Out of clutter,
Find simplicity.
From discord,
Find harmony.
In the middle of
Difficulty lies
Opportunity. – Albert Einstein
I really resonated with this quote from Albert Einstein. I have noticed that when my life has felt cluttered, my house becomes cluttered. Recently, I have been removing the clutter both from home and work. As a result my mind has become more open, brighter and relaxed.
As I go through changes at work, I’ve found myself steeped in discord. Lately, the harmony has returned as I focus on what I really want and not on what is going on around me.
As I experience some minor difficult times (work related), I’m not experiencing deep despair, but more of an anxious expectation as things unfold. I believe in a great future for myself and opportunity abounds.
Thanks for the reminder, Albert.
Have a great day!
Michael
Be the change you wish to see in the world. – Gandhi
So, you want to make the world a better place? It starts with you. If you want to see more peace in the world, be more peaceful. If you want to have someone love you, love yourself first. If you despise hypocrisy, practice what you preach. If you want the world to be less judgmental, then become more open and tolerant.
We tend to forget at times that the power to change the world lies within us. It’s easy to blame everything or everyone for the world’s problems. But, if you think about it, the world’s problems started with someone just like us. So, why can’t the world’s solutions start with someone just like us?
The more we consciously work on ourselves, the more opportunity we will have to change the world. The less victimized we will feel because we will began to be responsible for what is going on around us.
Everyday, remember that as you become a better person, the world around you will respond in kind.
Have a great day!
Michael
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. – Eleanor Roosevelt
I really believe that the power of our dreams is the seed for change, not only for ourselves but the world around us. Dreams give us hope. Hope is a fantastic start to feeling better in the present. Feeling better in the present makes us happier now and gives us the ability to create better dreams.
Our dreams sustain us through the trials of life. Our dreams guarantee a better future if we combine them with feeling as good as we can at every moment. It sounds like a tall order, but it only takes focusing on one thought at a time and “tweaking” it to sound or feel a little bit better. Each tiny step towards feeling better is a giant leap in your personal well being.
Over time a sustained effort in feeling as good as you can at every moment, will open up a world of possibilities. You’ll become more objective. You’ll find that you are in control of your own state of being at any time and no longer affected by external forces.
Pleasant dreams!
Michael
Live with intention.
Walk to the edge.
Listen hard.
Practice wellness.
Play with abandon.
Laugh.
Choose with no regret.
Continue to learn.
Appreciate your friends.
Do what you love.
Live as if this is all there is. – Mary Anne Radmacher
I can’t really add to what Mary Anne has stated. Brilliant advice. I do most and will work on the rest.
How much do you follow the suggestions she so eloquently poses?
Have a great day!
Michael
For the past two weeks, I’ve been really fatigued and run down. My energy level has been low making it very difficult to stay awake until 10:00 p.m. at night without having coffee. I couldn’t figure out what was the cause, but it was definitely work related.
Over the weekend, I had the thought that the “cause” may be related to what I had been thinking about. I reviewed my thoughts over the last couple of weeks and noticed that I had been concentrating on what I didn’t like at work. In fact, uncharacteristic as this is for me, I was complaining out loud to a few of my peers. We would then get into debates that basically were negatively focused.
I talked to a friend about this and I decided to adjust my attitude and start focusing on what I enjoyed at work. I also focused on what made me happy outside of work. I worked on this attitude adjustment all weekend. I ate well and got lots of rest. I did some fun things that took my mind off the last two weeks. By Monday morning my energy was almost back to normal and I was feeling much better.
I was productive at work and got a lot done. Around 3:00 p.m. while talking with a peer, I decided to turn the conversation to some problems we were facing hoping for a negative conversation. This was instantly successful and we began to complain verbally about some issues at work. Within five minutes I noticed my energy level dropping, my eyelids getting heavy with fatigue and my overall sense of well being vanishing. Wow! Very interesting. I quickly turned the conversation back to something more positive. After about an hour of focusing on positive things, my energy level returned to normal.
I believe that when we focus on what we don’t like or what we don’t have, subtle things begin to happen. Slowly over time we begin to lose our sense of well-being, victim attitudes are common, happy moments are fleeting and our energy level starts to decline. Over time we become more prone to disease. Remember that being happier actually helps our immune system.
Think about this the next time you are complaining about something, noticing things you don’t like, swearing at a bad driver or generally just being grumpy. Start making the shift to more positive or happier thoughts and watch your life change.
Michael
Self-respect is the root of discipline: The sense of dignity grows with the ability to say no to oneself. – Abraham Joshua Heschel
Sometimes when changing behaviors or habits, the ability to say no to oneself is vital. But what we say yes to can be just as important. In fact when removing negative habits, if you don’t have something positive to fill the void created by removing the old habit, you may very well go back to what is familiar.
Don’t forget the importance of moderation. If a habit or behavior is too hard to stop completely, then moderation may be a technique that can work for you. If you drink six cups of coffee per day and you want to drink less, try reducing one cup at a time over a period of several weeks. Replace that cup with an herbal tea. If you don’t want to stop drinking coffee all together, try only drinking a couple of cups in the morning or mixing with decaffeinated coffee.
If you enjoy ice cream, try not to have it every day. Instead have one serving once a week or every three days. Gradual change may be much easier for your emotions to handle.
These examples all have to do with food, but really they will work for anything. For example, if you want to curb the amount of T.V. you watch or to stop smoking. It can go the other way also. If you want to do more of something, like exercise, try adding one exercise to your daily routine. When you get used to that, add another one.
Change can be palatable if we work with ourselves.
Have a great day!
Michael
All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile. – Chris Hart
Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. – Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
A smile confuses an approaching frown. – Author Unknown
The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. – Author Unknown
Before you put on a frown, make absolutely sure there are no smiles available. – Jim Beggs
If you smile when no one else is around, you really mean it. – Andy Rooney
If you smile at someone, they might smile back. – Author Unknown
Smiling is infectious,
You can catch it like the flu.
Someone smiled at me today,
And I started smiling too.
- Author Unknown
Such a simple truth! The power of a smile truly can change the world starting one person at a time. I try to smile at people at every chance I get. Many smile back. Everyone feels better.
I’m always surprised at how many people have frowns on their face. I bet many don’t even know they look that way. I give them a smile in an attempt to get that frown off their face. A lot of times it works. Has that person’s day changed? Will they pass on the smile to someone else? I never know, but it is definitely worth the effort.
Start your day off with some smiles. You’re attitude will change immediately and maybe you will have the opportunity to brighten another person’s day.
Have a great day! 
Michael
When we forget the obvious, the little joys, the meals together, the birthday celebrations, the weeping together in time of pain, the wonder of a sunset or of a daffodil peeping through the snow, we become less human. – Madeleine L’Engle
As I walked down the street today in Newport, RI, the sun was making a strong statement. It was about 10 degrees (one fist at arm’s length) above the horizon shining through some very thin clouds. It was a deep, intense, pumpkin orange color and was magically stunning to see.
I’ve been cooped up in an office most of the daylight hours this week and to be outside was mood altering. The sun really helped to bring me back to the present and make me realize what is important. The small things, the simple things in life are the most important; watching a sunset, the scent of a lily, a dog playing in the park, holding hands, the sound of ocean waves, a flock of birds, listening to someone play the guitar, some quiet time in a tub of warm water, a great cup of coffee, a perfect scoop of coconut gelato ice cream, a smile, the smell of a wood fire or chatting with a friend.
I’m really happy to be reminded that life is about experience, feelings, happiness, and living. Life is a journey but it’s important to enjoy things along the way.
I’m going to notice more small things today that I can enjoy. What about you?
Michael
Continuity gives us roots; change gives us branches, letting us stretch and grow and reach new heights. – Pauline R. Kezer
I used to be fearful of change. Over the last several years I’ve learned to not only be comfortable with change but will initiate it consciously. I still find that difficult at times, because I’m someone that enjoys routines and habits in my life. This kind of behavior can lead to ruts, which makes life boring, uneventful and narrowly focused.
So, with the patient help of Erica, I made some small changes to my wardrobe; new styles of pants, different colors and new types of shirts. I find it amazing how these seemingly small changes can make a huge difference in how you feel about yourself and how you interact with others.
Small changes like these also help to expand your perspective in surprising ways. The world seems to have more possibilities. You feel happier and more relaxed. Your self esteem will increase.
Those internal changes make you appear differently to others also. People will notice the change in you, but will not quite know what has changed.
I recommend making changes in your life consciously. Start small if it is stressful, but make some change. As you become accustomed to change, it will be easier for you to adapt to a changing world.
Have a great day!
Michael
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