The Zone

If there is no struggle, there is no progress. 
- Frederick Douglass, 1817-1895, American Abolitionist

POINT TO PONDER:

If you always do what you've always done, you always get what you've always got – Ah, the comfort zone.  The comfort zone is known for being safe, consistent, and predictable.  The problem, however, is not much learning takes place inside the zone.  It's only when you step outside the comfort zone that learning and growth take place.  When you step outside the comfort zone, you're likely to be greeted with fear, anxiety, and adversity.  It's only by facing fear, channeling anxiety, and overcome adversity that progress can take place.  There is nothing wrong with status quo, but if you want to grow, you've got to go (outside the zone).  Today, I'm encouraging to take a trip outside the comfort zone.  When you do, you'll be absolutely amazed at the potential within.

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it
MJD

Enough

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has."
-- Epictetus

***
Those that always want will never have enough. Those that have enough will never want. There can be no satisfaction when you feel you don't have enough. Why? Because the search for what you don't have never ends. If you truly count your blessing you will find you really do have enough. When we are thankful for what we have, we begin to treasure what we have far more than what we don't have.

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I Wish You Enough
-- Bob Perks

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye.

***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD

Thanksgiving Thought

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.
-- Cicero

***
Gratitude fosters compassion. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be indifferent at the same time.

Gratitude fosters benevolence. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be selfish at the same time.

Gratitude fosters respect. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be contemptuous at the same time.

Gratitude fosters generosity. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be stingy at the same time.

Gratitude fosters kindness. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be cruel at the same time.

Gratitude fosters contentment. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be covetous at the same time.

Gratitude fosters resourcefulness. One cannot possess an attitude of gratitude and be wasteful at the same time.

This Thanksgiving think of all the gifts that you have in your life. Give thanks for all that you have been blessed with, and more importantly, tell those who have made a difference in your life how special they are to you. For if you do, you'll discover what Cicero preached over 2000 years ago. Amazing, some things never change!

Thanks to all of you who have influenced my life in one way or another. I've been extremely fortunate to have such a wonderful family, great friends and exceptional colleagues.
Thanks to all of you who so generously accept these e-mails, and for forwarding some on to your friends and family.

***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

I Can See Clearly Now

"The best vision is insight."
-- Malcolm S. Forbes

***
There are two types of vision: sight and insight. Sight is physical. Insight is mental. Sight is the ability to see. Insight is the ability to know. Because insight is on a mental plane, one can always gain insight from sight. However, because sight is on the physical plane, one can never gain sight from insight.

Sight is limited to your field of vision and can only be enhanced by medical procedures and devices. Insight is limitless and is enhanced by knowledge. The more you learn, the more you know. The more you know, the better your insight. With insight comes the ability to discern thing in an intuitive manner. That which we see may not always be true. But, with insight, we are often able to come to know things that the naked eye is not able to reveal.

How do we acquire insight? Become a student; live to learn. You may ask yourself, "how much do I need to learn." The answer is, "as much as possible."

Remember there are a great number of people who can see, but do not know!
Study time anyone?

***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

The Power in Believing

To be a champ, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will."
-- Sugar Ray Robinson

***
When a boxer "throws in the towel," the match is over. The tossing of the towel signifies that boxer is accepting defeat. How many times have you accepted defeat when victory was right around the corner. You accepted defeat because you no longer believed you were capable of winning. You let the cynics, critics, and naysayers influence your thinking. You bought into their negative agenda and let them rob you of maximizing your potential. What would happen if you disassociated yourself from the cynics, critics and naysayers in your life and surrounded yourself with people who support you and want you to succeed? It's my guess that if you do, you won't be throwing in the towel anytime soon!

***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

The Fortune in Misfortunate

“The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us.”-Voltaire

***POINT TO PONDER: It’s our own thinking that creates harm; not the enemy, not the event, not the circumstance.  When we allow an enemy, an event, or a circumstance to have power over us, we become a victim.  Hence, we create our own victimization. Instead of allowing misfortunes to take advantage of you, why not take advantage of your misfortunes.  Look for the lesson in misfortune and learn from it. Misfortunes should serve you, not harm you.  The root word in misfortunate is fortunate.  How fortunate you’ll be is totally up to you.  If you remind yourself that a misfortunate event is only temporary and carries with it the potential for development and growth, you’ll find that no time, you’ll be taking advantage of misfortune and not misfortune taking advantage of you.

Today, start dwelling on the fortunate from misfortune, you just might be amazed at how fortunate you really are!

***It’s your life; live it, love it, & celebrate it!

MJD

Did I

Did I make someone giggle, smile or laugh today?

Did I take the time to really listen to someone today?

Did I allow myself to focus on all the blessings in my life today instead of contemplating the things I don't have?

Did I let go today, let go of resentments and prejudices that I have been holding onto?

Did I keep my word today?

Did I make a conscious choice just to be happy today?

Did I stop caring about what other people think of me, and give myself permission to be who I am regardless of their opinion of me?

Did I contribute something beautiful to the world today? A new creation of some kind, a poem, a dinner, a dance?

Did I make it a point to be kind to everyone I came in contact with today?

Did I enrich someone else's life today?

Did I learn something new today, something about life, something about another, or something about myself?

Did I let go of my attachment to being right today, and open my mind to the possibility of another way, without judgement?

Did I help to answer someone's prayers today?

-- Adapted from In a Dream, You Can Do Anything by Veronica Hay
***
How dramatically would your life change or how much happier would you be if "Did I" became your mantra? What would happen if you were constantly reminded of "Did I?" How about making little card/notes with "Did I" inscribed upon them. Put one in your wallet/purse, put one on your desk/workstation at school/work, put one on your bathroom mirror, put one on your dash/visor of your car, put one anywhere were you'll be reminded of "Did I." After a period of time, the visual reminders will give way to permanent thought and permanent thought produces likewise behavior. Once "Did I" I becomes a focal point in your life, you'll be able to answer the 'Did I" questions with "Yes I Did." Not only will you be happier but those around you will be happier too!

***
It's Your Life: Live it, Love it, Celebrate it!
MJD

Throwing Stones

We can throw stones, complain about them, stumble on them, climb over them, or build with them.
-- William Arthur Ward

***
Throwing stones causes damage and heartbreak,
Complaining about stones causes anxiety and negativity.
Stumbling on stones causes disruption and pain
Climbing over stones causes avoidance and diversion,
So, why not use stones to your advantage and begin building with them!

***
It's your life: Live it, Love it & Celebrate it!
MJD