ARE YOUR SIGHTS TOO LOW FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 63

Too often in life for a variety of reasons parents, teachers, supervisors, and even we set our expectations too low.  A physically handicapped person may not be expected to achieve his highest level of performance because the persons setting the expectations think the handicap will prevent success.  A child with an un-diagnosed learning disability or health condition may be treated as if she does not have the potential for success and is viewed as a problem child. As people age and lose strength it does not mean for many that they are no longer intelligent or interested in life around them, but family members or paid caregivers can start to treat them as if their mental acuity has been lost.  If we ourselves have had too many disappointments in life or if we have not had the nurturing and encouragement so important to all of us, it is very easy to lower the bar for ourselves in terms of grades, standards, achievements, behaviors, goals, performance, health, and so we never know to what heights we might have risen.

Today's message is to encourage you to raise the bar in your own life, and you may just surprise everyone when you:

DEFY EXPECTATIONS!

GIVE YOURSELF AN INFUSION OF JOY - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 62

Do you have days that seem a bit blah?  Are you bored?  Are you harried ?  Are you tired?  We all have days like that from time to time, but there are things you can do to lift your spirits (and the spirits of others at the same time).  It is as simple as using your phone to call someone you have not talked with recently or with whom you speak frequently.  Friendship and love are gifts that sometimes we overlook because we get so bogged down in the chaos that seems to be going on all around us in the world today.

Today's message is an easy one:

CALL A FRIEND!

WHEN? WHEN? WHEN? - CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 60

What are your hopes and dreams?  Do you want to start a business?  Is it time to start a new diet and exercise program?  Do you have a pet needing obedience training?  Is there a new hobby or skill you want to pursue?  Is there a trip you are pining to take?  Do you have a lot of debt needing to be repaid, or do you want to have a savings plan?

For whatever thoughts are rolling around in your mind, have you established a start date?  What are you waiting for?  Things to slow down at your day job?  The children to be older?  To save enough money?  The start of a new week or a new month?  To find someone to teach you?

It has been proven time and time again that the old Chinese proverb is true:

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Getting started can be as simple as doing some online research about what is required in your location to open a business.  You can research competition for your idea, copyright or patent laws and applications, legal decisions, licensing, and free webinars to give you encouragement and information.  

Getting started can be as easy as lacing up your walking shoes and walking around the block each day until you build up stamina to do more.  It can be as simple as signing up for an exercise program at the community center in your town.  It can just mean giving up fast food or junk food for the day or the week to get into the spirit.

Getting started may require nothing more than watching free tutorials on You Tube or searching for information on eHow.  You can learn how to bake a pie, make a dress, build a bookcase and almost anything else just by utilizing the Internet resources.  If you don't have a computer go to the public library and use one of theirs.  If you are not computer savvy then borrow books that will show you how to do whatever you hope to learn.

Getting started means just that............getting started!  Keep track of your expenses daily for at least a week.  Review the list and learn where your money is going and the difference between what is necessary and what is desirable.  What can you eliminate painlessly and use that money to pay down your debts.  Just throwing your change in a jar at the end of each day can ultimately provide a source to begin a savings account or to add to debt repayment.

Today's message answers the question of when to start:

TODAY IS THE DAY!

IS YOUR VIEW OF THE FUTURE CLOUDY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 60

During these chaotic and worrisome times in the world, do you find your view of the future is cloudy or even murky?  Sometimes just trying to figure out what is true and what is fiction in the daily news broadcasts and publications makes one's head spin.  It makes one feel as if the world we live in is going to hell, that we have lost our moral compass, discarded our sense of respect and dignity, and that too many of our fellow citizens no longer have any semblance of integrity or decency................and all of those feelings can overwhelm a person in the course of a single day.

In order to sort out the important from the unimportant, the true from the untrue, and the things about which you have control versus those over which you have no control you have to accept responsibility for ferreting out the information.  There are many well-written articles available to you on the Internet with suggestions for how to achieve calmness and to clear up the darkness you may be seeing or feeling about the future for yourself and loved ones.  Just Google the words "find clarity" because:


Today's message is

FIND CLARITY!

IS LOVE REALLY IMPORTANT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 59

Currently I am reading a book recommended by my son who is in private practice as a Family Therapist in Tokyo.  The book is Emotional Orphans by Cate Shepard.   I became so engrossed in it that I did not put it down until three o'clock this morning.    Immediately the author writes of her true experiences in working with children who have been abandoned, abused, neglected, and the suffering that these kids endure themselves as well as subjecting to their pain and suffering all the people who try to help them.  Thankfully, there are many who are helped.

The one thing that is abundantly clear is that these children do not feel loved and may have never been given any love so lack emotional security.  Fear of abandonment by their own relatives or foster families really renders them almost unable to let anyone near them.  The inhumane treatment that the most innocent among us have received is heart-wrenching and appalling.

Love is most certainly important, and to make the people you care for know that you love them is the greatest gift you can give them.  Equally important is for you to know you are loved.

There was a pastor on television for years whom my dear mother watched weekly.  He always told people who shared their stories with his congregation, "God loves you and so do I."  For those who heard him anywhere in the world and who held religious beliefs, I am sure it was comforting to any who felt alone in this world or were in difficult circumstances.

There is love on this planet for every person.  There is parental love, filial love, friendship love, romantic love, religious love, animal love, and just plain love of all mankind.  If a person withholds love from you then find it from another source.  You need it.  You deserve it, and remember that giving love is as important as receiving it.

Today's message is:

KNOW YOU ARE LOVED!

DO YOU MAKE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 58

Whether the economy is good or bad, there are people who will always focus on what they do not have rather than what they do have.  During the Great Depression there was a saying that seemed to serve most of the country very well:

Use it up,

Wear it out,

Make do,

Or do without.

We have come a long way from following that philosophy because we have become a society that wants all the latest gadgets, electronics, athletic shoes, and fashions.  We support a throw-away culture with enormous amounts of waste.

If you are a person who feels deprived and helpless to change your circumstances, then today's message is meant for you.  Whether it is possessions, talents, time, skills, or anything else:

USE WHAT YOU HAVE!  

ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 57

Sometimes making decisions is like trying to select something from a menu in your favorite Chinese Restaurant.  So many options...........which ones to choose.......... ......what if you choose something and end up not liking it?  Do you get analysis paralysis when you try to make a decision?

After you have evaluated all of the information available to you on the subject, then you have to trust yourself to make a decision.  There is very little in life that is cast in concrete meaning more often than not you can reverse your decision.  If, however, you do have to reverse too many decisions, then perhaps you need to spend more time digesting the information you have or asking for advice from a trusted source.

It takes courage to make a decision, and it also takes courage to admit you chose incorrectly.  There is no shame in admitting the latter.

Today's message is:

CHANGE YOUR MIND!

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR CURIOSITY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 56

There are so many wonderful things about children whether they are babies, toddlers, or school-age.  One of the best things about them is their curiosity.  They cannot resist exploring, reaching, touching, or questioning any new thing that comes into their line of sight.  Think of how much children learn in the first three years of their lives.  If they went on to continue to learn as much in each future three-year segment they would all be absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, some children and many adults lose their curiosity and their quest for knowledge.  Whether it is bad schools, bad parenting, poverty of resources, poor self-esteem, lack of support systems, or some verbal wound inflicted by a parent, sibling or teacher something definitely turns them off of learning.  If that has happened to you, it is not too late to change.   For children either Public Libraries, the Internet, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Churches, or grandparents there are ways to re-stimulate your curiosity about anything that might interest you OR to find out what does interest you.  If you are an adult you have even more access to information through libraries, the Internet, community colleges, vocational education, informational interviews, community groups, churches, and various non-profit groups.  It is up to you to ask questions, get answers, and keep on learning your entire life.

Today's message is:

BE INQUISITIVE!

DESCRIBE YOUR APPROACH TO LIVING? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 55

In the course of my life I have been fortunate to meet many, many people of all shapes and sizes and colors and from all walks of life.  As I got to know them better I realized that some of them approached their lives almost timidly or fearfully.  They were very nice people and good at their jobs but seemed to never venture outside of their personal boundaries.  There were others who were also nice people and good at their jobs but they seemed to know no boundaries in terms of how they lived their lives.  Of the two types of people, the second were the more successful because they were aggressive, very willing to take risks and to try new things.  They had little interest in the status quo.  They did not let things happen; they made things happen.

What would you attempt to do if you ventured outside of your boundaries?  Whether you set the boundaries or others set them for you, what would you be motivated to do?

Today's message is:

LIVE FIERCELY! 

DO YOU PAY CLOSE ATTENTION? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 54

So much of what is happening all around us today makes me think that many people are not paying close attention to anything except gossip, celebrities, and fashion.  People are careless about what they do, what they say, and whom they hurt.  If everyone took just the first step toward paying attention, I believe things could and would be quite different and much better.

The first step is today's message:

BE MINDFUL!

DID YOU ACTIVATE DAY 39'S MESSAGE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 53

Today's message is not dissimilar to the message on Day 39 which was Trust Your Intuition.  If you have experience in trusting your intuition then you may already have confidence in making decisions.  If you still are not comfortable relying on your intuition, then you might want to think about two words that have become part of the vernacular.

The words are "gut feeling" because when we are about to make a decision to do something or to not do something, most of us get a feeling in the pit of our stomach as to whether or not we are making the right choice.  Some people listen to this feeling.  Some opt to ignore the feeling and may regret it at a later date.

Gut feelings and intuition are synonymous in my mind.  Have there been times in your life when you opted to not listen to your intuition?  Did you regret it later?  Please leave your comments below as I and others will be interested in learning from your experience.

Today's message is:

                                     

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT

IS ANYTHING HOLDING YOU BACK? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 52

Do you feel as if you are stuck in a rut?  Do you believe something or someone is preventing you from achieving your full potential?  Do you think you are unworthy of success?  Do you have confidence in yourself and your abilities?  Are you clear on what you want to do, where you want to go, and who you want to be?

If you are progressing too slowly or too timidly, what are the things you can control?  Don't fret over things you cannot control, but be bold and change the things you can.  Then instead of taking baby steps or no steps at all toward your dreams you can fly like an eagle.

Today's message is:

SOAR

ARE YOU SATISFIED BEING A FOLLOWER? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 51

How do you perceive yourself?  Do you follow the crowd or do you make your own decisions?  Do you go along to get along?  Do you keep silent even when you know your idea is better or your solution is viable?   Do you stand up for your convictions?  Do you respect yourself?  Is your behavior something others should emulate?  Are you living your life as a good example to your classmates, co-workers, siblings, friends and family?

Today's message is:

BE A LEADER

ONE HEAD OR TWO HEADS? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 50

The old adage says, "Two heads are better than one."  What do you think?  Are you a team player?  Are you more of a loner?  Do you mind sharing credit with others for a job well done?  Unless you are discovering or creating something that is going to change the world and make you wealthy, why not collaborate with others.

Today's message is:

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

LIKE IT OR LOVE IT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 49

When you are young your life stretches out in front of you as if you are going to live forever.  As you get older you learn that time flies by and life is fragile so you should not waste any of it.  Since adults spend most of their waking hours working, it makes sense that the work you do should be something about which you feel very passionate.  When you are really following your passion it won't even seem like work.

Today's message is:

LOVE WHAT YOU DO!

HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 48

It is said:

• if you do not respect yourself no one else will respect you.  
• if you do not love yourself no one else will love you. 
• if you do not value yourself no one else will value you.

Be realistic and objective and evaluate yourself, how you behave, how you perform your job duties, and how you treat other people.  From that evaluation how would you value yourself?

Today's message is:

KNOW YOUR WORTH!

DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 47

Day 47 is a bit late considering Day 46's post was written on July 4.  Again, I apologize for the unplanned hiatus.

Some people dislike being surprised while others love it.  I used to tell people that the only surprises I liked were gift wrapped and had my name on them.  Many of us love to surprise those we love with gifts or good news.  One person you can surprise but perhaps never have is yourself.

Trying something new, reaching a goal, controlling your temper, expressing feelings, or doing anything you usually do not do or do not like to do...............surprise yourself by making changes in your life.

Today's message is:

SURPRISE YOURSELF!

CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS WILL CONTINUE SOON

My apologies to those of you who read my blog.  I have been ill and hope to be back to daily blogging in about a week if not sooner.

Please excuse me.

DID YOU KNOW YOU CAN GIVE EVERY PERSON A GIFT? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 46

Typically when we think of giving someone a gift we think of shopping, wrapping, and delivering a gift which either we have made or we have purchased.  If we had to give every person a gift we would not be able to afford it unless we won the lottery or the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes.

You have something that is free which you can give to every person you know and even to everyone you do not know.  It is as simple as smiling.  When you smile at others you brighten their day, you perhaps make them feel joyful, you may make them feel not so alone in the world as many people do, and you will find you make yourself feel more cheerful when you exercise those facial muscles.  You can even smile at people when you answer the phone if you smile while saying hello.  It will affect how you sound, and that can make the caller feel joyful.

Today's message is:

SPREAD JOY

ARE YOU A PERSON OF VISION? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 45

In order to be a person of vision you have to not only have an open mind but also the ability to truly see what may be right in front of you.  Being close-minded, rigid, or inflexible will do nothing to make you a person of vision.  Most successful people have a vision of what they hope to achieve.  Can you see what you want to accomplish in your life?

Today's message is:

OPEN MY EYES

DO YOU TAKE THINGS FOR GRANTED? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 44

Many people have grown up being very blessed in terms of how they live, what they have, and having a support system.  Too often those blessings are taken for granted rather than being appreciated.  As we mature we realize that at least 2/3 of the world's population if not more are much less fortunate.  It is when we become cognizant of the needs of others like clean drinking water, food to feed their children, medicine to take when they are sick, and proper shelter that we begin to be grateful for what we have and have been given.  It is true that there are some young children who are already grateful and doing amazing things to raise money to help those in need, but sadly we live in an era when many seem to be more concerned with themselves than with anyone else.

I remember someone once describing their children as "take me, buy me, give me, get me" kids.  It seems as if perhaps too many have grown up to be the "take me, buy me, give me, get me" adults.  If you take things for granted and are more interested in what your next purchase will be or the next gift you will receive, it is time to reflect on all that you already have and give thanks to the provider.

Today's message is:

GIVE THANKS

ARE YOU A CONTROLLING PERSON? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 43

A number of years ago I had to face the facts that not only was I a co-dependent person but also turning into a control freak.  I read somewhere that the more out of control our lives become the more we try to control everyone and everything around us.  Over time I learned that the only person you can change is yourself and that, in truth, there is very little one can control in life.  Life is going to happen to us and the people we love no matter what.

I have had a wonderful friend for 52+ years who has now been sober 28 years.  He finally had to decide to change himself for himself and not for anyone else, and he was very successful after a few false starts.  He taught me this prayer which they say in all meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

the courage to change the things I can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Even if you are not a believer , this is great advice filled with words to live by.  Thinking this way has helped me to go through many, many things and relieved me of so much stress and anxiety.  

So if there are things or relationships in your life that you want to change and you can, then go for it.  However, if there are things or relationships you cannot change then follow today's message which is:

LET IT BE!