One of the pleasures of my job is getting to meet people from all around the world. The varied places that I travel allow me to connect with different cultures and different attitudes. So when I am going about my day, I try to impact as many people as possible in positive ways.
Passing along a smile or kind word is a simple thing to do. Or many times, the universally appreciated 'kind' ear to listen to them. Maybe is only brightens their moment or 'nudges' them in the direction of a greater life. Some times it impacts their life in life changing ways.
Most of the time we will never know. But the 'not knowing' is where the 'believing' comes in. Believing that you do help and impact peoples lives. That you do help create change in their world.
It is then up to that individual to accept your positive message or gesture, to make movement and begin to believe as well.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Inspiration Offers
Inspiration comes in many forms and it comes at different times. I am no different than many of you in this respect. Dr. Wayne Dyer calls it being "in-spirit." There are many that would scoff in the belief in the 'spirit of ones self.' For me it is a driving force in who and what I am. Spirit of ones life comes in many different forms and variations.
In what ever form it comes, the spirit of ones life should be a driving factor in all you do. On average, we are only here in the physical for a mere 75 to 80 years. That is not a whole lot of time in the greater perspective and I have belief in something beyond our physical understandings of life. That certainly there is more to our existence then a biological one.
If I am wrong in believing that, then I have lost nothing. I lived a happy and content life or to say it another way, "he who dies with the most toys still dies." All of what I am saying here is not to debate religious beliefs of life and death. Nor is it to argue the philosophical beliefs you may have regarding the same.
What the intent is to offer my thoughts on what works for me. What gives me inspiration to live a happy and content life. To make this life a little better for those that I come in contact with. To impact them so that life can be greater for all around. Sounds simplistic and utopian, which is not the intent because I do understand the realities of life.
Just be inspired to do something good, to experience inspiration in all of its different wonders. Your life will be better, those around you will be better and success and achievement can follow. Remain 'in-spirit' as often as you can, learn from what it offers your life.
In what ever form it comes, the spirit of ones life should be a driving factor in all you do. On average, we are only here in the physical for a mere 75 to 80 years. That is not a whole lot of time in the greater perspective and I have belief in something beyond our physical understandings of life. That certainly there is more to our existence then a biological one.
If I am wrong in believing that, then I have lost nothing. I lived a happy and content life or to say it another way, "he who dies with the most toys still dies." All of what I am saying here is not to debate religious beliefs of life and death. Nor is it to argue the philosophical beliefs you may have regarding the same.
What the intent is to offer my thoughts on what works for me. What gives me inspiration to live a happy and content life. To make this life a little better for those that I come in contact with. To impact them so that life can be greater for all around. Sounds simplistic and utopian, which is not the intent because I do understand the realities of life.
Just be inspired to do something good, to experience inspiration in all of its different wonders. Your life will be better, those around you will be better and success and achievement can follow. Remain 'in-spirit' as often as you can, learn from what it offers your life.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Staying Connected
One good suggestion for a prosperous life is to stay connected with good people, successful people...positive people. When you seperate yourself, when you allow yourself to be cut off from good influences, you become easy prey for negative experiences and negative people.
Those that would like to bring you down will have an easier time of it. This is because there are no positive influences that can protect you with advice and support. Your life becomes susceptible to those that would weaken you further.
Do your life a favor and run towards connection with positive and caring people. Surround yourself with those that can lift you. Do not be deceived by the negative for it clouds itself in very deceptive ways. The best way to combat the negative is to gather with those that have goodness in their life. Learn from the multitude of positives that do exist in your life.
As my friend Dean Sweetman has said, "this life isn't a trial run, this is it." Be bold and strong with the good that life has to offer.
Those that would like to bring you down will have an easier time of it. This is because there are no positive influences that can protect you with advice and support. Your life becomes susceptible to those that would weaken you further.
Do your life a favor and run towards connection with positive and caring people. Surround yourself with those that can lift you. Do not be deceived by the negative for it clouds itself in very deceptive ways. The best way to combat the negative is to gather with those that have goodness in their life. Learn from the multitude of positives that do exist in your life.
As my friend Dean Sweetman has said, "this life isn't a trial run, this is it." Be bold and strong with the good that life has to offer.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Time To Experience
On the road again, this time back to India. Traveling over the last two days, there has not been much time available to write but quite a bit of time to read and reflect. I have learned over the years that there is a time and place within our lives that we must allow ourselves to experience. It is an experience or event that some times just happens. Other times it is an event that we must arrange ourselves.
The event I speak of is simply enjoying the earth and all that comes with it. To feel the dirt under the soles of our bare feet. To experience the wind blowing through our hair. To relish the warmth of sunlight upon our face.
Kahlil Gibran wrote in his book, "The Prophet", "...and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
Inspire yourself on a daily basis. Strive to be a very wonderous person. But also allow yourself to taste the greatness of life this world has to offer you. A finite number of years exist and we must experience that which has been blessed upon us.
The event I speak of is simply enjoying the earth and all that comes with it. To feel the dirt under the soles of our bare feet. To experience the wind blowing through our hair. To relish the warmth of sunlight upon our face.
Kahlil Gibran wrote in his book, "The Prophet", "...and forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair."
Inspire yourself on a daily basis. Strive to be a very wonderous person. But also allow yourself to taste the greatness of life this world has to offer you. A finite number of years exist and we must experience that which has been blessed upon us.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Opportunity Flows
Opportunity abounds most every where in life. You may pass it daily and not recognize that it is there. It flows through businesses, personal lives and out on the street where you may least expect it. There are those opportunities that you find or those that are presented to you directly.
But things can or cannot happen relative to opportunity if you are not prepared. First, if you ready yourself by increasing your knowledge, knowledge of anything and everything, then you are prepared for opportunity that is presented to you. Additionally, you will be able to identify opportunity flowing eveywhere that otherwise you may not have seen.
You also have to be prepared for change. The type of change that is required to take hold of things that come your way. Many of us have a tendency to build walls of resistance to change. This prevents us from seeing or being able to grab hold of new possibilities. If you break down that wall of resistance, you will see a difference.
It is said that opportunity is like water. When it comes to containing water, it will always find a way, a path through which it can flow. If you dam it up, the water will rise and flow over the top. If a leak in the dam occurs, the water will find it and open it further. Opportunity is like this as well. It will flow to the path of least resistance and if you have a wall built up around you, the flow will occur to those that are open.
"It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared." - Whitney M. Young
But things can or cannot happen relative to opportunity if you are not prepared. First, if you ready yourself by increasing your knowledge, knowledge of anything and everything, then you are prepared for opportunity that is presented to you. Additionally, you will be able to identify opportunity flowing eveywhere that otherwise you may not have seen.
You also have to be prepared for change. The type of change that is required to take hold of things that come your way. Many of us have a tendency to build walls of resistance to change. This prevents us from seeing or being able to grab hold of new possibilities. If you break down that wall of resistance, you will see a difference.
It is said that opportunity is like water. When it comes to containing water, it will always find a way, a path through which it can flow. If you dam it up, the water will rise and flow over the top. If a leak in the dam occurs, the water will find it and open it further. Opportunity is like this as well. It will flow to the path of least resistance and if you have a wall built up around you, the flow will occur to those that are open.
"It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared." - Whitney M. Young
Friday, January 05, 2007
Now That's What I'm Talking About
Words of inspiration and eloquence and even laughter that flow from my blog seem inadequate at times. Those times are when I read a great book that is crafted with moving grace. Or when I hear a great speaker with wonderous motivation. And like tonight when I saw a movie that tells a story that can move another to greatness.
This movie is called, "The Pursuit of Happyness". Now that's what I'm talking about!
If you take all that I've written and formulated it into a single tale of overcoming and never giving up your dream, then this true story comes very close. It is filled with all of the "un"-happy things that can stand in your way of achieving a dream. It contains the moment that one makes the 'choice' to make change.
Once that happens and movement begins, the obstacles will surely come. But with a brave and believing heart, success can be yours. Watch it if you can at some point in life, see what can happen for you when you pursue 'happyness'. In a quote that I've read, it is said "some pursue happiness - others create it." You must pursue it for no one will simply give it to you. Create the ability to achieve happiness in your life.
Now that's what I'm talking about!
This movie is called, "The Pursuit of Happyness". Now that's what I'm talking about!
If you take all that I've written and formulated it into a single tale of overcoming and never giving up your dream, then this true story comes very close. It is filled with all of the "un"-happy things that can stand in your way of achieving a dream. It contains the moment that one makes the 'choice' to make change.
Once that happens and movement begins, the obstacles will surely come. But with a brave and believing heart, success can be yours. Watch it if you can at some point in life, see what can happen for you when you pursue 'happyness'. In a quote that I've read, it is said "some pursue happiness - others create it." You must pursue it for no one will simply give it to you. Create the ability to achieve happiness in your life.
Now that's what I'm talking about!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Opportunity Taken By Preparation
There is a story of the boy David, who had the courage to face the giant, Goliath. With everyone saying no one could defeat the giant Goliath, using his sling, David killed Goliath. Our own present day marketing promotions use this story in many ways to stir public interest in the next big thing or even the next big story. All in an attempt to get you, the consumer to watch or buy the show or item.
Over this college football bowl marathon, we were deluged by the use of this story in promoting a football game between Boise State University and the University of Oklahoma. Time upon time it was said how could this little team called Boise State hold up against the big and mighty Oklahoma Sooners? Describing it this way made it appear as though this small school was being given a chance to upset a powerful opponent. And that it would be disasterous for the mighty team to lose.
Boise State, a school with nearly 11,000 undergraduate students and a football budget of $4.5 million in expenses on revenues of $8.5 million defeated the University of Oklahoma. The larger school with an enrollment of roughly 18,000 undergraduates and a football program that spends about $13.5 million on revenues of almost $34 million. Information available through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education.
Certainly the numbers would say it is a case of David versus Goliath. But maybe it is really one of a school embarking on a change years ago. One that set them on a path to success. A change that would help prepare them for this wonderful opportunity in a football game. This Boise State team did not 'all of a sudden' appear in a major college bowl.
During this particular season, they first appeared in the football ratings at #25 in week four of the season and reaching the #10 spot by week fourteen. A steady and gradual rise in the polls as they improved each week. Yet their movement towards success happened well before this football season ever started.
A sports writer I'm not, but what I am trying to illustrate is that it didn't "just happen" for this team. It took years of change and improvement and finally culminated in the ascent the team took this particular football season. It is a great story of making the changes necessary to take advantage of opportunity.
The same can be said for your own life. You can not simply wait for opportunity, you have to change and improve yourself. If you do not, you will not be prepared when the opportunity does come along. Start today, expect to have to persevere, expect setback. But do know that everything you do is preparing you for coming opportunity. Those moments will arrive, be ready for them.
Over this college football bowl marathon, we were deluged by the use of this story in promoting a football game between Boise State University and the University of Oklahoma. Time upon time it was said how could this little team called Boise State hold up against the big and mighty Oklahoma Sooners? Describing it this way made it appear as though this small school was being given a chance to upset a powerful opponent. And that it would be disasterous for the mighty team to lose.
Boise State, a school with nearly 11,000 undergraduate students and a football budget of $4.5 million in expenses on revenues of $8.5 million defeated the University of Oklahoma. The larger school with an enrollment of roughly 18,000 undergraduates and a football program that spends about $13.5 million on revenues of almost $34 million. Information available through the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education.
Certainly the numbers would say it is a case of David versus Goliath. But maybe it is really one of a school embarking on a change years ago. One that set them on a path to success. A change that would help prepare them for this wonderful opportunity in a football game. This Boise State team did not 'all of a sudden' appear in a major college bowl.
During this particular season, they first appeared in the football ratings at #25 in week four of the season and reaching the #10 spot by week fourteen. A steady and gradual rise in the polls as they improved each week. Yet their movement towards success happened well before this football season ever started.
A sports writer I'm not, but what I am trying to illustrate is that it didn't "just happen" for this team. It took years of change and improvement and finally culminated in the ascent the team took this particular football season. It is a great story of making the changes necessary to take advantage of opportunity.
The same can be said for your own life. You can not simply wait for opportunity, you have to change and improve yourself. If you do not, you will not be prepared when the opportunity does come along. Start today, expect to have to persevere, expect setback. But do know that everything you do is preparing you for coming opportunity. Those moments will arrive, be ready for them.
Monday, January 01, 2007
The New Year
A new year is upon us and new reasons to lift yourself to a new level. Throughout the past year, I have spoken of making change now. To start a new path and not to wait around for the right opportunity. The sun has dawned on a new day and chapter in your life.
The poet Edith Lovejoy Pierce wrote, "We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day." On this the first day of the year, let us all take the opportunity to write a new future for those around us, for our community, for our children and for ourselves.
It all begins now, so take hold and experience a greater life. Have a happy and great new year.
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