“Thought is the sculptor who can create the person you want to be.” - Henry David Thoreau
I've had a loss of words the past week. To those that read what I write and are able to take something from it, my apologies. These times can be cyclical with me, especially when I take on the worries of others. One can sometimes not know what to say, as if the words are not there to be said.
Yet all that have read my writings, my purpose is to help give you the encouragement and some positive lift to make your life better. In turn, you with a better and more positive life will pass it along to others. So when I don't write on a daily basis, it feels like I'm letting one or more of you down. My friend Dean Sweetman has always said, "work to keep your life consistent through out the ups and downs." So I'm reading, listening to great speakers and reflecting on what it is I can say to you.
My words are not meant to be shallow, "pump you up" for the short term. We all need that quick lift, that moment of happiness. But what is more important is to make our words longer lasting. To make change and impact others is what this is about. It can be difficult to judge if my words are read, if they do effect the lives of others. Though I'm of the opinion that if only in tiny increments change comes to your life, then my efforts have been worth every word written.
“To have faith where you cannot see; to be willing to work on in the dark; to be conscious of the fact that, so long as you strive for the best, there are better things on the way, this in itself is success.” - Katherine Logan
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Pushing Through Pain
I've struggled the past couple of days on writing an article. There is a couple my wife and I know that are going through a tough time. My intent is not to burden you with their story but express some ideas and thoughts about pushing through in tough times.
“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.” - George Eliot
These people are very good friends of ours that have had their certain share of pain and troubles. They have recently begun a travel in life that will be emotionally difficult and financially draining. What is it you can say to people in such a situation? What can be said that does not end up sounding simply like words?
“Courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair.” - Rollo May
To support people in times of trouble requires being there. It requires providing them an outlet to talk. It requires remaining positive and providing them with emotional strength to push through. I have used the following quote before and have yet to know where it comes from. But I do find it appropriate to use in saying to anyone in times of trouble - stay strong, persevere and find yourself on the other side of pain.
“God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.”
“There is no despair so absolute as that which comes with the first moments of our first great sorrow, when we have not yet known what it is to have suffered and be healed, to have despaired and have recovered hope.” - George Eliot
These people are very good friends of ours that have had their certain share of pain and troubles. They have recently begun a travel in life that will be emotionally difficult and financially draining. What is it you can say to people in such a situation? What can be said that does not end up sounding simply like words?
“Courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair.” - Rollo May
To support people in times of trouble requires being there. It requires providing them an outlet to talk. It requires remaining positive and providing them with emotional strength to push through. I have used the following quote before and have yet to know where it comes from. But I do find it appropriate to use in saying to anyone in times of trouble - stay strong, persevere and find yourself on the other side of pain.
“God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.”
Friday, March 10, 2006
Attitude - Stop, Think and Change
Have you ever stopped to think about your attitude in a given situation. Then tried to change the course of it by changing your attitude towards that situation? I read the following recently in a health article published by the Boston Medical Center. It is part of an ongoing program of health related information to employees of the company I work for. I'd like to share a bit of this with you as it has some very good tips.
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This practice of changing the way we think about situations is called “cognitive restructuring.” It involves examining initial feelings and if they are negative and/or irrational, replacing them with thoughts that are more constructive.
And how do you make these changes? How to put this into practice? The next time you find yourself responding negatively to a situation, ask yourself a couple of questions: Am I being rational? Is this a realistic way of looking at this issue?
Increase your self-confidence. Successful change starts with believing we can do it! That’s self-confidence. One way we can develop self-confidence is to draw on our personal experiences for examples of success. Surely you can look to other parts of your life for positive changes you’ve made in the face of challenges. You’ve held down a tough job, raised children, earned a degree, or battled a serious disease. All these teach us ways to overcome obstacles and succeed.
Learn positive self-talk. Many who are successful at weight management use positive self-talk to keep their attitude up. Self-talk is mental dialogue that we have with ourselves to stay on track. When you're feeling discouraged or run-down, try the following phrases:
• "I'm getting healthier every day."
• "I'm a good person, and the changes I’m making will improve my life."
• "I may make mistakes along the way, but I know how to learn from them and make fewer mistakes in the future."
Avoid negative self-talk. Negative self-talk can undermine your efforts. For example, just because you don’t adhere perfectly to a plan is no reason to give it all up. Also, thinking you’re all on your own in a battle is another.
Positive thinking helps you live longer! Positive thinking helps you make important changes in your life that will make you live longer and better lives. Scientists are also discovering that the act of thinking positively is itself associated with longevity.
In a new study published by the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Wisconsin found that people who have more activity in the left side of the brain - brought about by feelings such as enthusiasm and optimism - have a stronger immune response.
By contrast, activating certain brain regions associated with negative emotions appears to weaken a person’s immune response. The study’s authors say stress appears to interfere with the brain’s ability to communicate with certain types of immune cells.
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The article provides some actions you can take;
+++++++++++++++
Don't laugh at these suggestions. They may sound corny, but following them allows you to make positivity a new "habit."
• Write down your original reasons for beginning. Read them often to remind yourself why this is important to you.
• At least once a day, take time to smile at yourself in the mirror. Focus on your body’s strength, and your courage and resilience in beginning and continuing to improve yourself. Value the strong and courageous person you are!
• Select several positive phrases, and repeat them to yourself or out loud. Say them when you first wake up, while driving, or close your eyes at home and repeat them out loud to yourself.
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“The greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” -Marilyn Ferguson
You can make a change in your attitude, just stop what you are doing, think about what it is you are doing and then change what you are doing.
+++++++++++++++
This practice of changing the way we think about situations is called “cognitive restructuring.” It involves examining initial feelings and if they are negative and/or irrational, replacing them with thoughts that are more constructive.
And how do you make these changes? How to put this into practice? The next time you find yourself responding negatively to a situation, ask yourself a couple of questions: Am I being rational? Is this a realistic way of looking at this issue?
Increase your self-confidence. Successful change starts with believing we can do it! That’s self-confidence. One way we can develop self-confidence is to draw on our personal experiences for examples of success. Surely you can look to other parts of your life for positive changes you’ve made in the face of challenges. You’ve held down a tough job, raised children, earned a degree, or battled a serious disease. All these teach us ways to overcome obstacles and succeed.
Learn positive self-talk. Many who are successful at weight management use positive self-talk to keep their attitude up. Self-talk is mental dialogue that we have with ourselves to stay on track. When you're feeling discouraged or run-down, try the following phrases:
• "I'm getting healthier every day."
• "I'm a good person, and the changes I’m making will improve my life."
• "I may make mistakes along the way, but I know how to learn from them and make fewer mistakes in the future."
Avoid negative self-talk. Negative self-talk can undermine your efforts. For example, just because you don’t adhere perfectly to a plan is no reason to give it all up. Also, thinking you’re all on your own in a battle is another.
Positive thinking helps you live longer! Positive thinking helps you make important changes in your life that will make you live longer and better lives. Scientists are also discovering that the act of thinking positively is itself associated with longevity.
In a new study published by the National Academy of Sciences, researchers from the University of Wisconsin found that people who have more activity in the left side of the brain - brought about by feelings such as enthusiasm and optimism - have a stronger immune response.
By contrast, activating certain brain regions associated with negative emotions appears to weaken a person’s immune response. The study’s authors say stress appears to interfere with the brain’s ability to communicate with certain types of immune cells.
+++++++++++++++
The article provides some actions you can take;
+++++++++++++++
Don't laugh at these suggestions. They may sound corny, but following them allows you to make positivity a new "habit."
• Write down your original reasons for beginning. Read them often to remind yourself why this is important to you.
• At least once a day, take time to smile at yourself in the mirror. Focus on your body’s strength, and your courage and resilience in beginning and continuing to improve yourself. Value the strong and courageous person you are!
• Select several positive phrases, and repeat them to yourself or out loud. Say them when you first wake up, while driving, or close your eyes at home and repeat them out loud to yourself.
+++++++++++++++
“The greatest revolution in our generation is that of human beings, who by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.” -Marilyn Ferguson
You can make a change in your attitude, just stop what you are doing, think about what it is you are doing and then change what you are doing.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Daily Self Reminding
Minaret of the Jami al-Bahr Mosque.Also referred to as the Sea Mosque or al Bahr Mosque. My apologies to any other appropriate names. It is located at the Ha`aliya Hashniya harbor in Jaffa, Israel. The tower is part of the religious mosque built by the Ottomans in the 16th Century. This minaret or large tower is used to issue the call to prayer five times each day.
It would be great if we could have someone call out to us daily to motivate us. Something to get us to maintain a positive attitude - of why we are trying so hard to succeed in all that we do.
I pulled the following from The Daily Motivator by Ralph Marston.
Will a positive attitude solve all your problems? No, but it can open your eyes to the valuable opportunities within even the most difficult situations.
Will a positive attitude make you rich and powerful? No, but it will serve as a constant reminder that you can achieve whatever you choose to achieve.
Is a positive attitude a way to escape from reality? No, in fact a positive attitude is a very powerful and effective way to successfully deal with reality.
Will a positive attitude magically bring into your life all the things you desire? No, but it can enable you to see and to follow the very real path from where you are now to where you want to be.
Will a positive attitude bring you any new energy or resources? No, but it will give you vastly greater access to the overwhelming abundance that is already yours.
Do you want to fully live the best that life has to offer? A positive attitude will enable you to see it, so that you can be it.
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