The Power of Attitude

Somewhere in the hundreds of posts that I've written, there is a post just like this....but with this being the start of a new year, I think it's important to remind ourselves about just how powerful our attitude is.

I have worries and problems like everyone else, yet most of the time I feel happy and at peace...almost joyous most days. Why is that?

It's because I try very hard to think only positive thoughts. Is that always easy? No, of course not. Is everyday a success? No, but my effort is unwavering. I could fill my head with thoughts of my problems and worries about the future and dig myself deep into a depressive hole, but why on earth would I want to spend my days like that?

The awesome thing is that we all have a choice. We are in the driver's seat. Every minute of every day we get to choose the thoughts that fill our heads and the moods we want to be in. I choose positive and happy....and yes, it drives my family nuts sometimes.

Here is an excerpt from "The Power of Attitude". I just love this...

A Native American boy was talking with his grandfather. "What do you think about the world situation?" he asked.

The grandfather replied, "I feel like wolves are fighting in my heart. One is full of anger and hatred; the other is full of love, forgiveness and peace."

"Which one will win?" asked the boy.

To which the grandfather replied, "The one I feed."

The author continues....This simple story provides the essence of a life-changing law of the universe...You become what you think about. The words are almost too simple to feel important, however, if you get it, if you truly understand their meaning, you can forever harness the power of a positive attitude.

He adds...."Simply stated...if we choose to think positive thoughts, we'll get positive results; if we think negative thoughts, we'll get negative results. Pretend for a moment that every thought is a seed you sow in your fertile mind. Therefore, as I once heard someone say, "If you plant crab apples, don't expect to harvest Golden Delicious." You will reap the fruit of the thoughts you sow."

So well said! Think wonderful positive thoughts today and make it the most awesome day possible and don't forget to do something nice for yourself too! :)

An Awesome Little Story

Excerpted from The Power of Attitude....

A Native American boy was talking with his grandfather. "What do you think about the world situation?" he asked.

The grandfather replied. "I feel like wolves are fighting in my heart. One is full of anger and hatred; the other is full of love, forgiveness and peace."

"Which one will win?" asked the boy.

To which the grandfather replied, "The one I feed."

This simple story provides the essence of a life-changing law of the universe...You become what you think about. The words are almost too simple to "feel important." However, if you "get it," if you truly understand their meaning, you can forever harness the power of a positive attitude.

Simply stated...if we choose to think positive thoughts, we'll get positive results; if we think negative thoughts, we'll get negative results.

Pretend for a moment that every thought is a seed you sow in your fertile mind. Therefore, as I once heard someone say, "If you plant crab apples, don't expect to harvest Golden Delicious." You will reap the fruit of the thoughts you sow.

I absolutely love this little story. I try so hard to think positive as I'm sure most of you do too. It's hard sometimes isn't it? You'll be a roll for a while, just feeling amazing and then all of a sudden a little negative thought or two creep in...or that little twinge of self-doubt. The more you put your thoughts on those negatives....the bigger and bigger they get because of course, you are feeding them.

Stop feeding them! Instead, feed the positive thoughts and watch them grow.

You can apply this to your everyday life or to your business. If you find yourself swaying toward the negative, catch yourself and turn your thoughts around. It can be done, and the results are nothing short of miraculous.

Have a great and positive evening everyone!

The Gift

I woke up this morning feel a little bummed. It's a work day. It was so nice having the three days off, and I long for retirement, but it's so far away. Then I remembered that I am trying to have a new attitude about life and about living and I quickly snapped out of it.

Life is a gift, each day is a gift, my job is a gift and I intend to treat them all with the respect that every gift we receive deserves. Old habits are hard to break, but reading Eckhart Tolle has taught me that I need to stop wishing my life away. I can't live each day wishing it were the weekend, because each weekend that passes puts me closer to the end of my life and why on earth would I want to wish for that?

The neat thing is that I am able to very quickly remind myself of those facts and the negative mood turns into such an uplifting and positive one...just like that! I have come a long way. It's such an awesome feeling.

So, now I need to finish getting ready to head to that job that truly is such a gift and I am going to have one heck of an awesome day! After work I am going to Joann's to buy a couple of patterns for some new things I'll be adding to MyOtherShop!

The pictures are some flowers from my yard. Have an fantastic day everyone because life is oh so good!

Reflections

When my mom was older, she liked to talk about when she was younger. I loved listening to her stories. Then it dawned on me....when mom is gone...am I going to remember these awesome stories so I can pass them on to my kids? Probably not. I thought how cool it would be to have her record them.

I asked her one day how she would feel about doing that, and she liked the idea. She started to write down some things she would want to talk about on the tapes, but we never got around to doing any recording. I wish we had.

My daughter Tresa gave me a book a number of years ago called, "Reflections From a Mother's Heart". It's to write your life story with a different topic on each page. I have never written in it. I always wondered if it would make me sad, would I be able to be honest, would it be a constant reminder that I am getting older?

We have a video that our kids had made for us for our 25th wedding anniversary. It's a montage of photos with music that takes you through our lives. I have watched it a few times since we got it back in 1997. It's hard watching your life fly by in 20 minutes!

How do you feel about those kinds of things? Do you journal about your life?

I actually pulled that book out that Tresa gave me and I think I am going to start writing in it. I think I will start with easy things like, "Have you ever had a surgery?" or "Share one of your mother's favorite recipes." Then once I am comfortable with it, I'll try pages like family tragedies and the hardest thing you ever had to do....

I know that one day my kids will really appreciate being able to read about the little things that made me who I am today....that quirky lady they call "mom".

I am a firm believer in living a positive and gentle life. I do my best to make other people happy and in turn it makes me happy. I believe we reap what we sow. I am rarely in a foul mood, and I think it's because I just don't allow it. Life is too short, and that isn't how I want to spend my time.

Life's journey.....how will you share yours?