Intention & Action

Thursday July 2, 2015 #737

Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.

~Darryl Anka

This quote, often wrongly attributed to Einstein, is nice way to think about intention and action. I do believe there is an energy and a certain frequency that seems to surround those who consistently succeed and find joy in life.  When combined with positive and consistent action, our intentions can help to attract the people and circumstances necessary for success and happiness.  Find and/or create the frequency that works for you.

The Secret of Success

Tuesday June 16, 2015 #732

“The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”

~Benjamin Disraeli

How can you find success?

• Determine what success means to you. Not to anyone else, just you. Otherwise, any success achieved may feel hollow because it was someone else’s definition of success.  Update your definition regularly.
• Understand what you’ll need to succeed – skills, knowledge, experience, associations, etc.
• Take action repeatedly to gain what you need and to be where you’ll need to be when opportunities arise.
• Have the awareness to see it, the courage to go for it, and the tenacity to keep going for it again and again – because not every opportunity will bring you the success you desire, nor will any single success bring lifetime happiness

Begin Where You Are

Tuesday June 2, 2015 #730

“Don’t let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.”

~Richard L. Evans

It is easy and common to allow yourself to become overwhelmed and discouraged by the challenges and obstacles this life throws at us.  Or to be envious of people who seem to have what we want:  health, wealth, happiness.  If you find yourself feeling this way, I implore you to accept the fact that these people – almost without exception – began just like you:  with frustrations and challenges to overcome.  And you can do just what they did:  decide what you want and take action to improve your situation.  Achievement must always be preceded by a decision and an action.  What are you waiting for?

How to Enjoy Life

Tuesday April 7, 2015 #714

“The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead.”

~Marjorie Pay Hinckley

We overcomplicate our lives.  We search endlessly for techniques to “find” happiness, when the reality that happiness is a decision.  No one has everything they want and no one ever will.  We all have challenges, unfair occurrences, losses, and frustrations.  The question not about avoiding these things, it is a matter of deciding how we’ll react.  Life is not fair or unfair.  It simply “is”.  Choose to enjoy life, accept the challenges and notice and celebrate the everyday small positives that are your path to joy.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Thursday March 5, 2015 #705

“Now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.”

~Guillaume Apollinaire

A simple message today to remind you to occasionally pause from your fast-paced, multi-tasking existence and remember why you are working so hard and so fast on so much:  your unique definition of the “pursuit of happiness”.  Reflect on the people and activities you are blessed to have in your life.  Relax, smile, and be happy in the moment, before getting back into the wild ride of life.

Discipline

Thursday October 30, 2014 #674

“Cheerfulness in most cheerful people, is the rich and satisfying result of strenuous discipline.”

~Edwin P. Whipple

It may seem counter-intuitive, but it is true that happiness and contentment with life usually stems from disciplined living.  Whether this is discipline toward exercise, diet, loyalty, integrity or commitment, discipline brings a sense of well-being and accomplishment which forms the basis of joy and fulfillment.

Be disciplined to those things that matter most to you and the people you love, and you will find yourself cheerful and content more often than not.

Looking Inside

Tuesday September 16, 2014 #662

“Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens.”

~Carl Jung

People work hard every day, searching for meaning, success, wealth, happiness, and love.  Too many never seem to find these things because they are searching for them “out there”.  Somehow if they try hard enough, they believe they will find the elusive things they seek.  I have found that those who seem most at peace with their lives are those who have spent time with themselves, determined their core principles and what is most important, and then lived a life in accordance with these principles.  In this way, the people and experiences that bring fulfillment and all life’s abundance come to them – still requiring great effort and perseverance, but far more naturally.  Look inside, find yourself.

Evolving Through Curiosity

Tuesday July 29, 2014 #648

“Read every day something no one else is reading. Think every day something no one else is thinking. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.”  ~Christopher Darlington Morley

The most boring people I know, and usually the least successful and most unhappy, are those who either stop learning, or only listen to or read about what they already know and/or believe in.  They lack curiosity, and are often fearful of learning anything or listening to anyone that might challenge their limited worldview.

Don’t be boring!  Be curious and seek out new ideas, and philosophies different from your own.  Challenge your beliefs, not because of a lack of character, but because you have the courage to realize that the world and the context is ever-changing and evolving and often that means you must evolve too.

Enjoying the Journey

Thursday June 5, 2014 #633

“Great results cannot be achieved at once; and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk, step by step.” ~Samuel Smiles

It is common to get discouraged on the long path to achieving our dreams.  Anything worth achieving is going to be challenging and may result in many failures as we attempt to move forward.  To not only achieve our goals, but more importantly to enjoy the journey, we must allow ourselves to recognize the many small victories along the way.  This is the definition of the joyful, happy life – the ability to enjoy the journey.  We do this be recognizing the steps taken, and being grateful for the people and the experiences we are fortunate to have along the way.

Choosing Joy Over Misery

Tuesday May 13, 2014 #626

 “The trick is in what one emphasizes.  We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves happy.  The amount of work is the same.” ~Carlos Castaneda

I truly believe that our misery and our happiness are almost entirely our own doing.  In a particular moment, outside forces can illicit misery or joy in us.  But after that moment, it is up to us to determine our ongoing sense of being.  Miserable people tend to dismiss moments of joy as aberrations and feelings they do not deserve – and so the feeling doesn’t last.  Joyful people on the other hand tend to dismiss moments of misery as aberrations and feelings they do not wish to maintain – and so they don’t.

The fact is that you do deserve joy and not misery.  All moments are fleeting – both miserable and joyous.  It is up to you to decide what you will hold onto and to anticipate, and what you will dismiss as aberrations and let go.