Daily Inspiration 4-18-20

"Perception is a mirror, not a fact." 

-- A Course in Miracles 

[Classic post from 12-20-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-17-20

"Wisdom is merely the movement 

from fighting life to embracing it." 

-- Rasheed Ogunlaru 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-17-15]

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

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

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

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-16-20

"Before we can salute 

 the greatness within others, 

we need to salute 

the greatness within ourselves." 

-- Kevin Hall 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-16-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-15-20

"The grass always looks greener 

on the other side of the fence." 

-- Common phrase 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-15-15]

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-14-20

"I wanna know what you were like growing up. 

What was your favorite pair of shoes? 

What was your favorite cereal? 

What was the first car you drove? 

I mean, I'm just getting started here. 

I wanna know everything about you." 

-- Brian Gilcrest (Bradley Cooper) 

to Captain Ng (Emma Stone) 

in the movie, Aloha 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-14-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-13-20

"It's easy to be a critic, 

but being a doer 

 requires effort, risk, and change." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-13-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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


Joy And Appreciation Are In Alignment And Interchangeable With Love. 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-12-20

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

 not alive, and we don't know why. 

Then something awakens us and makes it clear

as if we have been blind to it all before, 

 and then we come alive again. 

What a special moment that is." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-12-15]

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

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

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

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


Wow. That Spoke Volumes About Life. Volumes. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by coming alive again.

Daily Inspiration 4-11-20

"I had put so much time and hope

into being able to keep my parents together, 

but I couldn't do it. 

I was just a child." 

-- Carole King 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-11-15]

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

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

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

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-10-20

"To solve any problem, 

here are three questions to ask yourself: 

First, what could I do? 

Second, what could I read? 

And third, who could I ask?" 

-- Jim Rohn 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-10-15]

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


Great Guess! 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-9-20

"The truth is, 

every human being on this planet 

is ridiculous in their own way." 

-- Gordy, played by Billy Connolly 

in What We Did On Our Holiday 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-9-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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


So Perfectly Stated, Don't You Think? 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-8-20

"We never really grow up, 

we only learn how to act in public." 

-- Bryan White 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-8-15]

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

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

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

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

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


Thank Goodness! 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-7-20

"To be conscious of being poor 

 while praying for riches

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

 namely, poverty. 

Prayers to be successful

must be claimed and appropriated. 

Assume the positive consciousness 

of the thing desired." 

-- Neville Goddard 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-7-15]

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


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

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

Daily Inspiration 4-6-20

"Everyone is responsible 

for the thoughts they think 

and the things that they choose 

as their objects of attention." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

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

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-6-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Heart With Your Speak? 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-5-20

"Our past may explain 

 why we're suffering 

but we must not use it as an excuse 

 to stay in bondage." 

-- Joyce Meyer 

Audio version

[Classic post from 12-5-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Because It Always Leads Me Back To Love. 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-4-20

"Remind yourself 
that you cannot fail 

at being yourself." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 12-2-15]

Wow. How easy was that?


All This Being Yourself Stuff Is Easy-Peasy! 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-3-20

"When you have the choice 

to be right, or to be kind, 

choose to be kind." 

-- Wayne Dyer 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 11-30-15]

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

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


Hmm. That Is A Bit Of Perspective... 

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

Daily Inspiration 4-2-20

"Once you find your why, 

you will be able to find your way." 

-- John C. Maxwell 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 11-29-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


I Have One Word For You Today: Enjoy! Or, As I Prefer To Say And Spell It These Days: Injoy!

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

Daily Inspiration 4-1-20

"The only thing that holds you back 

from getting what you want 

is paying attention 

to what you don't want." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

New: Audio version

[Classic post from 11-28-15]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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