I didn't want to do it...

I didn't want to do it BUT I had to.

What am I talking about ----> BLOG SPAM.

I just got tired of cleaning out the trash, SO...

Now only registered users of Blogger can post comments.

I apologize to all the non-SPAMMERS for the inconvenience caused by the inconsiderate.

Can You Really "Strike Gold" Online?

Here's a link to an article called Can You Really "Strike Gold" Online? by Jim Edwards. He talks about some of the myths (or lies) about doing business online.

You can read the entire article at this site Jim Edwards article.

Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men?

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” Anne Frank

Every year as the holiday season approaches, we begin to see the ornaments, ribbons, and signs proclaiming

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

Have you ever really thought about that simple phrase? Do the words actually mean anything to you?

I don’t think too many people pay much intention to the meaning of those words. The evidence is all around us.

So let’s take a more in-depth look at what this phrase actually means.

A quick visit to Dictionary.com is where we begin.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary…

Peace is the absence of war, freedom from disagreement, harmonious relationships, public security and security.

But there’s another part of the definition that is even more important to the subject of this article. That definition of peace is inner contentment and security. Remember this one. We’ll come back to it later.

Goodwill is an attitude of kindness, friendliness, and benevolence.

Goodwill is actually a compound word. Let’s dig deeper into the meaning of this word by looking at it’s parts.

Good means having qualities that are desirable.

Will is self-control, the mental faculty by which one deliberately chooses or decides on a course of action.

Okay, now we know the meanings of the words. First let’s make an adjustment to the original phrase. Instead of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men”, I suggest this rearrangement.

Goodwill to Everyone, Peace on Earth

That makes the whole idea into an active process. More important, it’s just different enough from the original phrase to grab our attention. Our brains are jogged out of the habitual way of reading the message.

And finally, let’s use the definitions we learned earlier to expand this phrase into something even more meaningful. How about this statement of intention…

The desirable quality of deliberately choosing to act in a kind, friendly, benevolent manner towards everyone, as a result of doing that, we will have less war, less disagreement and more harmonious relationships on Earth.

Remember that other definition of peace, inner contentment and security? We can use this meaning as a clue as to where to begin the peace process.

It begins with you. You are the only one you have the power to change. Let peace begin with you though the interactions you have with others. As Emerson said, “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles”.

I suggest you make little reminder notes that say, “Goodwill to Everyone, Peace on Earth”. Put them around your home, in the car, and in your work area.

And when you finish this article, send a copy to family and friends.

Read books that inspire, add books from the Transformational Book Circle to your library.





Tags: Life, Quotes, Articles, Philosophy

Are You Superficial?

“So many things I would have done, but clouds got in my way.” From Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Like the clouds in Joni Mitchell’s song, words get in our way all the time. Have you ever stopped to think about the power of your words? Especially the words you use all the time.

Besides the value of words for sharing ideas and experiences, words can also cause us to limit our understanding of the people and things in our lives. After all, words are only shortcuts we have invented to describe something in our reality. Words are not the object.

You might think of a word as the surface of a lake. The reality lies under the surface. Most of the time, we don’t dive in to see what’s under the surface. We’re satisfied to skim over the surface.

Think of some of the words you use to describe the people you know. Have you ever called someone stupid or ugly? Once you have labeled them as such, isn’t that the way you tend to view the every time you see them. The words you use have effectively put blinders on you. It becomes almost impossible to see them any other way, doesn’t it?

Or consider the words used to describe people in the news. The media uses carefully chosen words and names to create the images they want you to have in your head. Maybe you read about the debate over what to call the unfortunate people in hurricane Katrina’s path. Are they refugees or what?

Here’s a list of seven words. Take a minute to think about what each word on the list means to you. Your meanings will be personal and unique. You may be surprised at what you discover.

Success
Happy
Love
Money
God
Work
Friend

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you think about each word.

Is my definition of the word accurate?
Where did my meaning come from?
Does my meaning lead me to greater understanding or does it stop me from seeing a bigger picture?

As you do this little exercise in self awareness, you will begin to see how the words you use everyday have the power to control and limit your life. Awareness is the way out of this trap.

Ask someone to define the words from this list. How close is their meaning to yours? Listen and compare. Are you beginning to see how easy it is for misunderstandings to happen?

Now here’s one more question you can ask yourself any time you find yourself shortcutting with a convenient label.

What else is there about this person, this place, or this thing, that I’m missing?


For more information about books that inspire, have a look at the Transformational Book Circle.





Tags: Life, Quotes, Articles, Philosophy

A Whack on the Head

When was the last time you had a good whack on the head?

Through-out history there have been certain people with a knack for saying things in a way that cause us to sit up and say, "WOW, that's profound!"

I'm talking about quotations. You know, those little gems of wisdom that get passed down from generation to generation. With just a few words, these people give us something that can change our lives, open our eyes, or give us new ways of thinking about things.

Like a quick knock on the noggin, a quotation grabs our attention. A lot of easily remembered meaning is driven directly into our brain.

Here's one of my favorite whacks on the head.

This one comes from Napoleon Hill. After studying the lives of wealthy, successful people for many years, he wrote the now classic Think and Grow Rich. This one book is credited with changing the lives of untold numbers of people.

He said, "Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and believe, it can achieve."

Do you think that's true? Let's take a closer look at this quote.

"Whatever the mind of man (or woman) can conceive"

Look around at your surroundings. Unless you're naked in the center of a rain forest, almost everything you see began as an idea or concept in someone's head. Humans conceive of new products, new governments, new religions, and even wars and holocausts. This conception process can result in life supporting or life destroying ideas. Don't under-estimate its power.

The next part… "And believe" is also very important.

What is a belief? If you were to look up the origin of the word believe, you would find that it comes from a word that means love. So a belief is simply an idea or concept that you love. When you love something you put energy into it. This energy that you put into an idea is what causes the last part of this quotation to happen… "It can achieve".

So there you have it. This quote from Napoleon Hill has a simple, easily remembered, three part formula for creating and making things happen in your life.

Conceive - Believe – Achieve

Put this formula to work every day and see what happens. Get yourself a copy of Think and Grow Rich and study it. If you already have a copy, read it again.

When you put this formula to work in your life, there's another thing to keep in mind. Another whack on the head for you.

Be careful what you ask for, you might get it.

For more information about books that inspire, have a look at the Transformational Book Circle.





Tags: Life, Quotes, Articles, Philosophy