As a former Irish Christian Brother I get communications from time to time relating to the state of the Congregation. I've lifted this paragraph from a presentation recently given by Bro. Philip Pinto. He is speaking about the need for a renewed commitment to follow Christ. Here it is:
"For so long we have based our religious observance on beliefs and propositions. We worry about the divine presence and the virgin birth, about the two natures in Christ and the infallibility of the Pope, about Transubstantiation and the Immaculate Conception. But when one reads and reflects on the Sermon on the Mount, the heart and soul of the Jesus vision, what the early Christians referred to as The Way, we find nothing about what to believe but an alternative ehtic, a way of behaving, a way of living life. Jesus was telling us that there was antother way of living life, another way of relating to people, and he called us to change the world from the inside. It is about behavior rather than belief. We are invited to embrace what is truly eternal. And what is truly eternal is love!"
I love it! Love God, Love your Neighbor. I invite you to read the Sermon on the Mount from the Gospel of St. Matthew.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Commitment Opens Doors
I love to play golf. I'm not the greatest golfer but I feel my best days are still ahead of me. My normal score is in the low 90's. I feel really good when I score in the 80's. Over the past few years I have often put off playing to spend time working in my office. This year I decided that I would play as much golf as I could. I made a commitment to follow my passion for golf.
Last Thursday I was playing a round at the Crab Meadow Golf Course in Northport with three friends. I stood at the tee at the third hole, a par three 161 yards long. I pulled my eight iron from my bag (normally I would have hit a seven iron, but there was a helping wind). I struck the ball and it jumped off the club, travelling high into the air flying right toward the center of the green. It bounced once then on to the green and it proceeded to roll slowly in the direction of the pin. It was as if time stood still. I thought to myself that this is going to be a pretty good shot. Closer, closer it rolled until that wonderful moment when it gently hit the pin and dropped in the cup for a hole-in-one! What a feeling of exhiliration! I jumped and screamed with delight at my first ever hole-in-one.
It was witnessed by all three of my playing partners who also gave a whoop-di-doo on my behalf. What a great day - one that I will never forget. I ended up shooting an 89, by the way. It was mostly good except for two triple bogies and a double.
It is my firm belief that the decision and commitment to play more golf this year opened me up to this experience. Not only did I have the hole-in-one, but my business is doing great as well. My time away from the office has forced me to focus more when I am there, yielding very satisfactory results.
What is your passion? When will you decide to pursue it? Isn't today a good day to make that commitment?
Last Thursday I was playing a round at the Crab Meadow Golf Course in Northport with three friends. I stood at the tee at the third hole, a par three 161 yards long. I pulled my eight iron from my bag (normally I would have hit a seven iron, but there was a helping wind). I struck the ball and it jumped off the club, travelling high into the air flying right toward the center of the green. It bounced once then on to the green and it proceeded to roll slowly in the direction of the pin. It was as if time stood still. I thought to myself that this is going to be a pretty good shot. Closer, closer it rolled until that wonderful moment when it gently hit the pin and dropped in the cup for a hole-in-one! What a feeling of exhiliration! I jumped and screamed with delight at my first ever hole-in-one.
It was witnessed by all three of my playing partners who also gave a whoop-di-doo on my behalf. What a great day - one that I will never forget. I ended up shooting an 89, by the way. It was mostly good except for two triple bogies and a double.
It is my firm belief that the decision and commitment to play more golf this year opened me up to this experience. Not only did I have the hole-in-one, but my business is doing great as well. My time away from the office has forced me to focus more when I am there, yielding very satisfactory results.
What is your passion? When will you decide to pursue it? Isn't today a good day to make that commitment?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Placebo Effect
The Placebo Effect is evidence enough for me that our mind is a very powerful asset One that that we all posess (http://bit.ly/kBkwBG. We need to start to cultivate the power of our minds. Building the belief in ourselves that we can accomplish a goal that is the determining factor in our success to reaching that goal.
Make the attainment of your goal your dominant thought. Refer to that visual of your achievement often during the day. Spend time in visualizing it during your morning meditation and as you lie down in bed for a restful night's sleep. When the negative thoughts arrive, acknowledge them, but quickly turn to the picture and the affirmation of your success.
Harness the power of your Mind. Check out this short video. Refer to it often. http://bit.ly/kBkwBG
Make the attainment of your goal your dominant thought. Refer to that visual of your achievement often during the day. Spend time in visualizing it during your morning meditation and as you lie down in bed for a restful night's sleep. When the negative thoughts arrive, acknowledge them, but quickly turn to the picture and the affirmation of your success.
Harness the power of your Mind. Check out this short video. Refer to it often. http://bit.ly/kBkwBG
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Enjoy Your Own Company
I crack up laughing whenever I hear someone say "I was bored out of my mind".
Why do we feel the need to be doing something all the time?
It's okay to be bored. When we notice ourselves feeling bored, that's the best time to work on enjoying our own company. It's time to reflect, plan, dream,
to connect with our divine side. Notice when you have nothing pressing to do. Sit for a minute or two and just be. Don't channel surf on the TV. Think. Reflect. Consider what you love about yourself. Consider the many ways in which you are blessed. Be happy with who you are.
It's a good thing to begin to enjoy your own company because for many of us that is what old age has in store.
Check out this video and enjoy one of nature's beauties.
http://bit.ly/lYEPZO
Why do we feel the need to be doing something all the time?
It's okay to be bored. When we notice ourselves feeling bored, that's the best time to work on enjoying our own company. It's time to reflect, plan, dream,
to connect with our divine side. Notice when you have nothing pressing to do. Sit for a minute or two and just be. Don't channel surf on the TV. Think. Reflect. Consider what you love about yourself. Consider the many ways in which you are blessed. Be happy with who you are.
It's a good thing to begin to enjoy your own company because for many of us that is what old age has in store.
Check out this video and enjoy one of nature's beauties.
http://bit.ly/lYEPZO
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day
There are many kinds of mothers, just like there are many kinds of people. Most try to do their best. All need encouragement and support. All want the best for their children. Many are underappreciated and misunderstood. See the good in your mother. Try to overlook the unhappy stuff. Speak only good of your mother.
Be the best mother you can be. Love your kids no matter what. They need your love, no matter how old they are. Tell your kids how proud you are of them.
Be the best mother you can be. Love your kids no matter what. They need your love, no matter how old they are. Tell your kids how proud you are of them.
Friday, May 6, 2011
A Tale of Two Audiences
I delivered two talks this week and the results were miles apart. I learned a good lesson from the first one.
I was hired to give a talk at a dinner for a women's group last Wednesday and a Conference group on Thursday. The focus of the women's group was a social dinner to close out their season. I happened to be the speaker. Chatty women,sitting at round tables (some had their backs to me),eating dinner, enjoying a glass of wine or two do not make the most attentive of audiences. I was talking over a constant drone of conversation most of the time. Next time I will make my talk brief and hard hitting.
I got a lot of good feedback from those who listened but I felt it was a struggle the whole way.
Yesterday I spoke at a breakout session at the LI Library Conference, held at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Over 300 attended, (about 100 more that the sponsor had anticipated). I had them in the palm of my hand the entire time. It was one of the best audiences I've ever addressed. I even got a chance to be funny, reacting to the input from the folks. The feedback was enthusiastic as evidenced by my book sales and email signups.
It was indeed a Tale of Two Audiences. I've learned my lesson.
I was hired to give a talk at a dinner for a women's group last Wednesday and a Conference group on Thursday. The focus of the women's group was a social dinner to close out their season. I happened to be the speaker. Chatty women,sitting at round tables (some had their backs to me),eating dinner, enjoying a glass of wine or two do not make the most attentive of audiences. I was talking over a constant drone of conversation most of the time. Next time I will make my talk brief and hard hitting.
I got a lot of good feedback from those who listened but I felt it was a struggle the whole way.
Yesterday I spoke at a breakout session at the LI Library Conference, held at the Crest Hollow Country Club. Over 300 attended, (about 100 more that the sponsor had anticipated). I had them in the palm of my hand the entire time. It was one of the best audiences I've ever addressed. I even got a chance to be funny, reacting to the input from the folks. The feedback was enthusiastic as evidenced by my book sales and email signups.
It was indeed a Tale of Two Audiences. I've learned my lesson.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Forgiveness - Two Sides
Have mercy. Be open to forgiving, that is, asking for and granting forgiveness.
Why harbor a grudge? Nobody's perfect. Why let your family be split apart by stubbornness or a misunderstanding? Be the one to take the first step to begin the healing. Life is too short. Soften your position.
Forgive. Ask for forgiveness.
That was my "Aha Moment" for 5/4/11... This was a response I got.
"I have forgiven so many times only to be used and abused and mistreated
time and time again. He is an addict - and an alcoholic.
If the person you are forgiving will not get help to change, you will
spend a lifetime forgiving and staying in the vacuum which sucks you dry.
Sometimes forgiving is not the answer to preserve your own health and
well being. Sometimes you just need to walk away."
My response was:
You have hit on the other side of it. I agree. Forgiving doesn't mean being taken advantage of or being stepped on and walked over. Sometimes it means moving on with a clear conscience.
Why harbor a grudge? Nobody's perfect. Why let your family be split apart by stubbornness or a misunderstanding? Be the one to take the first step to begin the healing. Life is too short. Soften your position.
Forgive. Ask for forgiveness.
That was my "Aha Moment" for 5/4/11... This was a response I got.
"I have forgiven so many times only to be used and abused and mistreated
time and time again. He is an addict - and an alcoholic.
If the person you are forgiving will not get help to change, you will
spend a lifetime forgiving and staying in the vacuum which sucks you dry.
Sometimes forgiving is not the answer to preserve your own health and
well being. Sometimes you just need to walk away."
My response was:
You have hit on the other side of it. I agree. Forgiving doesn't mean being taken advantage of or being stepped on and walked over. Sometimes it means moving on with a clear conscience.
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