Michael

Yosemite Valley, to me, is always a sunrise, a glitter of green and golden wonder in a vast edifice of stone and space. – Ansel Adams

It’s been many months since I was able to visit California. After living there for over 13 years, I still have a quite an attachment. The geography of the state is awe inspiring. In fact, I’m here for two very important reasons. First and most importantly to see my daughter. Secondly, to spend about 5 days in Yosemite National Park.

I haven’t seen my daughter since January. It’s been too long. Both of us are quite excited about spending the week in Yosemite. We’ve been there many times and never tire of it. My daughter’s boyfriend will be there as will Erica as soon as she flies in on Monday.

I’m always changed after visiting Yosemite. There is something about this place that revitalizes me from the inside out. Sometimes it feels like packing in a year’s worth of psychotherapy in just a few days. This recharge usually lasts me for several months.

I’m very appreciative of Yosemite. It’s an example of nature at its most splendid and place very special to my heart.

Have a great day!

Michael

P.S. I will probably not have any Internet access in Yosemite so I will not be posting anything about my experiences until the weekend.

Some of you, depending on where you live, may think this is a late announcement. But after almost a week of warm, sunny and clear weather, spring is in full swing here in Rhode Island.

It’s one of my favorite times of year. Everything is waking up after the winter. Buds are opening. Flowers are spreading a myriad of colors around the landscape. My other favorite times of the year are summer, fall and winter.

I was in Newport, RI on Tuesday and there were fields of daffodils blooming. It was quite a sight. These four looked really nice together.

It’s important to take time to enjoy nature and her bounty. I almost always get a calming effect when I do that. Enjoying nature can help to reduce stress, slow you down and help you to relax.

So, get out. Take a walk or hike. Go to a park. Take a boat ride. Go to the beach. It doesn’t matter.

Have a great day!

Michael

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.

But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.
~ Buddha

A good friend shared this quote with me and I really liked it. Thought I would share it with you. It contains great advice for living a happier life.

Michael

There is not a dream which may not come true, if we have the energy which makes or chooses our own fate.…It is only the dreams of those light sleepers who dream faintly that do not come true. – Arthur Symons

Dreams are vital to our happiness. I think we all have dreams; some large, some smaller. But, there are many of us that don’t really believe our dreams can come true. For those people, I suspect their dreams are not coming true.

Another group focuses on the lack of their dreams. In other words, if they dream of more money, all they can see or talk about is not having enough money now. This kind of thinking prevents the dreams from coming true. I know, because that is how I used to think.

The majority of us are trained to react to our current situation as opposed to learning how to be okay with where we are while keeping an eye on our dreams. This shift in thinking can be hard, but not impossible. It only takes practice.

Many of my dreams have come true. My expectation is that many more will come true. I believe that this has happened for two reasons. First, I believe my dreams can come true. Secondly, I find ways to be happy now while I wait for the dream to come true. When you work on being happier now, even just a little bit, your attitude, perspective and creativity all increase which directly correlates to seeing and creating new possibilities in your life.

Have a great day!

Michael

Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. – Voltaire

Appreciation is a fantastic way to give back to others. It’s also a wonderful way to start feeling better when you are down.

Here is a list of what I’m appreciating right now:

• My family
• Erica
• The incredible sunrise this morning
• My friends
• The gorgeous blue sky
• My daily cup of coffee
• Laughter
• My boss

What can you appreciate today? You’ll feel better!

Have a great day!

Michael

The most important thing in our lives is what we are doing now. – Anonymous

What are you doing right now? What thoughts are flowing through your mind? What are you remembering? Where are you focusing your awareness? What are you feeling? Are you happy, sad, angry, depressed, fearful or simply don’t care? Are you worried about something? Are you dreaming? Are you thinking about a positive vision of your future or do things look fairly grim for you?

The present moment is where we have all of our power; not the past and not the future, but right now. Any changes we need to make, happen now starting with what we are thinking. Now is where we adjust our attitude. Now is where we tweak our thoughts to make us feel just a little bit better. Now is where we extract all of our happiness and joy.

Try and focus on the present more and more. When you are listening to someone, really listen. When you are focused on an activity, focus 100%. No matter what you are doing, be 100% present.

Now is the most important moment.

Michael

Follow your instincts. That’s where true wisdom manifests itself. – Oprah Winfrey

Many times our instincts and intuitions come as the small voice inside our heads. It’s the quiet urge that propels us onwards in our journey; our life’s journey. For some it’s a gut feeling or a prickly sensation that makes us want to go in a different direction.

For me, it’s usually just a quiet voice. I get a thought all of a sudden and it feels more right than anything else that’s going on in my head. All of us have this capability but many of us simply don’t listen. But, if we do, and then follow what our instinct is telling us, then we will hear better next time.

I believe we have all the answers we need for this life. If we have the feeling that we lack answers, it’s because we aren’t listening, asking the right question or we don’t like we what we hear. When we sift through the myriad of thoughts we have each day, most of us can recognize our instinct or intuition. It’s always at a low volume, speaks the truth and has nothing but our best interest at heart.

How do we get more connected to our instinctual feelings and intuitions? Meditating helps to calm the cacophony that seems to be in the minds of most of us. You can also ask yourself a question. The absolutely first thought that pops into your head is your intuition. You really have to listen because there will be a flood of thoughts which means you could mistake the second or successive thoughts as your intuition. All you need is practice.

Have a great day!

Michael

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. – Helen Keller

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. – Swedish Proverb

Worry. We all do it. Some of us more than others. It’s one of those emotions that saps our strength and prevents us from being as happy as we could.

Worrying implies that we don’t have control over our lives. Worrying implies that we don’t believe in a positive future or outcome. Worrying implies a lack of confidence in ourselves and our lives.

Worrying doesn’t allow us to let life flow. Sometimes it’s just better to let things happen as they will instead of worrying about what could happen. Sometimes I worry about something even though all indications are that things are positive.

I do worry much less now. I’ve learned that things always work out. Always. Sometimes it doesn’t appear that way at first, but in the long run everything is exactly as it should be.

So, when you worry, try to shift your attention to something that is more positive. We use a lot of energy to worry. Why not use that energy for something else? Distract yourself. Take a walk. Do something that you enjoy. Call a friend but don’t talk about what is making you worried. Think of ways to turn your worry thoughts into some that are more hopeful. Even the smallest shift will help. Play with your children or your pet if you have them. Watch a funny television show. Laugh. Drink lots of fluids (just joking).

Be easy on yourself.

Michael

Each man had only one genuine vocation — to find the way to himself… His task was to discover his own destiny — not an arbitrary one — and live it out wholly and resolutely within himself. Everything else was only a would be existence, an attempt at evasion, a flight back to the ideals of the masses, conformity, and fear of one’s own inwardness. – Hermann Hesse

It matters only that you manifest your genius; it doesn’t matter when. It’s never too late or too early. – Mark Victor Hansen

I believe a large number of people settle for a life that is less than they are capable of but also less than their destiny. We all have a particular gift, skill, knack, talent and etc. Many of us hold back and don’t pursue what we love to do. Pressure from friends, peers, society and our culture can create roadblocks to being who we truly are. Actually, I think that this pressure is only an excuse because it’s hard to take personal responsibility for our less than adequately fulfilled lives. It’s much easier to blame external sources.

The great news is that it is never too late to make a change. Never! Your genuine vocation exists and is just waiting for you to discover it. It may or may not be how you make your living, at least initially, but it could be. Don’t focus on that aspect only.

Trying several things out is good first step. Brainstorm ideas of things that you enjoy doing. Research them to figure out what you need to do to get involved.

Don’t forget to be patient with yourself and have fun with it. Exploration shouldn’t be a chore. Enjoy it.

Have a great day!

Michael

The perfect journey is circular – the joy of departure and the joy of return. – Dino Basili

I’m back in the U.S. after a combined business and personal trip. The business part of the journey was successful, but I believe that the personal part was even more successful.

Long discussions with my good friends in London helped me generate several more interesting and promising ideas for a new career. I smile every time something like this happens. In other words, I’m endlessly amazed and appreciative at where and with whom I get inspiration. I’m at the point now where that is base expectation in my life. In other words, I don’t have to question where I will get inspiration. I just have to wait for it to show up. I do that by practicing patience and keeping my senses open to possibilities.

What a glorious day!

Michael