Daily Inspiration 7-14-19

"You cannot control what happens to you, 

but you can control your attitude 

toward what happens to you, 

and in that, you will be mastering change 

rather than allowing it to master you." 

-- Brian Tracy 

[Classic post from 1-2-15]

The quote above is what I believed for most of my life: that things happen to me that I cannot control and that if I become a wise and learned soul, I will develop an attitude about those things that helps me to adapt to the change and to make the best of it.

I have all manner of books and audio programs from Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, and a host of business mentors who has taught the same sort of thing. I bought it and even promoted and repeated it in training and such. And, though I am very grateful for what they have taught me, I have become a selective sifter, now taking what really resonates with me and leaving the rest. If it resonates with me, it feels good. If it feels good, it resonates. If it doesn't feel good, it doesn't resonate, and so I let it go. 

I've come to believe that I control what happens to me. It's just that more often than not I've been drawing things to myself without knowing this was true or paying attention. Then, seemingly all of a sudden, this thing that I don't want happening in my life is there and I have to deal with it somehow after the fact. It's easy to believe that things happen to us without our participation, especially things that are not wanted or not pleasant.

Then, once I see it in my life and I cannot escape the reality of it, my taught option was to change my attitude about it and then it would be okay. I do realize that how I look at something or perceive it is important, and it can soften the surprise of things happening to me without my control I suppose. Trouble is, though I tried that for many years, it never really worked for me. I would still feel like a victim, but maybe a less angry victim, or less distraught victim.

I have freed myself from this victim to victor philosophy by completely changing the first line in the quote at the top and thereby changing the entire meaning of the quote.

Since I have come to believe that I create my own environment and I can either do it deliberately or unconsciously, but I surely create it, I have now become a practicing deliberate creator. I want to be in control of and deliberately choose what happens in my life. And so by choice and being in control, I am such, and it feels good.

So, here's the new quote for today: "I control what happens to me because I am the creator of my environment. I cannot control others because I cannot create for them. They must do that for themselves. With my choice of thought and matching vibrational resonance, I am the joyful master of my own life."


Taking Control Of What I Create Is A Perfect And Powerful Choice. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by loving more and fretting less.

Daily Inspiration 7-13-19

"Your organization will never get better 
unless you are willing to admit 
that there is something wrong with it."

-- Norman Schwarzkopf

"Your organization will never get better 
unless you are willing to focus on 
and constantly expand on what's right about it!"

-- Terry Minion

[Classic post from 12-03-09]

Sorry Norman, I know you mean well and you have far more education than I; however, I have to disagree completely with this quote. Frankly, it is a piece of cake to admit there are things wrong with a company, or a person, or a situation, or life, or the world, or whatever. It takes no brains at all to do that. Line 10 employees up and ask them what is wrong and you will get a serious earful. If they feel free to talk, that is. And if they do, look out! Here comes the judge. . .

What is really needed to move a company forward (or a person, situation, life, the world, or whatever), is focusing on what is right and constantly expanding on that. Who cares what is wrong? Focus on what you do well and expand on that.

I tell you this from long experience: naysayers are a dime a dozen. You can find them anywhere anytime, and any quantity. And, I'll tell you this from experience: they don't do anything to help anything. They are anchors and sinkers and balloon poppers. My best advice is to move quickly away.

Here's a great question to ask all the employees: What are we doing well? Then, some follow-up questions, like, How can we do more of that? How can we expand that? What do you hear our customers say that is good about us? Can we give better service? How? How can we give such great service that our customers will rave about us? How can we lower prices and still provide more value? How can our company be a better participant in the community? How can our company have employees to rave about working here?

What's even better than this is to ask your customers and prospects: What is your experience like with us? What do you like about what we do? What do you think we could add to make it better? For you to tell all your friends about this company, what would we need to be doing to have you that excited about doing business with us?

Focus on successes, not failures. Leave the failures for history to sort out. Get the enthusiasm rolling and the excitement arcing and the fun laughing. Turn it on and watch it glow. It just needs a spark and some insight and ideas. Let's rock it out!

TODAY IS THE DAY!

Let's Get Started!


I Focus On What I Am Good At And Get Better.

Spread Some Joy Today--There is almost nothing better than giving someone else some encouragement. Find something to encourage someone else and don't keep it to yourself--TELL THEM--NOW! To their face is okay. . .

Daily Inspiration 7-12-19

A Native American grandfather
was talking to his grandson about how he felt.

He said, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.

One wolf is a vengeful, angry violent one.
The other world is the loving, compassionate one."

The grandson asked him,
"which wolf will win the fight in your heart?"

The grandfather answered,
"The one I feed."

-- From HeartQuotes

[Classic post from 10-5-10]

This little story is so true. We have the power within us all to be angry, vengeful, and violent. We also have the power to be loving, kind and compassionate. We have the power to complain, cajole and harass and we have the power to praise, compliment and encourage. They both always exist within us and the one that we feed will be the dominant one. Which is your dominant path? The glass half empty or half full? Essentially, that is the only difference.

One of the ways in which we feed either side of us is by making judgments and justifications from those judgments. This leads to a negative comment, but it's really a positive comment because it is based in reality and it is justified by judgment. In other words, it's right.

Unfortunately, that is a place from which it is very hard to escape. Once there, the tendency is to remain there and continually search for more and more judgment and justification for which to back up the negative thoughts and comments.

The good news is that by releasing one single thing, it will change everything in your life. Stop judging. Feed the love and stop judging.

I feel the love and I feed the love! Yes, and Amen!

The Less I Judge, The More I Can Love.

Spread Some Joy Today--Make your choice. Perhaps it has been habitual in the past, but it is easy to change. Make your choice.

Daily Inspiration 7-11-19

"Try not to become a man of success,

but rather a man of value."

-- Albert Einstein

"Friendship is unnecessary,

like philosophy, like art. . .

It has no survival value;

rather it is one of those things

that give value to survival."

-- C. S. Lewis

"The promises of this world are,

for the most part, vain phantoms;

and to confide in one's self,

and become something of worth and value

is the best and safest course."

-- Michelangelo

"The value of a man should be seen in what he gives

and not in what he is able to receive."

-- Albert Einstein

[Classic post from 3-5-10]

Contrary to my previous thinking, to become a person of value by becoming a person in service of others, and a giving person, is not to sacrifice my life for the others, but to enhance and expand my life.

The problem I used to have with this concept was the sacrificing part. I thought if I lived my life for others forsaking my own, what kind of life is that? What changed was the wording of the concept from living my life for others, forsaking my own, to living my life in service to others by being a person of value. Isn't there a whole universe of difference between those two? The first one is not being of value at all. It is more of a pity party or what I have to do. Being of service is not excluding self, but expanding self to have excess to give.

Let's forget about the small values like kindness, friendship, encouragement for the moment. Let's look at some of the rich people who have also become philanthropists. They set up foundations and give an initial amount to begin the fund and that fund is held at interest. As donations come from other people and organizations it grows, then amounts are released in such an amount that the fund continues forever. It becomes a giving machine, giving more value every year to more people. Think about the value of forever versus them giving their entire fortune away in one fell swoop. The value is in the foundation because it also has lasting value for generations to come.

Not long ago, I didn't really understand that. I thought they were just being cheap in their giving and giving a little of their vast fortune. In reality, and in my awakening awareness, they are actually being of far more value than they could otherwise be. They use their fame to gain other donations and other partnerships in the giving field of their interest. They use the money wisely and in a way that is consistent with the thinking that brought them wealth, to begin with.

Now, let us go smaller again. How can we who don't have wealth think in these terms in order to provide more value than we would otherwise? One way is sharing your interests in what you are passionate about. Another is to form alliances and partnerships with other like-minded people toward similar objectives. It doesn't even need to be in terms of money. It could be of time, energy, interest, and much more.

Instead of thinking, "what can one person do?" Instead, think, "what can I do to multiply my efforts toward adding value to this?" Totally different thinking. One is almost an excuse to give up and the other is seeking more power.

Becoming a person of value has just expanded.


I Become More Valuable By Becoming Of Service To More People. I Am A Person Too.

Spread Some Joy Today--What can you do today to be of service to someone else? Now do it. Today.

Daily Inspiration 7-10-19

"Can you see the holiness
in those things you take for granted--

a paved road or a washing machine?
If you concentrate on finding
what is 'good' in every situation,
you will discover that your life
will suddenly be filled with gratitude,

a feeling that nurtures the soul."

-- Rabbi Harold Kushner

  

I've become such a grateful person in the last five years or so and I never stop finding things that I can be grateful for instead of taking them for granted.

Trash day at my house is celebrated. I am incredibly grateful for trash being picked up at my house and they even supply the containers to put it in. What an amazing service. When I get the bill each month that is so stupid cheap for such a wonderful service, I just want to give them a huge tip! What a bargain and what a convenience. Think about what it might be like without that service.

How about the light switch bringing light to a dark room? How about turning the faucet and out comes clean water to drink or cook with? So many simple things that many in this world still do not have available to them. Celebrate them all!

Gratitude is a practice and there is no better place to practice than the commonplace things that we have come to know so well that we no longer think about them unless they are broken. With that practice, who knows what you could be grateful for!

  

Get Your List Going And You'll See What I Mean.

Spread Some Joy Today--Once you begin with gratitude, you may find that you can choose to be grateful for things that used to drive you crazy. That's a life-changing turn of events.

Daily Inspiration 7-9-19

"Quit trying to be a better person.

Love and accept yourself just as you are, 

and you will become better without any effort." 

-- Alan Cohen 

[Classic post from 11-26-16]

I love this quote by Alan Cohen. As I found this quote, I saw another on the subject of grace. And, even though Alan's latest book just published is titled, The Grace Factor - Opening the Door to Infinite Love, I thought I'd share something about grace from writer and theologian, Frederick Buechner:

"Grace is something you can never get but can only be given. There's no way to earn it or deserve it or bring it about any more than you can deserve the taste of raspberries and cream or earn good looks or bring about your own birth." 

"A crucial eccentricity of the Christian faith is, the assertion that people are saved by grace. There's nothing you have to do. There's nothing you have to do. There's nothing you have to do." 

He continues, "The grace of God means something like: "Here is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn't have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It's for you I created the universe. I love you." 

Of course, we get to choose to accept the gift or reject it or ignore it. I dearly love the last part: "Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us." To accept this grace is to accept unconditional love.

I think when we accept this gift, that is not an exclusively Christian gift, but a gift from the God that is God to all, our path is open to enjoy this life that has been given, for it was given us to enjoy. Beautiful and terrible things may happen, but we get to determine that and choose as we will, and I believe that as we accept this grace and this power, we will most often choose the beautiful.


Enjoy The Grace You Are Given As You Choose, For Grace Is In The Choosing. Paying It Forward Might Be Fun. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by injoying yourself, while enjoying all that is around you.

Daily Inspiration 7-8-19

"Treat those who are good with goodness,

and treat those who are not good with goodness.

Thus goodness is obtained.

Be honest to those who are honest,

and be also honest to those who are not honest.

Thus honesty is attained."

-- Lau Tzu

[Classic post from 12-31-11]

A philosophy such as in this Lau Tzu quote escaped my understanding until recently. I was taught, or learned rather, to respond in kind. And even though I then lose my place and position, it was the fair thing to do--an eye for an eye and all that sort of thing.

Now I realize that in so doing, I've given up the thing that I thought I valued, such as the goodness, or the honesty to fight the evil-doers and liars, only to become as they and ultimately show how little I valued the previously held ideals.

It makes perfect sense to me now that treating all with goodness maintains the value of goodness. It also means that I make the choice by choosing goodness.

How does this apply in real life? I've worked a few jobs where things my boss told me to say or do were against my values, yet because they were my employer, my source of income, my livelihood, I folded and did as was requested or instructed feeling crappy about it, yet doing it nonetheless. I could see how the client was looking at me and thinking about me, but I felt that I had no choice. I mean, it wasn't exactly like breaking the law or anything, it was just not right in my mind--more like a difference of opinion or outlook. Yet, no matter how I tried to justify it or whitewash it, it was still distasteful to me.

Today, I would respond differently and take the risk. This is probably one of the big reasons that I am in business for myself because I can make the decisions and feel good about them and do what I think is right. Now if something doesn't feel right to me, I am in total control of changing it until it does. Thus rightness or integrity is obtained.


"If You Don't Change Direction, You May End Up Where You Are Heading." -- Lao Tzu

Spread Some Joy Today--Love yourself first and foremost.

Daily Inspiration 7-7-19

"There's nothing like biting off

more than you can chew,

and then chewing anyway."

-- Mark Burnett

"He who would learn to fly one day

must first learn to stand and walk

and run and climb and dance;

one cannot fly into flying."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

Men may not fully realize it, but women are the original multitaskers!

[Classic post from 10-21-10]

In recent years, and especially since I went into business for myself, I am constantly biting off more than I can chew. I used to complain that I had ten things on my plate and only five would fit and the question was only which five would fall. I don't complain about it anymore--or about almost (not quite perfect yet. . .) anything now. Instead, I am more and more excited about the volume and quality of what I entertain chewing.

It's really become somewhat of a game, and a fun one at that. I do relish the excitement of it all and deal with everything as good as I can and I just don't worry about the rest. Frankly, as soon as I stopped worrying about what I couldn't get around to, all the pressure I was feeling sort of vanished. I thought that was odd at first but delighted in it nonetheless. Since the pressure is gone, and the fun remains, it must be a good thing.

So, I cannot necessarily recommend biting off more than you can chew. That is a personal decision that can only be considered by each of us. However, I can and will tell you that I think it is an awesome way to gain capacity and to expand one's interests and abilities, along with knowledge and confidence. All of those are very positive results in my life.

Indeed, it is by the expansion of my capacity that I grow. Without that, I am bored and tired and lifeless. I love learning and so I am always looking for another learning experience, real and otherwise. As I expand in my capacity, I expand as a person, my business expands with me and it all works together. I am having the time of my life and enjoying every second of it. I care so much less about the eventual outcome as enjoying the exciting journey and I tell you straight up that this is the single most important element I have ever learned.

I used to be so focused on the objective and in such a hurry to get there and it never seemed to come to fruition the way I expected it. Circumstances I didn't expect frustrated me and I was periodically discouraged and worried. Since I have let go of the super-heated need for the eventual outcome, I have let go of all of that negativity. What a blessing that is.

I didn't say that I let go of goals, or dreams or the vision of what I want to accomplish. Instead, I dream those things as if it is already, and I want them, but the difference is that I don't get uptight about it anymore. I've learned that it isn't my job and I am better off not trying to do another's job for them. My job is the dream, and the gratitude for the day and all that has come before, and the full experience of the moment in pursuit of what I want. It almost doesn't matter at all what the outcome is anymore. I've let go of that responsibility. I now do the part I can control and leave the rest of it alone. This leaves me joyful and free.

I highly recommend it.

I'm Chompin' At The Bit For More To Chew On!

Spread Some Joy Today--Shake off all the stress of wanting things to not be the way they are. Focus on the way you want them and you will have no stress and plenty of excess joy to share with everyone you talk to.

Daily Inspiration 7-6-19

"We don't see things as they are;

we see things as we are."

-- Anais Nin

[Classic post from 11-12-11]

This last installment on the theme of thought versus effort comes down to one short little word: Why. Frederich Nietzsche said, "He who has a big enough why to live for can bear almost any how." Dr. Viktor Frankl backs that up as well in the form of meaning in his book, Man's Search For Meaning.

We had a lady next door who has since moved away who loved to iron. I'm serious. She loved to iron clothes. I never met anyone who actually loved to iron clothes until I met her. To many if not most, ironing is drudgery, hard work, tedious. So it was just a different thought that changed a tedious, hard job into an absolute joy.

Ever notice when you're doing something out of obligation or duty and you seriously don't want to be there or be doing that thing or event, that the day just goes into slow motion and the clock takes forever to move and your body feels like it weighs a lot more than it did yesterday, and well. . . it's work and it's very unpleasant.

Then, something happens that gets your interest. Who knows what it is, but all of a sudden, it's not so bad, then as time goes on, maybe it's even better than this and you begin to enjoy yourself and it changes everything. You just lost a bunch of weight in the last few minutes, your droopy face has spark and light, and the only thing that happened was a thought change. Something changed the thought and the thought you had was controlling how you were feeling. And, it can change in a moment.

When I was working for others, I liked what I did, but more often than I would have liked there was crap I had to deal with that was unpleasant and undesired. I did it because I had to and felt crappy about it the whole time. Now, as my own boss, I have lots of problems to deal with, but they aren't really problems and I don't have a problem dealing with them. In fact, I often seriously enjoy solving them. It's just a change in attitude or thought. Before I had to, didn't want to and now I want to and am glad to solve it. Big difference, but just a difference in thought.

But, you don't have to go into business for yourself to have that change in thought or attitude. Begin where you are with what you have to work with and turn it from work into fun. Begin by finding one thing about what you do today to appreciate, and then, appreciate it, love it, praise it. Next, find another and another and another and pretty soon you'll be loving your job and what you do and everything about it.

In my opinion, the way to change anything toward more positive feelings is to learn to appreciate--sincerely appreciate something, anything, and then continue to repeat that process and you will see miraculous changes. I'm beginning to think that the key to life, in general, is learning to appreciate everything--you, your life, your body, your personality, your family, your boss, the place you live, the neighborhood you live in, the place you go to church, the neighbors, the government, and so much more.

I think I can get to the point that I am just a lover, appreciating everything, including the contrast that allows me to choose appreciation.


Effort Is No Longer Any Kind Of Work. It Is A Natural Extension Of My Thoughts Of Appreciation.

Spread Some Joy Today--There is nothing that is external that will bring you joy. It is 100% an inside job.

Daily Inspiration 7-5-19

"You have your way. I have my way.

As for the right way, the correct way,

and the only way, it does not exist."

-- Friedrich Nietzsche

[Classic post from 12-4-09]

This is the first time I've seen this exact quote; however, I learned this message many years ago. I have stated many times, 'There is no right way or wrong way, there is my way, your way, and their way.' This phrase has helped me immensely over the years to put things into perspective.

Every time someone tries to tell me that there is only one way to do a thing, I remember this phrase. Any time someone uses the word 'should,' I think of it again. The truth is that there is no right or wrong way. Those are purely judgments by the person stating it is right or using the word should. It is their belief (assuming they state it with conviction). Almost all of Europe thought the world was flat at one time, so that is an indication of how beliefs can ebb and flow.

I truly believe that there is no right way or wrong way, but a way. As a result of this, I find that the word 'could' to be much more appropriate in making 'suggestions' to people about things they 'might consider' in case they are looking to change their results. If I state it any other way, it is my ego chiming in.

Don't we all know by now that the only way to convince anyone of anything is to speak in a way that allows them to convince themselves? Any other way will likely be unproductive.

I love suggestions and a bit of time, then I allow it in.

Oh, you too?

I thought it was my way. . .


I Will Listen To Your Way and Their Way, And In The End, I Will Do It My Way.

Spread Some Joy Today--Let other people have their way today. Just coast for one day and let everyone have their way.

Daily Inspiration 7-4-19

"Applaud us when we run,

console us when we fall,

cheer us when we recover. . ."

-- Edmund Burke

[Classic post from 8-5-17]

Looking at the life I've lived thus far, this quote is exactly how I would teach my children today (which wasn't how I was brought up), except for one small missing ingredient. That ingredient is to love us without condition.

The new version:

Applaud us when we run,

console us when we fall,

cheer us when we recover,

love us without condition.

One Can Never Go Wrong With Praise, Understanding, And Love.

Spread Some Joy Today--Put this into practical application daily!

Daily Inspiration 7-3-19

"To have everyone believe as we

is to die of oneness."

-- Albert K. Strong

[Classic post from 7-3-17]

In 2017, the United States government enjoys a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican Administration. What a glorious time to be a Republican and want to get Republican things done.

Of course, it wasn't so long ago that it was all controlled by Democrats. And, it's always been this way and that way, and more times than not, there would be no one party in control and it was harder to get things done. Or so it seems because that isn't really true. But, that's another story.

I see people lamenting on Facebook and other places that their party is the right party. Of course, when I was much younger, any party was a good party. . .

They make it sound as if they want everyone to agree with them, or give up their beliefs and come believe with them so that they feel they have, more control so that their lives could be better, more fruitful. Can't happen. If it did, there would be endedness. Life as we know and love it would end.

There is a point of view that believes that whatever we believe is what everyone else should believe. We believe that just like mathematics, one answer is right (ours) and all others are wrong, that we are good and they are bad, that we know what is for the best and they will only mess it up if we let them have their way. Those are legitimate points of view to have, but it would never work that way in reality.

Let's just say it did. Let's say that everyone believed as we do. Let's say everyone does what we do, thinks like us, acts like us. What then? Who would we talk to? We wouldn't have anything to say. How would we find new interests? How would we learn?

Moreover, talking about getting things done, who would build the buildings, the bridges, the cell phones, the products so many of us use. In fact, nothing beyond what we already do would get done. What a sparse world that would be.

It is, in fact, the diversity of the world that makes it interesting, that helps us expand into more, to become more and live more, and to even have more clarity about ourselves. Without diversity, or other people believing other things than us life would not be worth living. We would lose the best part of being us--our uniqueness.

Sure, we are all from the same Source, made of the same Energy and molecular structure, yet we are all each unique just like every snowflake is unique though it is all snow.

As we go to celebrate our Independence Day, let us also celebrate our independence as a unique being who shares this quite diverse planet and celebrate that diversity as helping to define who we are as they define themselves.


Celebrate All That Is For We Are A Unique And Yet Interconnected Part Of All That Is. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding joy in how others see and experience life, all the while enjoying the fullness of our own.

Daily Inspiration 7-2-19

"But what about you?" He asked. 

"Who do you say I am?" 

Simon Peter answered, 

"You are the Christ, 

the Son of the living God." 

-- Matthew 16:15,16, 

The Bible 

[I've often said that I might sing Jingle Bells and celebrate Christmas in July because I think that you can have that or any other holiday in your heart, just as you can be on vacation in your mind and without leaving home. This morning I was thinking about the word, Namaste, and remembered that I had written a Daily Inspiration about that. Then, when I discovered that it was also Christmas Day of 2015, I thought it was completely appropriate to revisit Christmas in July and repost this from 12-25-15. Enjoy!]

Considering it is Christmas Day, it seemed so appropriate to honor the Christ of whom the day is supposed to represent--that of Jesus of Nazareth.

During the height of my 9-year experience at leading and being on the worship team at our church, I wrote a large number of songs that were simple and straightforward and expressed where my head and heart was during that time. I would often put a Bible quote at the top of the written song that stood as very appropriate for the song content. The quote above was used on a song from 2002 titled, I Know That You Are God. The two verses of the very simple lyrics went like this:

I want to know you more, but all I need, I have, in that I know that you are God. I want to see your face, but all I need I have, in that I know that you are God, I know that you are God.

Some people think that God began and stopped inspiring writing with the Bible. How sad that thought is. That would indicate that God no longer exists and only wanted to talk to selected people. How sad that is too. I cannot possibly believe such a thing because I know that God IS life, is living, is constantly inspiring, and speaking in hundreds of tongues throughout the world.

From 25 centuries ago, by special request, Lao-tzu recorded the Tao Te Ching. It is a book of 81 verses that are so short, simple, and full of love and wisdom. Beginning at Verse 1: "I choose to enjoy living the great mystery. The Tao that can be named is not the Tao." And, so it is today. The God that can be named is not God. As it is, we have given hundreds of names to this that cannot be named.

I know that writing is inspired because it resonates with me. And, at the same time, I know that all writing is inspired because it will resonate with someone somewhere. Kevin Hall's delightful book titled, Aspire, is one such book to me. It is the kind of book that I savor like a taste on my tongue that I want to play with and sense with unbridled joy, so I go slow and easy and relish each little bite. 

Here is where I learned what the word, Namaste (Nah-mah-STAY) means. I've heard that word a lot, especially in New Age circles, but I never bothered to check into it. Kevin brought me the definition, or rather definitions, along with a whole chapter of how and why it is an important word. The image above shows the reverential way of expressing the word, typically with the head bowed, and the hands together touching the heart.

In the book, Kevin refers to a time when Albert Einstein learned of the word by watching Mahatma Gandhi greeting people in the streets of India. He said that Einstein wrote to Gandhi and asked what he was saying. Gandhi replied: "Namaste. It means I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the place in you of light, love, truth, peace, and wisdom." 

Kevin goes on to say: "Imagine what impact this single word could have on the world if every day you looked each person that you passed in the eye and said, in effect: I salute the Divine within you. I salute what you do best. I salute your natural gifts. I honor your uniqueness and your specialness." 

So, to wrap this up (pun intended) as a Christmas gift to all who may like to receive it, consider greeting all you see today, tomorrow and beyond with the blessing and statement of Namaste: I see in you, God. I see in you, The Christ. I see in you Divine. I see in you Love. I see in you that uniqueness that is you alone. I see in you infinite possibilities. I see in you joy. I see in you, myself, for I cannot acknowledge you and not acknowledge myself. I join with you in choosing to enjoy living the great mystery. I choose to love you because I too am love.


Merry Christmas To All. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by letting go of that rope and relaxing in the mystery.

Daily Inspiration 7-1-19

"Everyone 

can do simple things

to make a difference,

and every little bit 

really does count."

-- Stella McCartney

[Classic post from 8-4-17]

This altruistic quote says almost nothing. It's like saying, "I want to make a difference in the world." That means nothing as well. Or we might say, I want to make a ________ difference in the world." As we fill in that blank with words like positive, lasting, meaningful, loving, or any number of others, it is also meaningless. We might think of making a difference as stepping out from the crowd. But what does that mean?

Goals are funny things. We often say we want something, but the definition of what that is might be absent making the goal fuzzy.

Here's what I've learned about making a difference. You cannot help it. You do. Twenty-four, seven, three hundred sixty-five. Simply by being a consciousness, we cannot help but make a difference. Being born we make a difference, dying we make a difference and all in between too--even before being born and after death, we cannot help but make a difference. We make a difference because we are. It is as simple as that.

So, this begs the question of defining what kind of difference one would like to make. But phrases like, 'make a positive difference, a lasting difference, etc., do nothing to define the difference we intend to make.

Who? What? When? Where? How? These simple question starters can help us define what we want in the way of making a difference. Perhaps a better way to say that would be to make a different difference, or more of a difference, a better difference.

Specificity is clarity. Who? What? When? Where? How? These are great questions to help us be as specific as possible and to add clarity to our desire or goal.

Since you are already making a difference all day every day, give yourself the credit you are due for making a difference. Want to make a different difference, a more powerful difference, a more far-reaching difference? Then define as clearly as possible what that means to you.


Making A Difference Is A Done Deal. All The Rest Is Fun And Games! And, Who Doesn't Like Fun And Games? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by defining what joy is to you.