Daily Inspiration 11-4-15

"The best way to predict the future 

is to create it." 

-- Abraham Lincoln 

Alan Cohen told a story in one of his Wisdom for Today emails of he and a friend eating at a Chinese restaurant, and at the end of the meal, they opened their fortune cookies and were both disappointed in their fortune. So he requested the waitress give them another because they didn't like their fortunes. The waitress brought a bowl of fortune cookies and Alan and his friend opened the cookies until they both found a fortune that they wanted and liked.

He added in the message, "When it comes to establishing your future, you can take what you are offered by others, or you can call unto you what you choose. If you like what you have before you, then bless it and enjoy it; if not, you have every right--and responsibility--to make for a new selection."

That reminds me of asking children, "what do you want to be when you grow up?" With rare exception, I would imagine the answer to change often. This year its a fireman, next year a nurse or doctor, then a rock star. Of course, we could ask that question at any age. And, I don't know about you, but at 66, I'm still wondering what I will be when I grow up.

The good news is that I get to choose. As Abraham, Esther Hicks likes to say, "I don't need to figure that out this red-hot minute. I'll figure it out as I go along." Which is what we all most likely do. We figure it out as we go along. I'm figuring it out as I go along. Today, I'm doing this, and tomorrow, I might do something different. I might up and make a dramatic change, or maybe just a little tweak here and there. It doesn't matter. I get to choose my fortune from a huge bowl of fortune cookies. 

Abraham, Esther Hicks adds to this idea: "Is it reality, or is it not reality? All things are reality. Even if only one is imagining it, it is a reality in that the thought has been offered and someone, who has the ability to translate that vibration, will perceive it. It must be fair to say that anything that can be perceived must be reality. Because, as creators, your reality depends upon what you are willing to imagine and allow."

We live in a world of contrast, and although that is a good thing because it helps us to know what we want or what we prefer, but it can sometimes be confusing. Ultimately, we all have the same experience of getting to choose. With billions of us on the planet today, there are potentially billions of choices. Whatever they are is cool. If it's cool with you. If it isn't; if contrast has caused you to want something else, then we each have the power to choose a new, better-feeling reality.


I Delight In Our Ability To Choose At Will. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing to feel the joy that is within you.

Daily Inspiration 11-3-15

"Today, no matter where I am going, 

and no matter what I am doing, 

it is my dominant intent 

to see that which I am wanting to see." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

The above quote has been on a poster on my wall in my office for several years. It is a wonderful affirmation to start each day.

After yesterday's post and several very positive responses to it, I thought that it would be appropriate to linger on one idea expressed in it today. That idea is that we are in charge of our thinking and we are in charge of our actions, and as we change, the world around us does as well.

I would like to modify the above quote ever so slightly, yet ever so effectively for my purpose by restating it this way: "Today, no matter where I am going, and no matter what I am doing, it is my dominant intent to BE that which I am wanting to see."

As I ended yesterday, by giving unconditional love, I am experiencing unconditional love, and even better, I am teaching unconditional love, sharing it and spreading it, and living it. I am then, unconditional love.

Gandhi is quoted as saying, "If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him." He added, "we need not wait to see what others do."

I was talking with a salesman at a dealership, and in the last many weeks they have been going through an upheaval of change with people being fired, and an entirely new management team, and much more. (How many times I have seen this!) He was at a loss as to what to do because it is a process in motion and he is unclear about his future role.

I watched a movie last night where the guy said, "I don't like my job, but it is steady, and I hate my boss."

Drama is unfolding all around us. We often get caught up in it and react to it with anger, frustration, powerlessness. Yet, we don't need to wait to see what others do, and we need not wait to live according to the ideals that we want to see in others.

Instead of disappointment or despair seeing what others are doing, or how others are acting out their roles, whether in business environments or in our family lives, if we really want that to change, the only reliable change must come from within. Viktor Frankl said, "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

If we want to have love in our lives, we need to give love, express love. In giving love, we are love, and when we are love, that love is multiplied. If we want peace, we need to exude peace, or we need to become peaceful. In doing so we become peace. If we want a kind and gentler boss, we need to become that kinder and gentler employee. If we want to have a better team, we need to become that better team member within ourselves. If we want a happier, more fulfilling life, we need to become that happier, more fulfilled person within. Then all of these things become without, or they change the environment around us. 

We need to become the person that we expect others to be toward us. We need to be what we expect to see in the world. We need to see in the world as we want to see it, situations the way we want to see them, other people to be the way we want to see them, and as we look for the qualities that we want to see, we automatically change to become more like a person with those qualities and then everything around us changes according to our vision and more importantly, our inner change.


I AM The Change I Want To See In The World. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by becoming joyful. It's easy. It requires no effort. Just let go of the rope.

Daily Inspiration 11-2-15

"'My son,' the father said, 

'you are always with me, 

and everything I have is yours. 

But we had to celebrate and be glad 

because this brother of yours 

was dead and is alive again; 

he was lost and is found.'" 

-- Luke 15:31-32

The Bible, NIV 

Yesterday I was thinking about unconditional love. I've written about it several times, and I think I understand it well enough, but what I was wondering yesterday was if I have ever actually experienced it toward me. In other words, have I ever felt real unconditional love?

I know that I have felt it for others because I think I understand it and so would recognize the offering, but I could not think of one instance in my life where I have felt it lavished on me. I seem to know that I have felt it before I was born into this body, but I have not known it on earth so far.

As I was thinking these thoughts, the Parable of the Lost Son or the Prodigal Son came to mind. This is often taught as a story of redemption and certainly, it is that, but to me, it is a tale of unconditional love. First, the father loved the younger son with all his heart, then when asked by the son to have his inheritance early so he could go off and experience that wealth, the father did so. When the son who left was completely broken down and coming home to beg his father pardon, not as a son, but as any common worker for him, his father rejoices and celebrates the return of the lost son.

Oh, I have experienced love, even deep love, when things are going well. I have even seen it when things were not going so well, but to pardon anything so brazen as in the Prodigal Son, or some of the many foolish things I've done in my life, no.

Now the father, by his time's standards and even the standards of today, anger for the actions of the son would be easy, and even deeper, stronger negative emotions would be condoned by most. Yet this father loved the son without condition, without respect for what he had done, without respect for how he had squandered his inheritance. He was welcomed as if no bad thing had ever happened and only that he was not there and then he returned. Amazing. I don't even think that the father had ill words while the son was missing because his love was without condition.

To love without condition, or to love unconditionally, is to not even see anything but love. There is no blame. There is no guilt. There are no grudges. There is no ill-speaking. There is nothing but love completely without any conditions.

Wayne Dyer's definition of unconditional love is my favorite. He says, "[Unconditional] love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you." We all have that same ability, but we do not all have that willingness. It is when we fail to satisfy the ideals of the other that challenge love. There are so many things that can and do go wrong. Many so-called hurts and pain. And, we have probably all experienced these from both sides, but unconditional love sees none of that, is not the least bit plugged into any of that, sees through to the core of us, and is full of compassion.

Have I felt and experienced unconditional love? Yes, but only from me to someone else. Yet that is experiencing unconditional love, isn't it? I have no expectations of receiving unconditional love, and I have no earthly recognition of having received it, yet it occurs to me that the most important thing is not receiving, but giving. If I am loving another without any condition that they satisfy me in any way, shape or form, then I am loving unconditionally, and I am experiencing unconditional love. And, just like the father in the story, who cares about any of that other stuff?


Either Way, I'm Still Feeling It! And, It Feels Magical! 

Spread Some Joy Today--by sharing love with others, lavishing them with praise, and seeing only that which they truly are beneath that which we see with our eyes.

Daily Inspiration 11-1-15

"Only when you are 

sensitive to the way you feel 

do you really know 

what your vibrational content is." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

Continuing from yesterday's message about how our point of attraction can be recognized so that we can be more in control of what we attract into our lives. It was stated yesterday from Abraham, Esther Hicks that, "Your thoughts change the behavior of everyone and everything who has anything to do with you. For your thoughts absolutely equal your point of attraction, and the better you feel, the more everything and everyone around you improves." And, it is in the recognition of how we are feeling that tells us what we are attracting.

From Ask and It Is Given: "Some believe that they're focused upon the subject of a healthy body, when instead, they're focused on the fear of a sick body. Some believe that they're thinking about improving their financial situation, when instead, they're focused on not having enough money." They say, "every subject is really two subjects: something that you desire and the absence of something that you desire. If you do not understand that these are very different vibrational frequencies, then you may believe that you are focused on something that you desire, when you may, in fact, be focused in the opposite direction." 

One of their many processes to make it interesting and fun to find ways to stay in alignment with what we really want is, Which Thought Feels Better? (Process #13 of 22 in the book). They say that the game is best played when you are alone so that there are no outside influences, and in the beginning, it can be most helpful to write down how you feel about a subject. As you look at that, they suggest you expand on that feeling, then write a statement that you think feels better. Some statements may not feel better or might feel worse, but as you go through the process, of trying to find a better feeling thought, you will change your vibration toward feeling better about the subject you're considering and yourself at the same time.

After you have played the game so that you understand how you use it, you can easily do it in your mind as your thoughts are coming to you.

Here's a simplified idea of this: "Which thought feels better, to appreciate or to condemn? Which thought feels better, to applaud what you have done, or to feel critical that you did not do enough?" 

When I talk about the importance of feeling good, some have said to me that life is not all about feeling good. Then they go on about all the things going wrong in the world, violence, and a long list of ills, and that things happen and stuff happens, and you just can't go around feeling good all the time! Well, I have to let them have their way. If they want to feel bad, okay. If they want to focus on what is wrong, okay. If they want to find more ways to feel bad, okay--for them. It is not okay for me. We cannot change another, we can only change ourselves. So, it is best to let people make their own choices. I'm okay with that, but I'm not going to the dark side just because someone has a long list of ills in the world and they feel passionate about them.

I think most would agree that they really, truly want to feel better or to feel good. Yesterday I felt fabulous all day long and it was such a joy to feel that. That's what I'm talkin' about! So, this process of asking ourselves, Which thought feels better? can be helpful in finding more ways to feel good and fewer ways of feeling bad. That is its only purpose.


Which Thought Feels Better? 

Spread Some Joy Today--by taking your happy pill and feeling good.

Daily Inspiration 10-31-15

"Your thoughts 

change the behavior 

of everyone 

and everything 

who has anything to do with you." 

-- Abraham, Esther Hicks 

I've been using and loving my Ask and It Is Given Perpetual Flip Calendar now for about three years. That means that every short message that I see each day is the same short message I saw last time this date came around. And yet, some just jump off the page at me even today. They don't all jump off the page, but some just hit me at the right time where my head is at, and, "Hey Minion, check this out!" Or, "Hey Terry, write about this!"

Yesterday's message was like that, and as I pondered that all day yesterday and then got up this morning to the message for today, I think how perfect it is--for me. The simplicity of it is astounding. So, I'll share it just in case it means something to you.

Yesterday's message began with the quote above: "Your thoughts change the behavior of everyone and everything who has anything to do with you." That is what jumped off the page at me. Consider it--my thoughts change the behavior of everyone around me and any and all circumstances, events, etc., that have anything to do with me. How powerful that statement is. My thoughts not only change my own behavior, events, circumstances, and more, it changes all those around me.

The message continues, "For your thoughts absolutely equal your point of attraction, and the better you feel, the more everything and everyone around you improves. In the moment that you find an improved feeling, conditions and circumstances change to match your feeling. . . . Playing the Which Thought Feels Better? game will help you begin to realize the power that your own thoughts have to influence everything around you." 

My point of attraction is where ever I am now, the person I have become so far, my awareness so far, so what is coming into my life has everything to do with this position and these things. When I look at my life and what I am attracting into my life now, I can see that it is dramatically different from what I used to attract into my life before I was even aware that I was doing such. It's not like I am now at the point where I control everything, but at the same time, that is exactly true--I am controlling everything.

You probably know people who seem to be going through one shit-storm after another. I call it being the pinball in a pinball game as opposed to being the player in the game, bouncing off one issue to another, racking up blaming points, getting flipped around, and so much more. Jim Rohn used to say that, "things like that just seem to happen to people like you," when someone would complain about circumstances and how all these things are fighting them--and apparently winning. It's clear to me that they happen because of our point of attraction and awareness at that time. I see people in those circumstances today (actually I don't see very many because they are no longer on my radar) and I totally understand how those things are happening to them.

Sometimes people might say, "what were you thinking?" when someone makes what appears to be a grand error, and in reality, that is probably the perfect question to ask; albeit, the attitude of the asker, in this case, is not really interested in greater learning or guidance, but only condemnation and their own method of blame.

I'll continue tomorrow with more about the game, Which Thought Feels Better? and how it is a perfect way to help change the thoughts that change our point of attraction.


My Entire World Is Controlled By My Thoughts. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by deciding that it is a good choice for the day.

Daily Inspiration 10-30-15

"We ask ourselves, 

 'Who am I to be brilliant, 

 gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' 

Actually, who are you not to be?" 

-- Marianne Williamson 

[I posted this 4 months ago and felt very moved to share it again. We all need to feel good, and to even feel fabulous, because we are. I hope this inspires you to feel fabulous today and all weekend long! -- Terry]

I used this photo a few days ago and I cannot get it out of my mind. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words and I know that is true, as this one speaks volumes to me. Here's some of what this photo says to me--even screams to me with delight:

I'm fabulous! I feel fabulous! I feel like a star! I feel joy! I love my perfect hat. I love my choice in shades. I can be anybody behind some cool shades, and right now I'm fabulous. I've got beautiful, naturally curly hair. I love my hair. My great summer dress with the yellow borders clicks with my shades as do the other colors that blend so nicely with my great hat. I feel alive. I feel good. I feel free. I feel wonderful. 

I'm in love with me right now. I love me. I love myself. I feel like I'm showing off the real person inside me that so often I have tried to hide. I am hiding no more today. I am feeling too good to be concerned about any of that. I am feeling like I have a smile on my entire body. I feel like a wave of deliciousness has covered me giving me even more joy. I am fabulous. I feel fabulous. I am so enjoying this moment as if there were no other moments to be concerned about. 

And, while I am loving me and feeling fabulous today, I am loving every single person and thing that I see through my eyes and my perfect shades. I see them as fabulous too. In fact, we are all fabulous today. The sky is fabulous, the air is fabulous, the animals are fabulous, the ground is fabulous, the people I see are fabulous, everything around me is fabulous. Isn't fabulous so divine? I love it. I want to feel this way all the time, or at least as often as I can because it feels so delightful and fun. 

It isn't the things I'm wearing. I love them, and they are fun, but it isn't the things on my body. It is me. It is how I feel deep inside. I adore this feeling. When I add these beautiful and fun things to my body, I feel like that feeling deep inside that I don't pay attention to very much is allowed to come up to the surface and have fun with me. The things I'm wearing just enhance the feelings that are already within me. It is so marvelous when I allow this to happen. I want it much more often. I love being fabulous, feeling fabulous, and sharing my fabulousness with the entire world. 


"If You Allow Yourself To Feel Fabulous, You Are Fabulous!" -- Natalia Kills 

Spread Some Joy Today--Be Fabulous!

Daily Inspiration 10-29-15

"There is a word for the difference

between wanting to do and choosing to do. 

It's called action." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

When I was a little kid, there used to be a saying, 'wishes are for fishes.' I still haven't got a clue where that came from or why fish get all the wishes, but I think the gist of it was that you can think about something, want something, wish for something, hope for something, but nothing happens without some kind of activity.

I was thinking this morning about a long list of things that I want or would like to do. I have three stacks of books that I want to read, I want to rearrange my office, minimize the clutter (there is so much going on in this room!), try certain recipes in the kitchen, make and drink more fresh green juice, become thin again, and well, I'm sure you have your own list and yours might even be as long as mine.

I wonder how much time and energy, fret and concern that I have experienced over the years of the things that I haven't yet chosen to do? Whew! I know it has to be a lot.

I have a book I would love to read. It is The Wartime Journals of Charles A. Lindbergh. It has been on the bookshelf facing me for years. I've picked it up a few times and read a couple of bits. It's well over 1,000 pages, and I'm certain that it is fascinating based on the tidbits I've tasted, but it remains unread, right along with the three stacks on the other side of the room.

Yet, I have several books on my side desk with bookmarks of where I am in them and they are all being actively read, although I'm not in a hurry as I am enjoying them in pieces and sort of studying them, making notes, and highlights too.

Is the difference in the depth of my desire? That might be one way to look at it, but I think it is as the quote above states, the difference between wanting and choosing. The difference is in the activity or the action. I have not yet chosen to read the Lindbergh book, so there is no activity or action to do so. Whenever I choose to read it, I'm certain that I will.

Until something gets on to my to-do list, or rather until I choose to do it, whatever it is that I think I want to do or might like to do is not important. I no longer (well, it's a work in progress to better state the truth) let any of that those un-choices to interfere with the real choices. Some day, the un-choices may actually move over to the choice column, but it doesn't really matter.

The more I worry about what isn't getting done, the less I tend to get done, and the more guilt or other negative feelings I experience. When I focus on what I am choosing to do and let all the rest become insignificant, I feel good, and even if I don't complete it in a timely manner, or even if I choose to not complete it on purpose, I still feel good and that I have become more in the process.


When I Choose, I Control My Experience. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing to do so. Otherwise, it will not be done.

Daily Inspiration 10-28-15

"Love is the ultimate 

and the highest goal 

 to which man can aspire." 

-- Viktor Frankl 

In his brilliant book that was just released this month, Alan Cohen keeps it real, easy and short in A Course In Miracles Made Easy. He states in the book from anecdotes that many had bought the original A Course In Miracles, but very few had actually read it through. I know from personal experience that. It was a daunting task and I learned much of the messages in A Course In Miracles through another learned interpreter--Marianne Williamson and her very popular and delightful book, A Return To Love. I highly recommend that book as well as Alan's new book.

For all intent and purposes, Alan Cohen explains perfectly what A Course In Miracles is all about. "Every moment, the Course tells us, offers us a choice between fear and love. . . the only real choice is between fear and love. Fear hurts and love heals. All else is detail. The fearful mind spins a web of complexity that makes the hardships of the world seem inescapable. A Course In Miracles tells us that life does not have to be hard and the world that fear has fabricated is entirely escapable. Boil every choice down to what heals versus what hurts, answer fear with love, and you will find the peace you seek."

This isn't some airy-fairy philosophy. This is a real choice for us throughout every single day and every aspect of our lives. We get to choose how we respond to the stimuli around us, and we can most easily tell what we are experiencing when we pay attention to how we are feeling. There are only two feelings; albeit, there are many names we've given varying degrees of those feelings. The only two feelings are feeling good and feeling bad or not good. Love will always feel good. Not love will always feel off or bad. That's how easy it can be. There's only one requirement of us, and that is to simply notice and then make our decisions. At least then we will be living on purpose whatever choices we make.

Here's a great game to play: As you go through your day and you notice something, or you are being presented with a choice, ask yourself, 'what would love do?' Then, just for the heck of it, ask, 'what would fear do?' Then ask, 'which will I choose right now?' Again, whichever is chosen, at least it is chosen consciously.

One other tiny thing to pay attention to. The results of the choice. That could be telling. . .


How Much More In Charge Can We Be? It's All Choices. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by choosing love.

Daily Inspiration 10-27-15

"It's true, that out of diversity

often will come conflict. 

Yet, it is just as true, 

that out of diversity 

will come harmony." 

-- Albert K. Strong 

I agree with the quote above, and though we may not want to admit it, conflict and harmony can both be valuable, and they are also choices of what we either expect from past experiences to happen, or it is dependent on what we are searching for.

Here's a great question: What do we get out of sameness? Abraham, Esther Hicks said this: "The most magnificent Creators don't want to get together with people who think just like they do. They're looking for people who have other thoughts because out of the contradiction, come ideas that could not be born out of sameness. Your relationships will be ultimately more if you're not identical twins just "yessing, yessing, yessing" to everything that the other one is about."

How often people get into groups that agree with one another, or at least on the surface that might be true. Yet, what are they learning? What they already know?

What I loved about that quote from Abraham was this line, "because out of the contradiction, come ideas that could not be born out of sameness." Based on that exciting line, a contradiction can be a huge asset.

I can still hear my mother saying to me, "don't contradict me!" and me replying (in my head, of course!), "I will if I want to!" I guess I've always challenged authority in one way or another. . .


Get Excited About Contradiction And Diversity And Challenge. That's Where The Fun And Excitement Is. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by finding the harmony in all things.

Daily Inspiration 10-26-15

"In an age where there is so much talk 

about "being yourself," I reserve to myself 

the right to forget about being myself, 

since in any case, there is very little chance 

of my being anybody else." 

-- Thomas Merton 

I love this quote by Thomas Merton. It's true that there is a lot of talk and publications about being yourself, finding yourself, becoming more of yourself, and so on. It reminds me of a dog chasing its tail in a circle without success.

At the same time, there is something to the idea that we find out how best to be ourselves, finding ourselves, and being more of that which we are, and I think I've found what all of that means and how to be more authentic.

I think that being ourselves is tantamount to enjoying being alive--to enjoy ourselves, to enjoy our life, to feel good, and to have very little or no fear, regret, anxiety. We do that by aligning with the spirit within, our inner being, our inner knowing, the God within. We know we are aligned when we are feeling good. We know we are out of alignment when we are feeling bad, fearful, anxious, frustrated, and so on. So, number one, being ourselves is simply to be in alignment with our inner selves. The inner and the outer in unison. When that happens, we are whole, and at peace, connected to our joy, full of love, recognizing and enjoying our life.

Second, or rather, this really should be first, finding ourselves, or our authentic self is to recognize how we are feeling and know that we truly want to feel good. Feeling good comes from that feeling of alignment within ourselves. We would then equally recognize when we are feeling bad, and now we know what that means, and that leads us to what to do about it in order to feel better: choose better feeling thoughts. Even dinky little steps help a lot. We might move from anger to worry, and that is an improvement, then from worry, we can move up to frustration, then into hope, and on to optimism, to passion, to love. That's all the control we really need--recognizing what is going on, and knowing how to move to a better place.

Other people can see it in us. You can recognize it perfectly in others. People might say, "something is wrong with George today. He's not himself. He's normally easy going and nice and today, well. . . something is off." We sense the vibrations of others by how they are feeling, and we can feel it within ourselves at the same time.

It's all about alignment. When we are aligned, we are our authentic selves. When we are out of alignment, we are easily confused about that. Being more of ourselves is simply being more in alignment. 

Think of it as tuning a stringed instrument. When the vibrations of the tuning fork and the string are in alignment, the string is in tune and the instrument sounds like it was meant to sound and music can be played. When the string is out of tune, the music played is not so good, and the more out of tune, the less it even sounds like music. And, just like we can take that out of tune instrument and get it back in tune, we have all the power we need to do the same within ourselves.


Being Yourself Is Just Like Being In Tune With Life. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by enjoying yourself. That's how easy it is.

Daily Inspiration 10-25-15

"Everything reminds us of something." 

-- Elizabeth Gilbert 

Some books I devour, while others I sip like a fine cognac, and Elizabeth Gilbert's newest book, Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond Fear, is one that I'm enjoying a little bit at a time. I'm only one-third of the way through and I've had the book for over a month. I delight in the way she puts words together, so I've also been reading it aloud.

I was thinking the past few days about these Daily Inspirations and that after thousands of them, I've repeated many themes many times and I'm always looking for something new, and how slow that seemed to come sometimes.

Then, yesterday, I picked up Big Magic and read the sub-chapter heading, Originality vs. Authenticity, and I was relieved, excited, and amazed at the same time. It has to be the shortest one in the book, lasting only one and a half pages, but it jumped out at me like it was the message from the book that was totally meant for me--and, anyone else who is thinking about creating something.

She begins by saying, "Maybe you fear that you are not original enough. Maybe that's the problem--you're worried that your ideas are commonplace and pedestrian, and therefore unworthy of creation." Wow. Commonplace and pedestrian. What a fascinating phrase. She sews in a word to a sentence that just makes me smile. I could not have imagined the word pedestrian in that sentence, yet it tickled me so. But, I digress. . .

She continues, "Aspiring writers will often tell me, "I have an idea, but I'm afraid it's already been done."

She answers, "Well, yes, it probably has already been done. Most things have already been done--but they have not yet been done by you."

She talks about how Shakespeare, in his lifetime, pretty much covered every storyline there is, and yet for all these centuries, they have been restated again and again. She adds, "So what if we repeat the same themes?... We're all related, after all, so there's going to be some repetition of creative instinct. Everything reminds us of something. But once you put your own expression and passion behind an idea, that idea becomes yours."

To bring this idea some closure, she says, "the older I get, the less impressed I become with originality. These days, I'm far more moved by authenticity. Attempts at originality can often feel forced and precious, but authenticity has quiet resonance that never fails to stir me."

And so she says for us to "just say what you want to say, then, and say it with all your heart," and to "share whatever you are driven to share," and, if it is authentic enough, believe me--it will feel original."

This is part of the chapter titled, Permission, and how we need to give ourselves permission to do what we want to do without reservation or restriction. Whatever you feel a desire to do, the most important thing I think is to allow yourself that expression--to do, to put it out there, whatever it is. It's only silly fears that keep us from that place, or worrying whether it has been done before, or done better, or whatever craziness our ego comes up with. Just do it is a perfect three words to live by. Just do it. And, in the doing will be every reward.


You Are Free To Create At Will. Share Your Uniqueness. 

Spread Some Joy Today--by allowing yourself the pleasure of doing just that.

Daily Inspiration 10-24-15

"Today would be a perfect day 

to have a perfect day." 

-- Alan Cohen 

Yesterday, I was out doing some errands. It was a beautiful day. I was feeling good. Charlie was enjoying himself riding along. Traffic was typical for a Friday afternoon, yet I was generally unaffected by the congestion. The freeway was gridlock going east which is normal for a Friday afternoon, so I took surface streets to get across town. It takes longer, but not on Friday, and there is more scenery anyway.

I dealt with several people of widely varied ages during the trip and most were amazed at how happy I was. The bank, the grocery store, the pet store, they were all not so happy, yet cordial. The grocery store lady was probably in her 50s and she said she would be happy after this day was over because it has been a long one, the bank girl in her 20s was so looking forward to the weekend. The pet store girl in her 30s would soon be off shift and would be feeling better soon.

I've mentioned these kinds of scenarios before, but as I was talking with the bank manager who asked me about the weekend ahead, I said, 'I don't look forward to weekends anymore. I think it is because I have so much freedom in my life now that I just enjoy every day.' Then this morning as I am writing this, I think that I am living more in the moment than I ever have before.

I love how Abraham, Esther Hicks explains it: "Your life is right now! It's not later! It's not in that time of retirement. It's not when the lover gets here. It's not when you've moved into the new house. It's not when you get the better job. You life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it's not ever going to get better than right now--until it gets better right now!" 

It's wonderful to eagerly anticipate something coming into our lives, but it is the full enjoyment of what is already in our lives at this very moment that is our life being enjoyed. 

I was looking at an article I wrote for the current issue of a magazine called, Prime Time Living, a magazine focused on seniors, where I asked, "When is my prime? Right now." I'll share just the first paragraph with you: "I've heard people say, "He was in his prime." By who's definition is that? Most likely it wasn't the person they were referring to. Eckhart Tolle reminds us, "The only place you can ever encounter the future, is in your head," and "Nothing can ever happen in the past. It can only happen now." So, when is my prime? Right now. This moment. No 'he was' or 'she was' or 'he will be,' or 'she will be.' There is only now, so the only time there could ever be prime is now."

I can remember living like the people I interacted with yesterday, and I am certain that one of the best changes in my life has been learning to or rather, allowing myself to enjoy the moments without needing or wanting them to be something else. All of us live in the moment. That is when life is for all of us. As we learn to enjoy these moments rather than wishing we were somewhere else, the more joy we experience, and the more we have the life we want.


Your Value Is Unquestionable. Your Purpose Is To Experience Life. All The Rest Is Variable, And Completely Under The Realm Of Our Own Choosing, Moment By Moment. 

Spread Some Joy Today--Yes. Today seems right.

Daily Inspiration 10-23-15

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." 

-- Proverb 

You might have heard the idea of a parallel universe. Well, here's a bit from Abraham, Esther Hicks that sheds some light:

"Nothing needs to be fixed. Everything is unfolding perfectly. So when you stand in your now accepting that all is well, then from that vibration, you become surrounded by more and more evidence that all is well. But, when you're convinced that things are broken, that there is pollution, or that things have gone wrong, or that the government is doing conspiracies. . . then what happens is you get caught up in that vibration, and you begin to manifest that kind of stuff, and then you say, "See, I told you that things were going wrong."

What is fascinating about this is that both are true. It's just not the circumstances that make it true or the reality of it that makes it true, it is the eye of the beholder that makes it true.


What Is Your Eye Beholding? 

Spread Some Joy Today--Just go have some joy today. It's easy. You deserve it. You don't have to share it if you really don't want to, but it is always better shared.

Daily Inspiration 10-22-15

"Follow your bliss." 

-- Joseph Campbell 

I bought a new book by Jeb Blount with a catchy title, Fanatical Prospecting. As I looked through the contents page and read some of the pages at random, my first thoughts were that he is teaching a very small group. To be fair, there is plenty to learn from this book for the average prospector, let alone the fanatical one living, breathing, and working 24/7/365.

In the sales game, we have pressure on us from the companies we sell for, to continue to produce more at less cost with more profits. Sometimes that pressure to be someone's version of success is a heavy burden. Been there, lived that, was even one putting the pressure on others many times.

Yet, what I've found is heavier than this pressure, is the expectations and disappointments we affix to ourselves in the process of trying to be something other than what and who we are.

I'm very much into personal development and growing and becoming better at what I do, and expanding as a human being too. It's all for the good of everyone involved for us to be our best selves. In other words, I want to do well and I want to keep learning.

In 1972 when I began my sales career at age 22, I found it hard to find books on sales. Now, they are so plentiful that if you want to improve your sales skills, get some fresh ideas, and keep learning more, it is very easy. I recommend that. I do it even today. Technology has helped expand the ways in which we can keep learning with e-books, audio programs, audiobooks, video, YouTube, online education and so much more. Whatever you want help with, it is out there and much of it is free. 

There's a lot to do and a lot to learn, and in all my years I have found something that is even more important, and it takes all the pressure off at the same time. It is this: learn to love what you do and to enjoy yourself doing it. Many of us get so focused on making money and forget to enjoy ourselves throughout each day. Life is short and finding a way to enjoy what you do during the day for work allows you to make money and thrive. It adds immeasurably to your home life as well.

Joseph Campbell says to "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls." Do what you can with what you have to work with and let the rest go. Find ways to enjoy yourself throughout your day, and loving what you do serves you and everyone around you. My recommendation is that if you were to become fanatical about something, to become a fanatic about following your bliss will serve you pretty well.


Life Is Meant To Be Enjoyable. All Of It. And, Strangely Enough, We Get To Choose That Or Not As We See Fit. 

Spread Some Joy Today--because it is way cooler than spreading fear, or complaining, or being angry. Joy just feels better, don't you think?