Hopes & Wishes Are Diluted Forms of Aspiration

Hope is vitally important but it rarely is of such sufficiency that we are elevated by it. It is a saving grace rather than an elevating one.

Hopes and wishes are diluted forms of aspiration. THEY REPRESENT WILL WITHOUT DETERMINATION.

Don't permit your thinking to be passive or fanciful. Evaluate each hope and wish and decide whether or not such are the objects of your heart'desire. DO YOU REALLY WANT THESE THINGS WITH A SUFFICIENT DETERMINATION THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THE ATTAINMENT?

WISHING WILL NEVER MAKE IT SO. If we really want something we must decide positively, once and for all. DOES OUR WILLINGNESS TO PAY THE PRICE SATISFY THE AMBITION?

HOPES AND WISHES HAVE A BAD HABIT OF LIVING IN THE FUTURE AND DYING IN THE PRESENT.Their tomorrow will never be real,genuine and meaningful for us unless and until WE COMMENCE ACTING ON THEM TODAY.

Benefits of Struggling!!!

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, and he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that at any moment the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

Change Is Your own Power of Choice

Any day we wish; we can discipline ourselves to change it all.
Any day we wish; we can open the book that will open our mind
to new knowledge. Any day we wish; we can start a new activity.
Any day we wish; we can start the process of life change. We
can do it immediately, or next week, or next month, or next year.

We can also do nothing. We can pretend rather than perform. And
if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable,
we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labor,
entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over
confidence. The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the
effect, we continue to nourish the cause. As Shakespeare uniquely
observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves." We
created our circumstances by our past choices.

We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better
choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life
do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach
better conclusions. They need the truth. They need the whole truth.
And they need nothing but the truth.

We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead
us down the wrong path. We must keep coming back to those basics
that make the biggest difference in how our life works out. And
then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness
and joy into our daily lives.

And if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice for someone
seeking and needing to make changes in their life - If you don't like
how things are, change it! You're not a tree. You have the ability to
totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with
your very own power of choice.

If You Have a Dream !!!

Don't wait for some distant day to come,
it may be too late before you've even begun.
Not everyone will agree with all you decide.

Be true to yourself first and foremost.
The only important thing in life is what
you do with the time you spend here on earth.

Don't cloud today with things that can't
be undone. You have no more control over
yesterday or tomorrow, than you do the raging
of your passions.

Do not quiet these dreams
nor quench your desires. For if you do,
your journey is ended.

You have only today to begin anew and
follow your dreams. For in the end all
we have are our memories.

When the twilight comes to us, let there
be, no excuses, no explanations,
no regrets!

- Unknown

Real Meaning of Peace....

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace.

Many artists tried.

The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake.

The lake was a perfect mirror, for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too.

But these were rugged and bare.
Above was an angry sky from which rain fell and in which lightening played.

Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall.

This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock.
In the bush a mother bird had built her nest.
There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest... perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture.
Do you know why?

"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work.
Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

May each one of you find peace... wherever you may be!!!

Empower Yourself with The Poem.....Today is The Great Day!!!

Today
By : Semetra C. Vanison

Today is the day I will change my mind,
and leave all the negative things behind.

Today is the day I want to be free,
and not let life troubles get to me.

Today is the day I will do my best,
and make sure I focus to past each day's test.

Today is the day I will take a stand,
and choose to do right to my fellow man.

Today is the day I will put my foot down,
and encourage myself when I want to frown.

Today is the day, no longer will I doubt
in spite of the grumblers who stand about.

You look at me and ask "How will you start?",
"Well, first there must be a change in my heart".

I will hang with new friends who want to achieve,
and who want a good education cause that's what I believe.

I will respect those around me, young and old,
for respect is the key, that's what I've been told.

I will demand excellence you see,
for I must insist to become a better me.

I will reach for the stars no matter how hard it seems,
and fly like a bird with the knowledge this journey brings.

So you see it's not impossible, I must take life day by day
and do the right things as I travel along the way!

You Are The Key Person Of Your Success !!!

You are the key - the key person - to your success!

These key thoughts and ideas can open golden doors of success for you.

Success requires PERSISTENCE.

"Success in life is not so much a matter of talent or opportunity, as it is of concentration and perseverance."
- C.W. Wendte

Success requires TENACITY.

"The secret of success is constancy to purpose."
- Disraeli

Success requires HUMILITY.

"The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well without a thought of fame."
- Longfellow

Success requires PURPOSE.

"You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."
- James Allen

Success requires ABILITY.

"Responsibilities gravitate to the person who can shoulder them; power flows to the individual who knows how."
- Elbert Hubbard

Success requires DILIGENCE.

"Success comes to those who hustle while they wait."
- Thomas Edison

Success requires NOBLE, HONEST EFFORT.

"Take hold of life's toughest knots and try to untie them; try to be worthy of life's highest estate: have high, noble, honor. There is but one test of everything, and that is, is it right? If it is not right, turn away from it."
- Henry A. Wise

Success requires VISION WITH A PLAN.

Success in the world, any kind of success, is like a universal college degree.
It can only be earned by following a certain course of action for a definite period of time.
It is impossible for success, real success, to be easy.
You must first see it, then set a course to achieve it."
- Earl Nightingale

Success requires INITIATIVE.

"Before sitting down to wait for your ship to come in, be sure you have sent one out."

Twenty Truths

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are the people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle -- it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

-- Author Unknown

The Power of Positive Thinking

A successful businessman carries a unique business card on the reverse side of which is stated the philosophy which has brought happiness to him…and to hundreds of others…

The card reads:
The way to happiness—to keep
your heart free from hate,
your mind from worry.
Live simply, expect little, give much.
Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine.
Forget self, think of others.
Do as you would be done by.

Try this for a week and you will be surprised.

As you read these words you may say, "There is nothing new in that."

But think about it, there is something new if you've never tried it.

Your Gesture Speaks Always

The Secret of Happiness
by Steve Brunkhorst

The old man shuffled slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted, and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on his trusty cane with each unhurried step. His tattered cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a tight, steady smile.

He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big grin right back at him. A young waitress named Mary watched him shuffle toward a table by the window.

Mary ran over to him, and said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair." Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she scooted the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.

In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures." "You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!"

After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left it lay. She helped him up from his chair, and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door.

Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!" He turned with his whole body, winked a smile, and nodded a thank you. "You are very kind." he said softly. When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his plate she found a business card, and a note scribbled on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one hundred dollar bill.

The note on the napkin read..."Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you." The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person.

Be Always There Attentively

A delightful story is told about a young man who applied for a job as a telegraph operator. He answered an ad in the newspaper and went to the telegraph office to await an interview. Though he knew Morse Code and was qualified in every other way, seven other applicants were also waiting in the large, noisy office.

He saw customers coming and going and heard a telegraph clacking away in the background. He also noticed a sign on the receptionist's counter instructing applicants to fill out a form and wait to be summoned to an inner office for an interview. He filled out the form and sat down to wait.

After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering why he had been so bold. They talked among themselves and finally determined that, since nobody had been summoned to interview yet, the man would likely be reprimanded for not following instructions and possibly disqualified for the job.

Within a few minutes, however, the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by the interviewer, who announced to the other applicants, "Thank you all very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."

They were all confused and one man spoke up: "Wait a minute -- I don't understand. We've been waiting longer than he and we never even got a chance to be interviewed."

The employer responded, "All the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message: ''If you understand this, then come right in. The job is yours.''

This man knew a valuable life-lesson that most people miss:
Wherever You Are, Be There.
If you're there physically, also be there emotionally.
Be there mentally. Be there attentively.
Be there as fully as you can.

It's about being present and fully alive in the moment.
Wherever you are, be there.
Give your full attention to others (is there really a better gift?).
Give yourself fully to the task at hand or to the present moment.
When you're completely present, you'll make the most of every minute.

And minutes lived fully add up to a life lived magnificently.

We Will Be Remembered By Our Kind Deeds.

During the waning years of the depression in a small Idaho community, I used to stop by Mr. Miller's roadside stand for farm fresh produce as the season made it available. Food and money were still extremely scarce and bartering was used extensively.

One day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?"

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it."

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"

"Not zackley ... but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas ... sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?"

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it."

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?"

"Not zackley ... but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble."

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps."

I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had the occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there I learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts ... all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size ... they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

MORAL: We will not be remembered by our words... but by our kind deeds.

Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles...
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...
An unexpected phone call from an old friend...
Green traffic lights on your way to work...
The fastest line at the grocery store...
A good sing-along song on the radio...
Your keys right where you left them.
Life is not measured by the breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath.

Forgiveness is a Gift to The Other Person & For Ourselves

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.

The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it in embarrassing places.

Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity!

Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and while that's true, it clearly is also a gift for ourselves!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself...

Isn't MY bag heavy enough?

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

You Are Special

You Are Special

Your presence, is a present to the world.
You're unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be, what you want it to be.
Take the days, just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You'll make it through, whatever comes along.
Within you, are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Don't put limits on yourself.
So many dreams, are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important, to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and your prize.

Nothing wastes more energy, than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
Don't take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember, that a little love goes a long way.
Remember, that a lot of love goes forever.
Remember, that friendship is a wise investment.
Life's treasures, are people... together.

Realize, that it's never too late.
Do ordinary things, in an extraordinary way.
Have health, hope and happiness.
Take the time, to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget....
For even a day....
How very special you are.

Improve Your Self-Esteem

Ten Tips to Improve Your Self-Esteem
By Kevin Sinclair

The best way to improve your life and earn the respect of others is to improve your self-esteem. This is not a very difficult task. All that it needs is good guidance. Here are ten tips that can happen when you improve your self--esteem.

1. Surround yourself with people who are positive and supportive.
Stay away from friends who are cynical and negative. This will generate a huge swell of positive feelings in you. You will respect yourself more, and your self-esteem will grow.

2. Be clear about what you want to achieve in life.
Set goals, and work for their achievement. To make your task easier, break your main goal into several smaller goals which are relatively easier to achieve. This will make the task of reaching your main goals seem easier. It will also give you a feeling of satisfaction whenever you achieve one of the smaller goals.

3. Always be positive about yourself.
Keep reminding yourself about your good qualities, your accomplishments and how you help your family, friends, others and yourself. Don't make the mistake of brooding over negative things, and never put yourself down.

4. Develop the ability to accept criticism about yourself, without getting upset or defensive. This will help you eliminate your weaknesses one by one. However, make sure that the criticism is constructive. Don't allow yourself to be overwhelmed by criticism that is cynical or meant to lower your self-esteem. This will be a great mistake, and do irreparable damage to your self-esteem.

5. We all need to accept the fact that we will fail from time to time.
We should not let it get us down or to have too much of a negative effect on us. We should think that as we have not been successful this time we will succeed the next time. This will help us to pull ourselves together and move on. Such an attitude will help us overcome the most difficult conditions.

6. Never compare yourself with others.
This is the easiest way to feel inferior and lose self-esteem. It is much better to rate yourself on your achievements. Such an approach will give you self-confidence. At the same time it will make you feel better when dealing with your peer group.

7. Never put yourself down.
Failures are like parasites. If you allow them to grow they will eat away your self-confidence, self-respect and self-esteem. The best is to push negative thoughts out of your mind, if you want others to treat you with respect. This can only happen when you project a positive exterior, even in most adverse situations. Make it a point to filter out all self-criticism.

8. Don't give in to bullies in your place of work or in your personal life.
You must learn to stand up to them. This can only happen if you are assertive about your rights. Of course, this does not mean that you should pick up physical battles to make your point. On the contrary, you should exercise restraint and make your point in a dignified manner. This will not only make others treat you with respect but also increase your self-esteem.

9. You may be self-conscious and because of this you may avoid talking to groups of people.
Try to approach groups of people and introduce yourself to them. Ask them questions about themselves and try to be genuinely interested in the answers. Listen carefully and attentively to what they say and respond to show your interest. Interacting with people will make you feel more relaxed. You will realize that it is easy to speak to groups of people and to relax by concentrating on what others are saying, rather than on yourself.

10. Self-esteem is really all about how good you feel about yourself.
A lazy person or a poorly groomed person will always feel inferior to a confident, smart individual. So, you need to take good care of your body. Remember, a healthy body is essential for a healthy mind.

You Can Achieve Success....

When you plan and prepare carefully, you can legitimately expect to have success in your efforts. When you recognize and develop the winning qualities that you were born with, the winner you were born to be emerges.

When you plan and prepare to make a sale, for example, you can legitimately expect to make a sale. Although not all your expectations are going to come to pass, you give yourself an infinitely better chance of succeeding by taking the proper steps. Regardless of your goal--losing weight, making more sales, furthering your education, earning a promotion, saving money for a new home or an exotic vacation--you can expect to achieve your goal if you plan and prepare for it.

Also understand that the path from where you are to where you want to be is not always smooth and straight. The reason for the twists and bumps is simple, and it has nothing to do with you. It has more to do with the fact that not everyone is as interested in your success as you are. Some people may accidentally hinder your efforts; others who are in competition with you and have little or no integrity may try to sabotage your efforts.

Keep in mind, though, that when you hit those roadblocks; your character, commitment, and attitude are the determining factors in your success.

Carefully review your plan of action, seek wise counsel, and be particularly careful to feed your mind with good information. An optimistic, positive mind is far more likely to come up with creative solutions than a mind that dwells on setbacks and difficulties.

Bottom line: expect success and you can achieve it!
-Zig Ziglar.

Good Attitude

One day President Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the country on horseback. They came to a river that had overflowed its banks because of a recent downpour. The river had washed away the bridge so each rider was forced to cross it on horseback, fighting for his life against the currents. This caused a traveler who was not part of the group to step aside and watch. After several riders had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked if President Jefferson would carry him across. The President agreed without hesitation. So the man climbed on and the two of them made it safely to the other side.

As the stranger slid off the horse onto dry ground, one of Jefferson's companions asked, "Why did you select the President?" The man was shocked and admitted he'd no idea that it was the President who'd helped him. "All I know," he said, "is that on some of your faces was written the answer 'no,' and on some was written the answer 'yes.' His was a 'yes' face."

A good attitude has a "yes" face. Try to remember that and put on your "yes" face today…..