Thinking Out Loud

Today’s Thought: Turn Your Attention from the Past

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Don’t stumble over something behind you. ~ Seneca the Younger

NOTE: Dwelling on past hurts gets one nowhere. Dwelling on what used to be gets one nowhere. Dwelling on what could have been is another time waster. Time spent dwelling on the past detracts from living and enjoying the present moment. When we adhere to the myth, “It’s the way we’ve always done it,” we’re adhering to the past, refusing to consider newer and more effective options. Don’t get hung up on the past. It’s over. Life is lived now. Do what is important today so tomorrow will be even better than today.

Today’s Thought:

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Speaking with kindness creates confidence, thinking with kindness creates profoundness, giving with kindness creates love. ~ Laozi

NOTE: It’s the little things we do that make a big difference. A simple kindness of holding a door for someone. The simple kindness of letting someone with few groceries cut in front. The simple kindness of bringing a neighbor a surprise loaf of bread from the bakery. The simple kindness of remembering a birthday or sending a thank you note. Simple kindnesses are the glue that hold us together. A single simple kindness can make another’s day. Be a kindness generator.

Today’s Thought:

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Some of us think holding on makes us strong; but sometimes it is letting go. ~ Hermann Hesse

NOTE: It’s not easy to let go. Our attachments to the past or to our existing situations are intertwined with emotions and raw feelings and often tied tightly by guilt or anxiety. Letting go isn’t an option if we are to continue to grow and evolve into who we are destined to become. Letting go is a necessity. Imagine a seed saying to the soil, “I like it here, it’s dark and comfortable. I feel safe.” The seed loses its opportunity to burst out of the ground and grow. They seed is programed to burst through the ground. It has no other choices. We’re not similarly programed. We have to choose. Do we choose to grow? Or, do we choose to remain in the soil fearful of what is ahead of us? Which do you choose?

Today’s Thought: You Exist – How Wonderful

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Have patience with all things – but first with yourself. Never confuse your mistakes with your value as a human being. You are perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because you exist. And no amount of triumphs or tribulations can ever change that. ~ Saint Francis de Sales

NOTE: Oftentimes the toughest critic in our lives is the critic we see in the mirror. We evaluate how we look. We critique ourselves by saying things such as, “That was dumb.” The next time you stand in front of the mirror take a cue from Saint Francis de Sales and say, “I am a perfectly valuable, creative, worthwhile person simply because I exist.” How does that make you feel? Did you try it? Say over and over until it becomes part of your belief system.

Today’s Word: Loyalty

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Loyalty: Loyalty is a virtue that involves a strong feeling of support or allegiance to someone or something. It encompasses faithfulness, dedication, and an unwavering commitment, regardless of the circumstances. Loyalty can manifest in various aspects of life, including personal relationships, professional environments, and patriotism to one’s country. It implies a mutual respect and trust between parties, where one remains steadfast in their support and defense of the other.

NOTE: Loyalty, for me, is a big deal. Loyalty requires a person to commit to another or something bigger than him or herself. Loyalty is a two-way street. One cannot expect to give loyalty to another when loyalty is not returned. It often means putting another’s interest above our own interest. I have a friend whose loyalty to me is beyond question. I can count on this person in good or tough times. I can count on this person even if it means self sacrifice and it often has. I am equally loyal to this person. Perhaps in some small businesses there is loyalty between the owner and employer. It’s more difficult to expect loyalty from large corporations. Yet, within the large corporation there exist opportunities for loyalty between the worker and his/her supervisor. Loyalty makes relationships work. I can trust you. Can people say that of you? Can you say that of others?

Today’s Thought:

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Change isn’t easy… changing the way you live means changing what you believe about life. That’s hard… When we make our own misery, we sometimes cling to it even when we want so bad to change because the misery is something we know. The misery is comfortable. ~ Dean Koontz

NOTE: I have a friend who suffers great mental anguish that is sometimes manifested in bodily ailments. He continuously looks for conflict. He doesn’t reason that are other possible paths than conflict. No, he charges right ahead as if he were a bull and whoever is in authority is waving a red cape at him. I’ve talked to him about changing. He tells me this is who he is. So I step to the sidelines and watch him suffer knowing there is nothing I can do. If he changed the way he viewed the world and authority, he’d be a happier, more peaceful man. It takes an awake person to realize that what they’re doing isn’t working. It takes a courageous person to say, “I’ve got to change.” Here’s to awake and courageous people – Cheers!

Today’s Thought: Yes, It is Possible!

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Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve. ~ J. K. Rowling

NOTE: When things go bad it’s easy to visit that dark space where there is no light. When we turn our back to the dark space, give ourselves a kick in the butt, and light a fire under us, we engage with the world. If we’re trying and refuse to quit, we may fool everyone and succeed beyond our wildest dreams. What have you got to lose? Go for it.

Today’s Word: Serene

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Serene: Serene means calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil. It often describes a state of mind or environment that is marked by a lack of disturbance or turmoil.

NOTE: Life can be hectic. People speed from one red traffic light to the next. Many eat while reading a digital device or watching a video or TV. People walking have ear phones attached to their ears or are holding a smart phone close enough to carry on a conversation. No wonder we’re exhausted at the end of the day and already worrying about all we have to do tomorrow. There is no time for peace in our lives. Serenity is missing. Serenity doesn’t take a priority because it makes no demands, makes no noise, and its door is always open if we make time to step through. When we’re in a serene state we’re better able to evaluate what is going on around us and to be aware of those near us who need our help. Find your peaceful place and settle in for a bit. You’ll feel a lot better.

Today’s Inspiring Quote: Not Everything You Hear Is True

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Be a free thinker and don’t accept everything you hear as truth. Be critical and evaluate what you believe in. ~ Aristotle

Today’s Word: Endurance

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Endurance: Endurance refers to the ability to withstand hardship or adversity, especially the capacity to continue exerting oneself despite fatigue or stress. It can also pertain to the ability of an object to withstand wear, pressure, or damage.

NOTE: Everyone experiences tough times. Tough times happen periodically throughout our lives. Acquiring the ability to endure tough times and to have the courage to push through them makes us stronger and more resilient. Acquiring endurance is a lot like exercising. The more we exercise, the stronger we become. The more we endure tough times and emerge whole, the more endurance capital we collect. Each time we endure a tough time we train our mind to not quit. We train our minds to acknowledge that we are tougher than the tough times we are currently experiencing.

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