Daily Inspiration 12-31-15

"When my cup is full, 

I stop pouring." 

-- Essence of the Tao Te Ching, 9th verse
by Wayne Dyer 

Hmmm. . . this seemed like an appropriate message for this day of celebration. Or any other day for that matter.


Happy New Year's Eve. 

Spread Some Joy Today--please. Everyone can use more joy, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 12-30-15

"Such concerns had little effect." 

-- David McCullough 

from The Wright Brothers book 

I'm nearly finished with my latest audiobook, The Wright Brothers by David McCullough, and what an absolutely fascinating story this is. What I learned in high school about The Wright Brothers and their flying machine is so sad compared to what I've learned 'reading' this book. And to hear that familiar voice of David McCullough reading his book to me personally is a delight to say it mildly.

It cracks me up how when reading or listening to a book how a phrase just leaps out at me. It also cracks me up what those phrases are. In the early portion of this book, the quote above totally got my attention: "Such concerns had little effect." I had to stop and write it down and ponder it further: "Such concerns had little effect."

In the book, David was talking about the new bicycle craze that hit the country in the early 1890's. The Wright brothers and their sister Katherine joined the craze and were taking long outings on their bicycles and having a wonderful time. David wrote that, "the bicycle was proclaimed a boon to all mankind, a thing of beauty, good for the spirits, good for health and vitality, indeed one's whole outlook on life."

In the next paragraph, he stated that, "Voices were raised in protest. Bicycles were proclaimed morally hazardous. Until now children and youth were unable to stray very far from home on foot. Now, one magazine warned, fifteen minutes could put them miles away." He went on with other reported concerns about this new bicycle craze with warnings attempting to scare people away from owning or riding bicycles.

Then he writes, "Such concerns had little effect. Everybody was riding bicycles, men, women, all ages and from all walks of life." And, it was in the spring of 1893 that Wilbur and Orville Wright opened their own small bicycle business and in a short time began designing and manufacturing bicycles as the Wright Cycle Company.

As I pondered that phrase, "such concerns had little effect," I thought of how many times in history in general, and in our own history in particular, that we have had concerns about something going on somewhere outside, or even within our lives that we have unfounded concerns about. In fact, a very high percentage of the news in a newspaper and even a higher percentage of the news online and on the television expresses concerns about events and especially potential events. It seems that the controversy is what drives the ratings.

The most popular blogs are popular because of their choices in controversial subjects. Everyone is seemingly concerned about all manner of things that may happen, especially those that are based on current events, whether accurately portrayed or not, and as in all of history based on my own learning, they are so often portrayed inaccurately.

To think that all of our own concerns, and those of millions of others might have little effect is to give hope to all. It seems that we worry and concern ourselves with so many things that never come to be. Isn't that true with worry in general? Being concerned about something that might happen is a complete waste of time and energy, yet it is a popular activity.

Today, when you feel worried or concerned about something, say this phrase aloud or to yourself: "Such concerns will have little effect. Almost all of my concerns will have little effect. I choose to let this go now. I choose to trust instead."


In All Of My Life, All Of My Concerns Have Had Little Effect. I Am Dropping The Rope. Now. 

Spread Some Joy Today--There is no joy in concerns and worry. Yet, as we let go of them, we instantly rise to a better emotional place.

Daily Inspiration 12-29-15

"To believe your own thought, 

to believe that what is true 

 for you in your private heart 

 is true for all men 

that is genius." 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

These writings always focus on the end result potential of being inspiring in some way, and sometimes I take a roundabout way of doing that. Today will be that.

Yesterday, I had a Facebook debate with my step son about a video he posted showing a very poor town in the southern United States that had thriving manufacturing at one time and employed so many in the town, but has long since closed and the town sort of died with it. The survivors that stayed have a very hard time finding work and there is a lot of despair and powerlessness, especially in the men, the majority of whom left for parts unknown. The discussion with my step son was about history and technology changing the labor landscape of this country and the world.

At one point I stated that the only real change can come from a change in thinking. When you're down and depressed and even into powerlessness, that feeds on itself and hope is so far away, and joy is completely unknown. Though the mills closed, and the jobs it used to offer left too, if we continue to think the same way, we have little choice but despair and depression. Opportunities are all around us, but we cannot see them through the fog of despair. As Albert Einstein so aptly put it, "we cannot solve our problems with the same kind of thinking that created them."

In my argument, I was suggesting to focus on solutions rather than restate or analyze the problem further. He is so articulate and smart that I felt as if I were debating a Harvard professor. Eventually, I said, "thank you for the swim." Yet, I hold to the idea that in focusing on the solutions (plural), there is plenty of hope, while analyzing the problems simply shuffles the despair around slightly.

What it comes down to for me is thinking. What we think is what we get. I have learned this so well that it cannot be disputed anymore. And, as Vincent Roazzi said so well, "for things to change, we must change," and that change can only begin with thought. If our thinking doesn't change, the actions will not, the circumstances will not, and we will continually choose where we are again and again and again.

In this town, so many turned to drugs and crime. That is truly despair thinking. It is attempting to make change with action alone. If that really worked, the world would be a very different place. It doesn't change the thinking, so it doesn't change the reality. I know people who went to drugs for a solution. In fact, my sister died of a drug overdose when she was only 21 years old. It's a short lived affair. We must change our thinking, and then our actions will change. If we keep thinking the same things over and over, our lives go nowhere.

So, on to the inspirational portion of this. . . We have a tendency to want to help those people who are in circumstances that we find sad and depressing. We naturally want to help those in pain and despair. Yet, here's the reality--we cannot help them to change until they are willing to change their thinking. The best we can do is to uplift them in our minds, seeing them being the best they can be, and offering to be of assistance if they are ready to change their thinking. If all they want is a change in their circumstances, that will never last.

It is the same with us. As we think of New Year's resolutions, starting a new year with renewed goals and wanting changes by leaving things behind or by beginning things new, if it is the actions we are focused on, that will never last. However, if we will focus on changing our thinking, we have hope. As we have hope, the Law of Attraction will help bring us closer to joy.

The only person that we can change effectively is ourselves. Though we may want others to change, that is a zero sum game. If we focus on ourselves, in being that new thinking person, we may be an influence on those around us to follow. That is our best hope of changing others. We are of service in being our best, following our bliss, and seeing all others in theirs--wherever they may seem to be at the moment. At the same time, and from our better place view, we can offer to be of assistance should anyone desire that change toward better feeling thoughts.


I Will Change Me For Me For You. From This Place, I May Be Of Service. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on your own joy until you have it, then from that place, sharing it is a given.

Daily Inspiration 12-28-15

"Use this week to let go 

of all you do not wish to take with you 

into the new year, 

and to step into the truth 

of your highest potential." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Decisions, decisions, decisions. Isn't it fascinating how so many of us have this tendency to compartmentalize time by making a point in time a turning point, or a time of change, when in reality, change is constant and never-ending. We name time by seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, and within them, none has the magic of potential renewal as does New Year's Day, or January 1st of a new year.

But, since we do, let's make it easier on ourselves by this perfect message from Abraham, Esther Hicks:

"Make a decision and then make it right. There just are no wrong decisions. You could go this way, or that way, and either way will eventually get you to where you want to be. But in the moment you start complimenting yourself on the decision you've made, in that moment, you come back into vibrational alignment with who-you-really-are." 


That Was Easy. Now Let's Enjoy This Period Of Time Like It Won't Come Again.

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of all that baggage you've accumulated in your travels. Just leave it on the carousel. It will go to unclaimed baggage. Aren't you glad you forgot to put your name and address on that bag?

Daily Inspiration 12-27-15

"What is a weed? 

A plant whose virtues 

have not yet been discovered." 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

And, so it is with everything we look at, including other human beings. Mr. Emerson takes it so far as to say, "Even in the mud and scum of things, something always, always sings."

In our negative judgment of a thing, situation, or person, our judgment is truly on ourselves for our ignorance, whether lack of knowledge, or lack of compassion. With sufficient knowledge and/or compassion, we would have no need of judgment.

Ian Maclaren said it well: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." As I consider that statement, and the people that I do know, I know that is often true, and so as we meet people that we don't know very well, it would be most beneficial to consider they may be going through things that has an effect on their demeanor as they move through their lives. Our kindness in consideration of such a possibility, whether it exists in reality or not, will go far in offering a compassionate point of view.


"There Is More In Every Person's Soul Than We Think." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Spread Some Joy Today--in your consideration of others.

Daily Inspiration 12-26-15

"Doing things "just in case" 

means doing them out of fear." 

-- Anita Moojani 

NOT! 

There is a vast difference between doing things 'just in case,' which is fear-based planning and doing, and planning and doing things because you want to do them. It is the difference between living in fear and living in joy.


Planning For The Worst Is Not A Very Good Plan. It Takes Us Where We Really Don't Want To Go. So, Why Plan For It? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on what you want.

Daily Inspiration 12-25-15

"But what about you?" He asked. 

"Who do you say I am?" 

Simon Peter answered, 

"You are the Christ, 

the Son of the living God." 

-- Matthew 16:15,16, 

The Bible 

Considering it is Christmas Day, it seemed so appropriate to honor the Christ of whom the day is supposed to represent--that of Jesus of Nazareth.

During the height of my 9-year experience at leading and being on the worship team at our church, I wrote a large number of songs that were simple and straightforward and expressed where my head and heart was during that time. I would often put a Bible quote at the top of the written song that stood as very appropriate for the song content. The quote above was used on a song from 2002 titled, I Know That You Are God. The two verses of the very simple lyrics went like this:

I want to know you more, but all I need, I have, in that I know that you are God. I want to see your face, but all I need I have, in that I know that you are God, I know that you are God.

Some people think that God began and stopped inspiring writing at the Bible. How sad that thought is. That would indicate that God no longer exists, and only wanted to talk to selected people. How sad that is too. I cannot possibly believe such a thing because I know that God IS life, is living, is constantly inspiring, and speaking in hundreds of tongues throughout the world.

From 25 centuries ago, by special request, Lao-tzu recorded the Tao Te Ching. It is a book of 81 verses that are so short, simple, and full of love and wisdom. Beginning at Verse 1: "I choose to enjoy living the great mystery. The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." And, so it is today. The God that can be named is not God. As it is, we have given hundreds of names to this that cannot be named.

I know that a writing is inspired because it resonates with me. And, at the same time, I know that all writing is inspired because it will resonate with someone somewhere. Kevin Hall's delightful book titled, Aspire, is one such book to me. It is the kind of book that I savor like a taste on my tongue that I want to play with and sense with unbridled joy, so I go slow and easy and relish each little bite. 

Here is where I learned what the word, Namaste (nah-mah-STAY) means. I've heard that word a lot, especially in New Age circles, but I never bothered to check into it. Kevin brought me the definition, or rather definitions, along with a whole chapter of how and why it is an important word. The image above shows the reverential way of expressing the word, typically with the head bowed, and the hands together touching the heart.

In the book, Kevin refers to a time when Albert Einstein learned of the word by watching Mahatma Gandhi greeting people in the streets of India. He said that Einstein wrote to Gandhi and asked what he was saying. Gandhi replied: "Namaste. It means I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace, and wisdom." 

Kevin goes on to say: "Imagine what impact this single word could have on the world if every day you looked each person that you passed in the eye and said, in effect: I salute the Divine within you. I salute what you do best. I salute your natural gifts. I honor your uniqueness and your specialness." 

So, to wrap this up (pun intended) as a Christmas gift to all who may like to receive it, consider greeting all you see today, tomorrow and beyond with the blessing and statement of Namaste: I see in you, God. I see in you, The Christ. I see in you Divine. I see in you Love. I see in you that uniqueness that is you alone. I see in you infinite possibilities. I see in you joy. I see in you, myself, for I cannot acknowledge you and not acknowledge myself. I join with you in choosing to enjoy living the great mystery. I choose to love you, because I too, am love.


Merry Christmas To All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of that rope and relaxing in the mystery.

Daily Inspiration 12-24-15

"Everything exists for the purpose 

of joy in the moment." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

What a perfect time (as would any other) to share this message from Abraham, Esther Hicks: 

"Everything exists for joy. There is not one other reason for life than joy. We've got nothing to prove to anyone, because nobody other than All-That-Is is watching. In other words, we're not trying to get brownie points from some other galaxy. We're not trying to get someplace else; we're not trying to get it done, because there is no ending--we cannot get it done. Everything exists for the purpose of joy in the moment." 

Everything that we do, we do because we think that in the doing of that, we will feel better; feel good; have joy. We work to earn money so that the money will provide the things that we think will cause us to feel better; feel good; have joy. It's the way we choose things that we want--indeed, it is desire itself. That's the reason there isn't anything wrong with whatever someone might want, because, in their thinking of it, they imagine that it will cause them to feel better; feel good; have some amount of joy.

Of course, you know where this is going, right? There is a short cut. We can find ways to be joyous at the beginning instead of the end result. How brilliant! And, the way to take that short cut is via appreciation.

As you go through your day, the last minute shopping, the preparations for the feasts and parties, working to serve those who are doing their last-minute shopping, dealing with all the increased traffic, or whatever you are doing today, if you will find one thing to appreciate, that will lead to the second and the third and more. As your appreciation expands, joy flows. Appreciation and joy are the same vibration. Love and joy are the same vibration. Injoy your day today, in whatever you choose to do and wherever you choose to be.


And. . . Don't Forget To Breathe! 

Spread Some Joy Today--via a trip to the State of Appreciation.

Daily Inspiration 12-23-15

"Can't see the forest for the trees." 

-- Common and very old phrase 

I was looking at the phrase, can't see the forest for the trees, and generally, it is intended to mean that someone is paying so much attention to the details that they cannot see the bigger picture.

Dan Miguel Ruiz says something similar in this: "We are not aware of what we really are because our attention is so focused on what we are trying to be."

I love how Abraham, Esther Hicks puts it in perspective in living a happy life: "A happy life is just a string of happy moments. But most people don't allow the happy moment, because they're so busy trying to get a happy life."

I'll let that last one sink in. . .


Happy Is A Choice, Not A Destination. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by deciding to be happy and joyous. There is no need for the season to assist; however, assist it very well may.

Daily Inspiration 12-22-15

"One of the illusions of life

is that the present hour

is not the critical, decisive hour. 

Write it on your heart 

that every day 

is the best day of the year." 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

We have a tendency to look forward to something, many things, things being better, an event that is coming, loved ones arriving, Christmas presents to get and open at the specified time. That's all good. We need things to draw us, and our anticipation is often exciting.

Yet, as we do that, it is all too easy to think of today as simply a stepping stone on the path to tomorrow, or to that time we are looking forward to. This would be a good definition of wasting time.

As we become more aware of our life as a journey and that the real value is in fully living the moments as they come, regardless of what they contain, that awareness leads us to a joyful life, by en-joying ourselves and all that is going on in and around us.

That's the life I am coming so much closer to living. Eyes wide open, seeing what I want to see, feel what I want to feel, enjoying anticipation but not being carried off with it.


"We Have No Idea What Tomorrow Will Bring, But Today Is Overflowing With Potential." -- Allan Lokos 

Spread Some Joy Today--by bringing it along with you as you're out and about getting ready.

Daily Inspiration 12-21-15

"The invariable mark of wisdom 

is to see the miraculous in the common." 

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

There's only a few more days of shopping, but there is still time to find the miraculous in that, while bringing your kindness and peace along for the ride.


Happy Monday! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply enjoying yourself fully today.

Daily Inspiration 12-20-15

"Perception is a mirror, not a fact." 

-- A Course in Miracles 

Alan Cohen says, "The universe is simultaneously infinite in its capacity to support you, and ingenious in the ways it can find to do it." It might be difficult, even challenging for us to really believe something like this from our perspective of living in a finite world.

So. . . it is really good, I think, to take a little bit of time periodically to see just a morsel of the vastness of the space that we live in.

Seemingly unending galaxies, each with billions if not trillions of planets with millions if not billions of stars like our own Sun. Even the closest ones with us traveling at the speed of light would take more years than we have to give to get there. Of course, we currently have no way to travel that fast, so the vastness remains. The other perspective is that the light that we are receiving in our view is light that left those galaxies millions of years ago. It's just mind-boggling to consider how big and vast this all is.

Closer to home, we have the oceans and why our Earth is called the Blue Planet. Some years ago, this photo was taken by my late wife, Nancy as I gazed at the vastness of all that I could see of the Pacific Ocean at Muir Lookout above San Francisco. I can only see a few miles of ocean, yet even that is so vast that I can't get my head around it. As I consider the number of drops of water in that space, my brain cannot do it. I just have to accept this view as it is.

The planet has many vast deserts, some covered with so much sand. Consider the number of granules of sand in this one view. It's a crazy number that we may not even be able to write, let alone the whole of that one desert. You could walk for days and not find anything more than more of this.

So. . . it is really good, I think, to take a little bit of time periodically to see how small we are, how small our problems are, in relation--in perspective to the vast space that we live in. Then, when we turn our focus back on our much more limited views of our lives, a bit of the magic of that vastness may remain to help us to feel oh so good about where we are in our lives. It's a great way to add more joy to your life. I know it does for me. When I contemplate these vast things for a few minutes, I feel refreshed in my perception, giving me a delightful perspective by knowing that I am simultaneously significant and insignificant and that all of my so-called problems are not that at all.


Whatever Problems We Think We Have Completely Disappear In The Vastness Of The Creation Around Us. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of your current perceptions for just a little while until your joy returns.

Daily Inspiration 12-19-15

"If you want things to change

to different things, 

you must think different thoughts. 

And that simply requires 

finding unfamiliar ways 

of approaching familiar subjects." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

From my Ask and It Is Given Perpetual Calendar, I was inspired to open the Ask and It Is Given book by Esther and Jerry Hicks. I perused for a minute or two and landed on this bit that I decided to share with you. The above quote is part of it. Here is the whole of it:

"Life is always in motion, so you cannot be "stuck." Sometimes our physical friends will say, "I'm stuck! I've been in this place for a very long time, and I can't get out of it. I'm stuck!" 

And we always explain that it is not possible to stand still or be stuck, because Energy, and therefore life, is always in motion. Things are always changing. 

But the reason it may feel to you as if you are stuck is because, while you are continuing to think the same thoughts, things are changing--but they are changing to the same thing over and over. 

If you want things to change to different things, you must think different thoughts. And that simply requires finding unfamiliar ways of approaching familiar subjects." 

This sort of gives new meaning to the idea of repetitive behavior, repetitive tasks, repetitive motions, repetitive events, repetitive relationships, repetitive actions. To repeat is to do again. We get into habit patterns, whether it is about our sex life, our personal life, our life at work, and all other compartments we play in. To have it be different if that is our desire, we need to focus on what we want, whereas, before, we have been continually focusing on what is--restating the problem, re-living the problem, feeling frustrated by the problem, whatever that 'problem' happens to be for us.

It's like the oft-used Albert Einstein's definition of insanity as in doing the same things and expecting a different result. He also said that the thinking that creates the solution must be different than that thinking which created the problem. In other words, we have to change our thinking. The way to do that is easier than it seems. We need to focus--and I mean focus!--on what we want and stop belaboring all the details and ramifications of the problem, or better said, that which we do NOT want. Yet, as this clearly shows, we will continue to get that which we do not want if we keep thinking and focusing on what we do not want.

As I was studying sales in the early part of my career, they called that, setting goals. I don't talk about goals anymore because I think there are better ways to say that, but it is essentially the same thing. We decide what we want, and if it is different, we need to focus on what we want, thereby creating different thoughts and feelings about that place until it becomes us.


Getting The Stuck Unstuck. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by making the choice and focusing on that which causes you to feel joyful.

Daily Inspiration 12-18-15

"There is no terror in the bang, 

only in the anticipation of it." 

-- Alfred Hitchcock 

There's a lot going on in the world. As if that has ever changed. And, if you watch the news today, or 50 years ago today, the vast majority of the news reported will be dripping in fear, boiling in anticipation of some projected situation as if the facts that we have created support its realization. Heck, even the commercials in between the dark rhetoric are doing the same thing--creating more fear. Drama, drama, drama. There's plenty to be upset about. We don't even need to try. There it is. People around us are upset and asking if we heard about the latest. . .

But, every single nano-bit of that is a choice. Is it real? Sure. Everything we experience can be called real--even that which we are thinking, and it is even much more that which we are thinking than what we are seeing that is affecting us. It's a choice of focus; of attention. Where will we decide to place our attention? The answer to that is what we see as our reality.

Here's a delightful and insightful message from Pam Grout and her uniquely inspiring book, E-Squared:

"Let's take being broke, for example. Most of us can agree we don't want to be broke. So what do we do? We devote our minds to avoiding it. We work long hours. We call our stockbrokers. We read books and articles about getting rich, fully ignoring the fact that by trying to "get" rich, we are devoting our minds to the idea that we're not already rich. Consequently, we've decided in advance to be broke. 

If we simply devote our minds to feeling rich, to being grateful for all the already-apparent riches in our lives--say, our families and our wonderful friends--being broke would disappear. We only experience it because we devote our thoughts to it. That's how powerful our minds are." 

Some might say, "but, if I ignore what is in the news, it will be like me putting my head in the sand and being ignorant of what is going on in the world. You want me to put my head in the sand?" I say, YES! Emphatically, Yes! Unless. . . that is the world you want to live in. If it is, great. Jump in. Start a movement, get in there and stir it up. If that lights your fire and has you feeling good, that is perfect for you.

However, if that stuff is having you feeling bad, upset, unhappy, then that is the indication that you want not that. Turn your head toward that which causes you to feel better, to feel good.

The world is not as dark as the press, publications, television, and the Internet make it up to be (and making it up is the right phrase!), but there are a plethora of messages in that place. There is another reality that this is but a small portion of what the world is like. This reality sees a bright present and future, full of love and growth, and impending joy. It focuses on solutions to contrast rather than on the contrast itself seeing only problems. The world you choose to focus your attention on determines the world you live in. The choice is always our own. It doesn't matter what others are focusing on. They make their own choices of focus and attention. The choice is always our own to make.


I Choose To Be Rich Because I AM Rich. 

Spread Some Joy Today--or not. It is, of course, your choice. I choose joy.

Daily Inspiration 12-17-15

"Wisdom is merely the movement 

from fighting life to embracing it." 

-- Rasheed Ogunlaru 

The more I looked at this wonderful quote, the more I think I have to agree with it. So much of my life was some sort of struggle with life, swimming upstream, trying to make things happen with my actions alone, and much more.

It's only in the last ten years, and the last five or so in particular, where I feel the wisdom of embracing life rather than being at odds with it.

Alan Cohen, one of my favorite authors, said it similarly this way: "I always end up making the right decision. The length of time, and degree of ease or difficulty that it takes me to get there, is the subject of my spiritual practice."

Wisdom is something to move into by embracing life, and our ability to make choices and all of it is a spiritual journey, so it is a work in progress; although, I like the word journey better.


Here's To All Of Us Embracing Life On Our Mutual Spiritual Journey. 

Spread Some Joy Today--What a valuable journey that is!

Daily Inspiration 12-16-15

"Before we can salute 

 the greatness within others, 

we need to salute 

the greatness within ourselves." 

-- Kevin Hall 

Celebrating people where they are as if they were all that any one of us could be is a very effective and loving way to consider others.

In America, in particular, we celebrate celebrity with a passion. If we were to actually sit down and talk with one of those holy icons, I think that a majority would feel less than, when equal to would be the most appropriate comparison, if we compare at all, which is a given in the human nature of our ego-affected lives.

I ran across a great quote by Wayne Dyer that helps here:

"Release your need to feel superior by seeing the unfolding of Spirit in everyone. Don't assess others on the basis of their appearance, achievements, and possessions. It's an old saw, but nonetheless true: We are all equal in the eyes of God." 

Now take the word superior and interchange it with the word, inferior, and read it again.

Being more than, less than, better than, worse than, winning, losing, success and failure are all temporary illusions influenced by temporary situations and circumstances--and most of it is severely prejudiced by our own ego. As we are able to see the Spirit unfolding in each other and in ourselves, we are all on the same journey with individual paths, and every path is good and perfect.


Seeing The Greatness Or The Unfolding Spirit Is Exactly The Same As Loving. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Happy Wednesday to all of you. Take some of that joy spilling over in your life and find a way to share it. There are plenty craving it.

Daily Inspiration 12-15-15

"The grass always looks greener 

on the other side of the fence." 

-- Common phrase 

The reason why "the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence" is that many people have developed very strong tendencies toward complaining about what is on their side of the fence." -- Abraham, Esther Hicks


I'm Making Lists Of What Is Good, Right, Enjoyable, Fun, Interesting, Delightful About What Is On My Side Of The Fence Today. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Here I am complaining about . . . nothing!

Daily Inspiration 12-14-15

"I wanna know what you were like growing up. 

What was your favorite pair of shoes? 

What was your favorite cereal? 

What was the first car you drove? 

I mean, I'm just getting started here. 

I wanna know everything about you." 

-- Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) 

to Captain Ng (Emma Stone) 

in the movie, Aloha 

I'm almost done listening to Carole King's autobiography, A Natural Woman. I have been really enjoying it and learning so much about her that I would have never known. What a special treat this is.

Having breakfast on Sunday with a dear friend, I told him how much I was enjoying the audiobook, and then said something I didn't plan on. I said, "You know, I just realized that listening to this book and the autobiography of John Fogerty has caused me to appreciate every other person on this planet more."

I have always loved biographies and autobiographies. Some are so fascinating that it is almost sad to get to the end. And yet, at best, each one is a few snippets out of a much, much longer life full of experiences.

Part of what fascinated me is that Carole, John, and all the others who wrote autobiographies took the time (lots of it) and the energy (lots of that too) to stop what they were doing in life and focus on writing down their stories. That is powerful.

The other thing that I said at breakfast was, "Every person on this planet has interesting stories about their lives, and I would love to hear all of them."

I was married for 16 years the first time and knew her for five years prior to that, and 26 years the second time, and in spending that much time together, I learned much, but I also realize that there is so much more about them that I did not know. That would be true especially about how we felt about things we never talk about and more.

Some say that God experiences life through all of his Creation. Can you imagine the fascination with that? Wow.

After these realizations, I don't think I will ever look at any other person the same again. I will now realize that each and every individual has wonderful and fascinating stories inside them. How delightful it would be to take the time to get to know them more.

We have this tendency to deal with the immediate, talk in superficial language that is meant to be light and remain unattached, yet beneath that in every single life on this planet is so much depth and so many experiences. I could learn from them. I would love to learn from them. I would love to read the autobiography of everyone.


This Has Caused Me To Have A Whole New Appreciation Of All That I See And All That I Meet. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by appreciating that which others bring to your experience.

Daily Inspiration 12-13-15

"It's easy to be a critic, 

but being a doer 

 requires effort, risk, and change." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

The whole quote from Wayne Dyer is this: "A non-doer is very often a critic; that is, someone who sits back and watches doers, and then waxes philosophically about how the doers are doing. It's easy to be a critic, but being a doer requires effort, risk, and change."

Let me ask a question. You see a young black man driving a brand new top of the line Lexus or Mercedes. What is your first thought about that? I think a high percentage might think, drug dealer, or some other lucrative, yet seedy, and probably illegal enterprise.

Was your answer different? We have a tendency to make quick judgments from our collective knowledge and our collected prejudices. Some might say, "I'm not prejudiced!" But, prejudice simply means expressing an opinion prior to actually knowing. We pre-judge without actually knowing for sure.

Now consider this from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "Feel appreciation for those who provide examples of financial Well-Being. How would you know prosperity was possible if there was not evidence of it around you? It is all part of the contrast. Money is not the root of happiness, but it is not the "root of evil," either. Money is the result of how somebody lines up Energy. If you do not want money, do not attract it, but your criticism of others who have money holds you in a place where things you do want such as wellness, clarity, and Well-Being, cannot come to you, either.

We love seeing you applauding someone else's success because when you are genuinely thrilled by another's success, that means you are right on the track of your own. 

Many think success means getting everything they want. And we say that is what dead is. and there is no such thing as that kind of dead. Success is not about getting it done. It is about still dreaming and feeling positive in the unfolding. The standard of success in life is not the money or the stuff--rather, it is absolutely the amount of joy you feel." 


Joy And Appreciation Are In Alignment And Interchangeable With Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding your appreciation of that which is all around you and within you.

Daily Inspiration 12-12-15

"Sometimes we are feeling off, bad, not good, 

 not alive, and we don't know why. 

Then something awakens us and makes it clear

as if we have been blind to it all before, 

 and then we come alive again. 

What a special moment that is." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

There are so many ways to learn something. I was watching the movie, Jenny's Wedding tonight and I enjoyed it very much. Jenny's sister, Anne, played by Grace Gummer found herself after being lost for a long time. Her dialogue was so interesting that I had to record it:

"When I looked at the dead grass, I realized I was unhappy. Happy people don't have dead grass. And then it was like the chicken and the egg--I couldn't figure out which came first, happiness or green grass? 

So I started watering it, and the more I started watering it, the happier I felt. And then it came back to life." 

Later, she said this: "When I move away and sell that house, that grass will die. I know it will. But my grass--the grass that is inside of me, will always be green." 


Wow. That Spoke Volumes About Life. Volumes. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by coming alive again.

Daily Inspiration 12-11-15

"I had put so much time and hope

into being able to keep my parents together, 

but I couldn't do it. 

I was just a child." 

-- Carole King 

I am listening to Carole King's autobiography, A Natural Woman, and when I heard her say the quote above it hit home with me. My parents were divorced when I was five and I was the eldest of three kids at the time. There were more marriages and divorces to come until I left home for good. So, I can relate to trying to keep parents together, and also to wanting to see them find happiness somewhere and stop taking it out on we kids.

Throughout my life, there were many situations and other people I wanted to change for many reasons, but alas, it was all a waste of time and energy. It wasn't until much later that I learned that there isn't anything that any of us can do to really change other people. Of course, there have been hundreds of generations of attempts and they still continue to this day for many, but I have learned that it simply isn't possible. That isn't our job and never was.

There is only one person that we can control in that way. It is ourselves. And, that project can take a lifetime of trial and error, leaving zero energy left for working on others.

Our best hope at change is to focus on what we can change and that is our own thinking, which creates our actions, which creates our circumstances and outcome. That's it. That's all there is. The rest is not our concern.


If You Consider That Selfish, You're Right. I Serve Others By My Attention To My Own Alignment.

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding the thoughts that create that joy within ourselves and in the finding of it, the sharing is no longer a concern. It can't be helped.

Daily Inspiration 12-10-15

"To solve any problem, 

here are three questions to ask yourself: 

First, what could I do? 

Second, what could I read? 

And third, who could I ask?" 

-- Jim Rohn 

Here is some excellent advice from Jim Rohn. Guess which one of these three questions is the most challenging?


Great Guess! 

Spread Some Joy Today--Happy Thursday to you all!

Daily Inspiration 12-9-15

"The truth is, 

every human being on this planet 

is ridiculous in their own way." 

-- Gordy, played by Billy Connolly 

in What We Did On Our Holiday 

I just watched a delightful movie with an interesting story that just hit DVD called, What We Did On Our Holiday.

The family is gathering from all over for their father's 75th birthday and he is terminally ill. Three grandchildren spend the last few hours with grandpa and some magical bits of wisdom came forth that I had to write down.

For example, one little grandchild asks, "How do people know what they are?" The conversation started around the new knowledge that grandpa's friend is a lesbian and the child is very curious. Grandpa answers, "Ah, they just kind of find out. We all find out eventually what we are. Then, the world has to lump it."

The oldest girl was saying that her parents make her so angry because they were always yelling at each other. Grandpa lets off some perfect wisdom here:

"I used to feel that about my lot too until I suddenly realized that there was no point in being angry with people I loved for being what they are. 

The truth is, every human being on this planet is ridiculous in their own way, so we shouldn't judge and we shouldn't fight because in the end. . . in the end, none of it matters--none of this stuff." 


So Perfectly Stated, Don't You Think? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by living with love in your heart, and kindness on your lips.

Daily Inspiration 12-8-15

"We never really grow up, 

we only learn how to act in public." 

-- Bryan White 

I've lived a lot of life. I consider myself intelligent, well-read, good at what I do in my various careers, and at 66, I know that I have not yet grown up. How do I know? I know this because farts are still not only funny to me but hilarious. I can think of situations I've experienced or seen and just by thinking it, I'm laughing.

I can hear my mother now. . . or it might have been someone else's mother saying, "Grow up!" Of course, I had intentions of doing just that since I assumed that was what should be done as I became older, but, alas, not true in the end.

Any time I want to really laugh, all I have to do is think on this subject. In fact, today, I've laughed so many times and am laughing as I write this too. I can't help it. I never grew up. And, it looks hopeless now. You would have thought I would have risen above this nonsense by now, but I haven't.

I mean how can you get through the campfire scene in Blazing Saddles without falling off the couch? Or The Pink Panther 2 with Steve Martin in the "soundproof" vocal booth in the recording studio? The list is quite long, especially when I add my own experiences, so there is plenty to keep me laughing for many years to come.

And, now you know just how little I've grown in all this time. . .


Thank Goodness! 

Spread Some Joy Today--and laughter is a great way to prime the pump.

Daily Inspiration 12-7-15

"To be conscious of being poor 

 while praying for riches

is to be rewarded with that
which you are conscious of being, 

 namely, poverty. 

Prayers to be successful

must be claimed and appropriated. 

Assume the positive consciousness 

of the thing desired." 

-- Neville Goddard 

Moving from poverty into abundance, bad choices of mates, into soul mates, boring jobs into exciting careers, self-sabotage to self-confidence is child's play. You know how children play, right? They pretend. They imagine they are whomever they decide they want to be.


Moving Into The New House Requires Leaving The Old One Behind. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing that inner child to come out and play.

Daily Inspiration 12-6-15

"Everyone is responsible 

for the thoughts they think 

and the things that they choose 

as their objects of attention." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

Well. . . if you must, you must. Soldier on! 

George Bernard Shaw said, "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything."

We are often lulled into believing that it is always our action that creates, but that is way off base. It is absolutely our thoughts that create, which will become our beliefs when thought about often enough because a belief is just a thought we continue to think. Our actions or our body is the physical embodiment of our thoughts. You could say that it demonstrates what our dominant thoughts have been.

Yesterday, while out walking Charlie, or better said, as he was out walking me, on the final leg of our little journey, I saw a man whom I've seen several times in his three-wheel low-riding bicycle that he uses for exercise. Each time I've seen him, he seemed pleasant and upbeat. One time he was talking with a woman jogger and asked me to take their picture on her phone. But today, he was just beginning his trek and he asked me my name. Then he told me his as we shook hands. About five minutes later, all I said was my name. He was talking fast and non-stop all about him.

As I left him, wanting to remember his name, Vincent. I thought, Vincent the innocent. That's a good way to remember it. I came up with that because in his entire conversation with me, he was innocent and the world dished out bad things to him in many ways.

All the time he talked and got into detail about his surgeries on his back, taking a bone out of his leg to fix a toe, how the doctors messed that up and now he lives in non-stop pain. How he was told he needed another operation on his back, but after talking to someone who had that operation and ended up paralyzed, he has refused that treatment. The paralyzed person told him that he is better to live with the pain than end up like him.

He told me about his grown daughters, all college graduates who are doing various things in various parts of the country as he and his wife live in this apartment complex.

There was more about the pain, and especially the struggle, and he talks as if he has resigned himself to that kind of life and has become okay with it. All the while he is talking, I am looking intently into his eyes. All the time he is talking, he smiles and laughs here and there as if to indicate that he is happy enough even though he was dealt with this ugly hand of cards.

I sent him my love of acceptance, of encouragement, of allowing. For me to have said anything would not have been helpful. Sometimes we are better to say less and just love them the way they are right now.

But Vincent the innocent is gaming himself. He's trying to act like he's okay with his lot in life and all the time complaining of how his life has become. Even with so much unnecessary detail. Anyone could see that he is trying, and he talks as if he is proud of his strength and determination to deal with his bodily issues. There's no need to speak of any of that, yet he can't help it. This is where he is focused.

As Abraham has said, "Everyone is responsible for the thoughts they think and the things that they choose as their objects of attention." We may not often believe that about ourselves, but we can instantly see and hear it in other people. That is one of the most beneficial things about human interaction--that we can see ourselves or what we once may have been in others.

It is only a mirage to be happy and complain at the same time. It is only a mirage to struggle and have peace at the same time. Overcoming the struggle is not powering through, it is finding a way to enjoy that journey by releasing the resistance of the struggle allowing the enjoyment of the living to come through clearly.

Consider how many times, and even if it is also now, that you pretend to be happy around others--your coworkers, family, spouse, friends--and speak of complaints at the same time. Consider the physical issues too. Consider the thoughts running around in your head and pay attention to them. What are they saying? Consider the words coming out of your mouth. What are they saying? What are they meaning? More importantly, how are you feeling during these times?

Happiness speaks of happy thoughts. Pain speaks of pain thoughts. They don't speak to each other. They are in different places entirely.


Heart With Your Speak? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving people just the way they are as you choose for yourself that which satisfies you.

Daily Inspiration 12-5-15

"Our past may explain 

 why we're suffering 

but we must not use it as an excuse 

 to stay in bondage." 

-- Joyce Meyer 

I just finished reading aloud John C Maxwell's new book, Intentional Living yesterday, and in the epilogue, he said that he once asked Coach John Wooden if he had any regrets about decisions he had made throughout his life. The coach said, "I have none." When I read that, it caused me to ask that question of myself.

I have lived with the regret of things I said, decisions I made, allowing my ego to rule when I could have chosen a path of love instead, and much more. There was plenty to regret in my life, and I would often ponder those situations and how I would have done it differently if I had it to do all over again. 

I was out for a walk with Charlie yesterday after finishing the book, and a thought came over me that there are two schools of thought about the past:

1. The past cannot be changed because it is in the past; however, there are plenty who imagine having a time machine and have the desire to go backward in time and have a do-over of all those things that cause them pain in the present.

2. The past can be changed. Just remember it differently. Rewrite the script. Rehearse it for a time and then the past is changed to something more desirable.

I think most of us who have regrets would be in category #1. We keep thinking that by thinking about it, we might be able to find the value in that past event and have closure so that we can feel better about ourselves.

To me, regret is thinking about the past and wishing it were different while being helpless to do anything about it. Thinking about it more simply expands the regret.

I'm sure that Abraham, Esther Hicks would say that regret is simply a negative emotion which is an indicator that we are thinking about something in a way that is opposed to our Inner Being, or our Source within. Our Source is not thinking about our past that way because our Source is essentially love, or God, or whatever word has you feeling good. When we are in alignment with our Source--our Inner Being, we feel good emotions which indicates that alignment. Feeling bad emotions like regret indicates being out of alignment. You could say accurately enough that in regret, we are disagreeing with God.

God doesn't look on our past with disdain or regret. Love doesn't do that. Love accepts whatever was because in whatever is or was there is of value. Often we might think that in regret there is no value, but that is not true. In everything there is value. In everything then, there is love.

Doing #2 above is hard work. It can be done, but it simply isn't necessary. And, of course, #1 is a complete waste of time, energy, and emotion. If we look upon all that was before and only consider the idea of alignment or out of alignment, that takes all the pain away, which is regret's best friend. If in what we did in the past we realize that when we made that choice, we were out of alignment, and had we known that then, we might have chosen better feeling thoughts, or a different choice entirely. No matter. You can't have known something in the past that you just learned today. Do it now.

I was out of alignment with my Inner Being when I did those things, said those things and I realize that now. I am in alignment now, and in that alignment, I see that there was value gained when before I thought there was none. I am loved unconditionally by Source. Source always has my best interests, my highest good in mind. It is Love. And, Love Allows. Yes, love allows me to choose out of alignment. I will know when I have done that now. I didn't then. It doesn't matter then. It only matters now. I choose alignment now. I have no regrets. They have been erased. If I go out of alignment today, I will know it by the way I am feeling. That is the value, and it is a massively beneficial value. Why?


Because It Always Leads Me Back To Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by spreading love instead of fear.

Daily Inspiration 12-4-15

"In the sales profession 

the real work begins 

after the sale is made." 

-- Jim Rohn 

In my experience, Jim's quote is the key separator of the pro and the amateur. But, hey, let's not limit this to sales. Doesn't it also apply to a marriage? How about a career? It certainly applies to a job where after the hiring, that's where the real work begins. I wonder how many things in our lives this same philosophy can apply?


And, When You Love Your Work, Life Flows Abundantly. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Find someone to compliment today. There's nothing quite so special as being recognized and uplifted by others.

Daily Inspiration 12-3-15

"One of the greatest gifts 

that you can give to anyone 

is the gift of your attention." 

-- Jim Rohn 

Have you ever been with a multi-tasker who pays attention to everything and nothing at the same time? They are there physically, but not mentally or spiritually. You're talking with them and they allow interruptions, or they take phone calls as if their life is so busy and so dang important.

I hope you're not that person, but just in case, here are some suggestions:

• If you have a meeting with one or many, leave the cell phone in your car. 
• Focus on who is in front of you. 
• Listen with both ears. 
• Stop thinking about what you're going to say next. There will be plenty of time for you to pause to reflect and then answer. Besides, your pause to reflect shows that you were paying attention to what they said. 
• If the meeting is in your office, close the door and turn off the phone, or ask to not be disturbed. 
• Find things to appreciate about the person or persons in front of you. 
• Enjoy the moment and communication. 

It's simple respect and yet so profound when given: The gift of attention.


It Costs Nothing But Means A Lot. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply enjoying yourself today. You don't have to tell anyone. They will know.

Daily Inspiration 12-2-15

"Remind yourself that you cannot fail 

at being yourself." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

Wow. How easy was that?


All This Being Yourself Stuff Is Easy-Peasy! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting that self out. Take it for a walk. Enjoy.

Daily Inspiration 12-1-15

"You get what you think about 

whether you want it or not." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

We partially manage somewhere around 140 facebook pages and profiles for our clients, and I guess you could say that I am the overseer of all of that, so you would think that I spend a lot of time on facebook. That would be logical. I probably average less than a half hour on average. Many days way less than that.

We also 'manage' around 85 twitter accounts. But I spend about one fourth the time there than on facebook. Same with linkedin.

I take the daily newspaper here in glorious Fairfield, California and I spend about 3 minutes looking at that, mainly for any articles or ads of our local clients.

I haven't watched network television for many years. I long ago shut off the cable. I see no TV shows and zero news shows. I do like movies, so watch them.

I don't surf the web for news. Well that is a funny word--news. When they (they being the people who produce it) talk about news it is so biased toward the negative things and events in the world that one might as well add the word negative or bad to the word news: I'm Paul Trevor with the bad news of the day! Here's the top stories. . .

You spend time and thought on all of these things I've just mentioned and you can become so bogged down in the troubles all around the world and how the world is going to hell, and that the terrorists are taking over the world, and that the __________ is causing the __________, which is making the world __________ and we've got to protect ourselves from the _________.

I used to pay attention to all that shit. And, yes, it is shit. It never helped me in the slightest except to be able to converse with someone else about how bad things have gotten and what in the world are they going to do about it, and on, and on, and on. It's all a self-defeating prophecy. And every bit of it is fear.

Yes, I have become ignorant. I'm delightfully ignorant. Look at the first five letters of that word, then add an 'e.' Yes, I ignore it. I am ignorant of it. I did not hear about it, do not want to discuss it with anyone including my own thoughts. I do not want to see it over and over and analyzed to death on the network. It is poison that I took on purpose. But, I changed my mind and chose to live, so I let it all go. I am now blissfully ignorant of the bad news of the world.

Now, I look for the good news of the world. I look for the inspiration. I look for the making something out of nothing and benefiting hundreds, thousands, millions stories. I look for it locally. I look for it regionally, and globally. It used to hide from me because I was so drawn in to the bad news that the world was rather dark, but now I see that is not true. The world is rather bright and growing brighter every single moment.

I look for things to appreciate and there they are. I look for things that inspire me and there they are. I look for things that help me feel good and there they are. The world is so full of goodness and wonder and awe that to think about bad news now, I see that the bad news of the world is but a blip on a radar screen compared to the whole planet. In other words, good news, goodness, love, spirit, joy, compassion, serving, building, creating so outweighs what they call news that it seems absolutely mad to pay any attention to that when there is all of this.

What's really interesting is that the more I see the more I see. The more I feel it , the more I feel it. The more I think it, the more thoughts of it come. It is everywhere, all around me, every single day, every single moment I choose to think it, feel it, look upon it, enjoy it, delight in it.

This is now the world I live in. It is my reality. It is the world I created, and it is real.


To Infinity And Beyond! 

Spread Some Joy Today--because it begins inside of us, and sharing it is purely natural.