A Thanksgiving message we all should consider...
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Daily Inspiration -November 24, 2010
By Terry Minion -
Life would not expand if we always got what we wanted. To go even deeper, there wouldn't even be a choice that exists. In order to choose, there must be something to choose from.
The choices don't have to be so even as dark and light, yes and no, but contrast of one thing that doesn't feel as good compared with something that feels better allows expansion as well.
From that then, out of clutter, simplicity is possible and if desired will come. From discord, harmony is a possibility if desired. And, as with opportunity always existing within difficulty, born of the contrast, a desire is born that chooses a preference and makes a decision to focus on this instead of that.
Perhaps then at some point, realizing this, expands into accepting it as it is, as it always has been and that there never need be concern again about the clutter, discord or difficulty, for out of them, we learn to pay attention, make choices that feel better, move toward them, and expand.
"Out of clutter, find Simplicity.
From discord, find Harmony.
In the middle of difficulty lies Opportunity."
-- Albert Einstein
Life would not expand if we always got what we wanted. To go even deeper, there wouldn't even be a choice that exists. In order to choose, there must be something to choose from.
The choices don't have to be so even as dark and light, yes and no, but contrast of one thing that doesn't feel as good compared with something that feels better allows expansion as well.
From that then, out of clutter, simplicity is possible and if desired will come. From discord, harmony is a possibility if desired. And, as with opportunity always existing within difficulty, born of the contrast, a desire is born that chooses a preference and makes a decision to focus on this instead of that.
Perhaps then at some point, realizing this, expands into accepting it as it is, as it always has been and that there never need be concern again about the clutter, discord or difficulty, for out of them, we learn to pay attention, make choices that feel better, move toward them, and expand.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Daily Inspiration -November 23, 2010
By Terry Minion -
No matter how optimistic you think you are, there is probably someone to help you strengthen it. For me, that is my business partner, Ryan Stone.
I've always considered myself an optimist, looking toward a brighter future, but a lot of that was smoke and mirrors for a long time. It was a trained response. You see, I got into sales as a career when I was 22 and then at 25 became a sales manager, so I had to learn to be optimistic, to encourage and to be a leader--or try to be a leader. As a newbie in this field, I studied and studied and read books, listened to records and did everything I could to become an optimistic person and lead accordingly.
As a result of the constant study, (which I have yet to stop over 30 years later) I have to say that I think I succeeded for the most part. But, there are days. . . You probably know what I'm talking about--days when you feel pessimistic and doubtful; days when you just didn't get enough sleep, or feel like you need a vacation from the hustle and bustle of life, you know. . . escape!
I have to admit that I have those days. I am also very pleased that they are few in comparison with my past; however, when they come, sometimes I just need a little help from my friends, you know? Ryan is that. He can turn me back around toot sweet and have me laughing and cashing imaginary checks and what not. I think we do that for each other actually. It seems he gets that way too sometimes, and I help him get back on track.
We all need some friends sometimes. One of the most awesome things we can all do is to surround ourselves with people who, for the most part, are uplifting, optimistic, and encouraging. It can make all the difference, I know it for a fact.
Thanks, Ryan! The best partner I can imagine having. I'm blessed.
"The essence of optimism is that it takes no account of the present,
but it is a source of inspiration, of vitality and hope where others
have resigned; it enables a man to hold his head high, to claim the
future for himself and not to abandon it to his enemy."
-- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
"Optimism doesn't wait on facts.
It deals with prospects.
Pessimism is a waste of time."
-- Norman Cousins
No matter how optimistic you think you are, there is probably someone to help you strengthen it. For me, that is my business partner, Ryan Stone.
I've always considered myself an optimist, looking toward a brighter future, but a lot of that was smoke and mirrors for a long time. It was a trained response. You see, I got into sales as a career when I was 22 and then at 25 became a sales manager, so I had to learn to be optimistic, to encourage and to be a leader--or try to be a leader. As a newbie in this field, I studied and studied and read books, listened to records and did everything I could to become an optimistic person and lead accordingly.
As a result of the constant study, (which I have yet to stop over 30 years later) I have to say that I think I succeeded for the most part. But, there are days. . . You probably know what I'm talking about--days when you feel pessimistic and doubtful; days when you just didn't get enough sleep, or feel like you need a vacation from the hustle and bustle of life, you know. . . escape!
I have to admit that I have those days. I am also very pleased that they are few in comparison with my past; however, when they come, sometimes I just need a little help from my friends, you know? Ryan is that. He can turn me back around toot sweet and have me laughing and cashing imaginary checks and what not. I think we do that for each other actually. It seems he gets that way too sometimes, and I help him get back on track.
We all need some friends sometimes. One of the most awesome things we can all do is to surround ourselves with people who, for the most part, are uplifting, optimistic, and encouraging. It can make all the difference, I know it for a fact.
Thanks, Ryan! The best partner I can imagine having. I'm blessed.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Daily Inspiration -November 22, 2010
By Terry Minion -
That which we battle against gets more attention than it deserves and it often wins the battle in that it is expanded without its own effort. We expand it for our attention to it. In that, the battle is won by the problem, disease, situation, relationship, job, whatever.
The problem is not the problem, it is our focus on the problem that is the problem. So, what does that mean? If there is a problem, learn to be grateful for it, bless it, and then turn and focus on the solution. A simpler way to say it is that when you find something you don't want or don't like, then be thankful for that information, turn and focus on what you want or what you would like. It's all the same thing.
So many times, we have an issue and we continually look at that issue and fret or worry about it, see how we can combat it or eradicate it, who else has had the problem and what they did about it, search the Internet for more information about the problem, tell our friends and coworkers about the problem, ask the prayer group to pray about the problem, complain about the problem and even cry about the problem. What is reinforced is the problem. It has grown way out of proportion by now. It is now a much larger problem than it was when it was first presented.
When we understand that the problem is not the real problem, but instead an opportunity to choose what we want, we can learn to get out of that old habit of reinforcing and expanding the problem, and immediately, or very soon, thank the problem for the information, turn and speak of what is wanted. Expand what is wanted. Focus on what is wanted.
If I have ill health and speak of the ill health, research all about the disease and continually expand the importance and presence of the disease, I am expanding the disease. I must thank the disease for the information, turn and focus on my health instead of the disease.
The same is true of losing a job, the state of the economy or whatever has presented itself in our lives that is not what we want. Thanking the problem for the information, and turning toward what we want and giving 100% of our attention to that is the thing that will change everything for us.
"As long as you think the problem is out there,
that very thought is the problem."
-- Stephen Covey
That which we battle against gets more attention than it deserves and it often wins the battle in that it is expanded without its own effort. We expand it for our attention to it. In that, the battle is won by the problem, disease, situation, relationship, job, whatever.
The problem is not the problem, it is our focus on the problem that is the problem. So, what does that mean? If there is a problem, learn to be grateful for it, bless it, and then turn and focus on the solution. A simpler way to say it is that when you find something you don't want or don't like, then be thankful for that information, turn and focus on what you want or what you would like. It's all the same thing.
So many times, we have an issue and we continually look at that issue and fret or worry about it, see how we can combat it or eradicate it, who else has had the problem and what they did about it, search the Internet for more information about the problem, tell our friends and coworkers about the problem, ask the prayer group to pray about the problem, complain about the problem and even cry about the problem. What is reinforced is the problem. It has grown way out of proportion by now. It is now a much larger problem than it was when it was first presented.
When we understand that the problem is not the real problem, but instead an opportunity to choose what we want, we can learn to get out of that old habit of reinforcing and expanding the problem, and immediately, or very soon, thank the problem for the information, turn and speak of what is wanted. Expand what is wanted. Focus on what is wanted.
If I have ill health and speak of the ill health, research all about the disease and continually expand the importance and presence of the disease, I am expanding the disease. I must thank the disease for the information, turn and focus on my health instead of the disease.
The same is true of losing a job, the state of the economy or whatever has presented itself in our lives that is not what we want. Thanking the problem for the information, and turning toward what we want and giving 100% of our attention to that is the thing that will change everything for us.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Daily Inspiration -November 21, 2010
By Terry Minion -
I absolutely love this quote by Milton Berle. To me, it speaks of the difference between hoping for an opportunity and expecting one and that difference is everything.
I've known people out of work, lost in transition, hoping for the right opportunity, then hoping for any opportunity, and often the opportunity doesn't come. They cite examples of the economy and its present state of disrepair, along with a long list of reasons and excuses, facts, fantasy and rumor. It's depressing to see. It represents an attitude that is completely build around lack, or what's not right, or what's not right yet. It's an effort in problem solving at best. Days are stacked one on top of another in fear and despair.
I've known people out of work, interested in the transition, expecting the right opportunity, expecting lots of opportunities, and the opportunities come in quantity and quality. These folks cite belief in themselves, excitement for life, a sense of adventure, and confidence in getting what they want and need. It's exciting to watch. It represents an attitude that is build around self-confidence, love of life and a desire to express themselves in what they love doing while being open to new horizons. It is an effort to expand ones self to the fullest. Days are added one unto another as accumulations of experience.
These are highly contrasted situations and I have seen them both and lots of places in between. The main difference in how it all works out comes down to what Milton Berle said jokingly, but so correctly is that if opportunity doesn't know, build a door. How true, how true. Thanks Milt!
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door."
-- Milton Berle
I absolutely love this quote by Milton Berle. To me, it speaks of the difference between hoping for an opportunity and expecting one and that difference is everything.
I've known people out of work, lost in transition, hoping for the right opportunity, then hoping for any opportunity, and often the opportunity doesn't come. They cite examples of the economy and its present state of disrepair, along with a long list of reasons and excuses, facts, fantasy and rumor. It's depressing to see. It represents an attitude that is completely build around lack, or what's not right, or what's not right yet. It's an effort in problem solving at best. Days are stacked one on top of another in fear and despair.
I've known people out of work, interested in the transition, expecting the right opportunity, expecting lots of opportunities, and the opportunities come in quantity and quality. These folks cite belief in themselves, excitement for life, a sense of adventure, and confidence in getting what they want and need. It's exciting to watch. It represents an attitude that is build around self-confidence, love of life and a desire to express themselves in what they love doing while being open to new horizons. It is an effort to expand ones self to the fullest. Days are added one unto another as accumulations of experience.
These are highly contrasted situations and I have seen them both and lots of places in between. The main difference in how it all works out comes down to what Milton Berle said jokingly, but so correctly is that if opportunity doesn't know, build a door. How true, how true. Thanks Milt!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Daily Inspiration - November 19, 2010
By Terry Minion -
We can certainly feel the emotions of anxiety, stress, fear, anger and unhappiness, but many, if not most of us, were taught that there is always something outside of ourselves to blame for this. People say, "it's so stressful at work," or "I don't need this extra stress!" or, "that guy sure knows how to push my buttons," and other such statements. It would seem by those statements that stress is being issued unevenly, or that it is running around looking for a victim to stress-out.
If we really think about these, it is easy to see that they don't really exist except as a response within ourselves to. . . not something or someone else, but from our own thinking. Something is said or experienced and we react to it. Maybe the reaction is automatic since we learned it so long ago, or sometimes we react in a way that we think is appropriate, even though in reality, we may not feel that way at all. For example, maybe someone is crying and showing sadness at a funeral, but they really don't feel that way if it weren't for the people around them expecting them to feel that way. It might be easier to just follow the "rules" though they may not be your own.
The analogy of "pushing my buttons," is a good way to see the action of these emotions, except it isn't someone else pushing our buttons, it is ourselves pushing them. I've said this before, but I used to get angry in traffic and cuss at the people doing stupid things and get all uptight. It didn't help and it didn't serve me. One day, I decided to stop it and just say to myself, "that's an interesting way to do that! I wouldn't have thought of doing it that way." With a bit of practice, I never get upset in traffic anymore. But, it wasn't the other drivers pushing my buttons, it was my reaction (my own emotions from my thinking) to what they did and I became upset (I upset myself). It was a stimulus-response scenario. Maybe I can't change the stimulus, but I know for certain that I can change the response, and I do that by changing my thoughts about it.
This is the way to change anything. Feeling stressful? We can change our thinking and our response the the stimulus that we were previously reacting automatically to. Same applies to anger, anxiety, unhappiness, or any other level of emotion. It may not be the "norm," but I don't need to follow the norm off the cliff, just because they are going that way, do I?
"Anxiety doesn't attack."
"The components of anxiety, stress, fear, and anger do not exist
independently of you in the world. They simply do not exist
in the physical world, even though we talk about them as if they do."
"Simply put, you believe that things or people make you unhappy,
but this is not accurate. You make yourself unhappy."
-- Dr. Wayne Dyer
We can certainly feel the emotions of anxiety, stress, fear, anger and unhappiness, but many, if not most of us, were taught that there is always something outside of ourselves to blame for this. People say, "it's so stressful at work," or "I don't need this extra stress!" or, "that guy sure knows how to push my buttons," and other such statements. It would seem by those statements that stress is being issued unevenly, or that it is running around looking for a victim to stress-out.
If we really think about these, it is easy to see that they don't really exist except as a response within ourselves to. . . not something or someone else, but from our own thinking. Something is said or experienced and we react to it. Maybe the reaction is automatic since we learned it so long ago, or sometimes we react in a way that we think is appropriate, even though in reality, we may not feel that way at all. For example, maybe someone is crying and showing sadness at a funeral, but they really don't feel that way if it weren't for the people around them expecting them to feel that way. It might be easier to just follow the "rules" though they may not be your own.
The analogy of "pushing my buttons," is a good way to see the action of these emotions, except it isn't someone else pushing our buttons, it is ourselves pushing them. I've said this before, but I used to get angry in traffic and cuss at the people doing stupid things and get all uptight. It didn't help and it didn't serve me. One day, I decided to stop it and just say to myself, "that's an interesting way to do that! I wouldn't have thought of doing it that way." With a bit of practice, I never get upset in traffic anymore. But, it wasn't the other drivers pushing my buttons, it was my reaction (my own emotions from my thinking) to what they did and I became upset (I upset myself). It was a stimulus-response scenario. Maybe I can't change the stimulus, but I know for certain that I can change the response, and I do that by changing my thoughts about it.
This is the way to change anything. Feeling stressful? We can change our thinking and our response the the stimulus that we were previously reacting automatically to. Same applies to anger, anxiety, unhappiness, or any other level of emotion. It may not be the "norm," but I don't need to follow the norm off the cliff, just because they are going that way, do I?
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Daily Inspiration - November 18, 2010
By Terry Minion -
Today is the final piece from the talk several days ago. Yesterday I discussed goals and how I've changed my thinking about goals dramatically. Today, I promised to expand on that and how to work with this new type of "goal."
First off, I don't think much of goals any more. I don't think they are motivators and I know that so many people think they are. It's okay to disagree. As I said, I've set hundreds, maybe thousands of goals over the years for myself and teams I've worked with. I've met a lot of goals, even exceeded some, and missed a much larger percentage of them.
Missing the goal is always a downer--and the closer you get to a goal and miss it, the worse that feels. I'll never forget missing a wonderful trip to Japan by missing the sale of two trucks. The goal was 50, and our team hit 48. Of course, 48 was a stupendous achievement considering, but it didn't help much. This is what I mean about goals not helping. The next time they come up, people are less interested, not more interested.
They've gone from a picture on the horizon to an expectation of achievement and a methodology of sorting the herd. I could go on and on with what I've studied and learned and experimented about goals, but suffice to say, I am not longer a fan of typical goals, and especially numeric goals.
One of the world's most celebrated management experts, W. Edwards Deming published his 14 points. It was designed for manufacturing and he was instrumental in helping Japan become a world economic power, but I think they make sense for sales teams, and any business really. In point number 10, he states, "Eliminate slogans, exhortations and targets for the work force." Point number 11 states, "Eliminate numerical quotas."
What you say? Eliminate numerical quotas in manufacturing? Yes. If they can be eliminated there to the benefit of the production, they can easily be eliminated in most other places. Besides, in my own experience, they are not helpful to say it mildly.
So, what to do? I said yesterday that I have now only one goal: to feel good. I am a joy seeker. What brings me joy? A sense of purpose is one, excellence is an other, innovation gets me giddy, laughter softens the sharp edges, effective leadership inspires me, mutual respect is a delight, I am ecstatic with encouragement, excited in enthusiasm, and serving the customer is my mantra.
All of these things are joy creators and all of these things will move the needle whereas numeric goals will not. In fact, numerical quotas are a joke compared to these other qualities, which are business builders. Henry Ford said it well twice: "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." and "A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large."
Deming suggested a few other ways in his points to help this change to success happen: Point number 1: "Create constancy of purpose for the improvement of product and service. and Point number 3: "Cease dependence on mass inspection." and Point number 5: "Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service." and Point number 7: "Institute leadership." and Point number 8: "Drive out fear." along with Point number 9: "Breakdown barriers between staff areas." and the last one I want to mention here: "Remove barriers to pride of workmanship." This last one speaks strongly to feeling good, as do the others.
As people feel good about what they do, where they do it, how they do it, the results of what they do cannot do anything but improve. That, after all, is the whole idea behind goals, isn't it? But, we cannot wait for our bosses, supervisors, spouses or whomever is on the outside of us to get around to learning this, so we do have the power to create all of this ourselves until they finally get it. We need to find ways to feel good ourselves first. The rest will come, or not, and it won't matter for we will have already made it.
"In the measurement world, we set a goal and strive to achieve it. In the universe of possibility, we set the context and let life unfold."
-- B Zander
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."
-- Peter Drucker
"None of our men are "experts." We have most unfortunately found it necessary to get rid of a man as soon as he thinks himself an expert because no one ever considers himself expert if he really knows his job.
A man who knows a job sees so much more to be done than he has done, that he is always pressing forward and never gives up an instant of thought to how good and how efficient he is. Thinking always ahead, thinking always of trying to do more, brings a state of mind in which nothing is impossible.
The moment one gets into the "expert" state of mind, a great number of things become impossible."
-- Henry Ford
Today is the final piece from the talk several days ago. Yesterday I discussed goals and how I've changed my thinking about goals dramatically. Today, I promised to expand on that and how to work with this new type of "goal."
First off, I don't think much of goals any more. I don't think they are motivators and I know that so many people think they are. It's okay to disagree. As I said, I've set hundreds, maybe thousands of goals over the years for myself and teams I've worked with. I've met a lot of goals, even exceeded some, and missed a much larger percentage of them.
Missing the goal is always a downer--and the closer you get to a goal and miss it, the worse that feels. I'll never forget missing a wonderful trip to Japan by missing the sale of two trucks. The goal was 50, and our team hit 48. Of course, 48 was a stupendous achievement considering, but it didn't help much. This is what I mean about goals not helping. The next time they come up, people are less interested, not more interested.
They've gone from a picture on the horizon to an expectation of achievement and a methodology of sorting the herd. I could go on and on with what I've studied and learned and experimented about goals, but suffice to say, I am not longer a fan of typical goals, and especially numeric goals.
One of the world's most celebrated management experts, W. Edwards Deming published his 14 points. It was designed for manufacturing and he was instrumental in helping Japan become a world economic power, but I think they make sense for sales teams, and any business really. In point number 10, he states, "Eliminate slogans, exhortations and targets for the work force." Point number 11 states, "Eliminate numerical quotas."
What you say? Eliminate numerical quotas in manufacturing? Yes. If they can be eliminated there to the benefit of the production, they can easily be eliminated in most other places. Besides, in my own experience, they are not helpful to say it mildly.
So, what to do? I said yesterday that I have now only one goal: to feel good. I am a joy seeker. What brings me joy? A sense of purpose is one, excellence is an other, innovation gets me giddy, laughter softens the sharp edges, effective leadership inspires me, mutual respect is a delight, I am ecstatic with encouragement, excited in enthusiasm, and serving the customer is my mantra.
All of these things are joy creators and all of these things will move the needle whereas numeric goals will not. In fact, numerical quotas are a joke compared to these other qualities, which are business builders. Henry Ford said it well twice: "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." and "A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large."
Deming suggested a few other ways in his points to help this change to success happen: Point number 1: "Create constancy of purpose for the improvement of product and service. and Point number 3: "Cease dependence on mass inspection." and Point number 5: "Improve constantly and forever the system of production and service." and Point number 7: "Institute leadership." and Point number 8: "Drive out fear." along with Point number 9: "Breakdown barriers between staff areas." and the last one I want to mention here: "Remove barriers to pride of workmanship." This last one speaks strongly to feeling good, as do the others.
As people feel good about what they do, where they do it, how they do it, the results of what they do cannot do anything but improve. That, after all, is the whole idea behind goals, isn't it? But, we cannot wait for our bosses, supervisors, spouses or whomever is on the outside of us to get around to learning this, so we do have the power to create all of this ourselves until they finally get it. We need to find ways to feel good ourselves first. The rest will come, or not, and it won't matter for we will have already made it.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Daily Inspiration - September 22, 2010
By Terry Minion -
"I don't feel old. I don't feel anything till noon. That's when it's time for my nap."
-- Bob Hope
"I'm saving that rocker for the day when I feel as old as I really am."
-- Dwight D Eisenhower
I think age is like any other circumstance or thing on which we place judgment.
Of course, these common things that we say to others and also say to ourselves are really affirmations. You are as old and tired as you decide you're going to be and that is it. Age has nothing to do with it. The mind doesn't age.
I'm a month or so away from 61 years of age and truly I feel 35. I act 35 (only wiser and smarter!). I feel great and I know it is just a decision to feel that way. I just decided many years ago that I wouldn't get any older than 35. I liked 35 and it was a sweet combination of maturity (some) and spunk. I just decided it was me and it still is today.
I remember asking an old man once how old he was in his head. He was 85 if I remember correctly, but he said that he felt 45. He decided the same thing and just chose a different time--and he looked and acted 45 with a few more wrinkles. I've now asked that question to old people many times and the responses are quite telling!
There is no rule that you must act your age, no matter what your mother used to tell you. Make up your own. Keep the one you like best and just live it!
I was in the bank yesterday making a deposit (I like deposits!) and an older lady came in and was walking slowly and uncomfortably. It wasn't busy and she didn't want to walk all the way around through the maze, and asked to come straight to the front and get behind me. I said, "sure. You can get in front of me if you like, I'm not in a hurry." She said, "No, that's okay, I'm just old and didn't want to walk all the way around." I said, "no problem." Then she said, "I'm 71 years old and when you're in your seventies, you have to expect to be tired and have problems." I looked at her and with a smile, replied, "Why?" She looked a bit puzzled because most people I'm sure just agree with her when she says that. Then, she said, "well, I don't know. . ." The conversation was over, but she wasn't getting any of that old and tired stuff from me.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Daily Inspiration - September 21, 2010
By Terry Minion -
-- Plato
Lighten up!
It's supposed to be fun!
"He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden."
-- Plato
Lighten up!
It's supposed to be fun!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Daily Inspiration - September 20, 2010 (Anthony Robins Week)
By Terry Minion -
"As I began to explore the power of vocabulary, I still found myself fighting the idea that something as simplistic as changing the words that we use could ever make such a radical difference in our life experience. But when my study of language intensified, I came across some surprising facts that began to convince me that words absolutely do filter and transform experience."
-- Anthony Robbins
from "Awaken The Giant Within"
Ever really listen to phrases or words that people use regularly? I remember listening to my parents and the phrases they used often. I picked them up and used them habitually myself until I was awakened to the power of those phrases. Many of you may even find some of these that I heard and picked up from your childhoods: When asked how you are doing? I would hear, "fair to midlin." When asked about money, I would hear, "do you think money grows on trees? or "we can't afford that." When asked about the weather, "it's yucky outside." As I look back and remember many of these phrases, I see that the vast majority of them are negative. Much of the focus was on what was wrong, what others were doing to us, and so on.
As I grew older and began really studying personal development, I started thinking about my own word choices, how often I used the f-word and more. Then, I got Awaken the Giant Within and it really opened my eyes to how to change your picture of things by changing your language.
Some of the first things I changed (even if I didn't actually feel it at the moment), was the most common responses, such as, when someone asks you, "how are you?" We know they don't really mean it, but I would shake things up a bit by saying something they didn't expect. I might say, "off-the-chart awesome! How about you?" I would make it extremely positive and put some emotion into it as well. It was fun and I still do it 25 years later, and the main benefit is that I changed and those statements became true.
I began changing other words that I commonly used. Tony has a couple of lists to make choices from to change the whole feeling from negative to positive, from lifeless to exciting and so on. In a chart on page 226, he changes a word confused into curious. I love this one: from pissed off to tinkled. I've used that one many times and especially talking to myself. Or this: from fear to wonderment, frightened to inquiring, frustrated to fascinated, hurt to dinged. Love the last one. Image this: "I'm so mad, she really hurt me" turned to this: "I'm so disenchanted, she really dinged me." It's laughable now. What a difference changing a few words makes to, as Tony calls it, your state, or your point of view.
Some people will think you've lost it. That's okay. It really wasn't worth having to me. Today, the weather is overcast and drizzly. Someone said to me that it was yucky today and I responded that I was excited and was absolutely loving this change. They stopped talking. What they wanted was agreement, but I cannot oblige them, or I would be back in that old way of thinking.
When people say that we don't create our own world, I have to heartily disagree. We do and we do it every minute of every day in some of the most taken for granted kind of ways using our habitual language and habitual thinking. What is really awesome to me about that realization is that if someone wants to change their world, it is so easy to do and changing some of the language we use will help begin the process. Try it for a week and see for yourself.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Daily Inspiration - August 30, 2010
By Terry Minion
"No rules exist, and examples are simply life-savers answering theappeals of rules making vain attempts to exist."
-- Andre Breton
"We started off trying to set up a small anarchist community,but people wouldn't obey the rules."
-- Alan Bennett
"No tendency is quite so strong in human nature
as the desire to lay down rules of conduct for other people."
-- William Howard Taft
There are rules and then there are rules . . . Think about it. Add up the number of rules that you have in your life right now. How about all the rules at work, the rules of etiquette, rules of taste and rules of conduct. Then there's the rules of law and the rules of the road and rules of right and wrong (conscience). OMG they go on forever, don't they?
How many do you break? How often? Who cares?
Breaking a rule and not getting caught is that like the sound of the tree in the forest when no one is there to hear it? Heck, I break the speed limit rules virtually every day of my life to one degree or five or six. You know, the safe zone. I've broken so many rules throughout my entire life that it would be scary to list them all.
Who cares? I know I don't care much. I suppose if I did, I would be more careful to not break them. Who made the rules, anyway? What is the meaning of all that?
The rules I break more often than any other rules is the most predominate rules on the planet: those made for my conduct by other people. I mean, really! What's with that!? Heck, I'm usually break those on purpose! It's like they deserve to be broken. Know what I mean? Where do they get off directing my conduct or thought?
So, my philosophy is that rules is a fluid concept. Maybe, maybe not. It depends.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Man Enough To Stand Alone
ByCraig DeLuz
Click Here to Listen
It's easy to do the popular thing. It's not always so easy to do the right ting. And it really becomes a challenge when the right ting and the popular thing are not the same thing.
When confronted with situations like this are you man enough to stand alone?
Click Here to Listen
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Will Smith's Wisdom
By Craig DeLuz
To sum this video up: Will Smith believes that hard work, commitment, focus and faith are the keys to his success.
To sum this video up: Will Smith believes that hard work, commitment, focus and faith are the keys to his success.
Daily Inspiration August 18, 2010
By Terry Minion
"The entrepreneur in us sees opportunities everywhere we look, but many people see only problems everywhere they look. The entrepreneur in us is more concerned with discriminating between opportunities than he or she is with failing to see the opportunities."
-- Michael Gerber
"I was just pursuing what I enjoyed doing. I mean, I was pursuing my passion."
-- Pierre Omidyar
I love these two quotes together. Michael Gerber, one of the world's foremost business entrepreneur leaders and Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay.
Like Pierre says. . . I was just hangin' out and doing what I love to do. . . discriminate between all the opportunities I see around me. Yes. Indeed, there are opportunities everywhere when you believe that and of course there are none when you believe that, so everyone gets what they believe.
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