Happy Friday!! Gratitude

Zero-Based Gratitude

There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
- Albert Einstein

"Perhaps you have heard of zero-based budgeting as a technique for governments, businesses, and occasionally individuals.

Zero-based budgeting is in contrast to traditional incremental budgeting. In incremental budgeting, one starts with the budget for the last year, or other period, and prepares a budget for the next period based on the budget for the last period - incorporating whatever increases, or very occasionally decreases, are deemed appropriate.

Zero-based budgeting begins with a base-line of no expenditures, rather than the base-line of last year's expenditures. Each and every proposed expense must be justified on its own merits rather that falling back on the argument that it was in the last year's budget, and that everybody expects and demands it.

Most people's gratitude is incremental gratitude. If they receive a raise, a bigger house, a third car, a new love interest, or a healthy new baby, they are grateful.

If they lose their job, are forced to downsize, have a tiff with their spouse, or have an illness in the family, they are disappointed and angry.

Why disappointed and angry? Because they have not been blessed with as much today as they were yesterday.

Suppose our gratitude could be zero-based gratitude.

With zero-based gratitude, we would be grateful for everything we had each day - regardless of whether it was more or less than yesterday. With zero-based gratitude, I can be grateful for a warm comfortable one-bedroom apartment, even if I had a four bedroom house yesterday. I can be grateful for being able to walk, even if I could run yesterday.

I can be grateful for all the people, the love, the food, the shelter, the services, the health, that I am blessed with today, REGARDLESS  of what I had yesterday.

With zero-based gratitude, I can be grateful each day for the gift of life itself.

Consider adopting the ongoing practice of zero-based gratitude."

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Stay Strong and COUNT every last blessing!! 

WE HAVE ZERO IDEA HOW GREAT WE HAVE IT!!   ;)

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[Stay Strong] The Power of the Mind

A repeater for the long weekend!  :)  Stay Strong and enjoy the holiday!

Stay Strong! !

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "CIM" <douglas.flaherty@gmail.com>
Date: Jul 17, 2012 7:41 AM
Subject: [Stay Strong] The Power of the Mind
To: <douglas.flaherty@gmail.com>
Cc:

"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.

It is what you think about."
- Dale Carnegie

How many times have we been in a fun place with all the trappings of fun and happiness, only to be thinking of something else that distracts us or makes us sad or anxious?

It happens all the time!

The beautiful thing about this fact and power of the mind is that it can work the other way as well!

We hold the power - today -to create our own happiness and joy with our own minds, thoughts, and focus - regardless of our current circumstances!!

Believe in this power because it is all that matters in our pursuit of peace and joy!!

Material goods will not do it, wealth and power will not do it! 

In fact, some of the most miserable people I know appear to have everything one could imagine in the material world, yet cannot buy or attain joy, peace, or happiness!!!

We all know these people!!

And we also know people who have been through Hell on earth, have nothing material to their name, yet are the happiest and most inspiring people on the planet!!!

What more do we need to witness before we choose to change our thought patterns and improve our living???

What are we using as our Goals? 

What measurement are we using for our own happiness?

The power to do this and change our mindsets exist in all of us today!! 

Use it NOW and claim your rightful peace and joy in this very brief life!!!

Stay Strong!!!!

--
Posted By CIM to Stay Strong at 7/17/2012 07:41:00 AM

It is Time....

"Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it - but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."
       - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

So much of what we accomplish in our lives is the direct result of taking the first step toward a goal.

We tend to over complicate what it takes to achieve Greatness in our lives!

Greatness can be defined in many different ways and to me Greatness is not what conventional society or wisdom often deems it to be.

Greatness is very difficult to pin down and many a time some are said to achieve Greatness yet seem completely miserable in that highly coveted state.

If that is Greatness, you can  count me out right now.

No, to me Greatness comes as a by product of service to others.  It comes from kindness and compassion for others, especially when it is easiest to look the other way and go on with our lives.

I have never been accused of achieving Greatness using any definition of the word.

But I do know this for a fact - if we want to achieve Greatness we must cut the line and set sail toward that state!

And we must do it NOW!

There is no time to wait!

The time to begin your new chapter is NOW!!

The first step is often the hardest in the march to our own peace and joy, but it is the most critical one you will take!

Forget the past as it holds zero bearing on your present and future!!

All that matters is now - and what we do with our "Now"!

No matter what it is, go forward fully in strength and faith with unwavering focus on the goal!!!

Set it high and do not let anyone or anything sway you from your path!!!

You will encounter rough seas, doubts, discouragement, head winds, and challenges that will make you contemplate quitting - BUT YOU MUST STAY THE COURSE!

Embrace the challenge as it will make you a better and stronger person!!

Your Greatness awaits your first step in its direction!!!

You are ready right now!! 

You are not alone in the journey!!!

What are you waiting for? ?

Stay Strong!!

Holy Mary

"Holy Mary,
I give You myself,

Trusting in your fidelity and your protection.
I surrender myself entirely to your motherly tenderness,

My body, my soul,
all that I am, all that I possess,
for the whole of this day,

For every moment in my life,
And especially at the hour of my death.

I entrust to you once more
All my hopes, all my consolations,
All my anxieries, all my troubles,
My life, my dying breath,

So that by your prayers and merits,
I may have, in all I do, one only goal,

Your good pleasure and the Holy will of Your Son."
  
     - Pere Raphael

Expand

"Wonder what opportunities you pass, unwittingly,
because your hands are so busy clasping what you think you have always known."
    - Mary Anne Radmacher

Stay Strong!!

Happy Friday !!

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words.     
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."
     - Anonymous

Stay Strong!!  Enjoy the weekeend!!