Today, I Will Make A Difference...

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

 

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

 

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It’s OK to stumble…I will get up. It’s OK to fail…I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

 

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

 

~ By Max Lucado

 

 

Friday's Purposeful Question

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

It is said that the quality of your life is determined by the quality of your questions. So, what questions are you asking?

“Where in my life do I make assumptions and don’t ask questions?”

“You can tell whether a woman is clever by her answers. You can tell whether she is wise by her questions.” ~ attributed to Naguib Mahfouz

Have a purposeful weekend!

Love...On Purpose

"As I go through all kinds of feelings and experiences in my journey through life -- delight, surprise, chagrin, dismay -- I hold this question as a guiding light: 'What do I really need right now to be happy?' What I come to over and over again is that only qualities as vast and deep as love, connection and kindness will really make me happy in any sort of enduring way." - Sharon Salzberg

So, what do you really need right now to be happy?

This is very insightful as it speaks to reflecting on all of the feelings and experiences of the journey called life. In this journey called life, there will be many different kinds of feelings and experiences – love, joy, elation, excitement, as well as sadness, dismay and even anger and resentment.

We are called to live lives of joy, peace and love. Think about what you are feeling right now. If you are not feeling joy, peace or love, then ask yourself why not. Then set about the work of changing that so you are living a life of love, peace and joy.

Living in love, peace and joy does not mean you will not experience things that cause you to feel sad or angry. What it does mean is that you can still have joy, love and peace in your heart in spite of those not so pleasant events that happen in life. Whatever happens, you must never lose your joy or your peace. And above all, never lose your willingness to love on purpose.

Friday's Purposeful Question

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

“In order to stay awake and be able to create a future that reflects our goals, we need to question the present. We need to question every choice we make and look at the positive or negative consequences of our actions if we are to align our daily actions with our deepest desires.” ~ Debbie Ford, The Right Questions

Author and teacher Byron Katie says that when you question your stressful thoughts, the freedom that comes out of that graces the world for all of us.

The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your questions. So, what questions are you asking?

"What deep questions are you grappling with right now?"

"It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question." ~ Decouvertes

Live Consciously!

"It is our less conscious thoughts and our less conscious actions which mainly mold our lives and the lives of those who spring from us." ~ Samuel Butler

Most of our lives are lived on autopilot – by default. We wake up in the morning and do exactly what we did the day before. Or, we think the same limiting thoughts over and over and over again. We don’t think about the consequences of our thoughts or our actions. We don’t realize that it is our thoughts and actions that lead to the results that show up in our lives.

Yet, our less conscious thoughts lead to less conscious actions which lead to the life story we are living.

Just for today, think about what you think about. Make an effort to consciously think about your thoughts and your actions. Then, you will live a conscious and deliberate life.

Change Your Own Reality

 "Who wouldn't always say yes to reality

if that's what you're in love with?

What could happen that I wouldn't

welcome with all my heart?

“I don't know what's best for me, or you, or the world.

I don't try to impose my will on you or on anyone else.

I don't want to change you, improve you,

convert you, help you or heal you.

I just welcome things as they come and go.

That's true love." ~ Byron Katie

I think this an absolutely brilliant quote! We live in a world where people are forever trying to change other people. Well, it’s not your job to change anyone but yourself! You are not called to police the universe. You are called to love.

When we pray for someone, we pray that they change to become as we would like them to be – happier, more patient, more tolerant, healthier, wealthier, the list goes on and on.

How about loving them just the way they are?

Part of the suffering of this world comes from minding other people’s business; wanting to change what is. The only reality you have the power to change is your own. Work on changing your own reality, then see how the things around you begin to change.

Season of Nonviolence - Follow-up Assignment

Thanks for joining in the 64 Day Season of Nonviolence. 

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

As Eleanor Roosevelt has urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do."

Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do.

I challenge you to just choose 7 of the 64 principles ~ the ones that are the most challenging in your daily life. Assign one principle for each day of the week and practice, practice, practice.  Do the assigned tasks for  the next thirty days and see what transformations occur.

For example, Monday's principle can be patience. Each Monday for one month you will practice patience. Assign a principle to each of the days of the week and practice them for 30 days.

Then, comment on the blog about your progress or any new awarenesses.

Looking forward to reading about new transformations!

Season of Nonviolence - CLOSING

Welcome to CLOSING of the Season of Nonviolence – 64 Days of peaceful wisdom honoring the lives and nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

Eleanor Roosevelt has urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do." Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do.

CLOSING DAY 

Every day, I join others in this prayer for World Peace.

With each kind thought,
each choice for nonviolence,
we plant a seed that shall bloom
to bring forth rich fruit in its Season.
Together, friend, we till the soil and
plant the seeds that all creation may
sing for joy and dance in the
Garden of Peace.

May our prayers and practices
during this Season be but the beginning
of a new culture of peace, security and
joy that shall endure unto our
children’s children’s children.

Season of Nonviolence - Day 64

Welcome to Day 64 of the Season of Nonviolence – 64 Days of peaceful wisdom honoring the lives and nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

Eleanor Roosevelt has urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do." Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do.

Day 64: CELEBRATION

Margaret Mead said “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Nonviolence is building the courage to speak and act with respect, reverence and compassion for our own being.  Rejoice in the work that you have done.  Celebrate the journey that you have made with countless others who believe that every individual can move the world in the direction of peace with their nonviolent choice and action.

Today:  I celebrate my knowledge and maturity, my choice of nonviolence, and the journey I have chosen. 

Season of Nonviolence - Day 63

Welcome to Day 63 of the Season of Nonviolence – 64 Days of peaceful wisdom honoring the lives and nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

Eleanor Roosevelt has urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do." Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do.

Day 63: RELEASE

A Sufi proverb says “when the heart weeps for what it has lost, the spirit laughs for what is found.”  Release the weight of your past, the judgments of yourself and others, and be the change you wish to see.  Make room for what is here in this present moment, release the hurts and resentments and mistakes of the past and be present to the nonviolent presence you are right here right now.  In the presence of a man or woman in whom all hostility has been released, others cannot be hostile. In the presence of a man or woman in whom all fear has been released, no one can be afraid. This is the power of true nonviolence, as we can see in the life of Gandhi. Because he had released all hostility, he was a profound force for peace.

Today:  I reflect back on how far I have come during this 64 day journey.  I release the idea that World Peace is not possible by acknowledging that I really do make a difference.  Say out loud, “I DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!”

Season of Nonviolence - Day 62

Welcome to Day 62 of the Season of Nonviolence – 64 Days of peaceful wisdom honoring the lives and nonviolent principles of Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez.

Nonviolence begins with learning how to be less violent and more compassionate towards ourselves. We learn by building the courage to speak and act with respect, honor and reverence for our own being.

Eleanor Roosevelt has urged, "You must do the things that you think you cannot do." Practicing these 64 Ways will challenge you to do things that you think you cannot do.

Day 62: COMMITMENT

 Until one is committed there is hesitancy, a chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.  Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans; that the moment that one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves, too.  All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred.  A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would come his way.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.  Begin it now!" ~ Goethe
 
And so it is with nonviolence.  We set forth a commitment to nonviolence with an intention that we can act upon today.  By doing so, we are presented with situations and circumstances that will allow us to model our commitment, to bring nonviolence to a situation. 

Today:    I will identify what I am willing to do as a consequence of my commitment to nonviolence.    I will clarify and affirm my personal commitment to nonviolence by sharing it with at least two people.