of my life, however long or short. It is my delight to share and I grow by doing just that. I haven't got a clue how many people read these things I've done daily since September 2009, but I know they are all over the planet. I am blessed by all of you.

I give you my love and my best intentions for your day today and your life as you grow. I celebrate you.

Happy Giving Thanks To YOU! 

Spread Some Joy Today--and every day.

Daily Inspiration 11-25-15

"People try so hard to express

good cheer in these holiday seasons

that they often miss the mark. . . 

Here's my idea: 

Why not start by thanking yourself." 

-- Jeffrey Gitomer 

I've been a long time subscriber to Jeffrey Gitomer's Sales Caffeine weekly email newsletter. I love it. Today's message from Jeffrey was quite fresh. In the last week, I've received a bunch of typical writings about Thanksgiving, and especially how commercial the holidays have become, etc., so to read Jeffrey's article #1226, titled, A Different Kind of Thanks. Yours, I had to share the essence of it here.

He said, "Here's my idea: Why not start by thanking yourself. Thank yourself for your success, your good fortune, your health, your family, your library, your attitude, your fun times, your friends, and all the cool things you do that make you a happy person. If you're having trouble thanking yourself, that's an indicator that things aren't going very well. And in that situation any thanks you give to others, will be perceived somewhere between 'less than whole' and 'totally insincere.'"

He continues: "I don't think you can become sincerely thankful to others until you have become fully thankful TO yourself and FOR yourself. And once you realize who YOU are, your message of thanks will become much more real and passionate to others." 

Insincerity in communications during the holidays? Bucket loads. It's all around us. "How are you?" Answer: "I'm fine, how about you?" I cannot stand small talk because it is so small that it is insignificant. Better not to say anything than such dribble.

But, what really got me in his message is that we so often during Thanksgiving, and at other times, think about giving our thanks to others, to God, whatever, and we leave ourselves out like that would be selfish or something. It's not selfish. It's a perfect place to start. I think more focus on our gratitude for ourselves and what we believe about ourselves is of value, opens the floodgates for sincere gratitude to flow toward others.

We are worthy of our own gratitude, appreciation, love, respect, and belief in ourselves on our way to seeing those virtues and qualities in those that we come into contact with. Don't you agree? Let us start there this time.


Make A List Of What You Are Thankful For About You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--and from recognizing that joy in yourself, you can no longer store it alone.

Daily Inspiration 11-24-15

"You are always choosing

which self you will love from. 

In your choice lives your destiny." 

-- Alan Cohen 

The other day, I said that allowing is loving; that to become an allower is to become a lover. It has a beginning, and that beginning is in us.

From Abraham, Esther Hicks: "The not allowing of self is usually where the not allowing of others comes forth. Usually, the one who is most disapproving of a quality in himself notices that same quality in others and disapproves of it there as well. And so, an accepting, an approving, an appreciating, and an allowing of oneself is the first step in the appreciating, approving, or allowing of others. 

And that does not mean that you must wait until you are, by your standards, perfect, or that they are, by their standards, perfect, for there will never be that perfect ending place--for you are all ever-changing, ever-growing Beings. It means looking and intending to see in you what you want to see, or intending to see in others what you want to see." 

That last sentence is worthy of repeating to take note of it and the power of its message: "It means looking and intending to see in you what you want to see, or intending to see in others what you want to see." The most powerful part in that to me is looking to see in us what we want to see outside of us. That says so much.

Feel free to replace the allow words with love. As we learn to allow or love ourselves, we then have the understanding and capacity to allow and love others.


Let Us Begin Our Week Of Thanksgiving Inside Out.

Spread Some Joy Today--by seeing that joy within yourself flowing out and touching others. They will feel it because you do.

Daily Inspiration 11-23-15

"Prayer is sitting in silence 

until it silences us, 

choosing gratitude 

until we are grateful, 

praising God 

until we ourselves 

are a constant act of praise." 

-- Fr. Richard Rohr 

Wow. This is one of the most powerful, insightful and useful quotes I've ever seen. You might do as I did and read it over and over and let it tickle you in the process.


A Worthy Inspiration For Your Monday. . . And All The Rest Of The Days Too. 

Spread Some Joy Today--until we ourselves are a constant act of joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-22-15

"The Art of Allowing is: 

I am that which I am, 

and I am pleased with it, 

joyful in it. 

And you are that which you are, 

and while it is different perhaps 

from that which I am, 

it is also good." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I'm always looking at how to translate the idea into practical living. I'll share some examples from the last few days to demonstrate.

Friday evening, I was outside a busy restaurant to pick up some take-home food. I saw an older lady (it's funny to me to use this phrase now since she was probably not much older than me!), I said hi to her and she asked me if I happened to have a set of jumper cables. I said that I didn't know, but I normally do and that I would look in my truck. Nothing in the back, so I said I would look behind the seat. There they were.

When I brought them out, she was obviously relieved. Her car wouldn't start. Then out comes a younger man talking briefly with her. He was obviously unhappy. In order to jump the batteries from his car to her car, her car had to be moved. It was no big deal as it was downhill. She tried to do it but the guy was having issues with the way she was going about it, so he got her out and did it himself. As he was doing that, she said it was her son.

There was a lot more impatience from the son about the mother's unfortunate circumstances and his unhappiness about his inconvenience. I was smiling and calm throughout. To me, there was nothing to be upset about. The mother said thank you to me and sorry for my trouble, and I said, I had the easy part as it wasn't me in need, and that I was very pleased to be able to be of assistance. Then, she thanked me for being a soothing influence with her son.

We get to choose our mood in every circumstance, don't we?

There were three other situations where someone was calling a person by a name that ties them with a group. This is always the first step in creating enemies. We call them some kind of name that takes away their humanity. Now they are easy to kill because they aren't really human. Regardless of what group we throw real human people into, it is all about dehumanizing them for our ego's own comfort and safety. It could be the color of their skin, the religion we think they belong to, a particular type of activity we think they are associated with or could be associated with. It could be an ideology, and the list goes on.

Whenever we do this, it is always based on fear and it is always intended to dehumanize the other. To say that every Muslim is the same, every Christian the same, every Buddhist the same is impossible in reality, but easy in our use of language. We might as well say every politician is the same, every CPA is the same, every drug dealer and drug user, every grade school teacher, every social worker, every President, every anything is the same--that they are all to blame because they are part of something more than themselves. It's pure ego. It's pure fear. It's purely irresponsible. It's totally and undeniably unloving.

We get to choose our mood at every moment. We get to choose our thoughts of ourselves and others in every moment. We get to choose how we associate one thing with another. We get to choose. We are the only ones who choose. The outcome, or the reality, is the result of those choices.


We Choose To Allow (Love), Or Not (Fear). There's Really Only Two Choices. Which Will You Choose Today, This Moment, In This Situation, In This Interaction? 

Spread Some Joy Today--That choice would be love. Joy and love are interchangeable.

Daily Inspiration 11-21-15

"We have no idea 

what tomorrow will bring, 

but today 

is overflowing with potential." 

-- Allan Lokos 

I just finished a six-lesson course by Mike Dooley called, Playing the Matrix. I enjoyed it, and the entire course, in my mind, can be distilled into this:

1. Decide what you want. Without desire, nothing happens.
2. Visualize your life and how it feels after you have what you want, as if you have it this moment. 10 Minutes a day is all that is necessary. Every day.
3. Avoid specifics. Don't pay any attention to how it may come about. Be open to the magic and wonder. Be open to more than you imagined, and
4. Move in the direction of your desires in whatever way you can and however small your steps may be. It won't be your action that gets you there, but you can't get there without action.

He calls them 'baby steps.' It's simple, right? Here's a test: Which steps are you not doing?


That Question Applies As Much To Me As Anyone. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by moving in the direction of your joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-20-15

"The ego makes a lousy master, 

but an extraordinary servant." 

-- Alan Cohen 

I've become more aware of my ego in my life and how much authority I've given it. The ego has its place, but giving it authority and leadership positions are not in my overall best interests. So, I'm paying closer attention to my thoughts and my conversations with others. It's sort of like being outside of myself and inside at the same time.

I have learned that when I am in alignment with my inner being, my higher self, I can feel the resonance of that and it is perfect. I now endeavor to pay attention to that alignment or misalignment in the moments of my life, without distracting myself from fully living those moments.

To take this one important step further, I've recently become very appreciative of this awareness which allows me to see better how I interact with others and better achieve whatever objective I or they have in that interaction. I only just realized this appreciation in the last few days, and I'm very excited about it and learning so much as a result.

Now, all this may sound way too philosophical, or new agey, but it is absolutely practical. It can make a huge difference whether you're in sales, or in interactions with a spouse, or virtually any relationship we may have, regardless of length or depth.

Here's some questions that help show the practicality and value of this awareness and appreciation of our ego's place in our daily interactions:

Is the other person really listening to what I am saying? Am I talking beyond the answer they desire? Am I showing off my knowledge or helping them to understand? Am I really listening to any of their responses during the conversation? Am I making any necessary or appropriate adjustments based on those responses? Am I telling them more than they asked for or want to hear? Am I being of value? Is what I am saying helping, uplifting, guiding, or is it more about what is wrong? Why am I here? What do they really want from me? How can I be of service to them? Am I promoting love or fear? Will this expand our relationship or contract it? Am I giving them what they would like to receive? 

Sometimes it might be important to ask the other or others if what you are saying is of value. Have I answered your questions to your satisfaction? Is there more that you would like to know? How may I serve you further? What more can I do to be of service to you?

The ego likes to talk until your throat is sore from speaking, while the one we're speaking to has long left their body. They may still be standing or sitting there, but they are not really there. If our relationship is to be one of love, service, helpfulness, enlightenment, upliftment, or other benefit, paying attention, or being aware, and then appreciating that awareness can help us to lead and have us control how the ego can serve.


Am I Being Of Service? Is This Of Value To The Other? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing your own.

Daily Inspiration 11-19-15

"Going with the flow 

is not only effortless, but 

it also affords the best view." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

I got up early this morning with the intent of writing today's Daily Inspiration. My computer was awakened and the Internet was not working. So, I casually restarted my computer and restarted the modem. Then, my computer, which was just recently refurbished, chose not to reboot. It stopped with a black screen. Hmmmmm.

I waited a couple hours until after 7am to text my computer guru, and he took over two hours to respond. So at 9:30am the cause was found. By then, I had to get ready for an appointment. The problem with the computer was the silliest thing and I've never experienced it before, but I had a video san disk card in the card slot on the computer and once that was removed, the computer rebooted properly.

Things happen for a reason. I do believe that, and so I have learned to quickly shrug it off and pivot to something else. So, I finished a book I was very much into and that was a great benefit to me, for having finished it and for the loving information that it conveyed.

I would have easily spent 5 hours on the computer this morning, but the Universe had something else in mind. I went with the flow and all was perfect. I guess I could have been all kinds of upset about my mini-roadblock, but I wasn't upset in the least. I enjoyed the change actually. It was a nice change and I even spent 15 minutes in meditation too. It was wonderful.

There is all manner of things that can seemingly go wrong to change without any notice, and all of that is benign really. What spells trouble or adds joy is strictly in how we respond to any of those challenges.


We Have Many Opportunities To Choose Peace. That's Another Name For Going With The Flow. 

Spread Some Joy Today--I hope you are in-joy with yourself today. It's a perfect day for it, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 11-18-15

"The potential for wellness or illness

is always within you. 

The thoughts you choose determine 

which you experience 

and to what degree you experience it." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

More from Abraham on this subject: "Because of the attention to illness in your society, your diseases are running rampant. With all of the medical technology--all of the tools, all of the discoveries--there are more people who are critically ill today than ever before. The prevalence of so much severe illness is predominantly because of your attention to illness.

You are very particular about what you eat and what you wear and what you drive, and yet you are not particular about what you think. We would encourage you to be particular about what you think. Keep your thoughts on the side of the subject that is in harmony with your wanting. Think about wellness--not about lack of it. Think about being as you want to be rather than the lack of it. 

Your illnesses are not born and perpetuated only because of your negative attention to illness. Remember that illness stems from your feelings of vulnerability and guardedness. Train your thoughts on all subjects (not only the subject of physical health) in the direction of what you desire, and through the improved emotional state that you accomplish, your physical well-being will then be assured.

The potential for illness or wellness lies within all of you at all times. And whatever you give your attention to begins to foster within you the manifestation of the essence of that thought. Thought is very powerful." 

I have learned that thought controls all experience, and yet we might often think that illness is something that can attack out of the blue and afflict us without our permission. In this case, permission is a funny word because we wouldn't even consider giving our permission, and yet without our attention to it (our permission), it cannot be. We even create phrases that seem to explain the invasion, such as, panic attack or anxiety attack, yet neither of those things attack. None of it attacks.

It will be interesting when the medical community in the world stops looking for what is wrong in the body and instead begins helping the patient to get their thoughts back in alignment. That is the control module for our entire experience.


Our Natural State Is One Of Well-Being. Everything Else Is Unnatural. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on enjoying yourself as often as you can.

Daily Inspiration 11-17-15

"Stress is far more 

attitudinal than situational." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Stress is not a thing. It is purely a thought in origin and a negative emotion as a result of that thought or thoughts about something real or unreal. We can have stress over things that are real, such as events, direct and indirect communications, and many other things that we can and have experienced. At the same time, we can experience the negative feeling of stress from those things or situations that are purely from our imagination. Stress is simply a thought that we choose.

But, here's the really interesting part: stress is never actually in the present. It is based on the past and projected to the future. I believe there are two easy ways to relieve ourselves of any stress. One is to choose a better feeling thought. Some struggle with that idea so here's number two: become present. Close your mind to the past and the future and see only this moment, experience only this moment. Stress cannot survive either.

The easy way to come into the present moment is to pay attention to something in your field of vision. Don't make any judgments about it, simply notice it. Another easy way is to pay attention to something going on in your body. Your tense muscles, your breathing, the itch on your forehead. Either of these brings us immediately into the present where there is no stress. Stress cannot exist when we are present--we have to be out of it in order to experience stress.


Isn't That Good News! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself the pleasure of dropping the rope and taking a deep breath. OMG! There it is! It is joy!

Daily Inspiration 11-16-15

"Wherever you are, 

and whatever you do, 

be in love." 

-- Rumi 

What a marvelous and joyous way to live my life. Wherever I am, and whatever that I do throughout the day, to be in love is the ultimate joy.

I've seen a lot of movies where someone may say, "I've never been in love," or "I want to be love," or "when will love happen to me?" It's as if love is only lavished upon someone who patiently awaits it, feels eventually that they deserve it, and becomes impatient of its absence. How sad--and so unnecessary.

To be in love is easy. Step one: Love. There is no step two. You're done. Another, seemingly more practical word than that magical and mysterious word love, is to appreciate. Appreciation is love. When we appreciate, we are loving.

Where to begin. . . the mirror in the bathroom (or any other mirror). Loving self is probably the best place to begin. How to begin? Find things to appreciate in that image in the mirror. A smile will help break the ice. Not analyzing your pores will also be helpful. What can you appreciate about that image, that 'you' in the mirror? Every time you see yourself in a mirror, find things to appreciate. Smile. Watch those eyes light up when you do. Even if you appreciate the same things over and over, it's good.

Now, everywhere you go today, everyone you see, every thing you see, every non-thing you see, find something to appreciate about it. The sky is blue. Check, It is a gorgeous blue. Better. The sky is magnificent! Way better. Look at all these cars and trucks and all different colors, sizes and shapes. Isn't it fantastic that we have this transportation available to us at a moment's notice to go wherever we desire to go? There is nothing as sweet as a full tank of gas and somewhere to go.

You get to see what you choose to see and how you choose to see it. How will you see it? As if it is nothing? As if you're in love? It's your choice.

Tired of the movie of your life? I love how Alan Cohen said in yesterday's message, "It's your movie! Change the script!" So true. Wayne Dyer has said, "change the way you look at things and the things you look at change!" So true. Life is not in things. It is in the way we see, what we see, how we feel when we see, hear, touch, smell. It's the experience of it all. So what kind of experience do you want to have?


I've Chosen Mine. I Choose To Be In Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing love, appreciation, joy. They aren't for sale. They are free, and all come from choosing.

Daily Inspiration 11-15-15

"Instead of blaming people

you believe have hurt you, 

 give them credit for helping you. 

They are not devils, but angels." 

-- Alan Cohen 

It has been said that "the devil is in the details," but what is more true is that the devil is in the past. In the present there is wonder, and in the past can often be darkness and blame carried sometimes for a lifetime. Yet, it is never the event in the past that makes it dark, but how we choose to think of it that makes it so.

The past is over, but it can be brought into the present at will. That is what virtually every significant other relationship argument is about. It is about the past and bringing the past into the present.

That reminds me of yesterday's post about the stock market and how the fear of investors is aroused by a stock missing the analyst's expectation or projection. Isn't that often the way it is in a relationship where we who are to blame have missed the expectations or projections of the analyst [the one blaming]. Or it could be reversed. Someone hurt them in the past and now the expectation is fulfilled when you "hurt" them now. [See? It is happening again. I knew it was going to happen...] But, it isn't now, is it? It was then, and it is all thought. Nothing actually happens, it is simply how we or they choose to think about an event, person or situation.

As Alan Cohen so delightfully points out in A Course In Miracles Made Easy, If we can change our thinking about the past, we can then turn all those devils into angels. He says there are two ways to do that:

"First acknowledge things about them that you genuinely appreciate." Even if they were mean and awful and so hard to find any redeeming quality in them, surely there is one tiny, tiny thing that we can appreciate about them. Then, appreciate that one thing. Even if it seemed impossible, he says, "It's your movie. Change the script."

"The second devil-transformer. Consider: How has this person helped you to grow?" He says that "everyone helps us. Some help us by being kind, and some help us by acting unkind, so that we may choose kindness no matter what they do." 

He adds this bit of wisdom: "You will never gain by blaming others for your loss. You will always gain by honoring others for their contribution. This reversal of perspective is the most helpful shift in perception you will ever achieve." 

It has been said that we cannot change the past, but that is absolutely false. We can change the past, and I might even say, that we should change the past so that the past is something that we can look on with joy and find no fault whatsoever.


What Would An Argument Be Without The Past? It Wouldn't Be An Argument, Would It? It Would Be No-Thing. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by turning all those devils into angels. There is joy in that.

Daily Inspiration 11-14-15

Headline: 

"Retail gets slammed as stocks 

have second-worst week of year."

First paragraph copy: 

 ". . .Fears that the holiday shopping season 

will be a dud tanked retail stocks." 

-- The Associated Press 

via The Daily Republic newspaper 11-14-15 

Wow. This is a big article and it is telling us all about the fears that have caused fearful actions of selling off stocks in fear of losing value, compounding the fear of them losing somewhat more value, along with the fear that they may not recover for a period of time. It goes on to tell of more losses: "The Dow Jones industrial average fell 202.83 points, or 1.2 percent, to 17,245.24." Anyone remember when the Dow Jones was below 3,000?

Yesterday, I talked about that we all have the choice many times every day, even maybe hundreds of times each day to spread fear or love. What is this article spreading? The article didn't stop with retail and pointing out several top retail chains and their stock erosion, it went on to hit the price of gold and oil, energy, government reports "compounding those worries," even though the government report showed that spending was "up just 0.1 percent in October, a bit less than analysts expected." Oh, those analysts. . . who do they think they are? How dare they! 

Ever heard the idea of self-fulfilling prophecy? How about spreading the fear of sales being down and then sales being down? Hmmm. It's logical too, I suppose.

It wasn't all bad news, but you had to dig for it if you even got past the headline and the first paragraph. In fact, it says that, "there will be a lot of gift giving, a lot of apparel sales. . . shoppers will spend plenty of money this holiday season," mentioning TVs, smartphones and other large items.
 
If you were looking for positive notes, would you have even read this article? I doubt it. You might not even have picked up the newspaper in the first place for the newspaper has proven its attitude toward information since the beginning of newspapers. 

How many times might we be creating self-fulfilling prophecies in our own lives in other ways, and often they are negative prophecies? We can choose to make them positive and uplifting or not at will.

What if. . . What if nothing could go wrong? What if there was no such thing as failure? What if everyone lifted everyone up? What if we praised diversity instead of sameness? What if we loved each other? What if we respected each other? What if we realized that it was as easy as choosing? 

Heck, it might change the newspapers too. The new headline: Retail Sales Are Expected To Soar This Season. Shoppers Are Out In Force. Stores Are Stocked and Ready. There Is Plenty Of Money. Everyone Seems To Be Doing Very Well. Everyone Seems To Be Happy and Prosperous.


It's A Wonderful Life! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Yes. Please. Joy. We love joy. Joy feels good. Yes. Let's spread some more of that. Yes, please!

Daily Inspiration 11-13-15

"I think wisdom is three things. 

One, it is awareness. 

Two, is acceptance, 

and three is allowing."

-- Albert K. Strong 

What would life be without some contrast and diversity here and there? How do you remain a loving person when someone is clearly and seemingly purposefully undermining you? Is there such a thing as love in business? Or is it all about competition, survival of the fittest, and market share?

As you must already know by now, I am a practicing unconditional lover. Much of the time, since I've been practicing for so many years now, I do well, but there are times when I am challenged to stay connected to that ideal. Business is one of the more challenging aspects because it seems that there are so many people who believe that personal ideals and business don't mix, that love and business don't mix. Instead, they may see, as the saying goes, 'all is fair in love and war,' but of course, not at the same time.

Our company has a challenge on the table as I write this. My business partner and I discussed it yesterday, and I gave my feelings and thoughts about it. If we fight it, we are in resistance. My advice was to state our position with respect, and then let go of the rope. Of course, the worry is that if we let go of the rope, the threat will get larger and may consume a client or a few clients in the process. But, I don't think resistance of any kind is the answer.

Then this morning, I was still thinking about this a bit and it occurred to me to love them unconditionally. Do I/we have the ability and willingness to allow these other people, this other company to be what they choose for themselves or to do business in whatever way they choose without any insistence that they satisfy me? Yes. Am I willing to practice it? Yes.

Until I asked that question of myself this morning, I still felt a little resistance. I felt like yesterday that I dropped the rope, but maybe I was still holding a few threads or something. And, after answering the unconditional love question, I feel zero resistance.

Are love and business mutually exclusive? Only if you want to believe that. I remember now that I have taught love in business most of my long career as a sales manager, but it wasn't until Dr. Wayne Dyer shared his definition of unconditional love that I aspired to grow to that level of love.

I used to teach at the truck body company I worked for that we all get to choose love or fear many times, maybe hundreds of times a day. Which will you choose? The choice is made by simply asking, is this decision based on fear or love? Will it create fear or love?

When we serve our clients or customers, we can ask, is what I'm doing based on fear or love? As we are communicating with our spouse, children or friends, we can ask, am I communicating fear or love? When parents are scolding and yelling at their child, are they communicating fear or love? When they are praising and uplifting their child, are they communicating fear or love? When we are dealing with our co-workers, or our supervisors or bosses, are we communicating fear or love?

The wisdom of knowing is through awareness, acceptance, and allowing.


Allowing IS Unconditional Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Am I spreading fear or joy?

Daily Inspiration 11-12-15

"We all make too much of all of this. 

It is simpler than we all make it out to be. 

Be easy about it. 

Be kind to yourself. 

Do things that feel fun. 

Look for things that bring you relief, 

and just easily move into that place 

where all things that you want 

have already been lined up for you." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I think we are all perfect right where we are. We are not broken. We are not separated from God because God is in every thing and non-thing, and that would include us. It's true that we may not be paying attention, but we cannot be separated. You're good. Start there. Every day. Start there. You are loved. I love you. God can do nothing but love you for God is Love. You are love. Start there. Every day. Start there.

A couple days ago, I said I just started reading Intentional Living by John C. Maxwell. The subtitle to the book is Choosing a Life That Matters. Today I was reading aloud and came to page 46 and read this: "When you embrace each of these four elements, you increase your odds and opportunities for significance. If you live out all four of them in your significance journey, you can be assured that you will truly live a life that matters."

As I read that, it was like I received a shock, and I thought about what he had just said. I get what he is saying. I have 225 pages to go so there is a lot about learning how to be significant. I've read so many books like this that have the 14 principles, 7 action steps, 10 road signs, and these 4 elements. There's so much to it, we might need a Ph.D. to qualify. [a little levity...]

I love John's work. I've read so many of his books. I am always reading something new to learn something new to share something cool or interesting or fun or magical.

BUT, you and I are absolutely cool just the way we are. There is not anything wrong in us or with us. We are perfect in every way. I get excited about learning or reading something, at the same time, I take what resonates and leave the rest. I think that the value of any learning is how it helps us to re-member or reconnect with our own power, our deeper inner knowledge, our total connection with God (or whatever word or phrase feels good to you), and our own significance.

His subtitle, Choosing a Life That Matters is cool, but you and I already matter. We don't need to choose to matter. It is already done. We matter just because we exist. We don't need another reason or any rules. We matter. And, we are significant. We don't need any coaching or mentoring to be significant. We are significant because we exist. That is all the reason we need.

Don't get me wrong, this really isn't anything negative about John's book. I'm only using some things here to make my point. There is a lot of value in his book and I've already gleaned some, and I'm sure more as I continue to read. But, as Abraham, Esther Hicks so perfectly and matter-of-factly says, "we all make too much of all of this. It is simpler than we all make it out to be. Be easy about it." Yes. Love yourself. Love others. Laugh often. Make fun of yourself. Enjoy your moments. Live.

Then, when you feel like reading some tips and thoughts from me or anyone, see if any of it resonates with you and then appreciate that resonance. If it doesn't, just let it go on its way.


We Are All Perfect Exactly The Way We Are Right Now. 

Spread Some Joy Today--What joy there is in realizing that you are joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-11-15

Today's Note from the Universe: 

"Do you realize, Terry, 

there's something even better 

than having a loving Universe 

conspire on your behalf? 

Right! 

Being that Universe. 

And you are. 

Yours truly, 

The Universe" 

(aka Mike Dooley) 

I've been receiving my daily Note from the Universe from www.tut.com for many years now, and it is only recently that I was instructed that below the signature, there is a secondary comment regarding the message, and today's secondary comment is this: "Whose day shall we make today, Terry? After yours, of course." Obviously, since I am now being the Universe, I have the power to make that happen.

As I sat there staring at the screen in wake-up mode, I thought, "what a wonderful, delightful question!" Whose day shall I make today? Can I make someone's day today? What about just touching someone's day today? Or doing something for someone today? Or simply giving someone some attention today? Absolutely! It will be fun! Let's do it!

So, as the message said, "after yours, of course." I think it is good to remember that we are someone too! Why not make our own day. . . Today is Veteran's Day, so finding a veteran and giving them some attention would be good. But, wait! I'm a veteran! But, even better, we can make our own day of the year too. Not just a birthday, or Mother's Day or Father's Day, but George's Day, Joan's Day, Alisa's Day, Joe's Day, Frank's Day, Cecilia's Day, Allison's Day, Tony's Day, Becky's Day, Paul's Day, and well. . . I don't have the space to list all of you, but making your own day makes sense to me. And, why stop at one day? Why not two. Or three. Or four? How about one a month--12 days. It could be the Twelve Days of Jessee, or the Twelve Days of Tammy, or Gretchen, Shirley, James, Kathryn. I love it!

Now that we've picked our own day or days, let us get our little task list out or our calendar and make a note for today: Give someone some extra love and attention today! Then begin your day thinking about all the people in your daily life near and far who you can choose from to lavish some love on. Maybe it will be a stranger or a new person you meet, someone you haven't thought of in years and you now feel the urge to reach out. Maybe it's someone in your office that you've sat next to day in and day out and have never said anything higher than chit-chat, and other numbifications.

You have so many to choose from! A wealth of possibilities! It should be easy enough with all of those choices. Heck, you might even go for two! Or three! Or more.

What do you suppose is going to take place in that other person's life after you do your deed today? 


I'll Bet It Is A Little Bit Of Joy! 

Spread Some Joy Today--do it today. Now.

Daily Inspiration 11-10-15

"Most people don't know this, 

but it's easier to go from failure to success 

than from excuses to success." 

-- John C. Maxwell 

I just started John C. Maxwell's newest book just released in October titled, Intentional Living - Choosing a Life That Matters. In the first few pages, I found some short gems that reached out and grabbed my attention. The quote above is one of those.

As I looked at it, the amazing truth of that statement made me laugh. Of course, when you try and fail, you cannot fail to learn, so it is not really a failure then, is it? It is a learning experience. Parlay that into thought and activity renewed and adjusted, and you cannot help but eventually succeed, whatever idea you have of success. However, making excuses for why you can't get going or keep going is a failure. This reminds me of the title of a movie I like called, Failure To Launch.

John C. Maxwell is an amazing person. He has written over 60 books and sold over $25 million worth, which for non-fiction, is way up there is the stratosphere. I've probably read about 25% of his books and have very much enjoyed all that I have read. He has a way of writing that brings the subject to life, and he is considered the Leadership Expert. He has certainly taught me a lot about leadership. In addition, he travels and does seminars, interviews and much more. He's a very busy, in-demand guy, who is a prolific writer and life long teacher.

He said, "People ask me all the time for advice about how to write a book. I tell them to start writing." 

Therein lies the success potential, or you could even call it the key to success. We have to get started. We must bust a move. "I'm gonna" is a failure statement. "I wanna" is a dreamy statement. Nothing really happens until we make a move. We can think it to death or we can start without everything we think we need.

We don't need much to get started, but I do think that the key to success is actually getting started.


We Can Figure The Rest Out Along The Way. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by beginning right now.

Daily Inspiration 11-9-15

"Your reputation is in the hands of others. 

That's what the reputation is. 

You can't control that. 

The only thing you can control 

is your character." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

Lao Tzu tells us, "Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner."

None of us like someone else putting us down. Most of us like someone building us up. Yet, can we take one without the other? Wayne Dyer said, "What other people think of me is none of my business. One of the highest places you can get to is being independent of the good opinions of other people."

What really matters most is what we think of ourselves. That is what drives us more than anything else; albeit, sometimes it may drive us to drink. . .

In last Saturday's post, I talked about a fresh approach to being present that I stumbled across on YouTube, which led me to sign up for a course on learning to be more present more of the time. What I have found is that it is amazing how often I am not present, but in my head going over the 65,000 thoughts I've thought repeatedly almost every day in one sequence or another, the majority of which isn't worth thinking or listening to in my self-talk--that incessant self-chatter of one thought strung to another to another.

Just this morning, I was making breakfast and then standing there eating my delicious egg, bacon and cheese sandwich, and enjoying the first cup of coffee, and I realized that during those several minutes I must have had many hundreds of thoughts already. Those thoughts were not the least bit helpful to me or my path in life. Indeed, they were focused on what is not yet right, what may never be right, how I failed to follow through one more time, and how hopeless that looks. How I'm old and out of shape and not living the life I used to dream about, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, BLAH! It was a disgusting mix of self-defacement.

Then, I come into my office to sit down and endeavor to write something inspiring and uplifting here. What a juxtaposition that is. Yet, it is so every single day. At some point, I let go of the self-defeating rhetoric and peruse some great quotes to lead me toward the magic of inspiration. By the way, you know that inspiration, to be inspired, is to be connected with God, right? It is a delightful place to be! 

This course by Josh Pais is helping me in a very practical way to get out of my head and all those self-degrading thoughts and into the present by focusing on what is around me in detail, and what is going on inside my body in detail, while breathing deeper than normal, and matter-of-factly bringing me back to the present whenever my mind interrupts, which is a given, and is often in the beginning, by saying aloud or to myself depending on where I am, "I'm back!" As I do so, I am back in the present and experiencing life as it is.

Life as it is. That's an interesting phrase. It is the present. This does not stop us from desiring something else, wanting something more, setting goals, moving toward goals to a path that is more to our liking. But, on the way, if we are engaged in life the way it is, or in other words, enjoying the journey, allowing the unfoldment, we are in the present along the way.

Our self-chatter is always on if we are not present. It is our presence that is of value to ourselves and what we are doing and how we do it, as well as to others around us, how they receive us, hear us, see us. How often during your day are you present? How often in your head with those 65,000 repetitive thoughts? Next time you find yourself in that thought-loop, try saying, "I'm back!" Then do it as often as you need to in order to come back to the present.


The Present Is Where Life Is. Everything Else Is Off In La-La Land. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by breathing and paying attention to this moment.

Daily Inspiration 11-8-15

"You can indeed afford to laugh at fear thoughts,

remembering that God goes with you wherever you go." 

-- A Course in Miracles 

Many times we may express to others something we dream of doing or intend on doing, only to hear them tell us to get real, that we may be off in a dream world, especially when our ideas are grand. 

Alan Cohen in his new book, A Course in Miracles Made Easy, says that "When others attempt to gobble your hopes in the shredder of doubt, Higher Power stands with you."

He quotes from A Course in Miracles: "'Who walks with me?' This question should be asked a thousand times a day until certainty has ended doubting and established peace." He continues, "When the world does not understand, accept, or support you, you do not walk alone. And if you should lose faith in yourself, God still has faith in you." 

"Happiness, well-being, and success are your birthright and your destiny. All else is a trick of the mind."

Of course, we may experience attacks on our desires and dreams from the outside, but the most persistent and the ones doing far more damage are the ones from the inside--our self-talk, our ultra-protective ego. The good news about that is that the ego has its place, but the ego is not us. It is a persistent voice sometimes, but we are far larger than that and we can choose to listen or not as we wish to because we are the ones who control our inner well-being or lack of it.

Next time you feel a desire to do something or dream up something that moves you momentarily, remember two huge things: One, you are always in control of your own well-being or lack of it. In other words, you accept control or you relinquish it. And, two, ask that wonderful and so-empowering question above: "Who walks with me?" and remember that God always has an unshakable faith in you. Always. 


Pure Joy Is Knowing Who Walks With You, Delights In You, Is Always Loving You, Adores You. Supports You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by relaxing in the peace of your inner knowing.

Daily Inspiration 11-7-15

"When you're exactly where you are, 

there is no better or worse. 

Better and worse fall by the wayside 

when you're engaged in the moment." 

-- Josh Pais 

I'm sure all of you know by now that I am a committed life-long learner and I am on that path every single day. In fact, one of my daily to-do list items is--Learn Something! Not that I need a reminder, but I also like checking off the boxes in my to-do list and that one is pretty dang easy to check off! I like easy.

So, I thought I would share today about a path I took to get to a place of learning something that excited me. I thought after looking back on the trail that it was pretty interesting how this came about.

A few years back, I saw a Marie Forleo video. That led me to her website of her namesake, then I don't remember if it is once a week or what, but I signed up for and receive her emails fairly often. I don't watch all of the videos, but I have watched most I'm sure.

On Thursday, my Success magazine Dec 2015 issue arrived and it always has a CD inside with some interviews of successful people. I opened it and there was Marie Forleo as the first interview. Friday, I listened to it and she mentioned she was very much into dancing, and not knowing very much about Marie, I went to YouTube and typed Marie Forleo dancing. Come to find out, she used to do quite a number of workout videos. I looked at a few short ones, then scrolling down, I see one that really stood out of her in a bed, and the title is How To Live In The Moment.

Now, I've heard her say in her more recent videos that "her man" is Josh, but I didn't know anything else. (By the way, this video is from 2011). In this video on YouTube about living in the moment, Josh is in the video and telling one little bit of magic that I found delightful to learn as a way of staying in the present. Of course, since I'm a Eckhart Tolle fan, I've been paying attention to being in the moment, but this little trick which Josh calls, "I'm back!" was so good that I wanted to know more. At the end of the video, he gave his website, www.CommittedImpulse.com. So I checked it out.

I signed up to get in and got a free download audio which has four simple steps to learn to stay present and to learn to have presence. It was all about getting out of your head as Eckhart likes to say, and so here were the steps.

1. Take in your immediate environment. In other words, pay attention to what is going on around you in every detail. It keeps you out of your head.

2. Tune into your body. Pay attention to anything and everything about noticing your body and what you are feeling. No judgement. That is a head job and we don't want the head involved.

3. I'm back! As you realize that your head has taken over your attention, immediately say, I'm back! and this brings you back to the present moment. As this is done, we are learning control of our experience. 

4. Breathe! We often, and especially in tense or unknown situations breathe very little--just enough to make due. By purposely taking a deeper breath and paying attention to our breathing, we are back in the present.

So, after listening to this wonderful audio, I signed up for his course. Josh made a sale. I didn't know anything about him. I found him along a trail that was delightfully leading me to what I crave: Learning. His approach excited my senses, and I am very much enjoying the course to date.

Isn't it interesting how we might stumble on to something that can change our lives. I think it is changing mine as we speak. It's


A Wee Bit Of Synchronicity. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--and being present is where joy is.

Daily Inspiration 11-6-15

"You have everything you need 

for complete peace 

and total happiness right now." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

I love this quote by Wayne Dyer because it is so true because peace and happiness are not without--they are not out there, a place we arrive at, but simply a choice. Peace and happiness come from within, and so they are with us whenever we choose to allow them to be.

They say that at the end of a war, there is peace. That could never be true. There might be a ceasing of violent conflict, but peace is never a product of violence, and it is not a process that comes from action or activity. At the end of war there is a cessation of structured violence, but peace can only come from within. Can you be at peace within a war? Well, yes, by choosing to allow peace, and with that choice, you could no longer inflict violence on another.

How do you allow peace and happiness? By choosing peaceful and happy thoughts, As we do so, we are at peace and we are happy. Want it to last? Keep choosing them.


It's Not Rocket Science. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by feeling your way through your day.

Daily Inspiration 11-5-15

"I have learned silence from the talkative, 

toleration from the intolerant, 

and kindness from the unkind; 

yet strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers."

-- Kahlil Gibran 

A while back I shared a quote by Albert K. Strong, that flows perfectly with Kahlil Gibran's quote above. It was this: "It's true, that out of diversity often will come conflict. Yet, it is just as true, that out of diversity will come harmony."

Consider this: Contrast and diversity are our best teachers. When stuff goes seemingly wrong, that is a great time to get EXCITED!

Here's another thing to consider: Maybe it's time to be grateful for the contrast and diversity, the trials and errors, the ups and downs, the ebb and flow going on in our lives. As Kahlil Gibran, in realizing that these contrasting situations and activities have taught him to appreciate something more in harmony with himself, he cannot help but have gratitude for their appearance in his life. He realizes that he has not been grateful and yet now that he realizes the value contained in them, he cannot help but be grateful.

I was out and about on errands yesterday blissfully enjoying myself and the beautiful day I was experiencing. At the bank, two girls were at their windows and I was floating in to take care of some business. One said that they were discussing the Pollyanna Principle and that is how they thought of me, and then she said that she feels like she gets a mini-therapy session whenever I come in. Wow. What nice things to say.

As I left the bank to walk Charlie (he loves to go for a walk around the bank), I was thinking about how few times in my life now that I have any negative thoughts worth considering, and how often I now pivot to a better way to see things when on the surface they may seem negative. I realized again that a happy life is simply choosing to see things as you want to see them.

A few days ago, I wrote about the sign on my wall of a quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks. It has now been there for years and yesterday I realized that I am pretty much living that now--so much more so than I realized before. It says, "Today, no matter where I am going and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see."

Getting excited about things that seem to go wrong, or be negative on the surface are miraculously changed by how we choose to see them. Just as Gibran realized his teachers were in that place, and that he learned to see their value to his growth, at some point he, as I have realized I now am, become excited about the bumps on the road of life.

Here's another way to see that. If you looked with a strong lens at the grooves in a vinyl record or even a CD, you would see all these little bumps. It is the bumps that is the music. Without the music, there would be no bumps.

Maybe we can look at life anew by seeing that the bumps are the music and without the bumps, there is no music. Maybe we could find joy in the bumps. Maybe we might even look forward with great anticipation of the bumps to come. Maybe we simply go with the flow and enjoy the whole of it all.


Which Brings Us Back To The Choice Being Strictly And Completely Up To Us. 

Spread Some Joy Today--May your highs be high, and your lows be higher.