Daily Inspiration 12-31-19

"Have expectancy--not expectations." 

-- Bashar

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-16-19]

Wow. This quote is so powerful to me. Here's the full quote: "Have expectancy--not expectations. Expectancy is the emotional knowingness that, a) you have changed, and therefore, b) your physical reality will follow suit. Expectations is placing upon the change that your physical reality will go through the method that your ego thinks should be the way it should change, to represent the change you have made within yourself."

This caused me to think about the difference between intentions and goals. They say that goals are dreams with a deadline and that intentions are impotent goals. I see intentions as having an expectancy, and so often goals are more like expectations. So, the difference in intentions and goals is similar.

I'm not putting down goals. There's a place for goals, but in my travels in business and sales for so long, the whole idea of goals is very convoluted causing them to be ineffective.

Another way to look at expectancy and intentions is like was described in yesterday's post about letting go in order to open ourselves up to infinite possibilities. In other words, expectations and goals are likened to the knowledge we already have or have immediate access to; whereas, expectancy and intentions is likened to allowing. Whether we look at that as help from the outside or from the inside is not important, but let's just say, by allowing, we are laying the door open and we are eager to see what the Universe will provide.

I think that the more we can open ourselves to the higher power that we possess though we may not be aware of, the easier things are, the smoother they come to us and the better our lives get. It's like the difference between making and allowing, or better yet, taking charge, and allowing. The more we struggle, the more struggle is there. The more we allow, the more ease we experience. Sometimes people think that things are hard when they could just as well be easy.


I Am Eagerly Anticipating As I Allow It To Unfold. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing your joy to flow through you.

Daily Inspiration 12-30-19

"Doubt is a 100% trust

in a belief that you don't prefer. 

You are never really actually in doubt, 

you are always completely trusting in something. 

The question is what do you trust in?" 

-- Bashar 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-14-15]

It's interesting that I have always thought of trust and doubt as polar opposites, that I was either trusting or I was doubting, and if I was doubting, then I wasn't trusting. Perhaps I wanted very much to trust, but I had lingering doubts, so trust was a slippery thing to try to hold on to.

Mira Kelley, in her book, Beyond Past Lives, awakened in me a way to see this more clearly and expanded my awareness of something I have dealt with poorly most of my life. She begins, "We do not need to learn to trust; we need to learn not to doubt." As Bashar says, doubt is trusting 100% in a belief that is not in alignment with our true self. For example, if you are out of work and doubt that you'll ever find a well-paying job, you're putting all your trust into the belief in scarcity--the belief that you're not enough.

Learning about this perspective on trust gave me a sense of relief. I did not need to learn to trust. There was no hurdle to overcome. I already knew how to trust; in fact, I was trusting in every moment. What I needed to understand was why I would trust in thoughts of scarcity--specifically, the belief that I would not be financially supported for work that fully reflected my passion. And the answer was clear: The evil I knew was less scary than the evil I imagined."

She mentions her previous career and how demanding it was and how many hours she worked and that it became the evil that she knew. She knew how to deal with it--even comfortably, but the thought of the new venture was far more frightening and it was the evil that she imagined. "Once I saw this, the question became, how would I allow myself to trust what I want to trust? I realized it was simply a matter of refocusing."

"We hypnotize ourselves into believing certain things. We pick out a point of view--or a point of view is supplied to us--and we take it for granted without questioning it. Meantime, we exclude all opposing points of view. This is so automatic that we don't stop and ponder the different steps. I decided that I already knew how to hypnotize myself to believe in one assumption to the exclusion of all other possibilities. It worked so perfectly that I simply had to go through the same steps consciously, but this time instead focus my concentration on the things I preferred to believe in. The difference was subtle--I was simply aware and awake. But the results were profound.

I now wanted to change the definition of who I was. I trusted that in its unconditional love and adoration of me, All That Is would support that creation, too. That is what unconditional love is--love and help without any restrictions or conditions. I chose to redefine what abundance meant for me. I chose to see that I am abundant not only in money but also in opportunities, friends, possibilities, and open hearts and minds.

I chose to trust the expansion of my being. I chose to trust the direction in which I was growing. I chose to trust that I would be supported for who I am. I chose to trust that I am loved for who I am. I chose to trust that the Universe was supporting me with its infinite abundance in every thought, in every idea, in every desire, and in every plan that I had. I decided to trust that this support was and is always appropriate and always right. I created a little mantra for myself: I trust myself. I trust my life. I trust All That Is."


Our Choosing And Our Choices Are Far More Important And Powerful Than We May Realize. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by just being you. You are joy. You are love. You are appreciation. So all you need to be is yourself.

Daily Inspiration 12-29-19

"Accepting personal responsibility 

is completely foreign to the ego." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-13-15]

Does what we think and say to ourselves and to others matter? Do we have no control over our own lives physically and emotionally? According to the ego, that answer would be no. To the ego, we are always a potential victim of the indiscriminate actions of other people and uncontrollable circumstances. When life is good, the ego wants all the credit, and when life is going downhill, the ego has a long list of external things and people to blame. So, accepting personal responsibility would be completely foreign to the ego. The ego could not even consider such a concept, let alone a reality. 

Here's the good news. The ego has its place. It is a minor place. It has usefulness at certain times, but by and large, it is mostly talk. And, more important than this is that the real person that we are is far larger and far smarter than the ego ever could be. It's just that we as the smarter, larger entity need to take personal responsibility in owning up to our power and to keeping that ego in its rightful place. 

We keep the ego in its place by paying attention to what we are saying silently and aloud, and the best way to do that is by simply paying attention to how we feel. If it doesn't feel good, it isn't good for us. As we hold on to negative thoughts, self-talk, images, past hurts, we create within our natural well-being a discord or dis-ease. To the degree that we hold those thoughts and feelings, the dis-ease grows.

I have always remembered and loved a quote from Wayne Dyer from his earliest book. He said, "Anxiety doesn't attack." Of course, it is the ego who is thinking of having an anxiety attack, and it is totally open to that because it comes from the outside, but Wayne knew differently.

Let me share some very wise and important information from Abraham, Esther Hicks on this subject: 

"The first indication that you are disallowing your physical well-being comes to you in the form of negative emotion. You will not see a breakdown of your physical body at the first sign of negative emotion, but focusing upon subjects that cause a prolonged feeling of negative emotion will eventually cause dis-ease.

If you are unaware that negative emotion indicates the vibrational disharmony that is hindering the level of Well-Being that you are asking for, you may be, like most people, accepting a certain level of negative emotion and feeling no need to do something about it. Most people, even when they feel alarm at the level of negative emotion or stress they are feeling, do not know what to do about it because they believe they are reacting to conditions or circumstances that are outside of their control. And so, since they cannot control those unpleasant conditions, they feel powerless to change the way they feel.

We want you to understand that your emotions come in response to your focus, and under all conditions, you have the power to find thoughts that feel slightly better or slightly worse--and when you consistently choose slightly better, the Law of Attraction will bring steady improvement to your experience. The key to achieving and maintaining a physical state of well-being is to notice the indicators of discord in the early stages. It is much easier to refocus your thoughts in the early, subtle stages than after the Law of Attraction has responded to chronic negative thoughts, bringing bigger negative results. 

If you could make a decision to never allow negative emotion to linger within you--and at the same time acknowledge that it is your work alone to refocus your attention in order to feel better rather than asking someone else to do something different or for some circumstance to change to make you feel better--you will not only be a very healthy person, but you will be a joyful person. Joy, appreciation, love, and health are all synonymous. Resentment, jealousy, depression, anger, and sickness are all synonymous." 


How Are You Feeling? What Stories Are Going On Inside Of You? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by just mentally letting go of all of your cares and issues. Just let them drift away like putting them in a boat in a fast-moving stream, pushing it into the stream and watching it float quickly away downriver.

Daily Inspiration 12-28-19

"True forgiveness is when you can say:

Thank you for that experience." 

-- Oprah Winfrey 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-12-15]

When we carry negative feelings about an event, and especially when it involves another person or persons, it can and often does fester and become more profound in our minds, as well as negatively affecting our bodies. The act of forgiveness, or letting go of the rope as I like to say it, brings us relief, and to the degree that we let go, that relief can change our lives in a very positive way. But, we may become willing to forgive others and then have it not be complete because we fail to forgive ourselves.

I'm reading Mira Kelley's new book, Beyond Past Lives. I absolutely love it and I am finding some real gems of wisdom and expansion. One subject she addresses is to forgive yourself and others. I'll quote a few paragraphs that are in the book:

"We all know that it's important to forgive those who have wronged us. For most of us, it's a challenge to forgive, but once we do we feel lighter and freer. It gives us peace of mind and the ability to move on in our lives, rather than remain a victim of people and circumstances.

The first reason forgiveness is a challenge for people is because we assume it needs to be difficult. This is a cultural belief: "Everyone knows it is hard to forgive, so why would it be different for me?" We elect to hold on to our hurt egos--to the sad stories we tell--because that's what everyone else is doing and we think it's the right thing to do. It does not benefit us in any way, but we continue to do it. The solution is simple: Tell yourself it's easy to forgive. It's a good belief to have, so choose to hold it as your truth. You originate from a place of Oneness, a place where you have no reason to hold yourself separate from anyone else. It's already in your essence to forgive because there is no need to punish any part of yourself.

The second reason we find it hard to forgive is that we only focus on the first step of the process--forgiving the other. We were never told how important it is to also forgive ourselves. Forgiveness is a two-sided coin. No forgiveness is complete when we only focus on forgiving others. 

Forgive not because the other person deserves to be forgiven but because you deserve to be at peace. Forgive because you love yourself more than the need to be 'right.'"

In every situation, interaction with others, and my interpretation of events, I get to choose love or fear. Which of those perspectives I view these from determines how I will feel. Forgiveness will always and only come from a perspective of love--the love of ourselves and our love for all others, and from that perspective, we become thankful for the experience because it brought us back to love--that which we truly all are.


I Forgive Myself. I Forgive you. I Release You. I Let You Go. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by making some letting go choices.

Daily Inspiration 12-27-19

"Developing rapport is a one-sided affair 

where listening and asking questions 

demonstrates the leader." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-9-15]

There is a habit that probably the majority of us have developed wherein when we are trying to develop a rapport with someone, we hear something similar to what we've done in our lives, or having had a similar experience, and then we share it as soon as we can. Having things in common are the places that we tend to focus, and then sharing stories back and forth becomes the desired conversation and friendly outcome.

I have known better for some years now, but the old habit is easily brought back to life, as I was recently reminded of last week with a potential client. The only saving grace for me now is that I have learned to pay attention to the other person--especially when I am talking. If I detect that they are not listening, and this is pretty obvious most of the time, then I often will stop talking, sometimes even mid-sentence, letting go of my attempted control of the conversation. More often than not, they don't even realize that I didn't finish, which is the confirmation that they were not really listening. 

Sometimes the habit is strong enough that I may inject two or three anecdotes, but it is rare that I get that far. What I've found that works best is to listen closely to them, participate by agreeing, nodding, or speaking really short quips of encouragement or confirmation. Then, I find an interesting question to ask from what I've learned, and ask it. This keeps them talking more, and rapport comes much faster, and more smoothly.

Larry King says it nicely: "The first rule of my speaking is: listen! I never learned anything while I was talking." He adds the secret to gaining more rapport: "You gotta ask 'why' questions. 'Why did you do this?' A 'why' question you can't answer with one word." 

Try it yourself. Pay attention to a conversation you are having going back and forth with stories or comments. Does it seem like they are listening or are they thinking about what they're going to say next? One way to tell is to stop in the middle of your story. If they ask you to continue, great. If they didn't notice, it's time to really listen to what they are saying, and start asking good questions.


"I Never Use The Word 'I' When I Interview Someone. I Think It's Irrelevant." -- Larry King 

Spread Some Joy Today--Go have some fun.

Daily Inspiration 12-26-19

"The defining factor is never resources; 

it's resourcefulness."

-- Tony Robbins 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-6-15]

I just watched a TED talk by Tony Robbins from 2006 again. I love this talk and highly recommend taking the 20 minutes it requires to watch it. It is called, Why We Do What We Do and you can see it here. You can also access the transcript if you like.

In the early portion of the talk, he says, "We've got to remind ourselves that decision is the ultimate power. When you ask people, have you failed to achieve something significant in your life? [They will say, yes.] But if you ask people, why didn't you achieve something? Somebody who's working for you, or a partner, or even yourself. When you fail to achieve, what's the reason people say? What do they tell you? "Didn't have the knowledge, didn't have the money, didn't have the time, didn't have the technology. I didn't have the right manager."

He continues, "What do all these have in common? They are a claim of missing resources, and they may be accurate. You may not have the money, but that is not the defining factor. The defining factor is never resources; it's resourcefulness."

That is such a fascinatingly true line. It is never the fault of not having the resources, it is the lack of resourcefulness.

This caused me to think of my father-in-law who just passed in the last few months at 90 or 91, I can't remember. I heard all sorts of stories about him growing up during the depression in the '30s and how they lived and how he was able to do so many things because of his resourcefulness. All his life, from that early time of needing to be creative, he found ways to get what he wanted and needed for himself and his large extended family. He found a way. He never sat around complaining about resources. Instead, he created the resources out of his head.

I know in my business, Upward Trend, it is not the resources that have helped us make it this far, it is our resourcefulness. The resources we needed were created out of thin air much of the time. There are tens of thousands of businesses that are only here for the same reason.

The idea of having all you need to get a job done exactly the way you want it done is a fantasy. I certainly agree that it would be nice; however, I know from personal experience that this may not be the best thing for the growth of the business anyway.

In the talk, Tony talks about what he calls, six human needs. The first he says is certainty. We all need certainty. We know what causes what, we know what to do, we know what to expect. Certainty is something we need in our lives. Then, he says that the second need is uncertainty. Yes, we need pluses and minuses both. We need to count on things and we also need to experience the unknown. It is the uncertainty that causes us to know what we want.

It is never the resources; it is resourcefulness. It is nice to have certainty and we need it, but we equally need uncertainty. Interesting points of view, don't you think?

Watch the talk and let him fill in all the spaces, but even without that, these thoughts might get the juices flowing.


There's Always A Way For Those Who Know Lots Of Ways. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by simply enjoying yourself. Practice it often.

Daily Inspiration 12-25-19

"Being compassionate 

means being able to see 

beauty, greatness, and potential 

where everyone else sees 

lack and limitations." 

-- Mira Kelley 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-11-15]

A week or so ago, I gave what I thought was a better definition of compassion. Then, I began reading a new book by Mira Kelley and she offered something that jumped off the page at me.

Here's a better part of her quote on compassion: "We need not look to save anyone, or to feel responsible. Nor do we need to feel guilty that we're better attuned to abundance and support. Instead, we can find the possibility of being truly compassionate. Being compassionate means being able to see beauty, greatness, and potential where everyone else sees lack and limitations. We can see behind the masks of failure, sickness, and not-enough-ness to the true strength underneath." 


What A Perfect Vision Of Compassion. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by demonstrating your compassion for others.

Daily Inspiration 12-24-19

The Path To Compassion: 

"People are doing the best that they can 

from their own level of consciousness." 

-- Deepak Chopra 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-5-15]

I was briefly thinking about compassion, and at the same time, I saw this quote from Deepak Chopra above, and I thought, how perfect this quote is to help understand compassion better.

I think compassion is one of those things that seems to get confused with sympathy, empathy, a desire to help; to be of service; to appreciate. When I hear people talking on compassion, I see this confusion, and I thought how nice it would be to clarify it more.

Everyone is on their own path, at their own level of consciousness as Deepak describes, and basically, as we appreciate their position, we can understand them just a little better and offer our love as a fellow traveler. Though we may be on two diverse wavelengths or vibrational points of view, we are different and yet we are one.

It's not about agreeing with their position, but it is about appreciating where they happen to be and blessing them where they stand. It's not about being above or below them on the road to more enlightenment, it is simply appreciating where they are right this moment, appreciating them for who they are, sharing our love with them in this respect.

It means that I am where I am and you are where you are and I appreciate where you are and respect where you are and love you where you are, and at the same time if I can be of any service that is meaningful to you, this I am prepared to do as I am able. It's not about saving them from anything. They probably don't need to be saved. And, that is a judgment call anyway. It is the awareness of them, the respect with their current place and loving them where they are right now.

Compassion is expressing dignity. I like how Rick Bragg said, "Every life deserves a certain amount of dignity, no matter how poor or damaged the shell that carries it." It's really easy to be compassionate when people are in need, and a bit more of a challenge to be compassionate about people who we are in disagreement with, or even complete disagreement with. It's harder to be compassionate about someone who is acting like an enemy.

It's not about help, although help might be desired, and if we are able, then helping is how we can be of great value. It is so much more about respect, acknowledgment of another as part of the whole. Dignity is a great way to honor it in another. Equality in life, though not necessarily circumstances, yet the circumstances may not be in pursuit of change. And finally, and overshadowing all is is simply and delightfully love. And in the case of those disagreeable ones especially, it is a matter of unconditional love. That would also be compassion.


Having Compassion For All Others Knowing We Are All One. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Delight in your appreciation of all that is around you.

Daily Inspiration 12-23-19

"Me is not in control of I. 

I am in control of me. 

But, is control the right word?" 

-- Albert K. Strong 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-4-15]

What a silly quote this is from Albert Strong, yet it does put it in a perspective that can be more easily seen. Who is in control? Who is in charge?

Some people say, "why do these things keep happening to me?" That would be the "me". Yes, the "me" is in control of the "I". Deepak Chopra says it nicely: "Owning your own feelings, rather than blaming them on someone else, is the mark of a person who has moved from contracted to expanded awareness." And, that would be "I". Yes, I am in control of me.

But is control the right word? Abraham, Esther Hicks shares this beautiful and enlightening sentence: "Without making the correlation between your thoughts and feelings and the manifestations that are occurring, you have no conscious control of what happens in your experience." Awareness might be a better word. Or knowledge. Rather than control. It's less about control and more about becoming aware of how the Universe works and how to enjoy more of this wonderful life we get to experience. Of course, that certainly does give us more control, so control might be a good word after all.

At the very top of everything that I have learned in my entire life, making the correlation between my thoughts and feelings and the manifestations that are occurring, is without a shade of doubt the most powerfully enlightening and empowering knowledge I could have found. I see it in operation every day in others, and I see it in operation every day in myself.

Here's a bit more insight from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "The only thing that makes the difference in the way you feel right now is the thought that you are thinking right now." It's interesting to hear others who may be having a hard time at something argue that it has nothing to do with thought and that it is just the way it is, that they didn't bring this on themselves, but it was thrust upon them and they don't understand why, and more. It's interesting because I can see the correlation now. I know that it is strictly their thoughts. It is clear as a bell.

Of course, it is all thoughts. Many people claim to not be in control of this that truly no other person can ever have control of. It is the "me" in control of the "I". When "me" is in control of "I", it feels crappy. That concept covers a lot of territory including, being depressed, grieving, feeling powerless, jealousy, insecurity, guilt, fear, despair, revenge, anger, and more. Thinking that these feelings are happening to us rather than us creating them from our thoughts leads to more of the same. Sometimes, it is trained from what are called accepted norms, traditions, beliefs. In other words, I should feel this way, so I will, and when I do, others encourage me with sympathy, concern, and attention.

Yet, all of this is thought. Depression is simply depressed thinking or negative thinking about ourselves. Revenge is negative thinking about someone else. Grief is thinking thoughts of loss--our own loss. It is depressed thinking too, but it is all, in fact, 100% of it is a thought with other like thoughts added. It is the Law of Attraction at work. As we think a thought, the Law of Attraction helps with like-minded thoughts and it stays on that path until the "I" gets back in control of "me".

Once I is back in control, or even in control for the first time, we understand the correlation between our thoughts and our feelings and the manifestations that are occurring, giving us conscious control of what happens in our experience. The "I" exercises choice to purposely choose better feeling thoughts, while the "me" blames the resultant feelings from the thoughts on others, on tradition, or other accepted norms.


I Celebrate The Knowledge That "Me" Is Not In Control Of "I" Unless I Am Not In Control Of Me! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by electing to choose joy. Only you can choose it.

Daily Inspiration 12-22-19

"Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. 

They're in each other all along." 

-- Rumi 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-3-15]

Interesting. In each other all along. . . and that explains perfectly why when you look in their eyes, there is a connection that moves your heart and clears your mind. Of course, that is true as long as we are paying attention.

So often, we may be off on our own thought journey, or past thought journey and we aren't really in the present and able to notice. That's why the best way to find a mate is letting go. It's not the desire, the wanting, the needing. It's the sheer confidence that it already is, and in that release, we draw it and him or her.


We Simply Allow It To Be. Because It Already Is. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Yes, mindless, thoughtless joy. Like a child.

Daily Inspiration 12-21-19

"It is better to light a candle 

than to curse the darkness." 

-- Eleanor Roosevelt 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 8-2-15]

Today might be a good time to take stock. Where are we at? What do we see? Where is our focus? What are our results? Just for today, of things going on in the world and around us, how often do we curse the darkness? How often do we light a candle? Just for today, of the thoughts and feelings going on inside us, how often are we cursing the darkness, and how often are we lighting a candle? 

My life is in constant change in that I am continually evolving and becoming. Though this has always been true, it is in the last ten years that I've really begun to get hold of having more of the feelings that I enjoy, and in that, there was a huge increase beginning about 2008.

There is a single thing that I learned that bore many offspring. That single thing is looking for things to appreciate. Wherever I am, whatever I am doing I now look for things to appreciate and then I do just that--appreciate them.

All-day, every day, I have the opportunity, and even lots of encouragement, to curse the darkness. It's in the paper, on the news, on many people's lips, and there is group after group to curse and fight the darkness. It's easy to go there, do that, become that. You might even think that based on this, it is normal. It can be seductive, but you can tell by how you feel inside that it doesn't really feel good, regardless of the group or how many are on the same wavelength.

However, when you light a candle, you see better, feel better, and find more of the same. It begins with appreciation.

I have a quote on my wall in my office that I see every single day. It is from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "Today, no matter where I'm going, and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see." It's been on my wall for at least three years, and now I find myself saying it as soon as I wake up in the morning as my intention for the day. And, I find so many things to appreciate, and appreciate some more, and appreciate again, that my days are rather crowded with an appreciation of some kind.

I praise the weather. Like this morning. It is simply glorious, and the interesting thing about that is that I praise the weather every single day. No matter what the weather is. Whatever it happens to be, whether clouds and sun, rain, heat, cool, windy, still, it is glorious. I feel like God created a beautiful new day for me personally to rejoice in. And I do rejoice.

I praise the birds in the birdbath, the blossoms on the trees, the leaves on the ground, the colors, the sounds, you name it. I have a perpetual calendar, Ask and It Is Given from Abraham, Esther Hicks and it never fails to inspire me. Today's message for August 2nd is, "Every time you appreciate something, every time you praise something, every time you feel good about something, you are telling the Universe: "More of this, please." You need never make another verbal statement of an intent--and if you are mostly in a state of appreciation, all good things will flow to you." 


And So It Is. And So It Does. Light Your Candle! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by pulling up instead of putting down.

Daily Inspiration 12-20-19

"You don't have to justify 

the good that flows to you; 

it is a given. 

You are of more value 

in the joy of your cross-stitching 

than in the struggle 

of your ironing." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-31-15]

We don't really need to justify anything. And, we certainly don't need to justify the good that flows to us. That is natural when we allow it, yet often we may not, thinking that we should show that we've done something to deserve it. Rest assured. We deserve it. As I said, it is natural. As Abraham said, it is a given. 

I love the second sentence in this quote: "You are of more value in the joy of your cross-stitching than in the struggle of your ironing." You are of more value in your joy! Of course. You are of more value in your creativity. You are of more value in the joy of expressing your creativity. You are of more value in the joy of your own uniqueness.

Your value is you. It is the allowing of the inner you to come out and play. It is allowing yourself to be the unique person that you are. You have a unique set of skills and attributes. You are of immense value. It is in your joy that you are releasing this and in your joy that your good flows to you.

The struggle of your ironing. I love that line. We're so busy pushing hard on that iron, pressing it down, hitting the steam button, getting out the spray starch and we're gonna make this thing perfectly flat and creased in just the right places, and. . . Jeez, I can feel the tension as I write it, let alone think of it, or express it. And yet, so often, this is what we are focused on. We are making it happen! We are doing it. We are taking charge. We are making it do what we want it to do. We are changing it. We are making those stupid wrinkles go away. We are on guard. We are in control.

Not.

Your value is not in the ironing, no matter how good at it you think you might be, or how anal you are about the creases being just right. Your value is not there. That is pure resistance and you know it because it is easy enough to feel that tension. The feeling of that is an indication--no, it is direct and certain guidance that though you think you can control that stuff, it cannot be controlled. It only multiplies. The Law of Attraction insists on it.

Your value is you. Your value is exposed by allowing the inner you, the joy within to come out and play. Your value is always in your joy. Joy is another word for love. Joy is another word for freedom. Joy is another word for peace. You are joy. You are love. You are freedom. You are peace. Your good is a given. As Abraham says, "Ask and It Is Given." This is part one and two of the three-part manifestation process. Part three is allowing. We allow our good. We allow our joy. We turn off the iron and allow our joy. And, when we are focused here, it only multiplies. The Law of Attraction insists on it.


When Was The Last Time You Skipped Rather Than Walked? Do You Still Remember How? 

Spread Some Joy Today--What else is there worth spreading?

Daily Inspiration 12-19-19

"Peace requires us to surrender 

our illusions of control." 

-- Jack Kornfield 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-30-15]

I used this same quote yesterday. It is very rare that I use a quote twice. I have tens of thousands of quotes all on paper in many files and I notate when and how I have used them to attempt to use them only once; however, this quote is really special to me because it says so much about what peace really is.

Sure it is a letting go of; a release. But, what is special to me about this quote is the phrase, "surrender our illusions of control." It doesn't say our control. It says of control. This quote by Jack Kornfield is now easily in my top ten quotes of all time: "Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control." 

Yesterday and the day before, I've spoken of peace. It is interesting that one of my favorite books, of which I have bought and given away over a hundred copies, is Love Is Letting Go Of Fear by Gerald Jampolsky. In this book, he suggests having one single goal of peace. It makes perfect sense. Inner peace is love. Inner peace is joy. Inner peace is freedom. In fact, I think that is the best way to describe freedom.

But, I have a slightly different point to make today. I was thinking yesterday about this quote and the piece written yesterday, and I felt that I left one very important part out. The part that I left out is our illusion of other people's control of us.

Surrendering our illusions of control of others is one thing, and a very valuable idea, yet more important I think is surrendering our illusions that others have control over us. When we surrender this illusion, our own inner peace is assured.

I like how Abraham, Esther Hicks said this at a workshop in 1997: "No one can deny you anything. Only you deny it through your vibrational contradiction." So it is with peace. No one can deny you peace. Only you can deny your peace through your vibrational contradiction. In other words by not surrendering the illusions of their control.

I will end with this quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks from a workshop in 2005: "You are the creator of your own reality, and so you are not in jeopardy. You do not need to control the behavior of others in order for you to thrive. Your attention to things that you think they do that keeps you from your thriving is, in fact, what keeps you from your thriving. . . It is not what they do to you; it's what you do to you in fear of what you think that they will do to you."


Surrendering My Illusions Of Control--Other's And My Own. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by relaxing, remembering to breathe deeply, and pick the better feeling thoughts.

Daily Inspiration 12-18-19

"Peace requires us to surrender 

our illusions of control." 

-- Jack Kornfield 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-29-15]

This flows with yesterday's post, and I love this quote by Jack Kornfield. Here's the whole quote: "Peace requires us to surrender our illusions of control. We can love and care for others but we cannot possess our children, lovers, family, or friends. We can assist them, pray for them, and wish them well, yet in the end, their happiness and suffering depend on their thoughts and actions, not on our wishes." 

There is so much in this one quote. First, peace and surrender. To me peace is surrender. It is letting go. It is allowing. That is a better way to see it: allowing. Allowing others to be as they will, do as they choose to do, think as they choose to think. When we are allowers, we are empowering ourselves with peace, love, and freedom. We are free from all.

Next, the illusion of control. There is a wide range of beliefs that we can control so many things including people. We think we can control how others think, what they do, how they do it. We think we can control our children, our employees, and more. We have the ultimate model of control in prisons, of which we lead the world in quantity. Once we realize that we really don't have the control we think we do, then control is meaningless. It is an illusion. Letting go of that illusion is required to have peace, don't you think?

Then, we can be of assistance. We can pray, wish others well. We can see them succeeding, being healthy, thriving. We certainly can be of assistance and that assistance can make a difference. Our attitude or rather our positive uplifting feelings for others in whatever their situation can be of definite help, and it is loving to do so. If we cannot come with this attitude, we are better and they are better that we leave it all alone.

And last, whatever we think, and whatever we may do is of little consequence in the end as to the other person's situation. Whether they continue to suffer or have happiness is not dependent on anything that we do in the end. It is 100% their choice of what they choose to think, how they choose to feel, what they choose to do or not do. If we are to be truly loving, we will absolutely respect this last bit. People will think what they choose, feel how they choose to feel, do or not do what they choose regardless of what we choose to think, choose to feel, or choose to do or not do. There is great power in this knowing.


Peace Is Allowing And Yet Surrender, As Is Unconditional Love, As Is True Freedom, As Is Pure Joy. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by becoming a better allower.

Daily Inspiration 12-17-19

"Intelligent people 

are those who agree with you." 

-- Alan Cohen 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-28-15]

Having someone disagree with me used to set off a flood of defensive thoughts and scenarios in my head. Criticism of any kind isn't all that wonderful to listen to. I prefer people who agree with me and like what I do and how I do it. I prefer people who compliment me and build me up. And yet, there are not nearly enough of those kinds of people around when you need them sometimes.

I had a meeting today. I anticipated that there may be some kind of confrontation. No need for details, as they are not the least bit important. What is important is that I was feeling apprehension the past couple of days when I thought about the meeting. Of course, I wanted the meeting to be positive, upbeat and work out perfectly, but my defenses were on alert because my ego was trying to be in charge.

After my morning regular 15-minute meditation, an hour or so later, I decided to sit and meditate specifically on the good outcome of this meeting. After I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, this thought came to me clear as a bell: I am at peace with disagreement. I was surprised and amazed. I thought, wow! That is interesting and profound. I kept repeating, I am at peace with disagreement.

Then, other similar thoughts began tagging along: I am at peace with disappointment. I am at peace with other people's anger. I am at peace with problems. I am at peace with what I do and how I do it. I am at peace with my skills, my uniqueness, my work, my values. I am at peace with what I do and I am at peace with who I am. I am peace. I am love. I am joy.

I have never met the person who would be in the meeting, but I envisioned everything going well and me being at peace. During the meeting after getting some feedback and feeling a tinge of defensiveness, I opened my briefcase and wrote on a piece of paper: I am at peace with disagreement. I am at peace with who I am. I am at peace.

The meeting went very well. I was pleased, and I owe it to the energy balancing an hour before the meeting. We have such a tendency to just act, to think that everything is about action, and I have learned that the state of mind is more important. I don't do this often enough, but I am renewed in my desire to match my energy with my intentions before I act whenever I can. As I do so, the outcome will be so much more to my liking. I'm certain of it.

Try it yourself. Next time you are meeting with someone and you have any defensiveness going on, or apprehension about the meeting for whatever reason, do a short meditation on how you want that meeting to end. See it already successfully accomplished. See how you are feeling after the meeting. Feel the feeling. Then rest in your inner confidence and watch what happens.


I Am At Peace With All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Or spread some peace or love today. They are very nearly the same thing.

Daily Inspiration 12-16-19

"You get what you feel 

about what you think about." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-27-15]

"Some are beginning to acknowledge: You get what you think about. But we would like to clarify that statement further by saying: You get what you feel about what you think about."

To explain that statement briefly about the subject of money, for example, they continue: "So where are you on the sliding scale of possible vibrations relative to the subject of money? You may often say that you want more money, but if you consistently feel disappointment, or even fear, about not having enough money, then your vibrational offering regarding money does not match your statement of desire."

It doesn't matter what the subject is, whether it is about being overweight, having a bad relationship, children that are not doing what you want them to do, a job that is causing issues, it's all the same. It's about our focus.

They say that we cannot have a happy ending in an unhappy journey. And, for me, that statement really helps put it into perspective. Being unhappy and wanting to be happy are two completely different and opposing feelings.

Those who go to the gym and maintain slim, healthy bodies, are successful at that because they don't go because they want to lose weight, but because they enjoy health. They enjoy the exercise, the movement, the feeling during and afterward. They feel good. If they went with the feeling that they hated doing it, their program would fail very quickly.

We need to find a way to feel good about what we want while giving little or no attention to where we are now if we are not where we want to be. And, we will know where we are by how we feel. We could be saying what we want, thinking of what we want, but if our feelings don't match what we want, it isn't going to be what we say we want. Our feelings tell us whether we are in alignment with our desire or not.

So, a better way is to get happy first! Then move. Know what we want and feel that excitement and enthusiasm about what we want, then act. Focus on where we are going and not on where we are now.


Creating An Enjoyable Journey For Every Destination. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by borrowing someone else's joy if you're a little short.

Daily Inspiration 12-15-19

"We all have a little larceny in us. 

Some make use of it, others leave it be. 

Of those that use it, some just play with it, 

while others make it a career." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-26-15]

I've learned a funny thing about seeing people do things that I think are wrong. I guess you could say it might be less wrong than I used to think. My thoughts about that have softened significantly. And, today, I realized part of why that is. It is because I can speak about what others are doing wrong from experience. The pot calling the kettle black, and all that speck in the eye or log in the eye stuff. I'm no goody-two-shoes, but I've been known to act innocent as I criticize others for so-called "bad behavior."

There's nothing like a slap in the face with your own stuff to wise a soul up. And some people like me have needed it more often than others. I'm better for wising up and that's for certain.

I wonder how many times I've tried to kink the system? Not blatantly, of course. It's not like I want to get caught, you know, but I've been known to look out for number one from time to time. I've been known to manipulate and pretend I wasn't home at the time.

One of the sure signs of larceny is in the desire to punish those who have been caught in their larceny. JUSTICE! We want justice! And, all the time, we've got our secret closet locked and the key is in our underwear. That's where we hide all that stuff we've schemed about over the years, broadcast to unsuspecting accomplices, created plenty of fouls and called it fair, and much more.

Even after getting on the wagon, I've been known to fall off in the most interesting places. Then, one more time, I'm awakened from my sleepwalking and brought back to the reality that I'm human. Oh so human. And, I know that is just an excuse, but there you go. It's all I have.


The Answer That Lasts Is More Love, More Love, More Love, More Love . . . More Unconditional Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--It's the best thing we can do.

Daily Inspiration 12-14-19

"Long questions deserve short answers." 

-- Alan Cohen 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-25-15]

So, here's a long question: What is the purpose of life? Here's the deserving short answer: JOY.

I've studied life in earnest since I was a youngster, and joy is the only answer that makes any sense. The more I learn, the more I see that is the desired result. Why do we like sex? For the joy it brings. Why do we buy shiny new things? The joy it brings. Why do we work at excelling at what we do to achieve mighty objectives? The joy it brings to have done it and to bask in that joy for as long as we can feel it. Whatever we do, we are hoping, wanting, expecting (or not, because it certainly is a choice!), desiring to feel good, to have more well-being, to be happy, to have and experience more joy.

To me, joy is like being super happy, yet at the same time not flailing about. Yesterday was Friday and I went to the bank to make a deposit. The bank is 2.5 miles from my home office. There are 10 stoplights between here and there. Having made this trip hundreds of times, it is very rare that all the lights are red when I get there. It is equally rare to find them all green.

At stoplight number two, I'm petting Charlie while waiting, and I have been in joy for most of the day already, and am still. A flashy custom, loud motorcycle goes in between our two lanes to the front of the intersection. It's a beautiful bike with deep red metallic paint. He's five cars ahead and he's revving his engine many times with increasing impatience. Then the light turns green. He's off. First gear, second gear, third gear, fourth. He's way down there.

I'm cruising on down and we come to the next red light and there he is revving his motor. The light turns green and he's off like a rocket! I'm cruising casually at the 35 mph speed limit (or close enough), and here's another red light. And, there he is at the front of the intersection.

Now the odds of this are pretty dang high, but he raced from one stoplight to the other and he won the First One At The Stoplight prize for sure, and I met him at nine of the ten stoplights on red. I think that was fricken amazing. I was laughing and enjoying the whole scene so much, that when I parked and went into the bank, my joy was spilling out of me all over the place. I announced boldly when I walked in at 5:30pm, "Thank God It's FUN!" (My version of T.G.I.F.) I found nothing but things to compliment, nothing but smiles and joy in return. You give joy and joy is returned!

This feeling of joy is a feeling of connectedness with all of life. That's why it is deeper than simply being happy. Joy is equal to love. I am so enjoying myself and those around me and if there were something that I would not be liking, it is not even on my radar. Even silly things like the motorcycle guy racing to the next 9 stoplights fill me with joy. And, the best thing is that this is the way I am most of the time now.

This paragraph from Abraham, Esther Hicks speaks to how I have arrived at this place and how we all can do the same: "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. Right now, it may feel to you like those moments of Connection are the rare ones. There will be a time when those moments of Connection will feel so normal that it will shock you when you get into a place of disconnection." 


Choosing Is Always Our Choice. I Choose Joy! 

Spread Some Joy Today--and watch it come back at you.

Daily Inspiration 12-13-19

"We often confuse our value 

with our circumstance." 

-- Dr. Steve Maraboli 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-24-15]

People may say things to others, but more likely to themselves, such as, "I'm too fat!" Or if not that blatant, "I'm overweight," or things like, "I'm poor or I'm broke, or I can't afford that," or "my job sucks," "I hate this or that." But, none of those things are us. We are not our circumstances or our condition. When we think we are our circumstance, we are often powerless to change because we feel like a victim, that this thing has landed on me and I don't know what to do.

I think the first step is to realize and celebrate once we realize, that we are not our circumstances. We are independent of it. It may have a current effect on things in our lives, but it is not us. We are the powerful ones, not our circumstances.

In fact, circumstances can be downright inspirational once we realize that we are independent of them. It can help us to get moving and make changes so that our circumstances will be as we want them to be. Broke is a temporary condition, and feeling or being poor is a mindset. Overweight is a temporary condition, fat is a mindset. We always get to choose and we always have power over all of our circumstances. Even if we can't immediately change the actual circumstance, we absolutely can change how we see it and what we think about it.


That's All The Power We Need. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing your own inner power to change.

Daily Inspiration 12-12-19

"We don't serve the world by shrinking, 

but by shining." 

-- Dr. John F. Demartini 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-23-15]

How many of you have ever been talking with someone, researching them on Google, LinkedIn, or in other ways see information about them that makes you think they are superior to you? That they know more than you? That they are vastly more skilled than you? That they have far more formal education and degrees than you?

Maybe you've been doing something for 20 years and then you meet someone who has gone further and faster in far less time than you have. Maybe they also make a lot more money than you. Maybe you think they have it all or at least a corner on a bunch of it.

Here's the best thing to remember any time you might feel that way about yourself. They are also people. In more ways than you might imagine, they have similar experiences and they also have thoughts and feelings about themselves that may not always be self-uplifting. Maybe they too may put themselves below others they see or meet or find online.

Everyone has value. They have value. You have value. When we realize and accept that each of us has value, that each of us is loved equally by our Creator (which is true!), we can allow ourselves to give others praise as we would love to receive praise. We can uplift them and compliment them on their choices, as we would love that someone else makes those same observations about ourselves. We can celebrate their success without diminishing our own.

I have found that when I celebrate others and their accomplishments, the achieving of their goals, living their lives on their terms, I unconsciously celebrate myself. When I look for fault in others and find myself to seem inferior to them, I unconsciously become less in my own mind. Once I saw this happening, I began to do more celebrating of others.

We all make choices. We cannot help but make choices. This is a world of contrast, causing us to know more about what we like and want, which causes us to choose. Some chose long college times getting multiple degrees, others went straight to work and began families earlier. There are hundreds, thousands, or even millions of other choices and each is worthy of celebration from the one making the choices and those watching the events.

The more we celebrate others, the more we open ourselves to the celebration of ourselves. Whatever the choices are, no one is better than another. They each have different results, for sure, but none are better than another.

Which brings me to celebrating ourselves brightly without any thought of we being better than anyone else as a result of that. We delight in our own celebration of our decisions and the outcome, whatever it may be. All choices should be celebrated.


There's Always A Reason To Celebrate Others, And To Remember To Also Celebrate Ourselves. 

Spread Some Joy Today--It's a celebration of joy!

Daily Inspiration 12-11-19

"Reach out and touch someone." 

-- AT&T commercial message 

New: Audio version

[Classic post 7-22-15]

Today, I had several people on my mind and I acted on that message. I gave them each a call. And, guess what? It was perfect timing for all included. That is quite interesting and telling. There are days where I have those urges and do not act on them. It would have been perfect then too, but I wasn't at home. I was somewhere else.

The more I get into all of this stuff about knowing myself, the more I see that I just need to follow the guidance in front of me. It seems to always work out. The only roadblock is me.


Thank God My Guidance Is Tenacious. 

Spread Some Joy Today--What else would you like to spread? I think joy is a great choice.

Daily Inspiration 12-10-19

"Who in the world 

wants to hear actors talk?" 

-- Harry Warner, 

Warner Bros Pictures, 1927 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-21-15]

Has anyone ever said something like the quote from Harry Warner to you? Maybe it was stuff like, "who do you think you are!?" or "what makes you think you can do that?" or "you'll never make any money doing that." or "you're just not smart enough for that." or "you have to be in the right place at exactly the right time and what are the odds of that?" or any number of misleading and false thoughts about you.

It's easier to reject what other people have to say after you've maybe been defensive about it for a while, but what if these kinds of thoughts are coming from within? That relentless self-talk, that overly important ego that thinks he or she knows everything that is right and wrong, good and bad for you. In other words, fear.

Well, have high hope. There are a lot of people that are happy to tell you what's wrong, how it cannot possibly be done and a thousand other obstacles offered up for your consideration. They mean absolutely nothing. In fact, they are not even worth the attention span it requires to hear what they have to say. It means nothing because it is not you, it is about them. It is their fears, their insecurities, and their problem.

It's the same thing with the overly active ego. Who's in charge here? No, who's really in charge? The ego thinks it is in charge, likes to be in charge, craves being in charge, but when it comes down to it, the ego is a big blowhard. It has its usefulness, but only a tiny fraction of what it tries to control.

So, who's really in charge? That would be you. The real you. The you that can see the ego as something that is not you. The you that can see that others are not always encouraging and often ignorant and fearful. The you that has the ultimate inner guidance who is the all-powerful You.

The really good news is that when you are in alignment with You, allowing that guidance to flow, whatever comes via thought or action is perfect for you. Not perfect for anyone else, but perfect for you. It is as it was meant to be from the beginning. It is often now called awareness, or enlightenment, which only means that you've discovered it for yourself, and are now aware of it, and enlightenment only means that you've accepted it and now make use of it. Everyone has it. Not everyone chooses to become aware of it or to make use of it. That is the only difference between any of us. We are all-powerful as we choose to accept that power.

I'll leave you with a quote from Abraham, Esther Hicks from a workshop in Asheville, NC on May 1, 2005: "When you find vibrational alignment with You, you personally thrive. You feel good; you look good; you have stamina; you have energy; you have balance; you have clarity; you have wit; you have an abundance of all things that you consider to be good. You thrive in all ways when you come into Energy Balance with You. Vibrational Relativity--that's what it's all about."


Nobody Knows Better Than You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by relaxing that tension, and focusing on something to appreciate. Anything will do.

Daily Inspiration 12-9-19

"And they lived happily ever after. . ." 

-- Storybook ending 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-20-15]

Too good to be true? Did you stop believing that fairy tale after finding out about Santa Claus? It's only in stories but not real life?

Abraham, Esther Hicks gives us some uplifting advice: "We encourage you to decide, as early in life as possible, that your dominant intent and reason for existence is to live happily ever after. That would be a very good career choice: to gravitate toward those activities and to embrace those desires that harmonize with your core intentions, which are freedom and growth--and joy. Make a "career" of living a happy life rather than trying to find work that will produce enough income that you can do things with your money that will then make you happy. When feeling happy is of paramount importance to you--and what you do "for a living" makes you happy--you have found the best of all combinations."


It's Never Too Late To Get Happy. 

Spread Some Joy Today--and it will be returned to you in kind.

Daily Inspiration 12-8-19

"A warm smile 

is the universal language of kindness." 

-- William Arthur Ward 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-19-15]

In a world that always seems to be moving faster, seeking our attention and communication through texting, talking on the phone while doing whatever we may be doing, media everywhere, it is easy to forget to smile. When you are feeling good about yourself, or whatever may be in your vision or on your mind, a smile is a very natural response. Yet we may be going through our day focused on things that don't encourage a smile, and it seems that in that state we are alone in a crowded room.

As I'm driving, I am looking at people out walking, or in other cars. It is an interesting thing as the eyes of whomever I am looking at--even for only a moment or two--and my eyes meet. It reminds me of that stuff about a surface to air missile when it is said to have 'locked on' its intended target. As our eyes meet each other even for a split second, I feel some kind of connection. I feel as if reams of information have just been exchanged, yet I know none of it consciously. It is a fascinating feeling. It doesn't happen often even though I am looking and they may casually look back. The difference is the actual 'eye contact.' I also think there is a big difference in that connection if I am smiling at that moment or not.

Wherever I am moving through my day, whether walking or driving, I am wanting to be present. I am focused on enjoying myself and enjoying my surroundings, the weather, the traffic, the interesting people in every size, shape, color, all their different clothes, their attitude, and by that, I mean relative to their environment. How are they carrying themselves, if they seem to be enjoying themselves, and so on?

As I do all of this and while I am focused on my own enjoyment, I am smiling. Sometimes it is a joyous smile, and other times a warm smile, a waning smile, and so on. I'm curious, but not focused on who may be receiving my smile. How many times during your day does someone's smile brighten your day just a little bit? What an easy way to make a difference and lift others up.

Since I've decided that my predominant goal in my life is to simply enjoy myself, I find myself smiling, laughing, feeling joy so often. Whether I am at my computer doing Internet work for our clients, driving around doing errands, walking about, I am focused on enjoying myself. Yesterday was a glorious day and I was reveling in its glory. Each and every day is feeling much like that now. I find myself grateful and giving thanks for the perfect shady parking spot so Charlie won't get too hot, seeing the long line of traffic and having no real need of getting in there with them, appreciating my car and my truck and how well they perform, the scenery of Northern California, the weather whatever it may be. I find myself giving thanks and finding so many things to be in appreciation of. 


All Of This With A Smile. I'm In Heaven Right Here. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by smiling at everyone you see today. What a perfect way to share your true wealth.

Daily Inspiration 12-7-19

"To know, and not to do, is not to know." 

-- Leo Buscaglia 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-18-15]

Tony Robbins has a great way of saying the same thing that may make even better sense to so many as it did to me: "A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided."

Oh, how many times I have made a decision and did not seal it with an act. In the hot rod pop songs of the 1960s that would be like a 'no-go showboat.' That's like going around revving my engine in a parade while being pulled along by another car. Flash and show. All talk and no go. How many times? Heck, I quit smoking at least 3,000 times. But, who's counting? 

I'm guessing--just spit-balling here, (love that line from A Few Good Men) that a few of you have done the same. Making decisions is easy. Taking action on them is a little bit more challenging.


"It's Not Knowing What To Do, It's Doing What You Know." -- Tony Robbins 

Spread Some Joy Today--by making a decision to be joyful and share your joy, then following through by actually doing it.

Daily Inspiration 12-6-19

"If you intend to be of assistance, 

your eye is not upon the trouble 

but upon the assistance, 

and that is quite different." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-17-15]

When you give, what thoughts and feelings are attached to the gift? Let's say you're giving money to a beggar with a sign at the driveway to a business exit, which is a common sight in almost any city. Let's say you decide to be of assistance. How much do you give? How much relative to what you have on you? Is it sort of like trying to figure out how much to tip when you eat out? What else are you feeling? Are they positive, uplifting thoughts, or are you may be unhappy with all the beggars around and you would like them to go away?

Continuing with Abraham, "When you are looking for a solution, you are feeling positive emotion--but when you are looking at a problem, you are feeling negative emotion." Sometimes maybe we throw money at the problem. . .

"You can be of great assistance to others as you see what they want to be, and as you uplift them to what they want to have, through your words and through your attention to that. But, as you see one who is down on his luck, as you see one who has great poverty or great illness, and as you speak with him in pity and sympathy about that which he does not want, you will feel the negative emotion of it, because you are a contributor to that. As you talk to others about what you know they do not want, you assist them in their miscreating because you amplify the vibration of attracting what is not wanted."

They say that it is not the gift, but the thought that counts, and what Abraham said now bring new meaning to that old phrase. Can we give a gift and at the same time is actually doing harm? Yes. It depends on what is behind or attached to the gift.

Abraham adds a bit more: "You will not uplift others through your words or sorrow. You will not uplift others through your recognition that what they have is not what they want. You will uplift them by being something different yourself. You will uplift them through the power and clarity of your own personal example. As you are healthy, you may stimulate their desire for health. As you are prosperous, you may stimulate their desire for prosperity. Let your example uplift them. Let what is in your heart uplift them. You will uplift others when your thought feels good to you. . . You will depress others, or add unto their negative creating when your thought makes you feel bad. That is how you know whether or not you are uplifting."


How Does It Feel When You Give? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by giving it freely without any reasoning.

Daily Inspiration 12-5-19

"Twenty years from now

you will be more disappointed

by the things that you didn't do

than by the ones you did do. 

So throw off the bowlines. 

Sail away from the safe harbor. 

Catch the trade winds in your sails. 

Explore. Dream. Discover." 

-- Mark Twain 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 7-16-15]

What a great quote to ponder. When I was younger, I would often look back on my life and feel disappointed that I didn't make decisions, develop disciplines that would have had me in a better position in the place I was then. Yet today, as I look back twenty years to age 45, or 35, or 25, or 15, I no longer think of disappointments, bad decisions, things that could have been, etc.

The answer for me lies in a quote by J. M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan and much more. He said, "The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does." I see a world apart in those two connected phrases.

Probably, many people are seeking that secret to the happiness of doing what they like or love rather than what they are currently doing. I even spent a good deal of time in that space myself over the years. Another way to say that is that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. It's always somewhere else and not where we are now.

What I learned that changed all of that was the second part of the two-part phrase, by learning to, or rather allowing myself to, like what I was doing. In liking what I was doing, I could see the past differently. Things that I've done became stepping stones across streams, pathways through the forest, shade trees in the heat of the summer.

Rather than waiting for something to come along that I liked, I began liking where I was and what I was doing. Instead of wishing and hoping, I was doing and allowing. I love how one of my favorite mentors, Jim Rohn said it: "If you don't like what you're doing, change it. You're not a tree!"


Enjoy Yourself And Enjoy Every Step On Your Journey. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because joy is your natural state. Just uncover it.