Daily Inspiration 12-12-13

"The fact that I can plant a seed

and it becomes a flower,

share a bit of knowledge

and it becomes another's,

smile at someone

and receive a smile in return,

are to me

continual spiritual exercises."

 

-- Leo Buscaglia

"Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la la. . .


Time To Plant Some Seeds, Show Some Smiles, Become More Spiritual.

Spread Some Joy Today--Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. . .

Daily Inspiration 12-11-13

"There is a vast difference

between wanting and needing."

 

-- Albert K Strong

Needing to do something has often been thought of as a powerful way to accomplishment. Once in a while that might work, but generally it is not true. The main reason is that need comes from fear. It often causes acts of desperation, along with misspent time and money. It also begs for short cuts and hopes and prays for magic and miracles.

What does work is desire. Wanting is a powerful tool. It will cause one to consider options, to look at possibilities, to formulate a plan, to make a commitment and follow through. Strong desire is among the most powerful emotions for accomplishment. It is not fear-based, but love-based. It is joy and fun and child-like. It is anticipation of success, and as long as the desire remains strong, or as long as one can find more reasons to have the desire come to fruition, it becomes a forgone conclusion in time.

Need is negative emotion in action, and any time we have negative emotions making themselves known, this is an indication that we are out of alignment with our own true selves, our inner knowing of the right path for us. They are an indication of which direction we are headed and an alert mechanism to create awareness to find better feeling thoughts to get us back on track.

When we feel needy, this is a time to pause, reflect a bit and find things to appreciate right here and right now. As we find thoughts of appreciation, we will find more and more until we can get back into a grateful state of mind and back to our desire. What do we really want? I'm certain it is not desperation. I'm certain it is not being needy. I am certain that it is living in hope and joy.

This applies to everything we do in our personal lives and in our businesses. Focus on desire. Focus on what you want. Focus on the joy of being. Focus on love. Focus on appreciation of what you have and where you are and how far you have come. Focus on being of service to others. Focus.


Love And Joy Are ALWAYS The Right Answer!

Spread Some Joy Today--by taking your mind off of you and offering appreciation to someone else.

Daily Inspiration 12-10-13

"Within you there is a stillness and a sanctuary

to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself."

 

--Hermann Hesse

In 2001, I wrote a song that I played in church several times. I wrote a lot of them, but this one was always special with me personally. When I sang and played it, I was always in such gratitude and love and it brought out emotion in me that rarely came out. It is a simple song and here are they lyrics:

Nobody loves me like You, Lord

Not even one; no--not even one

Nobody loves me like You, Lord

Not even one; no--not even one

There is no One like you, not one

 

You love me when I'm at my best

You love me at my worst--and, yes,

You love me when I kneel and pray,

And even when I walk away

Your love is like an always open door (and more)

Inside I am complete forevermore, (for)

There is no One like you, not one!

I'm not much into religion. I've studied it, spent a good deal of time around it, but there are so many rules, expectations and dogma. Yet, I love God more than I ever have and that is where this song came from.

I was thinking about this idea just the other day. I was doing some things that if others had known about would have had much to say, although, not so much to my face. Yet, I felt totally free from judgment. In fact, as I thought about it more, I realized again what caused this song to come to fruition. It is that I think the Lord, God, The Universe, or whatever name someone wants to give, thinks pretty highly of me. Not higher than anyone else, but loved fully and completely. No matter what.

I can tell you that the peace of that was overwhelming and I rejoiced in a love so without condition and exclusion.

The message I bring here is to consider such a love for you regardless of anything you may think you've not done rightly. You are loved as fully as am I and we can all rejoice in such a love.


Nobody Loves Me Like You, Lord.

Spread Some Joy Today--by spreading your love and your loving thoughts whether you actually speak aloud or not. Your thoughts have power and influence.

Daily Inspiration 12-9-13

"Make the world a better place 

one person at a time. 

Start with yourself." 

 --Linda Poindexter 

It is easy for us to think of helping others. It is often that which is explained as a virtue and that to be selfless is to be a good person. Of course, helping others is a wonderful thing to do. However, we are rarely, if ever, encouraged to start with ourselves. Yet, this is such perfect selfish advice. It is from our own alignment with our own truth that we can share that effectively and lovingly to others. Getting ourselves in alignment is the perfect beginning. 


Begin With A Healthy Appreciation For Yourself. The Rest Will Make Itself Known. 

Spread Some Joy Today--"When you become aware that you're judging or censoring yourself today, suspend that thought. Take a few deep breaths instead. Inhale slowly. . . exhale slowly. Then look around you with fresh eyes. . . listen with new ears." -- Dr. Gay Hendricks

Daily Inspiration 12-8-13

"Name two winners in the 1992 Olympics.

Name four Pulitzer Prize winners.

Name one coach in the sports hall of fame.

Name on person who received the Medal of Honor last year.

 

Name two teachers who had a significant impact on your life.

Name four books, authors, or poets

who have written something you cherish.

Name a coach who taught you

some values, discipline, or persistence.

Name one person who would stand by you in your darkest hour.

 

Which group has had the most lasting impact on your life?"

 

--Alan Cohen

I thought this was a grand comparison of how personally we are connected to an event, person or situation. I know people who are die-hard sports nuts who could quote almost anything sports related, but I still bet that group two has more power in their lives.

Tell you what would be a good task today: Make a list of the group two people and items and whether they are now dead or alive, send them your thoughts of thanks and pure gratitude for having touched you in a special way that has had a lasting impact on your life.


There Is Nothing Like The Feelings Of Gratitude, Appreciation, And Love. Visit Them Often!

Spread Some Joy Today--Do only what brings you joy today and it cannot help but spread joy around.

Daily Inspiration 12-7-13

"For any marriage to be successful,

you must work at it. . .

As for spats, if a quarrel develops,

one should leave the room.

It takes two to quarrel."

 

-- Mamie Eisenhower

I was thinking about Dwight Eisenhower. I know what you're thinking. . . that is such an odd thing. And, you're right, it is an odd thing probably. I'm not even clear on exactly why I was thinking of him, but I remember a couple books on my shelf by his biographer, Stephen Ambrose, and I wanted to look at a bit of his life after his presidency. He was President when I was in grade school.

As I began reading, this quote above jumped off the page at me. I thought it was brilliant and so full of common sense. It reminds me of an old phrase that I heard many times when I was young, "it takes two to tango." I thought, of course. The way to stop a quarrel is for one to leave the room. It's logical, but only partially true. The quarrel doesn't stop by one leaving the room, it is merely postponed. It only stops when one lets go of the rope. But, I'm sure that's what she meant anyway based on other things she was quoted as saying.

I suppose one could argue with the mirror image of themselves, but it has so little impact in comparison with a real quarrel with a real human being. It is so much like a tug-o-war game. And, all we need to is let go and leave, and there is no more energy for escalation. Someone quarrelling with you on the phone? Hang up and let go of the rope. By letting go of the rope, we need to let go of the issue. Begin immediately thinking uplifting thoughts about the other and watch what happens.


A Quarrel Is Fed Or Starved By Our Response.

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing it moment by moment.

Daily Inspiration 12-6-13

"One can be very happy

without demanding

that others agree with them."

 

-- Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

Absolutely. In fact, I think that the only way to really be happy is to not need anyone to agree with us. Otherwise, we are looking to others to make us happy and that is not really possible. Others don't have the capacity to make us happy. This is our own sacred task alone. We certainly may be pleased that someone does or acts a certain way, and it is comforting sometimes when people agree with us. Clubs have been formed, and a million other organizations based on this idea. But, happiness doesn't come from without, it comes from within. It is strictly and fortunately a choice.

I love the power and perfection of that.


I Choose Happiness. That's As Good As It Gets!

Spread Some Joy Today--Listen!

Daily Inspiration 12-5-13

"Conclusions arrived at through reasoning

have very little or no influence

in altering the course of our lives."

 

--Carolos Castaneda

As I read this quote several times, I found that I am agreeing with it. As much as I try to think logically, reason my way through situations, I can see that it was not reasoning or logic that made any difference. It was passion. In other words, it was feelings that guided me best.

All the logic in the world cannot replace the intuition--that "inner knowing" that comes from within rather than without. The answer isn't out there anywhere, it is inside. We are equipped with a perfect "inner guidance system" that is expressed or repressed through emotion. When we pay more attention to how we feel about something, we can make better and better decisions.

Logic and reasoning may tell us to do this about that, and at the same time, we feel uneasy about it, or we don't feel good about it. This is a perfect time to make no decision at all, or delay the decision. When we get to the point that we feel positive emotions, or that we feel good, we just know that it is right for us regardless of what others might think.

The more I pay attention to this, the better decisions I make.


It Is A Flawless Design Tool Working For Our Benefit.

Spread Some Joy Today--Whatever will help you to feel good, better, awesome, wonderful, do that today. In fact, do it often!

Daily Inspiration 12-4-13

"Do you believe in magic?"

 

--John Sebastian

Love at first sight. It's an interesting phrase and one where some try to make it a rare thing. I've experienced it many, many times. From the time I was in grade school until even today, I know that feeling and it stirs passion in me and is among the most beautiful and wonderful feelings I've ever experienced. I remember all of them very fondly.

I've been married twice. Once for 16 years and one together for 26. Both were love at first sight. Literally. It was instantaneous. I, of course, didn't know what would come of it, but that didn't change the feeling. I didn't know if the other felt similarly, but that didn't change the feeling. It was MY feeling. And, I enjoyed it to the hilt.

I spent some time with a few others where I had that same kind of feeling, but for one reason or another, it did not last as a relationship. However, every time I think of them I have the same wonderful feeling all over again. Even today, I have experienced this and who knows where it will go or won't go. Frankly, that doesn't really matter. It's my feeling.

I've known some who are so in love but they are so hung up on the other acting in a certain way; responding to them in a certain way, and so on. This creates craziness. I know that feeling too. I've done that before, but I have learned to own my own feelings, enjoy the moments, go with the flow and let it be. Sounds like a bunch of songs, but it's so true. If another responds in a similar way to how I feel, fine. And, if they don't, fine. It's all perfect.


There Is Nothing Like It In The World!

Spread Some Joy Today--I love fully and have no expectations. It's perfect.

Daily Inspiration 12-3-13

"Be recklessly generous

and relentlessly kind."

 

--Pam Grout
 

28 million plus views on this video. If you haven't seen it, you owe it to yourself to watch at least one third of it. It will wake you up as it has so many to how we judge people by appearance before we know anything at all about them. In this case, so many judge there will be no talent and it will be a sad affair and they couldn't have been more wrong--even to the point of going all the way. Absolutely amazing. Take a few minutes and check it out.


What Do I Really See When I Look At Someone Who Does Not Look Like Me?

Spread Some Joy Today--Recklessly generous and relentlessly kind. Such good words for today, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 12-2-13

"People who have faith in life

are like swimmers who entrust

themselves to a rushing river.

They neither abandon themselves

to its current nor try to resist it.

Rather, they adjust their every

movement to the watercourse,

use it with purpose and skill,

and enjoy the adventure."

 

-- David Steindl-Rast

Most of you know that I love TED.com. So many thoughts and ideas expressed that hit home with me and hundreds of thousands, even millions of others. What a wonderful organization and their sharing of their talks has been a godsend to me and I love sharing many of their messages. Here is a most recent upload in November from a talk in June of this year. He starts off a bit slow, but trust me, if you will relax and allow him his space, he will bring an important message to life for you. Enjoy!

"Gratefulness Is The Key To A Happy Life That We Hold In Our Hands." -- David Steindl-Rast

Spread Some Joy Today--"The root of joy is gratefulness. . . It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful." -- David Steindl-Rast.

Daily Inspiration 12-1-13

"Extinguishing the tantrum cycle.

 

Consider three ideas:

 

1. Listen to the person, not the tantrum.

2. Tantrums want to deal with tantrums.

3. Create systems to avoid it in the first place."

 

-- Seth Godin

Probably every business and personal life there is one or more situations where a tantrum is trying to take charge and control the environment. As a fan of management expert, Seth Godin, he recently published a short blog piece about ways to deal with this situation. I thought it was very good and that you might get benefit from it.

See the whole piece here:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2013/11/extinguishing-the-tantrum-cycle.html.


It's Not Fire With Fire. It's Much Cooler.

Spread Some Joy Today--What does it feel like to have a perpetual smile? Even one that is not always in full bloom, but always in the Spirit?

Daily Inspiration 11-30-13

"If you're gonna make a change. . .

operate from a new belief that says,

life happens not to me but for me."

 

-- Anthony Robbins

Attitude is such an interesting thing. In an airplane, the plane's attitude is always relative to the horizon. Our own attitude is always relative to our beliefs. Our attitude determines how we look at life and act on things, and yet it is always relative to what we believe. So, the way to change things so we get a different result, assuming of course one is desired, we must adopt a new belief. Mr. Robbins suggests a wonderful change that will help us have a better outlook on everything.


It's Certainly Worth Considering. . .

Spread Some Joy Today--A belief is just a thought we keep thinking until we start thinking anew.

Daily Inspiration 11-29-13

"Spirit math:

The quality of your life

equals the ratio of

appreciation to complaint."

 

-- Alan Cohen

I love this quote and how it says so succinctly the simplest goal in life to have a better, more fruitful and enjoyable life. Simply increase the quantity and quality of appreciation and decrease the quantity or sooth the edges of complaint. If we did nothing else, that would be enough. No 10-point list of things to do, to wear, to drink, to eat, to rub on ourselves. Just more appreciation and less complaining.


When It Can Be Made Simple, I'm In. The Truth Is Always Simple. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Find some extra appreciation today. It's Black Friday. Use your spirit math today.