Daily Positive Thought

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. – The Buddha

We all get mad….it’s a normal human emotion and a form of self expression.  Anger can be good.  It can give us the impetus to get things done.  Then the anger burns out and we move on, and life is good.  But for some, the anger doesn’t always burn out.  We hold on to it in the form of a grudge, letting it fester inside us.  When we hold on to anger, it doesn’t do us any good.  It infects us and everything that we do, and the anger we hold on to, it doesn’t serve to accomplish anything positive.  It wears us down, it colors our perspective in a negative way, and it can even make us ill.  Holding on to anger, holding a grudge doesn’t hurt the person or situation you are angry with, it hurts you.  Let go of the anger that fills you and let the light fill you instead.

For every failure, there’s an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.  – Mary Kay Ash

It would be so awesome if, when we set out to do something, nothing got in our way.  However, we live in the real world, and in the real world, things happen.  People get sick, materials aren’t available, cars break down, people let you down….the list is endless.  It’s what you DO with those things that get in your way that matters.  Do you let them derail you?  Do you give up?  You can’t view those “things” as permanent roadblocks.  They’re detours.  The challenge is finding the way around them.  It may take a bit more work, but won’t that make the end result that much sweeter in the end?  Never give up!  When those detours pop up, turn on your internal GPS system and figure out a way around them.  Who knows, your new route may turn out to be the better one in the end.

At all times and under all circumstances, we have the power to transform the quality of our lives. – Werner Erhard

Nice saying….pretty words, but the question remains, how?  How do we transform the quality of our lives.  I look around at my life, and it’s an okay life….some would say it’s even pretty darn good (I’m one of those people) but if I wanted to change the quality, how do I go about it?  It actually goes back to what I said here – start at the beginning, and go on until you get to the end.  Again, rather trite sounding, right?  But it’s really not.  You simply start at the beginning, and make one change.  One tiny little change, and then another and then another.  Soon you will find changes all around you.  Changes don’t have to be huge – after all, an avalanche can start with one small snowball.  So if you want to change the quality of your life.  Create a goal, formulate your plan and start making changes, one by one.

‘Begin at the beginning,’ the King said, very gravely,’ and go on till you come to the end: then stop.’ – Lewis Carroll

I have to admit, I was a bit reluctant to use this quote today in the daily positive thought.  It seemed kind of  kind of trite, and not really encouraging.  But then, I started thinking about it, and even better, I had a chance to apply it to a real life situation.  I was talking with someone about reaching a goal.  The completely understand that they need a plan, but that’s where they were getting lost.  “I don’t get how to come UP with a plan,” was their lament.  I told them to start at the beginning – figure out the very first thing they would need to do, and then just move on from there.  You need a plan, sure, but it doesn’t have to be a detailed step by step plan.  At least not when you’re starting out.  I think the best plans have some flexibility built in.

I always wanted to be a teacher.  That goal was set when I was in 8th grade.  The plan was finish junior high, graduate high school, and go to and graduate college.  I completed steps 1 and 2 without any issues (well except for a few math struggles) I even accomplished step 3 – I went to college.  Then the plan hit a few snags.  I was in no way, shape or form ready to be in college.  So after completing 2 years, I left school and got a job.  Eventually, I went back to school and became a teacher and got a job.  Sure I hit a few speed bumps on my journey, my plan changed, but I never really lost sight of my goal.  It took longer than I anticipated, but you know what?  I’m actually a better teacher because of it.

So listen to the words of the King of Hearts.  Begin at the beginning and keep going until you come to the end.  You can do it!

Friendship with oneself is all-important, because without it one cannot be friends with anyone else. – Eleanor Roosevelt

I remember a time when to me, being in a relationship was the MOST. IMPORTANT. THING. IN. THE. WORLD!  I needed to be in a relationship, and I thought that if i wasn’t, my world was going to end.  Well, the world didn’t end, but the relationship did, and of course I was devastated, and I quickly began looking for a new relationship.  Well somewhere in that search, I had an epiphany.  You don’t LOOK for love, love finds you, when the time is right.  I, for once, decided to actually listen to my inner voice, and stop “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places,” (thanks Johnny Lee for the use of the song title).  I began to get to know myself and enjoy spending time in my own company.  You know what?  I found out I was a pretty cool and intelligent person.

One nice warm summer day, I took myself off to the lake, alone because my sister had bailed on me.  I wasn’t looking for anyone, or anything, I was just there to enjoy the day, and wouldn’t you know it, I met the man I would one day marry.  Unless you take time to get to know you, and like the person that you are, you don’t have a lot you can offer anybody else.

Take a good look at yourself and at your many wonderful qualities.  Learn to appreciate you and all that you have to offer.  Once you do that, you’ll start attracting the best people to you.  People that complement you and support you, people that make you more than you already are, and you’ll find that you do the same to them.  Remember to love you first, because really, when it comes right down to it, you are an amazing and wonderful person and you have a lot to offer this world!

Life lived for tomorrow will always be just a day away from being realized. — Leo Buscaglia

 

You know how I feel about goals and planning for the future.  I am all for it as you see in almost every post I write, including this one.  You cannot underestimate the importance of having goals and a plan to get there.  That doesn’t mean though, that you lose sight of the wonder and beauty of today.  Stop and take a look around, maybe you’ll see a beautiful bird,  two children playing in the sun or a rainbow in the sky.  You’re never going to know what your missing right here and right now unless you stop and take a look around.  Don’t lose sight of your hopes, goals and dreams – ever, but also don’t lose sight of how fantastic right now is.  So while you’re planning for tomorrow, don’t forget to live for today

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence…Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.- Calvin Coolidge

 

You have dreams, you have plans, you have goals.  Great.  Now what?  Do you just sit back and wait until you’re crossing the finish line at the end of your personal journey?  No, that’s probably not the best plan, especially if you want to get anywhere.  You have to be prepared to work and work hard to get to where you want to be.  Nothing is life is handed to you, you have to get out there and work for it.  The trick is, if you love what your doing, it’s not going to seem like work.    You can and you will achieve all of your goals.  It’s a simple formula. DREAM + PLAN + WORK(EFFORT) = GOAL!  So don’t just sit back and wait for success to come to you, get out there and grab it with both hands.

Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. – Albert Schweitzer

I frequently joke when people ask me what my kids want to do for a career when they get out of school.  My standard answer is “I don’t care as long as they are successful enough to support me in my old age.”  But it truly is just a joke.  The only think I want for myself and for my children is for each one of us to be happy with what we do.  That is the real measure of success.  I am an educator.  I may complain about my job, and lord knows, I’m not in it for the money, but I am actually so fortunate.  I LOVE working with my students.  I love that moment when something I say clicks and for one brief minute, I’ve made a difference in their lives.  Do I want millions of dollars?  Of course I do, but all the money in the world isn’t going to make me a success.  I am a success because I’m doing what I love.  So don’t get to hung up in figuring out what is going to get you the most fame, or money, instead figure out what’s going to make you the happiest  – you will be the most successful person in the world.

Become more and more innocent, less knowledgeable and more childlike. Take life as fun – because that’s precisely what it is! – Osho

Children are amazing. They are able to find joy, and beauty just about everywhere and in the most mundane of objects.  Their imaginations are not fettered by the practicalities of adulthood.  It’s only as we mature, we lose that sense of innocence and wonderment.  We can’t, as adults go back to our childhood, but we can work to regain that sense of wonder and innocence.  Take time to just enjoy the things that are around you. Don’t worry about how they impact you, or what use they may be to you.  Just enjoy them.  Look for rainbows, go for walks in the rain, walk barefoot in the mud.  Find a swing or a merry-go-round and just play for a few minutes.  Color on the sidewalk with chalk, or blow some bubbles.  Even if it’s just for five minutes, do it.  Gift yourself with five minutes of innocence.  You deserve it.

Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

– Anonymous

Plans are good, dreams are good, goals are great.  Usually I can’t say enough about all three of those things.  You need dreams, and the plans are what turn them in to goals.  You’ve all heard it from me before, and I’m more than certain you’ll hear it again, and again.  The cool thing about it is even if this moment isn’t rocking just the way you want it to, relax, the next moment is here right now!  But there is a LOT to be said for living in the moment.  Take the time to experience the joy that is happening right here and right now.  Take a minute to look around and see what’s going on around you.  Don’t get so focused on that goal that you miss out on what’s in front of you.  Be happy now, because right now is your life.  The cool thing about it is even if this moment isn’t rocking just the way you want it to, relax, the next moment is here right now!