, ,

Life is a Journey

Earlier today I was watching a YouTube Video of Srikumar Rao and he was discussing how to be happy.  He went on to state that we often put all our efforts in the outcome instead of the process.  But the interesting point is that we do not have control over the outcomes.  However, we do have control over the actions we take.  It is when we give our best at achieving what we want, more often than not, we will have a positive outcome.

Life is a journey.  Everything we do, see, and including what we think is a journey.  If you are at work complaining about your job, that is a journey.  If you watch 2-3 hours of television, that too is a journey.  The bigest question to ask yourself, “Is this the journey I want.”  Once we start making different choices in what we think, what we say and what we do, we are almost guaranteed to experience more outcomes that are to our liking.

With peace and gratitude,
Bill

Daily Positive Points

Today’s Message
What you heal in your Self heals others.  What you repair in your relationships restores generations of hatred.  And what you do to create your own happiness creates a rippling joy throughout the world.  Click here to checkout Friday’s positive Video.

Today’s Quote
“The ego creates the deadening illusion that we are separate entities, islands unto ourselves that literally have no connection to the world around us.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  The ultimate spiritual realization has always been that all is One.” ~Andrew Cohen

Daily Positive Points

Today’s Message
the world we see is a mirror image of what is within us.  If we look for things that displease us, chances are that is what we will experience.  However, the opposite is true.  If we look for peace, love, and happiness, we will tend to see the beauty that is around us all the time.

Today’s Quote
“Look at the world with the vision of peace, love, and compassion. Then the whole world will appear loving and peaceful.” Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian Spiritual leader, b.1926)

,

SKUNKED!!!

Earlier this week, our pet Rooney was sprayed by a skunk in our front yard.  She immediately ran inside, rolled around on one of our rugs and then ran upstairs and did the same thing in a few rooms before I was able to pick her ups and put her in the tub.  The result was not only a dog sprayed with skunk but also a house that REEKED of skunk STENCH!   We didn’t get a good look at the Stanker but history tells me it was probably Stanky! 

I believe that all accidents and coincidences happen for a reason.  After a few days of trying every solution possible, we still had a house that smelled like skunk.  It was horrible.  I started thinking about the meaning of all this and the fact that I have a website with the main character being skunks but nothing came to mind.  It wasn’t until I was steam-cleaning the infected rooms did I realize what the meaning might be.  Each time I emptied the dirty, filty water from the steam cleaner I realized that on the surface everything looks clean and fine.  However, when you go below the surface, a lot of dirt gets trapped and you don’t see it.  I decided to steam clean the entire house an boy, there was a lot of dirt gathered.  The lesson in all this: you have to periodically clean your house or your self of negative STINKIN’ thoughts.  This whole incident has caused me to look deeper in situations that on the surface appear fine.  It was actually a liberating experience although quite painful at first.

So, what do I do about Stanky?  Should I write him out of my latest book, STINKIN’ THINKIN’ STINKS?  I think not.  I need to forgive the skunk that sprayed Rooney but also give thanks to him for the opportunity to cleanse my house and be reminded to look below the surface.  Stanky, THANK YOU!

With Peace and Gratitude,
Bill

Daily Positive Points

Today’s Message
Comparing ourselves to others only proves that we have a need to judge.  They offer zero positive benefits and often create conflicts in our relationships of others.  Today, the moment you have a positive or negative comparison thought, try this.  Say the following, “I am perfect just the way I am.  I am a powerful, positive person.  Since I am what I think, I choose to think I am SA-WEETNESS all over.”

Today’s Quote
“If we find ourselves always coming out on the positive or negative end of comparisons, we may eventually develop strong feelings of loneliness and isolation. This occurs because others (consciously or unconsciously) sense our assessment and, at some level, pick up on our belief of better than or less than. With either belief, we are inviting conflict or submission in our relationships. In such a case, intimacy never develops fully.

“Taking it a step further; if we compare ourselves to others, we are demonstrating a value driven by a desire to be the same as or different from someone else. Given that forward progress on our life’s journey requires discovering and valuing the true self (as we are) we can only imagine how much comparison can slow us down. The negative ego strategy of comparison limits the future by allowing others to dictate it. In other words, when we look to others for assessment of ourselves, we are, in essence, at the mercy o f their level of functioning.

“Confronting the negative ego and diminishing its effects can result in us being more fully present in our interactions with others as well as with our selves. In a sense, when we are successful in separating out the negative ego messages, we become the observer of our thoughts and take responsibility for them. This requires courage on our part to be in the moment. When we empower ourselves to be fully present in this way, we disempower the negative ego.” Exerpt from Who Am I?  How Do I Find Me  (Meda Killgore, Therapist and Author)

BONUS: Meda is offering you an incredible meditation for free.  Click here to download this forgiveness meditation.

Daily Positive Points

Last Friday’s Message
“Find comfort in the arms of grace.  Let go of the illusion you hold on to that you’re in control.  Let God be God.  We’re only passengers on this crazy voyage called life.  Take 5 today to watch the great video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CZ0XJqWRr4. 

Quote
“When you realize you’re not in control of this, then you normally start doing what’s right.” – Betty Williams (Nobel laureate)

Believe it.  See it.  LOVE it!
With peace and gratitude,
Bill

Daily Positive Points

Today’s Message
We are not perfect, nor should we be. It seems like most of us focus more on our imperfections than the things we do well. It’s kind of like Monday’s message in that the more we focus on something negative, the easier it is to spiral out of control. Acknowledge the negative aspects about yourself but focus on the positive things you bring to the plate. And today, you are some kind of SA-WEET!

Today’s Quote
“Being at peace with ourselves is not about denying or rejecting any part of ourselves. On the contrary, in order to be at peace, we must be willing and able to hold ourselves, in all our complexity, in a full embrace that excludes nothing. This is perhaps the most difficult part for many of us, because we want so much to disown the negative aspects of our humanity. Ironically, though, true peace begins with a willingness to take responsibility for our humanity so that we might ultimately transform it in the light of our love.” Learning to Live (Madisyn Taylor, author, co-founder and editor in chief of the website, www.dailyom.com)

Believe it. See it. Love it!

With peace and gratitude,
Bill

Note: To get positive, daily messages sent every business day of the week, click in the “Join Our Email List” link at the top of every page of my website, idontstink.com.

Daily Positive Points

Today’s Message
When we are at work, we create a lot of “what if” scenarios.  Should something go wrong, we have the process and procedures to deal with them.  So, why not try the same thing in your personal life.  Create a plan of action when negative thinking runs rampant or when an emotional crisis breaks out.  See below for a new kind of first-aid kit from Cheryl Richardson. 
 
 Today’s Quote
“An Extreme Self-Care First-Aid Kit is a well-prepared plan of action put in place before you need to use it.  It consists of things you can do on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level that will give you comfort, connection, and a feeling of steadiness while navigating the rough waters of a crisis.  When faced with a difficult period, what matters most is that you return to the behaviors and practices that reflect Extreme Self-Care as quickly as possible, so you can restore yourself to sanity and strength.  That way, you’ll bring your best, most resourceful self to the challenge at hand.” The Art of Extreme Self-Care (Cheryl Richardson, New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and coach)

Love and gratitude,
Bill

,

Battle Within

An old Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, “A battle is raging inside me … it is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”

The old man fixed the children with a firm stare. “This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”

They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee replied: “The one you feed.”

Daily Positive Points – Louise Hay

Today’s Message
Repetition and practice helps us master lots of things.  That cannot be more true than for positive thinking.  If we practice it just a little every day, our outcomes will definitely be more positive.  This occurs because what we focus on expands.  As we focus on positive thoughts, the negative, self-limiting ones dissipate. 
 
Today’s Quote
“I discovered that learning the computer was very much like learning the Spiritual Laws.  When I learned the computer laws, then she did indeed perform ‘magic’ for me.  When I did not follow her laws to the letter, then either nothing would happen or it would not work the way I wanted it to work.  She would not give an inch.  I could get as frustrated as I wanted while she patiently waited for me to learn her laws, and then she gave me magic.  It took practice.”  You Can Heal Your Life, (Louise Hay, Author, Professional Speaker, & Publisher, b.1926)