"It's A Puzzle"

If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

During our recent vacation, my family and I spent hours putting together 750-piece puzzles, an activity that had long ago been put aside. I am not sure what sparked the desire to tackle this challenging project, but the insights that came from our attempts to piece together bits of the puzzle were welcomed and timely.

We started by looking at the picture on the box lid so that we could see the total image. We then began to sort out those pieces of the puzzle that formed the outline of the puzzle. Our reasoning was that it was easier to start with some framework to which we would add the remaining pieces of the puzzle. Putting together the puzzle was frustrating at times because try as we may, we could not find the pieces that were meant to interlock. Many pieces were shaped alike and looked as though they might fit, but didn't, and others did not appear to be the right parts, but they were.

Many long hours passed and emotions of frustration, accomplishment, and optimism were repeated until the puzzle was completed. At times, it was tempting to put the puzzle away and simply give up, declaring it a waste of time to continue because it was difficult and frustrating.

One of the first insights that I acquired was that life is made up of numerous parts, like pieces of the puzzle. Often I looked at my life and wondered when the next piece of my life's puzzle would make its appearance. I would soon be rewarded with the sense of satisfaction and understanding, only to find myself stalled again at a later date. As when putting together the puzzle, I would find myself caught in the spin cycle of frustration-accomplishment-optimism.

During this puzzle time, I received the gift of many insights, which I wish to share with you.

. Know the picture that you are putting together before sorting the pieces. (Who am I? Where am I going? What will I be? What will it look and feel like?)

Create the framework for your life by sorting out all the parts with the straight edges that give some form and structure to your dreams, your desired picture.

3. Sort the puzzle pieces so that you will have a more organized and less frustrating approach to joining the pieces properly.

When successful tactics seem to fail, walk away briefly-but not permanently-and when you come back, do so with a more optimistic attitude. Miraculously the elusive piece seems to appear right away.

Keep referring back to the image that you will become to identify landmarks and to see larger sections that will give you an idea of the smaller pieces needed.

Realize that the puzzle is created to be challenging and entertaining, but also to bring with it a sense of accomplishment upon its completion.

Life truly is a puzzle and sometimes we may go for a long time feeling as though many pieces are missing. A truly happy and successful person is one who will not give up simply because it is not easy to piece together the myriad of shapes, sizes, and array of experiences in our lives.

Affirmation for the Week:

“I patiently put the puzzle of my life together. If the pieces don't fit in the section where I am working, I will put them down until I am at the point where they do fit.”

Have a puzzle-seeking week.

"Problems And Stewing"

Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.

There are times when we are at a loss to know how to resolve issues in our lives. We may tend to procrastinate, or we may rush to make a hasty decision -- both of which can be counterproductive. As I was making beef stew today, it occurred to me that it is possible to resolve problems in the same manner that we tenderize tough meat.

Problems and Stewing

There is an art and science to making a delicious stew. The process includes taking a piece of meat and simmering it (on low heat) for a long period of time in seasonings and liquid. This prolonged cooking process allows a tough piece of meat to become very tender.

This same process can be applied to a problem that we need to resolve. Initially that problem may seem to be a "tough" one, but if we put it aside with the understanding that we will ultimately solve it, we will often find that by allowing the problem to sit and stew, it becomes easier to solve.

Unlike the meat, however, the problem is cooked in seasonings of intent to solve it, belief that it can be solved, and patience. Also, you must understand that if the problem is left cooking too long, it creates yet another problem -- it becomes overcooked and too mushy.

Not all meats are good for stewing... Nor are all problems appropriate for this stewing method. You must make that choice. Just as we choose a specific type of meat for the stewing process, so must we be picky about the problems that we put on the back burner and allow to simmer.

The secret to "problem stewing" is the confidence that a solution will come to us, but in the proper time frame. So we must add an affirmation to accompany this problem solving process.

Life’s Little Instruction Book

Have a firm handshake.

Look people in the eye.

If in a fight, hit first and hit hard.

Keep secrets.

Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference.

Avoid sarcastic remarks.

Lend only those books you never care to see again.

Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters,

Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.

Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret.

Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.

Keep it simple.

Beware of the person who has nothing to lose.

Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river.

Live your life so that your epitaph could read, No Regrets

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did.

Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you.

Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you.

Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital, you need to only stay a few minutes.

Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice.

Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.

Become someone's hero.

Count your blessings.

Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home.

Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people.

"Get Over It!"

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

Have you had one of those days, weeks or months when it seems that someone in your life has wronged you? Are you feeling angry and resentful as a result of a conversation or a slight by another (family, friend, co-worker, or stranger)?

Do you find that you spend more time than you would like mentally reviewing the conversations, the situation, or the history with this person? Or do you talk about it with others and perhaps even plan what you might say or do to this person? Does the situation seem to consume your waking thoughts or dreams? Should you do something about it? The answer to these questions is that it depends on whether or not you want your life back and your well being restored.

Why should you let go of the resentments? Because they hold you back from your own happiness, peace of mind and success. Any resentment that you hold keeps you handcuffed to that person.

A person recently shared a quote with me that I found to be most poignant, "Holding on to resentments and carrying a grudge is like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die."

What can you do to get beyond the feelings that are holding you prisoner and poisoning your sense of well being? The answer is simple, but not easy. It is to just GET OVER IT!

At some point you have to let it go. Stewing over the situation will do nothing other than keep you boiling mad and, ultimately, burned out. So what are the simple, but not so easy steps?

1. Make a decision! That is right; make a decision that you will not live your life poisoning yourself with thoughts of anger and resentment.
2. Extract the lesson. Figure out the lesson that you can learn from this situation and then keep the lesson, but throw away the experience. 
3. Forgive - the other person and yourself! Forgiveness is the key to the handcuffs that are binding the two of you together. By forgiving or giving up the need to be angry, resentful, and feeling like a victim, you free yourself from the emotional snarls that keep you tied up in emotional knots. 

Get over it! This includes not discussing it with others. Every time that you do, you will have to have to return to steps 1 thru 3. Frankly, there have been situations that I found so inflammatory and hurtful that I had to repeat steps 1 thru 3 many, many times until I could let it go and get over it.

"Challenges"

The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.

Recently I had the opportunity to listen to three people who are going through many challenges in their lives right now. As I listened to each, I marveled at the resiliency that each had in dealing in their own ways with their challenges. Following the conversations, I recalled a story that I once heard that reminded me that while everyone has challenges, some challenge are greater than others.

A group of people who had gathered together began to share some of their problems and frustrations. At one point, the facilitator of the group asked them to stop, take a moment to reflect and to write down five problems that they were facing in their lives at this time. He then asked them to fold the papers and place them in a basket that he was passing around.

When all had put their papers into the basket, he mixed them all up and then passed the basket around again instructing the people to remove a paper from the basket and quietly read the paper that they had selected. He then asked if anyone in the room would choose to exchange their own problems for those listed on the paper that they had drawn. No one did. No one wanted to. No one felt that their problems were worse than the ones experienced by the author of the list that they held.

It seems unfair, and sometimes overwhelming, to face hardships and threats to life, safety, security, well-being and happiness. We may not understand the reasons for the pain and fear that result from these life challenges. Nonetheless, they offer the greatest opportunity for growth and emergence of inner strength that was heretofore unrecognized in ourselves.

A favorite poem of mine that was shared many years ago by a dear friend makes the poignant point:

I walked a mile with pleasure; she chattered all the way.

But I was none the wiser, for all she had to say.

I walked a mile with sorrow; not a word said she.

But oh, the lessons that I learned, when sorrow walked with me.

"Fly Quiet: Please Use Noise Abatement Procedures"

As my plane was pulling onto the runway for takeoff, I noticed a sign that instructed the pilots to implement a procedure that would reduce the amount of noise that the plane makes when taking off. This program is designed to lessen the deafening effects that airport noise has upon the residents of neighborhoods near the airport.

As I thought about the meaning and impact that this instruction held for the pilot, I equated the airplane noise with the inner noise in my mind. There are times when the inner dialog is somewhat negative and distracting. It can be so annoying that I wish I had an instant turn-off switch.

You have probably experienced this same feeling when you think about the many demands in your life that it is difficult to shut off the distracting thoughts. It seems that night-time is when the noisy chatter of the mind can be deafening.

How do we quiet the mind? What noise abatement procedures can we use to fly quiet and give our minds a rest? I think that it starts with recognizing that we have an inner noisy chatterbox, which we can control. It also requires understanding some of quieting techniques such as meditation, self-hypnosis, being out of doors and allowing it to calm our minds.

Being near water has a soothing effect for me, as does sitting out of doors underneath a tree and closing my eyes. It is amazing what we can smell and hear; the perfume and symphony that Mother Nature offers us can bring us back into balance and harmony.

What in your life needs quieting? Is there a certain thought that seems to dominate your life? Do you wish to abate the noise and static in the mind and to regain control over the negative message that is played over and over again?

Take a moment, listen to the message, understand what the message is about and then when it begins again, think or say, "Stop!" Once you have gotten the mind's attention, change your focus to a more productive thought process. Just as pilots of plane need to be reminded to abate the noise, so must we, as pilots of our minds, take action to "fly quiet."

clickforselfmotivation: WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS

clickforselfmotivation: WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS: "¨ The Winner is always part of the answer;The Loser is always part of the problem. ¨ The Winner always has a program;The Loser always has an..."

We hope you enjoy the following jokes!

Learn from the past, set vivid, detailed goals for the future, and live in the only moment of time over which you have any control: now.

A man was telling his neighbor, "I just bought a new hearing aid. It cost me four thousand dollars, but it's state of the art. It's perfect.
"Really," answered the neighbor. "What kind is it?"
"Twelve thirty."

Morris, an 82 year-old man, went to the doctor to get a physical. A few days later the doctor saw Morris walking down the street with a gorgeous young lady on his arm. A couple of days later the doctor spoke to Morris and said, "You're really doing great, aren't you?"

Morris replied, "Just doing what you said, Doc: "Get a hot mamma and be cheerful."

The doctor said, "I didn't say that. I said, "You got a heart murmur. Be careful."

An elderly gent was invited to his old friends' home for dinner one evening. He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his with endearing terms-Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc. The couple had been married almost 70 years, and clearly they were still very  much in love. While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, "I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names."

The old many hung his head. "I have to tell you the truth," he said, "I forgot her name about 10 years ago."

Three old pilots are walking on the ramp. First one says, "Windy, isn't it?"

Second one say, "No, it's Thursday!"

Third one say, "So am I. Lets go have a drink."

Laugh your way to stress relief

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Laughter's benefits on your health are no joke. A sense of humor can't cure all ailments, but data are mounting about the things that laughter can do.

Short-term Benefits

A good laugh has great short-term effects. When you start to laugh, it doesn't just lighten your load mentally, it actually induces physical changes in your body, beginning with your face. Laughter can:

• Stimulate your 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 your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response and increases your heart rate and blood pressure. The result? A good, relaxed feeling.
• Soothe tension and tummy aches. Laughter can also ease digestion and stimulate circulation, which helps reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

Long-term Benefits

Laughter isn't only good for a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long haul. Laughter may:

• Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can impact your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more serious illnesses. In fact, in one study, people with cancer who watched a humorous video showed less stress and an increase in a particular cell activity that's beneficial in fighting diseases such as HIV and cancer.
• Relieve pain. Research increasingly shows that laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make difficult situations a little bit easier. One study of nurses who work in emergency rooms found that nurses who use humor in dealing with their patients and co-workers experience greater job satisfaction and feelings of personal accomplishment than do those who remain dour during their shifts.

Laughter is the best medicine

Go ahead and give it a try. Turn the corners of your mouth up into a smile and then give a laugh, even if it feels a little forced. Once you've had your hearty chuckle, take stock of how you're feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed or buoyant? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.

KEEP CONFIDENCE, TRUST OTHERS & NEVER LOSE HOPE

CONFIDENCE

Once, all village people decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all people gathered and only one boy came with an Umbrella, that's Confidence

TRUST

Trust should be like the feeling of a one year old baby when you throw him in the air, he laughs......because he knows you will catch him; that's Trust

HOPE

  Every night we go to bed, we have no assurance to get up alive in the next morning but still you have plans for the coming day; that's Hope

clickforselfmotivation: WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS

clickforselfmotivation: WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS: "¨ The Winner is always part of the answer;The Loser is always part of the problem. ¨ The Winner always has a program;The Loser always has an..."

WHEN I BECOME A BIG BOY

This is like the little boy who says when I become a big boy, I will do this and this and I will be happy.  And when be becomes a big boy he says, when I finish college and do this and this and I will be happy.  And when he finishes college he says when I get my first job and do this and this I will be happy.  And when he gets his first job he says when I get married and do this and this and then I will be happy.  And when he gets married he says when the kind’s get out of school and I do this and this I will be happy.  And when the kinds get out of school, he says when I retire and do this and this, I will be happy.  And when he retires what does he see? He sees life has just gone by in front of his eyes.

Some people practice procrastination by hiding behind high sounding words, saying “I’m analyzing” and six months later they are still analyzing.  What they don’t realize is that they are suffering from a disease called; “Paralysis of Analysis” and they will never succeed.

What time is it and where are we? 

The answer is now and we here.  Let’s make the best of now and utilize the present to the fullest.  The message is not that we don’t need to plan for the future.  The message is that we do need to plan for the future.  If we utilize our present to its fullest, we are sowing the seeds for better futures automatically, aren’t we?

If you want to build a positive attitude, learn the phrase,” do it now” and stop the habit of procrastination.

WHOM, SHOULD WE CALL EDUCATED?

First, those who manage well the circumstance which they encounter day by day; and those who can judge situations appropriately as they arise and rarely miss the suitable course of action.

Next, those who are honorable in their dealings with all men, bearing easily what is unpleasant or offensive in others, and being as reasonable with their associated as is humanly possible.

Furthermore, those who hold their pleasures always under control and are not unduly overcome by their misfortunes, bearing up under them bravely and in a manner worthy of our common nature.

Most important of all, those who are spoiled by their successes, who do not desert their true selves, but hold their ground steadfastly as wise and sober-minded men, rejoicing no more in the good things that have come to them through chance than in those which through their own nature and intelligence are theirs since birth.

Those who have a character which is in accord, not with one of these things, but with all of them these are educated- possessed of all the virtues.

WINNERS VERSUS LOSERS

¨ The Winner is always part of the answer;

The Loser is always part of the problem.

¨ The Winner always has a program;

The Loser always has an excuse.

¨ The Winner says, "Let me do it for you";

The Loser says, "That is not my job."

¨ The Winner sees an answer for every problem;

The Loser sees a problem for every answer.

¨ The Winner says, "It may be difficult but it is possible";

The Loser says, "It may be possible but it is too difficult."

¨ When a Winner makes a mistake, he says, "I was wrong";

When a Loser makes a mistake, he says, "It wasn't my fault."

¨ A Winner makes commitments;

A Loser makes promises.

¨ Winners have dreams;

Losers have schemes.

¨ Winners say, "I must do something";

Losers say, "Something must be done."

¨ Winners are a part of the team;

Losers are apart from the team.

¨ Winners see the gain;

Losers see the pain.

¨ Winners see possibilities;

Losers see problems.

¨ Winners believe in win-win;

Losers believe for them to win someone has to lose.

¨ Winners see the potential;

Losers see the past.

¨ Winners are like a thermostat;

Losers are like thermometers.

¨ Winners choose what they say;

Losers say what they choose.

¨ Winners use hard arguments but soft words;

Losers use soft arguments but hard words.

¨ Winners stand firm on values but compromise on petty things;

Losers stand firm on petty things but compromise on values.

¨ Winners follow the philosophy of empathy: "Don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you";

Losers follow the philosophy, "Do it to others before they do it to you."

¨ Winners make it happen;

Losers let it happen.

¨ Winners plan and prepare to win.

The key word is preparation.

Know Ur Value....!

A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a Rupee 500 note.

In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this Rupee 500 note?" Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this note to one of you but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the note up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.  "Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?"  Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth Rupee 500/-.  

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

You are special. Don't ever forget it! Never let yesterday's disappointments overshadow tomorrow's dreams.

WORK ATTITUDE

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.

They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to Shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career. When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house" he said, "my gift to you."

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a Wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project" someone has said . Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!