2012-50 - Well-founded confidence

How is it possible to move confidently toward the future after experiencing a disappointing setback? By learning from that disappointment, and knowing that you can adjust your approach accordingly.

If confidence resulted only from success, no one would ever have the confidence to reach success in the first place. In all confidence there is necessarily an element of faith.

Certainly past successes can add to your confidence, but past disappointments do not have to erode that confidence. Because you have the wonderful ability to improve with each effort. You can make adjustments and apply the lessons you've learned through experience. Those valuable lessons are yours to use in a positive way no matter what has happened before.

The powerful fact is that every experience can add to your confidence. The cheers and the sneers, the compliments and the complaints, the wins and the losses can all build confidence.

Take the best from what has happened and add the best of what can be. Move positively forward with a realistic, well-founded, ever-increasing confidence.

~ Ralph Marston
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" Humor comes from self-confidence."

~ Rita Mae Brown
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2012-49 - Never Stop Learning

The one thing in life that can never be taken away from you is your education. You can lose your money, your home, your job, and even your family. You can never lose the things you learn.

Education is not just what you learn in school, not by a long shot. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of “finishing” their education when they graduate. And education is not just learning facts. Education is learning how to learn on a continuing basis.

It is more important than ever that you never stop learning. With the rapid advances in knowledge and technology, information quickly becomes obsolete. So you must learn not only the facts, but more importantly, how to find the information you need.

Computer technology is a powerful tool for learning. With computers, you can have access to a virtually unlimited supply of information. My two year old daughter, who already knows how to use a mouse to find what she wants, will probably have fingertip access to the entire world’s libraries by the time she learns to read.

If you are not continually updating your knowledge you will be left behind. You must always be looking for a better way to do something, for the knowledge that will make you more effective. Because you can be sure that your competition is doing just that.

~ Ralph Marston
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" All men who have turned out worth anything have had a chief hand in their own education."

~ Sir Walter Scott
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2012-47 - Joy to the World…

We go through life seeking for moments of joy and pleasure. We often hope that once our desires become fulfilled, we can finally be happy. Yet happiness is not an ideal somewhere off in the distant future. Instead it is within us at all times, waiting to emerge.

Happiness is a state of mind, starting in moments of quiet contentment that emerge when we find our way into deeper awareness and consciousness. Heaven and hell are states of mind. We can access higher states of mind by going within and accessing what is there. Within is a peace that stays with us when we are connected to the deepest levels of ourselves. While moments of pleasure inspired by external events may still be joyful, they are fleeting. The joy we find when we go within is far more enduring, and more real than we can ever believe possible.

Deeper connection can be discovered through the practice of presence. As we let go of how things should be, and become present to what is, we begin to experience a deeper connection with ourselves, and with the world around us. We can then interpret things according to what serves us best. Then each moment is a moment of joy and pleasure, and we have no searching to do. The moment of now is what we are really supposed to find. The door of happiness is open, and we can walk through it into our own personal Garden of Eden.

~ Author Unknown



"People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be."
~ Abraham Lincoln

2012-46 - Whatever it takes…

A long time ago there was a great General who was faced with a situation which made it necessary for him to make a drastic decision to insure his success on the battlefield. He was about to send his army on shore to face a powerful enemy, whose men outnumbered his.

He loaded his soldiers into boats, and sailed to face the enemies on shore. When they reached the shore, he ordered them to unload the soldiers and cargoes. He then ordered for all the ships and boats to be burned.

Addressing his men before the battle, he said, "You see the ships and boats going up in smoke? That means that we cannot leave these shores alive unless we win! We now, have no choice - either we win, or we perish."

They WON!!!

~ Author Unknown



"A true champion, face to face with his darkest hour, will do whatever it takes to rise above."
~ Kenny Powers

2012-45 - Different things motivate different people…

There was a young boy who used to come for regular practice but always played in the reserves and never made it to the soccer eleven. While he was practicing, his father used to sit at the far end, waiting for him.

The matches had started and for four days, he didn't show up for practice or the quarter or semi-finals. All of a sudden he showed up for the finals, went to the coach and said, "Coach, you have always kept me in the reserves and never let me play in the finals. But today, please let me play."

The coach said, "Son, I'm sorry, I can't let you. There are better players than you and besides, it is the finals, the reputation of the school is at stake and I cannot take a chance."

The boy pleaded, "Coach, I promise I will not let you down. I beg of you, please let me play."

The coach had never seen the boy plead like this before. He said, "OK, son, go, play. But remember, I am going against my better judgment and the reputation of the school is at stake. Don't let me down."

The game started and the boy played like a house on fire. Every time he got the ball, he shot a goal. Needless to say, he was the best player and the star of the game. His team had a spectacular win.

When the game finished, the coach went up to him and said, "Son, how could I have been so wrong in my life. I have never seen you play like this before. What happened? How did you play so well?"

The boy replied, "Coach, my father is watching me today."

The coach turned around and looked at the place where the boy's father used to sit. There was no one there. He said, "Son, your father used to sit there when you came for practice, but I don't see anyone there today."

The boy replied, "Coach, there is something I never told you. My father was blind. Just four days ago, he died. Today is the first day he is watching me from above."

Self motivation is the key of success...


~ Author Unknown

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“Believe with all of your heart that you will do what you were made to do."

~ Orison Swett Marden
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