Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. Albert Einstein

Imagine for a moment that you have the power to bring anything into your life that your heart desires. Imagine that there are no limits either physical or financial. Imagine that it were impossible to fail. What would you choose to do? Go ahead, take a moment to form the image in your mind. Now hold that image.

Now tell me, what is preventing you from accomplishing that goal? Oh, I'm sure you can come up with more reasons than you can name and some of them may be pretty convincing--but the truth is all that is preventing you (or me) from reaching those goals is our beliefs about reaching them.

Consider your heart's desires today and evaluate the real stumbling blocks that stand in your way. Brainstorm ways to overcome them and set short term goals that will lead you in the direction of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful to be filled with energy, for a productive day's work and for a clear sound mind. I am grateful for what surely must be the last winter's storm, for warm dry socks and slippers.


I am grateful for a hot shower, for the smell of clothes dried on the line and for bumble bees that will return when it is time. I am grateful for soft pillows that cradle me to sleep, for cats and their relaxing purr, and books.


I am grateful for family and friends who bring a smile, for children who put all their energy into play and for the elderly who share their wisdom with the world.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your imagination be vivid and and your future be bright as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Life is a mirror of your consistent thoughts. - Napoleon Hill

                                                                                                by Petra Bubníková
Even scientists are beginning to agree that what we think about, the thoughts we give our energy to and our underlying beliefs about ourselves and our world creates our reality. For some this comes as unwelcome news because it places responsibility for our destiny back on ourselves.

For those dealing with illness, personal struggles or financial difficulties it may seem a bit like blaming the victim--but that is not my intention here. We all find ourselves in trying times that seem to be created by people and events beyond our control, at times. The key is not to worry about how you may have created or contributed to the difficulties--although that may be a good exercise to increase your understanding of how your thoughts alter your reality.

The key is how you choose to alter your thoughts and behaviors to handle the seeming obstacles in your life, today.  Recognize that if your thoughts and your beliefs got you where you are today, they can also take you to where you want to be in the future.

Understanding that your thoughts and actions do in essence create your reality is a monumental step in taking control of your future.

Most of us are familiar with the concept of placebos--the proverbial sugar pill. Doctors have used them to bring about amazing results with unsuspecting patients. It seems that what the patient believes will cure their illness often does, whether the treatment is genuine or simply a placebo.

In the book Quantum Healing, Deepak Chopra introduces the concept if nocebos. A nocebo refers to the doctor's underlying belief--whether he verbalizes it or not--about the patient's recovery. According to Chopra, patient recovery typically follows the doctor's beliefs. If the attending doctor believes the patient has no hope of recovery, the patient typically obliges--while the doctor who recognizes that recovery is not only possible, but likely, often observes quick recovery in his patients. Of course, there are other factors that effect patient recovery, but Chopra exerts that the nocebo effect may be more instrumental that previously believed.

Beware of the nocebo effects in your own life. There is no reason to assume that it applies only to doctor-patient relationships; therefore must be at work in your life. There are always those around you who will expect you to fail. Guard against fulfilling their misguided expectations of you.

Today, I am grateful for the bright spring sun that melts away the mounds of winter snow. I am grateful for blades of grass that emerge and begin to grow, for spring birds that flit joyfully from branch to branch, and for fresh spring air that uplifts the soul.


I am grateful for two strong, healthy children who are not afraid to stand up for what they believe, who manifest their concerns for the world with the right action at the right time, and for their sharp clear minds that will take them far.


I am grateful for a husband who shares my life and brings joy to my soul. I am grateful for siblings who helped me make my way in the world, for my extended family that makes life rich, and for those I have loved that have gone before me and crossed over to the other side. May they enjoy the peace that comes with eternal life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May the reflections of your thoughts--that we call reality--be crisp and clear, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

“'Tis the set of the sail that decides the goal, and not the storm of life” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

by matthew_hull

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As human beings, we become accustomed to getting caught up in the storms of life that we forget to set our sails to take us in the direction of our dreams. Instead of moving forward, we willingly enter the turmoil and confusion that swirls around us unable to see the direction we need to go.

Consider your ability to look past the storms today and set your sails for the direction you want to go. Focus your energy on that you want to accomplish instead of the obstacles in your way.

Today, I am grateful for warm spring sun, for melting snow and the tiny patches of bare ground that grow bigger with each passing day. I am grateful for soft spring air, for honeycomb snow and for blue skies.


I am grateful for ideas that come when least expected, for moments of inspiration and for the courage to rise above the storms and head in the direction of my dreams.


I am grateful for this massive earth that we call home, for an infinite universe filled with great beauty and for the joy of life.


I am grateful for the outpouring of concern for those facing disaster in Japan and all the areas affected by the recent earthquake and tsunamis. May they reach out in love and a spirit of giving without cultivating a spirit of fear for impending disaster across the globe. 


I am grateful for family and friends who make my life full, for the ability to see that which is good and uplifting in all who I meet and the grace to overlook that which is not.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find the courage to look past the raging storms and set your sails to take you in the direction of your dreams.

Over every mountain there is a path, although it may not be seen from the valley. Theodore Roethke

by N Richford

Consider the mountains in your life today and cultivate the habit of looking for the path that leads over the mountain.

So often we become so focused on the seeming obstacles in our way that we fail to see what is right before us. Only when we still the mind and look with new eyes can we see the way to the top.

Today, I am grateful for the beauty of nature, for Mt Katahdin in all its glory and the ice covered world that glitters silver in the morning sun.


I am grateful for work to keep me busy, for new opportunities and for time to rest.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my life, for the Internet that allows me to reach across the globe and for online friends who inspire me to reach for my dreams.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find the path that leads over your mountains as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Look at your past. Your past has determined where you are at this moment. What you do today will determine where you are tomorrow. Are you moving forward or standing still? Tom Hopkins

By: taliesin

 

 

 

We are all the product of our past. The thoughts we entertained directed our path toward the future. What we have attained is the direct result of choices we made long ago--but there is always time to entertain new thoughts, to choose new pathways and go confidently toward the future.

Often we become so caught up in the present that we fail to see how the choices we make today may impact the realities of tomorrow. Consider your thoughts and choices today. Do your thoughts and actions point in the direction of your dreams? Align you actions with your goals so that the future you create may be full of joy.


Today, I am grateful for the glistening trees that stood strong under pelting ice, for the first rays of light that set them aglow in gold and for bright blue skies.


I am grateful for chick-a-dees in their black and gray, for purple finches in their rosy hue and for blue jays. I am  grateful for lady bugs and butterflies, for daisies that wave in the wind and for dew drops that glisten in the light.


I am grateful for family, for friends and for neighbors who share my world.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your thoughts be focused and your actions be fruitful as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

The minute you alter your perception of yourself and your future, both you and your future begin to change. Marilee Zdenek

By: nanette

 

 

 

The lowly caterpillar does not know that what lurks inside will someday be a beautiful butterfly able to soar above the earth. He believes he is destined to crawl upon the earth for a lifetime. So it is with people.

We are bound by our limited perception of ourselves and what we can achieve, often clinging to our lowly stance and refusing to unfold our wings and soar. Isn't it time you let go of your limiting perception of yourself  and envision a bright and joyous future?

Allow yourself the luxury of transformation, today, by altering your perception of yourself and your future.

Today, I am grateful for cleansing rain that washes away the winter snow, for gray clouds that announce the nearing of spring and for birds that bob and dart through the soft wet air. I am grateful for deer as they emerge from deep winter snow in search of food, for plants that stir beneath the snow ready to burst forth in the warm spring sun and for sunny days that are sure to come.


I am grateful for possibilities and opportunities that come my way, for good times that bring laughter and fill my life with joy and for inspiration that strikes amid the cover of darkness. I am grateful for courage and strength to carry me through the difficult times and the vision to lead me into the light.


I am grateful for family that creates a tight bond, for friends who remind me of who I am and for strangers who inspire me with their great courage and strength and commitment to do what is right, not what is popular.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find the courage to change your perception of yourself and your future as you soar in the direction of your dreams.