Today brings a new horizon of hope

“If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.”

~ Mary Hemingway

“Worry is like a rocking chair: it keeps you moving but doesn’t get you anywhere.”

~ Corrie Ten Boom

Don’t worry, be happy. After all, it’s a conscious choice you can easily make if you just decide to do it. Doing so will help you forget about what you’re worrying about and will also help you live longer. Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. It also releases endorphins that work as pain killers and gives your blood circulation a boost. Not to mention it relaxes blood vessels and keeps a person from being angry–a significant predictor of heart disease. “The higher you score on anger and hostility, the greater the likely hood you’ll have a heart attack,” say medical experts. Everyday brings another opportunity for a bright new horizon, even if it’s just for a moment. So remember to laugh more and worry less. Be sure and make someone (including yourself!) laugh today.

New Horizons

Special thanks to Tim Coffey for use of his illustration.

Showered in meditation

“Originality and the feeling of one’s own dignity are achieved only through work and struggle.”

~ Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881) Russian Novelist

Struggling with difficulties in some sort of way is one of the necessary evils we must accept in our lives as we aspire to reach our personal and professional goals. One of the best methods to overcome these difficulties that you will face each and everyday is meditation. According to experts, the most powerful healing tool for stress and prolonged life is meditation. It clears the mind of thought and lets a person concentrate on tranquility. Fifteen minutes of meditation has been shown to produce a much more relaxed state of mind than one hour of the deepest sleep. Even starting the day with just two minutes of meditation can be beneficial. Sit with your spine erect and try to quiet your thoughts; it may help to concentrate on one word. So, starting today, help yourself reach your goals while maintaining your health and spiritual balance by meditating at some point during the day. If you already meditate, then encourage someone else you know to start doing the same. Instead of singing, I’m going to start meditating during my shower time. La la la, hum, la la la, hum, hum, la la…

Meditation Shower

Special thanks to Tim Coffey for use of his illustration.

A happy heart conquers all

A jolly old man

“Humor is an affirmation of dignity, a declaration of man’s superiority to all that befalls him.”

~ Romain Gary (1914-1980) French Writer

Laughter is the best medicine for depression. This is a widely-known fact. It’s why comedians from all over the world are some of the most beloved people and also among the highest paid performers in the world. The thing that inspires us to laugh is the ability to have a good sense of humor (one that cheers us up and also those around us) that is worth sharing with others. Sharing your humorous personality builds your mental attitude and character in a way that nothing else can. A smile is contagious and so is laughter — so laugh your ass off even when it seems silly to do so in spite of what others may think. You’ll be happy you did. And it’s likely that those who think you’re silly will find you amusing and maybe a bit strange. Now that’s something really worth smiling about. Smile away!

Who are you?

Personality Chart

You can generally place people in four quadrants: Amiable; Expressive; Analytical; and Driver.

If you want to increase your success of building better business and/or personal relationships, then first you need to understand what kind of person you are among the 4 quadrants listed above. I am in between Amiable and Expressive with some Analytical. Since I know what kind of person I am, I know I need to find others who share my personality pattern if I want the best chance at a successful relationship. Two people who get along in a friendly manner are also inclined to work well together too. So, there really aren’t any negative factors with finding people who are more like you since you’re most suitable as best friends and/or doing business together. This is a perfect marriage that can bring forth wonderful benefits. If you want to sharpen the other personality types that you don’t possess, then make some new friends who fit those types and you’ll be on your way to finding: stress, love/hate emotions, fear, passion play, bitterness, self-reflection, etc. Aren’t relationships fun. My advice: Always be on the lookout for someone who is just like you.

Protective coating

Crest of Integrity

“Confidence on the outside begins by living with integrity on the inside.”

~ Brian Tracy

Confidence without integrity is nothing more than arrogance. Integrity is the key ingredient for anyone wanting to live a life that’s beyond reproach, and is esteemed, honorable, and desirable.  If you want a strong coat of confidence to help you through life, you need to be full of integrity to the very core of your existence. This combination gives you something that is untouchable and enviable; so do all you can to build yourself into someone who is known for doing the right things at the right time to the right people. Right on!

The long and short of it

“You must have long-range goals to keep you from being
frustrated by short-range failures.”

~ Charles C. Noble

It is so important to keep this thought in mind when you are faced with a difficulty so that you can look beyond the failure and keep your eyes fixed on the goal. Even if you fail 18 times, you keep going until you reach success. That’s what perseverance is all about, and in life you need lots and lots of it.  Don’t give up on something until you have nothing left to give; and always keep your eyes on the big picture. Never settle for less unless it satisfies your original intention. Overcome your failures and you’ll be a winner!

The stage is set

Shirley MacLaine

“I think of life itself now as a wonderful play that I’ve written for myself… and so my purpose is to have the utmost fun playing my part.”

~ Shirley MacLaine

If life is a stage, and everyday we live on it, then we must write ourselves a play to guide us in how we will act out our lives. What part do you want to play in your stage play? In order to be good at playing a convincing role, you must constantly practice, be bold, have no fear, and passionate, in order to become the person you are playing. If you want to play a lead part, then you need to work hard at it and be your best. If you want to play a minor role in your life, then no need to practice your lines much. And if you want to play an insignificant role, then you don’t have to do anything except show up. Whatever role you choose, be sure and do it artistically so others will be inspired to play along with you. 

Know when to say NO

Abraham Joshua Heschel

“Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself.”

~ Abraham Joshua Heschel

Saying “no” to yourself can be one of the hardest things to do sometimes. When was the last time you refused to not eat that meal that was not healthy for you; or not to accept doing something that was illegal or unscrupulous that would of put a lot of money in your pocket? When you learn to say “no” to yourself, then you can say “no” to others in a more meaningful manner. Just be sure and know when it’s the right time to say “no” and when it’s the right time to say “yes.” When you say “no” you need to mean it; when you say “yes” you need to meant it. This will help you to be looked at as a more dignified and respected person.

What makes you a good person?

Arthur Schopenhauer

“What a man is contributes much more to his happiness than what he has, or how he is regarded by others.”

~ Arthur Schopenhauer

The key thing to understand about this quote is what the exact meaning of “What a man is” is. By what methods do we measure someone to classify them as someone who is a good person or not? To me, it all comes down to one thing: “You have only one life to live here on earth, so you must do as much as you can to improve the lives of other people.” You don’t have to be super-rich or famous to do this; you just need a giving heart. It’s not about how much money you make in your life that you’ll be judged by, or how attractive you are, or even how popular you are to other people. Making a real indelible difference in this world is done by people who give whatever they can – money, talent, time, energy, etc. to help others be better people. This is how people should be judged in the end. 

From necessary to impossible

St. Francis of Assisi (circa 1182-1220)

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

~ Francis of Assisi

Have you ever considered something and thought it was too difficult or even impossible to do? Then, as your in the middle of doing that very something, you realize that you can actually accomplish it. This is how the impossible is done – by putting forth physical effort along with lots of passion and unending desire. With the right combination of these forces at work, there are only two things that can stop you: yourself and death. So, before you say “that’s impossible!” – say I can “conceive it, believe it, see it, achieve it.”

Happiness comes from you

“Happiness is mostly a by-product of doing what makes us feel fulfilled.”

~ Dr. Benjamin Spock

“Happiness is essentially a state of going somewhere, wholeheartedly, one-directionally, without regret or reservation.”

~ William H. Sheldon

Happiness is wonderful to attain and obtain in life which is why Thomas Jefferson declared the pursuit of happiness a “certain unalienable right” in the Declaration of Independence. But it seems that many people today think that happiness is something that we get from others by how they perceive us. Or, they base their happiness by what they see in the media, movies and lifestyle trends.  No matter how the world defines happiness, the only thing that should matter to you is what makes you happy. Spending time with your family and friends doing simple things together, gardening, reading in the park, enjoying a trip to a far away place, writing a book, helping others, treating yourself to something nice, or daydreaming are just a few ways that you can find happiness in your daily life. So, stop listening to what everyone else tells you what happiness is and just try to enjoy all the things you do in your life. Then, you will know what true happiness is and gain lasting fulfillment in your life. Smile and define your own happiness!

Little, small, tiny = BIG

Give 'til it hurts!

“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

~ Robert Brault

You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Don’t sweat the small stuff, because life is full of small stuff.” The same applies to enjoying all the small things in life because life is full of small things. In fact, in life, it’s all the small things that add up to be the biggest things we cherish and remember the most. When you receive many small gifts over time from someone you care for, it always means more to you than if you received one large gift at once. The reason is that you have more memories from all the moments you received those small gifts which leave a pleasant thought in your mind. If you receive one big gift, the memory is short-lived even though it might be a very special gift. So, as you live your life, learn to enjoy the little things and attach a nice memory to them so that you can relish all of them as if it were the biggest thing that ever happened to you in your life. The secret to this is to be able to recognize when the little things come into your life, otherwise they could become unhappy big things. Give freely and give often!

Changing me, changing you

“You cannot add to the peace and good will of the world if you fail to create an atmosphere of harmony and love right where you live and work.”

~ Thomas Dreier

The only way to change the world is to change yourself – either with your attitude towards it or by affecting others to change according to what you want changed. We are only able to create changes if we can multiply our intellectual, spiritual, and physical powers. If you’re not able to do this, then you will only end up changing yourself which is probably the most important and difficult person to change of all. Remember, we are but a single being among billions from all walks of life, so changing the world must be accomplished by influencing millions of people. 

Does being “In Love” last forever?

“The difference between ‘Like’, ‘Love’ & ‘In Love’ is the same difference between ‘For Now’, ‘For A While’ & ‘Forever’”

~ Unknown

Everything is temporary in life – life itself, friendship, good times, bad times, memories, and even love.  All we can try to do is to prolong the inevitability of losing what we cherish the most in life. Concerning love, it’s important to understand what love means to you and that your partner understands it too. Two people who are “in love” is much different than loving each other. The difference stems from the commitment, desire, and action put forth to keep the love alive between them. So be sure and recognize the difference between liking someone, loving someone and being “in love” with someone and more importantly, make sure the one you are “in love” with does too. If you can do this successfully, you can obtain something that most only dream of having — true love. Have you done something special for the one you are “in love” with today? If not, do so. Let love reign!

Wisdom is greater than intelligence

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.”

~ Confucius

Wisdom comes alone through suffering.

~ Aeschylus 525-456 BC

Without a doubt, being smart and intelligent is important in life to maneuver your way out of danger and into comfort. But what’s more important than being smart and intelligent is knowing how and when to use them. Wisdom does this. Wisdom shows you how to use your knowledge and intelligence effectively and efficiently to acquire more of what you’re in need of. Accumulate more wisdom and you’ll gain more of what’s needed in life to succeed. Just remember that it is difficult to obtain wisdom – it requires much pain and solitude. Once you have acquired enough wisdom in your life, you will be able to bear most anything that you’re faced with.

The window to your soul

“You can find on the outside only what you possess on the inside.”

~ Adolfo Montiel Ballesteros

If you want to know what someone is really like, just watch them when they are at their worst. When under pressure, or when things aren’t going their way, are they calm, patient, thoughtful, careful, quiet or considerate? Or, are they irritable, immature, boisterous, mean, selfish, and unpleasant. To know what someone is like on the inside takes time and a willingness to sincerely want to see into their heart. Make sure you take the time when getting to know someone so you can see the real them. Words and actions are often a mask of deception or an exercise of acting. What you see in life and in people isn’t always what you get, and visa versa.

There is more in you

“There is more in us than we know. If we can be made to see it, perhaps, for the rest of our lives, we will be unwilling to settle for less.”

~ Kurt Hahn

“Be all you can be!” You’ve probably heard it before on a TV ad for the US Army, or from a coach, or a motivational speaker. But did you really stop and think about just what that really means? If you sincerely search deep within your mind, heart and body, you can do so much more than you ever imagined before. If you’re not convinced of this, then put it to the test. Do something you never attempted to do before and see just how well you can do it. All you need is: ambition and desire. Once you see this potential in yourself, then you’ll be more confident and courageous to do more in life that you assumed you couldn’t do. Don’t settle for less!

Guard these gifts

“The greatest gift you will ever receive is the gift of loving and believing in yourself. Guard this gift with your life. It is the only thing that will ever truly be yours.”

~ Tiffany Loren Rowe

Not only is the ability to love and believe in yourself one of the greatest gifts you will ever receive but they are also ones that cannot be taken from you. So, although there is no need to guard them from being stolen, it is important to guard yourself from letting them fade from your being. Always keep them active and alive in your life and you will manifest more love and self-belief which will make you impervious from losing them. 

Start a new ending

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”

~ Maria Robinson

Life always gets better if you just let it. If you don’t like your life now, then put an end to it (figuratively) and start a new beginning at working to make it better (literally). Life is what you make it and if you’re not doing what you can to control your own destiny, then life will put you in a place that you don’t want to be in. So, choose your own destiny rather than letting chance decide it for you. Take charge of where you end up in life by starting a new ending.

5 secrets to a long life

Walter Breuning

World’s Oldest Man Dies at 114
Walter Breuning was the world’s oldest man. His secret to a long life is:

1. Embrace change, even when the change slaps you in the face. (“Every change is good.”)

2. Eat two meals a day (“That’s all you need.”)

3. Work as long as you can (“That money’s going to come in handy.”)

4. Help others (“The more you do for others, the better shape you’re in.”)

5. Accept death.  It’s a lesson Breuning said he learned from his grandfather:
“We’re going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you’re born to die,” he said.

I was so encouraged and delighted to read this story of Walter Breuning because his secrets to a long life are exactly the habits I have in my own life. I have adapted to many major changes the past 22 years of my life as it has been a rough roller coaster ride since my divorce. The past 3 years of my life, I have been eating only two large meals a day. They consist of natural foods, i.e., vegetables, fruits, meat, 100% natural juices, purified water and some sweets. I work hard 12-hours a day and enjoy my work and plan on always working in some capacity throughout my life to keep my mind and body active. I help people as much as I can by donating my time and energy to teach English to Chinese students who wish to study in America some day. And recently, I have learned to accept that death isn’t anything to fear. In fact, it is a renewal and release from this existence. As long as I live a happy, healthy, and harmonious lifestyle, then death should come naturally for me which should not be feared. I encourage you to adopt and adapt Walter’s habits which I have integrated into my life and see if you become happier, healthier both physically and mentally. RIP Walter Breuning.

Learn more about Walter Breuning here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Breuning