Daily Inspiration 4-28-15

"Don't let your learning lead to knowledge, 

or you'll become a fool. 

Let your learning lead to action, 

and you can become wealthy. 

There's nothing more pitiful 

than a guy who is smart and broke." 

-- Jim Rohn 

The idea behind yesterday's post was profound to me. I am changing all the time and my view of the world becomes clearer and clearer.

The last paragraph in yesterday's post is what I have learned and how I now feel, and the quote that I would have agreed with above by Jim Rohn, I no longer line up with.

I just finished an absolutely wonderful book about being an entrepreneur. The title is The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster by Darren Hardy. The book just came out and I devoured it with delight with very few exceptions. I loved his stories and learned much from his accumulated wisdom as an entrepreneur himself. I highly recommend it for anyone in business and especially for anyone contemplating going into business.

And, I've read a lot of these kinds of books, and in fact, I studied Jim Rohn for many years too. Darren Hardy, in the Final Word section of the book, just before the Jim Rohn quote above, said, "I warn you: Knowledge is not power. It's potential power." I've also seen it written in many different ways that it is our own goal and that of every person on the planet to seek to reach their potential. It's as if when we die we are judged by how close we came to fulfilling our own God-given potential.

Screw that!

Except for those who want to go there on purpose. No problem then. We're simply here to be alive, and to live we cannot escape making hundreds of choices every day. Whatever comes of that is the result of the choices alone, unless we or others around us add judgments to the outcome. It is what it is.

I think as I said yesterday, that a great and wonderful thing to do is to see the power each of us has to decide, to do or not do, to live. If we need or want information, great. If we choose to do nothing special (according to others) with our lives, that is a way of using our power. We each get to choose. There is no one, true way. There is no brass ring to grab. We just get to live and choose every single day. 

What I can do to be an encouragement and uplift others is simply and profoundly to love them as they are, appreciate their own inner power, and to allow them the dignity of accepting that they alone are qualified to choose for themselves. I can have an opinion of what I might do, and if they wanted to hear that, they may even accept some of that, but in the end, it will always be their choice.

When I look at others with unconditional love, which is allowing others to be and choose who they are and who they want to become, and what they may choose to do, I empower them. When I see or point out something they 'should' do, I dis-empower or make them less-than in my eyes. Should is one of those words that is best to let go of as if you've never known it before. It takes practice because it has been used on us most of our lives. Allow others their own dignity and inner power by loving them without condition.


My Potential Has Gone Missing. Has Anyone Seen My Potential? How Will I Succeed Without My Potential? Maybe I'm Not What I Could Be, But If I Could Just Find My Potential. . . 

Spread Some Joy Today--Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feels better already. . . Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe. . .

Daily Inspiration 4-27-15

"There is nothing 

in a caterpillar 

that tells you 

it's going to be a butterfly." 

-- Margaret Fuller 

I think it is pretty much impossible to know who will do what brilliant act, dent the universe, create the next big thing. Every single person has the potential to rise to as high status or status of accomplishment as anyone else. It really comes down only to what their own desires are, and many times those desires are unspoken, or not even recognized by those potentials.

Often enough, things seem to happen by mistake that leads on to something special. Indeed, there are hundreds of products that were "discovered" by accident, that went on to become household names and staples in our lives.

Other times, people grow into things. Just like a caterpillar grows into a butterfly, what started as something different rises to a new level.

If only we could look at each other with all the respect, dignity and confidence that we would look at anyone who has changed the world and put a significant dent in the universe. If only we could see that potential in our children, or children's children, and every child we see, without trying to make them see it, but by simply having assured confidence in their own internal power to decide to use or not to decide to use it.


Celebrate The Butterfly In Everyone You Meet. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving people for who they choose to be regardless of what we might think they could be.

Daily Inspiration 4-26-15

"Real love stories 

never have endings." 

-- Richard Bach 

Once I realized this fact, I immediately dropped all the baggage I was carrying around. It was the source of my freedom. . . and joy.

Consider all those that you have loved in your life. If it was love, to begin with, it is love now.


Besides, All There Really Is, Is Love. The Rest Is Just A Story We Made Up. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting your love flow freely.

Daily Inspiration 4-25-15

"It doesn't matter

where the information comes from. 

It only matters 

how you feel about it after receiving it." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

Sometimes we get caught up in the source of information rather than the information itself. Jesus proclaimed the same things in his own homeland as in other parts of the world, yet in his homeland they did not listen because of the source. "Who was He to speak this information? We've known Him all His life and He is nothing special."

Fear, disbelief from familiarity, focusing on the source and not the information, can all lead to missing the value of the information. It might even be the other way around, as with famous people like movie stars and rock stars, where we focus on the source, and only because of the source would we even consider the information. In other words, if they say it, it must be true!

There's a better way in all of this. Focus on the information and pay attention to how you feel about it. But don't look for the truth or the lie. That matters little. Look only to see if it resonates within you in a positive way or a negative way. Do you feel good reading or hearing it, or do you feel bad about it, fearful of it? How you feel about it determines two things: One, whether you will know it as truth to you or not, and Two, whether you even allow it in at this time. You might not be ready to hear it and then at another time, you will.

My best advice to myself is to open up when it resonates. Roll around in it, splash it over me, stir it up a bit, feel all the bits of it. Some parts may resonate and some parts not? No problem. I accept the parts that resonate with me and leave the rest for another time or a not-ever time. If I feel bad, fearful, distrustful, disbelieving, or any of a bunch of other negative emotions, I just let it be and move on.

We've been learning all of our lives. In that process, we've often picked up the views of others and accepted them in ourselves. It may be totally misinformation, yet right now it is affecting us in what we let in or don't let in. It's okay. As we find things that will resonate with us, we might even realize that we've heard this before a long time ago and at that time we rejected it. But, now it resonates. Everything in its own time. Everything unfolds perfectly.

They say to follow your heart. Well, that's the same thing as opening up to what resonates with you.

It's sort of funny that not too many years ago, I would not have allowed in the things that I now teach fluidly. Yet that is perfect. The timing wasn't right, but it came around again, and this time it was perfect. I celebrate that perfection.


I Celebrate That Which Resonates Or Is In-Tune With Me At This Time. I Feel The Alignment Of It. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because feeling good has become so important to you that you seek it every minute of every day, and because it resonates with you so clearly, you cannot help but share it with others in your demeanor, body language, and speech.

Daily Inspiration 4-24-15

"If you want to lose wait, 

begin by reducing 

the size of your "But. . ." 

-- Alan Cohen 

This post ties perfectly with yesterday, and I'll begin with a quote from Abraham, Ester Hicks from a workshop in Napa CA on February 27th, 1997:

"If you had one goal, and that was to feel good, you would never again need to hear another word from anyone. You would live successfully and happily and in a way of fulfilling your life's purpose ever after."

This whole idea has radically changed my life, and as you might recall from yesterday, I realized that I was feeling negative emotions and paid attention so that I could use that as perfect guidance to move from that to feeling good. I did some things that aided in that process, but the main point is that I used my emotions as guidance to move toward what I know I want, and let go of what I know I don't want.

And, people say, "But. . . it's true, or, But, this is the way it is, or, But, these things actually happened, or, But this is reality, or, But, I'm supposed to feel bad when this happens, or, But, they need to _______, or, But, it's not my fault, or, But, fill in the blank."

Each of these objections leads to no change at all. They simply stay where they are at. And, don't get me wrong, that is okay if you know what you are doing. If you really want to feel bad, that is a personal choice, and who am I to take you away from your personal or professional pain? Keep it if you will. However, should you not really want to keep it, then getting your "But" out of there would be beneficial.


Decide If You Will: There Is Nothing More Important Or Beneficial Than Choosing To Feel Good. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing it on purpose.

Daily Inspiration 4-23-15

"Is the world you are looking at see-worthy?" 

-- Alan Cohen 

Yesterday was a fascinating day. I got up feeling "off." As I moved through my morning, I felt more off. As I was recognizing the negative feeling within me, I wanted to feel better. So I began trying to find better feeling thoughts, yet this off-feeling was persistent. So, I sat down, put my headphones on and played my 15-minute morning meditation CD. Then, I did another, then another.

I was feeling better, but still not where I wanted to be. Now I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with physical possessions around me, so I took a short nap escaping the thoughts for a few minutes. Sometimes I just need to chill for a bit and let go of that rope, so to speak, and taking a nap often helps to let it go.

As I persisted on wanting to feel good, I began looking for things around me to appreciate. I put on some favorite music that helps me feel good and that helped too. Then I began appreciating sound and how I respond to certain sounds positively.

This caused me to think about one of my favorite sounds in the whole world: A spring afternoon and listening to the birds chirping. I could enjoy that for hours. There is nothing quite like it. This caused me to think about the courtyard right outside my office and how nice it is all messy with leaves and such. The birdbath where I can watch all different sizes and types of birds pause for a drink, or splash around bathing themselves.

Then I looked around at the stuff in my house that was previously bothering me and my thoughts of being overwhelmed by it all, but now I was seeing it differently. I was seeing all manner of things and remembering when I bought them or how I acquired them, and how special they were at that time. I began appreciating them all over again, and that if I wanted to, I could let them go at any time and that it would be okay.

Then I...well, I don't want to make this too long. Let's just say that I turned myself around and I began to feel good again. I began feeling appreciative. I began feeling valuable. I began to feel whole again. I kept finding more things to see that helped me to feel these improved feelings. My world became see-worthy again.

Here's a great bit from Abraham, Esther Hicks on this subject:

"As you hold to your intention to look for evidence of Well-Being and thriving and success and happiness, you will tune yourself to the vibrations of those things--and so those kinds of good-feeling experiences will dominate your life. Today, no matter where I am going, no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to look for what I am wanting to see." 

"You cannot be in a place other than where you are right now, but you do have the power to begin to express your perspective about where you are in increasingly better ways. And as you do that consciously and deliberately, you will see the evidence of the power of your focus on every subject to which you turn your attention."

"As you make the decision that you want to feel good and you consciously look for positive aspects within the subjects that you are involved in every day, and as you deliberately identify and focus upon what you do want regarding these subjects, you will set yourself upon a path of Eternal unfolding satisfaction and joy." 


Help Your World To Be See-Worthy By Telling A Different Story. Tell It The Way You Want It To Be. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by creating joy for yourself through appreciation.

Daily Inspiration 4-22-15

"Why freelancers [or, we] 

get so frustrated at clients 

who won't pay enough, 

argue for low prices, 

are really difficult, 

don't pay on time? 

I think it starts with the way we behave." 

-- Seth Godin 

I've been a Seth Godin fan for a long time now. I've read most of his books, and get his almost daily emails. Today, he offered an online course for a silly bargain, so I immediately bought it. It is called the Freelance Course, but you don't have to be a freelancer to benefit from it. In fact, I think every salesperson can benefit from taking this course. [Here's the link to the class: Specially priced Freelance Class ]

I completed it in just a few hours, and it was quite valuable to me. There are 87 very short segments. On number 28, this message reached out and grabbed me to get my attention. Immediately I saw some wonderful insights for anyone in sales, which is pretty much everyone on the planet.

After the quote above, he begins asking some questions. He asked, "the last time you did a brochure, did you do it yourself or did you hire a very expensive freelance designer to do it? And, when you hired that designer, did you insist on paying that person early, in advance, because you know their cash flow is tough? And, there are photos in your brochure. Did you go online to a cheap stock photo service, or download something for free? Or did you hire a professional photographer because, hey! It's worth it? Do you have any music on your hard drive that you didn't pay for?"

Aren't these wonderfully insightful questions?

I used to teach my salespeople that if you're going to sell new cars and you never buy one, you are shortchanging your future. Most auto salespeople think they're so knowledgeable about the market and would never buy a new car because of the immediate depreciation. That's not a negative, but it is a fact. It has to be a fact because now it would no longer be new.

However, there is a much larger picture to consider. If you've never bought a new car, then you've never had the experience of buying a new car and owning a brand new car. It is a very special experience. It isn't about the money or the depreciation. It's about the experience. It is magical.

I practiced what I preached and I have bought many new cars over the years. I know for a fact what it feels like to buy and own a new car. When I became an auto salesperson in September of 1972, within less than 8 months, I bought my very first new car. It was a 1973 Chevy Malibu SS 2-door coupe with swivel bucket seats. I bought around ten new cars over the years. Each was uniquely special.

Zig Ziglar taught the same thing. Speaking from experience has great value to the prospect and they can see if you mean it or not.

Seth Godin goes on to say, "We're telling ourselves a story about what kind of work is worth paying for. When you were busy talking to the client, and you're saying to yourself, "why don't they value my work? Can't they see how hard I worked at it?" There's a voice in the back of your head that says, "you know what? I'd be doing the same thing." Because over the years, people choose which path to go down."

He adds this at the end: ". . . if someone's already walking around with a world view, a story in their head about what to expect from this interaction we're about to have, you're not going to be able to change it."

We need to be real. If we believe that we only would buy really late model, low mileage vehicles so that we don't experience the initial depreciation, we are also missing the unique experience of the brand new car. When we expect others to buy what we sell, but we aren't willing to buy it ourselves, we short change our future.


Speaking From Experience Holds High Value. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by being honest with yourself.

Daily Inspiration 4-21-15

"They say that nobody is perfect. 

Then they tell you practice makes perfect. 

I wish they'd make up their minds." 

-- Wilt Chamberlain 

As a manager who has had the distinct opportunity to hire many people over the years, I agree with this interesting and oh, so accurate quote:

"The closest to perfection a person ever comes is when he fills out a job application form." -- Stanley J Randall

Even more so, that applies to almost every resume I've ever seen. I never hire based on a resume! Never.

So, I was thinking about perfection. Nobody's perfect is a very common quip. It is more often than not used as a shield against other people's fault-finding. I thought about that phrase, nobody's perfect. Maybe it's true. Maybe nobody is perfect.

Yet if that were true, what is all this striving for perfection stuff that is going on all over the planet? Practice?

Then, I thought, well. . . if nobody's perfect, maybe everybody is perfect. But, then people are always finding fault, especially the outside-looking-in crowd. Bodies come in all sizes, shapes, and so on and so on.

Some say that we will never be perfect, or that there was only one perfect person and he died 2,000 years ago.

All this stuff about perfection is just stuff. It just doesn't matter. We're all perfect, or we're all not perfect, or we will never be perfect, or we all could be perfect if we worked at it hard enough. It's all simply perspective. Who's looking, who's interested, who's opinion is it? What is their criterion? Who are they to judge? What does it all mean, anyway?

That is all so much work and such a cauldron of stress. Let it go. Let go of the rope. Perfect? Not Perfect? Who cares. Just live. Enjoy yourself. Play with the kids or the dog or cat. Watch a funny movie. Kick back. Have a cocktail. Or herb tea. Eat something delicious. Smell the air. Feel your body. Have more sex. Laugh at work. Sing in the shower. Enjoy yourself, or better said, INjoy yourself.

Find some joy. If there was anything other than love that was perfect, it is being in joy.


Love A Little. Love A Lot. Allow Your Inner Light To Shine Brightly. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Yes. Spread it all over yourself. Roll around in it. Slide down the hill on it. Let it melt on your body. Rock n' Roll in it.

Daily Inspiration 4-20-15

"Resistance is thought

transformed into feeling. 

Change the thought 

that creates the resistance, 

and there is no more resistance." 

-- Robert Conklin 

Here's one of the best things that I've learned from the Teachings of Abraham and I play with it every single day now:

"You can't take sides against anything. If you would just leave the "against" part out; if you would just be one who is for things--you would live happily ever after. . ." 

The news is bad enough with negative things exploited, but facebook is worse, I think. It seems there are so many posts where someone is replaying a video and exclaiming how awful this or that is, whether it was police brutality caught on camera, or something far worse.

There is a lot of pushing against things on social media. "Ain't it awful?" "We need to rise up against this outrage!" "Share this post if you care about changing this!" "This person needs to go to jail!" "We need to stop this from ever happening again!" "Join our "against that" campaign." "Let's all fight this together! Together we can win." "If it's important, it is worth fighting for." "Join the war on _____."

Whatever we resist persists. These people are actually spreading the negativity. Who needs the news?
I let them do as they will, but I choose to not plug into it. Even if it might be an outrage, I will let someone else push against it, fight it, recruit troops to fight for the cause and all that stuff. They can have it. I don't want anything to do with it.

I choose to have my own personal reality--one filled with joy and fun and peace. That is exactly how we create our own world, by simply deciding to do so. We used to call people crazy who created their own reality, but who really wants the reality that is being spread by the media and those fighters on Facebook and other places?

Peace is not won by violence. Peace would be the opposite of that. Joy is not created by justice. It doesn't even go there. It is absolutely as simple as deciding to be joyful, to seek joy, to look for things to appreciate, to refuse to plug into all the stuff that some people want to fight about.

I was thinking about that cigarette commercial way back that showed the guy with a black eye puffing on a filter cigarette and saying, "I'd rather fight than switch." Looks like he dd so. For a cigarette? OMG!

I have stopped pushing against things, situations, world events, and so much more. Now I look for things to appreciate and I walk around most of the day with a silly grin on my face, and joy in my heart. That's my new reality. 


You Can Have Some Too. As Much As You Want. Just Look For Things To Appreciate. 

Spread Some Joy Today--There is absolutely nothing like it. Yes!

Daily Inspiration 4-19-15

"My singular goal in life is that of being in joy." 

-- Terry Minion 

Yesterday, I gave away 16 copies each of two short books that are without a doubt in my top five books I've ever read. In the last year, I've easily given over 80 of each of them away to people I do training classes for, speaking to youth group, and just casually as the opportunity presents itself.

One of those books is a classic originally published in 1903, and because it is now public domain, it has been republished by scores of people and is still a popular seller in 2015. It is As A Man Thinketh, by James Allen. You can read it in about 30 minutes or so, but this book to me is like a favorite bit of smooth milk chocolate that I put on my tongue and enjoy the slow melting of it coating my tongue and my throat. It is one to savor.

The other is also worthy of savoring: Love Is Letting Go Of Fear by Gerald Jampolsky. I've given hundreds of copies of this away over the years. You can also read this one in about an hour. Most of us have short attention spans, so short is good.

The biggest thing I took from Love Is Letting Go Of Fear, was that rather than juggling so many different kinds of goals, to have a single goal in life. I will quote from that short page, subtitled, Singleness of Goal, in the book:

"Peace of mind as our single goal is the most potent motivating force we can have. To have inner peace we need to be consistent in having peace of mind as our single goal. Instead of having a single goal, we are all tempted to try to juggle multiple goals. Juggling can only serve to deflect our focus and increase our conflict. We can achieve consistency in keeping this single goal in mind by reminding ourselves of the singleness of purpose we would have if we suddenly found ourselves drowning in the ocean. We would, in that situation, put all of our attention into the single goal of staying afloat and breathing for survival."

In the last two years, I've come to the same conclusion and practice, except I use the word joy. My single goal in life is now joy. If something comes where I make a choice, I choose the one that will bring me joy. If joy is not available to choose, then I choose not to act. I follow that which brings me joy.

Last night I had two choices that would bring me joy, and that was lovely. Either one would be joyful. I chose one without the slightest issue of not choosing the other. What a wonderful kind of choice that is. Joseph Campbell said to "follow your bliss," and that is as close to joy as I can think of. Gerald Jampolsky said to have a "singular goal of peace of mind," and that is not only in the ballpark but inside the infield.


Joy, Bliss, Peace Of Mind. Those Words Are Soothing Just Looking At Them, Saying Them, Writing Them. But, Living Them Is Even Better. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Hey! That's an idea! Let's spread some joy today!

Daily Inspiration 4-18-15

"You can lead a horse to water, 

but you can't make him drink." 

-- a very old saying 

This week, I gave away a lot of books. How many do you think will get read? I haven't got a clue. I certainly hope that they all would, but that seems highly unlikely. But, I have learned that it isn't my job to decide, nor can I spend any serious time being concerned about whether they get read or not. If I was concerned, I might rather not spend the money it cost to buy them, to begin with.

One of the significant mentors in my life, Jim Rohn, said that in America (this was around 1979), only 3% of the population owns a library card. I've also heard it said and seen it in writing that only 3% "succeed" in life. Their definition is those who are financially well enough off that they can "retire" comfortably without relying on supplements such as Social Security.

I used to plug into all that stuff. I don't anymore. Life is all about choices, and each of us chooses. Not all choose consciously, but they all choose. And, we are choosing all day long every day we are here living our lives on this planet.

The most significant thing I learned about this is that it isn't my decision to make for them. The only person I can decide about is me. Everyone has to make their own choice.

Can I influence? Sure. To what degree is not up to me. Ultimately, I can only lead myself, and whatever I offer to others has to be a gift without strings. If I think they should do something with that gift, that means I'm trying to decide for them. Even when people are, based on my own opinion, choosing poorly, I cannot decide for them. I might influence them, but that is all.

So, really what I was giving out this week, was a number of opportunities. "Here's an opportunity, do with it as you wish. It is a gift that I only hope could bring value to you."

How many times have you had opportunities that you blew off, didn't care for, didn't want? How many times have you had opportunities that seriously changed your life? We've all had both. The choice of what to do with them was ours alone.

The reason I'm writing this is that I think sometimes as parents, teachers, managers, leaders, that we might get frustrated that some are not responding to our teaching in the way we would like. Sometimes we see people wasting their talent--in our opinion, of course. Sometimes we simply put too much energy into what decisions others make or should make or didn't make. It just doesn't matter. I think we just need to give from our heart and mind and leave the rest up to everyone else. If we influence positively, excellent, and if we miss the mark in our own estimation, that's okay too. 


The Other Persons Decision Is Not Ours To Make. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of the rope.

Daily Inspiration 4-17-15

"Your thoughts are powerful, 

and you have much more control 

over your own experience 

than most of you realize." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

Yesterday, I was talking with a friend sharing something that I had stumbled across. We were both just a bit excited and unnerved by it because we both care about the subject and want it to be as good as it can be. But, in this case, we were addressing more of the unwanted than the wanted aspects.

Sometimes, even though I have learned so much to know better, I drift back to old habitual patterns of thought and discussions. One thing is true: I don't get anywhere close to as upset or angry as I used to in the not so distant past.

So after some reflection, I came back to my senses so to speak and saw clearly what I was doing and participating in and that doing those things doesn't serve me or the situation at all.

Here's a few bits from Abraham, Esther Hicks on bringing sanity and better results:

"When the way you feel is controlled by a condition, you can never influence a change in the condition; but when you are able to control the way you feel within a condition, then you have the power to influence change in the condition."

"While almost everyone is aware of how they feel in varying degrees, there are few who understand the important guidance that their feelings or emotions provide. In the most simple terms: Whenever you feel bad, you are in the process of attracting something that will not please you. Without exception, the reason for negative emotion is because you are focused upon something you do not want or upon the lack or absence of something that you do want." 

In this case, we were discussing both something we did not want, and the absence of something that we did want. And, in the process, the more we discussed it, the more it didn't feel good to say it. 

So this morning, I realized what was really going on in that conversation, and decided to take the perfect guidance of my negative emotion about the subject and pivot toward what I do want instead of what I don't want. Another way to say that is to pivot and focus on the solution instead of focusing on the problem. My feeling about the whole thing has changed to positive emotions, and now solutions are on the way.


As We Gather Knowledge, And Then Fail To Practice It, We Remain Where We Are. However, When We Practice It, Then It Can Become Part Of Us And Positive Change Is Assured. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by practicing doing just that.

Daily Inspiration 4-16-15

"Continuing to tell stories of shortage 

only continues to contradict 

 your desire for abundance, 

 and you cannot have it both ways: 

 You cannot focus upon unwanted 

 and received wanted." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I've been doing some classes this week and talking to truck salesmen. Two of them stood out reminding me of how I used to be, or rather how I used to talk, or rather how I used to complain in various ways. Mostly I would complain that I could succeed if they would just do this or that, or I could do better with this or that, or why don't they fix this or that?

As I studied and learned from some wise teachers, I learned that this transference of responsibility for success to anyone and anything outside of me was not serving me at all. In fact, it was holding me back from the very thing that I said I wanted.

And after studying the teachings of Abraham, all of that has come into such a clear view that I am astonished at how much easier it is to understand and make better choices.

They say that every subject is two subjects: That which is wanted and that which is unwanted. They say it is like looking at a stick that has two ends. One side may be abundance, and the other is scarcity, one side is health, and the other is illness, one side is joy and the other side is despair, and so on. And, they say, the only thing that matters is which end of the stick you are focused on. 

This makes it so simple to see that if I am focused on what is wrong, I cannot very well have what is right. We cannot focus in two places at once. So, if I am wanting more money, I cannot focus on the lack of money and have more money, if I am talking about illness, I am focusing on illness and I will not have the health that I really desire.

As a salesperson, if I am focusing on any of the perceived roadblocks to my success that these other people have been putting in my way, I cannot succeed. If I say that I would be happy to do that if they would only pay me to do that, I cannot do what may be the very thing that will help me have more money, sales, and success. It is simply a matter of which end of the stick we are focusing on by talking about it, telling stories about it, sharing it with others, thinking about it silently.

The only way out of this place of unwanted, is as easy as turning our attention and focus on what is wanted. If I want more sales, I focus on more sales coming to me. If I want more money, I talk about the benefits of more money, if I want health, I stop talking or thinking about illness and focus on how it feels to be healthy. It becomes even more effective to expand on that new focus by explaining to ourselves, others, in our journal, our book of Positive Aspects, why we want what we want, what the benefits are, or why we want more money, why we want better health, and so on. As we expand there, the Law of Attraction brings more of the same kind of thoughts, and more, and more helping us to achieve what we are wanting.

In other words, we have to tell a better story. We need to stop telling it like it is or like it used to be, and instead, tell it the way we want it to be.

Even though I have this wonderful knowledge and understanding, I need to practice it every day. Fortunately, all I really need do is simply pay attention to how I am feeling at any given moment. If I am feeling down, or negative emotion, I am out of alignment with what I want and heading toward more unwanted, and if I am feeling good, I am in alignment and heading toward more of what I want. Truly, it is this easy.

This is not the kind of thing I can tell people and expect that it will change them. First, it isn't my responsibility to change anyone. Second, I can only lead by example.


We Can Only Lead By Our Own Example. Words Do Not Teach. Experience Does. Let Others See That.

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on your own joy first, then by your example, you spread it wherever you go.

Daily Inspiration 4-15-15

Here's some love for you today:

 "We would like you to release the word "achieve" or "earn" from your vocabulary and from your understanding, altogether, and we would like you to replace those words with the word "allow". You're wanting to allow your Well-Being, not achieve it. It's not something that you need to earn. All you have to do is decide what it is you would like to experience, and then allow it in order to achieve it. It isn't something you have to struggle for or try for. You are all worthy beings. You are deserving of the Well-Being."

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks, July 8th, 2000


Struggle? What's that? I'm Allowing. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Relax.