"You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind." Joyce Meyer

If you are like most of us, stopping by to check out what your friends are up to on Facebook is a daily occurrence. In fact, 757 million of us do it every day. For some, Facebook is a way to keep in touch with family and friends, but for the vast majority of us, it seems to have become a dumping ground for all the bad things that happen in our lives. 

A quick scroll through your newsfeed will likely present you with the woes of the world - including the personal pet peeves of all your friends.  You may rationalize that this is no worse than reading the paper or watching the news and that it really doesn’t affect you. According to a study conducted by social scientists from Cornell, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Facebook, it does.

This study revealed that when people are exposed to negative posts they in turn begin to use more negative words in their own posts. When they are exposed to positive posts, they begin to use more positive words. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that some of that carries over into real life.

So what is a person to do when their Facebook timeline takes a negative turn? You could get off Facebook, of course, but for many of us that’s not a realistic option. We have friends and family to keep up with and aren’t willing to close that line of communication. But, there are other things you can do.

• ·        Create a group for like-minded people – or family – and use that as your primary means of communication.
• ·        Block negative posts from your newsfeed. If one of your friends insists on spewing the negative on your newsfeed, take the initiative to click the down arrow, located at the extreme right of their user name on a post, and click “Stop seeing posts, but stay friends.” Your friend will never know that you aren't reading all her posts and you can still contact her whenever you want.
• ·        Find new friends. Actively seek out new friends who share your interests and outlook on life.
• ·        Start posting positive posts. Research shows that your positive posts are infectious too. They may be enough to turn things around for that Negative Nelly in your group of friends.

Today, I am grateful for a full night’s sleep, for a refreshed body and a clear, sound mind. I am grateful for a hot shower to wash away the sleep, for clean clothes and for shoes.

I am grateful for my computer that serves me well, for spring rain that refreshes the earth and for the magic of seeds that burst forth into new plants.

I am grateful for the family I was born into, for the family I created and for friends I have made along the way.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find much success in eliminating the negative from your world. Remember the words of Joyce Myer today, “You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.”

Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts. Soren Kierkegaard

Consider the thoughts you are releasing to the world, today, for they will color everything you see, feel and do.

If you are like most of us, you probably struggle with keeping your thoughts focused on the positive. It's not a personal failing, It is most likely the result of living in a world that tends to focus on the negative. We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us what we shouldn't do and shown images of the horrible things that can happen if we don't follow society's accepted norms.

Sometimes, warnings about the perils of life are necessary - but when we become so focused on avoiding the negative consequences of simply living life, we get caught up in a vicious cycle. Instead of looking forward to each day with joy, we find ourselves constantly monitoring the world around us for signs of danger. 

Imagine how your life would change if you spent your energy focusing on the things that can bring positive experiences to you life, instead of trying to avoid those that bring negative experiences. Consider how your life would change if you chose healthy foods to feed the body because it improves both physical and mental functioning, instead of viewing it as denying yourself guilty treats because they are bad for you?

What would happen if you sought out positive people to form new friendships instead of lamenting the fact that those around you are simply too negative? Sometimes, we pay too much homage to the things we want to avoid and unknowingly give them more power over our lives. If this sounds like you, take the time today to adjust your thinking today.

Today, I am grateful for the gift of another day. I am grateful for the first rays of light as they warm the horizon, for the tiny birds who sing out in joy and for flowers that will soon burst forth.

I am grateful for honest work, for a clear sound mind and for increasing good health. I am grateful for the clarity to make good choices, the energy to do the things a need and want to do and for the insight to recognize opportunities when they come my way.

I am ever grateful for my family - for children who make me proud, for siblings who have always been at my side and for a spouse who supports me in my endeavors. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with positive and uplifting thoughts as you go forward toward your dreams.

To really believe that you’re meant to be happy is the first step to enlightenment. Pam Grout

Experiment #5 from E-Squared by Pam Grout instructs readers to ask for an answer to something that is important to them and give it 48 hours to materialize. I gave this considerable thought after the results of my last experiment. At 4:41 p.m. on Monday, I decided I needed an answer to the direction I should go with my writing, or rather for ways to earn a comfortable living with my writing skills.

As many of you know, I have been a content writer for close to 8 years now. You can see what I do Here. Most of what I write comes to me from third parties who contract with others to provide content for websites and blogs. The work is interesting and it pays my bills, so I'm not complaining - but it's not exactly a writer's dream. Not anymore. As a new writer, it was exciting and thrilling to earn a living writing, but there comes a point when a writer needs to move on to new things and I think I've reached that point. 

The problem is, I'm not sure how to make that profitable. Sure, I'm working on a book - like every other writer out there - but it's a local historical book that isn't likely to gain a lot of fame. It's a labor of love to honor my mother, but was and is never intended to be a source of income.

I don't intend to give up content writing anytime soon, unless some marvelous opportunity comes my way. I'm good at it, it's profitable and for the most part it is enjoyable work. I just can't help but think that perhaps there is something better out there waiting for me.

That being said, I'm not sure what direction I want to take, so I've handed it off to God to find my answers. My ears and eyes are wide open and I'm keeping a tally of anything I think might be writing related. I've noticed an upturn in interest in my gardening site Maine Garden Ideas and I've had a couple of inquiries related to my paranormal articles. I don't know if they are related to my 'request' for guidance or not, but I'll keep them in mind.

If you haven't done so already, please take the time to read my previous posts about the experiments in E-Squared. Check back soon to find out how Experiment #5 is working out for me!

Nannette Richford's Writing Services
Maine Garden Ideas 

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.

"A tiny change today brings a dramatically different tomorrow." — Richard Bach

By: melodi2

 

 

 

Consider the flowers of the earth today. They don't appear in full bloom, but unfold naturally according to their time. Your life is no different. Exercise patience as events begin to form and work diligently to bring them to full bloom.

So often, we expect to see big changes and overlook the little changes that transpire around us leading us to our dreams. Get in the habit of celebrating the little changes and giving gratitude for what you already have and soon you will be surprised by the way your life transforms.

Today, I am grateful for the morning sun that catches the clouds before it breaks the horizon, for distant clouds that pick up hints of pink and rose and for the first silver rays that shoot upward from the sun.

I am grateful for the distant cry of birds and the sound of dripping water that celebrate the arrival of morning.


I am grateful for eyes that see, ears that hear and a heart that feels. I am grateful for the marvelous power of the mind and the God that created it all.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your celebrate the little changes in your life as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

"As you climb the ladder of success, check occasionally to make sure it is leaning against the right wall." Anonymous

by mensatic

Sometimes we become so focused on success that we become blinded to those around us as we single mindedly go forward to reach our goals. Instead of building a solid foundation, we lunge forward grasping at anything that will further our goals. It makes no difference if our goals and dreams are personal or professional, whether they are simply to earn a living from what we do, or if they are lofty change-the-world goals. Climbing the ladder of success without a solid wall to lean on insures that we will topple and fall.

Consider the foundation of your support, today. Leaning on people, beliefs or things that have not stood the test of time may help you rise quickly, but they will not catch you when you fall. Do what you know is right and build a solid foundation for your work, even when the temptation arises to compromise your principles in order to find success quickly.

Today, I am grateful for furnaces to heat our homes as temperatures dip into the deep freeze. I am grateful for shelter, for food and for a place to call home.

I am grateful for guidance from above as I work steadily to reach my goals, for the vastness of the universe and the knowledge that all will work together for good when I follow what I know is right and good and just. I am grateful for the ability to discern the direction I should go, for helping others along the way and for the help others extend to me.

I am grateful for early-morning quiet that allows me to focus my thoughts, for laughter and happy times that gives me strength and for warm hearts that fill me life.

I am grateful for an amazing family, for thought-provoking friends and brave leaders who blaze the way.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May the ladder of your success be firmly planted on a solid foundation today, as you go forth to meet your dreams.

Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results. Willie Nelson

by hotblack

Consider the lowly caterpillar that transforms into a butterfly able to soar above the treetops. He doesn't enter the chrysalis with thoughts of dread. Instead, he knows that all will transpire as it should.

Cultivate the faith of a caterpillar today, exchanging old negative thoughts with positive thoughts and watch your world transform.

Today, I am grateful to be warm and snug inside as yet another snowstorm engulfs Maine, for administrators who must make the important decision of whether or not to close schools and for the brave men and women who work diligently to clear the roads.


I am grateful for the ability to work from home uninterrupted by winter storms, for a clear sound mind and for vision to see where I must go. I am grateful for all the circumstances in my life that have worked together to bring me to where I am, for the joy of the day and the promise of a bright tomorrow.


I am grateful for family and friends that make me strong, for old friends along life's journey and for new friends I have yet to meet. 


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you replace your negative thoughts with positive thoughts and go forth to meet your dreams.

Work joyfully and peacefully, knowing that right thoughts and right efforts will inevitable bring about right results. James Allen

by bjwebbiz

 

 

 

 

 

The gardener doesn't give up on his plants simply because he is faced with changes in the weather or invaded by pests. Why then do we succumb to our circumstances and let go of the hope of reaching our dreams?

Strive to be like the gardener, today, holding fast the knowledge that positive thinking will bring about great changes and that expressions of gratitude will enrich your life.

Today, I am grateful for mittens that keep hands warm, for shovels to move the snow and for song birds that will return in spring. I am grateful for cool water to drink, for healthy food to eat and books to read.


I am grateful for my garden that sleeps beneath the snow, for tiny seeds that will wait to sprout and for daffodils that will emerge through the snow. I am grateful for the mighty bear that hibernates to avoid the frozen earth, for the gentle deer that wanders in the snow and for bunny rabbits that hop merrily on their way.


I am grateful for family, for friends and children every where as they strive to find their way. I am grateful for teens who soon will go forth into the world, for young adults who stand strong against all odds and for the elderly who have blazed the way.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you go forth with courage and strength and never give up --holding fast the right thoughts that will carry you toward your dreams.

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Photo by mconnors

As we turn the page to a new year, life looms before us filled with opportunities and unexplored dreams.  Take the time today to really consider what that means to your life and set goals for reaching your dreams this year.

Don't worry that you dream too big, as that is seldom the case. It is not that our dreams are too big that cause I us to fail, it is that our faith is too small.

Cultivate the faith to believe you can accomplish your hearts desires, as your life will follow wherever you thoughts lead. It is up to you to set the sails and determine the direction you will go.

Cast off the belief that people and circumstances control your destiny, for surely your faith and determination are greater than the minor details that appear to hold you back.

Go ahead. Open the book. Begin writing the pages of a brand new year, filled with hope and promise of all good things that will come to pass. Get ready for the amazing journey that lies before you. You have the power inside you to make things happen. It's always been there. Isn't it time you set it free?

Today, I am grateful for a fresh new slate to start a new year, for the faith to carrying through and for the vision to see where I need to go. I am grateful for the "still quiet voice" that guides me, for the power to realize my dreams and the courage to stand by my beliefs.


I am grateful for the drive and determination to succeed in everything I do, for a sound mind that will see me through and for a healthy strong body to support me. I am grateful for renewed energy and a renewed mind that sees clearly where I need to go.


I am grateful for family that share my journey, for readers who benefit from my words and for opportunities I have yet to see. I am grateful for love, for laughter and for quiet moments to reflect on the beauty of nature, the song of the bird and the incredible will and faith of people around me. 


I am grateful for those who share my vision of a bright tomorrow, who are willing to work toward their goals by casting their gaze on all that is good and just in the world, and who know that the real power to change the world lies within each of us.


I am grateful for music that lifts up my soul, for a higher being that knows exactly where I should go and who never tires of showing me the way.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your vision is bright and your heart be light as you go forth to realize your dreams in this glorious new year.

“It's not the towering sail, but the unseen wind that moves the ship”

“It's not the towering sail, but the unseen wind that moves the ship”

photo by nazka2002


Too often in life we devote our time and energy into creating the most elaborate and powerful sails assuming that when we say, "I'm ready" the universe will respond and we will sail onward to reach our goals. We overlook that without the wind beneath our sails, we go nowhere.

Consider for a moment the source of the wind in your life. Many refer to the wind as God, who gives power and direction to their lives, while others prefer to call it the power of the Universe--but one thing remains the same, without the wind, your ship will never set sail.

Get in touch with your wind today as you prepare for the adventure set before you. 

Today, I am grateful for a warm home that provides a harbor to the storm, for family that binds my life together and for friends who make me smile.

I am grateful for air to breathe, for food to eat and coffee. I am grateful for warm dry socks, cozy blankets and soft pillows.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your sails be strong and your wind be mighty as you sail forward to reach your goals.

Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain...

“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance towards the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vintage point.”
- Harold B Melchart



Photo by kananaskis_country


Sometimes, we become so focused on where we want to go that we forget to enjoy and appreciate everything around us. This is particularly true when our goals involve making money or paying the bills.Although keeping your goals in sight and maintaining focus on ways to achieve them is important to success, don't forget that without gratitude for what we already have, the journey is incomplete.

Take the time to look around you today, and learn to express your gratitude for all that is good and just in the world. You may not have reached your goals, yet--but there is great beauty and goodness around you, if you but take the time to look.

Resist the urge to think that you'll be happy when you attain your goals. As we learned in "Happy for No Reason" by Marci Schimoff, if we can't experience happiness where we are, we will not experience it by attaining more money or material things. Happiness comes from within when we appreciate what we have already been given. Only then, can we go forth with confidence to attain our goals.


Today, I am grateful for new fallen snow that envelops the world in white, for Christmas lights that twinkle into the night and for the stars in the heavens that perform their own light show. I am grateful for gentle music, purring cats and the sound of the wind.

I am grateful for eyes to see, ears to hear and a mouth to speak. I am grateful for the natural energy to do the things I love, for words that flow easily from my soul and and the ability to change negative thoughts to positive by simply changing my focus.
 
I am grateful for family, for friends, and for neighbors who keep my world secure, promise a bright future and share my life. I am grateful for opportunities to help others as they meet obstacles in their lives, to share their joy in celebrating their successes and to encourage them when times are tough.
 
And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you celebrate all that is good and pleasing in your life today as you work toward your goals.

We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them. ~Elbert Hubbard

Photo by kakisky



It's easy to believe that our attitude would be different, that our lives would be more enjoyable or that we would be better able to reach our goals if those around us would simply get with the program and change their attitudes towards life.

If you are like most people, you have probably experienced days when everything runs smoothly, everyone you meet is in a happy and uplifting mood and life simply flows. You've probably also experienced days when everything goes wrong and those around you are in sour or depressed moods.

You might even be guilty of saying that the moods of others are getting you down.

Consider that your attitude, your mood, your approach toward the day may actually be the attitude that starts it all.  Guard your attitudes and outlook carefully today. Consider not how others effect you. Consider how you effect them.

Today, I am grateful for the beginning of a new week, for the energy and commitment to meet my goals. I am grateful for gray skies that remind me that winter will come, for changing seasons that add beauty to our world and for frozen puddles that crackle and pop with my step.


I am grateful for time to complete daily tasks, for cozy evenings to read good books and for the infinite expanse of the Internet filled with wonderful uplifting stories of those who overcome all odds to meet their goals. I am grateful for the ability to filter what I feed my mind, the insight to seek out that which is uplifting and the wisdom to make the right choices.


Am grateful for the people in my life that I call family. For friends who offer support and all the  lives that my words touch today. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you guard your attitude well, today and make a positive difference in the world.

“Dreams are like stars...you may never touch them, but if you follow them they will lead you to your destiny.”

Sometimes we think that dreams are just mysterious wishes that pop into our thoughts and our lives for no reason, and treat them as though they are fleeting fancies that belong to the night. Some dreams may be fleeting, but those that linger are given to your for a reason.

Consider the dreams of your heart today. Perhaps you want a better home, a happier lifestyle or perfect health.  Develop the courage to Follow Your Dreams because they will lead your where you need to go.


Today, I am grateful for the break of dawn, for the beginning of a new and glorious day, for courage and strength and vision as I go forth into the world today.

I am grateful for the vast universe that inspires awe, for a human body to house my soul and for the smell of rain and the feeling of approaching snow. I am grateful for evergreen trees that stand strong in winter storms.


I am grateful for family that makes my house home, for holidays to call us together and memories that build strong bonds.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your follow your dreams today and learn from them what your need to learn.











Photo by NASA.gov

“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you'll start having positive results.”~ Willie Nelson

Many of us confuse the cause and effect of our attitude-- thinking that what happens in our lives determines our attitude, when in reality our attitudes often dictate what happens in our lives.

Cultivating a positive attitude towards life, and towards ourselves, doesn't eliminate all the negatives in the world, but it does effect how well we deal with them and how much joy we find in our lives.

If you find that difficult to believe, consider for a moment how an entire day can be filled with joyous uplifting experiences while another seems doomed to bad experiences from the moment you awake in the morning.

It's no coincidence that whatever you set your mind upon follows you through your day. You are conditioning your mind to seek out more of the same. You give the directions and your mind dutifully obeys.

If you are a religious person, you already know that God instructs us to renew our minds.  "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2.


Isn't it time you renew your mind today and place on focus on all that is good and just in the world?

Today, I am grateful for food to eat, clothes to wear and a home to live in. I am grateful for books to read, words of wisdom and laughter that makes my heart light. I am grateful for giving hearts and caring souls that populate our earth. 

I am grateful for new opportunities within my grasp, for the courage and strength to pursue them and the wisdom to discern their worth.


I am grateful for family, for wonderful children who both make me proud, for siblings that make me strong and a life mate that shares my life. I am grateful for my small rural community that keeps me safe, for rolling hills and majestic mountains that beautify the world and ladybugs.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your mind be renewed as you go forward toward your dreams, today.










Photo by  where_ever_i_am

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.” Frederick Keonig











photo by kakisky



According to Marci Shimoff author of  Happy For No Reason, Americans tend to believe they will be happy if they have more material things. This, however, does not prove to be the case. She cites statistics that over the past 50 years income has increased by more than 2 1/2 times, but the happiness level of Americans has remained the same. Amazingly, over 40 % of the wealthiest American's are "less happy" than the average American.

Believe it or not, once your income level is above $12,000 a year, the amount of money you have does not alter your happiness level. So, what does?

You do. The thoughts you choose to entertain, your ability to express gratitude for what you have and your willingness to give up self-defeating ways of thinking and behaving determines how happy your are.

To be happy, you need to let go of the negative and focus on the positive. One way to do that is to examine your life and express gratitude for what you have. Won't you join me today and take tally of the wonderful things in your life that you are grateful for?

Today, I am grateful for the crystals of ice that form on the car windshield creating a feathery display of artistry. I am grateful for crisp white leaves that crunch beneath my feet, for yellow stars that bid me good morning and for cloudless skies that promise a new day.


I am grateful for lingering geese that have not yet flown south, for busy squirrels that leap from tree to tree and for baby animals that will soon take up their winter's sleep.


I am grateful for a warm home, warm socks and soft pillows on which to rest my head. I am grateful for a sound mind and warm heart to lead me through my day. 

I am grateful for family, for friends and for neighbors that give me a foundation for my life. I am grateful for parents who taught me much before they departed from this world, for teachers who guided me along the way and for classmates who helped me find my direction in life.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your happiness be great as you focus your thoughts on all that is good and just in the world the world today.

Things do not change; we change. ~ Henry David Thoreau

I found the amazing book Happy for No Reason tucked beneath other more popular books at my local store the other day. I haven't read it all, but the first three chapters have me hooked--so I thought I'd take a moment to share with you today.

For those of you who are not aware, Marci Shimoff appeared in The Secret and does motivational speaking across the globe. I expected to hear more of the same, but I got  a big surprise. I expected to be told that I needed to do to find true and lasting happiness was to change my thinking--but I found much more.

The first three chapters referenced actual scientific studies that supported the fact that--are you ready--we have a happiness set-point ( much like the weight set point) and no matter what happens in our lives we return to the same level of happiness within a very short period.

Unless you suffer from clinical depression or some other biological disorder, it doesn't matter if the event is positive or negative. As human beings we return to the same point we have spent our whole lives functioning at.

The good news is, we can reset our happiness meter and enjoy peace and happiness we never thought possible.

Isn't that just amazing?

Of course, one of the ways to reset your happiness meter is by expressing your gratitude for the things you already have in your life. Check back tomorrow to see what other amazing things this book has to offer.

Today I am grateful for wide-open fields, scurrying field mice and fall berries that continue to linger until snow. For crisp cold mornings and chimneys that send up a straight gray plume, for golden lights that illuminate distant windows and dog barks that tell me the world is wake.


I am grateful for the distant call of the chickadee that will soon find his way to the feeder, for blue jays that teeter on branches looking for a frozen treat and mourning doves as they draw close for cracked corn.


I am grateful for family and friends who share my world, for old friends who have gone on to their own lives in their own worlds and for future friends whose path I am destined to cross.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your happiness meter remain on full as you go forward to reach your dreams.

 
“Dreams are like the paints of a great artist. Your dreams are your paints, the world is your canvas. Believing, is the brush that converts your dreams into a masterpiece of reality.”





Photo by xandert


Consider the world you are painting today. Your positive thoughts and beautiful dreams of the future add color to your world, but guard against the effects of negative thoughts. They can easily ruin your masterpiece.

Grab your belief and begin painting, today. Give no mind that your style is different from those around you. The world needs the color only you can bring. Stroke the canvas boldly. Create what is pleasing to your eye and others will be drawn to its beauty.

So often boldness is seen as a negative quality lumped together with harshness and conceit. But boldness is none of those things when your thoughts are aright. Confidence and faith in your dreams cannot help but build the boldness to step out and take action.

Today, I am grateful for morning sun, blue skies and whispy clouds that meander across the sky. I am grateful for brilliant leaves that flutter in the wind, pine cones that settle in my yard and dirt to catch the seeds and start the cycle anew.


I am grateful for eager dogs who sniff the earth in search of the imaginary beasts that have visited in the night, for squirrels that scurry to reach the fallen nuts and store them away for winter, and cats who chase shadows on the wall.


I am grateful for good food, beautiful music and laughter, as they fill the soul. I am grateful for family that I can always turn to, for children who make me proud and a husband that knows me well. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you go boldly in the direction of your dreams and paint with the brush of many colors creating your masterpiece, today.

Don't turn away from possible futures before you're certain you don't have anything to learn from them. ~Richard Bach

 





Consider all your choices today and use caution with discarding possible paths to your goals simply because they aren't what you expected.


In the movie Beyond the Secret, Bob Proctor speaks of the value of intuition in reaching our goals. When a thought or idea pops into your head, take a moment to consider its value. Would acting on that idea move you closer to reaching your goals? 


Today, I am grateful for those who choose to share their insights and knowledge of the world, for freedom of choice that allows me to find my own path, and for intuition to guide my day.


I am grateful for an open mind that allows me to consider the world from varying viewpoints, for a sound clear mind with which to think, and for a heart that beats.


I am grateful for family and friends who fill my day, for afternoon naps, and kittens.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you take the time to consider all paths to your goals before casting them aside without thought.

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

photo by NASA

Consider your deepest dreams, today. Work to transform them into goals. Only then can you work toward bringing them to life.

If you haven't done so already, begin writing down short term goals that take you closer to where you ultimately want to go. Not only does this clarify what you really want in life, it provides a road map leading to your dreams.


Start small, if you need to. There is no time limit on reaching your goals. You are free to move as quickly or as slowly as necessary. Cherish the journey and reward yourself for each milestone you reach. Remember, small steps leading in the direction of your dreams soon add up to great strides.


Today, I am grateful for old friends who encourage me, new friends that share common goals and those who spur me to look at life in varying ways. I am grateful for family, for community and laughter.


I am grateful for fall flowers that continue to bloom as frost draws near, for trees that dance in brisk fall winds, and dappled sunlight that drifts through my window.


I am grateful for opportunities to expand my craft, for the time to devote to reaching out to others, and for the wisdom to see their needs.


I am grateful for the infinite beauty of the Universe.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your dreams be big and your goals be clear as you go forward to make a better day.

There are exactly as many special occasions in life as we choose to celebrate.  ~Robert Brault








photo by earl53

Consider what you choose to focus your energy on today. Each of us holds the power to to focus on the good things in life and celebrate the events and people in our lives that bring joy and peace into the world. Look for those special occasions in your life that give you cause to celebrate and let them be your focus.

Make a decision to cultivate a positive attitude about yourself and about your life. If you hold ill feelings toward another or harbor resentments and hurt today, make a decision to let them go. They can only hold you down and rob you of your joy. Lift up your heart and your life to the light today and celebrate.

Today I am grateful for a good night's sleep, for a soft pillow on which to rest my head and comfortable blankets to keep me warm. I am grateful for streaks of sun that tell me it is time to awake. I am grateful for pouncing cats, ambitious dogs and cawing crows that announce the beginning of a new day.

I am grateful for a day off from work so I can gather my thoughts and refresh my mind for another week. I am grateful for the great oceans that I know exist beyond my view, mountains that stand strong against the storm, and forests.

I am grateful for family and friends that bring me strength, for online friends who lift others up when they are down, and those who will cross my path as I follow my dreams and strive to reach my goals.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find much to celebrate today as you lift up your heart and seek all that is good in the world.