"Studies Show"....Gratitude is Good....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap//ap_on_he_me/be_happy

In short, Wanna be happier? ... Count your blessings.

It's the simple solutions that we tend not to "buy" into.... because the solution "couldn't possibly be that simple..."

A daily gratitude list can set a smile on our face... and help us to recognize other things that we appreciate. Funny how that works. We actually have control over our perspective... We're not victims of the attitudes we're born with or grew up with... It's a decision. V

Start with three things. Daily. Write them down.

What's amazing is the cumulative effect. The more good we see, the more good we see, the more good we see.... more hope, more expectation ....

Obviously, life still serves up it's challenges... but don't we expect that? It's funny how much time we spend: just a little into the future (worry) or a just little stuck in the past (regret), at the expense of right now.

I've heard it said, If you have one foot in yesterday, and one foot in tomorrow, then your peeing all over today!

My favorite question: How long is a moment?.... I mean, really .. by the time you finish saying "now", it's gone. ... So........ Can you focus on a moment? and stay with it? ....... The little bugger keeps moving, doesn't it?

..Provocative thought of the "moment" is this: There is no such thing as fear in the now moment. ... It doesn't fit.

How would you like to spend your time ... I mean, if you had a choice?

Motivator or Demotivator? You choose!

This is way cool. Build your own motivator poster

An idea whose time has come.

Ever have an idea for an invention, or a business, or process only to see someone else make it happen? It's like the idea passes over us and we were too busy, didn't have the resources, knowledge, guts, or faith to do it ourselves.

Look at all the concepts that old time movies or shows about the future had in them. I think of the automatic doors on Star Trek, the insta-food machine, the communicator that became our Motorola flip phones and our Nextel walkie talkies...

Right now progress is being made in terms of actual visibility "cloaking".....bending light around an object.

Will we be beaming people up soon? Maybe not this year, but I truly believe that if we can conceive of a thing, we can achieve it..... That God doesn't give those dreams for no reason.

So, I kick myself about not being faster to market with my ideas.... No, I don't have a cloaking device in the works. But every time I see one of MY ideas, put into action by someone else, it confirms that my ideas aren't crazy, not too grandiose or out of reach.... If reasonable, I might as well take some action! "We can do ANYTHING we want to, we just can't do EVERYTHING we want to!" ....that's a paraphrased Ziglar-ism.

So, what about you? ... What's the big idea? It IS possible. Measure the costs associated. Are you willing to pay the price? ... If so, then go for it!

Don't forget the pen and paper.

If you don't vote.... You can't complain.

...Not that complaining would do you any good .... Or that anyone would listen. http://voterguide.ss.ca.gov/ I'm always scrambling to read up on the nitty gritty. Read beyond the headline .... It's amazing how deceiving some of these props can be, just by the way they are 'framed' and the power of language. Don't Think of an Elephant. Nice little book by George Lakoff ... regardless of your political slant. .... go make a difference...... hurry up!

Learning and Goals

When does learning stop? Never.... When I die? ... probably not.
People have different learning preferences. Some prefer reading, some may say they are audio learners, some more visual, that's fine. Go for more of what you like best, but do it all.
The iPod and the information tools on the internet have improved our access to information in a powerful way. Information and constant learning is the edge we need in this age if we are to excel in our chosen field.

What about your goals? Are they on the tip of your tongue? Are they clear in your mind? The truth is that very few people have their goals crystalized in their mind and even fewer have them written out on paper. The magic happens when we place them on paper. There's something that occurs in the subconscious that aims our behaviors in the direction of our goals. I'm not suggesting that it's an "automatic". That would be nice. There is still work to be done. All the data shows that the act of writing your goals places you among the elite few.

A simple list of the steps needed and realistic time frames to accomplish each goal is what's next. It's wise to be prepared to apply some flexibility as needed if we must adjust the completion dates or task schedule. I'm not suggesting to be lax about the movement toward the goal, but it's important to know that beating oneself up is a complete waste of energy, and allowing discouragement is not necessary. Just adjust and get back on track... It's feedback. Maybe it's time to ratchet up the effort....Make the phone call, schedule the appointment, do the work. Are you willing to pay the price to attain the goal?

What does learning have to do with goals? Well, is there something that you need to learn in order to achieve your goals? When is the last time you put your goals on paper? ... and identified what you may need to learn, or learn more about.... or even what the specific obstacles are?

It is possible to make the obstacles 'smaller'. Get them down to their right size. Our minds tend to make them a lot bigger than they really need to be.