Daily Inspiration 9-17-17

"No man is crushed by misfortune 

unless he has first been deceived by prosperity." 

 -- Seneca 

[Classic post from 1-24-14]

It would not have been long ago that this quote by Seneca would not have even registered with me at all. Now it does. I find that very interesting.

I see being deceived by prosperity as putting prosperity upon a large pedestal. In this place it is more than a goal or desire, it is an ideal. It is likened to the Holy Grail. It is where (or so we think) everyone who is anyone strives to be. And, one more thing--it is hard. It isn't easy. You have to work your ass off to get to that place and though many try, only some achieve.

From this vantage point, misfortune is devastating. It is also a place where losers gather and commiserate with each other. It is more than an event or a place one gets to. It is a state of mind. Many even begin thinking they deserve no more for this is their lot in life. Indeed, they often travel from one land of misfortune to another.

Those focused on the grail of prosperity are so fearful of misfortune. Those focused on the depth of misfortune cannot seem to find a way beyond. And, the trouble with both is that they take it all so seriously. They make it far more important than it is. In either place they often feel poorly in the pursuit, or under the threat.

Far more satisfying and life-giving is to not be so concerned about either. It is best to judge not. Either of these places is outside of the present. Both are filled with fear. Desire is wonderful and it should feel wonderful. Let that flow over you along with the peace of now. Laugh. Enjoy. Relax. Enjoy. Allow.


Be Cool. Enjoy Your Travels. Enjoy Your Moments All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by enjoying yourself and your surroundings as much as possible.

Daily Inspiration 9-16-17

"It's all good."

-- Common phrase

[New post]

This hurricane, that storm surge, another disaster, a major change. Stuff happens. If we were to pay close attention to all the news, it is all bad, and getting worse, and then comes the long, long, long, recovery.

There's no question that some events like these are larger and more impactful than another, but it isn't all bad. Anything we look at, whether a big recession, a forced change of employment, and many lifetimes worth of a list of things that can and do happen may at times look all bad, but they are never all bad.

Here's a really good practice: Begin to see a larger picture and a more far-reaching picture of the event. Spread the time frame out, zoom out and get a wider perspective. Now make a list of what the good is in this event.

A big natural disaster can spur an economy into quite a growth spurt. Manufacturers will need to expand production because wholesalers will be needing more materials because retailers are ultra short of stock and demand is through the roof. Construction companies, contractors will need more trucks to take up the task ahead. They will need to hire more people. It's an opportunity to create something even better from the ashes of the event.

The demand for services just exploded. They will need more people, more vehicles, more products to sell. All of that flows uphill too. Once the services are being rendered for the basics, people will find they want something more than they had before. They will upgrade. They will improve. The opportunities are growing exponentially.

I remember a little thing that was a big deal in our house when we had a small fire in one bedroom of our house in 2001. There was direct fire damage, yes, but the indirect fire damage was the costly part. The services came, cleaned all of our closets of clothes, there was much to do from the smoke damage throughout the entire house. It was one of the best things to happen overall. There certainly was some short-term unpleasantness, but in the aggregate, we upgraded considerably, and since there was all this other work, we redid our roof, driveway and other things outside that weren't affected at all by the event. My favorite thing: no more popcorn ceiling.

Whatever is going on in our lives that may seem negative or traumatic at first can be seen in a different light as we are willing to draw back and see a larger view so that we can invite our mind and eyes to see the benefits that come from every event.


It's All Whatever We Are Willing To See. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding ways to expand your own worldview.

Daily Inspiration 9-15-17

"When you. . . 

acknowledge your power

as a co-creator of your life,

you stop being a victim.

When you are not a victim,

you have choice.

When you are in choice,

you are in your power

and you are not frightened."

-- Paul Selig

from I Am the Word

[New post]

Have you ever known, or know one or more now, who are like the Pig Pen character from the Peanuts comic strip where there is a shit storm going on all around them. Something is always going wrong. Someone or several others are always taking advantage of them or finding fault. There seems to always be someone that is out to get them.

It is part of the drama triangle which includes the victim, the persecutor, and the rescuer. This is a game that has no winners. Regardless of which of these three roles I might play, I lose. Believe me, I've played them all and even became proficient at each role.

But what I found after wising up to the game was that stepping outside of the game is where joy is. As I let go of any of those roles, I gain peace. In fact, joy and peace come automatically. They always come automatically when we let go.

The drama triangle is tempting. It is easy to participate in. You listen to someone's sad story and your heart wants to rescue them, or your inner parent wants to counsel them to a better place, your inner fear wants to persecute them, but realize this, as this is done from the mirage of the heart or the nurturing falsehood or disgust of the mind, I am in the game. As I am in the game, I go from role to role to role. I begin to crave rescuing people or playing the victim looking for sympathy and comradery, finding others to blame, to persecute and complain about.

The best thing that can happen to us is an awareness that we are in the game. Once we see we are in the game, we have an opportunity to step out of the circle of influence of the game. We can turn away and right there we are free of the game and in peace and joy.

This game goes on at work with co-workers, the owner or supervisor, other managers, customers, vendors, and others. It goes on at home with spouses, relatives, children, neighbors, friends. It goes on in our mind as we seem to be thinking all by ourselves going from one role to another in our minds about something we did or didn't do, should have done, shouldn't have done, might do, want to do, questioning ourselves, cajoling, feeling sorry for ourselves, and well. . . I'm guessing you know what I'm talking about.

The answer is always the same. Play the game, or step away from the game. Having become quite good at the game, I found that the joy and peace outside is infinitely superior in every way.


How About The Joy Triangle Instead: Joy, Peace, Love. That's A Glorious Game! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by creating your own Joy Triangle.

Daily Inspiration 9-14-17

"Patience is not just

the ability to wait,

it's how we behave

while we are waiting."

-- Joyce Meyer

[New post]

I've often written about what I call "practicing my patience." That means that I get excited when I have an opportunity to practice it because practice helps me to get better and I need the practice.

Buy why? We might often think that having patience means the willingness to be patient. We all have the ability to wait. We don't all exercise our willingness. So, why would we bother with it? Why do it at all?

The best reason why to me, having learned to practice every chance I get, is how each opportunity brings me peace in the face of chaos. It brings me calm as those around me are anxious. It opens my internal storage shed of love, and it causes me to look at this situation with new eyes.

The next best benefit or reason why is what it does to those around me. To see someone who is calm in chaos, peaceful while surrounded by anxiety is inspiring. As I become peaceful and calm, without saying anything at all I give permission to all those around me through my own vibrational stance to do the same. If they choose. I cannot choose for them, but they can be inspired to a new choice as they allow that to be.

So, I love the quote by Joyce Meyer because of the last portion of the sentence: "it's how we behave while we're waiting." That is our example. That is our being. That is our presence.


Peace Is Always Available Within. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding more ways to enjoy your day regardless of circumstances, events, or what others choose for themselves.

Daily Inspiration 9-13-17

"Help me to be less fearful

of the measure of time,

and more fully alive

in the time that simply is.

Help me to live time,

not just to simply use it;

to breathe it in, and return it 

in acts of love and presence."

-- Avis Crowe

[New post]

Aren't reminders a wonderful thing? Day to day stuff with phone calls, text messages, emails, in-person encounters of the strange kind, or the work-related kind can be like a cloud that temporarily covers the real reality that life is good and that even the things we think are not good, somehow work for the good in the strangest ways.

The further away from the minutia of things going on in our lives we can get, the clearer it is how everything is always working perfectly all the time, and that there is no judgment in that place, there is only our presence; being.


Take A Moment. Close Your Eyes. Think Of Nothing Except Peace. Even 5 To 10 Seconds Will Refresh You. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by coming into presence as often as you can. As you are there, you give others permission to do the same.

Daily Inspiration 9-12-17

"The simplest antidote

to a tough day

is generosity."

-- Seth Godin

[New post]

I love this line from Seth Godin. Of course, it is true. When we make a decision to give, we focus on giving and another receiving rather than our own considerations being paramount. Generosity means that we have a sufficient amount in order to give some away.

We could give away negativity, anger, resentment, but that is really still focusing on our bad day, on ourselves, our perceived problems, our worms. That would never last, nor could it be called generosity because everyone has plenty of their own. Why would they want yours?

What everyone always wants more of is love, respect, kindness, thoughtfulness, consideration, encouragement, and more. They never can get their fill of these blessed thoughts and consequential feelings. In fact, so many go through their days in search of these things and these attributes are why they do what they do, think what they think. And just like our own so-called bad day, we are searching along with them.

Within us at all times is a generous Spirit lifting us to a higher vibration where love is all there is. We have so much going on sometimes that we forget. It is in the slightest opening of the remembrance of this inner Spirit that we can let some of our generosity flow to another. Whether to one or to a thousand, it is the same. It is always, always, always received with joy no matter the initial reaction to our offering.

Our generous Spirit encourages their own generous Spirit which encourages another and another and so on.

If you did nothing else that mattered today, allowing your generous Spirit to flow out of you is all that is needed and wanted in the world.


This Is Love, Love, Love. 

Spread Some Joy Today--as your remember that the generous Spirit that is always within you is loving you first and foremost, and it never, ever, stops flowing.

Daily Inspiration 9-11-17

"Some days

the silliness never ends."

-- Albert K. Strong

The Spruce Goose

[New post]

There was a time, not so long ago that I cannot remember it when I would catch my pants or shirt on something and cuss like a drunken sailor chastising the perpetrator and creating negative energy all around me. This would be especially troublesome if my clothing actually got damaged!

Now, after many, many years of spiritual awakening and study, I just laugh out loud. Then, I laugh again because it is so silly. These encounters no longer have me spewing negative vibes. No. Now I spew laughter and amazement at how these things keep happening. I'm sure that they happen to me only to bring me laughter. When my laugh-o-meter is low, the Universe seems to know it intuitively and guides me so close to the desk knobs shown above. . . and well, an encounter of the third kind.

The top picture shows how an encounter happens. Go figure that. It was a challenge to get close enough to show the potential encounter in the image, let alone have it happen without my direct permission. I'm always wearing my "uniform" as my business partner calls it. My Tommy Bahama expando waist cargo shorts that don't care if I'm having a fat day or not, and my vast selection of Tommy Bahama casual shirts. Oh, and generally in flip-flops, but sometimes tennis shoes. Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, that's my uniform.

But the shorts are problematic in any kind of proximity to The Spruce Goose. I call this desk that because it reminds me of that huge plywood amphibious airplane that Howard Hughes built. It too is made of plywood. It weighs a lot I can tell you. I've had it for so long that it is scary, yet I've never really liked it much. It is just there. It's always been there. I cannot even remember where it came from. More silliness.

So, I think that once I decided to stop getting upset by these kinds of encounters that the Universe has found a way to keep them coming but enjoying my new attitude so much that I am reminded often.


You Gotta Love The Universe. So Playful. So Wise. So Helpful. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because some days everything is just silliness.

Daily Inspiration 9-10-17

"Strangely enough, they have a mind to till the soil,

and the love of possessions is a disease in them."

-- Sitting Bull

"In our rich consumers' civilization, we spin cocoons

around ourselves and get possessed by our possessions."

-- Max Lerner

[Classic post from 9-30-11]

I used to laugh at my mother for saving everything and never throwing anything away. She grew up in the depression in the 1930s and translated that lack into thinking possessions was part of her value. I used to laugh because of the things she saved from when I was a child. It wasn't memorabilia, although she had plenty of that, but an old outdated end table all alone from a set, or a really cheap huge picture that used to hang over our couch in the 1950s.

I inherited more of that than I care to have and lately, I've been seriously working on unloading. The sheer volume of things that I own is huge. I've got sales records from when I was a new salesman in 1973. Can't imagine the value of keeping those anymore. Then, I have drawers full of stuff that hasn't even seen daylight in so many years.

I remember watching one of those shows on TV where the Australian guy was convincing people to let go of things. He might say, 'if you haven't touched it in over a year, it probably needs to go.' Heck, I've got lots of things that I haven't touched in ten years! So, why do I have them? You know, I've forgotten. It seemed important at the time as if someone might want to see that, or I might want to show it, or use it to justify something, boost an ego--who knows?

I've got cables in drawers all over the place. RCA cables for connecting stereos, printer cables that are from the turn of the century, power cables, transformers, and even some cables that I haven't got a clue about, but felt they should be saved for some reason. It's kind of crazy.

There are some things that have sentimental value in earnest. The rest of it needs to go away. So, yesterday, I began the process of unloading my life of excess baggage. I mean, how important could it possibly be if I haven't even touched it or looked at it in over ten years? Or even one year? It seems that quote from yesterday's Daily Inspiration about the last suit you wear doesn't need pockets, struck a chord.

I'm practicing the art of letting go and in the process, I am feeling so much lighter and yet I've only just begun. Onward to a more reasonable number of things. . .


Let's See. . . If A Huge Fire Was Coming Over The Hill And I Had Exactly 15 Minutes And One Pickup Truck, What Would I Save?

Spread Some Joy Today--Be yourself. You are perfect the way you are! Let it be.

Daily Inspiration 9-9-17

"Life will give you whatever experience

is most helpful for the evolution

of your consciousness.

How do you know this is the experience

you need? Because this is the experience

you are having at this moment."

-- Eckhart Tolle

[Classic post from 1-11-13]

All I can think of to share tonight is a bit about my emotional rollercoaster of a day today. I promise to be brief.

It began early this morning responding to a friend's email and giving love and encouragement, and I shared this quote above with him as well. That was a great start. Then I got some computer work done for a few hours

Just after noon, I was in a meeting briefly that was not my idea of a good time, and since it was not set up by me, I just went with it. It gave me concern and I didn't feel good, but in my typical trooper-life fashion, I decided to do my best to let it go and move my emotions step by step to a higher place where I could just let go of it completely.

That wasn't working so well, but I wasn't giving up.

Then another afternoon meeting that was good and I was quiet through most of it with my partner doing the talking. He's good at that. But, it appeared to be coming to an end without covering what I thought was the most important issue, so I chimed in. I was probably a bit intense. (My passion for what I do mostly). But, I knew that early part of the day was working on me.

Then evening came. I decided to share my thoughts about how I felt earlier and that went well, though it was emotional too. Then, from out of the blue I got some most encouraging words from someone who has not been supportive for a long time. I almost cried. It was so special and was exactly what I needed. It was a very simple phrase: "We'll get through this. . ."


Wow. Another Great Day In Paradise . . .

Spread Some Joy Today--"Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, trust me, it's not the end." -- From the film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Daily Inspiration 9-8-17

"You don't have to be a person of influence to be influential.

In fact, the most influential people in my life are

probably not even aware of the things they've taught me."

-- Scott Adams

[Classic post from 6-28-10]

When the student is ready, the teacher appears. . . or is it, when the teacher is ready, the student appears? I think it is both. There is a time to learn and a time to teach and although we think about those things as opposites like giving and receiving, I think they are really all the same thing. I think that mostly because I know that when I am teaching (as I am doing now, I suppose), I am learning at the same exact time, for it is in the act of teaching that I learn what I know and learn how to express and indeed, receive learning.

I think other people influence us when we are ready to be influenced. I know that is true because two or ten or a thousand people who might be listening or watching the same thing will see and hear it very differently. Many may be influenced, while others are not moved at all.

This shows how much of a participatory world we live in.

So how do you influence others? You do. Much of the time. You can't help it. They can't help but receive it when they are ready for it either. I think that the best we can do is to be the best we can be--to be the most you that you can be--and to be the truest to yourself you can be. That is a powerful influence for you and the rest of the ready-to-be-influenced planet.


I Am Ready To Be Influenced. Teach Away!

Spread Some Joy Today--Being a teacher without at the same time being a student is like being a friend without being friendly. Just be yourself today. Rejoice in your own, special and awesome uniqueness! YOU ROCK! The world rocks with you!

Daily Inspiration 9-7-17

"A strong man cannot help a weaker

unless that weaker is willing to be helped. 

And even then the weak man

must become strong of himself. 

He must, by his own efforts, 

develop the strength which he admires in another. 

None but himself can alter his condition."

- James Allen, 

As A Man Thinketh

[Classic post from 9-30-09]

I love this paragraph. It demonstrates clearly what must happen to change. Willingness. There are many who do not have it and don't want to be a part of it because they think it may show weakness. This quote from James Allen indicates to me that being weak with willingness is really strength needing a touch of guidance--that willingness is a strength.

It is that strength that the last line finds its truth: "None but himself can alter his condition." From that realization, we need only a willingness and at long last a decision. It is this catalyst that focuses the strength into power.

How many times I have tried to help someone who did not want help. I found that frustrating and abnormal. Many times I would find myself in the situation of wanting help from someone else and many times I would not be willing to accept help, let alone seek it.

There is a very popular Bible verse, "Ask and ye shall receive." It doesn't say wonder and receive, or trust and receive, desire and receive, or even expect and receive. The word 'Ask' is a sincere willingness and it demonstrates strength and determination.

Next time you need help with an issue or situation, receive your strength from asking for help. It is the best way to receive! "None but himself can alter his condition."


Have An Awesome Day!

Spread some joy today--Smile!

Daily Inspiration 9-6-17

"If you are losing your peace

in your quest for peace, 

you are not on the road to peace. 

The road to peace is peace." 

 -- Alan Cohen 

[Classic post from 4-30-14]

When I saw this quote, I was amazed. Such simplicity, yet so profound. It makes perfect sense and though I have felt that I know this and have known it, it still felt like a new bit of wisdom. Consider removing the word peace and making it a blank underline that we can write something else in. How about these?

If you are losing well being in your quest for well being, you are not on the road to well being. The road to well being is well being.

If you are losing patience in your quest for patience, you are not on the road to patience. The road to patience is patience.

If you are losing love in your quest for love, you are not on the road to love. The road to love is love.

If you are losing compassion in your quest for compassion, you are not on the road to compassion. The road to compassion is compassion.

If you are losing _____________ in your quest for ______________, you are not on the road to ___________. The road to ____________ is ____________.


Matching Our Attitude With Our Desires Is Worthy Of Awareness And Alignment. 

Spread Some Joy Today--The road to joy is JOY!

Daily Inspiration 9-5-17

"Congratulations! 
You're not perfect."

-- Stephen Manes

[Classic post from 6-18-12]

"Congratulations! You're not perfect! It's ridiculous to want to be perfect anyway. But then, everybody's ridiculous sometimes, except for perfect people.

You know what perfect is? Perfect is not eating or drinking or talking or moving a muscle or making even the teeniest mistake.

Perfect is never doing anything wrong--which means never doing anything at all. Perfect is boring! So you're not perfect! Wonderful!! Have fun!

Eat things that give you bad breath! Trip over your own shoelaces! Laugh! Let somebody els laugh at you!

Perfect people never do any of those things. All they do is sit around and sip weak tea and think about how perfect they are. But they're really not on-hundred-percent perfect anyway. You should see them when they get the hiccups! Phooey! Who needs 'em?

You can drink pickle juice and imitate gorillas and do silly dances and sing stupid songs and wear funny hats and be as imperfect as you please and still be a good person.

Good people are hard to find nowadays. And they're a lot more fun than perfect people any day of the week." -- Stephen Manes, Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days!


"Striving To Be Better, Oft We Mar What's Well" -- William Shakespeare

Spread Some Joy Today--Delight in all your imperfections!

Daily Inspiration 9-4-17

"Shortly after I met my mentor he asked me,

"Mr. Rohn, how much money have you saved

and invested over the last six years?"

And I said, "None." He then asked,

"Who sold you on that plan?."

-- Jim Rohn

[Classic post from 5-10-12]

I rarely talk about money because I've been such a bad example of its proper uses. The other day I was talking about knowing what to do and not doing it, and that is how I dealt with money most all my life. I know that I have lots of company in that, but it doesn't make it feel better. Heck, even our government is a bad example.

Jim Rohn is a great mentor in money and psychology. He simplifies it to the extreme as in this very short few sentences: "The philosophy of the rich versus the poor is this: The rich invest their money and spend what is left; the poor spend their money and invest what is left." There you have it.

Also, in that statement, rich and poor have little to do with dollars and everything to do with philosophy or attitude. There are many people that are poor that earn tens of thousands of dollars a month, and more.

Here is a telling one from Jim: "I remember saying to my mentor, "If I had more money, I would have a better plan." He quickly responded, "I would suggest that if you had a better plan, you would have more money." You see, it's not the amount that counts; it's the plan that counts."

About six years ago, I was doing some training at a dealership and we were listening to a Brian Tracy set of CD's. One thing that was said that really struck home with me. He said, "you can't be great if you don't learn how to save money." Of course, those of us who were great consumers and users couldn't be bothered with that until we had a better plan which never seemed to arrive.

To make all of that so much worse, it was the borrowing for that huge home we didn't really need but was convinced was an investment, along with the credit cards, numbers of them to get those things we needed when we didn't have any money left. The easy payments began to grow into uneasy payments and then we were serving our lifestyle instead of enjoying our lives.

I know it all too well. For a long time, I was ashamed about it inside, but I've let all that go. I'm just bent on making better decisions. The other thing is about the idea of living within our means. We need to live below our means if we want to save and invest.

I've learned that someone who has learned to save and invest can have the same downfalls and lose everything just like the rest of us can. The difference is that they come right back up because they have the philosophy down and where ever they start, they start with the better philosophy. Jim made it easy and we all know the philosophy and we know it is better as well. All we have to do now is live it.


Happiness Is NOT More Money. It Is More Freedom.

Spread Some Joy Today--Consider a better plan to take the burden off the issue of money. Seek the joy of freedom in using it instead of it using you.