Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label choice. Show all posts
Friday, October 19, 2012
WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES IN LIFE, ANOTHER DOOR WILL OPEN
Helen Keller the famous American writer once said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
This quote could not be more true in my life, and I’m sure many others. As I’ve had time to reflect upon my life these past days, I’m happy to see where I’ve been, yet I am more happy to see where I am going. In the past, I used to always focus on what didn’t happen in my life, what should have been, or what could have been, thus leaving me discouraged. A lot of us, like me before, put so much of our focus everyday on pass failures. It could be failures in our relationships, our decisions, our career choices, or mistakes we have made which are we are not able to fix. Even though we know that we can’t change the past, we still dwell on it, letting it plague us like a virus that never leaves our mind and emotions. But, if we always focus on the past doors that have closed, we will become blind to the open doors and opportunities that may come our way.
In the past, I used to get so down on myself about every thing that didn’t go my way. I would ask God why? I would throw fits and rages when life didn’t turn out the way I thought it should have. Or, I would become depressed and go into bouts of self-pity, self-rejection and self-hatred. Being an over achiever I would become extremely critical of myself if I felt like I was the cause of my failures. Yet, now that I am older and I can look back at a lot of my earlier mistakes as a young adolescent, I can see how every mistake, every disappointment and failure has led me to become a better man.
With time we become wiser. With time we learn to learn from our mistakes. With time we can see things in retrospect and appreciate every experience, good or bad, for what it is. With time, we can begin to appreciate ourselves. With time we realize there is no use holding on to old remorse’s and thoughts of “I wish I could have, or would have, done things this way or that way.” Instead, we can make the choice now to not repeat our past failures, recognize we are not the same person, and be open to change. We have to let go of what we can’t control and stop focusing on the past closed doors. If we do this, we can become aware of the present blessings in our lives that we may have been missing all along and walk through a new door of happiness.
Until we let go of the old thing we are holding onto, we cannot be hands free to receive the new thing God desires to bless us with. MOVE ON! I felt like I had to say that loud and clear to whoever is reading this column… MOVE ON from the past and into the new. Don’t let your past mistakes, regrets or disappointments hold you back from experiencing the fullness of life and all the goodness it can bring! I’m excited about my future, I feel like I’m maturing as a man and I know that what is in store for me in the coming days can only be even better than what I have experienced before. Not because the past was bad, but because right now I am wiser, more ready and in touch with whom I really am to receive God’s very best! Unless, we choose to move forward from past closed doors, we won’t know what is on the other side of the new doors that await us. I’m nervous, a bit afraid, but full of faith and heart wide open to experience the new, so should you!
God bless,
James Boehm
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Your Attitude Is Everything
Would you want to have an employee who is extremely good at his or her job but has a bad attitude or an average employee who has a positive attitude? Experienced CEOs understand that bad attitudes can reduce the effectiveness of their organization. Skills can be taught. Attitude is difficult to change.
People with positive attitudes are winners. They build an environment that values employees, suppliers and customers. They think positively. The words don't and can't are not in their vocabulary.
How do we identify winners? It is hard to tell by casual observation. Winners dress the same as everyone else, eat at the same restaurants and work at the same companies. Successful people come in all personality types, physical characteristics and professions. We identify them by their attitudes, behaviors and results.
Winners don't give up. The sad truth about people who give up is they are just as capable as those who don't. The main difference is their attitude.
Conscious thoughts precede actions. By choosing our thoughts, we act our way into certain circumstances. Positive attitudes help us be more productive. We are who we think we are. If we think we can, we can. If we think we can't, we can't. Attitude Defined
What is an attitude? Some say it's a mindset, a way of thinking, which is partly right. In simple terms, an attitude is a habit of thought. Usually we think of habits as behaviors; the way we do something. Habits can be mental as well. Therefore an attitude is our habitual way of looking at our world.
We develop attitude habits through conditioning. Conditioning begins at a very early age and continues throughout our lives. Sometimes our conditioning is negative, for instance a mother's admonitions to a young child. This negativity may generate many self imposed limitations.
The elephant provides a simple example. An elephant is staked to the ground. As a baby it isn't strong enough to remove the stake. Later when the elephant is full grown and could easily pull the stake, it doesn't because it "knows" it can't.
Our attitudes are the key to our health, relationships, happiness and achievements. They determine how we live and whether we succeed in life.
We control our attitudes. We alone have the responsibility to shape our life. Walt Kelly said: "We have met the enemy and they is us. We are all that is holding us back."
Attitudes of Winners
Winners have many positive attitudes. Three that are particularly important in professional lives are enthusiasm, persistence and desire.
Enthusiasm produces the confidence that announces to the world, "I have what it takes."
Enthusiasm is often misunderstood. It is frequently confused with the temporary exuberance seen at sporting events.
Long lasting enthusiasm is different. It is a confident commitment, a wholehearted action, an ardent belief. When you possess enthusiasm life is more enjoyable and work is always part play no matter how demanding. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Persistence is critical. Faced with difficulties, you can quit or keep pushing on. The choice is yours. But if you want to be a winner you will stay with the task and see it through.
Modern technology has taught us to expect instant gratification. We become discouraged if we have to wait. Many people give up when faced with delay. Time, dedication and commitment are always the minimum price tag we pay to complete projects that are important.
How do we project persistence? Never, never, never give up!
Intense desire creates opportunities and reveals new personal talents. Desire is much more than wishing or wanting. Desire differentiates between mature commitment and unfocused daydreaming.
Those who lack desire are always too busy to do what needs to be done. Desire pushes you to work harder in a positive sense. People with strong desire understand the pure joy of work. Their success comes not at the end of a battle, but as the culmination of a game. Every day they work towards their long range goals, reinforcing their desire to do more and do it better each day.
Desire is the attitude that transforms us from average to outstanding achievers.
Attitude and Work Environment
Many employees believe that their employer is solely responsible for the conditions that lead to job enjoyment. This is only partially true. Both the employer and employees have a shared responsibility for building positive workplace expectations.
Yes, the company and management have responsibility. Effective CEOs build a culture where people want to work and want to excel. They ensure, by leading with a Servant's Heart, that their employees feel appreciated and know the company has their personal best interests in mind.
Employees also have responsibilities. If they have a positive productive attitude they will to be happy. Conversely those who always complain create an environment that drags their coworkers down. Employees are responsible for creating their personal satisfaction on their job.
Employees with positive attitudes make their work environment a positive experience. They strive for an attitude of excellence and exude excellence in the way they work.
They go the extra mile. Instead of thinking "I did my part, someone else dropped the ball," they ensure a positive outcome by refusing to accept the alternative.
We can choose to do the minimum required or we can decide to excel. This decision to make a difference is a personal attitude that desires us to be the best we can be.
Summary
Experienced leaders understand how positive attitudes play an important part in driving the success of their organization. They build a culture where positive people can thrive and reach their personal goals. These leaders understand that when both the organization and employees reach their goals great accomplishments are possible.
People with positive attitudes are winners. They think "I can," not "I can't."
Attitudes are the mental habits through which we view our world. They are key to all the success and happiness we gain in our personal and professional lives.
People with positive attitudes overcome problems. They don't accept mediocrity. They view their work as a game helping them reach their long term goals.
People with positive mental attitudes exhibit personal leadership. Regardless of their professional responsibilities, they live their lives in a manner that inspires others.
James Boehm
People with positive attitudes are winners. They build an environment that values employees, suppliers and customers. They think positively. The words don't and can't are not in their vocabulary.
How do we identify winners? It is hard to tell by casual observation. Winners dress the same as everyone else, eat at the same restaurants and work at the same companies. Successful people come in all personality types, physical characteristics and professions. We identify them by their attitudes, behaviors and results.
Winners don't give up. The sad truth about people who give up is they are just as capable as those who don't. The main difference is their attitude.
Conscious thoughts precede actions. By choosing our thoughts, we act our way into certain circumstances. Positive attitudes help us be more productive. We are who we think we are. If we think we can, we can. If we think we can't, we can't. Attitude Defined
What is an attitude? Some say it's a mindset, a way of thinking, which is partly right. In simple terms, an attitude is a habit of thought. Usually we think of habits as behaviors; the way we do something. Habits can be mental as well. Therefore an attitude is our habitual way of looking at our world.
We develop attitude habits through conditioning. Conditioning begins at a very early age and continues throughout our lives. Sometimes our conditioning is negative, for instance a mother's admonitions to a young child. This negativity may generate many self imposed limitations.
The elephant provides a simple example. An elephant is staked to the ground. As a baby it isn't strong enough to remove the stake. Later when the elephant is full grown and could easily pull the stake, it doesn't because it "knows" it can't.
Our attitudes are the key to our health, relationships, happiness and achievements. They determine how we live and whether we succeed in life.
We control our attitudes. We alone have the responsibility to shape our life. Walt Kelly said: "We have met the enemy and they is us. We are all that is holding us back."
Attitudes of Winners
Winners have many positive attitudes. Three that are particularly important in professional lives are enthusiasm, persistence and desire.
Enthusiasm produces the confidence that announces to the world, "I have what it takes."
Enthusiasm is often misunderstood. It is frequently confused with the temporary exuberance seen at sporting events.
Long lasting enthusiasm is different. It is a confident commitment, a wholehearted action, an ardent belief. When you possess enthusiasm life is more enjoyable and work is always part play no matter how demanding. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Persistence is critical. Faced with difficulties, you can quit or keep pushing on. The choice is yours. But if you want to be a winner you will stay with the task and see it through.
Modern technology has taught us to expect instant gratification. We become discouraged if we have to wait. Many people give up when faced with delay. Time, dedication and commitment are always the minimum price tag we pay to complete projects that are important.
How do we project persistence? Never, never, never give up!
Intense desire creates opportunities and reveals new personal talents. Desire is much more than wishing or wanting. Desire differentiates between mature commitment and unfocused daydreaming.
Those who lack desire are always too busy to do what needs to be done. Desire pushes you to work harder in a positive sense. People with strong desire understand the pure joy of work. Their success comes not at the end of a battle, but as the culmination of a game. Every day they work towards their long range goals, reinforcing their desire to do more and do it better each day.
Desire is the attitude that transforms us from average to outstanding achievers.
Attitude and Work Environment
Many employees believe that their employer is solely responsible for the conditions that lead to job enjoyment. This is only partially true. Both the employer and employees have a shared responsibility for building positive workplace expectations.
Yes, the company and management have responsibility. Effective CEOs build a culture where people want to work and want to excel. They ensure, by leading with a Servant's Heart, that their employees feel appreciated and know the company has their personal best interests in mind.
Employees also have responsibilities. If they have a positive productive attitude they will to be happy. Conversely those who always complain create an environment that drags their coworkers down. Employees are responsible for creating their personal satisfaction on their job.
Employees with positive attitudes make their work environment a positive experience. They strive for an attitude of excellence and exude excellence in the way they work.
They go the extra mile. Instead of thinking "I did my part, someone else dropped the ball," they ensure a positive outcome by refusing to accept the alternative.
We can choose to do the minimum required or we can decide to excel. This decision to make a difference is a personal attitude that desires us to be the best we can be.
Summary
Experienced leaders understand how positive attitudes play an important part in driving the success of their organization. They build a culture where positive people can thrive and reach their personal goals. These leaders understand that when both the organization and employees reach their goals great accomplishments are possible.
People with positive attitudes are winners. They think "I can," not "I can't."
Attitudes are the mental habits through which we view our world. They are key to all the success and happiness we gain in our personal and professional lives.
People with positive attitudes overcome problems. They don't accept mediocrity. They view their work as a game helping them reach their long term goals.
People with positive mental attitudes exhibit personal leadership. Regardless of their professional responsibilities, they live their lives in a manner that inspires others.
James Boehm
Friday, December 11, 2009
WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES IN LIFE, ANOTHER DOOR WILL OPEN
Helen Keller the famous American writer once said, “When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.”
This quote could not be more true in my life, and I’m sure many others. As I’ve had time to reflect upon my life these past days, I’m happy to see where I’ve been, yet I am more happy to see where I am going. In the past, I used to always focus on what didn’t happen in my life, what should have been, or what could have been, thus leaving me discouraged. A lot of us, like me before, put so much of our focus everyday on pass failures. It could be failures in our relationships, our decisions, our career choices, or mistakes we have made which are we are not able to fix. Even though we know that we can’t change the past, we still dwell on it, letting it plague us like a virus that never leaves our mind and emotions. But, if we always focus on the past doors that have closed, we will become blind to the open doors and opportunities that may come our way.
In the past, I used to get so down on myself about every thing that didn’t go my way. I would ask God why? I would throw fits and rages when life didn’t turn out the way I thought it should have. Or, I would become depressed and go into bouts of self-pity, self-rejection and self-hatred. Being an over achiever I would become extremely critical of myself if I felt like I was the cause of my failures. Yet, now that I am older and I can look back at a lot of my earlier mistakes as a young adolescent, I can see how every mistake, every disappointment and failure has led me to become a better man.
With time we become wiser. With time we learn to learn from our mistakes. With time we can see things in retrospect and appreciate every experience, good or bad, for what it is. With time, we can begin to appreciate ourselves. With time we realize there is no use holding on to old remorse’s and thoughts of “I wish I could have, or would have, done things this way or that way.” Instead, we can make the choice now to not repeat our past failures, recognize we are not the same person, and be open to change. We have to let go of what we can’t control and stop focusing on the past closed doors. If we do this, we can become aware of the present blessings in our lives that we may have been missing all along and walk through a new door of happiness.
Until we let go of the old thing we are holding onto, we cannot be hands free to receive the new thing God desires to bless us with. MOVE ON! I felt like I had to say that loud and clear to whoever is reading this column… MOVE ON from the past and into the new. Don’t let your past mistakes, regrets or disappointments hold you back from experiencing the fullness of life and all the goodness it can bring! I’m excited about my future, I feel like I’m maturing as a man and I know that what is in store for me in the coming days can only be even better than what I have experienced before. Not because the past was bad, but because right now I am wiser, more ready and in touch with whom I really am to receive God’s very best! Unless, we choose to move forward from past closed doors, we won’t know what is on the other side of the new doors that await us. I’m nervous, a bit afraid, but full of faith and heart wide open to experience the new, so should you!
God bless,
James Boehm Every Month A Million and the Daily Dose Of Good
This quote could not be more true in my life, and I’m sure many others. As I’ve had time to reflect upon my life these past days, I’m happy to see where I’ve been, yet I am more happy to see where I am going. In the past, I used to always focus on what didn’t happen in my life, what should have been, or what could have been, thus leaving me discouraged. A lot of us, like me before, put so much of our focus everyday on pass failures. It could be failures in our relationships, our decisions, our career choices, or mistakes we have made which are we are not able to fix. Even though we know that we can’t change the past, we still dwell on it, letting it plague us like a virus that never leaves our mind and emotions. But, if we always focus on the past doors that have closed, we will become blind to the open doors and opportunities that may come our way.
In the past, I used to get so down on myself about every thing that didn’t go my way. I would ask God why? I would throw fits and rages when life didn’t turn out the way I thought it should have. Or, I would become depressed and go into bouts of self-pity, self-rejection and self-hatred. Being an over achiever I would become extremely critical of myself if I felt like I was the cause of my failures. Yet, now that I am older and I can look back at a lot of my earlier mistakes as a young adolescent, I can see how every mistake, every disappointment and failure has led me to become a better man.
With time we become wiser. With time we learn to learn from our mistakes. With time we can see things in retrospect and appreciate every experience, good or bad, for what it is. With time, we can begin to appreciate ourselves. With time we realize there is no use holding on to old remorse’s and thoughts of “I wish I could have, or would have, done things this way or that way.” Instead, we can make the choice now to not repeat our past failures, recognize we are not the same person, and be open to change. We have to let go of what we can’t control and stop focusing on the past closed doors. If we do this, we can become aware of the present blessings in our lives that we may have been missing all along and walk through a new door of happiness.
Until we let go of the old thing we are holding onto, we cannot be hands free to receive the new thing God desires to bless us with. MOVE ON! I felt like I had to say that loud and clear to whoever is reading this column… MOVE ON from the past and into the new. Don’t let your past mistakes, regrets or disappointments hold you back from experiencing the fullness of life and all the goodness it can bring! I’m excited about my future, I feel like I’m maturing as a man and I know that what is in store for me in the coming days can only be even better than what I have experienced before. Not because the past was bad, but because right now I am wiser, more ready and in touch with whom I really am to receive God’s very best! Unless, we choose to move forward from past closed doors, we won’t know what is on the other side of the new doors that await us. I’m nervous, a bit afraid, but full of faith and heart wide open to experience the new, so should you!
God bless,
James Boehm Every Month A Million and the Daily Dose Of Good
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Life Stinks? How To Detach From Your Garbage Truck.
Life stinks.
If that statement bubbled up in your thoughts recently then you may be attached to life decaying garbage truck thinking. Simply put, if you stuff your mind with garbage you will create stinky outcomes. If you focus upon all that is bad in your life you will only add to the garbage dump that is becoming your daily experience.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Let's say you're rushing to get to work on the 405 freeway when another driver cuts in front of you and slams on the brakes. You toot your horn forcefully to give him a warning as you avoid a whopper of a fender bender. He responds with a slew of obscenities and the ubiquitous finger punctuator. It happens - a lot - if you live in a busy metropolis such as Los Angeles.
In that moment you have a choice. You can raise your fickle finger of fate in response or smile and count your blessings that you're not that guy. Yikes, what a miserable way to live. By smiling you kept negative feelings and energy right where it came from - from that guy. If you responded with your own favorite flip off gesture you would have taken on his garbage as yours. Pissed off, your focus is negatively directed. You will cloud your vision with so much dust and dirt and wonder why you cannot see.
"You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." - Ziggy, Tom Wilson comic strip panel
Where focus goes, energy flows.
Some people are like garbage trucks. They run around packed to the hilt with garbage. Their life energy is full of anger, frustration and disappointment. Their conversations are filled with complaints. They find excuses and reasons why they can't be, do or have what they want blaming others for their misfortune. The acronym for Finding Excuses And Reasons is FEAR and when you're in fear you Fight Everything And Reek of stinky experiences.
With a mind full of garbage these car wrecks waiting to happen will constantly seek places to dump their load. And they will dump it on you. They can dump all they want. It is up to you whether or not you take on their garbage for yourself. If you take on the garbage that can be found in the misguided lives of many people and events in your life then you, too, become a stinky garbage truck creating rotten experiences spreading your trash and stinking up your life. What's worse is as queen of your own compost heap you'll get used to the smell.
Be mindful of your thoughts. Pay attention to the words that come out of your mouth. Are you a trash talker? I'm not talking about using a four letter word or two to add a little color to your expression - as long as it's positive. Are you focused upon what's not right in your life and in your world? What you lack instead of what you have? Are you finding a lot to complain about? If so, you're attached to a stinky garbage truck life perspective picking up and dumping more trash every where you go.
"Thoughts are things; they have tremendous power. Thoughts of doubt and fear are pathways to failure. When you conquer negative attitudes of doubt and fear you conquer failure. Thoughts crystallize into habit and habit solidifies into circumstances." - Bryan Adams, Canadian rock singer-songwriter and photographer
To let go of the garbage bags you've been carrying around to stink up the place, find the value in every experience, good and bad. This gem is often disguised as a life-affirming lesson to be learned. Take the note and apply the lesson to clean up your act or create more of the good stuff. Speak and act in the direction of your dreams and your days will reflect the sweetest smelling rose in the garden of life.
Every Month a Million and the Daily Dose Of Good
If that statement bubbled up in your thoughts recently then you may be attached to life decaying garbage truck thinking. Simply put, if you stuff your mind with garbage you will create stinky outcomes. If you focus upon all that is bad in your life you will only add to the garbage dump that is becoming your daily experience.
Garbage in, garbage out.
Let's say you're rushing to get to work on the 405 freeway when another driver cuts in front of you and slams on the brakes. You toot your horn forcefully to give him a warning as you avoid a whopper of a fender bender. He responds with a slew of obscenities and the ubiquitous finger punctuator. It happens - a lot - if you live in a busy metropolis such as Los Angeles.
In that moment you have a choice. You can raise your fickle finger of fate in response or smile and count your blessings that you're not that guy. Yikes, what a miserable way to live. By smiling you kept negative feelings and energy right where it came from - from that guy. If you responded with your own favorite flip off gesture you would have taken on his garbage as yours. Pissed off, your focus is negatively directed. You will cloud your vision with so much dust and dirt and wonder why you cannot see.
"You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses." - Ziggy, Tom Wilson comic strip panel
Where focus goes, energy flows.
Some people are like garbage trucks. They run around packed to the hilt with garbage. Their life energy is full of anger, frustration and disappointment. Their conversations are filled with complaints. They find excuses and reasons why they can't be, do or have what they want blaming others for their misfortune. The acronym for Finding Excuses And Reasons is FEAR and when you're in fear you Fight Everything And Reek of stinky experiences.
With a mind full of garbage these car wrecks waiting to happen will constantly seek places to dump their load. And they will dump it on you. They can dump all they want. It is up to you whether or not you take on their garbage for yourself. If you take on the garbage that can be found in the misguided lives of many people and events in your life then you, too, become a stinky garbage truck creating rotten experiences spreading your trash and stinking up your life. What's worse is as queen of your own compost heap you'll get used to the smell.
Be mindful of your thoughts. Pay attention to the words that come out of your mouth. Are you a trash talker? I'm not talking about using a four letter word or two to add a little color to your expression - as long as it's positive. Are you focused upon what's not right in your life and in your world? What you lack instead of what you have? Are you finding a lot to complain about? If so, you're attached to a stinky garbage truck life perspective picking up and dumping more trash every where you go.
"Thoughts are things; they have tremendous power. Thoughts of doubt and fear are pathways to failure. When you conquer negative attitudes of doubt and fear you conquer failure. Thoughts crystallize into habit and habit solidifies into circumstances." - Bryan Adams, Canadian rock singer-songwriter and photographer
To let go of the garbage bags you've been carrying around to stink up the place, find the value in every experience, good and bad. This gem is often disguised as a life-affirming lesson to be learned. Take the note and apply the lesson to clean up your act or create more of the good stuff. Speak and act in the direction of your dreams and your days will reflect the sweetest smelling rose in the garden of life.
Every Month a Million and the Daily Dose Of Good
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Change your Perception
The mere fact that you are here with us on this site with my Daily Dose Of Good means that you are searching and there is a reason you are here. It's not a mistake you ended up here. You can begin to make different choices in your life today. We believe you are here for a reason. You are ready to know more and "see" more.
The one thing that is consistant in our lives is our belief about ourselves. When we are in full flight of an addiction or compulsion, we have lost a fundamental hold on the positive and true beliefs about who we really are and cannot see past the lies we are telling ourselves. -About ourselves.
When we pick up a drink, drug or engage in a compulsion, we are abandoning the fact that we all are perfect, spiritual beings inside, and getting caught up in the ego part of ourselves which always leads us astray. We are, as many great spiritual leaders have stated, a "double edged sword" or "a spritual being having a human experience", or as eastern philosophy understands, -we have a dual nature inside. There cannot be light without the darkness. All of nature is dual, including ourselves and the way we think about ourselves.
Everyone has struggles
There are chemical addictions and then there are compulsions, what some people want to call "personality quirks" and obsessions. We usually refer to these as alternative compulsions, and can include the obvious addictions such as gambling, sex addiction, compulsive shopping, workaholism, tobacco, weight - eating and not eating -as they say- pick your poison. We also include compulsions like reltationship addicts, people who sabotage themselves in relationships and even people who are addicted to "not enough" in both ways, -either they never have enough or they can never seem to get ahead no matter what they do. This is a person living in a consciousness of lack.
All of these are behaviors which have manifested themselves in different ways but lead back to the same core problem - what you believe about yourself, and how you react to the things that happen to you in life, whether your choice or not. It is always your choice to decide what your reaction will be.
Inner Talk
We argue inside on a daily basis. Minute to minute, you are talking inside, and the words and thoughts you have are forming YOU. The ego part of ourselves is in charge, and the real part of ourselves, our true identity -who we really are, is being buried by the part of us who is agressive, "right", fearful, apprehensive, "in charge", passive agressive, -all the extremes of our behavior which leave us "unbalanced" and looking to fill up our emptiness with something outside of ourselves.
Inside, we all want to be whole, and every cell in our being is crying out for this "rightness" within you to come to the surface and live an effective, fully functioning life that you can be happy about. Yes, you can. You CAN start to change your mind about yourself, regardless of the circumstances that are presenting themselves to you right now.
It is hard to see it when we are "in it" but if you can hang on to that little ray of positive energy that is waiting right there for you to tap into it, you can do it.
Is it all as simple as understanding and then doing? Yes. Changing your mind can begin today. Affirmations work, changing our limited negative self talk works. As you think, you are. As you think, you do. The concept is simple and at the heart of all succesful ways of thought, goal setting techniques and successful living. It is the basis of all of the books out now on "Intention". Meaning, that which we give our attention to, manifests in our lives. Really think about that statement and you will find it to be true. If you can begin to change your mind about YOU, and who you really are, you CAN change your life, and you can begin to do it today. You only have to want to.
It starts at the beginnning
Well, really? Might sound elementary, but a truer statement can't be found! The YOU that is here right now is the culmination of your experiences and beliefs about those experiences in your life. You are a sum total of not only what your life and experiences have made you, more importantly is that you are the person you are because of how your belief system has formed and what you believe to be true about those experiences, whether real or imagined, it doesn't matter. Siblings can grow up with the exact same parents and because they believe differently about the experiences growing up, they are completely different people. We have all seen this. We have also observed that there are trends, actions, abilities, ideas and lifestyles passed on from generation to generation to our parents from their parents, and to us. This is our family of origin and brings issues of its own to the table. This cannot be an "excuse" to act the way you do, but mighth be a parital reason why. Once we find this out, or realize this has happened, -it is time to stop the behavior with US, now...and rewrite the script of our lives. All the world is a stage, said a famous playwrite, and the movie or the play that are our lives have been orchestrated by us...whether we've been aware of it or not. Yes, there are certain circumstances that have occured that were beyond our control, BUT we chose the way we reacted to these events and circunstances, whether on our "auto pilot" or consciously...it has all been a choice. The good news is that WE CAN MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES BEGINNING TODAY - no matter what the situation is right now.
What has happened is that those beliefs and ideas about what happens in our lives, determines our reactions to those events. And is the basic YOU that lives a certain way through them. People react differently to the same set of circumstances. How many times in our lives have we said that we "wouldn't be like that" and end up being exactly what we said we wouldn't be?
Who you really are - Live the life you were meant to live
Have you ever thought "I'm living someone else's life, not the life I thought I would lead". When we come here, we have a mission of growth that we really want to experience in life. When we get off track, we are unhappy and our real selves are doing all it can to imerge. Ego over-rides our lives like a virus in a computer. Pretty soon, you can't do anything with it that makes sense. We think that in order to cope with the pain and dissappointment that we've understood to be our experience, we need something to make us feel better. And the loop starts. We even argue for our limitations. "I can't help it, that's just the way I am"...Insert your own line. We all have something to work on in this life. We are all meant to live life as fully functioning, happy people being, and doing. Learning to change your mind, let go of all the things that are making us miserable, instead of hanging on to them can lead to the live you are really meant to live. Turn your "curse" into your blessing. You have an opportunity to turn a glaring obsession or disfunction into your greatest asset. You can live the life that YOU imagine.
Every Month A Million
The one thing that is consistant in our lives is our belief about ourselves. When we are in full flight of an addiction or compulsion, we have lost a fundamental hold on the positive and true beliefs about who we really are and cannot see past the lies we are telling ourselves. -About ourselves.
When we pick up a drink, drug or engage in a compulsion, we are abandoning the fact that we all are perfect, spiritual beings inside, and getting caught up in the ego part of ourselves which always leads us astray. We are, as many great spiritual leaders have stated, a "double edged sword" or "a spritual being having a human experience", or as eastern philosophy understands, -we have a dual nature inside. There cannot be light without the darkness. All of nature is dual, including ourselves and the way we think about ourselves.
Everyone has struggles
There are chemical addictions and then there are compulsions, what some people want to call "personality quirks" and obsessions. We usually refer to these as alternative compulsions, and can include the obvious addictions such as gambling, sex addiction, compulsive shopping, workaholism, tobacco, weight - eating and not eating -as they say- pick your poison. We also include compulsions like reltationship addicts, people who sabotage themselves in relationships and even people who are addicted to "not enough" in both ways, -either they never have enough or they can never seem to get ahead no matter what they do. This is a person living in a consciousness of lack.
All of these are behaviors which have manifested themselves in different ways but lead back to the same core problem - what you believe about yourself, and how you react to the things that happen to you in life, whether your choice or not. It is always your choice to decide what your reaction will be.
Inner Talk
We argue inside on a daily basis. Minute to minute, you are talking inside, and the words and thoughts you have are forming YOU. The ego part of ourselves is in charge, and the real part of ourselves, our true identity -who we really are, is being buried by the part of us who is agressive, "right", fearful, apprehensive, "in charge", passive agressive, -all the extremes of our behavior which leave us "unbalanced" and looking to fill up our emptiness with something outside of ourselves.
Inside, we all want to be whole, and every cell in our being is crying out for this "rightness" within you to come to the surface and live an effective, fully functioning life that you can be happy about. Yes, you can. You CAN start to change your mind about yourself, regardless of the circumstances that are presenting themselves to you right now.
It is hard to see it when we are "in it" but if you can hang on to that little ray of positive energy that is waiting right there for you to tap into it, you can do it.
Is it all as simple as understanding and then doing? Yes. Changing your mind can begin today. Affirmations work, changing our limited negative self talk works. As you think, you are. As you think, you do. The concept is simple and at the heart of all succesful ways of thought, goal setting techniques and successful living. It is the basis of all of the books out now on "Intention". Meaning, that which we give our attention to, manifests in our lives. Really think about that statement and you will find it to be true. If you can begin to change your mind about YOU, and who you really are, you CAN change your life, and you can begin to do it today. You only have to want to.
It starts at the beginnning
Well, really? Might sound elementary, but a truer statement can't be found! The YOU that is here right now is the culmination of your experiences and beliefs about those experiences in your life. You are a sum total of not only what your life and experiences have made you, more importantly is that you are the person you are because of how your belief system has formed and what you believe to be true about those experiences, whether real or imagined, it doesn't matter. Siblings can grow up with the exact same parents and because they believe differently about the experiences growing up, they are completely different people. We have all seen this. We have also observed that there are trends, actions, abilities, ideas and lifestyles passed on from generation to generation to our parents from their parents, and to us. This is our family of origin and brings issues of its own to the table. This cannot be an "excuse" to act the way you do, but mighth be a parital reason why. Once we find this out, or realize this has happened, -it is time to stop the behavior with US, now...and rewrite the script of our lives. All the world is a stage, said a famous playwrite, and the movie or the play that are our lives have been orchestrated by us...whether we've been aware of it or not. Yes, there are certain circumstances that have occured that were beyond our control, BUT we chose the way we reacted to these events and circunstances, whether on our "auto pilot" or consciously...it has all been a choice. The good news is that WE CAN MAKE DIFFERENT CHOICES BEGINNING TODAY - no matter what the situation is right now.
What has happened is that those beliefs and ideas about what happens in our lives, determines our reactions to those events. And is the basic YOU that lives a certain way through them. People react differently to the same set of circumstances. How many times in our lives have we said that we "wouldn't be like that" and end up being exactly what we said we wouldn't be?
Who you really are - Live the life you were meant to live
Have you ever thought "I'm living someone else's life, not the life I thought I would lead". When we come here, we have a mission of growth that we really want to experience in life. When we get off track, we are unhappy and our real selves are doing all it can to imerge. Ego over-rides our lives like a virus in a computer. Pretty soon, you can't do anything with it that makes sense. We think that in order to cope with the pain and dissappointment that we've understood to be our experience, we need something to make us feel better. And the loop starts. We even argue for our limitations. "I can't help it, that's just the way I am"...Insert your own line. We all have something to work on in this life. We are all meant to live life as fully functioning, happy people being, and doing. Learning to change your mind, let go of all the things that are making us miserable, instead of hanging on to them can lead to the live you are really meant to live. Turn your "curse" into your blessing. You have an opportunity to turn a glaring obsession or disfunction into your greatest asset. You can live the life that YOU imagine.
Every Month A Million
Monday, November 2, 2009
Wanting to Become Rich is not Enough
Our nature makes us want respect, fame, and success. Perhaps evolution caused that, because back in our primitive days if every member of the pack competed for the alpha spot then the strongest would usually become the leader, which was in the interest of the pack as a whole. As a result, we all want success. In modern capitalism, being successful often means being rich. Most people want to be rich.
Of course, most people do not just want to be rich and successful. Most people also believe that they will be rich and successful one day. This starts from childhood, in that even as kids we all think we will be the next big pop singer, sports star, or other celebrity.
Unfortunately, most people never become very rich or successful. The reason is not necessarily that they could not become rich or successful. The reason is that they never actually put in the work and effort required to become rich or successful.
As ridiculous as it sounds, these people seem to think that simply wanting to be successful and believing that they will be successful is enough. Obviously, it is not enough. Wanting success will not make a person successful. Believing that one day you will become rich will not make it happen. Thinking that you deserve to be rich or successful will not make you rich or successful.
Sadly, many people live a whole life actually believing that one day they will magically become rich and successful. Even worse, they sometimes even live their lives aimlessly and do not make the most with what they do have, because they see their regular lives as nothing but a setup for some fantastical future of fame and wealth.
Ironically, if most people actually tried, they could become very successful. Success does not have to mean money, but to those to whom it does mean money, they could become rich.
To become rich, a person actually has to try, though. A person cannot do it by partying all the time. A person cannot do it by wasting time in front of the TV or by wasting money at the movie theater. A person cannot become rich by going in debt to buy a fancy car or overpriced clothes. A person cannot become rich by taking unhelpful risks such as driving without insurance or having unprotected sex. Think about it, how much money could a person make while getting drunk at a nightclub and accidentally having children with random strangers after some fun one-night-stands?
In contrast, a person can become rich or successful if they actually choose to put in the work and effort. A person becomes rich by splitting their waking hours between studying hard and working hard. A person becomes rich by saving and investing their money, and limiting their personal expenses to just their basic needs. A person becomes rich by choosing to use their time and money to work towards long-term goals rather than shortsightedly spending them on immediate pleasures.
Most people have the choice to become successful. Of course, success does not always mean money. Instead of putting 80 hours a week in at the office and becoming financially rich, a person might choose to raise a family and spend time with their spouse and kids. To that person, success might mean being part of a happy family. Whatever success means to you, you can probably achieve it if you truly put your mind to it and really try for it.
To becoming financially successful Every Month A Million is the choice I have made. There you get the best of everything not only do you become Financially Rich but you also get Inspired, Motivated, and Educated in every aspect of your life. It also is so fun and rewarding helping others to reach there goals and dreams.
Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!
Of course, most people do not just want to be rich and successful. Most people also believe that they will be rich and successful one day. This starts from childhood, in that even as kids we all think we will be the next big pop singer, sports star, or other celebrity.
Unfortunately, most people never become very rich or successful. The reason is not necessarily that they could not become rich or successful. The reason is that they never actually put in the work and effort required to become rich or successful.
As ridiculous as it sounds, these people seem to think that simply wanting to be successful and believing that they will be successful is enough. Obviously, it is not enough. Wanting success will not make a person successful. Believing that one day you will become rich will not make it happen. Thinking that you deserve to be rich or successful will not make you rich or successful.
Sadly, many people live a whole life actually believing that one day they will magically become rich and successful. Even worse, they sometimes even live their lives aimlessly and do not make the most with what they do have, because they see their regular lives as nothing but a setup for some fantastical future of fame and wealth.
Ironically, if most people actually tried, they could become very successful. Success does not have to mean money, but to those to whom it does mean money, they could become rich.
To become rich, a person actually has to try, though. A person cannot do it by partying all the time. A person cannot do it by wasting time in front of the TV or by wasting money at the movie theater. A person cannot become rich by going in debt to buy a fancy car or overpriced clothes. A person cannot become rich by taking unhelpful risks such as driving without insurance or having unprotected sex. Think about it, how much money could a person make while getting drunk at a nightclub and accidentally having children with random strangers after some fun one-night-stands?
In contrast, a person can become rich or successful if they actually choose to put in the work and effort. A person becomes rich by splitting their waking hours between studying hard and working hard. A person becomes rich by saving and investing their money, and limiting their personal expenses to just their basic needs. A person becomes rich by choosing to use their time and money to work towards long-term goals rather than shortsightedly spending them on immediate pleasures.
Most people have the choice to become successful. Of course, success does not always mean money. Instead of putting 80 hours a week in at the office and becoming financially rich, a person might choose to raise a family and spend time with their spouse and kids. To that person, success might mean being part of a happy family. Whatever success means to you, you can probably achieve it if you truly put your mind to it and really try for it.
To becoming financially successful Every Month A Million is the choice I have made. There you get the best of everything not only do you become Financially Rich but you also get Inspired, Motivated, and Educated in every aspect of your life. It also is so fun and rewarding helping others to reach there goals and dreams.
Whatever you do, good luck and have fun!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Your Power To Choose
We've each been provided with a number of incredible and irrevocable gifts that are oftentimes overlooked.
One of the most incredible gifts provided to you is your Power to Choose.
As true as that is, it's a gift that many choose to utilize unconsciously or at best, based on a very shallow and superficial understanding of the process of creation, which only serves to produce "undesired" or mediocre results at best.
This is why so many "perceive" themselves as victims or creatures of circumstance rather than "creators of circumstance."
Your individual Power To Choose on the surface, is quite obvious to most.
You utilize this power daily as you make choices about where you work, what you eat, the clothes you wear, when you go to bed, etc.
These common on the surface "external" examples of how we exercise our power to choose individually are the obvious conscious choices that we each make on a day to day basis.
But a fact that most overlook is the fact that that the vast majority of choices made are being made "unconsciously", below your conscious awareness.
Each and every minute of every day either on a conscious or subconscious level we are choosing the inevitable outcomes that follow.
Although we're well aware of the "conscious choices", it's more times than not the "unconscious choices" that lead to producing our "less than desired" results regardless of how badly we may "want" something.
With each of the choices that you make individually, comes the need for accepting responsibility for what you experience in your life, in relation to each of the choices made by you.
If you are unhappy in your work for example, you have the free will, or choice to change your profession. The choices you make concerning the kind of foods that you eat will determine your health to a great extent. What time you choose to go to bed at night determines how you'll feel the next day.
You have been given the power to choose and decide these things for yourself, and each and each and every one of these obvious "conscious choices" are a direct reflection of the outcomes that you experience on a day to day basis.
We agree on that, Correct?
Yet your power to choose and the results that you experience as a result goes well beyond the obvious conscious choices made.
What if someone told you that, contrary to what so many have been taught and led to believe regarding themselves and their potential, that you have the power to choose how you live your life that extend well beyond these obvious day to day "conscious choices?"
What if you were introduced to the idea that you could use your individual power to choose to determine exactly how much money you made, the quality of relationships that you attract, and your quality of health?
What if you found that you have the power to choose without limitation of any form whether it be your career, what kind of car you drive, the kind of home you live in, and how much time you could spend with your family?
Would you believe it?
If you've adopted the mindset of the vast majority, the answer would be no which is precisely why those who enjoy and experience this kind and quality of life are in the minority class.
But make no mistake...
Regardless of how you answered that question, and whether you currently "believe it" or not, it's far more than possible, it's your birthright!
No question it's the road less traveled yet at the same time it's a road that's open and available for all to travel whenever they make the choice to do so.
Those who choose this "less traveled path" simply choose to utilize the irrevocable gift we've each been provided and make a decision to choose their paths consciously and intentionally.
In fact the choices you are and have been making to this point, both conscious and unconscious are precisely what has created the kind and quality of life that you are, have been and will continue experiencing.
Your life and the events, conditions and circumstances in your life are nothing more than a mirrored reflection of the predominant mindset that you choose to hold.
As "true as that is", the choices which are, have and will continue producing your future results go much deeper than the day to day choices relating to the physical activities that you engage in, which most "perceive" as being the ultimate cause of these outcomes.
But your power to choose entails much more than that...MUCH more.
The obvious choices that we each make from day to day are in most cases based on a form of physical and finite power...a very limited form of power that can only produce very limited results in comparison to what you're "truly" capable of achieving.
Choosing to explore and discover just how "true" that is will enable you to discover where your "true power" lies.
To fully grasp and understand how to begin consciously, intentionally and consistently creating "desired outcomes", and consciously utilizing your "true power" consistently, is as simple as choosing to take a deeper look at the underlying and often overlooked cause of every event, condition and circumstance that shows up in your life which extends far beyond the physical and finite.
This deeper look without fail leads to the quality of your consciousness which in turn reflects in the day to day physical choices that we each make as well as the physical and finite outcomes that we experience.
Should you find yourself experiencing "less than desired" outcomes, all that's required to enhance yours whether physically, financially, relationally, emotionally or spiritually, is as simple as making the choice to enhance your level of awareness regarding yourself and your "true power" and once chosen begin "consciously choosing" to "apply" what you discover as the minority who experience far above average results do.
Contrary to the majority mindset, life is not a random and chaotic unfolding of events, conditions and circumstances.
For every effect, there exists a cause. Most just choose not to look deeply enough to discover the "true cause."
There are no "lucky people" and there exists no such thing as "unanswered prayer."
You have been provided with the power to choose how you live your life, as well as the ability to consciously and consistently create a quality of life that harmonizes with your individually held desires regardless of what you may have been previously taught and led to believe to this point.
The choices that you are currently and consistently making everyday, which are the result of your previous programming and conditioning, are the same choices that are determining your current results, and are the same choices that you have the power to change, whenever you choose to do so to create an entirely new life for yourself!
All that is required is that you develop the understanding and ability to utilize your power to choose consciously and intentionally with the starting point being to elevate and change your current quality of consciousness!
Just as you have been given the inalienable right, free will, and power to choose what you eat, what clothes you wear etc., you have been given the power to choose and if necessary elevate your beliefs about yourself, your life and the creative power provided to you.
Although not a common choice, it is a choice that without fail will result in enabling and empowering you to begin attracting to yourself the events, conditions, circumstances, people, etc. to fulfill your most heartfelt desires which are, have been and always will be limited only by your individually chosen beliefs that without fail determine the kind and quality of your life.
Let's take a brief look at the not so obvious choices that you make, simply because of previous things that you have been taught, and have been totally unaware that they even are your choices to make.
Let's take a look at unlimited Abundance and Happiness for example. You have the power to choose to create and live any kind of lifestyle that you would like, and have the ability to be as happy or unhappy as you choose to be?
You have the power to choose to live a life that most only dream about, as well as the ability to choose to experience struggle, disharmony and discord from day to day?
The only difference between someone who is experiencing Abundance and Happiness in every area of their life and someone who is not, has nothing to do with what's going on outside of you initially, but rather with what's going on within you.
Yet it's outside where so many look for the changes they seek.
They "unconsciously utilize" their power to choose and engage in physical activity attempting to do...do...do...themselves into lives of abundance. Yet they overlook the most crucial aspect of creating that abundance which begins on the inside.
Utilizing your power to choose "consciously and intentionally" begins by deciding to begin taking an inside out approach to life.
This inside out approach is what I refer to as the short path. I refer to it as that, because I've personally traveled both.
The short path consists of nothing more than choosing to become conscious of the underlying self limiting and self sabotaging beliefs that we've all been exposed to at some point in our lives which consistently determine how we "feel" about what's going on around us.
These beliefs are acquired through a number of channels not the least of which are our parents who simply teach us in the best way they know how based on what they were taught to be logical, realistic, right and true.
Many of these "one time students of life" who eventually become loving, caring and well intentioned parents, wanting what's best for their children, are innocently and unknowingly passing on and teaching their children the same self sabotaging, self limiting, untruths based on what they have been previously taught and come to believe to be truth, even though they aren't!
Let's take a closer look at both how and why the self limiting programming passed to us through a number of channels throughout life can and do impact our individual results......
Regardless if you explore the latest in scientific discoveries...namely Quantum Physics or the timeless spiritual wisdom passed down from the most enlightened sages, mystics and masters since antiquity, a common theme rings true.
We exist in a belief-driven universe. The beliefs we have, most of which are unconscious, determine how we "feel" about any given circumstance which without fail we eventually see a mirrored reflection of that choice or choices in the various aspects of our lives.
Depending on the quality of beliefs acquired and held we interpret everything around us through the lens of our own individually acquired belief filters which determines our perceptions regarding life, ourselves and what's available or not available to us individually.
This is where your individual power to choose becomes so crucial. Choosing to become "conscious of" the beliefs that are creating how you "feel" which in the vast majority of cases is limiting your results.
The vast majority of people in the world today never discover the power of emotion and the vital role it plays in creating our physical results.
Once we choose to become keenly aware of our unique filters and beliefs and make a choice to elevate them we can initiate change. In essence we can utilize our power to choose consciously which in turn elevates our quality of consciousness (our beliefs) which in turn changes how we "feel" which automatically elevates the quality of the results that we experience.
It's not a requirement of life, yet it is a choice we all have the ability to make.
Choosing to do so will both enable and empower you to see and experience an abundance of whatever it might be that you are looking for individually and at some point, once you begin to explore and master this gift, realize that whatever it might be was there all along.
Anything and Everything you want is available to you, but you won't see it until you shift the perception and eliminate the belief filters that enable you to see it.
It's due to this all too common lack of understanding and failing to recognize the importance of making conscious choices that has people all over the world spending countless hours in unfullfilling jobs that they despise, stressed out, ingesting billions of dollars worth of often times harmful "pharmaceutical quick fixes", "perceiving" themselves as victims or creatures of circumstance, unable to achieve any sort of harmony in life, and consistently struggling to just pay the bills and put food on the table!
If you consistently find yourself experiencing "less than desired" results, Take Heart.
You have, not only the ability, but the power to choose to utilize your creative power into whatever you desire...whenever you desire regardless of your education, age, where you come from, who your parents were, or whatever other self limiting perceptions you may currently hold, if you will only begin to "consciously utilize" your power to choose in a way that enables you to "become conscious and awake" and begin making a few different choices.
The first choice necessary, is to become aware of, overwrite and eliminate whatever false and self limiting beliefs that you have been programmed to believe and replace them with the "Higher Truth" of who and what you truly are, the gifts provided to you and what you are "truly" capable of achieving and becoming.
The only way to effectively do that is by using your power to choose to step outside of your pre-programmed comfort zone (which in more cases than not is quite uncomfortable) just long enough to become aware that there are other options available to you. Then you can begin utilizing your power to determine if the things that you have been previously taught are actually true, or based on the traditionally held false beliefs acquired through your life teachers.
When you do find that much of what you have been taught and have developed solidified beliefs and perceptions about in relation to your power is based strictly on self limiting common thinking and self limiting human logic, you then have the ability, and the power to choose to elevate the quality of belief held.
Many people today are constantly making choices that are in direct conflict with their true inner calling and desires, based on these "be logical" or "be realistic" teachings acquired throughout life, which results in them living their entire lives feeling unfulfilled, helpless, hopeless, and stuck in their self chosen cycles of lack, limitation and discord simply because they "see themselves" inaccurately, their perceptions distorted by unchallenged and often erroneous beliefs embedded in their subconscious mind and remain totally oblivious to, and unaware of, the fact that there is so much more available to them by simply choosing to seek it out and find it!
The effect of this choice is always...ALWAYS without exception...the underlying cause of any current limiting conditions, events, and circumstances that may be happening in your life right now, which are in direct conflict with what it is that you claim that you want.
By developing an awareness of and implementing the principles that are shared throughout my Daily Dose Of Good and choosing to invest in yourself with tried and tested tools and resources made available to you, you'll acquire the power to choose to rewrite the previous self sabotaging programming, regardless of what it might be, and use this new found awareness to create whatever circumstances for yourself, that you have a desire to create.
Again, it requires nothing more than a choice.
You have the power to choose to investigate further and determine for yourself just how "powerfully creative" you are, as well as the choice to remain as you are and continue to create the same results as you have to this point.
Often times, when I convey these simple truths I receive a lot of Yea, buts..........
These yea buts, many as there are, are understandable based on the previous subconscious programming received by so many, but once introduced to the possibility of new hope, at the core are merely conscious choices to make excuses for not exploring the possibility, and "consciously choosing" to change current conditions and circumstances into "desired results" that so many claim that they want and "wish" they could experience.
Life doesn't give us what we want...life gives us what we choose for ourselves.
Your power to choose is an inalienable gift provided to you and whatever choices you make will without fail determine what you get.
That may sound harsh to some, but I can assure you that I share it with the greatest amount of empathy, compassion and caring that I can muster.
I do so because I have walked down the "unconscious path" and know first hand the challenges and discontent that choosing that path can and does provide.
One thing is certain...
If nothing changes, nothing changes.
It's as simple and complex as utilizing your power to choose to begin "consciously choosing" your path.
Although I agree that what ever information that you were programmed with as a child and throughout your young life, was in fact, not in your control, you now have the power to choose as well as the obligation, should you desire change for yourself, to discover and shift the limiting underlying beliefs which are keeping change from becoming "real and tangible."
Should you find that old self limiting beliefs no longer serve you and are in some way limiting your ability to "consciously create" your heartfelt desires and reach your true potential, you have the power to choose to eliminate them and begin to experience the things that you desire in your life.
Ultimately, your power to choose a different path or continue down the same as you have rests in your hands.
You have the power to choose to explore and discover your inherent greatness and creative abulity.
You have the power to choose to take conscious and intentional action starting right here, right now and discover for yourself that what I convey is based on a "Higher Truth", than the "truth that the vast majority have chosen and are choosing" for themselves. You also have the power to choose to do nothing.
The really great thing about life is that whatever we choose...we get to be right.
Choosing to do nothing is also a choice.
If you will use your power to choose and explore further, you will find and come to know for yourself that it is based on a Higher Truth than you may currently hold.
With the countless resources and educational materials readily available to you today, you can begin making conscious choices to eliminate, elevate and replace the old self limiting belief patterns that are keeping you from reaching your true potential, and replace them with empowering beliefs that will.
You also have the power to choose to allow those self limiting beliefs and perceptions to remain and continue to produce the exact same results in your life that they have to this point.
It's Nothing More or Less Than A Choice That YOU Have The Power To Make
Your power to choose is your inalienable God given right to do, or not do, whatever you feel is the right thing for you.
The choices that you make today are the choices that are going to determine and create what you see manifest in your physical world tomorrow.
You'll be challenged to make several choices should you choose to explore my Daily Dose Of Good.
You can choose to believe that this is a bunch of hocus pocus, based on your previous conditioning, and never do anything to implement it's power into your life, or you can make a conscious choice to study the scientific proof revealed by Nobel Prize Laureates as well as spiritual principles that support it's truth and make an educated, conscious and informed decision for yourself.
You have the Power to Choose whether or not you will explore, learn and discover the immutable and unwavering Universal Laws (Supreme Laws or Laws of Nature) that govern our entire universe, or you have the power to choose to ignore and remain oblivious to them.
You have the ability and the power to choose to align and harmonize yourself with these immutable and unwavering laws to create a life beyond your wildest imagination, or you have the power to choose to ignore their undeniable and predictable creative abilities, and continue to "unconsciously create" and experience a life of "perceived" chance and uncertainty.
You have been given the power to choose to explore, study, and determine for yourself the Higher Truth concerning the incredible power of the Law of Vibration and discover your true ability to create your life by design, or use that same power to choose to ignore it's verifiable and substantiated existence or continue to attract and experience a life of randomness and uncertainty fully "perceiving" that the events, conditions and circumstances unfolding are doing so by default.
You possess the power to choose to establish a belief or disbelief in the immutable and unwavering creative power of what has been recently labeled the Law of Attraction and begin to understand and "consciously utilize" it's incredible power to attract to yourself the life you most desire, or choose to write it off as some airy fairy nonsense that doesn't pertain to you and continue to "unconsciously attract" whatever life delivers.
You have the power to choose to become aware of the Law of Abundance as well as it's capability to provide you with far more than you could ever conceive or hope for in your life.
You can, if you choose as the vast majority do, continue to believe that you are just a victim of circumstance rather than a creator of circumstance, and continue to attract and receive the same results you have to this point.
There is no question that you have the power to choose your future actions , which will inevitably determine your outcomes.
One thing is certain...you have the ability to utilize your power to choose consciously and turn your life into an incredible journey of unlimited blessings, fulfillment, inner peace, and limitless prosperity whenever you make the choice to do so.
The Higher Truth concerning you and the power you hold is readily and freely available to you here, within the pages of this site.
The many personal empowerment tools and resources created by some of the most trusted, successful and knowledgeable teachers on the planet are also available at your disposal. Should you choose to utilize them, you will have made a choice that will bring you one step closer to experiencing a quality of life beyond your wildest imagination.
Consciously Utilize Your Power To Choose, And Make The Choice To Learn The Higher Truth Of Your Unlimited Capability To Create For Yourself A Kind and Quality of Life That You Desire and So Deserve.
Regardless of your individual future choices, it is our sincere hope that those choices might lead you one step closer to discovering the Higher Truth for yourself, and experiencing a kind and quality of life that you were intended to live and created to enjoy. A life that harmonizes with and fulfills all of your most cherished hopes, dreams and visions.
What I personally choose to refer to as Abundance and Happiness.
One of the most incredible gifts provided to you is your Power to Choose.
As true as that is, it's a gift that many choose to utilize unconsciously or at best, based on a very shallow and superficial understanding of the process of creation, which only serves to produce "undesired" or mediocre results at best.
This is why so many "perceive" themselves as victims or creatures of circumstance rather than "creators of circumstance."
Your individual Power To Choose on the surface, is quite obvious to most.
You utilize this power daily as you make choices about where you work, what you eat, the clothes you wear, when you go to bed, etc.
These common on the surface "external" examples of how we exercise our power to choose individually are the obvious conscious choices that we each make on a day to day basis.
But a fact that most overlook is the fact that that the vast majority of choices made are being made "unconsciously", below your conscious awareness.
Each and every minute of every day either on a conscious or subconscious level we are choosing the inevitable outcomes that follow.
Although we're well aware of the "conscious choices", it's more times than not the "unconscious choices" that lead to producing our "less than desired" results regardless of how badly we may "want" something.
With each of the choices that you make individually, comes the need for accepting responsibility for what you experience in your life, in relation to each of the choices made by you.
If you are unhappy in your work for example, you have the free will, or choice to change your profession. The choices you make concerning the kind of foods that you eat will determine your health to a great extent. What time you choose to go to bed at night determines how you'll feel the next day.
You have been given the power to choose and decide these things for yourself, and each and each and every one of these obvious "conscious choices" are a direct reflection of the outcomes that you experience on a day to day basis.
We agree on that, Correct?
Yet your power to choose and the results that you experience as a result goes well beyond the obvious conscious choices made.
What if someone told you that, contrary to what so many have been taught and led to believe regarding themselves and their potential, that you have the power to choose how you live your life that extend well beyond these obvious day to day "conscious choices?"
What if you were introduced to the idea that you could use your individual power to choose to determine exactly how much money you made, the quality of relationships that you attract, and your quality of health?
What if you found that you have the power to choose without limitation of any form whether it be your career, what kind of car you drive, the kind of home you live in, and how much time you could spend with your family?
Would you believe it?
If you've adopted the mindset of the vast majority, the answer would be no which is precisely why those who enjoy and experience this kind and quality of life are in the minority class.
But make no mistake...
Regardless of how you answered that question, and whether you currently "believe it" or not, it's far more than possible, it's your birthright!
No question it's the road less traveled yet at the same time it's a road that's open and available for all to travel whenever they make the choice to do so.
Those who choose this "less traveled path" simply choose to utilize the irrevocable gift we've each been provided and make a decision to choose their paths consciously and intentionally.
In fact the choices you are and have been making to this point, both conscious and unconscious are precisely what has created the kind and quality of life that you are, have been and will continue experiencing.
Your life and the events, conditions and circumstances in your life are nothing more than a mirrored reflection of the predominant mindset that you choose to hold.
As "true as that is", the choices which are, have and will continue producing your future results go much deeper than the day to day choices relating to the physical activities that you engage in, which most "perceive" as being the ultimate cause of these outcomes.
But your power to choose entails much more than that...MUCH more.
The obvious choices that we each make from day to day are in most cases based on a form of physical and finite power...a very limited form of power that can only produce very limited results in comparison to what you're "truly" capable of achieving.
Choosing to explore and discover just how "true" that is will enable you to discover where your "true power" lies.
To fully grasp and understand how to begin consciously, intentionally and consistently creating "desired outcomes", and consciously utilizing your "true power" consistently, is as simple as choosing to take a deeper look at the underlying and often overlooked cause of every event, condition and circumstance that shows up in your life which extends far beyond the physical and finite.
This deeper look without fail leads to the quality of your consciousness which in turn reflects in the day to day physical choices that we each make as well as the physical and finite outcomes that we experience.
Should you find yourself experiencing "less than desired" outcomes, all that's required to enhance yours whether physically, financially, relationally, emotionally or spiritually, is as simple as making the choice to enhance your level of awareness regarding yourself and your "true power" and once chosen begin "consciously choosing" to "apply" what you discover as the minority who experience far above average results do.
Contrary to the majority mindset, life is not a random and chaotic unfolding of events, conditions and circumstances.
For every effect, there exists a cause. Most just choose not to look deeply enough to discover the "true cause."
There are no "lucky people" and there exists no such thing as "unanswered prayer."
You have been provided with the power to choose how you live your life, as well as the ability to consciously and consistently create a quality of life that harmonizes with your individually held desires regardless of what you may have been previously taught and led to believe to this point.
The choices that you are currently and consistently making everyday, which are the result of your previous programming and conditioning, are the same choices that are determining your current results, and are the same choices that you have the power to change, whenever you choose to do so to create an entirely new life for yourself!
All that is required is that you develop the understanding and ability to utilize your power to choose consciously and intentionally with the starting point being to elevate and change your current quality of consciousness!
Just as you have been given the inalienable right, free will, and power to choose what you eat, what clothes you wear etc., you have been given the power to choose and if necessary elevate your beliefs about yourself, your life and the creative power provided to you.
Although not a common choice, it is a choice that without fail will result in enabling and empowering you to begin attracting to yourself the events, conditions, circumstances, people, etc. to fulfill your most heartfelt desires which are, have been and always will be limited only by your individually chosen beliefs that without fail determine the kind and quality of your life.
Let's take a brief look at the not so obvious choices that you make, simply because of previous things that you have been taught, and have been totally unaware that they even are your choices to make.
Let's take a look at unlimited Abundance and Happiness for example. You have the power to choose to create and live any kind of lifestyle that you would like, and have the ability to be as happy or unhappy as you choose to be?
You have the power to choose to live a life that most only dream about, as well as the ability to choose to experience struggle, disharmony and discord from day to day?
The only difference between someone who is experiencing Abundance and Happiness in every area of their life and someone who is not, has nothing to do with what's going on outside of you initially, but rather with what's going on within you.
Yet it's outside where so many look for the changes they seek.
They "unconsciously utilize" their power to choose and engage in physical activity attempting to do...do...do...themselves into lives of abundance. Yet they overlook the most crucial aspect of creating that abundance which begins on the inside.
Utilizing your power to choose "consciously and intentionally" begins by deciding to begin taking an inside out approach to life.
This inside out approach is what I refer to as the short path. I refer to it as that, because I've personally traveled both.
The short path consists of nothing more than choosing to become conscious of the underlying self limiting and self sabotaging beliefs that we've all been exposed to at some point in our lives which consistently determine how we "feel" about what's going on around us.
These beliefs are acquired through a number of channels not the least of which are our parents who simply teach us in the best way they know how based on what they were taught to be logical, realistic, right and true.
Many of these "one time students of life" who eventually become loving, caring and well intentioned parents, wanting what's best for their children, are innocently and unknowingly passing on and teaching their children the same self sabotaging, self limiting, untruths based on what they have been previously taught and come to believe to be truth, even though they aren't!
Let's take a closer look at both how and why the self limiting programming passed to us through a number of channels throughout life can and do impact our individual results......
Regardless if you explore the latest in scientific discoveries...namely Quantum Physics or the timeless spiritual wisdom passed down from the most enlightened sages, mystics and masters since antiquity, a common theme rings true.
We exist in a belief-driven universe. The beliefs we have, most of which are unconscious, determine how we "feel" about any given circumstance which without fail we eventually see a mirrored reflection of that choice or choices in the various aspects of our lives.
Depending on the quality of beliefs acquired and held we interpret everything around us through the lens of our own individually acquired belief filters which determines our perceptions regarding life, ourselves and what's available or not available to us individually.
This is where your individual power to choose becomes so crucial. Choosing to become "conscious of" the beliefs that are creating how you "feel" which in the vast majority of cases is limiting your results.
The vast majority of people in the world today never discover the power of emotion and the vital role it plays in creating our physical results.
Once we choose to become keenly aware of our unique filters and beliefs and make a choice to elevate them we can initiate change. In essence we can utilize our power to choose consciously which in turn elevates our quality of consciousness (our beliefs) which in turn changes how we "feel" which automatically elevates the quality of the results that we experience.
It's not a requirement of life, yet it is a choice we all have the ability to make.
Choosing to do so will both enable and empower you to see and experience an abundance of whatever it might be that you are looking for individually and at some point, once you begin to explore and master this gift, realize that whatever it might be was there all along.
Anything and Everything you want is available to you, but you won't see it until you shift the perception and eliminate the belief filters that enable you to see it.
It's due to this all too common lack of understanding and failing to recognize the importance of making conscious choices that has people all over the world spending countless hours in unfullfilling jobs that they despise, stressed out, ingesting billions of dollars worth of often times harmful "pharmaceutical quick fixes", "perceiving" themselves as victims or creatures of circumstance, unable to achieve any sort of harmony in life, and consistently struggling to just pay the bills and put food on the table!
If you consistently find yourself experiencing "less than desired" results, Take Heart.
You have, not only the ability, but the power to choose to utilize your creative power into whatever you desire...whenever you desire regardless of your education, age, where you come from, who your parents were, or whatever other self limiting perceptions you may currently hold, if you will only begin to "consciously utilize" your power to choose in a way that enables you to "become conscious and awake" and begin making a few different choices.
The first choice necessary, is to become aware of, overwrite and eliminate whatever false and self limiting beliefs that you have been programmed to believe and replace them with the "Higher Truth" of who and what you truly are, the gifts provided to you and what you are "truly" capable of achieving and becoming.
The only way to effectively do that is by using your power to choose to step outside of your pre-programmed comfort zone (which in more cases than not is quite uncomfortable) just long enough to become aware that there are other options available to you. Then you can begin utilizing your power to determine if the things that you have been previously taught are actually true, or based on the traditionally held false beliefs acquired through your life teachers.
When you do find that much of what you have been taught and have developed solidified beliefs and perceptions about in relation to your power is based strictly on self limiting common thinking and self limiting human logic, you then have the ability, and the power to choose to elevate the quality of belief held.
Many people today are constantly making choices that are in direct conflict with their true inner calling and desires, based on these "be logical" or "be realistic" teachings acquired throughout life, which results in them living their entire lives feeling unfulfilled, helpless, hopeless, and stuck in their self chosen cycles of lack, limitation and discord simply because they "see themselves" inaccurately, their perceptions distorted by unchallenged and often erroneous beliefs embedded in their subconscious mind and remain totally oblivious to, and unaware of, the fact that there is so much more available to them by simply choosing to seek it out and find it!
The effect of this choice is always...ALWAYS without exception...the underlying cause of any current limiting conditions, events, and circumstances that may be happening in your life right now, which are in direct conflict with what it is that you claim that you want.
By developing an awareness of and implementing the principles that are shared throughout my Daily Dose Of Good and choosing to invest in yourself with tried and tested tools and resources made available to you, you'll acquire the power to choose to rewrite the previous self sabotaging programming, regardless of what it might be, and use this new found awareness to create whatever circumstances for yourself, that you have a desire to create.
Again, it requires nothing more than a choice.
You have the power to choose to investigate further and determine for yourself just how "powerfully creative" you are, as well as the choice to remain as you are and continue to create the same results as you have to this point.
Often times, when I convey these simple truths I receive a lot of Yea, buts..........
These yea buts, many as there are, are understandable based on the previous subconscious programming received by so many, but once introduced to the possibility of new hope, at the core are merely conscious choices to make excuses for not exploring the possibility, and "consciously choosing" to change current conditions and circumstances into "desired results" that so many claim that they want and "wish" they could experience.
Life doesn't give us what we want...life gives us what we choose for ourselves.
Your power to choose is an inalienable gift provided to you and whatever choices you make will without fail determine what you get.
That may sound harsh to some, but I can assure you that I share it with the greatest amount of empathy, compassion and caring that I can muster.
I do so because I have walked down the "unconscious path" and know first hand the challenges and discontent that choosing that path can and does provide.
One thing is certain...
If nothing changes, nothing changes.
It's as simple and complex as utilizing your power to choose to begin "consciously choosing" your path.
Although I agree that what ever information that you were programmed with as a child and throughout your young life, was in fact, not in your control, you now have the power to choose as well as the obligation, should you desire change for yourself, to discover and shift the limiting underlying beliefs which are keeping change from becoming "real and tangible."
Should you find that old self limiting beliefs no longer serve you and are in some way limiting your ability to "consciously create" your heartfelt desires and reach your true potential, you have the power to choose to eliminate them and begin to experience the things that you desire in your life.
Ultimately, your power to choose a different path or continue down the same as you have rests in your hands.
You have the power to choose to explore and discover your inherent greatness and creative abulity.
You have the power to choose to take conscious and intentional action starting right here, right now and discover for yourself that what I convey is based on a "Higher Truth", than the "truth that the vast majority have chosen and are choosing" for themselves. You also have the power to choose to do nothing.
The really great thing about life is that whatever we choose...we get to be right.
Choosing to do nothing is also a choice.
If you will use your power to choose and explore further, you will find and come to know for yourself that it is based on a Higher Truth than you may currently hold.
With the countless resources and educational materials readily available to you today, you can begin making conscious choices to eliminate, elevate and replace the old self limiting belief patterns that are keeping you from reaching your true potential, and replace them with empowering beliefs that will.
You also have the power to choose to allow those self limiting beliefs and perceptions to remain and continue to produce the exact same results in your life that they have to this point.
It's Nothing More or Less Than A Choice That YOU Have The Power To Make
Your power to choose is your inalienable God given right to do, or not do, whatever you feel is the right thing for you.
The choices that you make today are the choices that are going to determine and create what you see manifest in your physical world tomorrow.
You'll be challenged to make several choices should you choose to explore my Daily Dose Of Good.
You can choose to believe that this is a bunch of hocus pocus, based on your previous conditioning, and never do anything to implement it's power into your life, or you can make a conscious choice to study the scientific proof revealed by Nobel Prize Laureates as well as spiritual principles that support it's truth and make an educated, conscious and informed decision for yourself.
You have the Power to Choose whether or not you will explore, learn and discover the immutable and unwavering Universal Laws (Supreme Laws or Laws of Nature) that govern our entire universe, or you have the power to choose to ignore and remain oblivious to them.
You have the ability and the power to choose to align and harmonize yourself with these immutable and unwavering laws to create a life beyond your wildest imagination, or you have the power to choose to ignore their undeniable and predictable creative abilities, and continue to "unconsciously create" and experience a life of "perceived" chance and uncertainty.
You have been given the power to choose to explore, study, and determine for yourself the Higher Truth concerning the incredible power of the Law of Vibration and discover your true ability to create your life by design, or use that same power to choose to ignore it's verifiable and substantiated existence or continue to attract and experience a life of randomness and uncertainty fully "perceiving" that the events, conditions and circumstances unfolding are doing so by default.
You possess the power to choose to establish a belief or disbelief in the immutable and unwavering creative power of what has been recently labeled the Law of Attraction and begin to understand and "consciously utilize" it's incredible power to attract to yourself the life you most desire, or choose to write it off as some airy fairy nonsense that doesn't pertain to you and continue to "unconsciously attract" whatever life delivers.
You have the power to choose to become aware of the Law of Abundance as well as it's capability to provide you with far more than you could ever conceive or hope for in your life.
You can, if you choose as the vast majority do, continue to believe that you are just a victim of circumstance rather than a creator of circumstance, and continue to attract and receive the same results you have to this point.
There is no question that you have the power to choose your future actions , which will inevitably determine your outcomes.
One thing is certain...you have the ability to utilize your power to choose consciously and turn your life into an incredible journey of unlimited blessings, fulfillment, inner peace, and limitless prosperity whenever you make the choice to do so.
The Higher Truth concerning you and the power you hold is readily and freely available to you here, within the pages of this site.
The many personal empowerment tools and resources created by some of the most trusted, successful and knowledgeable teachers on the planet are also available at your disposal. Should you choose to utilize them, you will have made a choice that will bring you one step closer to experiencing a quality of life beyond your wildest imagination.
Consciously Utilize Your Power To Choose, And Make The Choice To Learn The Higher Truth Of Your Unlimited Capability To Create For Yourself A Kind and Quality of Life That You Desire and So Deserve.
Regardless of your individual future choices, it is our sincere hope that those choices might lead you one step closer to discovering the Higher Truth for yourself, and experiencing a kind and quality of life that you were intended to live and created to enjoy. A life that harmonizes with and fulfills all of your most cherished hopes, dreams and visions.
What I personally choose to refer to as Abundance and Happiness.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Attitude Is Everything
One of the greatest powers in the universe is individual power of choice. And the most powerful choices are positive choices.
The POWER in LIFE is CHOICE.
The following story describes how powerful choosing to keep a positive attitude can impact your life.
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it.
I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.
While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied.
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.
I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
The POWER in LIFE is CHOICE.
The following story describes how powerful choosing to keep a positive attitude can impact your life.
Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?" Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it.
I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."
I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers.
While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied.
The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply... I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."
Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.
I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.
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