We are full of energy and in need of direction. When that energy is guided toward creative achievement, the results can be spectacular. Plant the seed of encouragement in the fertile ground of a person's life, and it will grow into magnificent accomplishments.
Anyone has the capacity to do great things, yet far too few know it or believe it. No matter how fertile the ground may be, if no seed is planted, nothing will grow. How many lives have been wasted in misery and destruction because they never received even the smallest seed of positive encouragement?
A seed is tiny. Yet when it is planted in the right place and at the right time, and nurtured with care, that tiny seed can grow into a ceaselessly abundant harvest.
Think of the lives around you where the seed of encouragement can take root and grow. Think of the difference you can make when you encourage yourself and when you offer your encouragement to others. Think of the seeds that you have the opportunity to plant. Spread the seeds of encouragement far and wide, and delight in the bountiful harvest that they will surely bring.
" Realize that now, in this moment of time, you are creating. You are creating our next moment. That is what's real."
Nov 25, 2008
Nov 24, 2008
Listen
Sometimes listening is the best way to express yourself. Take time to listen, to really listen with the purity of your attention, to the person with whom you're talking. By so doing you vastly improve your ability to get your own points across. The degree to which you understand, is the degree to which you can truly make yourself understood. Listening with interest ensures that you'll be heard when you speak.
People are happy to tell you all you need to know if you'll only make the effort to listen. Listen not only with your ears. Listen with your knowledge, your intuition, your compassion, your experience, your culture. Listen well and you will know.
Listen carefully and you'll hear opportunity knocking. Listen sincerely and you'll hear the truth. Listen with an open mind and you'll hear a teacher. Listen politely and you'll hear a friend. Listen to the world, understand and consider, and the world will listen to you.
" We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake."
People are happy to tell you all you need to know if you'll only make the effort to listen. Listen not only with your ears. Listen with your knowledge, your intuition, your compassion, your experience, your culture. Listen well and you will know.
Listen carefully and you'll hear opportunity knocking. Listen sincerely and you'll hear the truth. Listen with an open mind and you'll hear a teacher. Listen politely and you'll hear a friend. Listen to the world, understand and consider, and the world will listen to you.
" We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake."
Nov 18, 2008
If you care
Have you ever tried to do something that you really don't care about doing? You might get through it, but it is difficult. You can easily come up with all sorts of excuses for avoiding it as long as possible. Any effort you put forth is indifferent and ineffective.
The way to be most effective at any task is to care about it. When you care, you put all you have into the effort. When you care, you find ways to do it better, and better ways to do it.
If you don't care about what you're doing, ask yourself why you're even doing it in the first place. There may indeed be a reason why you do care about it, that you just haven't realized. For example, if it's something related to your job, even though you don't care about the task, you probably care about your job. Or you care about your paycheck. Or you care about earning money to feed your family.
Either at some point there's a reason to care, or there's no reason to be doing it. Care about what you're doing and you become vastly more effective at getting it done. If you're going to make the effort, isn't that the best way to have it happen?
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves"
The way to be most effective at any task is to care about it. When you care, you put all you have into the effort. When you care, you find ways to do it better, and better ways to do it.
If you don't care about what you're doing, ask yourself why you're even doing it in the first place. There may indeed be a reason why you do care about it, that you just haven't realized. For example, if it's something related to your job, even though you don't care about the task, you probably care about your job. Or you care about your paycheck. Or you care about earning money to feed your family.
Either at some point there's a reason to care, or there's no reason to be doing it. Care about what you're doing and you become vastly more effective at getting it done. If you're going to make the effort, isn't that the best way to have it happen?
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing themselves"
Nov 17, 2008
Difficulties
Difficult challenges can come into your life when you least expect them, and when you can ill afford them. Yet there they are, bullying their way into your world. If you try to ignore them or deny them, they just get bigger and more problematic. The more you let them worry you and get you down, the more helpless they make you.
A life full of challenge is often stressful and uncomfortable, but it is vastly better than the alternative, which is a life full of nothing. Your own particular challenges may seem extremely unfair, and they probably are. But that doesn't make them any less real, nor does it make you any less obligated to confront and endure them.
Accept the challenges when they appear, and you're well on the way to overcoming them. Though they bring disruption and pain, they also bring growth and power. Sometimes what is best for us, is not what we would choose. Life is difficult and in it we find unimaginable joy. Accept it all and live it for all it's worth.
" From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."
A life full of challenge is often stressful and uncomfortable, but it is vastly better than the alternative, which is a life full of nothing. Your own particular challenges may seem extremely unfair, and they probably are. But that doesn't make them any less real, nor does it make you any less obligated to confront and endure them.
Accept the challenges when they appear, and you're well on the way to overcoming them. Though they bring disruption and pain, they also bring growth and power. Sometimes what is best for us, is not what we would choose. Life is difficult and in it we find unimaginable joy. Accept it all and live it for all it's worth.
" From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."
Reminders
Meaningful accomplishment requires sacrifice and constant discipline, qualities which are often sabotaged by the urges and desires of the moment. That's why it is so important to keep reminding yourself of the long-term goals you seek.
There was once a woman who went to work in a home-based direct selling business. Her husband told her she was crazy, and that she was wasting her time, but she didn't let his opinion dampen her enthusiasm. She taped a photograph of an expensive luxury car on her bathroom mirror, where she would see it every day and be motivated to succeed in her business. Her husband just laughed. Then one day she drove home in a brand new car, purchased with the income from her business. It was the same model and color as in the picture. The next morning, her husband had removed the picture from the bathroom mirror and taped up another one -- of a brand new ski boat. Though he had ridiculed the method, he could not deny the result.
When you're working to achieve something, it is vital to have a clear idea of what it is, and to keep that idea at the forefront of your attention. Otherwise, too many influences are ready and waiting to knock you off track. What reminders do you have to keep you focused on your success? Keep remembering where you're headed, and you'll have the strength to get there.
" Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake."
There was once a woman who went to work in a home-based direct selling business. Her husband told her she was crazy, and that she was wasting her time, but she didn't let his opinion dampen her enthusiasm. She taped a photograph of an expensive luxury car on her bathroom mirror, where she would see it every day and be motivated to succeed in her business. Her husband just laughed. Then one day she drove home in a brand new car, purchased with the income from her business. It was the same model and color as in the picture. The next morning, her husband had removed the picture from the bathroom mirror and taped up another one -- of a brand new ski boat. Though he had ridiculed the method, he could not deny the result.
When you're working to achieve something, it is vital to have a clear idea of what it is, and to keep that idea at the forefront of your attention. Otherwise, too many influences are ready and waiting to knock you off track. What reminders do you have to keep you focused on your success? Keep remembering where you're headed, and you'll have the strength to get there.
" Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake."
Nov 12, 2008
Nagging little problems
We usually sit up and pay attention to the big problems and challenges that come along, and find the strength to handle them. A serious crisis will often be accompanied by the energy needed to deal with it.
The major problems, we find a way to overcome or at least endure. Yet it is the little, nagging, everyday problems which often are the most destructive. They're the ones we consider too trivial to tackle, and so they continue to take their toll, unchallenged, day after day. Over time, it adds up.
What nagging problems have been eating away at you? Pick one today and fix it. It probably won't even take much effort -- just a little time and commitment. And then tomorrow, go after another one. Think how quickly you could rid yourself of your little, nagging problems if you just worked on one each day.
Of course you want to resolve the big challenges that come up. But often times when you solve a big problem, it just keeps you even. Do something about the little problems too, and your effort will pay dividends far into the future. What little things can you work on, that will make a big difference?
"When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in a negative world"
The major problems, we find a way to overcome or at least endure. Yet it is the little, nagging, everyday problems which often are the most destructive. They're the ones we consider too trivial to tackle, and so they continue to take their toll, unchallenged, day after day. Over time, it adds up.
What nagging problems have been eating away at you? Pick one today and fix it. It probably won't even take much effort -- just a little time and commitment. And then tomorrow, go after another one. Think how quickly you could rid yourself of your little, nagging problems if you just worked on one each day.
Of course you want to resolve the big challenges that come up. But often times when you solve a big problem, it just keeps you even. Do something about the little problems too, and your effort will pay dividends far into the future. What little things can you work on, that will make a big difference?
"When you put faith, hope and love together, you can raise positive kids in a negative world"
Nov 5, 2008
STAND IN FAITH
Stand in faith
Even when you can't see your way
Stand in faith
Even when you feel like you can't face another day
Stand in faith
Even when the tears want to flow from your eyes
Stand in faith
Knowing that our God will always provide
Stand in faith
Even when you feel that all hope is gone
Stand in faith
Knowing that He is always there for you to lean on
Stand in faith
Even when you feel like giving up
Stand in faith
Because He is there ... saying, "Just look up"
Stand in faith
Even in those times you feel so all alone
Stand in faith
Hold on and be strong, for He is still on the throne
Stand in faith
Even when it's hard to believe
Stand in Faith
Knowing that He can change your situation, suddenly
Stand in faith
Even in those times you feel it's hard to pray
Stand in faith
And believe that He has already made the way
Faith ... is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
So stand in faith
Because you already have the victory!
Even when you can't see your way
Stand in faith
Even when you feel like you can't face another day
Stand in faith
Even when the tears want to flow from your eyes
Stand in faith
Knowing that our God will always provide
Stand in faith
Even when you feel that all hope is gone
Stand in faith
Knowing that He is always there for you to lean on
Stand in faith
Even when you feel like giving up
Stand in faith
Because He is there ... saying, "Just look up"
Stand in faith
Even in those times you feel so all alone
Stand in faith
Hold on and be strong, for He is still on the throne
Stand in faith
Even when it's hard to believe
Stand in Faith
Knowing that He can change your situation, suddenly
Stand in faith
Even in those times you feel it's hard to pray
Stand in faith
And believe that He has already made the way
Faith ... is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen
So stand in faith
Because you already have the victory!
Jump start yourself into action
The next few minutes will pass by quickly. Go ahead and start right now to make the most of them. Go ahead and do it. Time will pass, whether you take action or not. Harvest each moment while it's here. Once it passes it is of no use to you.
In just a few short minutes, you can have momentum on your side. Or you can be filled with regret. The choice is yours. Once you get started, it's easy to keep going.
For every excuse that prevents you from taking action, there's an equally compelling reason to just go ahead and do it. What do you really want to accumulate excuses or results?
Would you stand on the beach and throw gold coins into the ocean? Of course not. So why sit there and throw valuable, golden moments into oblivion? They're yours to use, but only if you use them now.
In just a few short minutes, you can have momentum on your side. Or you can be filled with regret. The choice is yours. Once you get started, it's easy to keep going.
For every excuse that prevents you from taking action, there's an equally compelling reason to just go ahead and do it. What do you really want to accumulate excuses or results?
Would you stand on the beach and throw gold coins into the ocean? Of course not. So why sit there and throw valuable, golden moments into oblivion? They're yours to use, but only if you use them now.
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