Happiness is Yours...

Do you think you must solve all your problems before you can allow yourself to be happy? Do you think you must deny, ignore, or run away from your problems in order to know happiness? Do you think that in order to be happy, you first acquire everything your heart desires?  I hope not.  If these are your thoughts then you will never be happy.

Happiness has no prerequisite other than life itself. True happiness comes from the way you choose to live and respond to the world, not from the way the world responds back. Happiness is yours, and is not dependent on, or impeded by, factors outside your control.

When you realize that that happiness doesn’t require an object, you can face any difficulty and still be happy and full of joy.  It’s an attitude, not a judgment or assessment. You can be happy without being happy about anything in particular. Rather than having nothing to be happy about, be happy about nothing.

Choose to go ahead and be happy today. Choose to put a smile on your face. You’ll feel great. You’ll be remarkably more effective. Choose to be happy about nothing in particular and soon you’ll have plenty to be happy about.

Opinions have no Power....

How many things have you done or not done today because you were worried about what other people would think?

Other people’s opinions of you cause a great amount of unnecessary negative thinking. These same opinions cause a lot of unnecessary and silly activity. In your attempt to make a good impression on people, you'll find yourself being extra polite, honest and respectful. In spite of everything you do, they will probably still have the same opinion of you.  

What harm can someone’s opinion do to you? What power does it have over you? Only the power that you give to it. Refuse to be imprisoned by the opinions of others any longer.  Decide today to live with the freedom of your own thoughts. Choose to be confident of your own value and worth.  Know that you’re doing the right thing for yourself. When you truly believe in yourself and in what you’re doing, it won’t matter what other people think. 

We are all different.  We are all unique. We all think differently. Everyday choose to do what you will, with the best of intentions and a steadfastness of purpose.  Let others think what they may.  You have no control of how others think.  Strive to control your own thinking and elevate yourself to a higher level.  

Your Attitude...

Your attitude is the easiest thing to change because you can do it all by yourself. It also is the most difficult thing to change because ultimately you must do it for yourself.  You are not your attitude. You are the person who creates, controls and maintains it.  

Many limitations take significant time and energy to overcome. However, a limiting attitude can be changed in an instant into an empowering one.  Often, affecting that change can at times seem to be an insurmountable challenge. This happens when you identify too closely with your attitude, thinking that it is you and you are it.

Remember, you are not your attitude. You are the person who creates, controls and maintains that attitude; it is yours to use and direct as you see fit.

No matter what other things may be going on, you can always choose to live with a positive, forward-looking, empowering attitude. It is not painful, nor does it require any special skills or resources.  All this choice takes is a willingness to exercise the control over your attitude that you already possess. Always choose an attitude that will make life even greater for yourself.

Frustration is a Habit...

The habit of reacting in frustration is just that, a habit. Like any other habit you’ve developed, you can get rid of it when you choose. Frustration is a painful, debilitating feeling that can often cause you to do things you’ll regret. So strive to quickly let it go.

Frustration can be overwhelming.  Frustration is sudden.  Most importantly, frustration is a choice.  The good thing about choices, you can always make a different choice.

Remember, the habit of reacting in frustration is a habit. Any habit you have is a choice, your choice.  

Life will always present you with difficult dilemmas for which frustration is a perfectly understandable reaction. But what does that accomplish?  Other than grabbing your attention, absolutely nothing.

When you become aware of a frustrating situation, make the choice to find a more useful, effective response. Chose to step back from the desire for instant drama, and work on creating some long-term positive results.

Choose to channel any high-powered energy of frustration you have into intentional, focused, positive action. When you choose to give yourself the option to act effectively and appropriately, you’ll find you have no need for frustration.

Your Thoughts...

If you use every opportunity you have to put regret, envy, anger, greed, and despair into your mind, what will be the result? You will find the reality of your world is overflowing with all those negative influences.  

If you plant the seed of a thought in your mind, it quickly takes root. If you take the time to nurture that seed as the days and months go along, it will grow into something substantial.

Whatever you put into your mind is a choice, your choice. Moment by moment, whatever you consistently put into your mind will soon become a part of your life.

I challenge you to strive to use every chance you get, to put positive, empowering thoughts into your mind. After a while, every aspect of your life will be lifted higher as a result.

Remember, you can choose which seeds of thought you put into your mind. Make it a conscious effort to choose thoughts of love, possibility, generosity, abundance, compassion, strength and gratitude.

No matter what is going on in the world around you, you can plant and nurture precisely the thoughts you choose. Choose wisely, and it will have an enormous impact on the direction of your life. 

Power of Kindness...

Rudeness is impossible to maintain when it is met with courtesy. Carelessness and negativity will wither in the bright light of kindness and true forgiveness. 

It’s easy to be kind and courteous to those who are kind and courteous to you. It gives you power.  Yet to experience the full power of your sincere courtesy and kindness, strive to offer them to people who are careless and rude to you. 

I know it is difficult to bring yourself to forgive those who hurt you. But forgiveness gives you the upper hand. The way to stop the hurt is by refusing to participate in it. In order to effectively help yourself, offer genuine kindness to others. Now by no means should you tolerate continued abuse. Yet there is no good reason to perpetuate any abuse. 

Choose to be the one who is strong, the one who stops the negativity. Choose to put the power of kindness, courtesy and forgiveness to work for you and your world.

Be Enthusiastic...

There are certain things you can get enthusiastic about. What are they? Are you taking full advantage of the power of your own enthusiasm, or are you keeping that enthusiasm hidden away where it does no one any good?  Whatever you’re truly enthusiastic about will become stronger and more valuable in your life.

Enthusiasm is contagious. It inspires and motivates. It is filled with energy and always coming up with new ideas. It looks for ways to be more effective.

Take a close look at successful people and you’ll find people who are enthusiastic about what they’re doing. There are things in your life about which you can be just as enthusiastic. I challenge you to find them, uncover them, get them out in the open and enjoy the success that genuine enthusiasm will bring.

Creativity is Your Birthright...

Do you realize your creative potential?  Creativity is not making something out of nothing. Creativity is making meaning out of something. If you wish to create an object, an idea, a story, song, picture or experience, the ingredients are already within your reach. Just start with what you know, with what you have, add a lot of what you love, and you’ll create value.

The raw material of life and of creativity has always been present. Contrary to popular belief, in order to be creative, you don’t have to make anything materialize out of thin air.

Creativity is never out of your reach.  Life’s abundance is always within reach. To be creative,   all you have to do take what is already there and apply it in a way that makes life richer and more enjoyable for yourself.

Remember, start with what you know, with what you have, add a lot of what you love, and you’ll find yourself creating value.

Don't wait for a great idea to hit you, realize that you already are the great idea. I challenge you to go with what feels good, interesting, useful, satisfying and fulfilling, and you’ll go far.

Creativity is your birthright, so claim it in every area of your life. Take what is there, add yourself to it, and live creatively every day.

Live in Love...

Think of the people you love, the values you love, the things you love to do and the places you love to be. All that love will pull you and guide you toward where you truly belong.

You are filled with love that you long to express. Yet all too often you hold it inside.

The times when you feel most fully alive are the times when you act based on love. Did you know the greatest value you have to give is the value that comes from your love?

Though you may fear that it will make you vulnerable, love actually gives you great strength. Choose to let yourself love, and let your love flow.

Remember, love will pull you and guide you toward where you truly belong.

Love challenges you to be who you most authentically are. Love enables you and compels you to find and to give the very best that you have.

Love is exceedingly difficult and unspeakably beautiful all at once. Live in love, and you truly live.

Don't Quit...

Does it ever seem that you are blocked in every direction? You are not alone.  Everyone experiences setbacks. However, those who achieve the most experience the most setbacks because they persist as long as it takes to reach each goal.

As long as you continue to make the effort, you have not lost.  The only way to lose is to quit. 

So don't quit.  Now is the time to get creative, become more flexible, and open yourself to the possibilities that are most certainly there.

Sometimes when you get stuck in a rut,  and you will, the rut can suddenly and unexpectedly run out. What a great opportunity that can be for you to climb out of that rut, look around, and see all the valuable things you’ve been missing.

Choose today to never quit. Choose to use each setback, each disappointment, and each success, as a cue to push on ahead with more determination than ever before. 

If you never quit, and you will soon create the life you choose.

Pull the Plug on your Doubts...

Will today be full of doubts for you?  That depends on whether or not you decide to make it one.  Your doubts have no power except for the power you give them. At any time you can pull the plug. Those doubts, fears and other negative thoughts can become so familiar that you may think they’re a part of you. We often assume that things such as focused effort, discipline, commitment, and persistence are difficult, and as such are to be avoided if at all possible.  Yet they are not a part of you. They are only things that you have chosen to hold. And when you choose, you can let them go.

Imagine being free of the doubts, the anxieties, the fears. Then realize that your imagination is the only place where they can possibly exist. When you can imagine being free of them, you are indeed free of them. You have the power at any time to pull the plug.

There is no need to tolerate even one more moment of being less than the best you can be. Let go of those thoughts that hold you back, and let yourself be free.

Best Day Ever...

A new day has dawned. Countless new positive possibilities have been born.

There are and will always be difficulties and obstacles in your life and in your world. The good thing is that they are always outnumbered by your blessings.

Choose today to focus on those blessings. Choose today to give your attention and your awareness to what’s right with life.

There will be those that wish to control you and to take advantage of you.  They will seek to fill your thoughts with fear and discouragement. But don't be fearful or discouraged.

Life is not what someone tells you it will be. Life is precisely what you make it.

By focusing on the good things, on the positive possibilities, on your blessings and opportunities, you can make life truly magnificent. A new day has dawned, and you can choose to make it the best day ever.

Celebrate Today...

They say that every important occasion calls for a joyous celebration. What could be a more important occasion than life itself on this very day?  Choose to make this day a celebration of the good fortune you have to be alive, aware and able to make a difference in the world. 

You will pass through this day only once, so strive to fill it with joy while you’re here.

Imagine traveling for hundreds of years through darkness and silence, and then suddenly arriving at where you are right now. Get out and explore the magnificent landscape that’s filled to the brim with possibilities.  That's how you should approach today and every day.

See the colors, taste the flavors, feel the warmth and texture of it all. Delight in the truly awesome ability that you possess to make it even better.

I challenge you to make every moment, every thought, every action into a celebration. So whatever you find yourself doing, do it with a joyful heart.  Watch how many others you can infect with your joy. The more you think about it, the more you know that this is truly a day to celebrate.