"Happiness is the absence of the striving for happiness."
Chuang-tzu
They say that happiness is like a butterfly; if you go chasing after it, it will elude you, but if you just sit and rest, it will alight gently on your shoulder. Do you yearn for happiness. Perhaps you beleive that if you just had more money, it would make you happy. Perhaps you beleive that if you just had a better relationship, it would make you happy. Perhaps you beleive that if you just had better health, it would make you happy. In all of this, you are saying that you beleive that happiness is something you don't have now, something that you need to do something before you can have it. You are chasing after happiness, and that is why it continues to elude you.
Happiness is the absence of striving for happiness. It is realizing that happiness comes from within. Happiness is something you already have, but you can't see it because you are too busy noticing what you don't have, whether it's more money, better relationships or better health. Once you start appreciating what you already have, focusing on the good things you have now instead of the things you wish you had, then you will find the happiness you seek.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Gift
"What you are is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift back to God."
Kelly Jeppesen
God has given unique strengths and challenges to everyone. This means that everyone is equally valuable, and that everyone needs to find his own way to express God's gift to him. Everyone needs to define his or her own mission or purpose in life, and this requires intimate self-knowledge. Sometimes it takes a long time to identify what your unique gifts are, and then how to use them.
God needs you just as much as you need God. James Ray tells a story about a small town that had an huge ugly rock pile in its town square. One man eventually decided to do something about it and worked and toiled, sweated, hauled, moved and shoveled the rocks until he had turned the town square into a beautiful rock garden. One day a tourist was visiting and happened to see the man working in the rock garden. He stopped and said "Young man, God has blessed you with a beautiful rock garden". The man replied "You're right sir, but you should have seen what it looked like when He had it all by Himself."
What you accomplish in this world, what you make of yourself, is your gift back to God. Utilizing the gifts God gave you is the best gift you could possibly give Him.
For ideas about how to acheive true success, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Kelly Jeppesen
God has given unique strengths and challenges to everyone. This means that everyone is equally valuable, and that everyone needs to find his own way to express God's gift to him. Everyone needs to define his or her own mission or purpose in life, and this requires intimate self-knowledge. Sometimes it takes a long time to identify what your unique gifts are, and then how to use them.
God needs you just as much as you need God. James Ray tells a story about a small town that had an huge ugly rock pile in its town square. One man eventually decided to do something about it and worked and toiled, sweated, hauled, moved and shoveled the rocks until he had turned the town square into a beautiful rock garden. One day a tourist was visiting and happened to see the man working in the rock garden. He stopped and said "Young man, God has blessed you with a beautiful rock garden". The man replied "You're right sir, but you should have seen what it looked like when He had it all by Himself."
What you accomplish in this world, what you make of yourself, is your gift back to God. Utilizing the gifts God gave you is the best gift you could possibly give Him.
For ideas about how to acheive true success, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Monday, December 15, 2008
Mistakes
"A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."
George Bernard Shaw
Are you afraid of making mistakes? We are often so afraid of making mistakes that they don't make a decision about what to do. The are afraid that making the wrong decision will deprive us of what we want (whatever the right decision is supposed to bring us) . We have been taught to be careful that we don't make the wrong decision ("What if I make this choice and that happens?"). We feel we need to be perfect, and that we need to control the outcome of events ("What if it doesn't work out the way I plan?"). We feel that to make a mistake is an embarrassing failure. This petrifies us when we think about making a change or attempting a challenge.
We forget that not only are we, as humans, supposed to make mistakes, but that they are actually good for us. They teach us what doesn't work, and that helps us narrow down our list of things to try that might work. Thomas Edison made 10,000 "mistakes" while he was creating the light bulb. He commented "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." He was successful because he wasn't afraid of making mistakes.
Our lives are really like a big experiment where we are finding out what works and what doesn't. The most important thing of all is to get out there and take action. Yes, you may make a mistake, in fact you probably will. But that's okay as long as you learn what you can from it. Then you make any necessary adjustments in your plan, and keep going. There's nothing worse than sitting there, paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes, and letting life pass you by. They say that on your deathbed you will be regretting the things you didn't do, not the things you did (even if they proved to be mistakes).
For ideas about how to be successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com.
George Bernard Shaw
Are you afraid of making mistakes? We are often so afraid of making mistakes that they don't make a decision about what to do. The are afraid that making the wrong decision will deprive us of what we want (whatever the right decision is supposed to bring us) . We have been taught to be careful that we don't make the wrong decision ("What if I make this choice and that happens?"). We feel we need to be perfect, and that we need to control the outcome of events ("What if it doesn't work out the way I plan?"). We feel that to make a mistake is an embarrassing failure. This petrifies us when we think about making a change or attempting a challenge.
We forget that not only are we, as humans, supposed to make mistakes, but that they are actually good for us. They teach us what doesn't work, and that helps us narrow down our list of things to try that might work. Thomas Edison made 10,000 "mistakes" while he was creating the light bulb. He commented "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." He was successful because he wasn't afraid of making mistakes.
Our lives are really like a big experiment where we are finding out what works and what doesn't. The most important thing of all is to get out there and take action. Yes, you may make a mistake, in fact you probably will. But that's okay as long as you learn what you can from it. Then you make any necessary adjustments in your plan, and keep going. There's nothing worse than sitting there, paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes, and letting life pass you by. They say that on your deathbed you will be regretting the things you didn't do, not the things you did (even if they proved to be mistakes).
For ideas about how to be successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Language
"Language exerts hidden power, like a moon on the tides."
Alcaeus (fl. 611-580 BC) Greek poet, satirist
What kind of language do you use when you are talking about yourself? What kind to you use when you are talking about others? Our words have much more power than we realize. We casually make comments that devestate people, or make their day. It's important to make sure our brain is engaged before we put our mouth in gear.
Through your words that you excersise your creative power. It is how you create. The question is are you creating good things or bad things based on what you are saying. The human mind is a fertile ground for the seeds (ideas, feelings etc) that it has been prepared for. If the seeds of fear are planted in your mind, what will grow there, and what will it do to you?
In order to create good results in your life, it is important to pay attention to the words you use. Only say good things, both about yourself and about others. Saying bad things about others is really a sin against yourself for we are all one. Avoid gossip like the plague; never say anything about anyone that you would not say to their face. Your language excerts hidden power; so use it to your best advantage.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Alcaeus (fl. 611-580 BC) Greek poet, satirist
What kind of language do you use when you are talking about yourself? What kind to you use when you are talking about others? Our words have much more power than we realize. We casually make comments that devestate people, or make their day. It's important to make sure our brain is engaged before we put our mouth in gear.
Through your words that you excersise your creative power. It is how you create. The question is are you creating good things or bad things based on what you are saying. The human mind is a fertile ground for the seeds (ideas, feelings etc) that it has been prepared for. If the seeds of fear are planted in your mind, what will grow there, and what will it do to you?
In order to create good results in your life, it is important to pay attention to the words you use. Only say good things, both about yourself and about others. Saying bad things about others is really a sin against yourself for we are all one. Avoid gossip like the plague; never say anything about anyone that you would not say to their face. Your language excerts hidden power; so use it to your best advantage.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Instincts
"Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself."
Oprah Winfrey
Do you follow your instincts, or do you do what logic suggests? People often talk themselves out of success, out of doing what their instincts tell them that they really should. They ask "What if..." They think of all the possible problems that might come up, and whether they would be able to deal with them. They decide they're not capable. They start to wonder if it's worth it. They don't know how they're going to do it. So they don't.
We always are making choices. Sometimes your logic and your instincts tell you to do the same thing. But sometimes they disagree. The problem with doing as logic suggests is that you are limited to the methods, and imagined consequences, that your experience suggests.
Your instincts are Universe's way, with it's infinite experience, of advising you what is best for you. They are the Universe's way of guiding you towards success. They are where true wisdom manifests itself. Follow your instincts, not your logic.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Oprah Winfrey
Do you follow your instincts, or do you do what logic suggests? People often talk themselves out of success, out of doing what their instincts tell them that they really should. They ask "What if..." They think of all the possible problems that might come up, and whether they would be able to deal with them. They decide they're not capable. They start to wonder if it's worth it. They don't know how they're going to do it. So they don't.
We always are making choices. Sometimes your logic and your instincts tell you to do the same thing. But sometimes they disagree. The problem with doing as logic suggests is that you are limited to the methods, and imagined consequences, that your experience suggests.
Your instincts are Universe's way, with it's infinite experience, of advising you what is best for you. They are the Universe's way of guiding you towards success. They are where true wisdom manifests itself. Follow your instincts, not your logic.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Friday, December 12, 2008
In the Mood
“I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that.
Your mind must know it has got to get down to work. ”
Pearl S Buck
Do you wait until you are in the mood to work? Are you ever actually in the mood to work? Usually there are much more interesting diversions just waiting to distract us. It is easier to be in the mood to watch TV than it is to be in the mood to work. This is especially true if your work is not something you enjoy because you are very good at it. Some of us would rather do just about anything other than our work. Some of us prefer to put off doing our work for as long as possible.
If you wait until you feel like getting down to work, chances are you'll be waiting for a very long time. You need to take control and tell your mind that it is time to get working. You must simply decide to start working and commit to it. Just get started. Once you get started, it will be more and more easy to continue and before you know it, your work will be done. You'll feel much better when you have kept your promise to yourself to do what you know you should, and when you get your work finished promptly because you started promptly.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Your mind must know it has got to get down to work. ”
Pearl S Buck
Do you wait until you are in the mood to work? Are you ever actually in the mood to work? Usually there are much more interesting diversions just waiting to distract us. It is easier to be in the mood to watch TV than it is to be in the mood to work. This is especially true if your work is not something you enjoy because you are very good at it. Some of us would rather do just about anything other than our work. Some of us prefer to put off doing our work for as long as possible.
If you wait until you feel like getting down to work, chances are you'll be waiting for a very long time. You need to take control and tell your mind that it is time to get working. You must simply decide to start working and commit to it. Just get started. Once you get started, it will be more and more easy to continue and before you know it, your work will be done. You'll feel much better when you have kept your promise to yourself to do what you know you should, and when you get your work finished promptly because you started promptly.
For ideas about how to be truly successful, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Escape
"I find it fascinating that most people plan their vacations with better care than they plan their lives. Perhaps that is because escape is easier than change."
Jim Rohn
Are you running away from your life situation? Most of us trudge drearily through our work, thanking God when it's Friday, and longing for it to be vacation time. We are only working so that we can get enough money to do fun things later. Not many people can say that they truly enjoy their work so much that they would do it for free. Not many people enjoy their work so much that they thank God when it's Monday and could skip their vacation time.
It is, of course, those few people who are the really successful ones. When you truly enjoy your work, it shows. You not only do a better job of it, but you persuade other people that you do, so that they will support you in it. Your life will be more meaningful when you take the time to determine what you really want to accomplish in life.
For those of us who don't truly enjoy our work, and probably don't know what kind of work we really would enjoy, we have relatively meaningless lives. We don't like the way we're living but, for whatever reason, aren't willing to work to change it. It could be that we're afraid to "rock the boat" by taking risks. We might think that this kind of life is all we're capable or deserving of.
So we plan our vacation and dream of escape. After all, first of all it's easy to see why we deserve our vacation, and second of all, it's a lot less risky to plan a vacation than to plan a life. Escape is easier than change. It's also a whole lot less rewarding.
For ideas about how to acheive true success, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
Jim Rohn
Are you running away from your life situation? Most of us trudge drearily through our work, thanking God when it's Friday, and longing for it to be vacation time. We are only working so that we can get enough money to do fun things later. Not many people can say that they truly enjoy their work so much that they would do it for free. Not many people enjoy their work so much that they thank God when it's Monday and could skip their vacation time.
It is, of course, those few people who are the really successful ones. When you truly enjoy your work, it shows. You not only do a better job of it, but you persuade other people that you do, so that they will support you in it. Your life will be more meaningful when you take the time to determine what you really want to accomplish in life.
For those of us who don't truly enjoy our work, and probably don't know what kind of work we really would enjoy, we have relatively meaningless lives. We don't like the way we're living but, for whatever reason, aren't willing to work to change it. It could be that we're afraid to "rock the boat" by taking risks. We might think that this kind of life is all we're capable or deserving of.
So we plan our vacation and dream of escape. After all, first of all it's easy to see why we deserve our vacation, and second of all, it's a lot less risky to plan a vacation than to plan a life. Escape is easier than change. It's also a whole lot less rewarding.
For ideas about how to acheive true success, visit http://www.reachingmypotential.com
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