Monday, March 29, 2010

Increase Your Positive Energy

Does anyone know what a webinar is? I am on several positive message e-mailing lists, and received one advertising a special webinar. I decided to check it out. It was basically a seminar on the web. Makes sense, right?

Putting the novelty aside, it turned out to be quite informative and powerful. The host discussed the fact that, the higher the energy we live at, the more powerful and rewarding our lives are.

How true is this? I'm someone who believes everything I read or hear, yet I still like to give these topics serious consideration. The energy being described here is not physical energy, but spiritual. The speaker mentioned the highest forms of energy. They are:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace

The main message is that if we are living our lives with these three qualities at the forefront of our minds, we are living at our highest energy level, thus resulting in positive results in our lives and postive impacts being made on others.

Does it make sense? I believe it does. First, I've learned this same concept in other books I've read, namely "The Power of Intention", by Wayne Dyer. He has a whole section of his book devoted to this topic. However, I can name a more important source....The Bible. You may recognize these as the first of the fruits of the Spirit named in Galatians 5. Looking at it from that perspective, it makes total sense. If we are constantly living our lives by the fruits of the Spirit, and constantly "being" those fruits, how can we not be blessed? How can we not make powerful impacts on those around us?

I like to call the high energy being discussed here as God energy. When we are operating on His energy, it is constant and powerful. That is the energy I want to have. That is the energy we all have available to us if we seek it and live it. The only ones who can stop it are ourselves.

It is not always easy to live these energies out, especially when there is so much negative energy around us. However, I intend this week to focus especially on living and being these qualities CONSTANTLY throughout my day. I challenge anyone else to do the same. I will touch upon each of the three "fruits" in more detail over the next few days.

In the meantime, have an excellent day : )

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Savor the Flavor

Have you ever wondered why, in general, Europeans are healthier and thinner than Americans? They eat fatty foods like cheese, starchy foods like noodles, pasta, and potatoes, and plenty of high calorie desserts. So what's the difference?

The information in the article I read named some reasons, such as more walking and exercise to smaller portions. However, the one that stood out was the fact that they eat their meals slowly. They take the time to enjoy the flavor and quality of each bite of the food, drink, and company. It is a fact that if you eat too fast you are more likely to remain hungry, thus more likely to eat more. The slower one eats, the more satisfied they feel, thus not craving more. As I teach this concept to my kids, the words "savor the flavor" remain the theme at our dinner table.

As I think about this further, I realize how this idea can apply to entire lives. Why not "savor the flavor" of each moment in our lives. Even when things aren't extra exciting, I believe life can be much more rewarding when we slow down and take the time to see the positive in it. Taking the time to be grateful. Taking the time to see God's beauty in everything. It doesn't take much effort.

When we savor the flavor during meal times, we enjoy it more and we are remain more healthy. I believe the same is true if we savor the flavor of life. We enjoy it more and ultimately feel more refreshed, energetic, and positive. Life moves quickly enough already. Why not slow down, even if only a short time each day, and savor the flavor of life. Just some food for thought for your day. Please enjoy each moment today : )

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Being a Good Receiver

Most people would be honored to be labeled as a giver. There are many people I know that I would consider to be excellent givers. It seems to be their automatic nature. Some of us aren't quite as good at it, but we try.

Recently, I have been reminded of the importance of being a good receiver as well. It is difficult because we don't hear of many people being called good receivers. It is natural in our society to attach a negative and see receiving as being selfish or greedy. It is for this reason that many, especially for those who give a lot, have difficulty receiving.

I believe it is important that we don't only take in life, and we do our share of giving. However, being a good receiver is also important. Why? Think of how we feel when we give to someone else. It's a great feeling watching someone enjoy the benefits of what we gave. That feeling also makes us want to give even more. Think of how we would feel if someone would not accept what we are offering. When we are not willing to receive we rob other people of that blessing. If it happens too much, it may deter someone from trying to give to us again in the future.

So the next time someone gives us a gift, offers to pay for dinner, watch our kids for free, or whatever, why not allow them to do so. As long as we regularly give what we have to offer, why not graciously accept the good that is offered to us. Not only are we blessed, but so is our giver. It's a win-win situation.

Have an excellent day : )

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Talking to Myself Again

Yes, I'm one of those people. You've seen me before. No one else is around, and my mouth is moving with words coming out. It's just me talking to myself again.

It is natural to give a second look anytime we see someone else doing the same thing. We even laugh at ourselves when we notice that we are talking to ourselves. However, is this necessarily a bad thing?

Being the optimist that I am, I try to find some good in this. And I found it! I've read at least three books lately which actually stress the importance of talking to ourselves. The authors mention that we not only need to talk to ourselves, but we need to keep it positive. Whether we realize it or not, much of the current state of our lives is being determined by what we believe about ourselves. We hear things from ourselves and from others.

If you are like me, you tend to believe what you hear. That is why it is so important to constantly feed our minds with positve thoughts and statements about ourselves. We don't see ourselves as superior to other people, but we need to constantly tell ourselves how good and valuable we are. We tell ourselves how much we have to offer. We tell ourselves that God is not only watching us, but is constantly with us. The Bible says that the kingdom of God is within us. That is God's power constantly with us, which can only be a recipe for success.

The more we tell ourselves good things, the more we will believe it. The result is a more positive self-image, which ultimately results in a more positive life for us and those around us. You may say that this doesn't take away the negative obstacles in our lives. That is true, but handling those issues with a positive self-confidence will normally help resolve them much quicker and easier.

So the next time you're the one talking to yourself in the middle of nowhere (or in the middle of a crowded place) make sure you are saying good things about yourself. You are too valuable not to.

Have an excellent day : )

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Positive Focus

Why is it that when we take on life's challenges we tend to think of what may go wrong instead of what we can accomplish? There are people that don't think that way. However, as much as I consider myself a positive thinker, I still fight this battle on a regular basis.

I keep reading how we eventually receive in our lives what we focus our thoughts on. So why not focus on what I want to happen? I am constantly reminded these days how beneficial this is, and how much more successful I can be by constantly seeing the end result as I believe it should be.

Perhaps you are facing the same struggle. If so, I will share the same advice I am being given. Focus on the positive results you want to see, not the potential negatives. If you focus and act correctly, the negatives and obstacles will be taken care of. Sometimes we may have to work harder and wait longer, but we will eventually reap the postive benefits of the task.

Want some examples? Perhaps you have a job interview. See yourself as successful and valuable instead of wondering how you will come across. Want to lose weight? See yourself at the weight you want to be at instead of reminding yourself of the snack habit you still can't break. Want to improve your relationships? See the beauty in yourself and others instead of the issues that may be causing problems. Need more money? Focus on positive opportunities instead of what you may be missing.

These are just some examples. This is obviously a bit simplified and there are more variables involved, but I still see it as helpful information. Once again, I am not the expert here. I am learning so much valuable information that is transforming my life and I feel the need to share. I hope it helps you as much as it does me.

Have an excellent day : )

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

A Quiet Example

There are many of us that strive to be a positive example to those around us. Sometimes we have the best of intentions, but don't always make the impacts we are looking to make. At least I feel that way sometimes. In my case, I sometimes I get lazy. Other times I don't focus as well as I should, or the focus is too much on myself.

One big reason I believe we are not the best examples we can be sometimes is that we feel the task is too overwhelming. For those of us who would absolutely love to change the whole world ourselves, it seems like there is too much to do that is far beyond our control and ability. We feel like we have to do entirely too much to have any kind of an impact.

The truth is it is not as difficult as it seems, or as we make it to be. Yes, we make a difference when we go out of our way to make an effort and serve others. However, as I read more on the topic, I realize that the greatest way to make positive impacts is to be the best person we can be. The more we realize our own value, and the more comfortable we feel with ourselves, the more we will be able to share this value with others. The bottom line is the more that we see it, the more others will as well.

For me, this is a very comforting thought. I am realizing that, along with my many imperfections, I also have something of value to offer others. I have a Godly spirit that dwells in me, along with many fruits of that Spirit. It is comforting for me to know that just living out those fruits of the spirit and mirroring the qualities and attitudes of my Lord are enough to make many positive impacts on those around me. Nothing fancy. Nothing I can't do. Nothing out of my realm of possibility. Just being the best I can be. It's unbelieveable what a major difference something so simple can be.

I see this as I look back at the most powerful moments of my life. I've had the greatest impacts on others when I was most at peace with myself, and most willing to submit to the Heavenly spirit within me. Now that I am aware of this, I will make a much more conscious effort to be my best and use that to be a blessing to others. I also believe this will make it easier to perform acts of service for others, as I can feel like I don't have to go above and beyond what I believe I can do.

I hope this information helps you as much as it is helping me. Please remember how special and valuable you are in God's eyes. Please make sure you see it in your own eyes too. If you do, many more eyes will see your positive example. As always, I would love to hear your story.

Have an excellent day : )

Monday, March 8, 2010

Life is Better Than a Mirror

What do we use mirrors for? It may sound like an obvious or even silly question. We all know that we use it to see ourselves. It is a reflection that comes back at us, resulting in the ability to see ourselves.

In life there are many things that "come back at us". It has been brought to my attention many times in recent days how we get back what we give out. One quote I read online said "say yes to life and it will say yes to you". Here are some others that were brought to mind:

- Send love and it will come right back at you.
- Give financially and watch how your bank account grows.
- Appreciate others and see how much you are appreciated.
- Keep positive thoughts in our heads and see the positive experiences in our lives quickly add up.

These are just a few of many examples. The theme is the same. What we give out reflects back to us. We shouldn't do these things just so we can get things in return, but receiving is a direct result of giving.

Here's the best part. When we give without expecting in return, we not only receive back, but we usually get MORE! That's how our great God works.

So if you are looking for ways to increase positive power in your life, take the time to give what you want to receive. Not only will you add to the lives of others, but you will impact your own world in an even greater manner. It never fails.

Have an excellent day : )

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Be "Into It"

It's always exciting to receive a new friend request on Facebook. I love the site because I am back in touch with many friends I thought I would never speak to again. Not only does it bring the people back, but many memories as well.

I received a request recently from an old friend from Long Island that triggered a very positive memory. I was 19, and we were away on a youth retreat in Springfield, Mass. It was at a time in my life where things were going very well, and my personal confidence was at an all-time high. Many of my best friends were also on this retreat, and I just enjoyed the time immensely.

This Facebook friend was one of the youth leaders, and one night he asked to talk and pray with me. I was quite surprised with what he said. However, I still remember it clearly, almost 25 years later. He thanked me for being such a positive light on this retreat and for all I had done to add to the positivity of it. When I thanked him and asked what I had done, he just said, "you're just so 'into it'".

I took this as the ultimate compliment. Again, I never have and never will forget it. He didn't say what he meant by "into it", but I have an idea. I had three things going for me this weekend:

1. I was constantly positive - I felt very good about myself and I very much appreciated the company around me. I was not afraid to demonstrate this confidence or tell my friends how much I was enjoying the time with them.

2. I laughed a lot, and never lost the smile on my face. I simply enjoyed the moment to the fullest. I am sure I could have found things to complain about, but I had no interest. The time was just too good, and I was intent on keeping it that way.

3. I was very close to God - I've been close to Him for a long time, but my communication with Him was constant and intense this weekend. Also, I was very thankful throughout, and appreciated the beauty in the entire experience.

I use this as a reminder in my current life. As I reflect further, I see that these three attitudes are prevelant during all of my most successful times in life. I realize that if I want to maximize my success today, I need to follow these same guidelines on a consistent basis. As my youth leader proved to me, not only does it benefit me, but other people notice and are positively impacted. This attitude is contagious and can do wonders in making one's world more positive.

I thank this friend for keeping in touch and for reminding me of this simple formula for success and positive impacts. It doesn't only work for me, but it will work for anyone. Life is a great experience, so let's "get into it".

Have an excellent day : )

Monday, March 1, 2010

She Completely Ignored Me!

I live just outside of Buffalo NY. The city has a reputation of having some of the nicest people in the country. It is one of the reasons I moved here from Long Island years ago. Normally, when crossing paths with someone people say hello, even if it is someone they don't know.

I always like to do the same. Most people respond in a positive manner. However, there are times when we don't receive a response. There was a woman I worked with a few years back that was known for that. On more than one occasion I would say hello in passing. Instead of a pleasant return of the greeting, she would turn away and not say a word. At first I was offended. How rude! Then I wondered, "what did I do?" We didn't know each other well, so I knew there was nothing I could have done to make her angry with me. Later I found out that's just the way she was, as I heard several other faculty members complaining about the same exact thing when greeting her. Complete ignorance!

As I wondered how someone could be so cold, a thought hit me. It was a thought I didn't enjoy because I realized how guilty I was. The thought was this....there is a God in heaven that would like to greet me every day and make me aware of His presence. He wants to help me be the best I can be. I thought of how often I just completely ignore His greeting. Instead of a positive acknowledgement of His presence, I would go through my day completely on my own, without taking time to pray, reflect, appreciate, etc. How rude of ME!

These days, I must admit I am not as quick to just fast-forward through my day on my own without acknowledging my heavenly helper. However, there are still far too many days where I realize how much time has gone by and how far I have gone without acknowledging God's presence. I think of how much better and easier my day could have been had I even taken just a few minutes to slow down, reflect, and enjoy His presence.

I remind myself and anyone else who can relate to not be like this teacher who ignored the pleasant greetings of her co-workers, and the opportunity to be a light to her young students. Instead, I strive to return my Father's greeting, and use His inspiration to be a light to those around me. Luckily, He is not human and will not be offended by my lack of attention. Instead, He is readily available at any and every moment to hear my prayers and help me be the best I can be. The same is true for anyone else. So why not take a moment to accept His greeting, enjoy His presence, and use His help to make His world a better one. You and those around you will be seriously blessed as a result.

Have an excellent day : )