Daily Inspiration 11-28-15

"The only thing that holds you back 

from getting what you want 

is paying attention 

to what you don't want." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

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.

Daily Inspiration 11-27-15

"We see what we want to see. 

Change what you want to see, 

and what you see will change." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Do you remember what it felt like to graduate from school? As I remember, it felt so good to get to move on to a whole new adventure, while leaving all that it took to get there behind. Like a snake casting off its skin, a butterfly coming out of the cocoon. Yesterday, I felt as if I graduated. It was an interesting realization and feeling.

It's been coming for some time. I realize the Law of Attraction working to help me along my chosen path. I wanted to see the good in the world. I wanted to see the good in other people. I wanted to see the world growing and becoming and serving. As I would find one thing that matched my desire, another would come, and another, and another, and now it has become rather consistent and predictable.

Can you look at tragedy and see the value of it? Can you look at the negative things going on in the world and see beyond it to the positive things? Can you see beyond the inflamed anger and unhappiness expressed by other people and see their cry for love? Can you find peace within regardless of what may be going on without? These were issues that I struggled with, but no more. 

Earlier in my life, I didn't even struggle with those issues, I joined in. I wrote a song many years ago mirroring the ideas in the book and movie, 1984 by George Orwell, called Watching You. The world against the individual and all that stuff. It was my reading, and better said, my re-reading of a book that changed my direction. I've bought and given hundreds of copies away. It is Love Is Letting Go Of Fear by Gerald Jampolsky, MD. Such a simple, easy fast read, and yet so powerfully profound. That book started me on my healing journey.

Much later and so many authors later in April of 2007, I found the audiobook version of The Secret, and that led me to many authors and it was the Teaching of Abraham as presented by Jerry and Esther Hicks that resonated the most with me. I've mentioned this a few times, but on my wall for many years now is a statement from Abraham, Esther Hicks: "Today, no matter where I'm going and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to see that which I am wanting to see." I took that idea to heart and began practicing it. And yesterday, I feel like I graduated to it becoming me.

I'm so excited about this that I can hardly stand it. There is much ahead of me that I want to realize I already know deep inside, and yet I am reveling in the sight of new eyes as if I were blind and now I can see.

I can look through the newspaper without any qualms now. I can see past it. I can see past the pain. But more than this, I just don't see much of that stuff anymore. I see good things, people loving people, people serving people. I see people struggle too, but I see that they are in charge of that and that it doesn't come from the outside, but the inside, and that they can let go of that rope any time they choose to do so.

I hold ill will for no one. I have no enemies. My enemies from the past were always from within, not without. My previous blaming of others, holding grudges, feeling mistreated, was my fault, not theirs. I have realized something, that at first, and even so long on this path, was very hard to accept at full value. It is this: We really do, or rather, let me say it this way, I really do create my own world. I create what I see. I see what I choose to see. I feel as I choose to feel. Any contrast that I see is there to spur my desires to what I would rather see next. I choose it all.

To realize that I am there at that place now, with a whole new, fresh, bright, fascinating world ahead is something to celebrate. I am celebrating still, and will for some time I'm sure. I am so grateful, thrilled, joyous.


It Works. All This That I Have Learned And Taught, Is Real If You Want It To Be. It Is Always Our Choice Of What We Will See And Believe.

Spread Some Joy Today--Wow. The magic of all of this is mind-boggling. I am in joy!

Daily Inspiration 11-26-15

"Though I may not always succeed initially, 

I intend to practice what I preach 

and do my best to lead by example." 

-- Terry Minion 

Good day to you! It is Thanksgiving Day in this part of the world, and so it is completely appropriate to do just that: Give Thanks.

Yesterday, I shared some quotes from Jeffrey Gitomer about changing things up and thanking ourselves first by finding those things about us that we appreciate, can sing about, be proud of, and love about ourselves. From that foundation, we can be more sincere in our appreciation of others. So, I will lead by example.

Here is a list of things, attributes that I appreciate about myself that I give thanks for and celebrate today:

• I celebrate my sense of humor. I love to laugh, and I've even learned to laugh at myself. I love being around people who help me to laugh. 
• I am grateful for my desire and appreciation of learning. I am constantly learning and I think this is one of my greatest assets. 
• My willingness to invest in myself. Since I was about 21 years old, I have constantly invested in myself and my personal development. 
• I celebrate my willingness to try things and to choose the things I try. I am willing to learn how after I begin doing it anyway. 
• I completely delight in my desire and practice at being an unconditional lover. I have always loved, but it used to have conditions. Now, I love mostly without any conditions. That alone has changed my life forever. 
• I'm happy about my willingness to share; to teach. This has become my life's "work." 
• I appreciate my work ethic. It is amazing what I am willing to do when I am delightfully and/or intensely focused on an objective. 
• I love with an open heart. I can still remember the day in my kitchen when that change happened within me. The Holy Spirit softened my heart to never be the same again. Now I cry at the drop of a hat and mostly about the good things that happen and the spirit in others. 
• I appreciate my ever-expanding spirituality, and one thing interesting about this is that I now appreciate my body more than I have before as a direct result of stepping outside of it. 

There's my shortlist. I haven't really focused on gratitude about myself like that, but it is a powerful and enchanting process. I hope you try it yourself and see how it causes you to feel or see yourself. 

And, now, I am so thankful for all of you. Thank you for subscribing, for reading, for skimming, for allowing me to share and perhaps touch a resonant chord within you. I am so blessed by those who share with me and so I know how that can feel when it really hits home. Thank you for being a part of my life, however long or short. It is my delight to share and I grow by doing just that. I haven't got a clue how many people read these things I've done daily since September 2009, but I know they are all over the planet. I am blessed by all of you.

I give you my love and my best intentions for your day today and your life as you grow. I celebrate you.

Happy Giving Thanks To YOU! 

Spread Some Joy Today--and every day.

Daily Inspiration 11-25-15

"People try so hard to express

good cheer in these holiday seasons

that they often miss the mark. . . 

Here's my idea: 

Why not start by thanking yourself." 

-- Jeffrey Gitomer 

I've been a long time subscriber to Jeffrey Gitomer's Sales Caffeine weekly email newsletter. I love it. Today's message from Jeffrey was quite fresh. In the last week, I've received a bunch of typical writings about Thanksgiving, and especially how commercial the holidays have become, etc., so to read Jeffrey's article #1226, titled, A Different Kind of Thanks. Yours, I had to share the essence of it here.

He said, "Here's my idea: Why not start by thanking yourself. Thank yourself for your success, your good fortune, your health, your family, your library, your attitude, your fun times, your friends, and all the cool things you do that make you a happy person. If you're having trouble thanking yourself, that's an indicator that things aren't going very well. And in that situation any thanks you give to others, will be perceived somewhere between 'less than whole' and 'totally insincere.'"

He continues: "I don't think you can become sincerely thankful to others until you have become fully thankful TO yourself and FOR yourself. And once you realize who YOU are, your message of thanks will become much more real and passionate to others." 

Insincerity in communications during the holidays? Bucket loads. It's all around us. "How are you?" Answer: "I'm fine, how about you?" I cannot stand small talk because it is so small that it is insignificant. Better not to say anything than such dribble.

But, what really got me in his message is that we so often during Thanksgiving, and at other times, think about giving our thanks to others, to God, whatever, and we leave ourselves out like that would be selfish or something. It's not selfish. It's a perfect place to start. I think more focus on our gratitude for ourselves and what we believe about ourselves is of value, opens the floodgates for sincere gratitude to flow toward others.

We are worthy of our own gratitude, appreciation, love, respect, and belief in ourselves on our way to seeing those virtues and qualities in those that we come into contact with. Don't you agree? Let us start there this time.


Make A List Of What You Are Thankful For About You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--and from recognizing that joy in yourself, you can no longer store it alone.

Daily Inspiration 11-24-15

"You are always choosing

which self you will love from. 

In your choice lives your destiny." 

-- Alan Cohen 

The other day, I said that allowing is loving; that to become an allower is to become a lover. It has a beginning, and that beginning is in us.

From Abraham, Esther Hicks: "The not allowing of self is usually where the not allowing of others comes forth. Usually, the one who is most disapproving of a quality in himself notices that same quality in others and disapproves of it there as well. And so, an accepting, an approving, an appreciating, and an allowing of oneself is the first step in the appreciating, approving, or allowing of others. 

And that does not mean that you must wait until you are, by your standards, perfect, or that they are, by their standards, perfect, for there will never be that perfect ending place--for you are all ever-changing, ever-growing Beings. It means looking and intending to see in you what you want to see, or intending to see in others what you want to see." 

That last sentence is worthy of repeating to take note of it and the power of its message: "It means looking and intending to see in you what you want to see, or intending to see in others what you want to see." The most powerful part in that to me is looking to see in us what we want to see outside of us. That says so much.

Feel free to replace the allow words with love. As we learn to allow or love ourselves, we then have the understanding and capacity to allow and love others.


Let Us Begin Our Week Of Thanksgiving Inside Out.

Spread Some Joy Today--by seeing that joy within yourself flowing out and touching others. They will feel it because you do.

Daily Inspiration 11-23-15

"Prayer is sitting in silence 

until it silences us, 

choosing gratitude 

until we are grateful, 

praising God 

until we ourselves 

are a constant act of praise." 

-- Fr. Richard Rohr 

Wow. This is one of the most powerful, insightful and useful quotes I've ever seen. You might do as I did and read it over and over and let it tickle you in the process.


A Worthy Inspiration For Your Monday. . . And All The Rest Of The Days Too. 

Spread Some Joy Today--until we ourselves are a constant act of joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-22-15

"The Art of Allowing is: 

I am that which I am, 

and I am pleased with it, 

joyful in it. 

And you are that which you are, 

and while it is different perhaps 

from that which I am, 

it is also good." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I'm always looking at how to translate the idea into practical living. I'll share some examples from the last few days to demonstrate.

Friday evening, I was outside a busy restaurant to pick up some take-home food. I saw an older lady (it's funny to me to use this phrase now since she was probably not much older than me!), I said hi to her and she asked me if I happened to have a set of jumper cables. I said that I didn't know, but I normally do and that I would look in my truck. Nothing in the back, so I said I would look behind the seat. There they were.

When I brought them out, she was obviously relieved. Her car wouldn't start. Then out comes a younger man talking briefly with her. He was obviously unhappy. In order to jump the batteries from his car to her car, her car had to be moved. It was no big deal as it was downhill. She tried to do it but the guy was having issues with the way she was going about it, so he got her out and did it himself. As he was doing that, she said it was her son.

There was a lot more impatience from the son about the mother's unfortunate circumstances and his unhappiness about his inconvenience. I was smiling and calm throughout. To me, there was nothing to be upset about. The mother said thank you to me and sorry for my trouble, and I said, I had the easy part as it wasn't me in need, and that I was very pleased to be able to be of assistance. Then, she thanked me for being a soothing influence with her son.

We get to choose our mood in every circumstance, don't we?

There were three other situations where someone was calling a person by a name that ties them with a group. This is always the first step in creating enemies. We call them some kind of name that takes away their humanity. Now they are easy to kill because they aren't really human. Regardless of what group we throw real human people into, it is all about dehumanizing them for our ego's own comfort and safety. It could be the color of their skin, the religion we think they belong to, a particular type of activity we think they are associated with or could be associated with. It could be an ideology, and the list goes on.

Whenever we do this, it is always based on fear and it is always intended to dehumanize the other. To say that every Muslim is the same, every Christian the same, every Buddhist the same is impossible in reality, but easy in our use of language. We might as well say every politician is the same, every CPA is the same, every drug dealer and drug user, every grade school teacher, every social worker, every President, every anything is the same--that they are all to blame because they are part of something more than themselves. It's pure ego. It's pure fear. It's purely irresponsible. It's totally and undeniably unloving.

We get to choose our mood at every moment. We get to choose our thoughts of ourselves and others in every moment. We get to choose how we associate one thing with another. We get to choose. We are the only ones who choose. The outcome, or the reality, is the result of those choices.


We Choose To Allow (Love), Or Not (Fear). There's Really Only Two Choices. Which Will You Choose Today, This Moment, In This Situation, In This Interaction? 

Spread Some Joy Today--That choice would be love. Joy and love are interchangeable.

Daily Inspiration 11-21-15

"We have no idea 

what tomorrow will bring, 

but today 

is overflowing with potential." 

-- Allan Lokos 

I just finished a six-lesson course by Mike Dooley called, Playing the Matrix. I enjoyed it, and the entire course, in my mind, can be distilled into this:

1. Decide what you want. Without desire, nothing happens.
2. Visualize your life and how it feels after you have what you want, as if you have it this moment. 10 Minutes a day is all that is necessary. Every day.
3. Avoid specifics. Don't pay any attention to how it may come about. Be open to the magic and wonder. Be open to more than you imagined, and
4. Move in the direction of your desires in whatever way you can and however small your steps may be. It won't be your action that gets you there, but you can't get there without action.

He calls them 'baby steps.' It's simple, right? Here's a test: Which steps are you not doing?


That Question Applies As Much To Me As Anyone. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by moving in the direction of your joy.

Daily Inspiration 11-20-15

"The ego makes a lousy master, 

but an extraordinary servant." 

-- Alan Cohen 

I've become more aware of my ego in my life and how much authority I've given it. The ego has its place, but giving it authority and leadership positions are not in my overall best interests. So, I'm paying closer attention to my thoughts and my conversations with others. It's sort of like being outside of myself and inside at the same time.

I have learned that when I am in alignment with my inner being, my higher self, I can feel the resonance of that and it is perfect. I now endeavor to pay attention to that alignment or misalignment in the moments of my life, without distracting myself from fully living those moments.

To take this one important step further, I've recently become very appreciative of this awareness which allows me to see better how I interact with others and better achieve whatever objective I or they have in that interaction. I only just realized this appreciation in the last few days, and I'm very excited about it and learning so much as a result.

Now, all this may sound way too philosophical, or new agey, but it is absolutely practical. It can make a huge difference whether you're in sales, or in interactions with a spouse, or virtually any relationship we may have, regardless of length or depth.

Here's some questions that help show the practicality and value of this awareness and appreciation of our ego's place in our daily interactions:

Is the other person really listening to what I am saying? Am I talking beyond the answer they desire? Am I showing off my knowledge or helping them to understand? Am I really listening to any of their responses during the conversation? Am I making any necessary or appropriate adjustments based on those responses? Am I telling them more than they asked for or want to hear? Am I being of value? Is what I am saying helping, uplifting, guiding, or is it more about what is wrong? Why am I here? What do they really want from me? How can I be of service to them? Am I promoting love or fear? Will this expand our relationship or contract it? Am I giving them what they would like to receive? 

Sometimes it might be important to ask the other or others if what you are saying is of value. Have I answered your questions to your satisfaction? Is there more that you would like to know? How may I serve you further? What more can I do to be of service to you?

The ego likes to talk until your throat is sore from speaking, while the one we're speaking to has long left their body. They may still be standing or sitting there, but they are not really there. If our relationship is to be one of love, service, helpfulness, enlightenment, upliftment, or other benefit, paying attention, or being aware, and then appreciating that awareness can help us to lead and have us control how the ego can serve.


Am I Being Of Service? Is This Of Value To The Other? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by realizing your own.

Daily Inspiration 11-19-15

"Going with the flow 

is not only effortless, but 

it also affords the best view." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

I got up early this morning with the intent of writing today's Daily Inspiration. My computer was awakened and the Internet was not working. So, I casually restarted my computer and restarted the modem. Then, my computer, which was just recently refurbished, chose not to reboot. It stopped with a black screen. Hmmmmm.

I waited a couple hours until after 7am to text my computer guru, and he took over two hours to respond. So at 9:30am the cause was found. By then, I had to get ready for an appointment. The problem with the computer was the silliest thing and I've never experienced it before, but I had a video san disk card in the card slot on the computer and once that was removed, the computer rebooted properly.

Things happen for a reason. I do believe that, and so I have learned to quickly shrug it off and pivot to something else. So, I finished a book I was very much into and that was a great benefit to me, for having finished it and for the loving information that it conveyed.

I would have easily spent 5 hours on the computer this morning, but the Universe had something else in mind. I went with the flow and all was perfect. I guess I could have been all kinds of upset about my mini-roadblock, but I wasn't upset in the least. I enjoyed the change actually. It was a nice change and I even spent 15 minutes in meditation too. It was wonderful.

There is all manner of things that can seemingly go wrong to change without any notice, and all of that is benign really. What spells trouble or adds joy is strictly in how we respond to any of those challenges.


We Have Many Opportunities To Choose Peace. That's Another Name For Going With The Flow. 

Spread Some Joy Today--I hope you are in-joy with yourself today. It's a perfect day for it, don't you think?

Daily Inspiration 11-18-15

"The potential for wellness or illness

is always within you. 

The thoughts you choose determine 

which you experience 

and to what degree you experience it." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

More from Abraham on this subject: "Because of the attention to illness in your society, your diseases are running rampant. With all of the medical technology--all of the tools, all of the discoveries--there are more people who are critically ill today than ever before. The prevalence of so much severe illness is predominantly because of your attention to illness.

You are very particular about what you eat and what you wear and what you drive, and yet you are not particular about what you think. We would encourage you to be particular about what you think. Keep your thoughts on the side of the subject that is in harmony with your wanting. Think about wellness--not about lack of it. Think about being as you want to be rather than the lack of it. 

Your illnesses are not born and perpetuated only because of your negative attention to illness. Remember that illness stems from your feelings of vulnerability and guardedness. Train your thoughts on all subjects (not only the subject of physical health) in the direction of what you desire, and through the improved emotional state that you accomplish, your physical well-being will then be assured.

The potential for illness or wellness lies within all of you at all times. And whatever you give your attention to begins to foster within you the manifestation of the essence of that thought. Thought is very powerful." 

I have learned that thought controls all experience, and yet we might often think that illness is something that can attack out of the blue and afflict us without our permission. In this case, permission is a funny word because we wouldn't even consider giving our permission, and yet without our attention to it (our permission), it cannot be. We even create phrases that seem to explain the invasion, such as, panic attack or anxiety attack, yet neither of those things attack. None of it attacks.

It will be interesting when the medical community in the world stops looking for what is wrong in the body and instead begins helping the patient to get their thoughts back in alignment. That is the control module for our entire experience.


Our Natural State Is One Of Well-Being. Everything Else Is Unnatural. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by focusing on enjoying yourself as often as you can.

Daily Inspiration 11-17-15

"Stress is far more 

attitudinal than situational." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Stress is not a thing. It is purely a thought in origin and a negative emotion as a result of that thought or thoughts about something real or unreal. We can have stress over things that are real, such as events, direct and indirect communications, and many other things that we can and have experienced. At the same time, we can experience the negative feeling of stress from those things or situations that are purely from our imagination. Stress is simply a thought that we choose.

But, here's the really interesting part: stress is never actually in the present. It is based on the past and projected to the future. I believe there are two easy ways to relieve ourselves of any stress. One is to choose a better feeling thought. Some struggle with that idea so here's number two: become present. Close your mind to the past and the future and see only this moment, experience only this moment. Stress cannot survive either.

The easy way to come into the present moment is to pay attention to something in your field of vision. Don't make any judgments about it, simply notice it. Another easy way is to pay attention to something going on in your body. Your tense muscles, your breathing, the itch on your forehead. Either of these brings us immediately into the present where there is no stress. Stress cannot exist when we are present--we have to be out of it in order to experience stress.


Isn't That Good News! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself the pleasure of dropping the rope and taking a deep breath. OMG! There it is! It is joy!

Daily Inspiration 11-16-15

"Wherever you are, 

and whatever you do, 

be in love." 

-- Rumi 

What a marvelous and joyous way to live my life. Wherever I am, and whatever that I do throughout the day, to be in love is the ultimate joy.

I've seen a lot of movies where someone may say, "I've never been in love," or "I want to be love," or "when will love happen to me?" It's as if love is only lavished upon someone who patiently awaits it, feels eventually that they deserve it, and becomes impatient of its absence. How sad--and so unnecessary.

To be in love is easy. Step one: Love. There is no step two. You're done. Another, seemingly more practical word than that magical and mysterious word love, is to appreciate. Appreciation is love. When we appreciate, we are loving.

Where to begin. . . the mirror in the bathroom (or any other mirror). Loving self is probably the best place to begin. How to begin? Find things to appreciate in that image in the mirror. A smile will help break the ice. Not analyzing your pores will also be helpful. What can you appreciate about that image, that 'you' in the mirror? Every time you see yourself in a mirror, find things to appreciate. Smile. Watch those eyes light up when you do. Even if you appreciate the same things over and over, it's good.

Now, everywhere you go today, everyone you see, every thing you see, every non-thing you see, find something to appreciate about it. The sky is blue. Check, It is a gorgeous blue. Better. The sky is magnificent! Way better. Look at all these cars and trucks and all different colors, sizes and shapes. Isn't it fantastic that we have this transportation available to us at a moment's notice to go wherever we desire to go? There is nothing as sweet as a full tank of gas and somewhere to go.

You get to see what you choose to see and how you choose to see it. How will you see it? As if it is nothing? As if you're in love? It's your choice.

Tired of the movie of your life? I love how Alan Cohen said in yesterday's message, "It's your movie! Change the script!" So true. Wayne Dyer has said, "change the way you look at things and the things you look at change!" So true. Life is not in things. It is in the way we see, what we see, how we feel when we see, hear, touch, smell. It's the experience of it all. So what kind of experience do you want to have?


I've Chosen Mine. I Choose To Be In Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing love, appreciation, joy. They aren't for sale. They are free, and all come from choosing.

Daily Inspiration 11-15-15

"Instead of blaming people

you believe have hurt you, 

 give them credit for helping you. 

They are not devils, but angels." 

-- Alan Cohen 

It has been said that "the devil is in the details," but what is more true is that the devil is in the past. In the present there is wonder, and in the past can often be darkness and blame carried sometimes for a lifetime. Yet, it is never the event in the past that makes it dark, but how we choose to think of it that makes it so.

The past is over, but it can be brought into the present at will. That is what virtually every significant other relationship argument is about. It is about the past and bringing the past into the present.

That reminds me of yesterday's post about the stock market and how the fear of investors is aroused by a stock missing the analyst's expectation or projection. Isn't that often the way it is in a relationship where we who are to blame have missed the expectations or projections of the analyst [the one blaming]. Or it could be reversed. Someone hurt them in the past and now the expectation is fulfilled when you "hurt" them now. [See? It is happening again. I knew it was going to happen...] But, it isn't now, is it? It was then, and it is all thought. Nothing actually happens, it is simply how we or they choose to think about an event, person or situation.

As Alan Cohen so delightfully points out in A Course In Miracles Made Easy, If we can change our thinking about the past, we can then turn all those devils into angels. He says there are two ways to do that:

"First acknowledge things about them that you genuinely appreciate." Even if they were mean and awful and so hard to find any redeeming quality in them, surely there is one tiny, tiny thing that we can appreciate about them. Then, appreciate that one thing. Even if it seemed impossible, he says, "It's your movie. Change the script."

"The second devil-transformer. Consider: How has this person helped you to grow?" He says that "everyone helps us. Some help us by being kind, and some help us by acting unkind, so that we may choose kindness no matter what they do." 

He adds this bit of wisdom: "You will never gain by blaming others for your loss. You will always gain by honoring others for their contribution. This reversal of perspective is the most helpful shift in perception you will ever achieve." 

It has been said that we cannot change the past, but that is absolutely false. We can change the past, and I might even say, that we should change the past so that the past is something that we can look on with joy and find no fault whatsoever.


What Would An Argument Be Without The Past? It Wouldn't Be An Argument, Would It? It Would Be No-Thing. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by turning all those devils into angels. There is joy in that.