"Better keep yourself clean and bright. You are the window through which you must see the world." George Bernard Shaw

It is so easy to forget that how we view the world creates our reality. When we focus on the obstacles to reaching our dreams and goals, we lose of sight of where we need to go. When the momentum is broken and the vision becomes clouded by circumstances, our paths darken and we cannot find our way.

For today, strive to clear your vision by viewing the world in a positive light and know that you can reach your goals as long as you continue to go forward in the direction of your dreams. Allow yourself to see the world through the innocence of childhood today and believe in the power of your dreams.

Today, I am grateful for new opportunities I have yet to recognize but I know lie just out of sight. I am grateful for the beauty of the Universe, for the music of the wind, and the earthy scent of greenhouses.

I am grateful for a clear, sound mind with which to view the world, for the courage to pursue my dreams, and for the knowledge that dreams do come true.

I am grateful for the people who have touched by life - for good and bad - who helped me become who I am today. I am grateful for the ability to make wise choices, for a heart that feels compassion for others, and the wisdom to know when to offer help and when to let them find their own way. 

I am grateful for my family who forms the center of my life, for my pets who bring peace and joy into my life, and for my garden that patiently sleeps beneath the snow. I am grateful for improved health, abundant energy and the vision of a bright tomorrow. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you keep yourself clean and bright today that you may see the world clearly as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

With vision there is no room to be frightened. No reason for intimidation. It's time to march forward! Let's be confident and positive! Charles R. Swindoll

By dtl

It's amazing how easy it is to go forth with confidence once you get a clear vision of where you want to go. Consider your dreams and goals today and create a detailed image of what you really want -- then get busy taking the steps required to reach your goal.

Remember the words of W. Clement Stone, "If you can conceive it... you can achieve it." Often times we fail to reach our goals because we have not taken the time to visualize what we really want to achieve. We want more. We want to be better. We want to be happy. But to achieve those things we must be more specific. 

Get specific with your goals and dreams today. Add the details and create a vision that is worth striving for.

Today, I am grateful for snow tires, snow plows and the knowledge that we will not need them much longer. I am grateful for blue skies and puffy white clouds that bring rest to the soul. 

I am grateful for the mighty moose that roams the forest, for the whitetail deer that seeks out food and for the cotton tail rabbit that nibbles bark from the trees. 

I am grateful for birds who fill the air with song, add bright color to the world and flit happily from branch to branch. I am grateful for trees that provide shelter and stand strong against the wind. 

I am grateful for family, for friends and for neighbors.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your vision be clear as you go forward in the direction of 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.

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

 Photo by grafixar

I've always liked New Year's Eve, not for going out or entertaining guests, but because it holds that magical moment when our symbolic past and our hopes for the future lie in balance, waiting for the scales to tip. 


It's not that I don't value the past or that I have anything negative in my life that I wish to put behind me. I don't. It's the anticipation of new adventures, the hope of reaching new goals and the light of a brand new year approaching that I love the most.


In it lies the promise of reaching new heights, accomplishing new things and going new places.


Consider where you've been this year and take pride in all you have accomplished. Express your gratitude for all you have, but aim for more. 


Today, I am grateful for the hundreds of people who have voted for my daughter's entry in a photo contest so she may win a college scholarship. Your votes bring her closer to realizing her hopes and dreams for the future. (You can vote here, if you are so inclined.)


I am grateful for the opportunity to share my holidays with my son, even though he is miles away, for my brother who cared for my animals while I was away and for family to spend the holidays with.


I am grateful for another year to work towards my goals, for the opportunity to spend my days doing what I love best--writing.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you view your past with pride and view the future with hope and never lose sight of your goals.
 

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” Mary Manin Morrissey

Photo By: nasirkhan

Consider the effect of fear on your ability to reach your goals today.If you allow fear to become boulders in your path, you will never reach the water's edge. Clear away the fear that you may follow the path to reach your goals and dreams today.

Today, I am grateful for mountains that stand proud against the storm and valleys that offer their protection. I am grateful for lightning that energizes the air, rain that washes away the soil and soot, and a mighty universe that holds us tight upon this little planet called earth.

I am grateful for gravity, for whirling gasses that make up the sun and far-away-stars that hold mysteries we are yet to learn. I am grateful for the vastness of the universe that gives rise to contemplation of our place in life, for open fields that allow wildflowers to grow and for the great ocean that teems with life, yet undiscovered.

I am grateful for the people who have entered my life and those who I have yet to meet. I am grateful for family and pets to keep me company.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you clear away the fear and follow your path to reach your dreams today. 

“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.”~ Dr Seuss

Consider your goals and heart's desires today. They are out there waiting for you, all you need to do is go forward and claim them. Too often, the mountain looks too big or the distance seems so far that we become discouraged and fail to strive for what we want.

But we can't cross the distance or scale the mountain simply by viewing. Visions are wonderful, but to reach them takes action. 


Are you ready to take action today? Go forward with singleness of mind and conquer that mountain. Never forget the power that is inside you.


Today, I am grateful for soft damp air that whispers that rain may come and renew the earth. I am grateful for a reprieve from the beating sun that has dried the earth. I am grateful for unfolding flowers that bring beauty to my day.

I am grateful for grasshoppers as they spring from plant to plant, for crickets that sing into the night and for leaves that rustle in proud strong trees. I am grateful for the faraway cry of the crow, the barking of dogs and the tender meow of loving cats. I am grateful for old country roads that ramble through the wilderness, moss covered rocks and meandering streams.


I am grateful for a family to love, for friends to share a laugh and for the kindness of strangers. I am grateful for work that beckons, for eyes that see and a heart that feels.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day while you go forward to conquer your mountain. May your heart be filled with joy that overflows to the lives of others today.

Vision is only the first step . . .

You cannot plough a field by
turning it over in your mind.
Author Unknown

Photo by  jzlomek

The farmer knows that vision is only the beginning. To bring that vision to fruit requires dedication and hard work. Simply wishing it so, does not prepare the soil or sow the seeds.

Consider the attitude of the farmer today as he works steadfastly toward his vision. Just like you and I, he faces challenges beyond his control, but he does not give up.  If the weather takes a bad turn, the farmer does not give up in despair. He strives to reach his goal despite the circumstances. 

How many times in our lives we think we cannot go on--that reaching our goals is impossible--simply because of the circumstances around us. Rise up above the temptation to give in to circumstances and go forward with the determination of a farmer today as you strive to meet your personal goals.

Today, I am grateful for the chattering squirrel as he raids my feeder, for the gentle breeze that tells me fall is on its way, and for fluttering leaves that are music to my soul.  I am grateful for flowers in bloom, fragrant garden herbs, and hummingbirds as they dart through the air. I am grateful for the air I breathe, sweet garden vegetables, and sunshine.

I am grateful for family and friends who make my life full. I am grateful for those who have crossed my path and brought me the knowledge I needed to move forward. I am grateful for those I am yet to meet as they bring with them things I still need to learn.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your heart be filled with warmth and joy as you go forward--like the farmer-- to bring your vision to pass. 

The Principles and Power of Vision: Keys to Achieving Personal and Corporate Destiny (Study Guide)

 

Photo by Nerian 

"It is hard to let old beliefs go. They are familiar. We are comfortable with them and have spent years building systems and developing habits that depend on them. Like a man who has worn eyeglasses so long that he forgets he has them on, we forget that the world looks to us the way it does because we have become used to seeing it that way through a particular set of lenses. Today, however, we need new lenses. And we need to throw the old ones away." Kenich Ohmae

Consider your view of the world today. What lens are you viewing it through? How would it change if you viewed it through a new set of lenses? Take a risk today and try out a new set of lenses with which to view the world.

I often hear pessimists proclaim that they are not pessimists, They claim they simply see the world the way it is. How sad that they cannot comprehend that we all choose how we see the world. There is no "how it is". How it is changes with our perspective, with our life experiences and with our state of mind. 

If you want to see a better world today, change your lenses.

Today, I am grateful for kittens, for puppies and for baby birds as they begin their journey into life. I am grateful for gardens brimming with fruit, for soil rich in nutrients and for room for roots to grow. I am grateful for buzzing bees and fluttering butterflies.

I am grateful for the changing of seasons that brings great beauty to the landscape. I am grateful for  babbling brooks and mighty rivers. I am grateful for family and friends who share my life and bring me joy.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you go forward with boldness as you risk the changing of your lenses today. May your vision be sharp and your heart be full.

When you get the hang of this, before you know it you will KNOW you
are the creator. (quote from The Secret)

photo by xandert


Just as the artist needs vision that he brings to life on the canvas, we need vision to bring to life in our lives.


In the beginning, it may be difficult to hold onto images and bring them to pass, but with practice and belief, it will happen. 


The artist doesn't begin his journey with a full-sized mural expecting to paint a masterpiece. He begins with a vision of what he wants to express and lets the vision guide his hand.


Consider the artist today. Create a vision of yourself living in abundance. Feel the joy of knowing it will come to pass. Let the vision guide your action today as you work towards filling the canvas of your life with brilliant color.


Today, I am grateful for quiet time to think, for the gentle spring breeze and for trees as they begin to awake for spring. I am grateful for laughter and the kitten's purr. I am grateful for the brilliant color that God paints the sky when the sun is done, for the soft blue hues of the mountain as night beckons and the purity of snow-covered peaks. 


I am grateful for the people who touch my life and bring unbridled joy, for family that gives me  a solid foundation and for those I have yet to meet who have much to teach me.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your visions be bright and you way be clear today.

The Greatest Discovery

The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.  ~William James
Photo by  Paul Everett

I've always had a passion for hot air balloons and imagine myself soaring above the earth in the clear blue sky looking down and seeing cool green pastures, lush green foliage and meandering brooks. 

I can feel the cool crisp breeze on my face that fills my lungs with fresh clean air and rejuvenates my life.

Visualizing my future should be no different. 

Today, I challenge you to find that magical feeling of your youth when visualizing what you wanted most in life was easy -- the time when you could feel the very fabric of your future. Grasp onto that and transform it to fit your current goals. 

Remove the boundaries today and let yourself imagine your future without fear or concern. Dare to dream the big dreams and let go of whatever it is that holds you back. Share your dreams, if you can -- or dream in secret if you must -- but find the courage today to dream and then follow that dream wherever it may lead.

You'll find me soaring over the tree tops and taking in the view. 

Today, I am grateful for new opportunities, for recognizing new paths and for renewed courage. I am grateful for the emergence of spring and the promise of new growth around me. I am grateful for  perfect health and strength to complete the tasks I wish to complete. I am grateful for the sun as it peaks above the horizon promising a new day.


I am grateful for family, old friends who brighten my path and for new friends I have yet to meet. I am grateful for quiet moments, laughter and sunshine. I am grateful for living in the country, birds on wing and stars that light the night.


And, I am grateful for you dear reader as you stop to join my day. May your day be filled with joy as you continue your journey to change your life one thought at a time.

photo by Pennywise “We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision.” If you witnessed the full moon rising on Saturday night, you already know what a phenomenal event it was. When I rounded the corner and saw that ball of orange hanging mid air above the road, I couldn't believe my eyes. Here was the full moon I had seen hundreds of times, but its beauty was so profound my jaw dropped. For those who don't know: the moon was in perigee, which simply means it was at it's closest point to earth in its normal orbit. It happens every month, but this month it coincided with the rising of the full moon. Scientists say it was 14% larger and 30% brighter than the "normal" appearance of the moon. I normally don't think of a 14% increase as much, but seeing it with my eyes really made an impact on me. It made me begin thinking about what it means to increase your production or your income by 14%. Our natural instinct is to want to double our output or income . . . or make phenomenal changes in our lives right out of the gate. Yet a 14% increase in the size of the moon was a jaw-dropping stop-in-your-tracks experience. Consider the effects of change in your life today and take the time to notice even the small changes. Forget the shoot-for-the-moon mindset and realize that change happens gradually. What may seem like a little change may well be a jaw-dropping change that begins the journey to a new life filled with all the things you dream of. Let the moon be your example today and lead you toward the life you dream of. Today, I am grateful for the blue-black sky that promises the sun is on its way. I am grateful for the soft winter wind that brushes my face and tells me I am alive. I am grateful for work that sustains my lifestyle, for opportunities to pursue new endeavors and the energy to complete them. I am grateful for the gifts God has bestowed on me, for my willingness to develop them and for the ability to touch the lives of others. I am grateful for family and friends who provide support and encouragement. And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your day be filled with hope and joy and may your belief in your abilities be strengthened. May the vision of the moon in all its glory inspire you to go forward today and make great changes in your life.