Power of Positive Thinking

This picture is worth 1,000 words. Some sticks, mud and a few wild fruit and you have a state of the art open air snooker saloon! What we need is more of this “outside the box” thinking and “can do” attitude.
Til next time
Steve

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them — work, family, health, friends and spirit … and you’re keeping all of these in the air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls — family, health, friends, and spirit — are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.

How?

•Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.
•Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.
•Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
•Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life.
•Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
•Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us to each together.
•Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
•Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find time. The quickest way to receive love is to give; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings!
•Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.
•Don’t forget, a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.
•Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.
•Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.”

Brian Dyson

Back home we had a famous saying which translated said
“A farmer makes a plan”
We need to think outside the box.
If plan A doesn’t work, don’t give in.
Go to plan B.
I love this joke
“A picture says a thousand words”

Regrets? I have a few…
But then again too few to mention!
Lovely words from Frank Sinatra!

Life is about opportunity and regret.
Having reflected on my life, and listened to others reflecting on theirs I am struck by one thing.
Most of the regrets relate to what we have left undone; missed opportunities
We seldom regret what we have done.
Why is that?

Because people cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

When opportunity knocks you have to grab it with both hands.
Don’t wait until the time is right; the time will never be right.
Jump in. Sure you will make some mistakes, but learn from them. Adapt your strategy to prevent making them again.
Learn on the hoof.
Overcome your fear.
Go for it.
If nothing else you will feel alive and enjoy yourself.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of ‘I’m going to,’ ‘I plan on,’ and ‘Someday, when things are settled down a bit.

The future is not someplace we are going,
But one we are making.
The paths to it are not found but made.

What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
Here are two of my favourite sayings:

“Do not follow where the path may lead.
Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Ralph Emerson.

“It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar
And seemingly secure to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
For in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”

Til next time
Steve

Don’t accept failure as heralding defeat
Just as you must not accept success as trumpeting victory
All that matters is the unfailing resolve of the human spirit to achieve.

We all face problems. Most of us would like them to all go away. We look upon the successful and wish we, like them would be problem free. The truth however is that the more successful you become the more problems you face. You need to change the way you look at a problem; see it as something to be overcome; to be conquered as opposed to be skirted round.

The world needs more problem solvers. Anyone can be a problem finder. People can be categorised into three groups when it comes to problems; quitters, campers and climbers. We will continue to use the mountain analogy.

The quitters give up as they approach the mountain. They cannot imagine even trying to climb it. They go through life doing the same thing day after day; never changing; never challenging; never succeeding.

The camper is today’s average person. They start out all motivated, determined to run up the mountain but as they ascend they reach a spot where life is comfortable; usually just before the point where the ascent becomes steeper. They find a little clearing on the mountain and set up camp. To maker their camp more comfortable they buy life’s toys; fancy cars, plasma T.V.’s etc. They are usually deep in debt and constantly talk about climbing the mountain but never do.

Thirdly there is the climber. He has no time to sit; he may rest but he is impatient to get to the top.
They face challenges head on; they persevere until a solution is found.
If they fail they pick themselves up and try again.

Which one are you?

Til next time
Steve

If you focus only on your destination
You will never begin your journey.
Focus only on the first step.

Millionaires think differently.
We tend to get understanding when we need it; millionaires get it before they need it. We prepare for today; they prepare for tomorrow.
When the window of opportunity opens they are poised to jump right in; we have to start the learning process by which time the opportunity is long gone.

Consider Noah. What if he said “To hell with this; I’m not going to build an arc; What if it doesn’t rain?

The successful prepare for life; the rest of us react to life.
What are you preparing for in your life?
Change the way you think today.

Til next time
Steve

Do you divide your life into work rest and play?
Is work something you do out of obligation?
Is rest something you do because you’re exhausted?
Is play something you do to forget about work?

Get a life!
Have the courage to live as if you own your life.
Tomorrow is not in the contract!!