Accomplishments of 2008

My Aha Moment for New Years Eve suggests that you list your accomplishments for 2008, so I thought I'd better do it myself. Here goes.

• I did 14 Major presentations (9 local and 5 national)
• I lost 16 pounds
• I chaired the Rotary Wine Tasting fund raiser
• I helped my Mother die peacefully
• My songs comforted another dying woman
• I joined the Hauppauge Industrial Assoc.
• I placed 2nd in the "HIA's Got Talent" competition
• I edited Simple Happiness
• I finished remodelling two bathrooms at home
• I did Aha Moments every Wednesday
• I taught my weekly personal development class at the jail
• I did 2 tv interviews on cable channel 20
• I put Simple Happiness on an audio cd
• I vacationed in AZ
• I coached Beena
• I did a book signing in Chatham, MA
• I did a radio interview on WSBU
• I walked 2 miles most days
• I joined Speakermatch

I hope to expand that list in 2009. Now I have something concrete to expand upon in setting my goals for 2009. This year I'm also going to keep track of the books I read.

Aha Moment #7 Your Life is Like a Mansion

Your life is like a mansion. Are you living your life in the foyer of your mansion? It might seem easy and feel comfortable just to stay there, but why not try opening the doors to some rooms and peaking in. There’s no telling what might be in store for you.

Aha Moment #6 Is The Student Ready?

Everyone who comes into your life does so to teach you a lesson. Every life experience prepares us for what is to come. It’s all good. When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

Aha Moment #5 Daily Awareness

It is in the daily awareness of making small positive steps that strong permanent changes occur. Your conscious progress toward happiness becomes a daily focus in your life.

Give PEACE for Christmas!

As Christmas comes upon us, all too often the hustle and bustle of the preparations keeps us from what we truly desire—PEACE. Sadly, many times we find ourselves stressed, not fully able to experience the Spirit of the Season with those closest to us—our families.

It seems easier to spread a joyful greeting to a friend or even a stranger than to a loved one.How do we embrace the Holiday Spirit? First, we must begin by allowing Peace in our hearts. It may be through forgiveness or acknowledging others or simply counting our Blessings. The Spirit of the Holiday season is Peace on Earth. And it begins with YOU.

So as you kickoff your celebration, make the effort to bringPeace to the family. Try by pulling folks aside quietlyand begin a heartfelt sentence with, "Do you know what I've always admired about you?"

When you appreciate people for who they are, you bring Peace to them, you feel Peace in you and you invite Peace on Earth.

Merry Christmas!

Aha Moment #4 A Thought Is Just a Thought

A thought is just a thought. Your thoughts are not your life. You fashion your life by the thoughts you choose. Simple happiness comes when you reach for thoughts that empower you, and let go of those that do not.

Aha Moment #3 Mindfulness and Observation Are Key

Your job, if you want simple happiness, is to notice when you are hanging onto disempowering thoughts. When you observe yourself feeling sad, hurt, or depressed, you can usually trace that feeling back to how you are thinking about things. Observing yourself is the first step; choosing a better feeling thought is the next step.

Aha Moment #2 Your Thoughts Determine Your Life

Your life is a manifestation of what you think about all day long. When you are able to step back and observe what thoughts you’re hanging on to, you’ll start to understand why your life is the way it is.

Aha Moment #1 Start Here

If you want things to change, you have to change something. Start by changing your thoughts.

This Christmas Season

As Christmas approaches be mindful of your spirit. Sure there are added pressures this time of year. We all feel the squeeze of getting everything ready for a Merry Christmas Day. Be mindful that we all face pretty much the same stresses. Be the one who exhibits the true spirit of the Season. We are celebrating the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Take care to spread that Joyful attitude to everyone you come in contact with. Let's make this a truly Joyful and very Merry Christmas.

Happy or Unhappy

The other day while prospecting for speaking opportunities at middle schools and high schools, my assistant came across the website of an upstate New York school district. On the home page was a section called Daily Announcements. I found the message quite appropriate, since my talks focus on how to live a happier and more fulfilling life. It said:
The main difference between happy and unhappy people is that happy people mostly evaluate their own behavior and constantly attempt to improve what they do.
Unhappy people, on the other hand, mostly evaluate the behavior of others and spend their time criticizing, complaining and judging in an attempt to coerce them into "improving " what they do.

Just Ask

Many of us are afraid to ask anybody for anything. Who knows why. Maybe people will think less of you. Maybe the person asked will say "no". Maybe the person will say "yes" and then you'll be indebted to him. Maybe you think you should be able to figure out things for yourself.
It's been my experience that people like to be asked. Most of the time being asked is a compliment. Most people are very willing to be of help. Sometimes the person you ask can't help but is very willing to direct you to a person who is in a better position to help you.
You have nothing to lose by asking. If the person asked can't or won't help, you're in the same position you were in before you asked. In the New Testament it says, "Seek and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened; ask and it shall be given..."
What more advice do you need? Seek what you want, knock on doors to get it and ask, ask, ask.

Daily Dose of Inspiration

I try to spend some quiet time every morning. Often I will meditate. Often I will read some inspirational material. Today I picked up The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. What a great book it is. It covers so many aspects of success. It's just full of ideas, stories and practical stuff.
This morning I opened up the book to the chapter dealing with fear. The section I turned to was about Dr. John Demartini, a chiropractor who appeared in the movie The Secret. It simply talked about the confidence he had in his abilities and how setting aside his fears allowed him to live a fabulous life - a life we would all love to live. It was a real kick in the pants for me. It inspired me to take action, to make the calls necessary for me to stay on track toward my perfect life. I had a very good day today. I know that in part it was due to my reading that inspirational story this morning.
We all need inspiration. We need to be sure we take our daily dose to make the most of our days. Be sure to take yours tomorrow.

Do Something Today

Today is Sunday, typically a day to slow down a bit. Today is a good day to focus on being a better husband/wife, a better father/mother, a better brother/sister, a better son/daughter, a better neighbor, a better friend.
Pick one of those categories that you fall into and do something today that will make you feel good. Maybe it's a phone call, maybe it's some big hugs, maybe it's a compliment.
Do something today.

Enjoy Creation

A friend of mine who is a religious brother (a monk) sent me a homemade Christmas card several years ago. In it he wrote that God is going to ask us a few questions before we are allowed to enter Heaven. One of those questions will be, "How did you enjoy my creation?"
How will you answer that question?
Take time every day to take it all in: the wind and cold (like today), the rain, the thunder and lightening, the stars, the moon, the sun rising and setting every day, Spring following Winter, rivers running, birds singing, dogs sniffing, mountains' majesty. I could go on and on and on and on and on....
Enjoying the beauty and order of the universe can bring balance to your life. Give up your sophisticated attitude and experience nature through the innocent eyes of a child. Be childlike in your awe of nature. When your time comes to be asked this question by God, be prepared to give a great, heartfelt answer.

What a Humbling, Awesome Feeling

I've been teaching a weekly course in Personal Development in the Suffolk County, NY jail system for almost nine years now. The rewards I've received far outweigh the work and time I have put in there. Two days ago, one of the inmates who was to be discharged later that day came to me at the end of the class and shook my hand and thanked me for opening up his mind and heart to his spiritual side. I stood there in awe of how blessed I am to have the opportunity to touch the lives of the men in my class.
A month ago, my wife and I were attending a local town's annual festival on a Sunday afternoon and as we got out of the car a man came running up calling my name. It was a fellow who had been in my class at the jail four years ago. He proceeded to gush on and on, beaming about how his life had changed since his incarceration. He gave me much of the credit for inspiring him to make a new life for himself. He was sober and drug free. He had reconciled with his parents who had disowned him. He had begun again to be the husband and father he had always wanted to be. Again, I stood there in awe, giving thanks that I had made that first drive out to the jail nine years ago. I had no idea what I was getting myself into at the time but I wouldn't trade a minute of it. It's like no other feeling you could experience. I'm sure that these moments are but glimpses of what Heaven is like. Ah, Heaven on Earth.
It's there for everyone.

"What is" or "What Could be"

Your life becomes a manifestation of what you think about all day long. Why do you waste time thinking about how bad things are? What does that accomplish? It simply puts you in a negative frame of mind, you feel lousy, your energy level drops and your life stays the same or gets worse.
The next time you notice yourself hanging on to the thought of "the way things are" stop yourself by saying "oops, there I go again" and move on to thinking about "the way things could be". Your frame of mind will improve, you'll feel better, your energy level will pick up. The more often you catch yourself and pivot to "the way things could be," the better your life will become.

Touch Lives

Make it a point everyday to touch someone's life. Send an email to an old friend; call a relative and let him know you've been thinking him; make a kind comment to the store clerk; say hi to a person passing you on the street. Take advantage of the many opportunities that present themselves to us every day to show simple kindness to your fellow man. By lifting up someone else's life you can't help but lift up your own.

Weather Those Down Days

It hits us all. Those days when things just don't feel fight. Something has thrown us off a bit. That dark cloud seems to block out all the light.
Fear not! The sun is still shining brightly behind that cloud. Take heart and know that the clouds will pass and the sun will shine brightly on you again. Reach for a little better feeling thought. Sit down and read something uplifting. Recall to mind one of those empowering quotes you have committed to memory. Think about who your really are. Turn to your divine side and give thanks that you can feel that connection to God, the source of all. Consciously entertain thoughts of gratitude: your health, your loved ones, your gifts and talents. The tide will quickly turn in the direction you want to go. Feel better and rejoice in the contrast. Rejoice that you have taken charge of your life and are fashioning it on purpose.
Wait a minute...is that the sun I see peeking through those clouds?

My own "Aha Moment"

Every once in a while things become clear. Every once in a while we have an instant awakening, in Japanese, Satori. This morning while reading from Esther and Jerry Hicks' latest book, Money and the Law of Attraction, it happened to me. I came to a deeper understanding of what the Law of Attraction is all about. God, Source, the Universe wants all good things for us - health, love, abundance, a joyful life. It is up to us to understand who we really are. We are truly children of God. We posess a Divine essense. We are Divine beings in human form. As we begin to really understand this, not only intelectually but viscerally, we can start to really move in the direction of a life that is abundant in every way. I had a feeling of calm and peace about me but at the same time a feeling of excitement and anticipation about what my life is becoming. To be in that state of calm and excitement at the same time is how I want to live my life. I intend to be in that state as often as I can be.

Keep Reading

One of the fundamental ideas that I talk about is our need for a new idea. Where do we find new ideas? Books. That's one place. Make the decision to spend less time in front of the tv every evening. Make the commitment to spend at least one half hour reading something worthwhile. Something that could give you a new idea that could improve your life. Perhaps even introduce the habit of rising a bit earlier every morning and squeeze in a few minutes of reading into your morning routine.
One bit of advice: if you start a book and it doesn't grab you in the first few chapters, don't struggle with it. Put it down and try another book. Your time is too precious to waste on something that doesn't excite you. Who knows, maybe you aren't ready to recieve what the book has to offer.
Check out my website for a list of books that I recommend. It will be posted soon. Libraries are a great source. If your library doesn't have a book that you want, ask them to either get it for you from another library or buy it for their collection. Libraries are very responsive to their patrons' requests.
Feed your mind!

Let Your Genius Surface

Sometimes we just try too hard. We struggle to figure things out. How am I going to accomplish what I want to accomplish?
Sometimes it might just be a better tactic to just sit quietly and relax. Picture yourself having achieved your goal. Feel how good, no, how great you feel having accomplished what you set out to achieve. Bask in the glow of positive emotion. See the person you had to become to achieve your goal. Focus on seeing yourself as a tremendous success.
Do this for a few minutes every day. You'll be amazed at what ideas surface in your head. An idea that you say, "Where did that come from?" The ideas are all right there waiting for you to uncover them. By being still you allow your genius to make itself known.
The next thing is to act on that inspiration! Don't wait! Today is the day!

A Call To Action

I just finished reading a book called Harmonic Wealth by James Arthur Ray. James Ray appeared in the dvd The Secret. I recently heard him speak locally and was motivated to buy his book. It was an inspiring and practical book. The last chapter dealt with a call to action. It encourages us to be all we can be by moving forward in action instead of just thinking about what we are going to do. It contained two quotes that really struck me. The first was from Joseph Campbell, who said "The big question is whether your are going to be able to say a hearty 'yes' to your adventure." The second was from T.S. Eliot, "Only those willing to risk going too far can find out how far they can go."

The chapter ended with the line, "You are the one the world's been waiting for."

Let's do something remarkable!

Act on Notions

When the thought of an old friend or an acquaintance crosses your mind what do you do about it? Usually we just shrug our shoulders and do nothing. Over the past few days I've taken a couple of these these notions and acted on them. I've made several phone calls and written a note. In the case of each of the phone calls the person at the other end of the line has been very happy to hear from me. Their happy responses made me feel good that I had reached out to them. I just wrote the note today so I haven't gotten any feedback on that yet. It seems to be worth the trouble to take the time.

An Example For All

Hi Everybody,

It's been two months since my last post. My intention is to be more regular. Not making any excuses, but my mother recently passed away.

She was 88 years old and had been living in a local nursing home for the past year and a half. She spent her time in bed or in her wheelchair. She suffered from dementia and could not finish a sentence, but she always knew her visitors and maintained her sense of humor, always able to laugh at the appropriate times. She loved to laugh. That was her most admirable quality (among many admirable qualities). Especially, she had no trouble laughing at herself. Whenever asked about how she felt, her response was always, "No aches or pains". She was one of the kindest persons you could ever meet. She never spoke a bad word about anyone. Whenever I would phone her after not calling her for a week or two, (this is when she was living at home in Schenectady, NY) there was never any tone of annoyance or reprimand for my neglect; there was only love and a sincere interest in what was going in my life and the lives of my wife and kids.

My mother was a true Christian. She went to Mass regularly and participated quietly as a Eucharistic Minister and an active member of the Women's club. But more than just the externals of a Christian life, she led a Christian life in practice every day. She mentored folks who wanted to become Baptised in the Catholic Church and volunteered in her local hospital for years and years. She quietly served others in a humble Christlike manner, never looking for any accolades, just giving of her time and talents so that others' lives could be better.

She got pneumonia three weeks ago and was not able to fight it off. All her family took the opportunity and dropped what they were doing to be at her side during her last days, travelling from Seattle, Boston, Vermont and Rhode Island to show their love. She spent her last days peacefully in the VNS Hospice House in East Northport on Long Island. I feel blessed to have been able to spend many days with her, especially that final Sunday before she died, sitting by her bedside playing my guitar and singing to her.

She had a beautiful wake and funeral in her hometown. It was a celebration of her life. A life well lived by a woman who had her share of sorrows as well as joys. I look forward to the day when I will be reuinted with her in the heavenly bliss that awaits us all.

In the meantime I intend to live my life the way she did: seeing the Godly side of everyone I meet and spreading joy and happiness to all who cross my path.

Whew..., that took a lot out of me.

Peace to all.