"Be happy with what you've got while you pursue what you want."
-Jim Rohn
As I sat down today, reflecting and pondering what I should share, my mind was filled with thoughts on the subjects of happiness and peace of mind.
In his address on Happiness as an Art, Jim Rohn makes the illustrative comparison between happiness and a beautiful tapestry. Both must be carefully woven. Both take a concentrated effort. Most importantly, both are created by the individual.
You control your happiness just as you control your breathing. If you are not thinking about breathing, it just happens automatically. Our subconscious takes over. When you concentrate on deep, controlled breathing, however, you teach your body the habit, and it becomes your natural breathing rhythm. The same is true for happiness. Right now, you may have a tendency to be impatient, quick to anger, or feel depressed. With concentrated effort, you can change that.
Take the time to focus on yourself. Think of your good qualities, expound on them. Write them down in a journal. Write down what makes you happy. Truly happy. Now make a plan to control your happiness.
Happiness is a daily effort, but it gets easier. Just as I mentioned before, we can train our bodies to breathe deeper, more calmly, and more efficiently by making a daily habit of practicing that skill. So too, is the practice of finding happiness. Regardless of our circumstances, we can master our mind and thoughts.
You cannot simply hope to be happy, you plan for it. You practice it, study it, and master it.
James Allen said "Self-control is strength, right thought is mastery, calmness is power."
That leads me to peace of mind. To me, peace of mind means having complete confidence that my life is where it needs to be. I am heading in the right direction. I am growing. I am learning. I am happy, healthy, and prosperous. Prosperity does not just mean "become a millionaire", you can be truly happy without being wealthy, and you can be prosperous in many ways.
A serene life is more precious than gold. Just like gold is the result of time, heat, and pressure, serenity is the result of a long focused effort, especially through trying times. After all, if we only have inner peace when life is easy, then we are not in control of our minds, but letting the world dictate or thoughts.
Be the master of your mind and be Happy, Healthy, Prosperous.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
Laugh! Even When Life Isn't Funny
"Passion is no laughing matter, but I have never met a truly passionate person who didn't love to laugh"
-Zig Ziglar
Laughter Heals the Mind and Body
Norman Cousins, recipient of nearly 50 honorary doctorate degrees, discovered the healing power of laughter after being diagnosed with a deadly illness. It was 1964 when Norman returned home from a business trip and fell ill. Ankylosing spondylitis was the diagnosis, and the doctors said he had only months to live.
Norman took it upon himself to research his illness to the fullest. He concluded that his high stress job had triggered his illness, and the antidote must be the opposite, that is, positive emotion. He moved into a room in the hotel across the street from the hospital and began "treatment" armed with a film projector, and hours of comedy film. As laughter filled his room, the pain of his disease faded. He claimed that only 10 minutes of gut busting laughter would give him two hours of pain free sleep. Even morphine prescribed by the doctors had failed to be that effective. Bed-ridden, Norman continued his therapy until he was back on his feet, 6 months later. Then he carried on the treatment and was able to return to his full time job within two years. The scientific community was astounded. His case inspired numerous research projects. Norman himself wrote a book An Anatomy of an Illness.
What an inspiring story! Norman Cousins harnessed the healing power of laughter and defied the odds.
Now, I am not prescribing laughter as medication for whatever ails you. I do, however, believe that laughter, and adopting a positive attitude in general, strengthens us mentally, emotionally, and physically. In times of adversity, laughter is especially effective in relieving stress and lightening the burdens we carry.
Learn to be the master of your mind. Work to control your emotions. Laugh at the world. Laugh at yourself. This is a skill that must be learned, and practiced daily. Mentally and emotionally strong people can inspire you, support you, and guide you in many aspects of your life, but there comes a time when you must become mentally strong unto yourself.
Anxiety and depression, diseases of the mind, cause so much suffering today. James Allen in As a Man Thinketh, teaches that any suffering is a direct result of wrong thought, that we suffer because we are out of alignment in our own minds. The healing, then, should begin within. There are cases where outside help is necessary, but so much healing can take place when we learn to be mentally strong.
Laugh at Your Failures
"Failure is an event, not a person."
-Zig Ziglar
Louis (Louie) Zamperini, subject of the film Unbroken, failed many times before becoming an olympic runner. In fact, before he started running, his life was off the rails. He had an uncontrollable temper, he was constantly in trouble for theft, and had very few friends. His brother Pete convinced him to join the track team where Pete, a star athlete, could train Louie and keep an eye on him. In the beginning, Louie was slow, and a childhood bout with pneumonia left him with limited lung capacity. Pete kept training his brother. Soon, Louie started making great improvements. He trained harder and harder. By the end of his freshman year of high school, he raced and placed 5th in the All-City meet, running the 600 meter dash. He kept going. In his final three years of high school, Louie Zamperini was undefeated in competition, breaking school, state, and national records along the way.
The best and most talented among us have failed, still fail, and will continue to fail. The difference is mental toughness. They keep moving and, eventually, succeed.
Often, success lies just beyond failure.
Laugh at your failures, because we all have them, and they only last a moment.
Happy, Healthy, Prosperous
-Zig Ziglar
Laughter Heals the Mind and Body
Norman Cousins, recipient of nearly 50 honorary doctorate degrees, discovered the healing power of laughter after being diagnosed with a deadly illness. It was 1964 when Norman returned home from a business trip and fell ill. Ankylosing spondylitis was the diagnosis, and the doctors said he had only months to live.
Norman took it upon himself to research his illness to the fullest. He concluded that his high stress job had triggered his illness, and the antidote must be the opposite, that is, positive emotion. He moved into a room in the hotel across the street from the hospital and began "treatment" armed with a film projector, and hours of comedy film. As laughter filled his room, the pain of his disease faded. He claimed that only 10 minutes of gut busting laughter would give him two hours of pain free sleep. Even morphine prescribed by the doctors had failed to be that effective. Bed-ridden, Norman continued his therapy until he was back on his feet, 6 months later. Then he carried on the treatment and was able to return to his full time job within two years. The scientific community was astounded. His case inspired numerous research projects. Norman himself wrote a book An Anatomy of an Illness.
What an inspiring story! Norman Cousins harnessed the healing power of laughter and defied the odds.
Now, I am not prescribing laughter as medication for whatever ails you. I do, however, believe that laughter, and adopting a positive attitude in general, strengthens us mentally, emotionally, and physically. In times of adversity, laughter is especially effective in relieving stress and lightening the burdens we carry.
Learn to be the master of your mind. Work to control your emotions. Laugh at the world. Laugh at yourself. This is a skill that must be learned, and practiced daily. Mentally and emotionally strong people can inspire you, support you, and guide you in many aspects of your life, but there comes a time when you must become mentally strong unto yourself.
Anxiety and depression, diseases of the mind, cause so much suffering today. James Allen in As a Man Thinketh, teaches that any suffering is a direct result of wrong thought, that we suffer because we are out of alignment in our own minds. The healing, then, should begin within. There are cases where outside help is necessary, but so much healing can take place when we learn to be mentally strong.
Laugh at Your Failures
"Failure is an event, not a person."
-Zig Ziglar
Louis (Louie) Zamperini, subject of the film Unbroken, failed many times before becoming an olympic runner. In fact, before he started running, his life was off the rails. He had an uncontrollable temper, he was constantly in trouble for theft, and had very few friends. His brother Pete convinced him to join the track team where Pete, a star athlete, could train Louie and keep an eye on him. In the beginning, Louie was slow, and a childhood bout with pneumonia left him with limited lung capacity. Pete kept training his brother. Soon, Louie started making great improvements. He trained harder and harder. By the end of his freshman year of high school, he raced and placed 5th in the All-City meet, running the 600 meter dash. He kept going. In his final three years of high school, Louie Zamperini was undefeated in competition, breaking school, state, and national records along the way.
The best and most talented among us have failed, still fail, and will continue to fail. The difference is mental toughness. They keep moving and, eventually, succeed.
Often, success lies just beyond failure.
Laugh at your failures, because we all have them, and they only last a moment.
Happy, Healthy, Prosperous
Sunday, January 8, 2017
How to Love a Job You Hate
Why are we so bent on hating our jobs? The fact is that very few people will say that they are happy in their current job. Why is that the case? Do we really hate the job that much?
I have never met anyone who always had a job doing the one thing that he/she loved doing. I have, however, met people who find ways to love every job that they have.
Why is it, then, that so few people have positive things to say about their jobs?
Here is one observation I have made in my own life and the lives of those around me, and I believe if we fix this one problem, we will all feel much better about where we spend 8 hours of our day.
Negative talk and thoughts are to blame for our negative perception of our jobs.
Humans naturally want to bond with the people around them. In the workplace, at school, at home. We need to feel connected to people. When we are with people we don't know, we look for ways to initiate conversation and start a friendship, even if it is just for the short ride on the bus or waiting in line at the grocery store. Unfortunately, the majority of us fall into the habit of focusing on the negative.
"It's so hot outside isn't it?"
"Yes its terrible!"
"This line is moving so slow!"
And in the workplace, its even worse. Think of the conversations you have with your coworkers on a daily basis.
"I hate Mondays!" or "I can't wait until the weekend" or "The boss is a jerk!"
We resort to these ways of talking because its easy conversation, and we begin to bond with those around us. I know this because I live it every day. It is so easy to fall into the trap of negative talk because we think its normal to hate your job. IT IS NOT NORMAL! You should not spend 40 or more hours a week in a place where you do not feel comfortable, appreciated, and valued.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, The Fire Within, I found myself at a point where I had to change jobs. I was miserable. It got to the point where there was more negative than positive in my life. If you feel that way, you should make a change!
On the other hand, I sincerely believe that most of us can enjoy the work we do if we change our habits of negativity. Our minds are gardens. Every thought is a seed that sprouts and influences our words and actions. Our words and actions change our environment. Therefore, when we see a problem in our environment, the first solution would be to change our thoughts. Cultivate only the good. Let the positive grow, weed out the negative.
Be master of your mind. Loving your job does not mean that you are happy all the time.
Tony Romo, a professional football player, was recently replaced as starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. In a press conference he stated that he still felt the fire for the game and the desire to play. Do you think he is having a good time right now? Of course he isn't! But he still loves what he does, and will do whatever it takes to be successful.
We will have bad days. We will fall. Grow tired. Fail on a project. Get sick. And any number of variables that will ruin a day. But if we cultivate the garden of our minds, and entertain only positive thoughts, give root to only good, then the negative will be short-lived and meaningless.
I encourage you to read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. It is an incredible insight into the influence of your thoughts on your entire life. My favorite quote so far (I haven't finished the reading yet) reads
"A man is literally what he thinks; his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts"
Allow only enough space in the garden of your mind for good. Your outlook on life will change the instant you adopt this practice. I can say that because it happens to me each time I choose the positive over the negative. It is a conscious effort, difficult, but well worth it.
I have never met anyone who always had a job doing the one thing that he/she loved doing. I have, however, met people who find ways to love every job that they have.
Why is it, then, that so few people have positive things to say about their jobs?
Here is one observation I have made in my own life and the lives of those around me, and I believe if we fix this one problem, we will all feel much better about where we spend 8 hours of our day.
Negative talk and thoughts are to blame for our negative perception of our jobs.
Humans naturally want to bond with the people around them. In the workplace, at school, at home. We need to feel connected to people. When we are with people we don't know, we look for ways to initiate conversation and start a friendship, even if it is just for the short ride on the bus or waiting in line at the grocery store. Unfortunately, the majority of us fall into the habit of focusing on the negative.
"It's so hot outside isn't it?"
"Yes its terrible!"
"This line is moving so slow!"
And in the workplace, its even worse. Think of the conversations you have with your coworkers on a daily basis.
"I hate Mondays!" or "I can't wait until the weekend" or "The boss is a jerk!"
We resort to these ways of talking because its easy conversation, and we begin to bond with those around us. I know this because I live it every day. It is so easy to fall into the trap of negative talk because we think its normal to hate your job. IT IS NOT NORMAL! You should not spend 40 or more hours a week in a place where you do not feel comfortable, appreciated, and valued.
As I mentioned in a previous blog, The Fire Within, I found myself at a point where I had to change jobs. I was miserable. It got to the point where there was more negative than positive in my life. If you feel that way, you should make a change!
On the other hand, I sincerely believe that most of us can enjoy the work we do if we change our habits of negativity. Our minds are gardens. Every thought is a seed that sprouts and influences our words and actions. Our words and actions change our environment. Therefore, when we see a problem in our environment, the first solution would be to change our thoughts. Cultivate only the good. Let the positive grow, weed out the negative.
Be master of your mind. Loving your job does not mean that you are happy all the time.
Tony Romo, a professional football player, was recently replaced as starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. In a press conference he stated that he still felt the fire for the game and the desire to play. Do you think he is having a good time right now? Of course he isn't! But he still loves what he does, and will do whatever it takes to be successful.
We will have bad days. We will fall. Grow tired. Fail on a project. Get sick. And any number of variables that will ruin a day. But if we cultivate the garden of our minds, and entertain only positive thoughts, give root to only good, then the negative will be short-lived and meaningless.
I encourage you to read "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen. It is an incredible insight into the influence of your thoughts on your entire life. My favorite quote so far (I haven't finished the reading yet) reads
"A man is literally what he thinks; his character being the complete sum of all his thoughts"
Allow only enough space in the garden of your mind for good. Your outlook on life will change the instant you adopt this practice. I can say that because it happens to me each time I choose the positive over the negative. It is a conscious effort, difficult, but well worth it.
Thursday, January 5, 2017
Take Time to Watch the Paint Dry
"Take time to watch the paint dry"
A teacher and mentor said that to me when I was preparing to leave to South America as a missionary. He talked often about the importance of studying, both scriptural and other types of studies. This day, however, he emphasized the effect of silent meditation on the mind, heart, and soul.
In silence we allow ourselves to:
A teacher and mentor said that to me when I was preparing to leave to South America as a missionary. He talked often about the importance of studying, both scriptural and other types of studies. This day, however, he emphasized the effect of silent meditation on the mind, heart, and soul.
In silence we allow ourselves to:
- Reflect
- Ponder
- Plan
- Feel
- Listen to the soul
In reflection, you draw into focus lessons you have learned that day.
Pondering, or thinking deeply and carefully, you determine the value and significance of each event.
You plan your life according to these lessons and experiences.
You feel yourself grow, you feel the world around you, you simply feel.
You listen to the yearnings of your soul. The noise of the world drowns out the tiny, gentle voice of the soul, but in silence, it speaks and you listen.
John Maxwell said it best, "Experience is only a great teacher if you take the time to pause and reflect on it. Otherwise, you take the test but the lesson never comes."
Take time each day for reflection, meditation, and planning. You will find your goals become clearer, your mind more focused, and the stress of your daily life will fade away.
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