JANUARY

What Matters

It matters little what someone else has or has not
done.

What matters is what you're doing right now.

- John-Roger (From: The Tao of Spirit)

ACHIEVEMENT

Those at the top of the mountain didn't fall there.

Marcus Washling

VISUALIZATION

The great successful men of the world have used their
imaginations, they think ahead and create their mental
picture, and then go to work materializing that picture
in all its details, filling in here, adding a little
there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily
building -- steadily building.

Robert Collier

FROM HOPE TO CHANGE

According to the International Listening Association, within
twenty-four hours, we forget half of any information we've heard.
Forty-eight hours later, we've forgotten 75 percent of it. And
we don't grasp everything we hear in the first place. But these
numbers change when what we hear is repeated. And the more
it's repeated, the better the numbers look.

All this has a huge bearing on how you make changes in your life.
You change your behavior by changing the way you think. But the way you think is as ingrained and habitual and as resistant to change as any physical habit.

So learning new ways of thinking and behaving -- and learning them well enough to actually make a difference -- requires repetition.
If, for example, you find a book that really makes a difference
to you, read it again and again. Make it an annual event. Every
time you read it, you'll come across things you'd forgotten about.
Audiotapes are ideal for repetition. Listen to tapes in your car
and traffic jams will be transformed from an annoyance to an
extended opportunity to improve the quality of your life.

Telling your friends about something you've learned helps cement the new information in your mind. The more you share it, the better you learn it. The effort and concentration it requires to explain something to someone makes it clearer in your own mind and more permanent.

There are always so many new books, new tapes, new shows,
new ideas, new information - we know we'll never get to it all,
but our curiosity constantly pulls us toward it. But keep this
in mind: Most of that new stuff isn't very good. And even less
applies to your situation. So when you come across something
that is good and does apply to your situation, hold onto it.
Reread it. When you come across a good chapter in this book
that applies to you, read it again in a month. Write a letter
to someone and explain the idea to them and how you used it
and how it worked. Post it on your refrigerator. Read it onto
a tape and listen to it in your car. Keep it in your life.
Repetition makes a difference.

With repetition you can take a fleeting hope sparked by a good
idea and turn it into an actual change in your life. Instead
of that possibility fading with your memory, it can grow stronger and stronger until your life is changed for the better. The distance between hope and actuality is crossed by repetition.

Adam Khan

YOUR BEST

Be true to the best you know. This is
your high ideal. If you do your best,
you cannot do more. Do your best
everyday and your life will gradually
expand into satisfying fullness...

H. W. Dresser

Resistance

The number one enemy of the Spiritual Warrior is
resistance.

Resistance is the ultimate contracted state; it
produces discord, disease, and violence. When we
resist our own divine nature, we commit an act of
violence against ourselves. Ironically, when we
resist our dark nature it is also an act of violence.
For people seeking a path of awareness, resistance
can become either a stepping-stone or a stumbling
block.

But you can't overcome resistance by resisting it.

- John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)

EXPECTATIONS

The world has a way of giving what is demanded
of it. If you are frightened and look for failure and
poverty, you will get them, no matter how hard you
may try to succeed. Lack of faith in yourself, in
what life will do for you, cuts you off from the good
things of the world. Expect victory and you make
victory...

Preston Bradley

CHANGE

You have to stop in order to change direction.

Erich Fromm

WE GROW WITH EACH ATTEMPT

Sometimes we're our own worst enemies when it comes to
moving forward with regards to an idea we have. We start
out with this wonderful idea. Yet before we actually take
the first step towards realizing it, we've actually picked
it apart and come up with all the reasons why it's undoable!
Sound familiar? If so take heart I think it's something we
can all relate to in some form...

Rather than looking for ways to talk ourselves out of it,
instead affirm clearly that with its attempt we're growing
ourselves! Looking at things in this light helps us to focus
in on the more important goal. That being our own personal
development! Doing so helps take the emphasis off of the
"what if I fail" thoughts and places it more clearly on the
"what I can learn by the experience".

In a nutshell it's important we keep in mind that we're just
as qualified and competent to realize our dreams as anyone
who's done so before us. True enough we may need to increase our life experiences in order to do so, but after all that's what living the life journey is all about isn't it?...

Josh Hinds

WORK IN PROGRESS

I come from a place of peaceful quiet/mind
I come from where I can breathe and be
I go where the river takes me
There, it must be

Pollution is not only of the environment
It spreads its toxic fingers in minds/bodies
It covers over the essential, the pure
And steals the innocence away
And Grace?

I am a work in progress - I may get tangled
in the net of a polluted opinion now and then
But not for long

As the washing of the gushing river
Restores my sanity
I am returned to my progression
Safe in my imperfection

©Stella Savoie

Choose the loss

Watch out when you win an argument. That means
someone else lost. If you are loving that person,
you are then part of the loss. If you are not loving
that person, you have your work cut out for you.

As for me, if there is a conflict with another human
being and someone declares it a win-lose situation,
I'd choose the loss.

I'd rather lose my ego, my position, my need to be
right than win. I'd rather that someone I love learn
from their winning than I inflict a loss on them.
That's a heavier loss than I prefer.

- John-Roger
(From: The Tao of Spirit)

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES
(Mentor Max)

Sooner or later a crisis appears in your life, and how you meet it will determine your future happiness and success.
Since the beginning of time, everyone has been called upon to meet such a crisis.

Close examination will show you that most "crisis situations" are opportunities to either advance or stay where you are.
Indeed most changes in your life seem to be due to either "inspiration" or "desperation."

Your personal growth is the process of responding positively to change.
Give whatever comes your way meaning and transform it into something of value.

A precious stone cannot be polished without friction,
nor humanity perfected without trials.

LEARNING MY JOB
(Author Unknown)

I asked my higher self to take away my pain. It said, "NO."
It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked my higher self to make my handicapped child whole. It said, "NO."
Her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked my higher self to grant me patience. It said, "NO."
Patience is by-product of tribulations, it isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked my higher self to give me happiness. It said, "NO."
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked my higher self to spare me pain. It said, "NO."
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.

I asked my higher self to make my spirit grow. It said, "NO."
You must grow on your own, and love will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. It said, "NO."
I give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked my higher self to help me LOVE others, as much as it loves me.
It said ... "Ahhhh, finally you have the idea."

A ROSE
(Author Unknown)

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet and I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success:" You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!


"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change.

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives.

At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

IDEAS

Ideas are elusive, slippery things. Best
to keep a pad of paper and a pencil at
your bedside, so you can stab them during
the night before they get away.

Earl Nightingale

"Most people are as happy as they make their minds to be."
-- Abraham Lincoln

FAILURE

History has demonstrated that the most notable
winners usually encountered heartbreaking
obstacles before they triumphed. They won because
they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.

B.C. Forbes

Emotions

No matter how spiritual you claim to be, you can
still go crazy with emotions if you don't strengthen
the spiritual inner connection and exercise the
conscious self's willpower. Most people give in to
the basic self's won't-power and erupt in emotional
energy that only vents anger, hurt, and dismay.

What they are left with after this expression is
anger, hurt, and dismay, as well as a lonely,
exhausted feeling of energy depletion.

- John-Roger
(From: Passage Into Spirit)

SELF-ACCEPTANCE

The greatest success, is successful self-acceptance.

Ben Sweet




PERFECTION

Aim for success, not perfection. Never give
up your right to be wrong, because then you
will lose the ability to learn new things
and move forward with your life. Remember
that fear always lurks behind perfectionism.
Confronting your fears and allowing yourself
the right to be human can, paradoxically,
make you a far happier and more productive
person.

Dr. David M. Burns

BE AWARE OF YOUR PATTERNS

If you're like most people, you've probably noticed
some patterns in your life. By "patterns," I mean
situations that seem to show up over and over again;
the cast of characters may change a bit, but the end
results remain the same.

In and of themselves, such patterns aren't necessarily
good or bad. They can be the source of boundless joy or
tremendous frustration, economic abundance or financial
struggle. In fact, it's quite likely that you have both
positive and negative patterns in your life right now.

For instance, maybe you've worked for numerous bosses
who have been very critical of you. No matter what
company you're with, the same result occurs. This is
a pattern.

If you honestly analyze your life, you will see that
you have created (and continue to create!) many
patterns -- some that serve you and others that hinder
your progress.

At the root of most patterns is a belief system (your
expectations about what you can achieve) and your level
of self-esteem (how you feel about yourself). For instance,
if you don't believe that you are capable of earning more
than a certain amount of money, you'll go from one position
or career to another and find that in each case, you earn
only as much as your expectations will allow.

Similarly, if you have relatively low self-esteem, you'll
find that in one relationship after another, (both
personally and in your career) you will tend to attract
people who will put you down.

Let's look at some specific steps you can take to create
new patterns that will improve every area of your life:

1. Identify your current patterns. Take stock of the
results you've produced in the following areas: your
career, financial circumstances, health status,
professional and personal relationships. Are you steadily
advancing in your career... or are you bouncing from
job to job or stagnating in a position you hate? Do you
feel that colleagues appreciate your efforts or are you
regularly criticized "for no good reason"? After
identifying your patterns, ask yourself: What beliefs
do I have that contribute to these outcomes? For instance,
you may believe that "You can only earn money after a lot
of struggle"... or that "People will ultimately let you
down." Make a list of your beliefs.

2. Stop placing the blame on others or on external circumstances.
If you've identified any patterns you don't like, the solution
is not found in blaming your parents, your employer or your
spouse. And, guess what? It won't help to blame yourself either!
You'll just feel worse. Simply acknowledge the fact that you are
perpetuating the pattern because of your thinking and your behavior.

3. Visualize the new pattern you wish to develop. Your mind
is now filled with pictures that support your existing
circumstances! To break free from this, you must substitute
images of what you choose to become. So, if you want to be
more confident, imagine yourself acting with more assurance.
For instance, you might think of yourself delivering an
effective presentation in front of a large group in your
company.

4. Watch your words. Be very careful about what you say, both
to yourself ("self-talk") and to others. Words and phrases that
put you down or describe your limitations will keep you from
establishing a new pattern.

5. Distance yourself from those who exhibit your "old" pattern.
If you want to break a dependency on drugs or alcohol, you can't
continue to hang around people who abuse these substances, right?
Similarly, if you want to break a chain of negative thinking, don't keep
company with negative thinkers.

6. Take action that supports the new pattern. For instance,
those having financial problems might give up the idea of
shopping around to save a few pennies on a gallon of milk.
If you are obsessed with saving a few cents, the message
you send to your mind is, "Money is scarce and a few cents
is going to make a difference to me." If you truly believe
that you are going to earn a considerable amount of money
in the near future, those few cents would not concern you.
Start paying attention to recurring situations in your life.
They aren't happening by "accident;" rather, they are a
reflection of what's going on inside of you. When you elevate
your thinking about what's possible -- and feel good about
yourself -- you'll begin to produce miracles!

Jeff Keller
© Attitude is Everything, Inc.

UNMOTIVATED

People who are unable to motivate
themselves must be content with
mediocrity, no matter how
impressive their other talents.

Andrew Carnegie

Judgment

If you immediately get involved with your emotions
or your thoughts of what should or should not be
taking place according to some preconceived notion
you have, you are creating a pattern inside of you
that you will feel compelled to follow.

So what we think is positive we attempt to put into
our Soul, and what we think is negative, we try to
send to hell and forget. But that is judgment. That
is categorizing and placing. It has nothing to do
with letting go.

- John-Roger
(From: Spiritual Warrior, The Art of Spiritual Living)