07.31.08
The Greatest Achievement
“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn; the bird waits in the egg; and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.
“Your circumstances may be uncongenial, but they shall not long remain so if you but perceive an Ideal and strive to reach it. You cannot travel within and stand still without….Whatever your present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts, your Vision, your Ideal. You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.”
—James Allen, from “As A Man Thinketh
Check out my website to download a FREE Ebook copy of “As A Man Thinketh” for yourself!
07.30.08
It’s Your Life So Make the Most of It
One of the most important ingredients in your personal development is taking real responsibility for your actions. This requires that you consciously become the cause of the results that you want. Refuse to behave like a victim… or to wait for someone to save you from life’s problems.
Keys to Self-responsibility
To reach your full potential, you need to take responsibility for your actions in meaningful ways…
Consciousness. You have a choice — you can pay attention and be fully present when you are making critical decisions, such as working on a project, reading your performance review or deciding whether to have another drink. Or you can be physically present but mentally absent during these activities. Either way, you are responsible for the level of consciousness you bring to any occasion — and you are responsible for the results.
Decisions and actions. It is tempting to “disconnect” from our choices — to insist that someone or something is driving us to behave the way we do. Other people don’t make you talk or act in certain ways. You are responsible for how you speak and listen… whether you act rationally or not… whether you treat others fairly or unfairly… whether you keep your promises or break them. Once you recognize that you are the source of your own decisions and actions, you are far more likely to proceed wisely — and to act in ways that will not cause embarrassment or regret later.
Fulfillment of desires. A major cause of unhappiness or frustration is imagining that someone will come along to “rescue” you — to solve your problems and fulfill your wishes. A self-responsible person recognizes that no one is coming to make life right or to “fix” things. You acknowledge that nothing will get better unless you do something to make it happen.
Beliefs and values. Many people are happy to reflect passively what others believe and value. Or they assume that their ideas arise naturally out of their feelings — by instinct. Self-responsible people work to become aware of their beliefs and values… to critically scrutinize them… to seek out people who see things differently… and then to make up their own minds.
Setting priorities. The way we spend time and energy is either in sync with our values or out of sync with what we claim is important. If you understand that the way you prioritize your time is your own choice, you are more likely to correct the contradictions. Instead of being overwhelmed or neglecting people and activities that are important to you, you reexamine your values or set priorities that make more sense.
Choice of companions. You can blame and resent others when they repeatedly hurt or disappoint you. You can feel sorry for yourself. Or you can recognize your responsibility for choosing with whom you spend time… and make different choices.
I hope this week you will really pay attention to the choices you make.
07.29.08
You Can’t Win If You Don’t Play
Setting a goal may arouse the fear of failure. But not to set goals — not even to try — represents the ultimate failure.
You’ll never know until you try. Before the day is over, set a specific goal for something you’ve always wanted. Then put a date on it!
Today’s Questions:
Which of your goals are you the most afraid to make into a specific target? _________________________________
Can you see how each attempt at a goal is your greatest success, simply you tried? _________________________________
Which would be worse: to live your life in constant pursuit of your biggest dream, or to not even try? _________________________________
07.28.08
Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie
Expressing true gratitude is a powerful force in your life. Are you good at it?
An Attitude of Gratitude…
Do you?
As obvious as this sounds, you have to work this into your daily routine, and truly demonstrate an attitude of gratitude—in private and in public.
Give some real thought to this area of your daily routine… and how you can not just SPRINKLE it on, but FLOOD your world with an Attitude of Gratitude!
Every Monday we have our Grateful Monday Party here on the blog. Why? Because we want to remind ourselves that we are to maintain an attitude of gratitude, especially on the day the world deems as doom and gloom.
So no matter what it going on in your life today I encourage you to make a list of all you are grateful for. If you are in a bad place in your life right now, I especially encourage you to do this. Stop right now and write down all that you are grateful for. Then focus on this list for the rest of the day. Do not focus on what is going on in your life, but focus on the list of what you are grateful for. If you only have on thing on your list – great, focus on that one thing.
I am going to start the list off.
Today I am grateful for second chances.
I am grateful that I live in a country where I can choose my life.
I am grateful that I can freely express my opinions.
I am grateful for my husband and my children.
I am grateful that I have the opportunity to speak into others lives and encourage them.
I have so much to be grateful for and for that I am grateful.
Now it is your turn, if you would like to list what you are grateful for here then please do we would love to hear from you. If you want to keep it to yourself then by all means please do. Just make sure that you take the time to make your list-write it down. You are worth the few minutes it will take to do this! Until tomorrow I am grateful you were here.
07.25.08
Be Your Word
“If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.” ~ John R. Miller
It takes a positive attitude to make it in life.
Take a couple of minutes today to think about your circumstances, and look at your attitude from a fresh new perspective. Do you focus more of your time seeking solutions rather than staying absorbed in the problem? Do you look for the best in every situation, and the opportunity in every problem? Or are you an old “NO-it-all”?
What are you telling yourself when your “self-talk” cuts loose? Is it mostly positive… or frequently negative?
Power Up Questions:
- What’s positive about your situation right now?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________ - What’s on your schedule today that will benefit from a more positive conversation?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________ - What words could you change right now to create a more positive experience?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________ - Are your words currently shaping a positive interpretation of your day?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________ - When you speak with others, are you as encouraging as you could be?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________ - How will you address the next person you speak with?
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
07.24.08
The Answer Is “No” If You Don’t Ask.
Be willing to take a risk to achieve your goals. Few things of value are gained without courage and commitment!
Push out your comfort zone with a little more power and passion each day — and you’ll soon open a whole new world for yourself.
Today’s Challenge: Persist With Passion Until the Desired Results are Attained.
1. Be PERSISTENT! What would improve your results if you had the courage to try it?
2. Be TENACIOUS! Which one of your goals is worth more than the courage and commitment you now give it?
3. Be DETERMINED! What will it take to knock on — or walk through — that door you’ve been avoiding lately?
Setting a goal is never enough. To reach your goal, you must continue to take whatever actions are necessary until you finally succeed. While success is never guaranteed, if you don’t persevere to the end, it will never come your way. Of all the skills to master, determination and persistence are two of the most important. You can have a perfect game plan but if you lack persistence, you may as well forfeit the game before you even start to play.
“Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.” ~ Irving Berlin
Think about it and take on this motto:
“I persist with passion until I succeed at whatever I do.”
07.23.08
May You Find
“May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending.
Teach love to those who hate, and let that love embrace you as you go out into the world. May the teachings of those you admire become part of you, so that you may call upon them. Remember, those whose lives you have touched and whose have touched yours are always a part of you, even if the encounters were less than you would have wished. It is the content of the encounter that is more important than the form.
May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable value on the goodness in your heart. Find time each day to see beauty and love in the world around you. Realize that each person has limitless abilities, but each of us is different in our own way. What you feel you lack in the present may become one of your strengths in the future. May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility. Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience. May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on another’s judgment of your accomplishments. May you always feel loved.”
Make Today Count,
Dale Smith Thomas
07.17.08
Breakfast at McDonald’s
Today I wanted to share a story a dear friend of mine forwarded to me. This is not me or her, just a wonderful story:
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.
The last class I had to take was Sociology.
The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.
Her last project of the term was called, ‘Smile.’
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and theneven my husband did.
I did not move an inch…an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible ‘dirty body’ smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was ’smiling’.
His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, ‘Good day’ as he counted the few coins he had been clutching
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, ‘Coffee is all Miss’ because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, ‘Thank you.’
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, ‘I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.’
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, ‘That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.’
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure light of God’s sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.
I turned in ‘my project’ and the instructor read it.
Then she looked up at me and said, ‘Can I share this?’
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald’s, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS – NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
07.16.08
Why Not Now
You don’t have to put off your happiness until things are going your way. Happiness is a function of what you focus on. Choose to focus on the positive.
Happiness is an internal attitude, not an external situation. That is why we have the Grateful Monday Party on the blog each week. We need to focus on being happy and what we have to be happy about.
Today’s Questions:
Are you enjoying your life today? _________________________________
What’s one thing someone has done for you and that you are thankful for right now? _________________________________
If you could help focus someone else’s thoughts, whose would that be? ________________________________
07.15.08
How Can You Get To The Heart Of The Matter?
“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” ~ Roy Disney
Each day you spend the only life you have to live. The question is what are you getting in return?
Are you living with a strong sense of purpose and MISSION… or are you struggling to find balance and direction?
The fact of the matter is, your values drive every decision you make… every action you take… and everything you will ever be, do and have in life.
Your personal values radiate into everything you will ever be, do or have in life. They are the “pebbles” you toss into the sea of your life, creating a rippling effect through time and space.
Your values touch everyone with whom you come into contact.
They define you as a person.
They are the most visible, outward expression of who you are.
Please take a moment to write down your top 5 values. What values do you want to get from, and give to each of your most important relationships?
What I Value Most In My Relationships…
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
