Friday, October 30, 2009

Ten Years today and Counting.... Thank you, Tiffy!













MY WIFE

Her Blonde hair, her emerald eye.


Her marble skin elicit sigh


Her lips, like pomegranate cleft,


open, smile at me bereft



Of sense or feeling save for pride,

That creature thus could be my bride.

Extrinsic beauty caught my eye,

My heart did stir, my spirit fly,



But beauty out bore beauty in,
Possessed a soul devoid of sin.

And truth did beat within her breast,

With warmth, compassion was she blest.


Whene'er I stumbled through the years,

My bride was there to quell my fears,

With radiant smile, with soft embrace.

She'd mollify my fall from grace.



And seeing faith so strong, so pure,

I'd know that I could strive, endure.

Infatuation at the start,

Metamorphosed in my heart.

Became a love so strong it did.
Supplant my ego rule my id.
I asked that God enrich my life,

He chose an Angel for my wife.

--R.T. Caldwell

Friendly Reminder: Do it Now

Do it Now.

I expect to pass through this world but once.

Any Good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now.

Let me NOT defer nor neglect it; for I shall not pass this way again.

-- Stephen Grellet
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Great Article on the Power of Positive Emotion and Thinking!


The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of Positive attitude is certainly no exception.


Success is in the blood. There are men whom fate can never keep down they march forward in a jaunty manner, and take by divine right the best of everything that the earth affords. But their success is not attained by means of the Samuel Smiles-Connecticut policy.


They do not lie in wait, nor scheme, nor fawn, nor seek to adapt their sails to catch the breeze of popular favor. Still, they are ever alert and alive to any good that may come their way, and when it comes they simply appropriate it, and tarrying not, move steadily on.


Good health! Whenever you go out of doors, draw the chin in, carry the crown of the head high, and fill the lungs to the utmost; drink in the sunshine; greet your friends with a smile, and put soul into every hand-clasp.


Do not fear being misunderstood; and never waste a moment thinking about your enemies. Try to fix firmly in your own mind what you would like to do, and then without violence of direction you will move straight to the goal.


Fear is the rock on which we split, and hate the shoal on which many a barque is stranded. When we become fearful, the judgment is as unreliable as the compass of a ship whose hold is full of iron ore; when we hate, we have unshipped the rudder; and if ever we stop to meditate on what the gossips say, we have allowed a hawser to foul the screw.


Keep your mind on the great and splendid thing you would like to do; and then, as the days go gliding by, you will find yourself unconsciously seizing the opportunities that are required for the fulfillment of your desire, just as the coral insect takes from the running tide the elements that it needs.


Picture in your mind the able, earnest, useful person you desire to be, and the thought that you hold is hourly transforming you into that particular individual you so admire.


Thought is supreme, and to think is often better than to do.


Preserve a right mental attitude the attitude of courage, frankness and good cheer.



See how much you can learn about Positive attitude when you take a little time to read a well-researched article? Don't miss out on the rest of this great information.


Darwin and Spencer have told us that this is the method of Creation. Each animal has evolved the parts it needed and desired. The horse is fleet because he wishes to be; the bird flies because it desires to; the duck has a web foot because it wants to swim. All things come through desire and every sincere prayer is answered.


We become like that on which our hearts are fixed.
Many people know this, but they do not know it thoroughly enough so that it shapes their lives. We want friends, so we scheme and chase 'cross lots after strong people, and lie in wait for good folks or alleged good folks hoping to be able to attach ourselves to them. The only way to secure friends is to be one. And before you are fit for friendship you must be able to do without it. That is to say, you must have sufficient self-reliance to take care of yourself, and then out of the surplus of your energy you can do for others.


The individual who craves friendship, and yet desires a self-centered spirit more, will never lack for friends.


If you would have friends, cultivate solitude instead of society. Drink in the ozone; bathe in the sunshine; and out in the silent night, under the stars, say to yourself again and yet again, "I am a part of all my eyes behold!" And the feeling then will come to you that you are no mere interloper between earth and heaven; but you are a necessary part of the whole. No harm can come to you that does not come to all, and if you shall go down it can only be amid a wreck of worlds.


Like old Job, that which we fear will surely come upon us.


By a wrong mental attitude we have set in motion a train of events that ends in disaster. People who die in middle life from disease, almost without exception, are those who have been preparing for death. The acute tragic condition is simply the result of a chronic state of mind a culmination of a series of events.


Character is the result of two things, mental attitude, and the way we spend our time. It is what we think and what we do that make us what we are.


By laying hold on the forces of the universe, you are strong with them. And when you realize this, all else is easy, for in your arteries will course red corpuscles, and in your heart the determined resolution is born to do and to be.


Carry your chin in and the crown of your head high. We are gods in the chrysalis.


That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Bill McRea is the publisher of Living Inside Yourself and Living Life. Both sites are dedicate to providing useful information about life and self improvement.

STAY STRONG!!!!!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Stay Strong: Forgive Someone NOW!

Stay Strong: Forgive Someone NOW!

Walk a Mile...


We have probably heard this saying a couple thousand times in our lifetime.

"Walk a mile in a man's shoes before you judge".

We hear it and understand it - but it is important that we truly grasp the meaning of this wise and powerful proverb.

As we have discussed here many times, it is very simple to get lost in our daily struggles and issues. When we have challenges and problems, we as HUMANS tend to let those problems consume our every waking moment, overwhelm our thoughts and actions - We simply cannot seem to stop obsesssing on the current strife we battle on a daily basis.

We also tend to be quick to judge others who may not share our goals, outlooks, fashion style, lifestyles, etc. It is - unfortunately - human nature to succumb to these judgements.

It may be human nature but it DOES NOT mean that we cannot overcome these tendencies with a little mental effort.

Without getting too deep into the psychological basis or the "WHY" we tend to do this (insecurity, jealousy, competition, fear, ignorance, upbringing, etc) it is key that we UNDERSTAND and BELIEVE that we can change it if we so desire and choose!

Because we can.

Today try to embark on a new mission - a mission to see EVERYONE we meet today as a Brother and a Sister - not someone in need of a judging. Endeavor today to stop the normal (for most - not all) pattern of competition inherent in every interaction.

Try not to see others from a "how does that compare to me" perspective today and going forward - but instead look at them from a "how much are they hurting" or "what can I learn from them" or "is there anything I can do to assist them in THEIR daily battles and struggles?"

Walk a mile in their shoes and put yourself in their place before we jump to conclusions about why they are a certain way - or why they act in a certain manner.

Become a solution for them - and you will be pleased by how quickly whatever you are focusing on becomes secondary in nature!

It is a step toward fulfillment and joy and it is well within our control to make it a REALITY - starting............. NOW!

We never know what a person deals with daily - so provide the benefit of the doubt to those who appear surly, angry, mean, or rude. They are not this way because they WANT to be (in most cases - lol) - and perhaps, just perhaps your influence in their life can help them get past it and move closer to their God-given right to JOY, PEACE and HAPPINESS.

You may never know if it worked - but you can be assured that the effort alone will take you closer to those three places above we all strive to reach!

Stay Strong!!!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Simplify your Life and Find Joy

Life is full of complications, dilemmas, choices, obstacles, roadblocks, unknowns, cross-roads, etc. It is often overwhelming when you think about exactly how complex we make our lives!



There are only 24 hours in a day yet we manage to easily fill up each day with activities, meetings, events, tasks, chores, responsibilities, etc!



Sometimes it seems there is no end in sight and we can sometimes feel the pressure of the life we have created bearing down on us so hard it takes your breath away!!



What can be done??



It comes down to a choice we all can make and control -- a choice to SIMPLIFY our lives!



Get back to the basics and remember what it is that makes you happy!!



Do not continue to add layers of complexities, drama and unnecessary things to your life.



Narrow down what it is you WANT in your life and FOCUS all of your attention to that single desire.



Put aside all else that distracts you from your goal and keep things simple.



Write it down - meditate on it - pray for guidance on it and pursue it!



If you can scale back all else except for this singular focus and purpose, it is amazing how simple your life suddenly appears to you!



You don't have to become a monk or a recluse, just focus your mind on exactly what it is that you want from your life and go after it fully.



It takes some practice but it is achievable!!



Life does not have to be so hard all of the time! Get past your fears and remember what it is you are here on this earth to do!



The Beatles summed it up nicely for all of us... "All you need is................"?????



LOVE - correct!! :)



Love and kindness is all the matters!



Try it and work at it .... You will be glad you did!



Stay Strong!!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Happy Birthday to The Greatest Man in the World!!











The Decision for God

A Course in Miracles...

A Plan for Peace - RIGHT NOW! Please read all of it -- it is Powerful... Stay Strong!



Do you really believe you can make a voice that can drown out God's? Do you really believe you can devise a thought system that can separate you from Him?



Do you really believe you can plan for your safety and Joy better than He can? You need be neither careful or careless; you need merely cast your cares upon Him because he careth for you.



You are His care because he loves you.



His voice reminds you always that all Hope is yours because of His care! You cannot "choose" to escape His care because that is not His Will, but you can choose to accept His care and use the infinite power of his Care for all those He created by it.



Why should you listen to the endless insane calls you think are made upon you, when you can know the Voice of God is in you?



God commended His Spirit to you, and asks that you commend yours to Him. He wills to keep it in perfect peace, because you are of one mind and spirit with Him.



You have not been asked to work out a plan of "salvation" yourself because, as I told you before, the remedy could not be of your making.



Your part is merely to return your thinking to the point in which the error in deciding was made, and give it over to God in peace.



Say this to yourself as sincerely as you can, remembering the Holy Spirit will respond FULLY to YOUR SLIGHTEST INVITATION:



"I must have decided wrongly, because I am not at Peace.



I made the decision myself, but I can also decide otherwise.



I want to decide otherwise, because I want to be at Peace.



I do not feel guilty, because the Holy Spirit will undo all the consequences of my wrong decision if I will let Him.



I choose to let Him, by allowing Him to decide for God for me."

Monday, October 5, 2009

Back to Basics


It is amazing how life can become so complicated so quickly - often in the blink of an eye!



That is why it is so important to prepare mentally for the overwhelming events life can throw at you.



It is critical to keep positive in both your mind as well as your heart.



Our minds are the control room of our emotions! Think about it - the old saying "ignorance is bliss" is not just a saying - It is a guiding principle in behavior and emotion!



I am not saying bury your head in the sand and ignore life's curveballs and you will be thrilled - but I am saying that there are people in this world who have nothing at all to be joyful about in their lives - I mean downright tragedy and misery - yet they walk around as if they do not have a care in the world!!



How do they do this?? How do people with psychiatric issues seem and actually are happy and joyous? Why can't we do this???



The Mind. Period!



We can control our happiness and emotion if we can train our minds to focus on the positive! Focus not on a current problem but on the solution.



Get back to the basics - recall what truly matters to you -not shoes, cars, clothes, jewelry, etc- not those material goods that will disappear as quickly as they come (as will their allure). I mean getting back to why it is we exist - to assist, and support, and love one another!!



Focus your mind of being there for others, on what is next after the storm, the joy that is sure to follow the pain you may have now -- because it always comes back to love!! Always!!!



And we know for a fact that the storm ALWAYS passes and provides us all an opportunity to be Stronger, Wiser, Kinder, more compassionate, caring, and loving!!



With every ounce of pain there are pounds of happiness and joy and peace that will follow -you just have to know it, Believe it - and see it through!!!!



You will get there - and back to the heart of who you are!!!



God Bless and Stay Strong!





Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Thursday, October 1, 2009

GREAT advice on Staying Positive and Employed!


"This is no time to wallow in negativity. New brain science reveals why staying positive is your best defense against career stagnation."

By Anne Fisher, contributor
NEW YORK (Fortune)

With widespread job cuts and a recession to deal with, it's not easy to maintain a positive outlook at work these days.

But being upbeat, despite the stress, could actually help you thrive during a downturn."Most people make the mistake of thinking that success leads to happiness.

In fact, our brains work precisely the other way around," says Shawn Achor, head of Aspirant, a consulting firm that advises clients like Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500), American Express (AXP, Fortune 500), Credit Suisse (CS), and UBS (UBS) on how to keep morale and productivity up in these extraordinarily difficult times.

A positive approach to the daily grind, he adds, "gives rise to resilience, energy, and the ability to influence other people -- all things that create success.

"So if you want to come through this downturn with flying colors -- and maybe even a promotion or a raise -- you need to think positive.

Achor, who is also resident psychology tutor at Harvard, has done 5 years of research into "positive psychology," otherwise known as the formal academic study of happiness.

The field itself has only been around 15 years, but it's made some interesting findingsAmong them: "The two most important predictors of success are, first, whether we believe our behavior matters, that is, whether we think we can make a real difference -- and many people lose that belief in hard times, because so much is out of their control," Achor says. "And second, how do you manage stress? Does it paralyze you, or does it move you forward to action?


"Want to train your brain to stay upbeat? Here are six ways to get started:


1. Practice looking for the good. Achor cites studies showing that people who keep a daily "gratitude list" become happier and more successful over time. "For the next 21 days, every night before you go to sleep, think about three things you're grateful for. Say them out loud," Achor suggests. "If you try to make at least one of them work-related, you're training your brain to let go of the daily hassles and notice the good things about your job" - including, of course, having one in the first place.


2. Have some fun. "Many people think the words 'work' and 'fun' are mutually exclusive," Achor notes. But research shows that bursts of lightheartedness, whether from a smile shared with a colleague or a funny clip on YouTube, actually cause people to think more clearly and creatively."It turns out that, when we're happy, our neurons fire faster and more efficiently," Achor says. Even when you're working flat-out, use something you enjoy - photos of your last vacation, or reading a blog you get a kick out of - as a reward along the way, he suggests.


3. Brighten your office space. Everything around you affects your frame of mind. "Certain environmental cues can trigger your reflexive brain into needless panic, while others can prime you for creative thinking or calm reflection," Achor notes. "The good news is that you have the power to control much of this input. Surround your desk with pictures and objects that lead you toward positive thoughts. Your mood and your brain will thank you."


4. Keep a journal. If you find yourself worrying about bad news, a scary rumor, or a stressful deadline, take three minutes to write down how you're feeling. "Neuroscientists have discovered that verbalizing negative thoughts can act like a wet blanket on a fire of negative emotions," Achor explains. "The simple act of putting emotions into words immediately decreases their magnitude." So dust off that old diary, or open up a Word document, and try it. Just make sure no one else sees it.


5. Invest in people. "Smart people do stupid things during times of stress, like shutting down their social networks to focus on work," Achor observes. "But in working with companies around the world, I've found that the greatest predictor of success during stress and challenge is the quality and quantity of your relationships."Decades of research have shown that close ties to family and friends are among the biggest contributors to happiness, and may even help people live longer. "Now more than ever, take the time to strengthen those connections in your life," urges Achor. "You can start small by reaching out to just one person a day."


6. Think of work as a series of sprints, not a marathon. You know what happens when you've been sitting at your desk too long: Your muscles tense up, your eyes glaze over, and your energy lags. What you may not realize, Achor says, is that after two hours of continuous work, your brain function actually slows and your body starts to rapidly accumulate stress and strain."So try to split up your workday into short sprints of 90 to 120 minutes each, with a 5-minute break in between," Achor says. "Walk down the hall or around the block, call a friend, listen to a calming piece of music, do some stretching exercises, or eat a high-protein 100- to 200-calorie snack. Not only will you feel less run-down and worn out, but you'll see a jump in your concentration and productivity."

And I add # 7.... STAY STRONG!!