Thought of the Night

After a very long few weeks of travel and long, long work days, I am finally able to take a break.  I was thinking about how some people will say “all is well,” and “I’m not upset” but they are just lip action.  I think that some people say those things without really thinking.  I say this because some of them will complain about everything under the sun and state how furious they are with someone or something that is going on.  What I have learned is that what you focus on expands.  The more time we spend saying how bad things are, how frustrated we are or how everything seems to turn out wrong, the more of those things we don’t want are destined to be attracted to us.

Try this the next time you catch yourself saying something negative repeatedly.  Say, “I release the need for this to be important in my life.”  That’s it.  Simple isn’t it?  The next step is to STOP fueling the negative energy by not talking about it anymore.  Then watch as the struggles start to disintegrate. 

Well, that’s my thought for the night.  I hope you enjoy!
Peace, love and positivity,
Bill

US Post Office Sweetness

If you have been following my previous posts about the post office, what happened today will be of no surprise.  In case you haven’t been following, here’s a quick summary.  For as many years as I can remember, going to the post office has been a pain for me.  Long lines, long wait times, and often unfriendly attendants to boot.  Well, I decided that if it is true what I teach, “What you think about, you bring about”, then I should eliminate those problems.  So, I decided to do that.  Picture nice short lines, friendly attendants, and an overall good experience.

Today was no different.  I needed to drop off something at the post office at lunch and the second I thought about it, my thoughts said something like this: “Ouch! This is one of the worst times to go.  They will be shorthanded and I could end up wasting a half hour there.”  Then I changed my thoughts by picturing an empty line and to be completed in less than 3 minutes.  I focused on all my previous successes and was in a good mood when I arrived. 

Sure enough, two of the normal three attendants were on lunch break much as I originally thought.  Imagine my grin when there wasn’t a single person in line.  SA-WEET!  In and out in less than 3 minutes!  Once again, as I turned to walk out a line was forming.  Not a big line but at least 4-5 people in line.  I tell you, it happens EVERY time now.  What a SWEET change to eliminate that old STINKIN’ belief that the experience is always negative.

I’m not sure you believe these “coincidences” I have had at the post office and that’s OK.  I’m not quite sure I understand 100% myself, and I really don’t have to.  All I know is that this happens every single time since I changed my thoughts.  I can’t say exactly what cosmic forces are going on behind the scenes to make this happen but I get the exact same results 100% of the time when I change my negative thoughts to positive. 

Imagine how many times we put limiting beliefs on ourselves unnecessarily.  Not anymore!  Change your awareness.  Focus on what you want to happen.  Then reap the rewards of success.

With peace and gratitude,
Bill

What is Happiness?


This month, my Positive Pathways newsletter explores happiness.  It examines the meaning and the effects of happiness on us.  It will be going out on Thursday, June 24th so be sure to sign up for Positive Pathways on our list.

As I was searching for happiness quotes, here are some that I did not make it into the newsletter:
“Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get.” Ingrid Bergman 
 
“Happiness is a byproduct of an effort to make someone else happy.” Gretta Brooker Palmer

“The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” Thucydides 
 
“The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.” Epictetus 
 
“Much more happiness is to be found in the world than gloomy eyes discover.” Friedrich Nietzsche 
 
“No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change.” santiz Barbara De Angelis 
 
With peace and happiness!
Bill

Daily Positive Points

Here’s a message from one of our Daily Positive Points emails from earlier this week:

Today’s Message
There is a hidden gem in every setback we have.  Instead of ignoring it, we should study it as if there were going to be a quiz on it in the near future.  If we ignore it, it will be destined to repeat.  So let’s acknowledge it now, find the hidden message, and move past the negative energy by leaving it behind for good.
 
Today’s Quote
“Never walk away from failure. On the contrary, study it carefully and imaginatively for its hidden assets.” Michael Korda (Novelist who was editor-in-chief of Simon & Schuster, b.1933)

3D Solution

Determination.  Dedication.  Discipline.  When these three ingredients are combined, success is just about guaranteed.  When we have determination, we come to a decision to attempt something.  Determination gets us started but what keeps us going?  You got it, dedication.  As we put more and more focus on our goals, we become dedicated to seeing it through.  This means that when we experience the first setback, we don’t just give up.  We keep moving forward. 

That brings us to the final “D” in the 3D Solution, Discipline.  With discipline, we accept the setback for what it is and set up new ways to deal with future setbacks.  Discipline keeps us focused on our end result but discipline without determination and dedication, we wouldn’t be nearly as successful.  Combine all three and we have got ourselves one serious solution to meeting life’s opportunities.

With peace and gratitude,
Bill

Hardwood Heroes

Picture this.  You are sitting on the bench during the NBA Finals.  Your team is down 25 points with 5 minutes left in game 7.  The coach, deciding to give up, calls your name.  He wants to clear the bench so everyone gets a chance to play.  As a 46 year old rookie, this could be your final game.  You step on the court and drain a 3 pointer from the corner.  Next time down the court, you drain another one.  You have now made 7 in a row, and your team is charging back.  The coach is in complete shock but doesn’t change up the line up because it is working.  You now have made 10 of 13 three pointers for 30 points, and your team is within 3 points with 8 seconds left.  The ball comes to you, and you drill it from deep in the corner as time runs out.  Tied score!

In overtime, you drill your first 2 – 3 pointers, and the game is back and forth.  Now there are 3 seconds left, your team has the ball, and you are down 2 points.  You get open in the corner again.  The ball comes to you, and the buzzer goes off just as the ball slips off your fingertips.  The entire area is in complete silence.  Everything seems to be in slow motion.  The whole world is watching and holding their breath. 

The ball approaches the rim and SWOOSH!  Nothing but net!  You throw your arms in the air, make a fist, and scream YES!  You just won the NBA championship, scored 39 points, and were awarded the MVP.  SA-WEET!

Well, this was just how my day started.  I worked out at the gym, and after I was done stretching, I shot some hoops for at least an hour.  This was just one of the games I won this morning.  In doing so, it reminded me of the times when I would shoot basketball nearly every night as a kid and play imaginary games in my head.  I would practice for hours and hours.  After my game-winning shot, I felt great.  I had lots of energy and was able to get a lot accomplished today.

Sometimes having fun is just the ticket to improve your emotional state.  Through visualization, I was transported to a victorious state where anything was possible.  It’s kind of like life, you know.  First you think it.  Then you say it.  First you think it.  Then you do it.  First you think it.  Then you achieve it.

With peace and loads of gratitude,

Bill

Daily Positive Points – Compassion

I thought today’s message was a good day to post my Daily Positive Points email.  Below is the message and you can sign up for FREE at idontstink.com.  These messages are delivered Monday thru Friday in the morning as a way to get your day started off on a positive note. 

Today’s Message
Compassion is a powerful tool that transforms lives.  Rather than get disgusted, frustrated or angry at a fellow person, choose compassion instead. Say this right now: “Today, I will focus on seeing from the other person’s point of view.”  The moment something happens that creates an instant reaction from you, stop yourself and repeat the statement again.  When you do this, you are certain to be less likely to act in an unloving fashion.
 
Note: Today’s exercise comes from 7 Days to Inner Peace, Building Block 6: Compassion 

Today’s Quote
“Three quarters of the miseries and misunderstandings in the world would finish if people were to put on the shoes of their adversaries and understood their points of view.” Mahatma Gandhi (Indian Philosopher, internationally esteemed for his doctrine of nonviolent protest, 1869-1948)

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

Positive Quotes – Sunday

I thought you might like a few positive quotes for your Sunday. 

“Hope is the companion of power, and mother of success; for who so hopes strongly has within him the gift of miracles.” Samuel Smiles (Scottish author, 1812-1904)

“To need nothing is divine, and the less a man needs the nearer does he approach to divinity.” Socrates (Ancient Greek Philosopher, 470 BC-399 BC)

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Brian Tracy (American television host)

“If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person’s point of view and see things from that person’s angle as well as from your own.” Henry Ford (American industrialist and pioneer of the assembly-line production method, 1863-1947)

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman (American Theologian, Clergyman and Activist. 1900-1981)

With peace and gratitude,

Bill

Get Out of Bed

One thing I have learned is that when my head tells me to stay in bed and not go to the gym in the morning, that is a sure sign for me to do just that. This morning I wasn’t feeling very well and had just about talked myself in to sleeping a little longer. I quickly realized that it was my que to get up and get going. I went to the gym and after only a few reps, I felt 100% better. By the time I got back home, I was ready to rock and roll! Had I stayed in bed, I would have more than likely been sluggish all day.  Instead, I got a lot accomplished and actually still going at it tonight.  So, the next time you don’t want to get out of bed, ignore it and go get some exercise.  Or, at minimum, take 10 minutes and give gratitude to everything in your life.  You can do that, right?

With peace and gratitude,

Bill

Louise Hay’s Affirmation Book

In this delightful book, Experience Your Good Now!, Louise L. Hay discusses the power and importance of affirmations and shows you how to apply them right now! Within these pages, Louise discusses specific topics and concerns (health, fearful emotions, addictions, prosperity issues, love and intimacy, and more) and presents exercises that show you how to make beneficial changes to virtually every area of your life. On the enclosed CD, Louise offers you helpful information about affirmations that you can also use to your benefit.

In celebration of the release of Experience Your Good Now!, Louise and Hay House are giving away a spot on their next cruise to the Caribbean in January 2011! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to spend a week with some of your favorite Hay House authors! SHARE with your friends to earn extra entries. Additional Details: www.experienceyourgoodnow.com