Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.

-Pamela Vault Starr

 

Column By Jeff Keller
-----------------------

Everything Happens for A Reason

Would you like to enjoy more success and have less stress in
your life? Do you wish that your daily aggravations had less
power over you? Would you appreciate some peace of mind?

No, you don't need to find a genie in a bottle to enjoy
these spectacular benefits. What you do need, however, is a
belief in one key concept -- that everything happens for a
reason.

When I began speaking before groups more than ten years ago,
I often asked the members of my audience, "How many of you
believe that everything happens for a reason?" Typically,
about 25% of the people would raise their hands. Now, when I
ask that same question, anywhere from 50% to 80% of the
audience answers in the affirmative.

Whether you already believe that things happen for a
purpose, or are unsure about this notion, here are some
points to consider to get the maximum results from this
principle:

1. Don't curse your present circumstances... or gripe about
the past. When we encounter "negative" or stressful
situations in our lives, our immediate reaction is to be
outraged, frustrated or depressed. This is the start of a
downward spiral in which we fill our minds with gloomy
thoughts and generate more negative results.

On the contrary, when you believe there's a purpose for your
difficulties, your state of mind is quite different. You
realize that your current situation is serving you in some
way, whether it's a turn in the road or a lesson that you
can apply at a later date.

2. This principle is not limited to tragedies and problems.
While it's true that you can find positive aspects to every
setback, the idea that everything happens for a reason
applies to positive experiences and "neutral" events as
well.

For instance, let's say that you meet someone at a
networking meeting. The person holds no special significance
to you and doesn't seem likely to bring you any business.
What you're not considering are the possible ways that the
two of you might help each other in the future.

3. Being passive is not the answer. Just because there is a
"reason" for the events that happen to you doesn't mean you
can achieve your goals by sitting back and waiting for
success to occur on its own. It's still up to you to be
proactive and make things happen. That requires energy,
creativity and, yes, a lot of effort on your part!

4. Recognize the "two way street." It's easy to get caught
up with the idea that every person you meet has something to
contribute to you. That's true to some extent. But, don't
overlook the fact that there is something for you to impart
to others as well!

And, while there are often ways in which each party
contributes to the other, there are many instances where
it's not an equal "give and take." Thus, there are times in
a relationship when you may be serving another person more
often than you are receiving from them.

5. You are always being directed toward something "better."
Have you ever been fired from a job ... then moved on to
find a better career? Or, have you terminated a personal
relationship (or been terminated yourself!) ... and then met
someone who was a far better partner for you?

In both of these instances, life was pushing you toward
something that would bring you even more satisfaction. Of
course, in all of these situations, you had the option to
close off the improved alternative.

For instance, after being fired, you could have complained
about the lack of job opportunities. Or, after the
relationship ended, you could have concluded that you are
"unlucky in love." Yet, had you taken these approaches, you
would have missed the better situation that was just around
the corner.

6. You'll never be able to explain everything. The notion
that "everything happens for a reason" will not answer every
question that you have about life! On the contrary, although
you'll find that you are better able to understand certain
events, there will still be many mysteries that you can't
explain.

There are no coincidences. When you believe this, you'll
enter a new world of possibility. When a problem occurs,
instead of crying, "Why Me?" you'll look for the lesson you
can learn, or the opportunity that is on the horizon.

You'll realize that it makes no sense to argue that
something shouldn't have happened to you. It did happen...
there's a reason for it... and, if you're wise, you'll use
it to your advantage!

-- Jeff Keller
(c) Attitude is Everything, Inc.
___________
Jeff Keller is a motivational speaker and delivers his
presentations and seminars to businesses, groups and trade
associations throughout the United States and abroad. He is
the author of the book, Attitude is Everything. For more
information about his motivational presentations and
resources, visit http://www.attitudeiseverything.com

 

 

Today's Quote

Happiness comes of the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed.

-Storm Jameson

A friend of mine said that he is happier than he's been for as long as he can remember...and I have to agree with him...its been really nice lately...to be so happy...

Enjoy life everyone...its not worth worrying about what you can not change...just enjoy the journey...

 

~~SanDee~~

 

 

 

 

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you until it seems that you cannot hold on for a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.
-Harriet Beecher Stowe

 

 

WISDOM

Wisdom denotes the pursuing of the best ends by the best means.

Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746)
Philosopher and educator


Wisdom is learning from all your experience, which means maybe you don't make the same mistakes over and over again. And you're more tolerant.

Jessica Tandy (1909-1994)
Actor

 

 

Prayer for a Divorced or a Separated Person

GETTING STARTED

"Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly." -- Robert Schuller

"Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person." -- Mother Theresa

"You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great." -- Les Brown

"Don't wait. The time will never be just right." -- Napoleon Hill

 

FACE YOUR FEARS

We live in a world where it often seems that our fears outweigh our hope that things can get better. And, yes, there are many concerns worth worrying about. Yet, rather than running from the problems we must embrace a powerful tool that will help us overcome what's wrong--inspiration.

Lance Secretan
Leadership consultant


Our fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if we explore them.

Marilyn French
Writer

Column By Robin Sharma
-----------------------

Be An Original

It takes great courage to be true to your values, hopes and
dreams. Being authentic isn't just about speaking your truth
- it's also about becoming the person you were meant to be
and doing the dreams that reside within your heart.

So many people would rather be a part of the crowd than step
out and live their greatness. Too many amongst us would
rather be seduced by the illusion of security than take some
risks to get to their personal mountaintops. And so their
lives stay small.

You are meant to shine. And you are meant to be your best
you. Comfortable in your own skin. Authentic. I had dinner
the other night with one of my best friends. He shared that
he's never been happier in his life. His secret? "I've
always been my own man."

Nothing worse than getting to the end of your life and
realizing you lived your neighbor's life. Live your values.
Enjoy your passions. Live life on your own terms. Live your
truth (and the gigantic potential that resides within you).
It doesn't matter if others laugh. You'll be you.
_________
Robin S. Sharma, LL.M. is an internationally-known speaker
on sales leadership, peak performance and creativity. The
bestselling author of several motivational books including
MegaLiving, he is the managing partner of Sharma Leadership
International. He can be reached at 1-888-774-2762 or at
http://www.robinsharma.com

We cannot part with our friends. We cannot let our angels go. We do not see that they only go out that archangels may come in.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can.
-Danny Kaye

"The future comes one day at a time."

-Dean Acheson

"At the center of the universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service."

-Fred Rogers

"Goals are a preview of future events and experiences in your life."

-Mark Victor Hansen

"When you focus on what might have been, it gets in the way of what can be."

-Patricia Fripp

 

Too many of us are hung up on what we don't have, can't have, or won't ever have. We spend too much energy being down, when we could use that same energy--if not less of it--doing...some of the things we really want to do.
-Terry McMillan

Swift gratitude is the sweetest.
-Greek Proverb

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
-William Arthur Ward

 

I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.
-Louisa May Alcott

 

 

 

 

I read this and just felt better...it actually reminded me of Wednesday night at my Divorce support group...it had been a rough one for me...for a number of reasons...but it started out talking about the only God sanctioned reasons for divorce...adultery (and not just sexual infidelity, but the broader sense of the word) and having a spouse walk away...and my first thoughts were of adultery in the sexual infidelity meaning which there was none in my marriage, and the fact that **I** walked away from my marriage...I was feeling pretty low...thinking that God wouldn't love me because I had unjustifiably ended my marriage...now before anyone gets too upset with that statement...I do know its not true...but thats how I felt at the time...but the video ended with hope...with knowing that Jesus would love us...his arms are open to enfold us...we just have to go to him...by the time we were done with the discussion portion of group...I had come to the realization that I had abuse in my marriage...I was emotionally abused and neglected by my ex...and I probably gave some of the same right back...but this is something that I haven't wanted to admit to...acknowledge...stand up and say "I am an emotional abuse survivor"...I'm a very independent person...and the fact that I lived for 11 years like that shames me...I should have known better...I should have left sooner...but the fact is...I didn't physically leave my marriage until 15 months ago...but I **DID** emotionally leave my marriage 5 years ago...it was 5 years ago that I knew that I couldn't pretend to everyone else that my marriage was ok...My little brother was getting married...and his wife was doing things to get ready to be married...My ex was in town...we had a baby sitter for the kids...(that my mom was paying for)...he had days off before and after that monday, so it wasn't like it was his last night home, or his first night home and he would have been tired...and yet he still wouldn't go with me...to this day...I remember sitting in the temple while everyone else was hugging and enjoying being there with their spouses...I was alone...I sat alone and I cried...I have never in my life felt that alone...because I knew that I could no longer pretend...that is the day my marriage really ended...It was after that that my depression kicked in...I hit rock bottom...didn't want to get out of bed...didn't want to take care of myself...my kids were minimally taken care of...I did the bare minimum that I needed to do...until January 2002...my mom made me go see a counselor...things started looking up for me a bit...I made my first **selfish** decision...and I call it selfish because thats what my ex called it...and it was selfish in the fact that I made it based totally on what was best for **ME**...not me as a mom...not me as a wife...not me as a daughter...not me as an LDS woman...but me as **ME**...I think that I wasn't emotionally strong enough at that time to do something that I've been taught my entire life was not an option...one of the most quoted lines in my church is "Nothing can compensate for failure in the home" and divorce is basically looked upon as a 'failure'...I don't deal well with 'failure'...lol...I know that I basically was going to be doing something that alot of people would look down on...or that I would think they were looking down on anyways...and until I left...I wasn't strong enough to do that...to pull off my mask that I'd been wearing for 11 years...but I did it...and I know...beyond a shadow of a doubt that God and Jesus knew what was in my heart...what I'd been through...and they told me that it was time to leave...so I did...and every time I feel this niggling sensation of doubt...I remember that I was given the go ahead to leave...and its exactly what I needed to do...and as for whether or not I had a justifiable reason to divorce my ex...thats between me and God...and I don't have to justify it to anyone...I look back and see how far I've come...how far I have yet to go...and I'm excited...

Ok...that really rambled...and back to my main point...there were women, and men, who gave me the 'hang in there' on Wednesday night...and I've had people all along my journey who have said 'hang in there, it'll get better'...and ya know what? they're right...now I know I need to give my own 'hang in there' support to others...to pay it forward...have a great weekend everyone...and I'll chat with you soon...

 

{{HUGS}}

 

~~SanDee~~

 

 

-----------------------
Column By Ron White
-----------------------

Hang In There

I remember Navy boot camp like it was yesterday. An event
that occurred on my 2nd day still causes me to pause when I
reflect on it.

You can tell a new person to boot camp from someone who is
about to graduate based upon their clothes and ribbons. It
was clearly my second day from what I was wearing. I was
walking single file with my unit down a hall and a sailor
who was about to graduate passed us.

He must have noticed my expression. It without a doubt said,
'I am tired, intimidated, scared and hungry.' You can't talk
when walking in formation, therefore he whispered out of the
side of his mouth as we passed...'Hang in there...you can do
it.'

I turned to look at his face, but all I saw was the back of
his head. Every night before I drifted off to sleep I
replayed those words. I will never know that sailor's name.
He will never know how it turned my attitude around 180
degrees. He will never know that years later I still
remember the electricity of encouragement that shot through
my body.

I knew that the only reason he knew what I was feeling is
because he had been where I was and felt how I felt. He had
made it and wanted me to know that I could as well. I was
eternally grateful.

Then it was my turn. On my graduation day I walked into a
storage facility and saw three sailors leaning up against
the wall. They were new and scared, intimidated, tired and
hungry.

I walked over to them and whispered, 'Hang in there...you
can do it.' Within 1 second tears filled the eyes of the
female sailor and one of the males clenched his fist and
gave me a million thanks with his eyes.

As I walked away I had goose bumps. I knew that my words
would be motivation for the rest of the day and fuel every
night to keep them focused on their goal of graduation when
they wanted to quit. I hope they passed on the encouragement
to another sailor before they graduated... and I know they
did.

If you are in a valley, then remember this. Others have been
there (including myself) and hang in there you can do it.
Whether your goal is boot camp graduation, building a
business or a raising a family... since others have done
it... you can too. Hang in there.

If you are at a peak. Do not underestimate what a few kind
words of encouragement might do for those around you. Many
find it odd that at this point in my career that I am in the
Naval Reserves.

I generate more income by one person attending my seminar
than I do in my one weekend a month. If I get activated, I
will earn a fraction of my current income. But, I do it
because it is right for me and in my heart I have to. I also
do it because the lessons like the one above are invaluable
to me. I hope you found some value in it as well.