While we all have the capacity to bounce back from life’s difficulties, sometimes we have a busted bounce due to circumstances beyond our control. Life is like a bouncing ball. Sometimes we are up and sometimes we are down. What is most important is not where we happen to be in the cycle of the life, rather our ability to bounce back at least one more time.
Our capacity to bounce back is the result of our experience, preparation, perseverance and attitude. The more difficulty we have faced and overcome the easier it is to bounce back and continue on our merry way. Nevertheless, things happen which can burst our ability to bounce back.
Those who know me or have participated in one of my events know I use the example of a bouncing ball to illustrate and explain my ideas. Recently I found and purchased the “perfect” ball to use in my conferences. It was a traditional black and white soccer ball. I was happy with my new toy and excited to use it. The night before my next event I filled it up with air. Apparently, I filled it up with too much air and the following day I had a Busted Bounce.
My first reaction was to give it to my dogs, Sneaky and Rascal, so they could finish destroying it. I was disappointed I had wasted my money on a busted bounce. Before giving the ball to my kids, I took the air out of the ball and just before giving it to them had an idea. At one time or another we have all “burst” for some reason or another. During the most difficult of circumstances, it seems there are no solutions and no way out.
The bladder in the ball was intact though deformed. It came out of the ball when the surface broke due to excessive air. As I looked at the hole in the ball it occurred to me this is similar to what we experience when we have our own Busted Bounce. I punched smaller holes around the bigger hole and passed a small rope through the eyelets to mend the damage. I filled the ball with air and, as if it were magic, I recovered my bounce.
We encounter incidents similar to my experience with the ball when we are subject to particularly difficult challenges. First we “burst,” our beings deform in an explosion of emotion. A hole is left in our souls creating a vacuum making it virtually impossible to bounce back immediately. In time, and frequently with the help of our friends and family, we fix the “hole” in our lives created by the challenge. Notwithstanding, we still need “air” to inflate our “ball” to return once and for all from the bottom of a bounce.
It’s critical we take time to recover from a Busted Bounce. We can turn to each other for help to repair the space created by an emotional cataclysm. To get up and go from a busted bounce it’s fundamental to find and maintain an excellent positive attitude which gives us the energy we require to fill the vacuum created.
After repairing and inflating our ability to bounce back will never be the same. Though an emotional scar reminds us of what happened, we can use this experience to strengthen our resolve. We always have the ability to bounce back at least one more time from any difficulty because, It’s the Bounce that Counts!
∞ Rob McBride ∞
LL II 28
In 1988, Bobby McFerrin took the phrase, “Don’t worry, be happy,” from Meher Baba and converted it into a song which hit the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
If we are worried about an interview we are about to have, it’s because we “Don’t Have” enough preparation. If we are worried about what happens when we pass from this reality which we call life to another reality which is yet unknown, it’s because we “Don’t Have” certainty of what is going happen.
Not everything in life is beautiful and bright. From time to time we can all use guiding lights. Challenges and disagreements come frequently and furiously. A map which helps us grow and build with each passing day is useful. Following are points of light which can be used as guiding lights. They are based on the premise that no one is “perfect” and the exceptional book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.
GIVE OUR BEST EFFORT: When we give our best effort, we can sleep better knowing we have done all we can do. It’s important to know our best effort will vary depending on the day, our mood and our health. If for some reason we don’t give our best effort at any given time, we can go directly to the first point and be kind to ourselves without the mental battle which often takes place in our mind.
Imagine a life where you take action with energy
It is difficult to be the “perfect” person who integrates each of these qualities which a “good” person “should” have. What is possible is to determine what we most desire and focus on this quality.
Achieving what we most desire in life is a matter of focus. Where we concentrate our attention, resources and activity determines the results we obtain.
The wind of life can be brutal and at times reaches hurricane force. For this reason it is common to lose focus. A simple and powerful exercise is to jot down each of our activities and the time each takes during the course of a typical day. When we analyze the results, we realize our time often disappears in activities which have nothing to do with our objectives.
The same technology responsible for increasing personal and organizational productivity, can be an obstacle when it comes time to focus on a specific activity. Throughout the day we receive text messages, telephone calls, messages from MSN Messenger, a request for friendship from someone on Facebook, a call regarding an unexpected payment and so many other distractions.
All our lives we are taught to “Do it right.” What if, on the other hand, from time to time we, “Do it wrong?”
Let’s look at the example of a baby just learning to walk. They do it “wrong” at first. We don’t expect the child to get up and start running around without first falling down a few times. Nor do we chastise the child for doing it “wrong” and falling. As is usually the case, it is not falling down, rather getting up which is most important. It’s the bounce that counts in so many things in life.
There is a time for everything and everything has its time…
What, you may ask, is the relevance of all of this and why should it matter?
We all have the same 24 hours in a day, a total of 1,440 minutes. The way in which we use this time determines whether we will be actors or spectators in life. There is a time for everything and everything in its time. When we consciously analyze what we do and how we do it, we enhance our ability to achieve our objectives.
To direct your destiny, I propose you take 2.22%, equivalent to 32 minutes of your time, and invest it directly in yourself. 2.22% is the small difference which can reap great rewards.
We can make excuses or we can get up and take action. We all know we should exercise; few of us actually do something about it.
Things are easier said than done. It is easy to say what we should do; actually doing it is an entirely different thing. I have ended many of the events I have conducted with the same words from Al Batt:
To begin any journey, we need to take the ever important first step. If taking a trip, we make a phone call to a travel agency. If our journey is to go to the gym, we put on our tennis shoes, grab our keys and walk out the door. Any objective can be reduced to a series of actions which will direct us to our goal.
In the eye of the hurricane we find incredible peace and quiet. While the rain and wind of the hurricane howl demolishing all in its path, while creating disaster, in the eye of the hurricane the sky is blue and calmness reigns true.
Life is made up of moments…
Moments of inspiration which allow us to fly with the eagles during which everything seems to go right. Moments when we are connected with the universe and we flow naturally with change and turbulence which constitute the essence of life.
Moments of joy which nourish our soul and confirm that happiness should be the rule rather than the exception. Moments which transport us emotionally to another place and which open the doors to be happy with what we have and where we are in every instant, while acknowledging we can always improve.
In his Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech William Faulkner expressed the following:
When we start a conversation with someone, what is our focus? When we center our attention on the interests of the other person, our results will be better than if we concentrate on our desires. Nevertheless, the most significant person in the world should be ourselves. When we are true to ourselves and take care of our needs we can, in turn, take care of the needs of those who are important to us.
I love reading commentaries from my readers. Those which are positive and uplifting give me renewed energy to continue writing. Those which give direction and advice help me improve what I do. I am grateful for them all for they enable me to deliver messages which answer the question, “What’s In It For Me?”
We all like to get a little extra. Getting a little bit more than we expect elicits emotions which make us feel wonderful. Giving a little extra to our clients, patients, contributors, users, friends and family generates dividends beyond our wildest imagination.
When we deliver on our promise to provide an excellent product or service and then give a little extra, the competition, which tends to be a nightmare for others, becomes a fountain of opportunity for us.
I have had the immense pleasure of sharing my ideas with more than 7,000 people in various events. That means there are a lot of bouncy balls out there! I frequently encounter people who tell me, “Though I don’t remember your name, aren’t you the one with the bouncy balls?”
Give big meaningful hugs whenever appropriate. Personally, I need at least eight hugs a day just for maintenance!
Plants and trees require love and affection to grow and flourish. We, too, need tender loving care from time to time. When a plant or a tree has dead branches or leaves, we prune it to properly channel its energy. Similarly, we can prune excess in our own lives to optimize our resources.
While frequently this seems to be the case, time is the same for all and there is no one person who has more time in a day than another. Each day we are given a gift of 1,440 minutes. As with any other gift, we determine what we will do with this “present.” We can set it aside for another day or take it out and use it. While often we think we don’t have the time, we can easily take 5, 10 or 20 minutes to exercise, call a friend or do something which provides us with energy and direction during the day.
Where?
Where are we going and is this really where we want to go? This is the first question we should ask. On a personal level, we often intuitively know the answer. If we are truly happy with our situation, we can continue in the same direction. If we are not headed where we want to be, it is important to first define what we really want. It could be something material or emotional which needs to be modified. It is different for every one and each person’s answer will be unique. Yogi Berra expresses this thought wonderfully: “If we don’t know where we are going, we will end up someplace else!” In order to eliminate ending up “someplace else,” it’s crucial to “Get on our Mark.”
Being “On our Mark and Set to Go” we can determine how we are going to get there. How can we achieve the results we want? In many cases it’s simple, though not always easy. If we want to lose weight, we need to eat less and exercise more. If we want to enhance our emotional state, we need to change the patterns we use to evaluate what happens to us. If we want to increase income by obtaining and maintaining the people we serve, we need to provide better service and enhance quality. An organization with employees who all look after their own interests needs a common thread which weaves its people into the strong fabric of a team.
Most of us have a favorite number. In my case the number is 8. In some way, shape, form or another it repeats itself in my life in many different ways. Similarly, I’m convinced if my favorite number were some other number, the same thing would happen.
Another event which highlights the importance of 8 in my life right now is that I have just published my third book which is titled, 44 in a Row, 44 to Go. The book expresses my desire to live to be a healthy and energetic 88 year-old. Though I don’t know for sure if I will get there, I now have it as a guiding force. By reading these words you now know it as well. I have no other recourse than to do my best to keep my word.
A burning desire is the best way to achieve our objectives and convert our dreams into reality.
For those who have followed my writing, you know the idea of a burning desire is one I integrate into much of my work. I first came across the idea of a Burning Desire about 20 years ago when I read Napoleon Hill’s classic book Think and Grow Rich. As is the case with so many things, the idea started first as a seed which sparked my interest. As I read the book again some years later, the idea began to take form as a sprout which poked its head through the ground.
Napoleon Hill’s work is the culmination of years of interviews with the most successful people of his time. In a nutshell, he suggests we first determine exactly what it is we desire and then decide what we are willing to give in return, since there is no such thing as “something” for “nothing.” An exact date and definite plan to achieve our desire should be followed by immediate action to put the “pedal to the metal,” so to speak. Finally, he suggests writing out a clear, concise statement of our burning desire accompanied with reading the statement aloud twice a day to integrate the idea into our being.
The thoughts permeating our being throughout the day drive our destiny. The phrase, “Another day, another dollar and we holler,” indicates we are working hard to earn a small amount of money. In the streets and hallways of offices throughout the world this, and similar phrases, are uttered thousands of times per day as people ask, “How was your day?” Though, “Another day, another dollar and we holler,” sounds nice and rhymes wonderfully, the subliminal message it sends is devastating.
“Hollering” in joy or in pain each time we make another dollar isn’t particularly inspiring unless we happen to be a professional yodeler. While earning a living is not always easy, neither should it be so difficult. Millions of people survive daily. They are involved in a wide array of different economic activities and few die as a direct result. It is true and unfortunate many do die of hunger; they, however, are not normally the people who are working and “hollering” as they make another dollar.
Saying our spouse is a wonderful person “but” has many problems isn’t even close to saying our spouse is a wonderful person “and” can improve every day in every way.
Daily we face a vast array of decisions. Differentiating between doing what is “right” and “wrong” is a matter of perception and not always easy. Often our biggest challenge is to take action and do something. In making these decisions we can keep in mind our actions affect many, near and far.
Our instincts have one objective, to reproduce and continue to exist. Frequently, we believe our desire to put ourselves ahead of others is necessary for our survival. The lion in the jungle standing to the side and lets the other lions eat first won’t last for very long. He will soon be history. Though we may view our circumstances as our own special jungles, we are not lions nor do we live in the lion’s jungle!
As time passes, we grow in mind, body, spirit and experience. It is then when we often give “good” or “bad,” fully aware of our actions, though not necessarily the consequences. We know, for example, if we pick up our trash after an outing in the park, others who come after us will find the place nice and clean. Likewise, we know if we do not pick up our trash, those who come later will find the place disagreeable and dirty. While this is not always the case and some don’t think twice about leaving trash, they aren’t necessarily doing it to be bad, often they are simply unaware of the consequences of what they are doing.
We all have a special gift which can lead to more productivity and happiness. Finding this gift is not always easy. For many, finding this gift can take an entire lifetime. Nevertheless, it is worthwhile to move toward this end because when we find it, we will be happier and become more useful to ourselves and to others.
My book A Special Gift examines this phenomenon and through the eyes of its main character proposes a path to find our own special gift. One of the characters in the book is named “Pacheco.” He is a security guard who loses his job and, as a result, evaluates what he does and how he does it. This analysis leads him to find his own special gift.
”How” rather than “what” is most important. As a Financial Consultant and Marketing Director in the financial services industry for 17 years, the most important lesson I learned is that money doesn’t buy happiness. I have met people who have a lot of money and excellent jobs. Some are extremely happy; others, in the same situation, are among the most miserable souls I have ever met. The opposite is also true. I have met people with little money and modest jobs whose attitudes have varied between being spectacularly content to demoralizingly dreary.
One way to achieve more happiness in our lives is by utilizing the “scales of justice” to analyze our condition. Start by writing all the things you have on one side. On the other side write all the things you don’t have. You can include material, physical and or spiritual items. Think of all the things to be grateful for which cost absolutely nothing; our arms, our hands, our legs, our feet, our sight, our smell, our touch and so much more. This simple exercise reveals we already possess incredible abundance.
For better or worse our routines direct our destiny. Frequently, we think about routine as something monotonous and undesirable. Even so, we all have routines and not all of them are bad.
There is a study which says it takes 21 days to establish a positive habit and only 3 days to lose it. While it may actually take more or less time, it’s a good rule of thumb. Knowing what we should do is easy; doing it is another story.
One way to close this gap is to establish and achieve small realistic goals. Let’s look at an example. If someone hasn’t done any exercise in the past year, is it realistic they will start doing exercise every day starting next Monday? While anything is possible, it isn’t probable.
Kids are by nature curious. They are fascinated by everything and all is of interest. They want to touch and taste everything in their path. It doesn’t matter the color or size; they want to know more about their world.
Our experience teaches us “the best way to do something.” Unless someone or something shows us a better way to do it, we will continue doing the same. Similar actions will always produce similar results. If these results are what we desire, we are on our way and no change is necessary! If not, we can change what we do to achieve different results.
We learn from everything. With our infinite wisdom we can learn from the simplest things. The earth provides a magnificent mechanism which propagates life. Though it doesn’t always provide an easy path, it does provide all we require for abundance.
We frequently think of adversity which lurks around each corner as something negative to be endured. We flee discomfort and seek refuge in comfort. Nevertheless, it is adversity which molds our character. Those who have never faced adversity are often devoid of significance and emotion. While some would like to live with a little less significance and emotion, these very elements give us sustenance to carry on in the face of adversity.
We often look to comfort and convenience as a path to happiness and harmony. Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (pronounced “chick–sent–me–high-ee”), renowned for his investigation on well-being and happiness, has found we feel best when we are in a state he calls “Flow.”
As we mature and age, it is unlikely we will recall endless hours spent in front of the television relaxing. Nor is it likely we remember what we achieved with little or no effort. What will stand out as a magnificent monument to our life, and will likely become the stories we tell our children and grandchildren, are those challenging, uncomfortable situations we were able to overcome with courage and dignity.
How can we achieve Comfort in Discomfort?
Let’s look at an example. Suppose there are two people working for the same company. They both lose their jobs at the same time because of circumstances beyond their control. One says, “Poor me, I’ll never find another job as good as this one! My life will never be the same and now it will be impossible to achieve what I desire.” The other says, “Though it was a good job, I now have the opportunity to find an even better one! I have confidence and faith in myself; I will find an excellent opportunity.”
What is better something pretty or something practical?
I feel practical over pretty is better and it’s a model which works for me. If someone is more focused on aesthetics, it doesn’t matter how functional something is, they won’t use it if it’s not pretty. Those of us who are more practical and not interested in how pretty something is tend to believe we are right and others are wrong.
Life is more interesting because we are all different. We all have our own way of thinking and acting. Imagine how boring things would be if we were all alike!
What is perfection?
One of the strongest desires we all have is the desire for recognition. For each person who goes to bed hungry for food, there are thousands who go to bed hungry for acknowledgment. With the daily rush to get from here to there, we frequently forget how easy it is to make another happy.
I’ve learned this moment is as it is and is as it should be. With all its trials and tribulations it is the only time we have for certain. What happened yesterday and what may happen tomorrow can never compare to the intensity of this instant.
While we live in an era where we can communicate with virtually anyone anywhere in the world in a heart beat, we often forget our ability to laugh, share and enjoy magical moments which arise most often from common everyday incidents rather than from isolated extraordinary events.
Ideas about motivation and inspiration change over time. During the 1970’s and 1980’s pundits advocated a positive mental attitude as the key to achieving goals and insuring happiness. The mere act of thinking positively, we were told, would cause what we wanted to magically appear.
Though not always apparent, we always have a choice about the direction we take in life. We choose whether we will have a positive or negative attitude. We choose with whom we will spend time. We choose what we will do to make a living. Though we may not always be happy with our choices, we always have a choice.
dare to be great. The difference between achieving “Greatness” and just existing is not a question of race, education or economic stability; rather, it is a function of our courage to pursue what we most desire, knowing the possibility of failure.
A través de sus estudios y sus conversaciones con centenares de personas los Doctores Siebert y Riecken confirmaron que una de las mejores formas de superar dificultades no es tener una actitud positiva todo el tiempo. Mientras que esto contradice lo que muchos hemos aprendido, ellos encontraron que los que son más flexibles y superan situaciones de adversidad son los que logran ver la realidad de una situación adversa con todo lo que ella implica. 
El Dr. Siebert explica: es como tener dos llaves de agua, una caliente y otra fría. Aunque es sabroso sumergirse en un baño de agua caliente de positivismo y esto nos puede dirigir a conseguir excelentes soluciones, a veces es necesario tumbarse dentro de un baño de agua fría para enfrentar la realidad de la situación y proceder con cautela.
Those who have attended my conferences and workshops or who have received my Lunar Letters know I have explored different ways to overcome difficulty through my idea, “It’s the Bounce that Counts!”
Have you ever had an excellent idea which went by the wayside?
Any worthy destination requires a first step. Losing weight is a function of eating less, eating healthier and exercising. Writing a book requires a first word, sentence, paragraph and page. Without a first page, there will never be a book. Any project can be cut into tiny pieces and tackled one at a time.
Life is like a game and each morning we cast the die. Sometimes we hit double sixes; other days, it is snake eyes. What is important is not what luck throws our way, rather our reaction, response and reflection.
Let’s suppose in a moment of distraction, someone rear-ends our car while we are waiting for traffic to move. Undoubtedly, it’s an unfortunate and bothersome situation. It may unleash a series of troublesome events which influence the rhythm and timing of our day. Simply said, we hit “craps” to start the day.
What is marvelous about being human beings is we can choose how the day will develop based on what we think and do with what we are given. We have been taught as humans it’s only natural to be disgusted and perhaps even become aggressive. “Why did you have to be so careless?” we may ask. “Now you’ve ruined my entire day!”
As we observe the world and all living things, we see plants survive with water and sun. Only when we fertilize and care for them will they flourish and radiate their phenomenal potential. Similarly, we can survive with food and water. Only when we fertilize and nourish our brain, body and spirit will we flourish and radiate our own phenomenal potential.
If we feel satisfied with where we are and what we are doing, we have probably already provided the nutrients we require to realize our potential. If this is the case, we are on our way, Contrarily, if we are unsatisfied with where we are and what we are doing, our best option is to take action today to create change tomorrow.
Each and every day we have a choice. We can climb up to the top of the world and look down, or go down to the dungeon and do the deed. Frequently, our job becomes nothing more than a bore, a chore with which to bide our time until the dawn of another day. We can bathe in fresh dew of a new day or dwell in the drear which seems always near.
It is said, “Our attitude determines our altitude.” While an excellent attitude isn’t, by itself, enough to get what we want in life, it will help us to do everything better than we would do with a terrible attitude. Our current situation is a function of circumstance and decision. Even though our circumstance is often beyond our control, it is our decisions which drive our destiny and direction.
Even if we are currently engaged in an activity which isn’t our burning desire, we can choose to put our best foot forward and charge forth. Taking the first step is usually the most difficult. To gain momentum we must be willing to push beyond our comfort zone and reach beyond our grasp.
We can reach beyond our grasp. To achieve objectives which are readily available does not require great effort. To be valiant we can take risk and go beyond the comfortable and convenient. When we require more of ourselves than anyone else, we begin to create our desired destiny.
Instead of enduring, suffering, or simply tolerating times of trouble, we can rise to the occasion and become better as a result. When we stretch beyond comfort and convenience, we establish a foundation which allows our imagination and creativity to soar with the eagles rather than slither with the snakes.
A task we fail to do this moment may be left undone forever. There is no time like now to complete projects vital to our progress and development.
Common ideas are prolific, while truly outstanding ideas may come only once in a lifetime. We can utilize specific techniques to empower the energy of the moment to give each idea an opportunity to flower into a spectacular proposal. Daily activities generate never-ending routines which hinder magical moments of profound inspiration.
After experiencing the profound effects of enhanced productivity the idea created, purportedly Schwab paid Lee $25,000 for the idea, which at the beginning of the 20th Century was an extraordinary amount of money!
Tantalizing temptations tease and toy with our emotions every day on this incredible journey we call life. Our capacity to manage and control our reaction to temptations defines our success.
The secret of achieving success does not depend on the number of hours we work, rather our effectiveness while we work. It’s not the amount, rather the quality which counts. Unfortunately, many relate instead only the number of hours worked as a measure of productivity.
Imagine a space designed to:
We can utilize the weekend closest to each full moon for a retreat which is replete with energy and enthusiasm to achieve what others only dream about. We can find a place full of magic and wonder – a park, a mountain, a beach or, simply someplace convenient to invest time in ourselves and in our future. With this simple action, we become masters of our fate, never leaving our lives to wander aimlessly with the wind of time.
The Master Mind Moon Meeting can be of any duration and held at any place or time. I suggest the weekend around the full moon because it is easy to remember. All we need do is look to the sky to see when the time is coming. Establishing the time and place for a Master Mind Moon Meeting once per month helps create focus and continuity and does not impose on the “hustle and bustle” of our lives.
Life can be compared to many different competitive games including soccer, football, boxing, basketball and baseball. While there are many similarities, the main difference is that instead of playing against another team or individual, we are in a constant battle with ourselves and with our emotions. In competition, as well as in life, our ability to control our thoughts and our actions determines our success.
Some of us live a life replete with joy and others with anguish. Life presents different challenges to all and there are no two lives which are exactly the same. Similarly, no two games in a season are exactly alike. During this incredible journey we call life, as in competitive sport, it’s not the circumstances which arise, rather our response to them which makes the difference.
Coaches and motivational speakers promote positive thinking as the Holy Grail to success and happiness. While being a fundamental element, it’s not enough to reach our objectives. In addition to positive thinking, we must be in shape, and be prepared.
Soccer and life are better played by doing little things correctly on a consistent basis. For example, we can eat right, exercise, read, build and grow. These are all habits which, when done consistently, lead to long term success.
Traveling through this marvelous journey we call life, we constantly seek happiness, success and meaning to affirm our existence on this planet.
If we wait for everything to be beautiful, bright and bountiful during our adventure, we will likely be disillusioned with our destiny. If we accept unfortunate events as a given, we can consider our reactions, responses and reflections rather than the significance of the events themselves.
Life is the sum of all experiences. Any moment, be it “good” or “bad” can be a magical moment. What matters most is our perspective of each situation and what we learn from it. A friend told me recently, “The times when I was in the greatest pain, tribulation, and fear… those were the times I learned the most, changed the most, and became more of who I am.”
Experience and our thought process determine our degree of confidence. Thought drives personal power as well as our ability to achieve goals and objectives. Throughout the ages, men and women have contemplated ways to strengthen our personal power through thought.
Plato said:
When we release the reins of thought, our emotions take control of our course. We then become passengers instead of directors of our destiny. To take control of our direction, we can change the way we think about the circumstances which constantly cross our path. If we believe occurrences to be obstacles which block our path, we will mire in the muck and mud. If, on the other hand, we believe events to be a natural part of being, we will find elegant solutions to the challenges which cross our path.
the heat of the moment which you later regretted?
Reacting: Use of one dominant area of thought which is driven by impulse and designed to protect us from danger.
To be more efficient and effective in our lives it is imperative we become aware of blind spots and how they affect our thought process. By taking time to Reflect deeply and Relate with others in search of solutions, we can discover our blind spots and diminish their devastating effect while determining our destiny and direction.
We all think about the nature of time. The Latin phrase Carpe Diem (seize the day) has become part of our vocabulary. The essence of time took on particular significance recently when I decided to wait until the following day to take a photo of a spectacular flower.
Deception upon waking and having found
There is a palpable pressure in society to be “perfect.” We praise people who are efficient. From an early age we learn to do things well. Perfection is a worthy ideal and we should always aim to improve ourselves. Perfection, as such, through extreme efficiency can be a double-edged sword. It’s worthwhile to consider:
Our boss and our colleagues are impressed by our “efficiency.” The hyperlinks between documents and the color coded graphs with each color representing one of our clients will be very useful. During these same two weeks, while we have been “efficient,” a new competitor has been more “effective” and has set meetings with each of our clients to sell them a new product, which we also will be launching. Being effective and doing the right thing is much more important than being efficient.
The difference between achieving and dreaming is the specific action we take toward our objectives. We can create, imagine, innovate and desire but without taking concrete steps toward our intention, we are left high and dry.
Preparation is also key factor to our achieving success when taking a leap of faith. When we are well prepared, does this still mean we are taking a leap of faith? While some may argue otherwise, making a decision which moves us out of our “comfort zone” always creates significant change. The distance we must leap is a function of our preparation. We can diminish the gap from where we currently stand and where we want to go with comprehensive analysis and preparation.
ACHIEVE: To succeed in the sea of day to day events isn’t easy. Our lives can be likened to a ship on the ocean in the middle of a storm. The swirling winds of destiny and peril test our determination and purpose.
can look them straight in the eye and say:
From the day we enter this wonderful world until they day we depart to a reality yet unknown, we face problems and challenges.
They are in fact one in the same! It’s a question of attitude and vision. What appears to be a problem without resolution today, often results in a challenge fostering growth and creativity.
Sometimes we are up and inspired; at other times we are down and uninspired.
Inspiration and motivation create a flame which gives us warmth and sustenance, as it did for our ancestors thousands of years ago.
Communication is the only tool we have to understand others and to express our ideas. Unfortunately, it tends to be a skill we learn only by trial and error and not through formal schooling. The art of effective communication is seldom part of our educational curriculum.
We each offer a product or a service daily. Often the product we offer is our capacity to be a better spouse, parent, employer or employee. “A Feast Fit for a King” is particularly relevant for people in sales though each of us “sells” constantly in some way, shape or form.
Just as the best time to eat a Feast Fit for a King is in this instant, the best time to highlight the benefits of our offer and to ask someone to make a decision is at the same time we have given them all the information they need.
Our lives are a collection of emotions and events which mold us with power and satisfaction or with weakness and discontent. In his book Thinkertoys, Michael Michalko mentions three elements which kill creative energy and control many of our thoughts and actions.
FUDs are frequently the cause of our most trying times. I suggest we Fire the FUDs! Just get rid of them. When Fear, Uncertainty or Doubts enter our mind, we must have the power to replace them with Conviction, Certainty and Confidence.
Companies, like people, must Bounce back from challenging situations if they want to remain in business. It is imperative to rise and roar after falling or failing in order to soar with the eagles.
Our ability to “Bounce Back” and move forward is an attribute which provides confidence and security to face life’s most challenging situations. The analogy of a bouncing ball rebounding in spite of adversity is a powerful metaphor as is the resiliency of a sponge. While the physical characteristics of a bouncing ball and a sponge are very different, there are noteworthy similarities.
A positive attitude, focus, flexibility, organization and initiative are characteristics which allow us to have the resilience of a sponge to Bounce Back from any situation which arises.
Our habits and routines are part of our being. Despite experience to the contrary, we can be masters of our routines. Implementing a system which highlights the importance of applying positive habits, creates a lifestyle which unlocks a wide range of opportunities. Instead of thinking, “Why can’t we do it?” we can ask, “How can we do it?” Since we have unconsciously established daily routines, our challenge is to implement new ones.
establishes a mechanism to initiate change, reinforce positive behavior and track progress. While the number “8” flows with the ideas and principles set forth, the following are also valid:
chastise ourselves for coming up short, rather to possess a powerful plan which guides us to our objectives.
The most important thing in life is not the daily ups and downs we experience, but rather our reaction to those events. Our capacity to Bounce back from challenging situations determines our direction and destiny.
rejection or failure. At first glance, it appears the meanings of the word Bounce are incongruent. When we take a closer look we actually see they are very much in harmony.
Physical exercise is initially exhausting and ultimately satisfactory. Laziness is initially satisfactory and ultimately unproductive. While it is imperative to recharge our bodies to create energy, the best way to achieve this goal is by restful sleep and not lethargy. Strenuous physical endeavor activates our body and creates energy. By using every opportunity during the day to exercise our bodies, we generate and store energy for future use.
Change creates a wave of emotions which determines our motivation and desire to make decisions and take action. Our capacity to Ride the Wave of Change and control our “internal dialogue” is a powerful tool which directs our response to life’s circumstances.
There are two words which help to manage and direct our “internal dialogue.” The words are BECAUSE and BUT.
process these changes will determine the attitude we assume with respect to each event. In the first case, the word BECAUSE affirms the importance of the positive reaction and in the second case, the word BUT detracts from the importance of the negative reaction allowing us to find positive elements of the change.
capability while we place more emphasis on our inability to achieve an objective. In order to utilize the word BUT in a positive way, we can “phrase” this “internal dialogue” as follows:
Overcoming the challenge provides us with the exhilaration and pride associated with accomplishing an important task.
This is one of those months that comes around every once in a Blue Moon, literally. A Blue Moon occurs when there are two full moons in the same month. The next time this will occur is in May 2007. I take this special opportunity to explain one of the ideas which inspired our Lunar Letter.
Your Precious Stones can be the precious glass gems in this buy link, marbles, stones or any other small object.
Deep deliberate breathing will provide our body with vigor and vitality. We ignore the power and energy that breathing can generate. Oxygen is essential for every cell and organ in our body. Our respiratory system distributes this vital energy and eliminates toxins from our body.
Many of us are familiar with the words of Matthew 7:7.
At the same time, it is not enough to merely ask, seek or knock. These are the first steps and without them we will certainly go nowhere. More importantly, however, we must ask, seek and knock “effectively” in order to achieve our objectives. A tremendous source of frustration for many of us arises when we take action but fail to attain results.
We have the power to create a Well of Abundance in our lives. Nevertheless, most of us never create abundance that goes beyond solving our immediate necessities. Let’s look at an analogy that can generate this magic element which we all desire.
water but it is not constant or reliable. It is affected by local conditions such as changes in the seasons and climactic conditions. Water which is found at deeper levels is stored in aquifers. The quality and quantity of this water is more constant and reliable because it comes from sources that are not as affected by local conditions.
