Daily Inspiration 9-30-17

"The coin says:

'In God We Trust.'

Whether we actually do or not

tells much of our stories."

-- Albert K. Strong

[New post]

There's a tingling sensation when we trust in God, our higher vibration, knowing that what we think we know is a teaspoon out of the ocean of knowledge and allowing Source Energy to be our ultimate guide. It is magical. It is release. It is worry-free. And, it is empowering.

While we might think that the word empowering shouldn't be in that last sentence because letting go is often thought of as releasing our power, it belongs there. We are empowered in our trust in our Creator, and trust in our inherent Well-Being. We are most often disempowered as we think it is we who are in control in our just do it and make-it-happen mindset.

Then, early this morning, I received my Abraham, Esther Hicks daily message and I have been renewed again in my trust, and in such a delightful way:

"Some things you're not letting happen right now because the timing isn't perfect for you. Some you're not letting happen because you are very aware of where you are. But all things, as they are happening, are happening in perfect order. And if you will relax and begin saying, "Everything in its perfect time. Everything is unfolding. And I'm enjoying where I am now, in relationship to where I'm going. Content where I am, and eager for more," that is the perfect vibrational stance."


Injoy Your Unfolding! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself to be cared for. Close your eyes and feel that love. It is like a warm bucket of love pouring over your entire body head to foot. Feel the tingle. Feel the warmth. See the glow. You can wear it all day.

Daily Inspiration 9-29-17

"You are not getting in there to fix anything.

And to be honest with you,

it is not your job to fix anything."

-- Paul Selig,

The Book of Love and Creation

[New post]

The book that the quote above came from is easily one of the most powerful and enlightening books I've ever read in my entire life so far. The quote is fascinating to me, but I need to add the remainder of the paragraph this was gleaned from to help me in the reason for today's post.

To continue from the quote above: "We have spoken about fixing earlier, and fixing and transforming are two very different things. To bring an organ back into its perfect state of functioning is not necessarily fixing it. It has been damaged, and putting a patch on something that is damaged may make it work a little longer, but that is not the same as transforming and healing, which is bringing the higher frequency to do the work consciously to realign the energy field in the way that is required."

This paragraph speaks volumes, and I would like to point out some the wisdom and insight that it spoke to me. First, we often think that we can fix things with our actions. Abraham, Esther Hicks talks about that all the time in that it is not our actions that create, it is our vibration or a simpler way to say that is our thought, and a truer way to say it is via our alignment with our Source. Once the alignment takes place, the action is perfected, and as we are out of alignment, it is patching at best.

Do we really want to fix it, whatever it may be, anyway? Probably not. What we really want is to transform it, heal it, realign it, if you will. War is an attempt to fix, but it is completely out of alignment, so at best it can have a very limited effect in repair, and yet a major effect in damage.

Another insight is in the last sentence. It is not our effort, action, doing that does the work, it is our higher frequency, which is the same as being in alignment because that is how we attain a higher frequency. It is in the lower frequency that our problems exist, and it is there that we try to fix them. We have tried for thousands of years to do that with no healing, only patching. It is not our action that heals, it is our alignment or our higher vibration.

From our higher frequency, we see everything differently, our actions move toward healing and transformation, not fixing. In the beginning, he said, "And, to be honest with you, it is not your job to fix anything." That is why we mess it up all the time as we think it is our job to fix it, or that our actions will fix it. At best they are patches. Healing takes place from a higher viewpoint, and always, always, always, in alignment.

Want to heal a marriage? Come into alignment first. We are all aspects of the Divine, and as aspects of the Divine, we knowingly align to that, as we think we can fix things, we fail to heal whether it is a marriage, a customer interaction, interactions with neighbors or neighboring countries, it is all the same. As we align to who we really are, the power to heal comes through.


There Is No Effort Or Work Necessary In Alignment. It Is The Alignment That Does The Work. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as you align, align, align throughout your day. Then look back at your day and see how smoothly it ran without any real effort. It's amazing how that works!

Daily Inspiration 9-28-17

"When we release expectation

and experience appreciation,

all the moments of our lives

become openings and opportunities."

-- Kristi Nelson

[New post]

Woo-hoo! Today's post is number 2,921 and marks the 8th anniversary of the beginning of these CTS Daily Inspirations. The first published post was on September 29th, 2009. What a fascinating journey this has been through these little expressions of intended upliftment. This has always been the intent.

After all, it is titled, Daily Inspiration, and what is magical about this is that it has kept me on track of doing the best I could at the time to be as inspiring as I could. Many times I might have had to stop and start over because I was wandering away from the theme. As I reflected on the theme of to inspire, even a little, I would come back.

This has been a growth journey for me, expanding my own knowledge, awareness, and expertise as I found ways to express my learning and experimentation in my own life on the page.

I don't know how long I will continue to do this every day, but I have found that committing to doing this daily has been inspiring and encouraging to me. I love getting comments and emails from some readers and I met people I had not known before as I found that they were readers. That is a wonder, really.

Of all the themes that I have written about, the quote above eludes to the most written about: appreciation. I have learned to be an appreciating person by practicing appreciation. Of course, that is true of all the themes. As I practice them, they become me. Another big one is patience. There are so many opportunities virtually every day to practice patience, and as I practice being patient, I become a patient person.

Of course, the theme that overrides them all is to love. To love ourselves. To love one another. To love what you do. To love just for the heck of it. To love. To love. To love. And, then love some more. It is absolutely the same vibrational stance as appreciation.

For however long your journey with me is or has been, I appreciate you as a traveling companion. I celebrate all that this effort has brought me, and I celebrate any little tidbit this generosity has brought you.


Onward. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by re-membering your love.

Daily Inspiration 9-27-17

"Whether it is a castle or a button, 

if you are using it as your object of attention, 

it is summoning Life Force. 

It is the feel of the Life Force

that life is about. 

The reason that you are summoning it 

is inconsequential."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

I separated the two phrases above because the first line of the second phrase is the key idea to me: "It is (whatever we are giving our attention to that is summoning Life Force)  the feel of the Life Force that life is about.

In the last few days on social media and all over the Internet people are giving their attention to some popular things. It might be some colored cloth, a symbol shaped as a cross, a bombastic world leader, or two, or three, or four, a team of competitive teams stocked with individuals, and whenever we gather individuals, there is always some squirming going on because we like our space.

What happened to what we were giving our attention to a year ago? Or six months ago? Or last month? Weather? Economics? Elections? Holidays? But, it matters not what or who or when. It matters only that we are actively giving our attention and summoning Life Force, Life Energy, feeling our way as we wander on our Life Adventures.

You feel that you want to share your thoughts, and another wants to tell you to stuff it, and if you don't, they will shut down their account and ignore you. Whatever we are giving our attention to is summoning.

Does this happen automatically, or without our permission? Do we have automated reactions? Of course, but they are only beliefs that we have held that are temporarily challenged. They summon as easily and effectively as choosing on purpose with careful thought. How we summon, why we summon is not nearly as important as the reality that we do summon. We are constantly summoning.

There is only one question worth asking ourselves that I can think of since no matter what we do we are summoning. That question is this: Is this what I want?

Is this what I want to summon? Is this how I want to feel? We always, always, always, and in all ways have the power and freedom of choice. We are so free that we can choose bondage as Abraham, Esther Hicks has often said. In any case, we always have the power and freedom to choose.


Instead Of Beginning With 'I Believe,' Try This: 'I Want _______', Then Fill In The Blank. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply and exquisitely enjoying yourself today. Be injoy as much as possible. Or not. You choose.

Daily Inspiration 9-26-17

"They say:

Use it or lose it.

And, I say:

As I choose it, I use it.

There's a big difference

don't you think?"

-- Albert K. Strong

[New post]

You've got the power. I've got the power. We've all got the power. As we are choosing--and we cannot help but be constantly choosing--we are making use of our greatest power. That power is, of course, the power of choice. We choose our perspective. We choose our thoughts. We rise above and manage our lives or our ego does it for us without any effort. We choose all of that, and so much more.

As we allow ourselves to be controlled in all manner of ways, we relinquish our power to those people, ideas, laws, rules, and agreements. Many of these agreements have been agreed to for our entire lives. We were taught them from the earliest of ages, and unless we wander purposefully away from those agreements, they remain intact. And yet, we always have the power to accept, continue, or change as we make use of our power of choosing. We are always choosing, though we may be choosing the same things over and over again.

For us to change, for any change, these agreements must be examined, questioned, and tested for continued relevance.

A few days ago, I mentioned how global, or what we call big things are often seen as too hard for us to do anything about. We may wait for the world to change, expect others to take charge, push it off onto our government, or big business, or the United Nations.

One of these is the issue of global warming, which is such a soft phrase way of saying that we are destroying our protective ozone layer in many ways, and there is a lot of focus on carbon dioxide, although there are other factors that are more potent. Is this issue too big for an individual to have any affect? Absolutely not. We all have the power, or at least, so much more than we may now imagine.

I didn't realize this power as I stated when I began this series of posts last Friday. I do now. All of a sudden, it came home to me that I've had it all along, but I was doing as so many of us do, waiting on the world to change. Some things I could control and so many other things seemed completely out of my control.

Then, I saw a phrase that really struck me right between the eyes that I read in a Paul Selig book where it was said, "you are not separate from your environment." This phrase immediately permeated my entire being.

I watched a documentary on Netflix within days of reading this. It was titled, What the Health. I realized that my long, long history was now being examined by me and that if I were to live in my highest values, I had to change. I had the power to choose. I had the power to have a positive effect on global warming personally.

I chose to change my eating habits and become a vegan, leaving all meat, fish, dairy, and eggs behind, creating an immediate positive effect on the environment, and so I would find out later my own health. After 67 years of eating meat at almost every meal, being an egg lover, butter advocate, and more, I could no longer do it. I was done. It wasn't the food issues. It was the "big" things that I could have a positive effect on. There were two big things for me: Killing animals for no need, and the environment.

If you are ready to question and examine your historical choices as I was, I highly recommend watching What the Health and the predecessor to that movie called, Cowspiracy. You will come away enlightened.

Maybe you're not now ready to look. We each have the power and we each choose when and how we make use of it, but the main point of this piece is that we each have the power to make a difference even as an individual. We have far more power than we give ourselves credit for and now instead of waiting on the world to change, or even protesting that the world should change, we have the power within to change it in our own lives or keep it the way it is.


Power To The People! You Can't Lose Your Power. It Is Always There. In Every Choice, You Are Using It. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing how you want to feel today. I wish joy for you, and you, of course, choose as you will.

Daily Inspiration 9-25-17

"Every moment of the day

you are standing in your choice. . .

As you choose love, 

as you operate from love,

you move upwards.

Reprimand, we will say,

is an opposite choice. . .

Think of how the word feels 

as it is spoken.

It implies a cutoff. 

It implies a negative reaction.

To be in reprimand 

is to stop the flow of love."

-- Paul Selig

The Book of Love and Creation

[New post]

I'm going to continue my theme that began on Friday. It's interesting how current events can demonstrate what I've written about, such as, the President chastising the NFL and the NFL rebelling against that criticism. Then, there are all these posts on Facebook and other places where people are spreading fear and anger toward all manner of things they see as wrong.

Fine. I agree that they have the right to do that and to express how they feel. I saw a post on Facebook about the Dallas Cowboys owner stating that all players will stand, hand over heart, in deep respect, or they will be fired. Fine. His way or the highway. Make your choices. They are your God-given power. For yourself. We are each given the power to ourselves. Our choices. But we are not given the power to choose for others. That is not allowed.

But, of course, it is done all the time, isn't it? And, this is my point. As we think that we have the right to choose for another or others, we step out of our own power and attempt to be God. We have all manner of justifications, reasons, history, whatever. And, that is my point as well. It hasn't changed in thousands of years. All of this same thing has gone on for all of recorded history, causing all manner of violence, anger, and distrust.

It all comes back to the first point from Friday. As we accept and honor that we are an aspect of God, we can accept and honor that another and that all others are aspects of God, all standing in an equal sharing of the love of God. As we honor this, we are in love. As we dishonor this, ignore it, disbelieve it, don't give a damn about it, we are in reprimand and being in reprimand is being in judgment.

If we get all upset about tiny things like how we can honor symbols like a flag, standing or not, and tie ourselves to these kinds of agreements with others, how can we deal with the really important things like not dehumanizing and killing others?

To keep it as simple as possible, as we go through our day, minute by minute, hour by hour, we can choose to be in love or choose otherwise. We can choose to realize that we are aspects of God and so is every other person on this planet, or not. We can see past the petty differences that we historically latch on to so that we can be upset, or we can choose to see past them, to see the real person through the mirage of distractions, no matter how we may justify the importance of those distractions.

When someone is choosing something that is not our choice, it is simply that--not our choice. It is not an attack on us, and our attempt to force our current beliefs on them to set them straight only separates us further. Separation comes from reprimand. It comes out of not believing that we are all aspects of the Creator with an equal share of the love of that Creator. That's all separation is.


Choose As You Will. You Have That Power. I Choose Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as you make your choices all day long.

Daily Inspiration 9-24-17

"You will never reach the place

where you will not need to be diligent

about your choice of thought.

Because you live in a world that is determined

to show you every pocket of despair.

So you must diligently choose.

But it gets easier and easier and easier to do so."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

For the last several days I've been writing about changing the world and that the only way to do that is to change ourselves first. Waiting on the world to change, especially when it comes to things that seem big, or global doesn't really get it done. The main reason is that we are not changing.

Raising our consciousness is tantamount to choosing the higher road, higher thoughts, and our consequent vibration. We want the world to do that, but it must begin here within. But, we say, these things like global warming, warring countries, terrorism, and such are too big for me to deal with. We need our governments to come together. And, they will when we come together first within our own hearts and minds, and then within our close community of those we see on a daily basis.

As we do so, as we change, we give silent permission to others to consider a similar change, then another, another, and pretty soon we can raise the consciousness of a family, a neighborhood, a town, and so on. Will everyone change? Whether they do or not is not our affair. If it were, we would be waiting on the world to change. No, we must choose the thought, change our habitual thinking patterns, and move around at a higher vibration.

Want to change the company you work for? This is how it is done. First, we change. Will the company eventually change? That is not our affair. We cannot choose for another, we can only choose for ourselves, then we can demonstrate in our presence (our consciousness, our vibration) who we now are. Will this have an effect? Absolutely. It always has a positive effect as we raise our own consciousness.

Our lower consciousness or vibration has been clearly displayed throughout time as far back as events have been recorded. Thousands of years of fighting, bickering, posturing, forcing others to think like us and so much more. It hasn't worked in all that time. And, here we are in 2017, with world leaders threatening nuclear war and calling each other schoolyard names. We can go back to anywhere in recorded history and see and hear this same insanity. It didn't work then, and it cannot work now.

As we are in our low vibration, we attract low vibration. For things to change, we must rise above that to a higher vibration where we attract the like in that. This is where love, kindness, mutual respect are.

This is the place where we realize that we are all aspects of the Creator of all things. This is where we see through the childish and violent rhetoric to see the aspect of the Creator that each person is deep within. As we honor that in ourselves, we honor that in another. It is not about agreement, believing the same things, or sovereign cultures. It is about mutual respect for who each of us is, for that within ourselves and for that which created all things--All-That-Is.

This is when things change. So, do we give away all of our awesome power to wait on the world to change? Or do we accept our power as the power given us by our Creator to change our own thoughts, and consequently, our vibration and our entire lives. As we accept and make use of this power, just by our very presence, we gift the same opportunity to others from this higher vibrational stance.

So what can we do as individuals? We can see through events and exchanges of other people and see them first as people, as aspects of the Creator as we are, and honor that in them as we honor it in ourselves. As we do this, we raise the vibration, and as we stay the way we have been for thousands of years, we continue in the low vibration that leads to destruction, distrust, anger, fear, dehumanization, and more.

I've come to this place of raising my vibration by realizing that I am an aspect of the Creator and honoring that in myself, realizing and honoring that same aspect in every other human being on this planet, and sending love instead of fear. This is what I finally realized that I can do. I have been given that power. I have not used it much in the past because I accepted the history and kept repeating it. Now, I have changed. I see that it has not worked in all the history of the world. To continue to repeat it is beyond senseless now.


I Diligently Choose To Ignore History And Change It Within Me. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself to vibrate at a higher level and see the view from there.

Daily Inspiration 9-23-17

"I want world peace."

-- Common beauty pageant answer

[New post]

Sounds good. Sounds far-reaching. Sounds big. Rings false.

Saying that I want world peace is like waiting on the world to change. Thinking that peace is something that is won is to misunderstand what peace really is. What we really mean when we say we want world peace is that we want to world to create world peace, we want the magic wand of that long-bearded man in the sky that we call God who looks a lot like that painting on the ceiling in some far off place.

It wasn't him, but that infinitely more powerful entity that is virtually indescribable that is the real Creator gave us each the power to do as we choose, consequences and all, peace, love, war, hate, whatever. We choose it all. It is not chosen for us.

Want world peace? Really? It begins inside of each of us and without this, there can never be anything remotely like world peace. Without individual peace, there is no global peace. Everything begins within ourselves whether we actively seek change for the better, or sit and watch from the sidelines.

We often think that we cannot do these big things, but we can. We have far more power than we imagine. In fact, we have the ultimate power when it comes to the world we see, the individual we see, what we think, how we feel, everything is our choice as we choose or fail to choose, it is all chosen.

Peace begins within. Let's take all this inflamed rhetoric about North Korea as the evil poster child of the moment. The more inflamed the talk, the more we see evil and good at odds with one another. They are really never at odds, but we play that game with our egoic mind.

I remember after graduating high school in 1967, a fellow graduate had joined the Army and he said he couldn't wait to go kill some gooks. In reality, he was referring to human beings. But by killing the gooks, forcing them to surrender, we could win that war and create some peace. Yet, peace cannot, can never be created out of violence, killing, or forcing people to surrender to our values.

We have this conflict going on because we see one better than another, one right and one wrong, one evil and one good, and though we are all aspects of the same Creator who loves us beyond our knowing, we choose to see each other as enemies. We all want the same thing. We all want to be loved. We all want to thrive. We all, every single person on this planet want to live in joy.

A question popped into my head just the other day which was an amazing question as I considered it. The question was, why are we still thinking this way when we know that it hasn't worked yet? Why are we still seeing one as good and one as evil? Why? The answer is far too obvious: We keep choosing that.

Habit is just a thought that we continue to think. War is just an act that we continue to see as a solution to problems. For things to change, we must change. Or not, but either way, we are in choice. Always. In all ways. We choose personal peace or not. We choose to accept propaganda that demeans others, or not. We choose to hire leaders who stir the pot or not. We choose. We always choose.

Want world peace? It is easy. Begin with peace within ourselves. Choose peace within. There is no way to peace. Peace is the way. How can we choose this? As a first step, as in yesterday's post, we realize once and for all that we are all, each and every single one of us, aspects of God, or the Universe, or Allah, or All-That-Is. The name of what I like to call the Creator is not the least bit important. The only important thing is to realize our connection to that and to feel the love that emanates from that Source that is equal to all. Yes, all. From Hitler to Mother Teresa. All.


Anything Else Is Purely Choice Of Misalignment. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing your power of choice and how powerful it really is. You are so powerful that you can choose world peace. And mean it. And demonstrate it. By living it.

Daily Inspiration 9-22-17

"It's hard to beat the system

when we're standing at a distance,

so we keep waiting,

waiting on the world to change."

-- John Mayer

[New post]

Today, I want to inspire you in your core values. Deep inside, we are so much more than we show in our physical presence. In our higher self, our higher vibration, we are aligned to all that we know is true and are in alignment with our Creator, our Source, God, the Universe, All-That-Is.

We don't pay much attention to that because we have so much going on around us, influencing our attention, along with our constant ego communication, or what we often call our self-talk. But, we can rise above all of that, and I have found out how to do that recently.

First and foremost, realize that you are an aspect of the Creator in physical form. This is true of me. It is true of every person on the planet, and everything on the planet. When we can learn to open up to the reality that this is true deep within us, this will guide us.

Second, realize your own power. We have all been ordained with great power. Our greatest power is the power of choice. It is equally placed and social status or financial prowess has no effect at our core. It is only on the surface, or the egoic self that we believe that to be true. The power of choice is our ultimate tool and our ultimate power.

The third is to be willing to come into alignment using these two very basic and all-powerful ideas to realize our core values and to honor them.

That's it. First, we are all aspects of God. Yes, we are all aspects of God. As we honor ourselves as aspects of our Creator, we must honor all others, for to fail to honor another is to fail to honor ourselves, is to fail to honor the Creator and all of creation.

As we honor this, we no longer belittle people, nor do we dehumanize them. We honor them as we honor ourselves. No, we don't let people walk on us, but we honor them for who they truly are deep within, as we honor ourselves in the same exact way. We are no better, they are no better, we are all honored equally by the Creator.

As we honor each other as ourselves and as equal in the love of God, we will not war. We will not cheat. We will not lie about one another. We will honor them.

Our power of choice allows us to choose as we will. When we are aligned--and this is why it is number one--we make different choices than when we are not aligned with our inner core values, our connection to God within. Only in ignoring this can we make choices that do harm, create disharmony, put one person or group above another. It is obvious then that much of the world has not realized that they are aspects of the Creator.

To make use of our power of choice and our deep connection to all that is, we must become willing to change, to do, to act. These three things are all that is necessary to change the world because the only way to change the world is to first change to what we want to see in the world within ourselves.

To keep this short, I will continue more tomorrow, but I want to leave you with this question to consider in your own lives: Today, what choices can you make and what actions can you take that would be even a small step toward coming into alignment with your highest values?


Simple Is Not Necessarily Easy; However, It Is Fully Within Our Own Power. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by feeling your own connection to All-That-Is. It is joy on steroids.

Daily Inspriation 9-21-17

"Having a place on the Internet

is about having something to say.

The questions to consider are these:

What do you want to say?

How do you want to say it?

And of equal importance,

how do you want people to receive it."

-- Terry Minion

[New post]

I've learned so much about the Internet by choosing to own an Internet business, Upward Trend, beginning in January 2008. In a couple of months, it will have been in existence for 10 years. Amazing to say the least, especially if you knew the back end stories.

The reason I mention this is the theme of this Daily Inspiration is how we decide what to show others on the Internet. It's telling in many ways.

The questions above are perfect to ask a potential client. Basically, what do they want to achieve by having a website, social media, etc.? Everyone wants to be number one on Google, of course, but they don't understand how that comes to be. I get emails from people offering to get me to number one on Google all the time. Really, it is easy. Open your wallet and part with a lot of money. Yet, that isn't really what works on the Internet in the end. That is just a carrot that is held out there for fun and games.

I was looking at a commercial truck company's website this morning. I'm asking myself what they are trying to say. They have a lot to say, but it is as if it is a machine talking to a machine. There are no people. Well, I take it back there is one video of a person talking, but no other people.

It is people who do business with people in most businesses, but somehow so many were sold a bill of goods that they can be like Amazon. If you were to talk about how much experience your company had and how long the employees have been there, how much you care about giving great service, how vast your empire of parts and inventory is, and not have any people on the site, what is that saying?

What do you want to say? How do you want to say it? And, how do you want it received?

Take social media, for example. What do you want to say and to whom? How do you want to say it? Do you want to be divisive or inclusive? Promote fear or love? How do you want it to be received? Want people to be uplifted or dejected?

All of this is life. The Internet is simply a tool for communication. How would you talk to someone in person? That's a good way to talk on your website then. Are you trying to make a connection? Then show some people to connect to and not a form. Want to tell people about your company, put up some great short videos of a person talking to a person (the viewer).

Sales, service, building a business, marriage, all relationships all come down to the most basic thing whether on the Internet or in person. It is communication. How am I communicating? What do I want to say? How do I want to say it? How do I want the other to receive it?


First Be A Real Person Sharing With Another Real Person. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by sharing your heart. By sharing who you really are.

Daily Inspiration 9-20-17

"Wherever we're giving our attention

is our vibration,

and the Universe is matching it."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks

[New post]

I love the Teachings of Abraham, and they state that the Law of Attraction is simply this: "that which is like unto itself is drawn."

So many over time have stated that as we sow so shall we reap, as we think so it will be, and all of that is, in essence, the Law of Attraction, yet it is often misunderstood that opposites attract, not sameness. Yet, it is easy enough to see that like thinking attracts like thinking like action attracts like action, and the world is clearly demonstrating this to us as we are willing to open our eyes to it.

But, vibration is a bit more challenging to absorb for many. As the quote above states, whatever we are giving our attention to by thinking, looking, feeling, whatever, is our current vibration which is quite malleable.

Have you ever seen one of those demonstrations of colored sand on top of a speaker and as the tone changes, the sand forms shapes, and quite elaborate shapes at that? In case you haven't, here's a link to one of them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIgmiDnmVdU

Since the sand changes its shape with each different vibrational frequency, it is easy to see how as our vibration is changed in frequency by what we are giving our attention to, we change. We may or may not feel that change, but it is there.

Now, I'll leave you today with the entire quote where I gleaned the quote above, and it is certainly worthy of your consideration today as you go around giving your attention to one thing or another:

"Have you heard the expression, "We're either growing or we're dying."? Well, what they're saying is, "You can't stand still." We are either giving our attention to where we're going or we're giving attention to where we've been or we're giving our attention to where we are, but in any case, wherever we're giving our attention is our vibration, and the Universe is matching it." 


Since I Get What I Give My Attention To, The Good News Is That I Get To Choose What I Give My Attention To. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by considering this quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks on my wall: "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."

Daily Inspiration 9-19-17

"You can always, always give something,

even if it is only kindness!"

-- Anne Frank

[New post]

There are two things in this quote that speak so clearly to me. First is the fact--no, it isn't just an idea or a thought, but a fact--that we each can always, always give something. We always have more than enough of something to give away.

The second thing is that kindness isn't something so small, but it is among the most powerful and effective things that we can give one another. As she says, "even if it is only kindness." Only? I laugh. Only? I laugh some more. How about, at least? Only? Indeed.


If You Did Only One Thing Today, Giving Away A Bit Of Kindness Is As Generous As Generosity Gets. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing that it is in our letting go of ourselves for even a moment that can allow us to recognize another.

Daily Inspiration 9-18-17

"Where there is no struggle,

there is no strength."

-- Oprah Winfrey

"We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned,

so as to accept the life that is waiting for us."

-- Joseph Campbell

[Classic post from 4-27-11]

Today the word struggle popped into my head. I looked at quotes about struggle and they were all like Oprah's quote above--all about life is a struggle, the strong survive, etc., etc.

I guess there are a lot of ways to go about a thing and struggle is certainly one of them; however, in my recent life, I have found a far better way for me: letting go of struggle and getting into relaxing my way. It's not that I don't work, because I do and I also work a lot, but it really isn't work--it's joy, fun, excitement, interesting and satisfying.

It reminds me of the old game we played as kids called "tug-of-war." There's a puddle of mud in the middle and people on both sides pulling against each other's team until one team is pulled into the mud. I always found it much more fun to just let go of the rope, but then the rest of the team thought I wasn't a team player. It's true, I'm sure.

I've noticed that life is like that game of tug-of-war, in that I see people pulling, tugging, coercing, manipulating, trying to win the tug, and back and forth it goes. Then the game spreads to most others and everyone is struggling in one way or another.

I have found the best solution for me is to let go of the rope. Think about it. It is in the letting go that stress no longer exists, worries no longer penetrate, and joy is possible.

I was talking with someone close yesterday and they were saying how someone took advantage of them and it was wrong and this and that and how they were going to confront them and take the things back and all that dribble. I told her that this was one way, but it wouldn't help the situation. The best thing to do is to just let go of the rope. Let go? she said. . . it was just plain wrong. I said, well, that is purely a judgement call, and of course, you can certainly make it, but what will you get out of that? Certainly no joy, just more stress, unhappiness and the like.

So, letting go is the best answer I have and I practice it a lot now. I let go of so many things and it is quite interesting how much better I feel and how much better I perform as a result. I let go of those judgements, disappointments, fears. Who needs that stuff? Oh yes, the strugglers. . . no gain without pain. . . okay, they can have it their way, and I'll have it mine.


One Of My Favorite Book Titles Says It Very Well:

"Love Is Letting Go Of Fear" By Gerald Jampolsky.

Spread Some Joy Today--What is that so important grudge you've been holding dear to you awaiting the final judgement? Is it bringing joy? Consider dropping the rope.

Daily Inspiration 9-17-17

"No man is crushed by misfortune 

unless he has first been deceived by prosperity." 

 -- Seneca 

[Classic post from 1-24-14]

It would not have been long ago that this quote by Seneca would not have even registered with me at all. Now it does. I find that very interesting.

I see being deceived by prosperity as putting prosperity upon a large pedestal. In this place it is more than a goal or desire, it is an ideal. It is likened to the Holy Grail. It is where (or so we think) everyone who is anyone strives to be. And, one more thing--it is hard. It isn't easy. You have to work your ass off to get to that place and though many try, only some achieve.

From this vantage point, misfortune is devastating. It is also a place where losers gather and commiserate with each other. It is more than an event or a place one gets to. It is a state of mind. Many even begin thinking they deserve no more for this is their lot in life. Indeed, they often travel from one land of misfortune to another.

Those focused on the grail of prosperity are so fearful of misfortune. Those focused on the depth of misfortune cannot seem to find a way beyond. And, the trouble with both is that they take it all so seriously. They make it far more important than it is. In either place they often feel poorly in the pursuit, or under the threat.

Far more satisfying and life-giving is to not be so concerned about either. It is best to judge not. Either of these places is outside of the present. Both are filled with fear. Desire is wonderful and it should feel wonderful. Let that flow over you along with the peace of now. Laugh. Enjoy. Relax. Enjoy. Allow.


Be Cool. Enjoy Your Travels. Enjoy Your Moments All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by enjoying yourself and your surroundings as much as possible.

Daily Inspiration 9-16-17

"It's all good."

-- Common phrase

[New post]

This hurricane, that storm surge, another disaster, a major change. Stuff happens. If we were to pay close attention to all the news, it is all bad, and getting worse, and then comes the long, long, long, recovery.

There's no question that some events like these are larger and more impactful than another, but it isn't all bad. Anything we look at, whether a big recession, a forced change of employment, and many lifetimes worth of a list of things that can and do happen may at times look all bad, but they are never all bad.

Here's a really good practice: Begin to see a larger picture and a more far-reaching picture of the event. Spread the time frame out, zoom out and get a wider perspective. Now make a list of what the good is in this event.

A big natural disaster can spur an economy into quite a growth spurt. Manufacturers will need to expand production because wholesalers will be needing more materials because retailers are ultra short of stock and demand is through the roof. Construction companies, contractors will need more trucks to take up the task ahead. They will need to hire more people. It's an opportunity to create something even better from the ashes of the event.

The demand for services just exploded. They will need more people, more vehicles, more products to sell. All of that flows uphill too. Once the services are being rendered for the basics, people will find they want something more than they had before. They will upgrade. They will improve. The opportunities are growing exponentially.

I remember a little thing that was a big deal in our house when we had a small fire in one bedroom of our house in 2001. There was direct fire damage, yes, but the indirect fire damage was the costly part. The services came, cleaned all of our closets of clothes, there was much to do from the smoke damage throughout the entire house. It was one of the best things to happen overall. There certainly was some short-term unpleasantness, but in the aggregate, we upgraded considerably, and since there was all this other work, we redid our roof, driveway and other things outside that weren't affected at all by the event. My favorite thing: no more popcorn ceiling.

Whatever is going on in our lives that may seem negative or traumatic at first can be seen in a different light as we are willing to draw back and see a larger view so that we can invite our mind and eyes to see the benefits that come from every event.


It's All Whatever We Are Willing To See. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding ways to expand your own worldview.

Daily Inspiration 9-15-17

"When you. . . 

acknowledge your power

as a co-creator of your life,

you stop being a victim.

When you are not a victim,

you have choice.

When you are in choice,

you are in your power

and you are not frightened."

-- Paul Selig

from I Am the Word

[New post]

Have you ever known, or know one or more now, who are like the Pig Pen character from the Peanuts comic strip where there is a shit storm going on all around them. Something is always going wrong. Someone or several others are always taking advantage of them or finding fault. There seems to always be someone that is out to get them.

It is part of the drama triangle which includes the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. This is a game that has no winners. Regardless of which of these three roles I might play, I lose. Believe me, I've played them all and even became proficient at each role.

But what I found after wising up to the game was that stepping outside of the game is where joy is. As I let go of any of those roles, I gain peace. In fact, joy and peace come automatically. They always come automatically when we let go.

The drama triangle is tempting. It is easy to participate in. You listen to someone's sad story and your heart wants to rescue them, or your inner parent wants to counsel them to a better place, your inner fear wants to persecute them, but realize this, as this is done from the mirage of the heart or the nurturing falsehood or disgust of the mind, I am in the game. As I am in the game, I go from role to role to role. I begin to crave rescuing people or playing the victim looking for sympathy and comradery, finding others to blame, to persecute and complain about.

The best thing that can happen to us is an awareness that we are in the game. Once we see we are in the game, we have an opportunity to step out of the circle of influence of the game. We can turn away and right there we are free of the game and in peace and joy.

This game goes on at work with co-workers, the owner or supervisor, other managers, customers, vendors, and others. It goes on at home with spouses, relatives, children, neighbors, friends. It goes on in our mind as we seem to be thinking all by ourselves going from one role to another in our minds about something we did or didn't do, should have done, shouldn't have done, might do, want to do, questioning ourselves, cajoling, feeling sorry for ourselves, and well. . . I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about.

The answer is always the same. Play the game, or step away from the game. Having become quite good at the game, I found that the joy and peace outside is infinitely superior in every way.


How About The Joy Triangle Instead: Joy, Peace, Love. That's A Glorious Game! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by creating your own Joy Triangle.

Daily Inspiration 9-14-17

"Patience is not just

the ability to wait,

it's how we behave

while we are waiting."

-- Joyce Meyer

[New post]

I've often written about what I call "practicing my patience." That means that I get excited when I have an opportunity to practice it because practice helps me to get better and I need the practice.

Buy why? We might often think that having patience means the willingness to be patient. We all have the ability to wait. We don't all exercise our willingness. So, why would we bother with it? Why do it at all?

The best reason why to me, having learned to practice every chance I get, is how each opportunity brings me peace in the face of chaos. It brings me calm as those around me are anxious. It opens my internal storage shed of love, and it causes me to look at this situation with new eyes.

The next best benefit or reason why is what it does to those around me. To see someone who is calm in chaos, peaceful while surrounded by anxiety is inspiring. As I become peaceful and calm, without saying anything at all I give permission to all those around me through my own vibrational stance to do the same. If they choose. I cannot choose for them, but they can be inspired to a new choice as they allow that to be.

So, I love the quote by Joyce Meyer because of the last portion of the sentence: "it's how we behave while we're waiting." That is our example. That is our being. That is our presence.


Peace Is Always Available Within. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding more ways to enjoy your day regardless of circumstances, events, or what others choose for themselves.

Daily Inspiration 9-13-17

"Help me to be less fearful

of the measure of time,

and more fully alive

in the time that simply is.

Help me to live time,

not just to simply use it;

to breathe it in, and return it 

in acts of love and presence."

-- Avis Crowe

[New post]

Aren't reminders a wonderful thing? Day to day stuff with phone calls, text messages, emails, in-person encounters of the strange kind, or the work-related kind can be like a cloud that temporarily covers the real reality that life is good and that even the things we think are not good, somehow work for the good in the strangest ways.

The further away from the minutia of things going on in our lives we can get, the clearer it is how everything is always working perfectly all the time, and that there is no judgment in that place, there is only our presence; being.


Take A Moment. Close Your Eyes. Think Of Nothing Except Peace. Even 5 To 10 Seconds Will Refresh You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by coming into presence as often as you can. As you are there, you give others permission to do the same.

Daily Inspiration 9-12-17

"The simplest antidote

to a tough day

is generosity."

-- Seth Godin

[New post]

I love this line from Seth Godin. Of course, it is true. When we make a decision to give, we focus on giving and another receiving rather than our own considerations being paramount. Generosity means that we have a sufficient amount in order to give some away.

We could give away negativity, anger, resentment, but that is really still focusing on our bad day, on ourselves, our perceived problems, our worms. That would never last, nor could it be called generosity because everyone has plenty of their own. Why would they want yours?

What everyone always wants more of is love, respect, kindness, thoughtfulness, consideration, encouragement, and more. They never can get their fill of these blessed thoughts and consequential feelings. In fact, so many go through their days in search of these things and these attributes are why they do what they do, think what they think. And just like our own so-called bad day, we are searching along with them.

Within us at all times is a generous Spirit lifting us to a higher vibration where love is all there is. We have so much going on sometimes that we forget. It is in the slightest opening of the remembrance of this inner Spirit that we can let some of our generosity flow to another. Whether to one or to a thousand, it is the same. It is always, always, always received with joy no matter the initial reaction to our offering.

Our generous Spirit encourages their own generous Spirit which encourages another and another and so on.

If you did nothing else that mattered today, allowing your generous Spirit to flow out of you is all that is needed and wanted in the world.


This Is Love, Love, Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as your remember that the generous Spirit that is always within you is loving you first and foremost, and it never, ever, stops flowing.

Daily Inspiration 9-11-17

"Some days

the silliness never ends."

-- Albert K. Strong

The Spruce Goose

[New post]

There was a time, not so long ago that I cannot remember it when I would catch my pants or shirt on something and cuss like a drunken sailor chastising the perpetrator and creating negative energy all around me. This would be especially troublesome if my clothing actually got damaged!

Now, after many, many years of spiritual awakening and study, I just laugh out loud. Then, I laugh again because it is so silly. These encounters no longer have me spewing negative vibes. No. Now I spew laughter and amazement at how these things keep happening. I'm sure that they happen to me only to bring me laughter. When my laugh-o-meter is low, the Universe seems to know it intuitively and guides me so close to the desk knobs shown above. . . and well, an encounter of the third kind.

The top picture shows how an encounter happens. Go figure that. It was a challenge to get close enough to show the potential encounter in the image, let alone have it happen without my direct permission. I'm always wearing my "uniform" as my business partner calls it. My Tommy Bahama expando waist cargo shorts that don't care if I'm having a fat day or not, and my vast selection of Tommy Bahama casual shirts. Oh, and generally in flip-flops, but sometimes tennis shoes. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, that's my uniform.

But the shorts are problematic in any kind of proximity to The Spruce Goose. I call this desk that because it reminds me of that huge plywood amphibious airplane that Howard Hughes built. It too is made of plywood. It weighs a lot I can tell you. I've had it for so long that it is scary, yet I've never really liked it much. It is just there. It's always been there. I cannot even remember where it came from. More silliness.

So, I think that once I decided to stop getting upset by these kinds of encounters that the Universe has found a way to keep them coming but enjoying my new attitude so much that I am reminded often.


You Gotta Love The Universe. So Playful. So Wise. So Helpful. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because some days everything is just silliness.

Daily Inspiration 9-10-17

"Strangely enough, they have a mind to till the soil,

and the love of possessions is a disease in them."

-- Sitting Bull

"In our rich consumers' civilization, we spin cocoons

around ourselves and get possessed by our possessions."

-- Max Lerner

[Classic post from 9-30-11]

I used to laugh at my mother for saving everything and never throwing anything away. She grew up in the depression in the 1930s and translated that lack into thinking possessions was part of her value. I used to laugh because of the things she saved from when I was a child. It wasn't memorabilia, although she had plenty of that, but an old outdated end table all alone from a set, or a really cheap huge picture that used to hang over our couch in the 1950s.

I inherited more of that than I care to have and lately, I've been seriously working on unloading. The sheer volume of things that I own is huge. I've got sales records from when I was a new salesman in 1973. Can't imagine the value of keeping those anymore. Then, I have drawers full of stuff that hasn't even seen daylight in so many years.

I remember watching one of those shows on TV where the Australian guy was convincing people to let go of things. He might say, 'if you haven't touched it in over a year, it probably needs to go.' Heck, I've got lots of things that I haven't touched in ten years! So, why do I have them? You know, I've forgotten. It seemed important at the time as if someone might want to see that, or I might want to show it, or use it to justify something, boost an ego--who knows?

I've got cables in drawers all over the place. RCA cables for connecting stereos, printer cables that are from the turn of the century, power cables, transformers, and even some cables that I haven't got a clue about, but felt they should be saved for some reason. It's kind of crazy.

There are some things that have sentimental value in earnest. The rest of it needs to go away. So, yesterday, I began the process of unloading my life of excess baggage. I mean, how important could it possibly be if I haven't even touched it or looked at it in over ten years? Or even one year? It seems that quote from yesterday's Daily Inspiration about the last suit you wear doesn't need pockets, struck a chord.

I'm practicing the art of letting go and in the process, I am feeling so much lighter and yet I've only just begun. Onward to a more reasonable number of things. . .


Let's See. . . If A Huge Fire Was Coming Over The Hill And I Had Exactly 15 Minutes And One Pickup Truck, What Would I Save?

Spread Some Joy Today--Be yourself. You are perfect the way you are! Let it be.

Daily Inspiration 9-9-17

"Life will give you whatever experience

is most helpful for the evolution

of your consciousness.

How do you know this is the experience

you need? Because this is the experience

you are having at this moment."

-- Eckhart Tolle

[Classic post from 1-11-13]

All I can think of to share tonight is a bit about my emotional rollercoaster of a day today. I promise to be brief.

It began early this morning responding to a friend's email and giving love and encouragement, and I shared this quote above with him as well. That was a great start. Then I got some computer work done for a few hours

Just after noon, I was in a meeting briefly that was not my idea of a good time, and since it was not set up by me, I just went with it. It gave me concern and I didn't feel good, but in my typical trooper-life fashion, I decided to do my best to let it go and move my emotions step by step to a higher place where I could just let go of it completely.

That wasn't working so well, but I wasn't giving up.

Then another afternoon meeting that was good and I was quiet through most of it with my partner doing the talking. He's good at that. But, it appeared to be coming to an end without covering what I thought was the most important issue, so I chimed in. I was probably a bit intense. (My passion for what I do mostly). But, I knew that early part of the day was working on me.

Then evening came. I decided to share my thoughts about how I felt earlier and that went well, though it was emotional too. Then, from out of the blue I got some most encouraging words from someone who has not been supportive for a long time. I almost cried. It was so special and was exactly what I needed. It was a very simple phrase: "We'll get through this. . ."


Wow. Another Great Day In Paradise . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--"Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, trust me, it's not the end." -- From the film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Daily Inspiration 9-8-17

"You don't have to be a person of influence to be influential.

In fact, the most influential people in my life are

probably not even aware of the things they've taught me."

-- Scott Adams

[Classic post from 6-28-10]

When the student is ready, the teacher appears. . . or is it, when the teacher is ready, the student appears? I think it is both. There is a time to learn and a time to teach and although we think about those things as opposites like giving and receiving, I think they are really all the same thing. I think that mostly because I know that when I am teaching (as I am doing now, I suppose), I am learning at the same exact time, for it is in the act of teaching that I learn what I know and learn how to express and indeed, receive learning.

I think other people influence us when we are ready to be influenced. I know that is true because two or ten or a thousand people who might be listening or watching the same thing will see and hear it very differently. Many may be influenced, while others are not moved at all.

This shows how much of a participatory world we live in.

So how do you influence others? You do. Much of the time. You can't help it. They can't help but receive it when they are ready for it either. I think that the best we can do is to be the best we can be--to be the most you that you can be--and to be the truest to yourself you can be. That is a powerful influence for you and the rest of the ready-to-be-influenced planet.


I Am Ready To Be Influenced. Teach Away!

Spread Some Joy Today--Being a teacher without at the same time being a student is like being a friend without being friendly. Just be yourself today. Rejoice in your own, special and awesome uniqueness! YOU ROCK! The world rocks with you!

Daily Inspiration 9-7-17

"A strong man cannot help a weaker

unless that weaker is willing to be helped. 

And even then the weak man

must become strong of himself. 

He must, by his own efforts, 

develop the strength which he admires in another. 

None but himself can alter his condition."

- James Allen, 

As A Man Thinketh

[Classic post from 9-30-09]

I love this paragraph. It demonstrates clearly what must happen to change. Willingness. There are many who do not have it and don't want to be a part of it because they think it may show weakness. This quote from James Allen indicates to me that being weak with willingness is really strength needing a touch of guidance--that willingness is a strength.

It is that strength that the last line finds its truth: "None but himself can alter his condition." From that realization, we need only a willingness and at long last a decision. It is this catalyst that focuses the strength into power.

How many times I have tried to help someone who did not want help. I found that frustrating and abnormal. Many times I would find myself in the situation of wanting help from someone else and many times I would not be willing to accept help, let alone seek it.

There is a very popular Bible verse, "Ask and ye shall receive." It doesn't say wonder and receive, or trust and receive, desire and receive, or even expect and receive. The word 'Ask' is a sincere willingness and it demonstrates strength and determination.

Next time you need help with an issue or situation, receive your strength from asking for help. It is the best way to receive! "None but himself can alter his condition."


Have An Awesome Day!

Spread some joy today--Smile!

Daily Inspiration 9-6-17

"If you are losing your peace

in your quest for peace, 

you are not on the road to peace. 

The road to peace is peace." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

[Classic post from 4-30-14]

When I saw this quote, I was amazed. Such simplicity, yet so profound. It makes perfect sense and though I have felt that I know this and have known it, it still felt like a new bit of wisdom. Consider removing the word peace and making it a blank underline that we can write something else in. How about these?

If you are losing well being in your quest for well being, you are not on the road to well being. The road to well being is well being.

If you are losing patience in your quest for patience, you are not on the road to patience. The road to patience is patience.

If you are losing love in your quest for love, you are not on the road to love. The road to love is love.

If you are losing compassion in your quest for compassion, you are not on the road to compassion. The road to compassion is compassion.

If you are losing _____________ in your quest for ______________, you are not on the road to ___________. The road to ____________ is ____________.


Matching Our Attitude With Our Desires Is Worthy Of Awareness And Alignment. 

Spread Some Joy Today--The road to joy is JOY!

Daily Inspiration 9-5-17

"Congratulations! 
You're not perfect."

-- Stephen Manes

[Classic post from 6-18-12]

"Congratulations! You're not perfect! It's ridiculous to want to be perfect anyway. But then, everybody's ridiculous sometimes, except for perfect people.

You know what perfect is? Perfect is not eating or drinking or talking or moving a muscle or making even the teeniest mistake.

Perfect is never doing anything wrong--which means never doing anything at all. Perfect is boring! So you're not perfect! Wonderful!! Have fun!

Eat things that give you bad breath! Trip over your own shoelaces! Laugh! Let somebody els laugh at you!

Perfect people never do any of those things. All they do is sit around and sip weak tea and think about how perfect they are. But they're really not on-hundred-percent perfect anyway. You should see them when they get the hiccups! Phooey! Who needs 'em?

You can drink pickle juice and imitate gorillas and do silly dances and sing stupid songs and wear funny hats and be as imperfect as you please and still be a good person.

Good people are hard to find nowadays. And they're a lot more fun than perfect people any day of the week." -- Stephen Manes, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!


"Striving To Be Better, Oft We Mar What's Well" -- William Shakespeare

Spread Some Joy Today--Delight in all your imperfections!

Daily Inspiration 9-4-17

"Shortly after I met my mentor he asked me,

"Mr. Rohn, how much money have you saved

and invested over the last six years?"

And I said, "None." He then asked,

"Who sold you on that plan?."

-- Jim Rohn

[Classic post from 5-10-12]

I rarely talk about money because I've been such a bad example of its proper uses. The other day I was talking about knowing what to do and not doing it, and that is how I dealt with money most all my life. I know that I have lots of company in that, but it doesn't make it feel better. Heck, even our government is a bad example.

Jim Rohn is a great mentor in money and psychology. He simplifies it to the extreme as in this very short few sentences: "The philosophy of the rich versus the poor is this: The rich invest their money and spend what is left; the poor spend their money and invest what is left." There you have it.

Also, in that statement, rich and poor have little to do with dollars and everything to do with philosophy or attitude. There are many people that are poor that earn tens of thousands of dollars a month, and more.

Here is a telling one from Jim: "I remember saying to my mentor, "If I had more money, I would have a better plan." He quickly responded, "I would suggest that if you had a better plan, you would have more money." You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts."

About six years ago, I was doing some training at a dealership and we were listening to a Brian Tracy set of CD's. One thing that was said that really struck home with me. He said, "you can't be great if you don't learn how to save money." Of course, those of us who were great consumers and users couldn't be bothered with that until we had a better plan which never seemed to arrive.

To make all of that so much worse, it was the borrowing for that huge home we didn't really need but was convinced was an investment, along with the credit cards, numbers of them to get those things we needed when we didn't have any money left. The easy payments began to grow into uneasy payments and then we were serving our lifestyle instead of enjoying our lives.

I know it all too well. For a long time, I was ashamed about it inside, but I've let all that go. I'm just bent on making better decisions. The other thing is about the idea of living within our means. We need to live below our means if we want to save and invest.

I've learned that someone who has learned to save and invest can have the same downfalls and lose everything just like the rest of us can. The difference is that they come right back up because they have the philosophy down and where ever they start, they start with the better philosophy. Jim made it easy and we all know the philosophy and we know it is better as well. All we have to do now is live it.


Happiness Is NOT More Money. It Is More Freedom.

Spread Some Joy Today--Consider a better plan to take the burden off the issue of money. Seek the joy of freedom in using it instead of it using you.