Daily Inspiration 11-28-13

"I'm thankful for every moment."

 

-- Al Green

Among the long and widely varied lists of things to be thankful for, Al Green's quote tops them all. To be thankful for every moment. . .well, that is as thankful I think as a person could get.

Albert Barnes said it this way: "We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." Being thankful for every moment covers this nicely, but I like the way it is pointed out clearly that we are better to be thankful for everything, even the things that at first blush may not look to be serving us very well. I find that it is amazing to express gratitude for the things that aren't now seemingly working out, for I believe that they always will unless we thwart the effort of God.

Last, I like how Alan Cohen, one of my favorite writers puts it: "Appreciation is the highest form of prayer, for it acknowledges the presence of good wherever you shine the light of your thankful thoughts."

Happy Thanksgiving!


May Your Day Bring You Bountiful Joy!

Spread Some Joy Today--There's so much to be thankful for. One way to help remember is to make a list. The other is to be thankful 24/7.

Daily Inspiration 11-27-13

"To seek permission

is to seek denial."

 

-- Steve Jobs

I agree 100% of this phrase from the famous Steve Jobs of Apple Computer, and many other endeavors. It is very rare that I would ask permission to do anything whether it was on my job with an employer, or in my family.

I learned early on that by asking permission, I was technically seeking denial and it was most common to hear the word no, or some excuse that sounds a whole lot like no. That wasn't what I wanted to hear, so I learned to stop asking and just do.

There is an old saying that it is better to ask forgiveness than to ask for permission. I agree with that of course. But, the interesting part is that it will be rare that you will need to ask for forgiveness because most of the decisions would have been right on the mark.

You just have to trust that you are your own best consultant.


Give Yourself The Gift Of Your Own Authority.

Spread Some Joy Today--It is a effortless time to be generous. Find some ways. They are all around you.

Daily Inspiration 11-26-13

"We are not given

a good life or a bad life.

We are given life.

And it's up to you

to make it good or bad."

 

-- Ward Foley

I love the way this was stated. Absolutely true!


Make It An Awesome Day!

Spread Some Joy Today--Got your list of thanks that you're planning on giving?

Daily Inspiration 11-25-13

"A Course in Miracles tells us that all acts

are either expression of love or calls for love.

People who are angry, hurt, belligerent, or

difficult in any way are calling for love.

If we can see them not as mean people attacking,

but as children who are in pain and starving,

it is easier to be with them and respond to them

in a way that disarms their hurtful behavior."

 

-- Alan Cohen

Wouldn't it be interesting and also cool to look at behavior in the way of the quote above. Instead of returning anger from anger or hurt from hurt, we could return love for anger and love for hurt and help the healing process. For, I'm sure we all have learned full well that returning fire for fire is of no real use. Really.


Who Could You Not Love? It's A Fair Question. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--Let's just enjoy this day to the fullest. Why the heck not?

Daily Inspiration 11-24-13

"If you frequently give yourself permission

to doodle, wander, and be totally unproductive,

and you actually relish such interludes,

I can guarantee that your genius, creativity,

and productivity will increase exponentially.

I've seen it happen a billion times.

Through the roof,

The Universe."

-- A Note from the Universe, Mike Dooley

www.tut.com

I love this message that came on December 7th, 2012. It resonates with me today. And, I am a work in progress on this whole idea.

You see, I have spent a lot of time finding things to do for myself. Some make an income, so do not, and all consume my time. What is worse than anything is time I spend feeling that I should be doing something that I either don't want to do right now, or need to do. Now, I've learned recently that the word need is an interesting word and statement. It seems like it is solid, firmly planted, immovable, and righteous, instead I find that it is really a variable. In fact, I think it is as much a variable as the word want.

Based on that, this new philosophy of need allows me so much flexibility in how I choose to address it. Or when. Or if. Or, if I will even pay it any attention at all.

So, recently I have been experimenting by giving myself permission and authority to doodle, wander, and be totally unproductive on purpose. At first this was a challenge for me, but as I practice, I find myself enjoying my days so much more, and I don't know that anything is suffering as a result of my playfulness. I even feel more creative, and productive in a new way.


Isn't Life Interesting. . .?!

Spread Some Joy Today--Well, there ya go. Spread some joy today. That's got to feel good, don't ya know.

Daily Inspiration 11-23-13

"We long for an affection

altogether ignorant of our faults.

Heaven has accorded this to us

in the uncritical canine attachment."

 

-- George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans)

Dogs are so simple. Eat, sleep, pee on things, look curiously at us, wag their tail, show enthusiasm for a walk going anywhere in any terrain, location or time of day, spoon over being petted desiring ever more.

Humans are complicated. If Charlie wants to go for a walk, he's ready in a moment. I, however, must put on my shoes and socks, pants, brush my hair--you know, get ready. He's sitting there watching and I'm sure he's thinking about the world coming to an end before we actually get going. Yet, when I'm ready, again is he in all his glory.

He doesn't care about any of my idiosyncrasies. He doesn't seem to think anything of it. When I go pet him, he relaxes as if he is taking a spiritual bath in complete and total safety. He loves to be loved.

You know, speaking of that--humans are challenged about loving being loved, or so it seems. We're not sure. Perhaps there is an alternate agenda that has not been disclosed. Perhaps they aren't thinking what I'm thinking. Perhaps this isn't real. Perhaps this is insincere. Perhaps they will love me then hurt me. There is much fear mixed in and this mixture leads to resistance, tenseness, questioning, and less allowing.

When we are like Charlie and we relax and allow, what a change takes place in how we feel--in fact, in how we both feel.


By Allowing Love Openly And Without Condition, We Experience Bliss.

Spread Some Joy Today--Release your fear. If only for today. Notice how you feel.

Daily Inspiration 11-22-13

"My wish for you is that

this life becomes all that you want it to.

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small.

You never need to carry more than you can hold

and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you,

and wants the same things too.

This is my wish."

 

-- Rascal Flatts

Nicely said . . .

Hear the song and see all the lyric at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhrCc8VCHns&feature=kp


Remember The "Somebody Loves You" Part. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--by spreading this sentiment. Loving yourself and loving others.

Daily Inspiration 11-21-13

"Insults are like angry bulls. . .

they can only do damage

if you let them in.

You can't control what people say,

but you can control if you let it bother you.

 

No one's opinion of you

is more important than you own."

 

-- Doe Zantamata

The last line in this wonderful quote is certainly the most important. So, get a piece of paper out and write this one sentence down in bold lettering: "No one's opinion of you is more important than your own."

People may have something to say about you. Perhaps how you do your job, how you are as a husband or father, wife or mother, friend or associate. They have a right to their opinion and sometimes what they have to say lifts us up. That is a wonderful thing. Then, other times, what they may say is not uplifting. In fact, it might even be downgrading or derogatory about you.

This is important: Listen to all that uplifts you and let pass you by the opinions that don't. Let me repeat: Listen to all that uplifts you and delight in it, and let all the other opinions pass you by and be on their way.

There is no opinion of you that is more important than your own opinion on yourself. You are in charge of your own life. Let others--allow others, to be in charge of their own; however, let no one else be in charge of you except you. What they have to say can be accepted or rejected at will. You are your own best judge.


Allow Yourself The Authority To Be Your Own Judge.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever helps you to feel good about yourself today, do that. Let everything else wait.

Daily Inspiration 11-20-13

"For things to change,

you have to change."

 

-- Jim Rohn

"Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they are yours." -- Richard Bach. It is amazing how many of us will argue and continue to argue for our limitations, even when we know better. It must be a habit from years of training ourselves. When we express our limitations, we are so focused on where we are and where we've been. The only thing we can see about the future, is some form of what we have experienced already, real or imagined.

There are some key words people use. One is because. "I can't do that because they won't give me the help, support, money, power, whatever." It doesn't matter what comes after the word because since it is all made up anyway. Another key word is but. "I wanted to do that, but they wouldn't let me, support me, give me the tools, or whatever." Whatever comes after the word but is all made up.

We look for the things that will sound really good after those words. It's so important for it to sound real, and absolve ourselves entirely of any blame whatsoever. It cannot be our fault, otherwise it wouldn't be a limitation. Limitations always come from outside of us, never inside of us. At least that's what we want to believe because it helps the whole thing work.

The truth is that we create our own limitations strictly with our thoughts. We think we can't so naturally, we can't. It's simple, but it isn't from the outside. It is from the inside. Until we accept responsibility for that knowledge and empower ourselves to act on our own behalf with power, our weakness will lead.

What are your limitations? At home? At work? In general? What do you say after, because or but?


I Am The ONLY ONE In Charge Of What I Think. Period.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do something nice for someone else today. Just for the joy of it.

Daily Inspiration 11-19-13

"As your faith is strengthened

you will find

that there is no longer the need

to have a sense of control,

that things will flow as they will,

and that you will flow with them,

to your great delight and benefit."

 

-- Emmanuel / Pat Rodegast

Fear need not have more than a very temporary presence in our lives. It comes and we see it for what it is, and we let it go on through. The list of all the things that could go wrong are no longer relevant. They leave in the wake of fear gone. We give them passing notice at best and let them pass us by.

It is our faith in everything working out well for us that remains predominate. There is only wellness and anything less is resistance. We practice our faith in everything working out for our benefit as if that is the way it was meant to be. Because it is.

As we practice our faith there is no need for control for it is all working according to our plan. And, whatever we decide that needs to be changed will naturally and easily change.

There is a flow as if a river of life that we only need to allow. Anything other is resistance. Anything other is dis-ease. Relax and flow. Relax and flow. Faith is strengthened by relaxing and flowing with all that appears in our lives.


Strengthen Your Faith By Allowing And Understanding That All Being Well Is The Plan.

Spread Some Joy Today--Seek joy. Seek to appreciate and joy will be there. Seek to love and joy is there. Seek to allow and joy is there.

Daily Inspiration 11-18-13

"Grace isn't a little prayer you chant

before receiving a meal.

It's a way to live."

 

-- Jacqueline Winspea

What would it be like to be in a perpetual state of grace, gratitude, peace and love? Some kind of ideal for people who don't have any problems, kids, spouses, family, employers, lawyers, and such. You know, those people. Right?

Who has time to contemplate all the stuff in the world? There's too much going on every day. It's more a matter of how many fires we have to put out. Doing that, how could we find time to even do our jobs, grow our businesses? That's for those monks in the cave up in the mountains with no worries, no cares.

Yet, you see people with these thoughts sitting at a table, bowing their heads, saying some combination of words meant to give thanks to God for the meal. What about all the rest of the day? Week? Month? Year?

I think we make rituals sometimes to attempt to make up for paying attention the whole of our day. Sort of like going to church on Sunday to absolve us of the rest of the week. How much better to find ourselves paying attention, being awake, finding gratitude throughout our day and staying in a state of grace as much as we can.

How many times each day can you be thankful? Express gratitude? Experience love?


Perhaps A Challenge. . . Start Or Start Again Right Now.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever is happening is perfect. Find the perfection. Find yourself being okay with it. Find yourself being grateful.

Daily Inspiration 11-17-13

"What does freedom mean to you?"

 

-- Adam Baker

I ran across this excellent Ted Talk video by Adam Baker the other day and thought I might share it with you. I thought the question stated above was one worth pondering thoughtfully and trying to answer to the best of our ability. It may even be surprising.

Text from below video on YouTube: In 2008, after the birth of his first child, Baker and his wife decided to sell everything they owned, pay off their consumer debt, and spend a year traveling abroad as a family. They began sharing their journey in early 2009 on the blog Man vs. Debt, now 15000 subscribers strong. In sharing their ups and downs in the areas of personal finance, consumerism, clutter, travel, minimalism, and passionate entrepreneurship, they realized they aren't alone in a desire to explore and grow.


Freedom Is A Very Personal Thing.

Spread Some Joy Today--Practice responding instead of reacting. It puts the calm in charge.

Daily Inspiration 11-16-13

"Just because a marriage (or anything) ends,

doesn't mean it failed. Ideally, of course,

we would like a marriage to last a lifetime.

But when it doesn't, we dishonor the relationship

by casting an aura of failure over all of it.

If you loved, learned, and grew during the time

you were together, there was real success."

 

-- Alan Cohen

"And, they lived happily ever after. . ." Well, some perhaps, but change is more likely to occur. Often that change is to another partner. It is also easy to blame each other, and to feel they failed us or we failed them. How sad that we often have to take that point of view. It is only reality if we accept it as such.

Far better it is, from my own experience and that of my study, to celebrate the time, celebrate the experience, celebrate the learning, celebrate the discovery and celebrate each other. Finding blame is fear-based. Feeling guilty is fear-based. And both are ego-centric. Let go of that rope. Lay it down and move toward loving each other, without the need to live together.

This same strategy and perspective applies to so many other areas of our lives, whether it is our jobs, careers, employers, friends, and even our own communication with ourselves. Although, in these instances, we may not consider them failures as easily as we do in a relationship or a marriage.

Movies, newspapers, and other publications and sites show how people fall into love and out of love. That is all crap as far as I'm concerned. If you love someone, it doesn't change into something other than love unless it is coerced by your ego. It's okay to not want to be around each other all the time, and still love each other. In fact, it is preferred, don't you think?

Celebrate the successes regardless of size or duration. Let all the rest fall away.


"Love Is The Ability And Willingness To Allow Those You Care For To Be What They Choose For Themselves Without Any Insistence That They Satisfy You." -- Wayne Dyer

Spread Some Joy Today--Love doesn't expect. It is a free gift, or it is something else entirely.

Daily Inspiration 11-15-13

"Letting go is always easier

than holding on.

And it's how the new stuff will find you."

 

-- Mike Dooley

It fascinates me how seriously profound thoughts like that statement above are, and yet at the same time so incredibly simple.

We fear letting go. We fight and resist letting go. The reason is because we see it as some kind of failure to persevere. However, I would suggest that we consider a different way of looking at this great quote.

Rather than thinking of letting go as painful or bad or wrong, consider instead the idea of allowing things to be. If you think about holding on as resistance, which it generally is, then this idea is easier to grapple with. By letting go of resistance, or letting go of the rope, we put things in motion in an allowing sort of way for things to come to us. It may be the answer we've been looking for, or it may be something physical we've been wanting. As long as we have resistance in force, that which we want is most often held away from us. Let go and allow and the freshness of that perspective can take over.

Give it some thought and I think you will understand fully what I am saying here.


Release Your Point Of View In Order To Have A New Perspective.

Spread Some Joy Today--Do something to show yourself some love today.