Inspiration and Genius…

“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eye off the goal.”  ~ Henry Ford

 

Need Some Inspiration?

“Begin doing what you want now….We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand — and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late.”
~Marie Beynon Ray

What comes first: Happiness or Success?

In one of my Facebook groups, we were asked what one thing  — if it happened — would make this a GOOD year for us. That was an interesting question, and it really made me think. What I realized, though, was that my year was already better than good. In fact, it was pretty awesome. And I have so many things I’m looking forward to this year.

I’ve also had some fantastic things happen over the past year, things I’ve always wanted have become reality. But the truth is: Every year I’ve lived has been good — awesome, in fact. And each one has been better than the one before it. And I expect they’ll get even better in the future.

Then I saw this TED talk, and I discovered why. Most people think success will make them happy, but according to Shawn Achor, the exact opposite is true. Happiness brings success.

He lists five things that will lead to both happiness and success. Four of them I’m doing regularly, and the fifth one sporadically. Who knew these simple practices could make that much difference in life? But I do agree that they are key to a positive mindset. I have a few more suggestions I could add to his list, but for now, if you aren’t doing these, why not give it a try?

 

Believe in Yourself

Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right. ~ Henry Ford

Are You Feeling Depressed?

I love Eureka! moments. And I had one today. I’ve been sailing along, thinking of how great things have been going.

I’ve tackled lots of projects weighing on my mind by setting aside a Procras- tination Day once a week. I’ve felt lighter and airier without all that guilt holding me back.

I completed a huge assign- ment of 133 articles a week before they were due. (Anyone who knows what a procrastinator I am will realize this was a major victory.) And I completed the art for two book projects within the past two months.

I’m excited about the way my business is going, and I just returned from a terrific conference with Donald Maass that energized me. So why was I feeling so down?

Sure, the weather’s a bit rainy, so it’s dark and depressing outside, but what does that have to do with my internal landscape? Wallowing isn’t usually my nature, but I couldn’t shake this depression that gripped me. I do find, though, when I ask a question out loud, I always get an answer. (And that includes those “Why me,Lord?” ones I sometimes utter.) I don’t necessarily like the response, but it’s always apropos.

Today I asked, “Why am I depressed?”, and got my reply a few minutes later. My Google Alerts, which often drags in many unrelated items, did so again this morning. But I couldn’t resist taking a peek at The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. I’m so glad I did, because I ran across the following sentence:

“I manufactured the stream of painful images because I was feeling good! Some part of me was afraid of enjoying positive energy for any extended period of time.” ~p. 5-6

Talk about a Eureka! moment. I decided to let myself enjoy my successes and positive moments. Not sure if it was coincidence or the power of positive thinking, but the minute I did, the rain cleared up and the day became sunny.

Fear of Falling

Sometimes as you’re moving along in life, you have an epiphany. A moment when you see things with such clarity that you wonder why you never had this particular insight before. And everything around you appears in a totally different light. This has happened to me on many occasions, but most recently in the area of faith.

Hop to it

I’ve always believed in stepping out in faith, but today I realized how small my giant leaps of faith are to someone who’s looking down from above. I go into them trembling, terrified of the outcome, thinking I have to do it all alone. I forget to look up and around to see all the help that’s available to cross the chasm I see before me.

Maybe instead of worrying about falling, I could use that energy to summon help. Like the ants in the previous post, I may be so occupied with what I’m doing, I miss the opportunities for support that are right beside me or in front of me.

If I look, I might also see that a jump is unnecessary. Someone before me built a bridge that I can use to cross. So there’s an easier way to do things. Before you leap, look around to find all available resources. But then if no one has done what you’re about to do, take that leap. But be sure to leave the trail well marked for those who will follow you.

Endless Possibilities

Today I watched as ants crawled across the ground and into a gully that must look overwhelming to them and labored to the other side. Yet all it would take is a tiny bit of help from me, and they could cross that span in seconds with no effort. But they have no idea I’m even there or what I’m capable of or that I’m willing to help.

Even the ants who are aware I’m there don’t comprehend the vastness and power of me. They crawl over parts of me or climb across the bridge I make of my hand, but do they ever see all of me? And if they did, would they know who or what I am? Or would they just see me as another obstacle in their path?

Then I wonder if people aren’t doing the same thing as ants as they scurry around oblivious to a major source of assistance, to possibilities, to wondrous miracles that could take place in their lives if only they knew the source of help sitting beside them is so huge it’s unfathomable.

And even those who are aware of the source…can they ever comprehend the vastness, the power, the totality of it?

I’m wondering if atheists are the head-to-the-ground worker ants who see nothing but what’s in front of their noses, and agnostics notice the changes in their environment, but aren’t sure what to attribute it to. And each of the various religions are like ants scrambling across various body parts, reporting the world as they see it. But like the blind men and the elephant, they’re missing the whole picture.

Can anyone step back and see the whole? Or are we, like the ants, incapable of viewing, comprehending, grasping the full reality, the wondrous possibilities?

Worries Are Like Gnats

OK, so maybe it's not a gnat, but you get the picture.

Worries are like GNATS–tiny and pesky. And they seem to multiply and annoy you the more you concentrate on them.

Are you walking around with clouds of gnats obscuring your vision? Bat them away and you’ll see better.