Fooling Yourself

Norman Rockwell - Saturday Evening Post

“I have great faith in fools - self-confidence my friends will call it.” ― Edgar Allan Poe, Marginalia

So how did it start, the tradition of fooling or performing pranks upon others?

One popular belief says that back in the 1500s, France changed its calendar so the new year would start in January. This was done to align to the Roman calendar instead of spring. But word of this change took quite a bit of time to find its way into the rural areas. Country dwellers continued to celebrate the New Year in April so they became known as "April fools," or so the story goes.

There are many serious and of course, non-serious attempts to explain the origins of this hilarious holiday.

One of the more amusing April Fool pranks was the 2008 BBC news story indicating that camera crews had captured video of Adélie penguins flying. There was even a video clip of these magnificent creatures migrating to the rainforests of South America where they "spend the winter basking in the tropical sun."

One thing all of us tend to do as well, not only during this day but many days of the year, is to fool ourselves. And what I mean by that is fooling ourselves into believing we are incapable of accomplishing great things. From an early age, others teach us about our limits.

Truth is, we are our own limit.

Enjoy this day, April 1st as a day of pranks. Tomorrow, drop the self defeat and be convinced that you can do more in your life. Your imagination, your dreams, your goals can send you to greater heights. Stop fooling yourself and start believing.

Stay inspired my friends.

Your Limits

“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” ― Paul Brandt

This story has circulated for many years and its author remains anonymous as much as I can tell. But it is a story that can teach us a point about us. It is a story that can help us focus on understanding what limits us many times.

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One day the employees of a very unusual company reached their office and saw a big sign on the front door which said,

Yesterday, the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral memorial in the large meeting hall which has been prepared.

In the beginning, they were each sad for the death of one of their colleagues, but after a short while they started getting curious to know who was this person who had hindered the growth of colleagues and the company itself?

The excitement in the meeting hall was such that security agents were ordered to control the crowd within the room. The more people reached the coffin, the more the excitement heated up.

Everyone thought, "Who is this person who was hindering my progress?" One by one the intrigued employees got closer to the coffin, and when they looked inside they suddenly became speechless.

All got to stand near the coffin.

All ended up shocked and in silence.

It was as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside could see themselves! There was also a sign next to the mirror that said, "There is only one person who is capable of setting limits to your growth and IT IS YOU!'

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your husband or wife changes, when your company changes, when your church changes, when your location changes, when your money changes, or when your status changes.

Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs.

Examine yourself, watch yourself. Don't be afraid of difficulties, impossibilities and losses. Be a winner, build yourself and your reality. It's the way you face life itself that makes the difference.

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Stay inspired my friends!