Argue for Your Limitations and They Are Yours

Listen to your self talk. Pay attention to what thoughts you think about yourself. Many of you spend a lot of time telling yourselves reasons why you shouldn't try this or do that. You tell yourself that you want something but then go ahead and figure out why you can't get it or do it or be it. You stop yourself before you even get started. Listen to the excuses you make up: it's too hard, I'm too old, I don't have the proper training and on and on and on.
When you notice yourself focusing on your limitations, say to yourself, "Oops, there I go again". That's the time to tell yourself a different story . Stop resisting. Stop saying why you can't. Start thinking how worthy you are to have what you want. Start thinking about who you really are. You were put on this earth to be a joyfull, fulfilled, loving person. You were put here to develop your talents, whatever they are. You were put here to be the best you you can be and have fun being your best.
Start spending time every day picturing your perfect life. Feel how good it feels picturing your success. Feel the empowerment deep inside when you stop focusing on what might go wrong. Who cares what someone else might say. This is your life. Be the one who inspires others. Start today. Release the resistance and start having fun.

Feed Your Mind

I've been teaching a course in personal development in our local jail system for almost ten years now. I go there first thing on Tuesday morning. It is probably the most fulfilling time of the week for me. What an opportunity I have to experience living my life's purpose. There is no question that I get as much or more out of those 45-50 minutes than anyone in the class.
This morning we watched the first half of "The Secret". All eyes were rivoted on the tv. I have seen the movie at least ten times but every time I view it I pick up new things. It reinforces patterns of thought. It tells me again that I must continue to feed my mind daily. It's a hopeful message with specific instructions on how to fashion your life the way you want it to be. Great lessons to be had. All we have to do is seek.
Feed your mind every day.

How Amazing is Science?

Yesterday I was going on and on about how everything science has proven has eventually been overturned. Well last night the science was correct. Scientists predicted that there would be a meteor shower last night between 1:00 and 6:00 am with the heaviest concentration occuring just before 6:00 am. Sure enough, when I got up this morning at 5:40, got dressed and went outside there is was... a meteor shower. Actually I wouldn't call it a shower. It was more like one meteor every two minutes.

I sat on a lawn chair in my driveway where I had a wide view of the sky and watched, eyes wide open, looking pretty much straight ahead. Here and there appeared a quick, darting light, lasting just a split second. There was no denying it; the scientists were right on the money this time.

I watched for about 15 minutes then went inside to make my morning coffee. I felt satisfied that, if I had to report to my Creator, I would be able to give Him a blow by blow account of the meteor shower. I certainly was enjoying His Creation. The only thing missing was someone to share it with. It's always more fun when you can share the oooohs, and the aaaaahs. Maybe next time.

Is Science Wrong Again?

Pretty much everything we've ever thought was scientifically true has been eventually proven false.
1. The sun revolves around the earth
2. The world is flat
3. Bleeding the patient cures him
4. Eggs are bad for you
5. Nuclear physics

It's just a matter of time until science catches up with some new discovery which supercedes past truisms. It's not that science is wrong, it's just that man's understanding of the universe continues to develop and evolve.

I've been telling my audiences that "psychological studies show" that about 50% of our happiness quotient is based on our genetic make-up; about 10% of our happiness quotient is derived from our life situation; and the remaining 40% is up to us, that is, what do we decide to do the the other 60%.

In his new book, Excuses, Begone!, Wayne Dyer contends that we can override our genetic make-up by changing our beliefs. What an exciting idea! Outer space is still on the frontier of scientific exploration, but close on its heels is the study of the mind and human potential. You'll see.
What will the world look like as more and more of us tap into our limitless potential for good?

If Necessary, Use Words

This morning while reading the paper I came across a quote that I have prominantly displayed near the front of my book, Simple Happiness. It is a quote from St. Francis of Assisi. To me it is a quote that embodies the total message of Christianity. It even completes what Jesus taught when asked what were the two greatest Commandments. Jesus said the first and greatest commandment was to love God with your whole mind your whole heart and your whole soul and the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.

A song comes to mind that we used to sing in church -" They will know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love. They will know we are
Christians by our Love." How simple is that.

Back to the quote from St. Francis.
In medieval times the followers of St. Francis wanted to know what to do when they took to the streets. "Tell everyone about the Love of God", St. Francis advised. "If necessary, use words."

A Physical Crossroad

My son and daughter in law were visiting from Boston two weeks ago to attend a family wedding. It was a great weekend. The wedding was on Sunday, my son and daughter in law arrived Friday night so we had all day Saturday to have fun. My son and I played 9 holes of golf and got home at about 10:30 just in time to enjoy a bountiful breakfast prepared by my wife. We chatted about many things one of which was tennis. I suggested that we go to the local high school courts and hit a bit. The three of us hit the courts - my son on one side and my daughter in law and I on the other.
What an eye opening experience for me. Granted I haven't played tennis in about one year, but I used to be a pretty decent player. I couldn't move at all. I could only return the ball if it was hit right back to me. I was embarrassed by my poor play. They were both outplaying me. I struggled for about an hour before calling it quits.
I realized that I was at a physical crossroads. I had a choice to make. Either I could forget about playing tennis for the rest of my life and just stick to golf... Or I could make an effort to get back into some kind of shape that would allow me not to embarrass myself of the courts. All of my children play tennis and now even my grandaughter is beginning to take lessons. This could be a very pleasant family activity that I would love to participate in.
Certainly I would only be able to participate if I could get my legs and wind back. I have been walking two miles about five mornings a week, but that has done nothing for my quickness and ability to move to get to the tennis ball.
So I decided. I'm not ready to give up on tennis just yet. I have begun a conditioning regimen which now includes jogging along with the walking. My goal is to build up to jogging one mile without stopping. I've been out every morning that it hasn't been raining. It's going to happen. That is my intention.

Watch Less TV

Comedian Groucho Marx said,"Television can be very educational. Every time someone turns it on I go into another room and read a good book."
There are so many good books to read. We claim that we have no time to read. Keep track of how many hours you are in from of the tv each day. Fill one hour with a more productive activity: read a book, take a walk, ride your bike, play cards with your kids, tinker in your workshop, learn to play a musical instrument, write a poem. In short, use that one hour to follow your bliss.

There’s More There than Meets the Eye

I went to Dunkin Donuts tonight to get a cup of coffee as I often do. I feel that the caffeine helps me stay awake so I can do some reading or writing. I also just love Dunkin Donuts coffee. Usually either Jorge or Rich is there to serve me. Jorge always has my coffee ready for me as soon as I walk in. Medium, milk, one sugar. He always makes me feel good. He works hard, sometimes six or seven 14 hour days per week. I have much respect for him.

Tonight Rich was there. He always takes an interest in my talks, asking me where I’ve been recently. He is very well read. One area of interest is Eastern Religions. I mentioned to him that I had just finished a small book by Thich Nhat Hanh which was given to me by a friend. Rich knew all about him having read many of his books. He even promised me that he will bring one of his books in next week for me to borrow.

I love getting to know people who work in service businesses. So often when you engage them in conversation they reveal much more going on inside them than we might at first give them credit for. It happens over and over to me. Don’t be too quick to make judgments about people because they might work serving coffee in Dunkin Donuts. Be sure that more often than not, there’s more there than meets the eye.

P.S. I hope you had a chance to check out the moon tonight – absolutely glorious.

A Full Moon

I hope you had a chance to check out the sky on Sunday night. There was a beautiful full moon shining brilliantly illuminating the sky.

When I die and meet my maker and when He asks me, “How did you enjoy me Creation?” I’m going to tell Him that every night before going to bed I checked out the sky. I enjoyed gazing at the stars on cloudless nights and at times the beautiful full, half or crescent moons. I don’t know much about astronomy, just that God created a huge wonderful universe for all of us to enjoy, both night and day. Thanks. I am in awe of it all.

Criminal Justice Class

Last evening I gave a guest lecture to a criminal justice class at Nassau Community College. I was invited by my friend Rene Fiechter, an assistant district attorney in Nassau County, who teaches the class. I arrived in a timely manner and at the appropriate time I stood to address the class. It has been a long time since I stood in front of a class full of students (I’m a former junior high school French and Italian teacher). I was a bit nervous looking into the blank stares of about thirty 18-20 year olds.

I gave it my best, opening up with a song I (which met with mild approval) and continuing for an hour or so. There were some smiles at the funny parts but for the most part they seemed detached. One young man raised his hand at one point and suggested that my message would be great for an AA meeting. I took that to be a positive contribution. I closed with a song which was followed my more polite applause mostly at the urging of Rene, my friend.

I encouraged them to fill out an evaluation paper, while I sang my last song, grading me and asking them for feedback. The evaluation also gives them the opportunity to sign up for my email list. I felt good when at the end of my portion of the class before they took a break several young people came to me asking to purchase a copy of my book, Simple Happiness, 52 Easy Ways to Lighten Up.

When I got home I sat down to read the evaluations. A broad smile took over my face as I read their feedback:

“This talk will really affect my outlook on life and keep a positive outlook on life and to be unafraid of failure and pursue my passions to obtain true happiness.”

“I liked the whole message and the songs. Thank you for coming to speak to us”

“Jim is good at expressing points, establishing appreciation, getting the audience to listen and think”

“I loved the speech and especially the quotes.”

“It was good, I was able to learn a lot.”

“I learned a lot about compassion. Your talk reminded me a lot of the book, The Secret.”

"I really enjoyed the whole thing. It was very inspiring."

It’s a real lesson for me to not assume anything about the audience just by observing their body language. It’s up to me to maintain my energy despite what might seem to be in the minds of the audience. There’s always more there than meets the eye.

Enjoy Creation

I’ve been enjoying the National Park special that has been airing on PBS. I visited many of them years ago with a good friend when I was in my twenties. What majesty, what grandeur. It is truly a spiritual experience to be in the presence of such natural beauty.

Before going to bed tonight I walked outside to check out the nighttime sky, as I often do. Tonight the sight was a real beauty. A nearly full moon light up the sky, its brightness lessening the effect of the stars. The wispy white clouds passing by couldn’t dim the moon’s magnificence.

An old friend of mine who is a Christian Brother sent me a Christmas card a few years ago that he had made himself on his computer. It was a simple design with a message on the inside.

When we die and go to heaven to meet our Maker, one of the questions that Almighty God will ask us is, "How have you enjoyed my Creation."

It’s a good question to ask ourselves now, while we still have an opportunity to do something about it.

Mindfulness

A dear friend let me borrow a book yesterday--Be Free Where You Are-- written by a Vietnamese Buddhist monk named Thich Nhat Hanh. I read the first few pages this morning and was struck with the simplicity of his message--"we are all capable of living mindfully." The only requirement is to pay attention to what you are doing while you are doing it.

If you have never experienced doing something mindfully you can start right now. By living mindfully your days will be filled with the fullness of life.

You will begin to appreciate the simple activity of drinking a glass of water. Don’t just drink the glass of water so you can get done with it. Experience the drinking in its totality. Be there while you are drinking.

Practice walking mindfully. Enjoy each step in your journey to pick up the morning paper from your driveway. Enjoy each step you take as you carry the dishes from the dinner table to the sink. What a blessing to be able to walk freely and effortlessly.

You can practice mindfulness when you eat. Before you start, look at your food. Smile at it. This food is what sustains your bodily health. As you pick up and eat your sting beans, consider the color, texture and taste. Realize that this sting bean has grown from a tiny seed. How many tasty string beans have grown from a single seed placed in the ground. Be grateful for the sunshine the soil and the rain that have all contributed to the maturation of this single bean.

Start with the practice of mindfulness when drinking, walking and eating. Cultivate the habit of mindfulness in these areas and see how you feel. You don’t watch a movie with the goal of getting to the end. You watch a movie with the goal of enjoying every aspect of it – the scenery, the dialogue, the special effects, the story, the actors, the intrigue – everything.

Start treating each day with that same mindfulness. Enjoy it all. It’s all good.