"To reach a port, we must sail - sail, not tie at anchor - sail, not drift." -- FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

So many times, we set our sights on a destination and then sit ourselves down with the expectation that we will somehow reach it without even setting the sails for that direction. We cast our hopes and dreams to the wind, thinking that the wind itself will power our path--never entertaining the thought that in order to sail we must harness its power.

Cultivate the habit of setting your sails. You may not always be able to determine the direction of the wind, but a skilled sailor knows how to use it to his advantage. Be a sailor today, as you determine the direction you shall go.

Today, I am grateful for the approach of fall, the smell of leaves and the cooling of air. I am grateful for fall winds, sunflowers and the tiny hummingbird that gathers energy for its long flight. I am grateful for fresh, clean rain; for white, puffy clouds and for the energy that only fall brings.

I am grateful for children as they head off to school, for teachers who provide their care and parents who adapt to the seasonal changes in their lifestyle. I am grateful for the renewed expectations of another school year, for eager learners and for knowledge available to our children.

I am grateful for family and friends who bring me joy, for strangers who challenge my thinking and for  writers who share their knowledge via the written word.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the habit of setting your sails to harvest the power of the winds to lead you in the direction of your dreams.

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." -- MARK TWAIN

Often in life we think we know what lies before us. As humans we are accustomed to seeing what we already believe to be true. As Marl Twain points out, if you imagination is out of focus, what you see may be too.

A long time ago, I dealt with a young man who had overheard his father's conversation on the phone. As the father spoke, unaware that the son was listening from another room, he made a reference to a name. Now, the son knew someone with this name, and quickly assumed the father was talking about his friend. The conversation continued and because of this one assumption, the young man built up an elaborate story in his head to accommodate the various parts of the conversation. He was sure his father was talking about him and his friend and grew angrier by the moment at the things he imagined his father was saying about them. But he kept silent.

Some weeks later the son he revealed his beliefs in a fit of anger.It was then that the father became aware of this simple misunderstanding. The son, of course, would have nothing to do with his father's explanation. He knew what he heard and he was unable to see outside himself long enough to consider alternate explanations. He had relived his false assumptions so many times that no other explanation would do. This one incident colored their relationship and determined the path the young man would take in the future. Yet, his imagination was out of focus and what he saw (heard) was too.

How like this young man we are sometimes as we hold fast to the things we believe are true, and think that our choices are limited to only what we see at the moment. 

Strive to put your imagination in focus today, so that you may see the many opportunities before you as you go forward to reach your goals.

Today, I am grateful for sunny skies, gentle breezes and the smell of impending fall. I am grateful for mums that bring bright color in the last leg of summer, for hummingbirds that get their fill in the summer sun, and for cats that laze in the summer rays.

I am grateful for family and friends who I hold dear, for good books, and the music of the crickets into the night.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you strive to keep your imagination in focus, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Life is full of obstacle illusions. ~Grant Frazier

As human beings we become so accustomed to seeing the things that stand in our way, that we forget there is always a way around them. Instead of looking for another way, we often give up and assume that our goals and dreams cannot be met. But, as Grant Frazier cleverly points out: that is often an illusion.

Consider the obstacles in your path today and get in the habit of seeing them as a mere illusion. There are many paths to your future, and many trails to your dreams. It is up to you to find them.

Today, I am grateful for the insight and wisdom to defeat seeming obstacles in my way, for the courage to press forward, even when it seems like there is no way to reach my goals. I am grateful for marvelous power of the human mind, for the ability to use that mind to see beyond the obvious, and for the drive to succeed.


I am grateful for summer rain that quenches my garden's thirst, for flowers that awake covered in dew, and for sunshine that scatters in an array of color as it touches raindrops on the grass.


I am grateful for music of the wind as it tickles the trees, for the call of the owl in the wee hours of dawn, and for stars that shine brightly under the cover of darkness.


I am grateful for family that I hold dear, for friends that share my life, and for children not yet born--who will surely change our world.


And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you cultivate the habit of recognizing obstacles as mere illusions today as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

“How you think about a problem is more important than the problem itself. So always think positively.” - Norman Vincent Peale

Seven Day Mental Diet Challenge Day Five

It always amazes me that it is our thinking that defines the challenges we face in life, not the actual circumstances. We are so accustomed to believing that the world around us defines our life -- yet, all the great thinkers repeatedly tell us it it simply isn't so.

Strive to think outside the box today and look at your problems and challenges in a new light. There is nothing so great that it cannot be overcome by a change in perspective and the will to succeed.

Today, I am grateful for the cool morning breeze to start my day, for the cheery robin who welcomes another day and for hummingbirds that dart here and there in search of sweet nectar. I am grateful for green grass, for growing vegetables and flowers.

I am grateful for a clear sound mind, a healthy energetic body and for insight as I begin my day. I am grateful for the mighty sun, for the glorious moon and for dancing leaves that flutter in the breeze. I am grateful for color and music and fragrance.

I am grateful for family, for friends and for polar bears.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you strive to think about your problems in new ways that you may overcome seeming obstacles as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Each day comes bearing its own gifts. Untie the ribbons" -- RUTH ANN SCHABACKER

Day Four: Seven Day Mental Challenge Diet

Sometimes, that which is right before us is the most difficult to see. What may seem dull and ordinary may contain the key to your success, if you but take the time to look. Strive to see life's gifts today. Go ahead, untie some bows -- you may be surprised at what you may find right before your eyes.

I've been reading The Secret of Mental Magic by Vernon Howard. In his book, Howard carefully explains that our thoughts are often clouded by our "illusions" of the way life is or the way we are. These images have been created by our interactions with the world, but they are not all accurate. That little voice that whispers, "I'm not good enough." or "I'm not smart enough." is simply the result of our faulty beliefs about ourselves and our world. 

In this book, Howard explains that we have the power to overcome those self-defeating thoughts with four simple words. "I need not obey." We all have within ourselves the power to simply refuse to react to self-defeating talk. We do not need to listen to that little voice that tells us what we can and cannot do. 

For today, practice being a rebel and stopping those thoughts cold with a bold, "I need not obey." Astonishing results are sure to follow.

Today, I am grateful for summer sun, white puffy clouds and butterflies. I am grateful for the vast ocean that teems with life, for the rainforest with its lush green growth and for far-away places I may only visit in my minds eye. 

I am grateful for the vastness of the Universe, for clear skies sparkling with stars, for the golden orb of the moon and for rainbows.

I am grateful for family and friends who enrich my life, for neighbors who are always there and for soldiers who keep my world safe.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you untie the bows to find life's gifts today, as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Always remember you are braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

Promise me you will always remember . . .

I thought I share a little inspiration from Christopher Robin and Pooh this morning. I've always found it such a delightfully uplifting cartoon that never fails to make me smile. Of course, my favorite is Eeyore, with his perpetual pessimistic attitude. Eeyore may be endearing as he wallows in gloom, but it seldom so with people. When we are pessimistic or negative thinkers, not only does it drag us down, it drags those we love down with us, too.

Strive today to build confidence in yourself. Focus on the things you do well and celebrate your unique  talents and skills. Know that within you lies the ability to rise above the circumstances, to stretch beyond what you always thought possible and to live a life filled with joy and accomplishments.

I've been thinking a lot about Norman Vincent Peale's words in  Enthusiasm Makes the Difference lately. This little book is filled with quotes and inspiration, but the one that sticks with me today is his exhortation for us to "Stand tall, think tall and act tall." 


So often, we spend our days with our heads held low so our gaze falls on the ground around us. We are so willing to let the circumstances of our lives dictate what we think, what we wish for and what we do. We obligingly let the world tell us who we are and where we can go. When we stand tall, we lift up our gaze and see beyond what is at our feet and open up a world of possibilities. Practice standing and thinking tall today.

 

Today, I am grateful for quiet moments that envelope my world in peace, for noisy laughter that lifts up the soul and for the sounds of nature that awaken me at dawn. I am grateful for fresh air, clean water and healthy food to eat.  

I am grateful for hands to touch, for legs to walk and for a heart that beats. I am grateful for eyes that see beyond the horizon, for the ability to dream and for the knowledge that dreams do come true. 

I am grateful for family that has always been the center of my life, for friends who share their worlds with me and for the multitude of people who have made me what I am today. I am grateful to my parents, who have long since passed, who taught me how to make my way in the world.  

I am grateful for my children who have grown into amazing human beings who always make me proud. I am grateful for my husband who always weathers the storms and reminds me that everything will be okay. 

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. In the words of Christopher Robin: "Always remember you are braver than you believe, you are stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

You may like these Vinyl Wall Quotes and Signs:

Seven Day Mental Diet Challenge Day One Revisited

"Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." ~Henry Ford~

Well, folks, I'm afraid I need to start back at Day One. Not because I went on a rampage spouting negative thoughts, and not because I've been beating myself up with negative self-talk. No, it's not that simple.

You see, I visited the dentist yesterday to have a tooth removed. I entered with a positive attitude, but somewhere along the way I let it slip away. Once I sat in that dentist chair, memories of several bad experiences (all involving pain) overwhelmed me. I tried watching the ducks in the little pond outside. I tried watching the clouds in the sky. I even tried deep breathing -- but despite my efforts, I found myself envisioning impending doom. Something bad was going to happen to me and I knew it.

Even as I ruminated over the situation, I knew that I was being irrational. I thought of you all and knew I'd have to make this post and admit that I let negative thoughts overcome me. I imagined your reactions to my weakness and that started me down another path I didn't want to take.

I'll be honest, I thought about lying. I thought about ignoring the whole episode and posting a uplifting message of how wonderful life is. But, I couldn't do it. It wouldn't be right. I owe you more than that.

So, here I am Day One Mental Diet Challenge Revisited, and I'm ready to start from the beginning again. It's not so bad, really. I have few days of practice to rely on and I've identified some of my pitfalls. As Henry Ford said, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." 

Today, I am grateful for cool, dry air that refreshes the soul, for leaves that rustle in the wind and for flowers that brighten the Earth. I am grateful for rich, dark soil that teems with life, for moss-covered glades and trees. 

I am grateful for an honest day's work, for a clear, sound mind and the promise of a bright new day. I am grateful for starting anew in my quest to nurture the positive and banish the negative. 

I am grateful for family and friends who I hold dear, for children who play in the summer sun and for the elderly who still have much to share.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May your journey is light as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.