The Power of Human Connection

Emma Seppala of the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education has written, “People who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. Moreover, studies show they also have higher self-esteem, greater empathy for others, are more trusting and cooperative and, as a consequence, others are more open to trusting and cooperating with them." We have the ability to bounce back after stressful situations, which is strengthened when you give to and receive the support of others. Building positive relationships with people can make a difference in how resilient you are. We should cultivate relatopnships with people who have a positive outlook and can make you laugh and help you. The more positive your relationships are, the better you will be able to face life's challenges.

Current circumstances, however, tend to promote social isolation, which is a state of complete or near-complete lack of contact between an individuals within our society.
“Social isolation is far and away the strongest social risk factor out there,” said Steve Cole, a genetics researcher at the University of California Los Angeles.
Social isolation takes a steep toll on the human body, and in turn, can undermine the well-being of nearly every bodily system, including the brain. Studies show that people with limited human connection have significantly more heart disease, are more vulnerable to metastatic cancer, have an increased risk of stroke and are more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. And with millions of baby boomers now facing a radically growing loss of human connection, the challenges become more obvious!

Creating opportunities for human connection is a constant and sometimes difficult task. Yet there are as many ways to restore the human connection as there are humans. “It is about taking your strength and figuring out how to welcome people.”, says Erik Sten, former City Commissioner of Portland, Oregon. "Creating and fostering human connection is not something that lends itself to public policy planning. Community organizing is essential, and it is a task that is never finished. What I found is that there are all kinds of groups that want to do more. The energy is contagious!"

Here are five hints to restoring that Human Connection:
*1 -Authentic -Be the REAL you
*2 -Presence- Consider the statistics regarding how often we are on our devices,
rather than with your companions? UNPLUG!
*3 - Curiosity- be more curious and interested about the people around you,
than about "me, myself, and I"!
*4 - Gratitude- Express gratitude for everything!
*5 - Patience- None of us is perfect! Celebrate each unique individual!

When your beliefs change, your results change!

New Year's Folklore

From the Old Farmer's Almanac, I came upon a few interesting points to ponder for this New Year's celebration.

*"Is the year 2021 the start of a new decade? Or, did it begin in 2020; after all, we’re living in the “twenties.” But,the first year of "AD" was not "year 0". It went from "1 BC" to "1 AD"!

*What's the wind doing? In particular, weather folklore often looks to the wind. Try this. Step outside as the sun sets on New Year’s Eve. Feel the wind and recite:
If New Year’s Eve the wind blows south
It betokens warmth and growth.
If west, much milk and fish in the sea.
If north, cold and storms there will be.
If east, the trees will bear much fruit.
If north east, then flee it, man and brute.
Then throw your New Year wishes to the wind! Still others believed the time to check out the wind was at sunrise on New Year’s Day, but, hey, if you had any fun the night before, it will be hard to wake up at dawn!

Other folklore says that the first 12 days of the year are just as useful: The first 12 days of January foretell the weather for each month of the year.
So, the weather on the first, good or bad, will reflect how January will feel. The second day forecasts February and so on.

You may have also heard: If there is thunder in January, it will snow 7 days later. And fog in January brings a wet spring.

And the here's their favorite.......
The Onion Test!

Get twelve onions. Between 11:00pm and midnight on New Year’s Eve cut off the tops and scoop out a depression in the centers. Get out your compass and line the onions in an east-west orientation. Place an equal amount of salt in each depression.
(Then explain to your fellow partiers why you smell like an onion!)
Don’t look at the vegetables until the next morning. The salt has dissolved to varying degrees in each onion. The more water in each onion the wetter the corresponding month will be in the coming year.
(After this, carefully add potatoes and other root veggies, rub with olive oil and spices and bake!) Whether the onions are right or wrong, you’ll have a nice New Year’s Day feast.

The new year has been celebrated worldwide for over 4 millenia! It holds a significant and historical pedigree, but has been part of every calendar known since the time of ancient Babylon. It has blended with religious and mythological practices. But overall, signifies a rebirth, a new beginning.

However you choose to welcome the New Year,
be responsible and enjoy what's coming!

Write Your Own Story This New Year!

We will all be given a brand new book with the brand new year, a gift from old Father Time, a blank book to write as we choose, the experiences of the year ending and the events to come!

The start of the new year is an especially relevant time for journaling and reflection. As we prepare for the next year, we are encouraged to reflect on our successes in the previous year and our goals for the new year. Though journaling might seem like a simple endeavor, the practice can have a profound impact on our progress in the new year!

When you happen to dust off those journals from your parents or grandparent, and read some of the events from their youth and younger days as new parents, their educational days, the growth of their kids, do you feel an urge to see your grandchildren learning those things about you?

This is one goal anyone can undertake! You may ask yourself, "what can I write about?" Well, here are a few thoughts on journaling topics:
*Last year was a year of..........
*The new year will bring..............
*Write about current news events
*Write about bitrh, deaths, weddings
*What is the most successful year you’ve ever had?
*What is the best way to ring in a new year?

The list is endless. In reading various sources, I encountered a video of 25 suggestions for kids to journal about! These would also serve as hints for grownups, as well!

This is YOUR story! Write it well! >

Are They Resolutions or Just Wishes?

Research shows that most of the time people aren’t successful at keeping their New Year's resolution. But that is because most of these midnight resolutions look more like pressure coming from the outside—an attempt to look better, relieve guilt, or meet the standards of others.

Losing weight, for example, is one of the most common New Year’s goals and one that people tend to do poorly at. Part of the reason for that is where it’s coming from! Often coming from peer pressure as opposed to a goal that’s something that you might truly value such as having more health or vitality.
If the goal is one that is not “authentic” and not really coming from your own values or interests, the energy for it fades fast.

Whether or not this annual ritual is followed, it is good to take a close look at yourself, evaluating possible areas of improvement. Are your resolutions based upon "what can I gain?"
Or, perhaps we can focus on what we might do to benefit others. Goals which are of personal importance and more fulfilling, thus are more likely to be persued to accomplishment! Perhaps we should work on what proves most satisfying and may also be what’s most needed in our society..... goals that involve giving to and serving others. The human soul has a natural tendency to behave in positive and beneficial ways. Richard Ryan, professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Rochester tells us, “If you want to make a New Year’s resolution that really makes you happy, think about the ways in which you can contribute to the world."
In summary, successful resolutions are usually built upon reasonable challenges. If we set the bar too high we may become discouraged and quit. Keep in mind that with almost any long-range goal the best strategy is to set small incremental goals, as opposed to “I’m going to climb Everest” but rather “I’m going to take these first few steps toward base camp.”

We should give ourselves occasional moments of reflection, taking the time to really think about what’s going well for us and what really matters! Usually, we can identify some things we could change. Often that means listening to that little nagging voice inside telling each of us about the things that we know would improve our lives.




There are always ways to make life better, but the path need not be a painful one
....if you are going in the right direction.

We Become What We Think About......

The Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius has said, "We become what we think about. A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it."
Many wise men and philosophers through the ages agree with him on this point! Many books have been and are still being written on this concept!

The following may explain why it is imperative to be intentional in what we choose to think about:

Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character.
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.
-- Chinese proverb, author unknown
How can we learn to think correctly? First, we have to want to do so. (Hence my comment about "choosing" what we think about!). We must work to see ourselves and others in the best light possible. We can know, for example, that someone "down on his luck" does not want to be that way, any more than the person suffering from sickness wants to be sick. We can know that an unpleasant person is not happy and that he probably suffers as much as those around him.

There are some classic writings on this topic...."Think and Grow Rich", "The Power of Positive Thinking" to name a couple! They are all based upon what has come to be known as the Law of Attraction. For some reason, our society can accept some as reasonable and logical. Some other materials are avoided, as people are worried that they preach "magical" and "mystical" stuff.

As we learn the higher truth to be realized, it will become clearer as we lose our preconceptions and willfulness, as we open our thought to the right idea of God and His Creation. We will find ourselves blessed with peace, certainty, serenity and confidence. At the same time, we become better husbands, wives, parents, neighbors and citizens. Some may say we experience the "kingdom of God." In the Bible, we read how Jesus answered, when pressed by the pharasees, "...behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Not "out there" somewhere, but within you.

Face Your Deepest Fear!

We have likely all heard the following poem (often mis-attributed to Nelson Mandela because he used it in a speech). Do you know YOUR greatest fear?

Fear can either show us our limitations or teach us about something that we need to overcome. I encountered a list of several dozen folks' deepest fears, from all areas of this planet.
It's interesting that most of them reflect our mortal fear of failure or premature death. But, in reality, we were created for such greatness, and endowed with such power and light, that failure should not be our fate! Ms. Williamson has summarized the issue pretty well.

Our Deepest Fear

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

—Marianne Williamson

We all battle with fear. Fear of failing, looking like fools or not being loved for who we are. Fear of reliving something that has been or living something that might come. Fear of not being good enough, smart enough or courageous enough.
No one, no matter gender, age, skin color, social status, money in the bank or nationality gets a free pass when it comes to fear. What matters isn’t that we fear (that’s just part of being human), but how we choose to deal with it.
How we perceive our fears is up to us.
You may ask, "But,how do I overcome my deepest fear?" Here are a few suggestions to overcome your biggest fears:
*Challenge your fears anyway.
*Focus on other things besides what you're afraid of.
*Practice meditation.
*Try to think about the positives of facing down your fears.
*Forgive yourself.
*Express gratitude.

One way to move past your fears is knowing that you’re not alone. (Because you’re not).

Embrace your fears. Dealing with fears isn’t easy. But as they say, what we resist, persists. So, instead of resisting your fears, choose to embrace them. Invite your fears in and allow them to give their message. I’m talking about the fear that is limiting you in your life – whether that’s starting a project, worrying too much about something or not being loved for who you are.
What is the fear telling you? Maybe it’s that you have a belief about yourself that isn’t serving you? Maybe it’s that you have people in your life who you care deeply about? Maybe it’s to accept your perfect imperfections and give yourself space to stumble and fall – especially when trying something new? Use your fear to guide you, to help you grow, expand and move forward in a direction that serves you.

Remember, your deepest fear also carries your greatest growth.

Have Miracles Ceased?

A few years back I read an article posted at a website of a major Christian denomination, focusing on the same question, "Have Miracles Ceased?"
The article declared that miracles have indeed ceased among men. It focused on the dramatic events, such as walking on water, raising the dead, restoring sight or hearing, etc. "Where are the ones who can walk on water......who can still the storms....who can raise the dead.....who can make the deaf hear.....and the blind see....or heal a withered arm?....You will never find a single person who can perform this quality of miracle.", declared the author.

How do you feel about this philosophical perspective? What experiences might you have witnessed relating to this question?

Please allow me to share an event (well, actually a series of events) beginning around April 2000. We learned that we were infanticipating a new member to our family. During what was supposed to be a routine prenatal ultrasound exam, the doctor observed a disconcerting anomaly in the baby's heart. It's positioning within the baby was indicative of serious potential challenges. The images were shared with cardiologists in the region for consultation. It was determined that we needed to go to the neonatal cardiologist at University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City for a Fetal Echo Cardiogram. The appointment was set for about a week later. During the intervening days, many people fasted and prayed on behalf of our circumstance. The appointed time came, we met with Dr. Judd at U of U, and she ran the requisite tests. After reading the results, she assured us that there was no anomaly present and all was in perfect order.

Some have dismissed this as a misread original ultrasound. However, it was not the opinion of just one concerned OB/GYN. There had been a consensus in reading the anomaly. However, in December of 2000, in spite of other challenges (including a car crash, etc) Dallin was born into our family, and came home on Christmas Day!

Moving forward six years to Milan, Italy, where Dallin's older brother, Keith was serving a mission for our church, we find him teaching a young man who was very interested in the message. He had difficulty in accepting one aspect of the requirements to becoming a member of the church. The young Elder promised this young man that, through his faith, combined with the prayers of the others involved, and through fasting, he could accomplish his desires. Keith used the events of Dallin's heart anomaly to teach the benefits of fasting. Based upon Keith's testimony, this young man accepted and accomplished his challenge! That young man visited "his missionary" (my son, Keith) in Utah nine years later and had the opportunity to meet Dallin (then 15 year old), to whom the original miracle was given. How many miracle have resulted here? Even now, at 20 years old, Dallin's testimony of miracles is stronger from witnessing the faith of his brother and is presently serving to teach others as a missionary!

Throughout my adult years I have enjoyed the influence of numerous great minds, who share their views on modern miracles, folks like Zig Ziglar and Robert Schuller. Dr. Schuller's philosophy was centered on "Possibility Thinking"....what if it was a miracle? What if it was the hand of God?

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE MIRACLES IN YOUR LIFE?

Motivations for Family Giving

How can we motivate our families to serve and give to their communities? If we will look for opportunities to bless the lives of others, we will be amazed to see how it will lift us and our families as well! I have a friend (actually, a "shirt-tail relative") who wrote a very successful book sharing this very concept. Jason Wright's book and now movie "Christmas Jars", focuses on a small act of charity by one family, which set in motion a very extensive movement of personal giving! Listed below are some of the elements effecting the influence upon the generosity of coming generations...

*Faith and Spirituality
Every religious or faith tradition includes some encouragemnt concerning generosity to others! Many of today’s givers openly point to the spiritual link between faith and their giving. Their giving may not be directed (or solely directed) to religious institutions or causes, but the link is strong just the same.
*Traditions
Many givers talk about family traditions that shaped their charitable behaviors. One fourth-generation family foundation trustee/family member recalls her parents placing three boxes on her childhood bookshelf. Each box held an equal portion of her allowance: one-third for spending; one-third for saving; and one-third for charity. Her earliest understanding was that money had three, equally important purposes and that you budget for giving rather than simply spending what might be left over.
*Mentors
Most of us can point to people who had a profound impact on our lives. Grandparents, parents, aunts or uncles, teachers, colleagues, and neighbors can often provide examples and encouragement at important moments, counsel us through difficult situations, help us with a career move, or simply set powerful personal examples.
*Personal Interests and Experiences
Many givers note that they became engaged in philanthropy because of a special, personally important issue or event. For example, some givers have had a lifelong interest in the arts or a love of the outdoors. Others are influenced by an intensely personal experience, such as the death of a loved one or receiving a much-needed scholarship.
*Community Involvement and Volunteering
Entrepreneurs who go on to become generous philanthropists often were active in their communities long before they had the wealth to make significant financial gifts.

PAY IT FORWARD!

The Art of Happiness

The Dalai Lama tells us, "Happiness is the purpose of your life!"

What makes us happy almost all the time? Most people say things like money, family, fame, success, travel, etc.

According to an article at ProjectHappiness.org, entitled Science of Happiness, "Scientific research has turned its focus on how happiness can be sustained and even increased. Research has confirmed that through intentional practices, we can actually change the neural pathways of our brain to become happier. In fact, only 10% of our happiness is due to our external circumstances and a full 90% is based on our inner environment."
Project Happiness has many resources and guidance to help un gain and maintain our happiness!

The end goal for each of us should the same ‒ to become the happiest we can be in our lives. Yet, in spite of the fact that we have one of the highest standards of living in the world, the level of happiness among Americans is now at a fifty year low, according to a 2020 University of Chicago survey.There are numerous scientific studies to determine the answer to this happiness issue.
One such study indicates that Happines is contagious! It effects those around you plus their circles as well! Happiness comes not from a life of success, sought by climbing the corporate ladder, but from a life of significance, achieved by fulfilling our true purpose and helping others.

There is so very much valid research telling us that a high level of stable happiness will improve our physical and mental health!

Ways to Beat the Holiday Stress and Make Christmas more Joyous!

Christmas should be a time of joy, excitement, and happiness. Often, however, we allow events and pressures of life to create a season of great stress and anxiety!

Here are some science-based methods to beat stress and stay happy during Christmas!
#1 - Be honest about what’s happening! When you feel those stresses begin to come up, identify them! Give them a name. Scientist say that naming your stressors will help calm them away! Slow, deep breathng can also benefit these moments by slowing your heartrate!
#2 - Remember what you’re grateful for! Remembering those positive moments and bringing to mind things you feel good about will boost your happiness and health, and decrease your stress. Gratitude always goes a long way!

#3 - Unplug! How often do we focus on our mobile devices, rather than those with whom we are interacting in person? We should completely savor the moments instead of focusing on your smartphones or looking for your selfie stick so you can post to your favorite social media source!
#4 - Focus on others rather than yourself! One huge way to reduce stress is to get rid of the "me, myself, and I" mentality. Consider their perspective. What would they like to do? Target your conversations to them, and listen for their responses!

Albert Einstein had some seemingly simple suggestions as well!
#1 Be kind to yourself
#2 Understand that you are part of humanity and that everyone makes mistakes!
#3 Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings.
Einstein didn't let his failures (and he had many) stop him!! So don't waste your life on negative thoughts!

Please allow yourself to enjoy the Spirit of the Christmas Season in Peace!

Do You Believe in Christmas Miracles?

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us remember some of the miracles of our past Christmases! We should look for opportunities to be someone's Christmas Miracle! I want to share a few examples of Christmas Miracles either from my life or others.

An Angel's Special Gift

After Michelle's injuries as an infant, she was totally disabled and in the care of a loving foster family. During her childhood, her doctors estimated that she would be able to survive into her mid-twenties. On her 19th birthday, she joined our family with several siblings ranging in age from seven up to about 24 years. As Christmas 2011 approached, Michelle was reaching the end, her original foster mom arrived about 1:00am to visit Michelle and spend Christmas with us.
As they were visiting through the morning with Michelle, she was showing clearly the she was ready to leave. We all gathered around her bedside for a brief family prayer. Michelle has completed her mission here on Earth. Imagine, being given the blessing to return to the arms of her Father in Heaven and her Savior on Christmas Eve...to be greeted by members of the only Earthly family she ever knew!
That morning I listened as 11 year old Dallin offered the prayer at breakfast. He offered thanks to Heavenly Father that Michelle could now run and play and sing just as they do! She really is free! We have always considered her passing as a Christmas Miracle
Additionally, someone in our community donated a burial site in the local cemetery.

The Postman Lifted Us From Depression

My parents, at the height of the Depression, were forced to go on home relief, which is known as welfare today. It was 1935, when I was 10 years old, and we lived on the first floor of a walk-up apartment on 43rd Street, in Brooklyn, New York. A few days before Christmas, I looked out a kitchen window to see my father sitting on the stoop, dejected and depressed, with tears in his eyes. The mailman was approaching our building and asked my father what was wrong. I heard my father say that he had used up his food vouchers and that the rent was past due. He had tried to work as a laborer through the Works Progress Administration, but he wasn’t a very strong man, and the work had been too hard for him. I was scared, having seen newspaper pictures of people being put out on the street with all their belongings. “Ike, how much do you need?” the mailman asked. My dad said he needed $33 for the rent, and without hesitation, the mailman took $50 from his wallet and handed it to my father. My dad said, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back.” The mailman put an arm around my father and said it would be okay if he paid him back or he didn’t pay him back. The mailman noticed me looking through the window and said, “Isaac, things will not be this way forever. If you or your son will remember this day, there will be times in the future when someone needs your help. Help them within your means and tell them what happened this day. This will be my payback. Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah.” As long as he lived, my father helped others when he could, and I’ve done my best to do my part in paying his generosity back. —Martin, Longmont, Colorado

He Fixed My Car, and My Christmas

In 1958, I was a first-year high school teacher in Beatty, Nevada. On Dec. 22, I headed home to Idaho in my 1951 Hudson to spend Christmas with my parents. Just south of Fillmore, Utah, a radiator hose broke and the car started to overheat. I hitchhiked into Fillmore and got a ride to a Chevron station. I explained my plight to the owner, Dan Brinkerhoff, who sent a tow truck to bring in my car. Dan discovered that the engine had become so hot it had warped the head, so he called a nearby wrecking yard and found the needed part. By that time it was dark, and Dan had closed the station. He immediately went to work on my car, laboring for several hours while I slept curled up in the backseat. Finally, he woke me and announced I was ready to go. When I went to settle up, he would not take a dime for anything he had done. I got to spend the holidays with my parents, and I shall forever remember Dan for the wonderful thing he did for me. —Glen, Las Vegas, Nevada

If we each are motivated to show our generousity to others, we will always receive equal or greater value in return!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Love, as a Source of Motivation

For better or for worse, love is a powerful motivator. As a source of motivation and energy, love transforms each of us into a better version of ourselves. Being loved makes a person feel safe; it gives us a reason to believe in ourselves.

Typically, love generates an excitement and euphoria inside. Do you recall the increased energy you felt when you fell in love? You were motivated to clean your living space so that special person will have a positive impression when she sees it. You are motivated to change a disagreeable habit so that you become more worthy of a relationship with her!

Love, like many other positive emotions and events, can make you willing to change--though not always in a healthy direction. In fact, romantic love is a two-headed monster.

While we usually think of "love" as a positive motivator, I would be a wealthy man if I had a dollar for every person who started smoking, practiced unsafe sex, experimented with an illegal drug, popped a pill, downed an alcoholic drink, or smoked a joint to please, tease, get accepted by, or get closer to a special someone. Of course this kind of "love" is fool's gold, because it makes you forget who you are and what really matters. This type of love can hurt you. This is not intended to focus on romantic love but also loving relationships, including love of family and friends. But let's focus on the happy side of love!

Here are some examples of people who changed habits because of love and loving relationships:
*Someone quits smoking when a friend with heart disease asked if they could quit together.
*A student overcames her pattern of dropping her courses each semester because she realized the benefit of getting her education!
*A guy quits drinking when his girlfriend told him she wouldn't marry someone who drank.

Remember in "Gone with the Wind" when Rhett Butler quits drinking after his daughter pushes him away because he has whiskey on his breath?

In life the two most powerful motivators are Love and Fear! When we use fear as our motivator, rather than love, problems can arise that get in the way of our growth. Fear is normal, but it doesn't have to run your life or be what motivates you to work toward your goals. As I have said before,

MAKE LOVETHE STRONGEST VOICE AND INFLUENCE IN YOUR LIFE!

Keys of Motivation

What is motivation?

Todays youth and young adults are often offered a “what are the three key elements of motivation" quiz to assist them to become aware of the concept behind "motivation. If you want to teach the students, “where does self-motivation come from,” you have to first help them understand the fundamental concepts of motivation. Then perhaps you can teach them to apply the same concepts in their everyday lives!
The key elements in motivation are intensity, direction, and persistence:
*Direction Why is it the first among the keys of motivation? It is because the goals that are set are purely based on the individual. For example, when you want to lose 10lbs in 3 months, you must set goals based upon specific diet and exercise plans. You plan this based on your time and personal commitments. Therefore, you take responsibility for this step, and you are also answerable to yourself if you have not met the goals.
*Intensity This is the amount of effort that you are willing and prepared to put in to meet the objective that you have set yourself in the direction phase. The effort is based on a lot of unique factors, which define the elements of motivation in your personal or business behaviors.
*PersistenceYou have to be consistent, passionate and honest in your efforts if you want to reach your goal within the stipulated time. Most people quit well befor they reach their objective due to the motivation to continue! Again, those unique factors play a vital role in this key as well. You will be consistent in your efforts if you can see success and personally satisfying experience along the path! On the other hand, if you give more weight to outside factors of motivation, you may be consistent only if there is a bonus, a prize or appreciation from others. It measures how long a person can maintain effort. Motivated individuals stay with a task long enough to achieve their goal.

Motivation is the force that causes you to do any activity, regardless of whether it is simple or complex. It acts on you mentally, physically, socially, emotionally and psychologically to induce you to act in a certain manner. If you want to understand about motivation, you have to first know about the 3 key elements of motivation and why each one of these elements is important for you. You should also know about where does self-motivation come from for a better understanding of the topic.

Once you've achieve desired level of self-motivation, how do you keep it up?
Once you have understood the key elements of motivation, it is easy for you to stay self-motivated even when the situations aren’t too favorable for you. All you need to do is:
*set a simple, reasonable goal for yourself (in the direction phase)
*Put in your best efforts to reach the goal, keeping in mind your current shortcomings, if any (in the intensity phase)
*Be consistent in your efforts to reach your goal within the stipulated timelines (in the persistence phase)
The first step in staying self-motivated is to know yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What keeps you going? Make a note of these things when you are setting goals. When you feel bogged down anytime in the intensity phase, you have to back yourself by reading through your strengths again and again. This will give you enough physical, mental and emotional strength to carry on and fulfill the persistence phase as well. Always remember, you have to fill your minds with positive thoughts to stay motivated. There is a silver lining at the end of every dark tunnel. The challenge is to find that silver lining instead of staring at the dark tunnel. You will be surprised to know what positive thinking can do to you!

Hope is NOT a Four Letter Word

Well, Okay! Taken literally, hope IS a four-letter word. Many English swear words are four letters long. That's why a "four-letter word" is often used to mean a vulgar expression!
That is certainly not the case with hope. I found a meme which is very fitting for the present social circumstance!

It goes without saying that it is very easy to have hope in people you care about. Hope comes in all different forms. You can hope for your mom to make your favorite breakfast while you’re still lying in bed, you can hope for peace in the world, You can hope for that big promotion at work, or you can hope for that your polital party will prevail.
While it is very easy to have hope in in life's many twists and turns, it also seems that we each need to realize that something as simple as hope, might vanish in the blink of an eye.

So your mom didn’t make your favorite breakfast, countries still aren’t getting along, your co-worker got the promtoion and your candidate lost! What next?

Are you going to stop putting your hope and desires into people? Whether you recognize it or not, you self-consciously put hope into everything you do. Taking a test today? Do you have hope it’ll go better than you’re expecting? Dinner with the in-laws later? I bet you have hope that it will go smoothly. Big game tomorrow? Are you hoping that you’ll be the one to make the play of the game?

My friend , Timothy McGaffin, who published a book about his experiences in GETTING UP ONE MORE TIME. Tim was set to be a pro basketball player when he suffered a serious injury, spoiling his hopes! I have linked to his YouTube video about why he wrote his book "Champions Never Quit! God is Close By Your Side"Tim makes the point that we should never give up, don’t ever give up”. Never lose hope no matter how bad the situation can be.

Something as simple as hope, can save a person. The one who wins is the one who gets up one more time! Look for the light at the end of the tunnel! Without hope, what do you have to look forward to? Without hope, there is no creativity, no imagination.

It can be so easy to doubt yourself, and more importantly doubt others. People let you down every day whether it is something so simple, like meeting you for lunch, or something as big as a finding a cure to cancer. My point is, don’t lose the hope that is so cherished by you, just because that one person let you down.

THERE IS ALWAYS LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!

Do Your Goals Come With an Expiration Date?

I remember hearing one of Paul Harvey's famous "Rest of the Story" broadcasts years ago. I was working in the forest at the time. His report was related to how Harlan Sanders took his first social security check and started a new business at 66 years of age. I've listed a few similar stories below.

*Harlan Sanders (Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame) was 66 when he began to promote his style of fried chicken that led to his fortune.

*Julia Child was almost 40 before she even learned how to cook. She enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu at age 37 and graduated at age 39. Her book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, was finally published after nine years of research and recipe testing. This happened when she was 49 and she launched her television career at age 51.

*Laura Ingalls Wilder began writing as a columnist in her 40’s. Her popular Little House books weren't written when she was a child at all. They were written and published when she was in her 60's.

*Anna Mary Robertson Moses (Grandma Moses) was one of the biggest names in American Folk Art and she didn’t start painting until she was 76. At age 88, Mademoiselle Magazine named Grandma Moses a “Young Woman of the Year.” Moses had developed arthritis by the age of 76, which made her hobby of embroidery painful. Her sister, Celestia, felt that painting would be easier for her, which led to her successful painting career.

*Nelson Mandela was almost 76 when he was elected president of South Africa. He spent 27 years in prison and was released in 1990. Four years later, he was president.

A very successful author/columnist friend posted an exciting message on his Facebook page a few years back.....Are you familiar with the book, "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright? Jason's post read, "When I was a child my parents arranged a visit to the large office building in Salt Lake City where my favorite magazine was printed. It's called The Friend and I camped by our mailbox in Charlottesville, Virginia for my monthly copy. I was so excited that my mother knew someone who could give us a behind-the-scenes tour.For a boy who dreamt of being a writer, it was as close to heaven as I could imagine. I hoped and prayed that one day I'd have a story on those colorful, faith-filled pages.
When I received the April 2016 edition (after more than 30 years), I finally had a story in my favorite magazine. It's so corny, I know, but I nearly jumped up and down when I saw it. (OK, you got me. I did jump a few times. Maybe six.) Sure, I'd been told it was coming a few months ago, but seeing this childhood dream in full color was truly something special.

I've sold a few books, made a few bestsellers lists, met some amazing people and found some awesome friends and readers. But this was my very first goal
as a writer, and call me an old softie, but nothing could be sweeter."
***editorial note - Last year his book "Christmas Jars", was release as a very successful feature-length movie! Remember what you wanted to be when you were a kid? 10, 20, 50 years ago?

The only person who thinks it's too late is probably you.

Go Do It !
Dreams only have an expiration date if you allow them to go stale. Our goals and dreams do not come with any expiration date, except for ones we place on them. History is filled with examples of those who failed to follow their dreams, along with many Champions who, even through the passage of time, still pursue their goals!

I believe in you! And if I'm the only one, that's a start!

What Does Success Mean to You?

Success can mean many things to different people. For some it is marrying the “right” person, having beautiful kids, acquiring wealth, or being popular. For others it means being recognized and appreciated for one’s talents, whether they be in music, arts, sports, or another field.
Young women often pursue success in relationships and the search for security, while young men often look for success through significance and recognition or approval from others. If we’re honest with ourselves, we may hold one of these common views about success. Regardless of how we define it, people spend much of their time, attention, energy, and effort pursuing success. And, can become very discouraged along the way or even lose hope if we think we’ve failed.

In the record of King David, he counsels his son, Solomen thusly, "I go the away of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself. (1 Kings:2) You might note that David did not counsel his son on increasong his wealth and power, enlarging his kingdom, or beating his enemies. Rather, he focused his guidance toward following God's plan and being honorable to his word!

Again from ancient scripture we are taught, "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

Jesus addressed the meaning of success, as well. In Luke chapter 12 He taught, " Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?..............For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye first the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Now, it is not my purpose here to be "preachy". If you follow any of the successful motivational experts over the years, you will realize the each of them communicates a faith and beief in God's Word for man! If your purpose in achieving "SUCCESS" is focused on God's purposes, you will fin dsuccess in your life!

What Can We Learn From a FISH?

Much of the summer of 2002 I spent in Chicago, attending "new-manager" training classes, followed by training in the company's new inter-connected point-of-sale computer system being rolled out nationwide, followed by a national manager conference. As you can imagine, it was a rather intense period of "information overload"!

Typically, companies wrap uo their conferences with a powerful well known speaker...you know...rah rah...now get out there and make it explode!
But this time, the presenter was going to talk about FISH MONGERS!?!

His specific target was the staff at
The World Famouls Pike Place Fish Market, in Seattle, Washington!
In summary, Dr. Lundin shared a philosophy for business succcess. The principles can be applied to every aspect of our lives! He talked about how the operators of this inglorious business were able to earn the "World Famous" tagline.


As he shared his thoughts with us, I noted that the concepts have been part of my life for years. They are simple to add to yours! The primary points of the FISH philosophy are
*Choose your attitude - Be aware that you choose your attitude each day! What kind of day are you going to choose?
*Play - How can you have fun and create more energy? The gang at Pike Place actually throw fish around their market right in fornt of the customers!
*Make their day - When I was working in the stores I would include my customers in my "games".On one occasion, I showed a lady the back of a quarter with a horse, asking if she knew what kind of horse it was? (A quarter horse!) She searched for two weeks for a copy of that coin, so she could play that joke on her friends!
* Be present - How does it make you feel when you are talking to someone who seems focuses miles away? Don't be that person!

Laughter Truly is the Best Medicine!

As a child, I recall that my mom subscribed to Reader's Digest magazine. One of their regular features was "Laughter is the Best Medicine". At that age I alway tried to read those selections, along with their "Humor in Uniform" section. As an adult, I came to realize the depth of that concept.

Stress relief from laughter? It's no joke. When it comes to relieving stress, more giggles and guffaws are just what the doctor ordered. Here's why......
In a Mayo Clinic article under the heading of Stress Management we are told........
"Whether you're guffawing at a sitcom on TV or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon, laughing does you good. Laughter is a great form of stress relief, and that's no joke."

A good sense of humor can't cure all situation, but much data has been collected about the positive things laughter can do.
"Consider these short-term benefits to regular laughter. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body. Laughter can:
*Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
*Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
*Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress."
Laughter also has many long-term benefits like pain relief, overcoming mild depression, and more!

I have always enjoyed the expereience of the national journalist, Norman Cousins! During a business trip to Russia, Cousins acquired a terrible disease. Upon his return, he was hospitalized but declining as the desease progressed. In his book, Anatomy of an Illness (As Perceived by the Patient), Cousins tells how he removed himself from the hospital, improving his comfort, and immersed himself in funny movies.
As is usually the case, we also receive guidance from the Bible! In Proverbs 17:22 it tells us, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

For our own health, we really need to lighten up and
LAUGH AT THE WORLD!

Eat the Biggest Frog First!

Mark Twain once said “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” Whether you are discussing eating frogs, or any other undesirable task...do the most difficult one first. Then it is out your way!
I first heard this example from another source, the author, Brian Tracy. uses the frog example in his presentations as well!

In his claasic text Think and Grow Rich, noted author Napoleon Hill defines procrastination as the complete opposite of decision making. However, procrastination is actually a decsion in itself.....one of avoidance!

Twain also captured the essence of procrastination in another famous quote: "Never put off until tomorrow... what you can do the day after tomorrow."

If you want to be the type of person who simply gets things done, whenever you think of something that you need to do, take immediate action towards it. It can be one small step, a moment of planning or putting something in your calendar. If you practice this consistently, it will become so automatic that putting something off until later won't seem right. Humans are already slaves to their habits. Develop the habit of eating the biggest frog first. All your other tasks of the day will be easier!

Are You a Dreamer?

MANY YEARS AGO A VERY SUCCESSFUL AND WELL KNOWN BUSINESSMAN, W. CLEMENT STONE, ASKED WHAT MANNER OF A PARENT WOULD PRESENT A CHILD AN ICE CREAM CONE AND THEN SNATCH IT AWAY?
The reasoning in Stone's analogy is simple....God doesn't do that either! When you are inspired to take a certain action, design a certain item, follow that prompting......God would not provide the dream and then snatch it away from you.
Renowned heart surgeon, Russell M. Nelson, tells of a time he was called upon to solve a patient's heart problem. A major stumbling block, however, was that the technology did not yet exist to resolve this patient's challenge. Dr. Nelson describes how the solution came to him fully developed in a dream! He was able to perform the surgery applying his new technique with confidence and success.
Mr Stone and many others have shared the concept that if the mind of man can CONCEIVE and BELIEVE, it can ACHIEVE anything.

If you feel inspired that NOW is the time to take a new course, change a lifelong habit, or perhaps repair old relationships, if you ask Him, God will show you a clear, concise path to achieving your plan.

Motivation During The Tough Times - Faith is the Key

In the course of human history, man has experienced periods of peace and freedom, wealth, health, and prosperity! In those circumstances, motivation is a breeze! It is easy to remain upbeat and excited when life is a rose garden!
But what of those other times...when those problems and challenges seem to hit us out of nowhere? When those tough times come, can we have motivation that we will be able to persist and make it through? We do not need to walk through such times alone.
We can each develop our own "Mastermind Group" as described in 1925 by Napoleon Hill in his book, "The Law of Success" and in greater detail in his later work, "Think and Grow Rich".A mastermind group is a peer-to-peer mentoring group used to help members solve their problems with input and advice from the other group members. Make your focus on positive reading and viewing materials. Associate with positive, upbeat people!

Many people find support and answers to their challenges by consulting with scriptures! We should think of them as the "living word," almost as if the scriptures were living and breathing answer to our needs! They can speak to people today as much as it was to the people that read it when it was first written. The messages, stories, and lessons apply today as much as they did thousands of years ago. If you need motivation for any situation, you will, undoubtedly, find it in the scriptures!

One of the most used Bible verses for motivation is Phillipians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." This is an excellent verse in which many people draw comfort and motivation. It reminds us that we do not need to make it through life on our strength. There is something that is reassuring and comforting about knowing that we don't always need to be able to handle it on our own.

"The power of faith and belief is real power. Believing that you can attain your goal is of great importance for its achievement. Without faith, there will be doubts and disbelief, which lead to non-doing and to non-achievement. Faith draws and attracts what you want into your life, whereas doubts, worries and disbelief push them away. If you read about the lives of people who have achieved success, you would discover that faith played a major role in their life. They believed they can achieve their goals and had no doubts about it. They visualized their goal as already achieved, as already a fact, and this is what you also need to do.”
(excerpt from the book Visualize and Achieve by Remez Sasson)