Motivational Newsletter 2/25/09

"Pay attention to what's good about your life. Rather than worrying about what you don't have, Seek to make the best of all the good things you do have. There are a lot of things right with your life. Give your attention to them and they will grow!"

~ Ralph S. Marston, Jr.~

It helps us to remember that we have so many blessings and things right with our lives - and by focusing on those things, paying attention to them, helps keep our few minor and some huge disappointments or struggles in proper proportion. It helps us keep perspective. When we focus on "the good," when we actively maintain our gratitude journals, when we greet the day with expectation, we attract and nourish the good in our lives. Likewise, when we focus on the bad, when we maintain lists filled with stressors and greet each day with trepidation, we nourish the negative in our lives.

You are the gardener of your life. What crop will you choose to nourish?

Your turn:

Print a copy of this quote and post it where your family will see it often. Create a gratitude journal as a family, encouraging each member to list a few things they are grateful for each day (or make this part of the dinner routine).

Your affirmation:

"I nourish the positive in my life, with both thought and action!"

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Life Improvement Tips

Creating a Gratitude Journal

2.25.09 Today I am grateful for ___________________ .

As I write the above line, I wonder, "What is my answer?" My first thought is, "I am grateful for today." Then I realize there are so many people, places and things for which I am grateful.
Everyday the list grows. Everyday there are things that happen to us, and for us, that make us grateful. Sometimes, we even find, that after the passage of time, we become grateful. Take time today, tomorrow, and the next day to think about for what or whom you are grateful. Then write it down in your journal.

Or maybe send a letter or a card, with dates and experiences to that person.
You can start keeping a journal where you date and write in daily, weekly, or monthly about what you are grateful for, why and the circumstances that created the gratitude.

This becomes a story and record of your feelings and warm experiences of what you have given, and also what you have received. You can also create individual gratitude journals for your spouse, your children, parents, a friend, etc., that you journal in for a period of time.

You can write about them sharing what you are grateful for about them. Get a new journal to use for this purpose only. Pick a colored pen or several colors. You can express your feelings with certain colors, green for a growth memory, blue for peaceful times, you decide what each color means and note that in the front of the journal.

Date each entry and describe events, memories, or thoughts that you have about that person.

Describe what they have given you, what you have observed, what you wish for them. Tell them about how grateful you are for them in your life, and why. This becomes a treasured keepsake and a priceless gift. Telling someone you are grateful for them in your life, for what they have done, for who they are is a very powerful expression of caring and love.

Telling a stranger who has given you something, directions, good service, a smile, that you are grateful for what they have done and given you is another form of connection.

Spread the idea of gratitude. You may see something on TV or read about someone. Send them an email or letter of appreciation for who they are, what they stand for, or for what they have done.

Today I am grateful for ___________________ fill-in this blank with what your are grateful for.

For Example - My self, my children, family, work, future, my recovery, etc. As I was thinking about what I am grateful for, I of course thought of my some of my clients. So, I decided to email and ask what they were grateful for. I asked them if I could also share their responses with you, and here they are:

"Today I am grateful that I get to spend time with my children."

"Today I am thankful for a generous heart that loves to spill over to others - and is constantly replenished by my beautiful family."

"Today I am Grateful for the joy of friends. Today I am grateful for the light in the eyes of my friends. Today I am grateful for the roses in my garden. I am so very grateful I met you."

"Today I am grateful that I can continually forgive myself. I can forgive myself for judging myself harshly when things don't turn out just the way I was attached to them turning out. I can forgive myself when I am disappointed that I didn't speak up and say exactly how I felt about a situation. I can forgive myself because when I did speak up, it didn't come out of my mouth the way my mind thought it would. All in all, I am very grateful that I am me. I wouldn't want to be anyone else in the whole world - and that's gratitude!"

"Today I am grateful for a wife, 4 children and a daughter-in-law who are all working hard to find out what it is their Savior would have them do in life and then do it."

"Today I am grateful for another experience of realizing that I am, indeed, safe and provided for."

"I am grateful for days, like today, when my gratitude gallops gleefully ahead of me and I have to skip to keep up with it, instead of haul it behind me like a wagon load of manure, hoping it will carry its own weight - by tomorrow."

"I am very grateful for the healing work that I do. I work long, hard hours, but I really enjoy helping people feel better. How many people can say that they love their work or feel that they are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing?"

"Today, I am grateful for a Loving God who nurtures me. I am grateful for my 89 year old Mother who has cared for me and is still vibrant, helpful, and alive. I am grateful for my Granddaughter Hayley who holds my hand, trusts me, and I know loves me somewhere in her very special heart. I am grateful for good health which sustains me. I am grateful for my friends and acquaintances who care about me and bring so much joy into my life. And, finally, I am grateful for libraries, and the Internet, and transportation which constantly open new vistas in my horizon and let me appreciate this vast world and its infinite knowledge and power available to all those who are curious enough and ambitious enough to embrace them."

"Today I am grateful for gentle friends, and a loving Heavenly Father."

"Today I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life who challenge me to think differently."

"The scent of freshly cut grass coming through my open windows."

"Today I am grateful for opening my eyes to see my husband on my side and my pug at my feet. I am grateful to look out my bedroom windows to see another day full of possibility as the sun slowly warms up my sweet backyard alive with quail, doves, hummingbirds, rabbits and all kinds of natures noises. I am grateful to feel my breath as it wanders through my body waking me up. I am grateful that I have one more day to enjoy, and be amazed, and be involved with life. And I am very grateful that I can go through another day full of awe and gratitude."

"Today, I am grateful for my life, health, and for my mother still being alive."

"I'm grateful for the support of many, many wonderful friends in the community."

What are you grateful for?

If you would like to share your phrases of gratitude, simply send an e-mail to nyman@consultant.com. Your phrases will be posted on the Newsletter Blog at:
http://nymannewsletter.blogspot.com/

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Quote of the Week

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.!"

~ Albert Schweitzer ~

Motivational Newsletter 2/18/09

"When we can't access our inner resources, we come to the flawed conclusion that happiness and fulfillment come only from external events!"

~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~

I don't know about you, but I have made this mistake before. I have spent time continually looking for happiness in the external. The problem with that search is that our happiness becomes co-dependent. Instead of having a well to draw on from within, we require external events to "lift us up." Not only is that unfair to the events or people we are relying upon, it is unfair to ourselves because the happiness we create is conditional!

We all deserve unconditional joy and happiness within our own heart. We deserve to have that sense of peace internally, regardless of what is happening around us. The intensity of that happiness might fluctuate with what our external world offers, but it is there nonetheless.

Sarah is very accurate in her assessment. When we can't (or choose not to) access our inner resources, is when we look to the external to "fill us up." Since we can't figure out how to create the reality we need, we turn to others and ask or expect them to do it for us.

To break out of that mold, we have to access our inner resources. We have to learn the skills to turn our questions inward instead of outward. We have to accept responsibility that happiness begins right where we are, not outside of where we are.

How do we do this? There are many things in life we can't or don't control, but we do control our attitude and our perceptions. After we accept that fact, we create a space in our life to access those inner resources. We create quiet time, reflection time. We engage in activities that promote self-awareness, self-discovery, and self-reflection. We feed our souls with positive affirmations and positive people. We turn away and don't accept the negative into our thoughts and perceptions.

We embrace that which nurtures us, we reject the rest.

Your turn:

Get out your calendar and schedule in a space for self-reflection and self-discovery. Choose to look inward versus outward in order to begin discovering lasting joy in your daily life!

Your affirmation:

"Within me is everything I need to experience lasting joy!"

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Life Improvement Tips

There is a Hero inside YOU!

Last night, before wrapping up my evening, I watched the last few singers of 'American Idol', and I was very touched by the story of one of the favorites - Danny Gokey.

Just one month before he audiotionned for the 'American Idol', he lost his beautiful wife Sophia Linnette.

Did he give up? No, in contrary, this tragedy made him so strong that he formed a Non-Profit Organization in the name of his wife ('Sophia's Heart') and presented himself at the audition for 'American Idol' where he currently seems to be one of the favorites.

I was so touched by his song 'Hero' (Mariah Carey) and the message Danny addressed at the end of his song.

He encouraged everyone to look inside and to discover their own hero - no matter what tragedy life lays in front of you!

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'Hero' by Mariah Carey


There's a hero If you look inside your heart.

You don't have to be afraid Of what you are.

There's an answer If you reach into your soul,

And the sorrow that you know Will melt away

And then a hero comes along

With the strength to carry on,

And you cast your fears aside,

And you know you can survive.

So when you feel like hope is gone:

Look inside you and be strong, And you'll finally see the truth,

That a hero lies in you.

It's a long road When you face the world alone.

No one reaches out a hand For you to hold.

You can find love If you search within yourself,

And the emptiness you felt Will disappear.

And then a hero comes along, With the strength to carry on,

And you cast your fears aside,

And you know you can survive.

So when you feel like hope is gone,

Look inside you and be strong,

And you'll finally see the truth: That a hero lies in you!

Lord knows Dreams are hard to follow.

But don't let anyone Tear them away.

Hold on! There will be tomorrow.

In time, You'll find the way

And then a hero comes along,

With the strength to carry on,

And you cast your fears aside,

And you know you can survive!

So when you feel like hope is gone,

Look inside you and be strong,

And you'll finally see the truth: That a hero lies in you!

***

Sometimes, we don't give us credit enough for the strength that really lies within you. Trust yourself more! Look always ahead of you and concentrate on what you want - don't dwell on the problem!

And as Mariah and Danny say:

There's a Hero inside YOU!

***

Quote of the Week

"My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life!"

~ Miles Davis ~

Motivational Newsletter 2/11/09

"Courage is only an accumulation of small steps!"
~ George Konrad~

I thought this quote is a great reminder of what courage is and how we develop it. Many of us would like to feel more confident about our approach and about the steps that we take. Many of us would like to feel that when faced with adversity, we act in courageous ways. Many of us would like to feel that we have a strong "center" within that guides are actions. Konrad's quote offers the simple formula for developing courage. Courage is within reach for all of us.

We build courage not by taking risks, but by taking steps. As we take small steps forward in our lives, we build confidence. We master the art of taking the small step. Then we can take a little bigger step, and then a little bigger step. Courage is the art of moving forward instead of standing still in indecision.

Your turn:

What were you avoiding lately? I encourage you this week to take one situation in your life and take it to the next level by making a clear decision and following through with courage!

Your affirmation:

"I am courageous. Each day I challenge myself to be my personal best!"

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Life Improvement Tips

Life Changes Equals Increased Self Confidence

The path to self-confidence can be complicated and involved. While it may be possible to become more confident with a few small changes in how you think, in many cases, you're going to have to delve a little deeper and make larger changes in your life to achieve greater confidence.

One vital step to improving your self-confidence is to remove all the negative influences and naysayers from your life.


You will never gain a better view of yourself and your positive attributes if someone is constantly putting you down, making fun of you, making you do things you aren't proud of, or being abusive. If someone is actually abusive, remove yourself from the situation as quickly as possible.

Get professional help if necessary. If someone is simply being unkind and uncaring, talking about it may help. Sit down with the other person and have an honest discussion with her about how you feel. Tell the other person how much it hurts you to hear her make derogatory comments about you. She may try to laugh it all off as a joke, but persist in saying that you are being serious about the issue. It may be difficult to let someone go if they have been your friend for years, or even worse, if you're married to them. In the end, though, your self-confidence is worth more than a broken relationship, isn't it?
Once you've removed others' negativity from your life, it's time to sit down and have a good look at your own negative thoughts.

Are you your own worst enemy?

Do you constantly tell yourself that you're not good enough, smart enough or pretty enough to accomplish your goals?

Do you compare yourself to impossible standards, like millionaires and movie stars?

Do you put yourself down for making even the simplest mistakes?

Do you let nagging doubts keep you from doing something you really want to do?


Remove these defeatist thoughts from your mind for an instant confidence boost.
If your job is weighing down your self-confidence, then it may be time for a career change. If your problem is with your boss or the overall corporate climate, then you may just need to change jobs. If you dread coming to work because you hate the more fundamental aspects of your position like the job duties, it may be time to look into entering a completely different field.
If you feel like you can't leave your job because you don't have the necessary skills to find a new position, seriously consider the possibility of going back to school. Whether you need to earn a G.E.D. or an MBA, enrolling in classes will give you the skills you need to go farther in your career while also building your confidence.

Do you live within your means?

How much credit card debt you have may seem irrelevant to the issue of your self-confidence, but it's hard to feel confident when you're living paycheck to paycheck. Make a budget, see a credit counselor, take on a part-time job or whatever else you might need to do to escape from the looming shadow of money problems.

If your weight is making you feel less confident than you'd like, exercising is an obvious choice for change, along with introducing a sensible diet. Losing weight won't instantly lead to confidence if you're not otherwise happy about yourself, though, so make sure it's only one facet of your plan for change.

Exercising can build confidence through setting and achieving goals. Whether you want to lose a certain number of pounds, run a 10K race, or just make it up the stairs without feeling winded, when you reach that goal, you'll feel good about yourself. Extended exercising releases endorphins, biological chemicals that are known for producing the "runner's high." They simply make you feel good.

There are many roads to increased self-confidence, but all of them start with committing to some positive changes in your life.

Take an honest look at your life and take the first steps today!

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Quote of the Week

"My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life!"

~ Miles Davis ~

Motivational Newsletter 2/4/09

Thank you for visiting my 'Motivational Newsletter' Blog! Due to the high request, I put my Weekly Motivational Newsletter back on the Blog - just in case you missed one of my e-mails...

"Do or do not. There is no 'try'!"
~ Yoda ~

Let us spring into action, taking practical steps forward toward the personal goals we have set for ourselves this year. As I have been working in the goal group and with other challengers over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed how engrained the concept of "trying" is -- but how we don't speak in the affirmative with the same confidence. The truth is - most of us our great at setting goals - experts in fact. We've done it a thousand times. What we aren't so great at is reaching them. In order to influence reaching our goals, we have to follow Yoda's wisdom: we have to build a plan and DO!

Your turn:

What practical steps will you take to reach your goals this year? Break it down into a weekly plan. Make the steps realistic, measurable and manageable. You can reach your goals in 2009 - but you must "DO."

Your affirmation:

"I do what it takes to reach my goals!"

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Life Improvement Tips

Start Living in Prime Time

Prime time is that period between 6 and 10 p.m. during which most of the general public watches television. Commercials in prime time are the most expensive, approaching over a million dollars per minute.


Your real success in life will take a quantum leap when you stop watching other people making money in their professions performing in prime time, and start living your own dreams and goals in prime time. Time is the ultimate equal opportunity employer. Time never stops to rest, never hesitates, never looks forward or backward.

Life's raw material spends itself in the now, this moment, which is why how you spend your time is far more important than all the material possessions you may own or positions you may obtain.

Positions change, possessions come and go, you can earn more money. You can renew your supply of many things, but like good health, that other most precious resource, time spent is gone forever.

Each yesterday, and all of them together, are beyond your control. Literally all the money in the world can't undo or redo a single act you performed. You cannot erase a single word you said. You can't add an "I love you," "I'm sorry", or "I forgive you", not even a "thank you" you forgot to say. Each human being in every hemisphere and time zone has precisely 168 hours a week to spend. And some of the most precious hours occur in prime time.

Consider this: most of your daytime hours are spent helping other people solve their problems. The little time you have in the evenings and on weekends is all you have to spend on yourself, on your own dreams and goals, and personal development.


Some thoughts to ponder:

· Have supper with your loved ones at least two to three times per week. It's the best time for casual conversation to listen to what those close to you feel is important in their lives. Mealtime is a time to dialogue.

· A television set is an appliance. It should be used, at most, for two hours at a time. It should be off, unless specific programs of interest are selected. It should not be used as a one-eyed baby sitter. For the most part, TV exposes us to negative role models.
· Instead of watching television why not read a good fiction or non-fiction book, write a letter, engage in a hobby or craft, call a friend or someone in need of encouragement on the phone, network on your computer, go out to an ethnic restaurant, a home show, an entrepreneurial show, a musical recital, a play, a fitness class, or cultural event. Take an art or photography class. Use prime time to live the kind of life others put on layaway.

Action Idea: If you and your family/friends watch TV, try not turning it on for one week. When you do watch TV, reduce by 50% the amount of time you spend watching it. Concentrate your evenings and free time engaged in hands on, real life experiences, you can touch, feel, smell and engage all your senses in. Instead of virtual reality, insist on the real thing.

~ Denis Waitley ~

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Career Tips 101


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