Category Archives: Celebration

Attitude, Celebration, Creating The Future, Healthy Choices

How Dedicated Are You?

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Horizons pansy-phil-koch

“Some people have lives that seem to work very well in all areas. They almost seemed charmed. Why? How is this possible? Might they be doing something others aren’t? The answer is yes. There are reasons why their lives seem to be working better. Let’s explore.

Some people have areas of their life that are messed up, even troubled, while other areas seem to be okay. Their lives seem compartmentalized. This may be normal for some. It may even seem to be how it should be. It isn’t. Others have lives in shambles.

First, remember not to make any judgements about yourself or others.  Certainly, it is okay to assess and become aware in order to change. It isn’t right to blame oneself or others. It is right to assume responsibility and make appropriate positive changes.

Every Flower That Blooms Goes Through Dirt To Be Beautiful

Life is a process. Everything is in flux. Not everything grows at the same rate or at the same time. So there is variation. However, some gardens look beautiful and are well tended, while others are overrun with weeds, look nasty and aren’t growing well. Understand this?

Consider your life a garden. How are you caring for it. Are you nourishing it? Are you weeding it? Do you regularly care for it or have you let it run wild. Is your garden inside of or outside of your control? Who is in charge of your garden?

There is the principle that how you do one thing is how you do everything. Everything is a choice! How dedicated are you to you? How committed are you to having the best life possible? How much do you truly want your goals and dreams? Do you go for the gold?

Your Mind Is A Garden Your Thoughts Are The Seeds …

It is true different areas of one’s life will be in different phases. As one begin the science, the practice, the art of making one’s life more glorious different areas may improve before others do. As one changes different areas require different amounts of attention.

Eventually, as in a garden, overall everything improves and looks wonderful. Still, there may be those certain plants or areas that take more work or dedication. As one tends to life’s garden the goal is for all of it to be harmoniously working together for ultimate good.

How you do one thing in one is how you do everything means you need to bring the same dedication and commitment to each area of your life. Your health, relationships, career, finances, leisure each area needs to be tended and working together.

… You Can Grow Flowers – Or You Can Grow Weeds

If one area is out of whack it is similar to driving on only 3 tires. While you could do it, you can’t for long, nor can you get very far. You need all tires to be working well to travel most smoothly. So are there areas you are neglecting? Are you letting things go?

As you pursue certain dreams your life may be out of balance. You may be passionately pursuing a career or finances. In order to succeed you have to give it your all. However, it isn’t worth it if you end up sacrificing your health, loved ones and friends.

If at the top you aren’t able to enjoy it, or have no one to enjoy it with, success can’t be that satisfying. While career takes a lot of energy remember to nurture the other areas too. Put energy into them and help them to grow positively. You will be glad you did.

Tomorrow  Your Seeds Will Grow – What Have You Planted

Napoleon Hill said only 1 of the 525 successful people he modeled and studied to assemble ‘The Laws Of Success’ had a balanced life. The rest he said were plagued with all sorts of issues. From the breadwinner to the youngest bread eater some had big problems.

He reasoned that this was because they made making money the end all, be it all, of their lives. That is pretty sad when you consider it. It isn’t money that is the problem it is the LOVE of money that is. I’m not suggesting your shouldn’t pursue money, that isn’t the point.

You should seek to have a glorious life and healthy relationships overall. AND YOU CAN! Believe in yourself and believe in others. Think the best of you and the best of them. Believe in them before they believe in themselves. The more you give the more you get.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words – To Know Is To Do

Fill your mind with positive thoughts and the best feelings. Energy flows where your attention goes. Dedicate yourself to wholeness, to making life wonderful and delightful for you and everyone in it. Open up, take it in. Find ways to love more, give more, enjoy more.

Embrace this world and the people in it. Learn to accept more. Drop issues that aren’t real issues. The news and media will keep us divided and fighting on things that truly don’t matter. The messages are of fear and lack and hate and everything less than glorious.

Put a guard before your mind and lips. Don’t spend time with negativity. Let go of the things you can’t control or change and focus on what you can. If you can’t change something then change your attitude. Focus on the positive, the good, the loving , the kind.

Wake Up With Determination – Go To Bed With Satisfaction

Enjoy life and the people in it. Don’t be a victim of bad thinking. Be dedicated to making your mind your servant and your life garden a paradise. Dedicate yourself to creating what you want and be healthy in all areas. Don’t neglect some for others. Bring total game.

Bring your total game and commitment to each area of your life. Even just a little bit each day. Love the one’s you are with. Nourish your family lovingly. Take care of your health. Get the nourishment and rest you need. All work and no play isn’t healthy. Play, have fun.

Be passionate and enthused. Feel joy and gratitude for all. Bask in each glorious moment. Decide not to let tough times get the better of you. Learn from everything. Remember, only knowledge applied is power. You can know about exercise but not do it. To know is to do!

Hug Harder – Laugh Louder – Smile Bigger – Love Longer

Your life, as you care for it, as you tend to it, can and will improve overall. Life becomes more glorious as you take charge and commit to making it what you want. Especially, when you commit and care for it in loving ways. Enjoy, delight and celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Delight in the day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Beliefs, Celebration, Intentional Thinking, Responsibility

Whatever Your Excuse Doesn’t Matter Part 3

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Horizons the-audience-phil-koch

“Happiness and success is based on some very simple principles or steps. The results you get in life is based on your thoughts, your actions and your habits. Most people have difficulty making their dreams come true because they don’t take responsibility for these.

In the past few blog posts we have explored identifying limiting beliefs and negative thoughts. Typically, these are expressed as blames, excuses, reasons ‘why’ you can’t be happy or successful. The first step is awareness, the uncovering process.

If you haven’t yet done this, go back a couple posts and do the exercises. Once we become aware of how we think we are limited we can begin to change it . From awareness we move into understanding. We can begin to see how these old beliefs limit us.

Right Awareness And Understanding Leads To Positive Changes

At this point, we may realize we need to make a change. As Andrew Carnegie, Napoleon Hill and others have stated, ‘the only limitations humans have is in their thinking’. The only limitations that exist for us are the ones we THINK we have. We must change our thinking.

Instead of remaining stuck with limited thinking we make the decision to take responsibility for everything in our life, the good and the not so good. This gives us choice as to how we view our circumstances. Everything can become an opportunity for us.

When we decide to take responsibility for everything we take charge, we determine the meaning of each event without assigning blame. If we created it we must be doing it for a useful reason. We can look for the seed of opportunity within adversity.

As Our Awareness Grows – We Grow

Yes, it is an arbitrary assignment of meaning. Instead, of blaming and excusing we re-frame circumstances, events, disappointments and look for the possible positive intent. We chose to be optimistic about all of our life circumstances and maintain a positive slant or position.

Make sure you have done the second exercise in replacing ‘I can’t’ thinking with ‘I won’t’. This clearly places the responsibility on your shoulders. You may not like the feelings that accompany this but understand the liberation that can occur. Ultimately, it is freeing!

It begins with awareness! You become aware of limitations, and then you become aware of your reluctance or resistance to accept FULL responsibility. If you explore it you may see that these limiting thoughts loop round and round. Some people quickly dismiss it all.

When You Take Responsibility For Everything Everything Changes

It is more comfortable to dismiss and remain the same than to face ourselves courageously.  I do it, you do it, we all have. It keeps things status quo. Though the status quo may be uncomfortable, at least is is not as uncomfortable as having to change it.

If you are astute in your awareness you will recognize this as an opportunity to state ‘I will not change’ instead of running the same old thinking patterns again. Every moment is a opportunity to become aware of what you think and how it affects you.

In all of it you have the possibility to discover your incredible resourcefulness and creativity. You can begin to look at yourself and your circumstances in an entirely new positive light. You can begin to see there is nothing holding you back but your limited thoughts.

People Would Learn From Mistakes – If They Didn’t Deny Them

Great news. You can change your limited thoughts. You may not be able to change, and typically can’t, the weather, the economy, events, and other people but you can change your thinking and your reactions to these.

You can liberate yourself and choose to respond instead. It is in the process of recognizing a limitation or problem or what you don’t want and turning away from it and shifting your attention to what you can and will do to make it better that transformation occurs.

You can determine how you WILL make things different for yourself because you CAN and WILL. You can and will take charge of how you think, feel, and act. You will develop new habits of successful thought, feeling and actions that lead to new positive results.

I Can – I Will – End Of Story – Period

None of us will ever do it if we don’t change where we put the control for our lives. If others and circumstances dictate we are like a cork bobbing in the water going wherever the current takes us. We are puppets. If we take charge we have a mighty say in all of it.

In my next post I’ll add a new exercise designed to help continue to dissolve the limitations and build new positive, powerful beliefs. There is no need to rush. Be thorough in your exploration. Take your time. Repeat the exercises now prior to adding in the new ones.

Explore, discover, find and become aware. Understand how limited thinking holds you back from your goals and dreams to be, do and have the life you want. Become aware and understand how changing your beliefs and locus of power can make everything better for you.

Create The Life You Can’t Wait To Wake Up To

Assume the control for your thoughts,feelings, actions, habits and the results you get. Once in charge you can adapt and adopt, you can change as needed. You become more flexible and much more able. It is a great advantage to live with positive power and optimism.

Everything can be wonderfully different. It can begin right now. Take a moment to feel grateful for everything; for learning about limitations that held you back, for all the disappointments and each moment that led you to right now. You can look back, connect dots.

Everything has a way of working together. Ultimately, it all works out and works out for good, you just can’t see it yet. IF just NOW you went off and thought BS, not true, etc. that is a belief you may wish to address. Instead of believing limiting beliefs you get to choose.

Wake Up With Determination – Go To Bed With Satisfaction

You pick the beliefs you want to live from that support you. You determine how you are going to play this game of life. You make the rules. You are in charge. You can decide that everything always works out and that you are blessed! You can be grateful for it all.

Begin to find everything you can think of that is a blessing and feel how wonderful it is. Write them out. List them daily. Most importantly, savor the feelings that arise from appreciation. It is the feelings that are most important. Feel these fully! Enjoy them!

You can and will transform yourself and your life for the better as you do these things. Do these consistently, repeatedly, for long enough and you will develop new neural pathways. Your brain will make you new success habits to live from. It will become automatic.

I Will Either Find A Way – Or I Will Make One

Everything improves. You can handle disappointment better! Wouldn’t you like that? You can accomplish much more and can achieve your goals? You can make positive things happen in your life and feel wonderful much more of the time. It can become incredible!

Look for and discover more and more to be grateful for. Life changes when you do! Fill your moments and your thoughts with gratitude. Feel blessed. Act blessed and more blessings come your way. It works! It really does. Look for the good in all. Find it and celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Discover the joys small and large in your day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Attitude, Celebration, Intentional Thinking, Self Talk

Stop Limiting Yourself! Expand Your Options!

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Horizons quiet-passage-phil-koch

“It is important to understand this concept.  Don’t chase concepts. Understand the meaning of the words without getting caught in the words. Many people miss out by trying to define terms.

Some people limit themselves by first trying to determine if they are doing it right. If they are enough. If they understand it completely. The limit themselves by not allowing themselves to be enough.

Some try to figure things out before they move. You can’t do that. We’d never fly or have reached the moon if we had to know how to do it before we did it. At first, we could only make the attempt.

You Know More Than You Think You Do – Trust Yourself

In order to be freer and find success or happiness more readily you need to include more not exclude. Well, yes, exclude the extraneous waste of time and those things that prevent you and hold you back.

You need to include more easy options. You want to grease the wheel. Take things lightly up front, not so seriously. You want to begin and not try to figure it out in advance of doing it.

When I say ‘be happy’ some people try to figure out what it means to be happy. They may even claim they don’t know what it is or that they have never been happy. They get caught up in the notion.

Trust Yourself – The Answer Is Yes You Can – You Are Able

Don’t get lost in the word happy. Simply, feel good, or happy.  Do that positive activity that puts a smile on your face. Play with a pet or a child. Spend time with a loved one. Enjoy the moment. It is simple.

Don’t spin wheels deciding whether this is actually happiness or not. Just enjoy the moments. If you love camping or fishing or gardening or hiking do that. It could be you like to exercise, or to relax. Or both.

Go to the movies, listen to music, read good books. Perhaps, you enjoy hanging out with fun friends, going new places, trying new foods and experiences. Do what makes you feel good more often.

Life Is Made Up Of Simple Tiny Moments – Enjoy The Moments

Make quality time for yourself. Treat yourself well. Enjoy life. Smile and laugh more. Spend pleasing time in positive ways. The more time you spend living like this the happier you will be. Automatically!

Don’t get caught up in the word happy at all.  Spend your time enjoying life and the things you think and do. Think wonderful thoughts. Feel good. Love yourself and others. Celebrate!

Any word could be a sticking point for some person. Don’t get snagged by the word. If you can’t immediately love yourself find those things you can appreciate and validate. Forget the word.

Some People Miss The Forest For The Trees – Why Not See Both

Look at any abilities no matter how small. Seek and you shall find. Do not make it a matter that you HAVE TO – LOVE YOURSELF, just enjoy you a little bit more. Take it easy and let go of the meanings.

Positive is another word. Think positive. What does that mean some ask? It means stop thinking negative about what you can’t do. Focus on what you are able to do and do it. Imagine you could.

See, feel, act as if you are doing it. Speak as though you can do it. Don’t think you can’t or that it is too hard or tough. Break it down into tiny bite sized pieces and begin doing it. You can do this.

Life Is So Much Brighter When We Focus On What Matters

Feel good is another. You don’t have to feel bliss and ecstasy. While that may be nice the point is to move in the direction of more pleasant. ‘More better.’ You don’t have to exist in the extremes.

Feel good that is enough. The more you do it the more you will be able to do. Skill grows. Muscles grow through use. People complain that they aren’t enough, don’t have enough, or it is too hard.

They make excuses that they don’t know how, and get caught up in trying to decide if they are doing it right, or fulfilling the extreme definition of the word. Please shut up! Get off it. Keep it simple.

It Is Never Too Late To Be Who You Might Have Been

Do what you can and keep doing it again and again. Live what you want to be more of. Definitions don’t matter. Simply look to spend more time living life more fully. Embrace simple pleasures.

If all you can manage is to squeak out a single pleasant thought or feeling DO IT then REPEAT IT! Soon you will be able to add more to it. Grease the wheel. Prime the pump. Make it happen.

If you don’t attempt it, one thing is certain, nothing will happen. Doubt and fear and procrastination do more to kill dreams than failing at a task ever has. People stop before they start. Be different.

Drop By Drop The Tub Fills – Bite By Bite You Eat The Meal

Don’t be one of them. Resolve to make life the way you wish, want, hope, and dream it to be. Resolve to make it happen, become certain about it by doing a little bit each day. A little can go a long, long way.

Sometimes the smallest efforts make the largest difference. Stop! Don’t worry about being happy, or positive, or peaceful or love. Do those tiny things that make you feel more that way more often.

Do those things more over again. Think those thoughts frequently. As you do you become it more and more. Pretty soon you are it. When you are it you attract and make more of it happen. Get it?

Better To Do Less And Enjoy More – Savor The Simple And Easy

Do it! That is why the practice of gratitude is so powerful. You begin by appreciating anything you currently are or have. Think on those. Think on that. Feel grateful. Take inventory. List them out. Enjoy.

Count your blessings. Feel how good it feels as much as you can. Don’t be bothered by, is it enough? It is! Just start doing it. Delight in it. Speak your blessings. Talk about how you are blessed. Focus.

Think, speak, feel and act only to bless, heal and prosper. Put a guard before your mind and lips and soon enough that will become your predominate thoughts, feelings and way of life. Inch by inch.

Step By Step The Journey Made  Enjoy The Journey It’s All There Is

Never make a problem where one doesn’t exist. Think, ‘I can! This is easy. I enjoy this. I feel good. I think positive, powerful thoughts.  I enjoy life. I am lucky. I am blessed. Things always work out.’

Fill your mind bit by bit with more of the good stuff. Be grateful. Focus on the positive, the ‘can do’. Feel the good feelings little by little more and more often. It all grows with repeated practice. Soon you will notice more and enjoy more. One step at a time! Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Start with a smile or a giggle and enjoy it today.

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Attitude, Celebration, Creating The Future, Overcoming Difficulty

The Number 1 Way To Stop Screwing Up And Live Successfully

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horizons june-winds-phil-koch

“The bottom line if you want your life to be different you need to do different things. That is it. It is all up to you. You can’t do the same crap again and again and expect it to work out differently. You can’t focus on how lousy things are and expect it to be wonderful.

If you want it to be wonderful you must make it wonderful. You must take charge and do it. Think positive, be positive, feel good, take action and practice and create success habits. I know you want me to tell you that you can sit in a chair and wish it well but you can’t.

Okay, you can. I’m the first person to tell you to expect that to work. If you believe it, as the placebo effect and research on beliefs and expectations indicate, it could happen. It could happen now or 50 years from now or not at all. If that is how you want to spend time.

To Master Your Life Control The Mind

Frankly, you are better off pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps and getting it done. If every day you do something positive in your own behalf, toward getting your goals you are that much closer each day. No wondering, you know you are moving.

With each success comes more confidence and more success. Bit by bit you get there and do so pleasantly. In order to do this you can’t live tales of woe and focus on lack and despair. You must change! Become the person you want to be. This is how to start it off.

You must change your mindset. You must change your story. You can’t repeat the same crap over and over. Watch what you say. Speak only to bless, heal and prosper. Live for living well, don’t live an underwhelming life and then report it to everyone near by.

To Master The Mind Control The Tongue

Make it marvelous. Make it an adventure. Make it what you want. Stop the BS and make it glorious. Okay, now I will share a personal moment with you. I was hit by a car today. Hit and run. My body. Not a vehicular accident. I was injured BUT it could have been worse.

There is a lot going on. All I know is that somehow it will all work out. In the long run, and it may not be seen for sometime, something good will come of this. It already has. It will continue. There are worse things in the world. Here is what I have learned in life.

If you focus on the shit you get more of it. Today, while challenging, some people might call it negative, there is lot’s of learning, growing and exploring is occurring. There are opportunities not yet seen. My day played out very different from how it started out.

Guard Your Heart For Everything You Do Flows From It

Okay, so what? Life goes on. Through the years I have learned so many marvelous things and ways to be. I’ll be fine. My foot is in a boot. I am comfortable, but have been unable to do some things I needed to. All of it will be taken care of. I am fine! I will be better soon.

However this resolves is how it resolves.  Meanwhile, I have other important things to focus on and to enjoy. Years ago, less than this would have been a day stopper. What can I say, shit happens. So focus on what you want and stop talking about it.

I only shared this with you to let you know all of us face challenges. I take responsibility for this. Yes, somehow it could have been avoided. A minute later, or sooner any number of things happened simultaneously to bring it about. I was complicit in it too.

Be Vigilant Guard Your Mind Against Negative Thoughts

Now I create healing. I create forgiveness. Did I experience some shock and anger. Yup! Everything will be fine. I got a big signal of what I don’t want and now aim to focus on what I want to create instead. Who knows how it will play out. I know I expect good things.

I am grateful that all is well. That I am alive. That I can write my blog. That I can continue to do many things. I am thrilled actually with what is going on inside me at the moment. I am blessed. We all are. What we all need to do is focus and talk about our blessings.

Leave the politics, the economy, the injustice, the travesties and tragedies alone. Comment on blessings. Speak about good things. Find the good and new. Speak about prospering and how things go well. Leave the trauma drama in the past. Live a new way.

There Are Success Habits And Not Success Habits – Choose Wisely

Yes, there is more to do. Read and re-read my other posts. Still, this is a great way to start. Stop filling your mind with negative chatter and gossip and start filling it with positive words and phrases. And praises. Live well and speak well. Speak well and live well. Get it?

As you do all new possibilities open up. You’ll be so busy enjoying the shit won’t matter all that much. Transform yourself and your life by the renewal of your mind. Take control of your thoughts! Have fun, be thankful. Live with awe and wonder. Enjoy and celebrate everything.” Rex Sikes

Life is short! Delight whenever and as often as you can.

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Celebration, Focus, Gratitude, Healthy Choices

Warning! If You Neglect This You May Pay Dearly

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horizons wet-phil-koch

There is a final step. It is a critical aspect of your personal development and your ability to easily change and transform yourself and your life. It should not be ignored at any time. It is as important as all the rest. Be sure to well attend to it

Welcome to Part 21 of The Secret To Success And Happiness Few Know And Won’t Tell You. 21 is the final part of this series. Hope you enjoy it. Feel free to comment. Alright, let’s go!

Your health. Take care of your health. Your body and mind are part of the same system and both require care. Your body responds to your thoughts or you wouldn’t blush when embarrassed, or your heart quicken when you meet a potential mate.  Your pupils dilate too.

Negativity Is A Thief That Steals Happiness And Well Being

Negative thoughts adversely affect our health. Positive thoughts positively impact our health. We cannot escape the consequences of our thoughts. Our health and well-being impacts our ability to think. Both influence each other. You can’t have one without the other.

The cost of neglecting your physical and mental health is greater than the cost in dollars. Negativity takes a huge toll on your body and your ability to function optimally. Neglecting your body, or your mind has a massive downside. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF NOW!

Once you feel down and out it is more difficult to break the hold of negative thoughts than when happy and energetic. It can absolutely be accomplished, but many people won’t feel like it. They may not have the energy to make the needed changes BUT they can!

You Eat An Elephant Bite By Bite

Bit by bit do things that bring the body and mind more energy. Go for a walk. Work in the garden. Gardening is sage advice, because we connect with the earth, we get our hands dirty, we are preoccupied and concentrated on life in the garden. It works wonders!

We can change our physiology. Throw our shoulders back, put our chest out, our chin forward and sit, stand and move as if we felt confident, positive and powerful. We can get down and roll around and play as a little child would. We can move our body differently!

Stuck implies no movement and the same, frozen. In order to break free we need to move and change things up. We can do almost anything and bring about some positive results. If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got. Get it?

You Can’t Live  A Positive Life With A Negative Mind

If you can’t leap into things, at least, inch your way into them. Both ways are effective and can bring dynamic results. The point is you must do something. Start early, before it is too late is a wise approach. Prepare before it is required and you will be well served.

Shake it up. Vary it. Stretch a little. Do some light yoga, breathing, any form of exercise. If you are low energy, do that which brings energy to you. Move and gradually increase the variety and/or the intensity of your movement. Walk, skip, run, dance. Breath, laugh!

If wound up, relax. Slow down. Breath. Take a bath. Get a massage, a steam or a sauna. Listen to some soothing sounds or music. Turn off the electronics, eliminate distractions,  Get outside. Garden. Take a walk, enjoy the surroundings. Quietly, sit or lie down out there.

Natural Forces Within Us Are The True Healers Of Disease

The issue for many people today is where their attention is. Often it is too self focused. We are narcissists. Change the focus. Help another person. Stop thinking about yourself and your problems and assist someone else. Look around you and find the good in the world.

Change of focus and change of what we are doing and how we are doing it IS how we bring about change in ourselves as needed. We can’t do what we always did and expect it will be different. We need to change things in order to have life change. Vary your routines!

Enjoy the simple pleasures. Fill your life with gratitude and thankfulness for what you already can do, for how you are blessed right now. Appreciate your body and your mind for how they work, with or without impairments. We are luckier than we think, usually.

We Are What We Repeatedly Do …

Eat well. The proper nutrition is important for your body as it is for your mind. Quit living on junk and get some good food. Good water. Cut out the bad foods and drinks as much as possible. Think at least 80/20 rule. Health is mental and physical. Pay attention to both.

If mostly you are well nourished, 80, a guilty pleasure, 20,  now and then is okay. Mental nutrition is important too. Read and fill your mind with healthy thoughts most of the time. Take care to think the best and be exposed to the best thinking. Eliminate the worst.

Eliminate the negative thinking and the distractions. Stay focused on the positive and feeling good. Include those things that make you think and feel better that are wise and good for you and exclude, as best you are able, that which is not. Mind and body work together.

… Excellence Therefore Is Not An Act But A  Habit

Get decent exercise and enough rest. Drink plenty of good, clean, pure water. Smile and laugh more. Have fun. Don’t make personal change and transformation harder make it fun and easier. Lighten up, let go, drop your cares and troubles, and live. Be as a child!

Read more, listen to music, listen to nature, listen to each other, communicate with loved ones, enjoy your family and friends. We live in boxes that are artificially lit, with microwaves, and radio waves and wifi and electric ambient sounds and noises, get away from it.

Change your routines from time to time. Take different ways home, or to work. You’ll see different things. Eat some foods you have never tried. Brush your teeth with the opposite hand. Vacation someplace new. Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed.

He Who Enjoys Good Health Is Rich Though He Knows It Not

Have fun doing and learning new things. Take some classes. Try different genres of books, music or movies. Take a spinning class or a ballroom or swing class. Make moments fun by meeting, new interesting people. Meditate or do something spiritual or natural.

Have I said, spend more time outdoors? Be freer, simpler, gentler. You have work time and rest time. Learn to manage both well. The more positive your thoughts the healthier all aspects of your life can be. The healthier you are the more positive your thoughts can be.

Prioritize your relationships. Cross things off your bucket list. You only live once don’t put everything off for another time, live now. Make it a point to not let the day to day troubles and distractions and negativity run the show. Don’t be controlled by circumstances.

Sometime You Just Have To Unplug And Disconnect

Determine how you want your life to be. Claim it back. Access your power. See it and say how it shall be. Declare it and make it so. Live as a champion and and emperor, not as a victim or a pauper. Decide to live a glorious life and make it that way minute by minute.

Fun, passion, delight. Movement and rest. Listening to music can arouse you and make you feel vibrantly alive or calm, quiet and serene. Both are important as night and day are important. Your body and mind cooperate as one. There is no separation in reality.

Live simple in a complex world. Enjoy all. Stop judging and complaining. Begin praising and encouraging. Look for and find good in all and you will develop that ability to always find the good even when well hidden. Delight in yourself, others and circumstances.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life

Live whole. Free yourself up to enjoy what is available to you and you will always discover more you didn’t notice at first. Linger in the goodness. Bask and bathe. Take a daily inventory of all the good things; the things you appreciate and your successes. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Make your day count for something wonderful!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Celebration, Directed Questions™, Intentional Thinking, Overcoming Difficulty

Expert Reveals: Why You Must Vacate Your Comfort Zone!

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“If you are comfortable lying in bed, it is cozy and warm, plush and easy do you ever want to get up and out? When comfortable it is just that easy to stay as is. What is comfort? For some it is as just described. Everything is wonderful and easy, and warm and good.

Welcome to Part 19 of The Secret To Success And Happiness Few Know And Won’t Tell You. The series continues. Hope you are enjoying it. Feel free to comment.  Part 20 tomorrow. Let’s go!

For others it is the familiar. It is the known. It is sameness from moment to moment. Conditions do not vary much. It is reliable and secure. For some it is a place for everything and everything in its place. For some it means the absences of unpleasantness.

Stretch Yourself Beyond What You Know

Most personal development never occurs inside our comfort zone. It seems to mostly only occur when we willingly or are forced to leave or abandon it. Why? I’d say by the description of comfort itself it should be obvious. Learning life lessons seem to come by trials.

It may be that it doesn’t have to be this way but since it seems to operate this way most frequently it seems one should accept it and embrace it. Opportunity when it presents itself, presents itself as it is. We may not get to change how and when and what it comes as.

Embrace change. Embrace hardship. Embrace struggle. Embrace challenge. What? Why? you exclaim. Because when you do you take the sting out of it. It may not be any less difficult but you can wrap your mind around it. If you don’t care it is hard, then it isn’t really.

Stretch Yourself Beyond What You Think Is Possible

It is our struggles against struggles that magnify them. It is the resistance we put up and the fight that prolongs them. I am not saying give up I am suggesting giving in. Go with the flow, when they arise. Don’t dam up the energy. Allow, let go and move on.

I am not suggesting you don’t solve problems or overcome your difficulties. I am suggesting you don’t make an issue of them.  Energy flows where you attention goes. Focus on what can be done, focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want or why things exist.

Oliver Wendell Holmes stated, ‘A mind stretched to a new idea can never go back to its original dimension.’ This is very positive news. Once stretched you go further than you would have without being stretched. But stretched implies some pull, some difficulty.

Recognize Your Limits Then Go Beyond Them

To change we must stretch and go beyond what is comfortable. We must get out of our comfort zone. We must leave the known and venture into the unknown. When we do we encounter new experiences and new ways to think and behave. These change us.

This may be why so many people experience massive breakthroughs when finally their back is against the wall. They have no options. Everything is lost or about to be. Once in the gutter their is no way out but up. When all is lost they find their true self and resources.

When everything is stretched to the maximum change occurs. We surpass limitations and boundaries that truly only exist in the mind. Our only limitations are the ones we think we have. Once we are aware and go beyond our limitations anything becomes possible.

A Good Goal Should Be A Stretch For You To Reach It

Focus on solutions. Focus on what you have that you are grateful for. Focus on what you want to create that is better. Transformation can occur in an instant. Like the enlightenment paradox. It can take years of practice to transform in a moment.

However, without the years of dedication that moment would not likely present itself. In other words, plan for a miracle! Expect good things to happen. Seek and you will find them is how the brain works. So look for what is good and what you want more of. Yes!

Some things you can learn in only a few moments but take a life time to master. To get really good in any endeavor requires, time, devoted energy, practice and commitment. If you want your life to change in incredible ways for the best commit to practicing basics.

Go Beyond The Known – Go Beyond Yourself

You don’t have to stay out of your comfort zone all the time. That would be too much all at once. That is what happens when people have their backs against the wall. Instead, practice a little daily vacation from your comfort zone to reap great rewards.

A little goes a long way. Stretch, push your boundaries bit by bit. Remember, drop by drop fills the tub. A little bit can bring about dynamic change, especially when you do a little bit consistently. Less is more. Especially, if that helps you stick with it! Take charge!

Read some positive motivational material each day. A chapter, a page, a paragraph, a line whatever you can manage but commit to it. Your mind will be awakened to new possibility and insights. Obviously, more may be better but do what you can. Stretch!

A Little Bit Goes A Long Way

Use affirmations and Directed Questions™ frequently throughout the day with strong, positive emotion. Direct your mind positively and powerfully to stay on track. Manage your self-talk and what you say to others. Only speak to bless, heal and prosper.

Visualize what you want as if you already have it. Feel the marvelous feelings. Do this once of twice a day for a few minutes but actually do it. If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got. If you want to change you have to change things up.

You must do different things! Pay attention to feeling good and make it a point to feel as best you can each moment. If negative feelings arise notice what you are thinking. Take it as signal to become aware of and change your thoughts. It’s a signal. Use it.

If You Don’t Truly Want It – You’ll Come Up With Excuses

Encourage yourself to feel a bit better whenever down. You don’t have to leap into bliss but nudge yourself towards feeling a bit better instead of wallowing. In doing this you set directions to travel in. You begin to move out of pain and into more positive feelings.

It is up to each of us to initiate our own movement and development. It gets easier the more often we do it. We learn to take charge of our own evolution. When hard times occur, and they will, we are better prepared through daily, regular, practice. Master these basics.

Leave your comfort zone. Stretch yourself. Guess what? Stretching yourself will become more comfortable too. Everything gets easier, and you get better at it,  through devoted practice. Be willing to stretch yourself to a new idea and a new way of being! Enjoy it.

If You Truly Want It – You Will Find A Way To Make It Happen

I emphasize gratitude and appreciation for whatever is right now. Good or not so good there is ALWAYS some good you can find in it. Why bother to look? Because you build within yourself a scanning mechanism, the ability to find good when very hidden.

That ability is a game changer! When you can find opportunity and good inside the very not so good your mind is much more under your control and working on you behalf to bring you good things. You move from stuck to unstuck so much more readily and easily.

New worlds open up for you. New thoughts, feelings, actions and results. It is exponential in nature and builds on itself. It begins to make all good, even when it isn’t, so you can do positive things about it. It is a life changer! Discover it for yourself if you haven’t.

Explore – Delight – Adventure – Celebrate 

Enjoy, delight, have fun. Don’t take changing too seriously. Stretch yourself. Try new things that bring you joy. Surprise and gift yourself. Allow life to be exquisite. Little moments can be delicious and are important as big ones. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Enjoy another marvelous day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Affirmations, Celebration, Deliberate Creators, Focus

Expert Reveals: How To Easily Handle Your Problems And Woes

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“How do we get more of the good life? Is there any principle or practice we can immediately apply to help make things better? Absolutely there is! This one practice can help take your life from not so good to so much better, quickly, you will want to do it now.

Welcome to Part 18 of The Secret To Success And Happiness Few Know And Won’t Tell You. The series continues. Hope you are enjoying it. Feel free to comment. Part 19 tomorrow. Let’s go!

In the original 1925 version of ‘The Laws Of Success’, Napoleon Hill re-publishes an address by Major C A Bach to graduating military officers. You’ll find it in the chapter on Initiative and Leadership.

Of course, the entire essay, and the entire book are a most worthy and recommended read. I encourage you to locate and secure a copy for yourself. Today, I quote one line, from this wonderful essay.

Energy Flows Where Attention Goes

The Major stated, ‘Make light of your troubles, belittle your trials and you will help vitally to build up within your organization an esprit whose value in time of stress cannot be measured’.

There are many critical and relevant points made by Hill and Bach that can benefit all of us. One of the reasons Hill includes Bach’s words is because to be successful one must learn how to lead.

Before leading others, however, one must learn how to lead oneself. This is the most crucial understanding of this chapter in the book. Lead yourself well, be exemplary and others will gravitate to you.

You Get What You Focus On

Learn the power of self-initiation: how to begin, follow through and complete things, without being asked. Master both principles and you become more successful by becoming valuable to others.

All excellent points for certain. I point out this one sentence because I think the thought is critical when applied. It is a potent reminder on how to use your energy and why.

‘Make light of your troubles, belittle your trials…’ In other words, don’t take anything too seriously. is an important reminder! Do not focus on your problems.

Whatever You Think About Most You Become

Do not focus on your problems or exaggerate them, in your mind, to yourself OR to others. There are benefits that come with learning this practice. Great benefits too.

He stated, make light and belittle your problems and you will build up an esprit with your organization (or yourself) whose value is immeasurable in times of stress. Valuable now and valuable then.

When you learn and make this practice a habit then no matter what may come your way, in times of stress you are prepared. You are used to handling problems and seeing your way through them.

What You Say Is What You Get

Monitor your thoughts and self talk about problems. Be on guard what you think and say to yourself AND to those around you. ‘Make light and belittle’.

Why? Because you minimize their power in your mind. You shrink them down by not giving them energy. You put them in their proper perspective. No matter how large it is NO BIG DEAL.

Most people talk to anyone and everyone about their daily woes. They recount them to their family, to their co-workers, to the people they encounter during the day. They love the drama.

Make Light Of Your Troubles – Belittle Your Trials

Perhaps, they love the attention and probably the (feigned) sympathy it brings them. Beyond that they are comfortable doing it. They are acting out of habit. The habit is focusing on problems.

Energy flows where attention goes. What you focus on expands. What you think about you become. STOP talking about your problems. Put an end to your problems withdraw the energy.

Suck the oxygen out of them and let them die. Put your attention on that which better, more positively serves you. Notice however, he didn’t say ignore, he said make light and belittle. Perspective!

Skill To Do Comes From Doing

You can handle them. You are bigger then them. They are insignificant compared to you. Troubles come and troubles go. What is important are your blessings.

Adopt this attitude and mindset. Watch your talk. Only speak to bless, heal and prosper yourself and others. What you SAY is what you get.

What you assert, declare, focus on and repeat is what you get. So only say what you want. As long as you say what you have you will always have as you say. Your thoughts and words matter!

You Go Where Your Thoughts Take You

You are the author of your experience. You emphasize what is important every moment. You describe the situations, you add the detail when you speak. So monitor your mouth!

Only author what you want to include in your life. Focus on what you want. Do not focus on what you do not want. Put the energy into your blessings. Exaggerate the good minimize the bad. Get it?

Focus on all that you enjoy and delight in. Put your focus on who you are and not into the problems whether larger or small. Be the changes you want to include in your life. Be grateful and enjoy!

Decide What You Want – Determine How You Want It To Be

When you are able to make light and belittle you demonstrate to yourself and others you are in charge of yourself, your thoughts, your feelings, your behaviors, your problems, and your results.

You are the one calling the shots not the issues. You don’t allow circumstances to control you. You are not a cork bobbing helplessly in the water you act from a place of power and volition.

Speak only to bless, heal and prosper. Build things up, increase what is good, right and wonderful. Decrease what is not. Stop getting hooked by distractions. Learn from problems and challenges.

Speak Only To Bless Heal And Prosper

You grow strong through resistance. Instead of talking about how wrong things are, embrace problems for their potential to add to your development.  Talk about how right things are.

Keep your focus on the positive. Focus on what is good right now. Focus on what you appreciate. Focus on that which you want to create, make happen or attract. Stay tuned to the wonderful!

What you think about you bring about. Staying focused this way  will bring about the results you desire so much quicker than wandering off into your woes. You might amaze yourself how quickly it works.

Increase Or Decrease – Your Choice – You Decide

Distraction lead us astray and wastes valuable time. So if you are a complainer. STOP! Don’t beat yourself up. Just STOP complaining and start finding the good to accentuate. Accentuate the positive!

If you go hiking and you inadvertently leave the path, just gently nudge yourself back onto the trail without more complaining. Accept what was, and decide now what will be.

Then enjoy the present moment by looking for and finding all the good things to fill your moments and your mind with. Think, speak and accentuate those. Make it a habit! You and your life will positively transform when you celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

It is another magical and mysterious day!

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Attitude, Celebration, Creating The Future, Intentional Thinking

Why Change Seems So Difficult And What You Can Do About It

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“Have you found it difficult to make personal or professional changes? Have you struggled to try to change habits? Have you come to the conclusion that making changes is hard?

Welcome to Part 7 of The Secret To Success And Happiness Few Know And Won’t Tell You. We continue on today. I hope you found the first 6 parts valuable. Ready, let’s go. Part 8 tomorrow.

Perhaps, your attempted to get ‘The Secret’ or the ‘Law of Attraction’ to work but you are not satisfied. Have you found it difficult for you but know others for whom it is easy?

Guess what? If it is easy for some it could and should be easy for all. Change does not have to be hard. It does not have to be difficult. It can be anything. Anything at all. Change can be easy.

Standing Is Harder Than Moving

Change can be easy, fun, exciting, smooth and relaxing or it can be tough, terrifying, and require you stick it out for the long haul. Making changes can be and is all things.

You may not want to hear this. Whether change is difficult or easy is completely up to you and nothing else! Your mindset, your attitude, your beliefs determine what it is like and how you will go through it.

It can be all things!  Just know that. You aren’t failing if it is tough. You are simply approaching it as you have learned to do. There is nothing wrong in that. Nothing at all. You learned it was tough.

If You Don’t Like Something Change It

You accepted that for whatever reason, most likely, very early on. Since then, perhaps you have tried and quit, or maybe you avoid having to change much all together. Anything is possible.

If that is the case, the good news is, change can be easy and fun! You can learn to enjoy it too. However, if learning anything new for you is tough and you don’t like it that is what you first must work on.

Learn to like learning. If you don’t like learning new things, eating new foods, learning new games, communicating better with your partner or family, then you should start there.

That will be the subject of another post at another time.

Change is just whatever it is. Your reaction to it is makes all the difference in the world. Easy or hard  it is up to what you think and believe it will be. Expectations shape situations and behaviors.

If You Can’t Change It Change Your Attitude

If you think it will be too hard you are apt to quit. If you think it will be a snap you are likely to proceed without a issue. Your attitude determines what it will be like for you. It always has. IT always has!

If it is tough you need to change your attitude and beliefs about change. The good news is that you can do this. Will it be easy or tough? GUESS WHAT? That is up to you? Get it? DO you GET IT?

You make up your world. You decide what it will be like and how you go through it. You determine whether you attract good things or less than glorious things. It is always up to you! It always has been!

If Life Were Just Easy Where Would All The Adventures Be

It is cyclic. If you think it will be tough it will be thus proving you are right and it is tough. Next attempt you get more of the same. You can break the cycle BUT it may be tough at first. Get it? DO you?

You really need to understand this. AT first it may seem tough. That is what is familiar to you. That is your habitual way of going about things. That is what you have been getting. Get it?

To change it DO something else. Take smaller steps or bites. Do some thing you find enjoyable, easy to do and continue to do, first. Find a partner. Get someone who inspires you to go on.

Drop By Drop The Tub Gets Filled

If you always do what you always did you always get what you always got. Vary it, shake it up, add some fun into the mix. Do anything else that brings enjoyment and optimism to the process.

Decide to be gentle with yourself NO MATTER WHAT. If there are some things that are difficult resign yourself to that being okay for now and understand that will get easier as you move forward.

Think positive about it. Force yourself if you must or have fun chanting out loud positive mantras and affirmations that support you in this. Visualize yourself easily making and adopting change.

You Must Become The Master Of Your Own Thoughts

You can control your thoughts and that is your first most important step. Learn that this is possible. You can control your thoughts and your feelings. You can think and feel predominantly wonderful.

How you think and feel determines how you act and your thoughts, feelings and actions determine the results you get. These three factors determine how you handle life circumstances.

Life is whatever it is. How you respond to it is up to how you learned to in the first place. Everything you do is pretty much the result of what you learned from early age on. It is your conditioning. Habits.

I Can’t Change The Direction Of The Wind …

Because you learned it, you can unlearn it or learn to change it to serve you better. It doesn’t matter whether you remember learning it or not. You can learn most anything at all. You really, truly can!

You can teach an old dog new tricks. It seems harder because the old dog has been doing the old way for a long time and is comfortable with it even if the old dog doesn’t like it. Even if it causes pain.

We opt for the familiar and the comfortable most of the time. It is easier even when we don’t like it. It is usually only when we get really fed up that we then decide to change and be different.

… But I Can Adjust My Sails To Reach My Destination

Still, the old dog can learn new ways. Be loving, patient, understanding, forgiving and accepting and the old dog will do just fine. Treat the old dog with respect and it will learn new ways.

You can dictate how you handle circumstances and not be the victim of them. It is all up to you. The first order of change is controlling your thoughts instead of being a victim of them. This is a must do!

Once you gain mastery over your thinking process everything else tends to fall in line. Life still is what it is but your ability to respond resourcefully grows immeasurably. Seek mental control.

Have Patience All Things Are Difficult Before They Become Easy

Change becomes easier and more fun when you are in charge of your attitude and mindset. Life does as well. Circumstances fall under your control much more than the other way around.

Understand this next important concept well. Understand it and own it. If everything is easy you will never learn to be tough when necessary. There are times that require you to be firm and strong.

There are times when you must be steel willed and persist no matter what. These times, though hard, don’t have to be a problem. Your attitude determines whether these are mountains or mole hills.

Life Doesn’t Become Easier We Become Stronger

If everything  were always easy and it was never tough you might throw in the towel when faced with challenge. You wouldn’t know what to do or how to do it. Skill comes from doing.

By having different forms and sizes of obstacles with differing degrees of difficulty you grow stronger and better equipped to handle anything. Welcome tough times too.

Welcome challenges and you become a victor over them. Life at times is thrilling and ecstatic and delicious, other times not so much. Whatever you get is what is, accept it, celebrate it and keep growing.

The Educated Person Has Learned How To Learn And Change

Discover you can be the master of your fate and the captain of your soul. It begins by taking charge of your thinking. Even if you have never done it before you can succeed at this. Develop certainty.

Even if you tried and failed numerous times, you can succeed if you make it manageable from the beginning. Do little things first. Little things can bring about great change in ways that will surprise you.

Make it a point to be grateful. Find the silver lining, discover the good hidden in the not so good. This a an important ability you want to acquire. You acquire it only by repeatedly doing it correctly.

Simple Joys Make The Greatest Memories

There is always something you can find, though it may be well hidden, so you might have to dig, but DO dig for it!  Master being thankful for where you are and what you have right now.

You will go further faster. Learn to enjoy and delight in all things and you will change beyond belief. The little things add up to great big things SO celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

How delighted will you be today?

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Blessings, Celebration, Creating The Future, Expectations

What Is Your Little Miracles Quotient? How You Can Improve It!

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“A few months back I attended a screening in the Chicago area, of a feature film I have a role in. Prior to the film starting I went next door had an amazing dinner and glass of wine. This culinary experience has been on my mind on and off for these past months.

This week the yearning grew large. I could taste it. I didn’t want to drive a couple hundred miles round trip just to dine but I was getting willing. Monday through Friday I began to imagine that I would dine when some meeting or audition became available near by.

Choose To Have Magic And Miracles In Your Life

Friday, I was contacted and asked if I could audition in the Chicago area today. As I drove there I realized I might not be far from my desired restaurant. As it turns out, I was only five minutes away! I went to the audition, it was fine. Then went off to dine.

Dine I did! I had the same meal and wine. Delicious again. This time however, I sat outdoors in the gorgeous afternoon weather. I got to enjoy two incredible happenings in one day. A positive  audition and a positive dining experience. I was absolutely delighted by this.

I mentioned today to someone who then asked. ‘So, did you get the dining experience, that you thought about all week, by creating an audition? Or did you create an audition by thinking about the dining experience all week?’ The truth is I haven’t a clue and I don’t care.

Within You And Your Life Exist All Possibilities

Sometimes, I think we try to figure things out and it just gets in the way. To celebrate the moments seems to be the correct thing to do. To enjoy and be grateful is appropriate. I don’t think we need to overthink things. Relax and be happy. Delight in everything,

As an actor I look at it this way. I got to audition. Whether I book it or not I got to audition. On top of that I got to eat a really wonderful meal outdoors that I had been hoping I would for a couple months. All is good. So whether this job comes about or not, no worries.

Maybe, something else is completely in store. I don’t know. I just know things always turn out good no matter what they are. If nothing comes of the audition, fine. I used to want to get every job, Now I know I get the right ones for me. All is good. Truly!

Want More Good Things – Then Celebrate Everything

This past week I had a wonderful audition. I really enjoyed it and thought I’d love to have more like that. I did today. I got called twice yesterday, so I have another coming up on Monday. Then mid-week. So that is pretty cool. 4 auditions in 7 days is good!

My point is, if I don’t book the role so what. I let it go. I wanted to have more fun auditions and they seem to be coming my way. I am happy with that too.  I wanted to eat at this wonderful restaurant and today I did. I take it all as wins. All is marvelous! Good things!

Seems like to be grateful is all that is necessary. Enjoy whatever happens in the future. I’m not going to try to force things or worry over things. I’ll enjoy the little sweet moments all along the way. Mini miracles. Some might call them coincidence.

Count All Your Blessings Large And Small And Delight In All

Others might say they are a cosmic treat. I don’t care whether it is a coincidence or not. Good things came about and I know more good things will too. Whether the audition and dining were connected or not I had a wonderful day. It always works out for the best.

Savor the moments. Expect good things. One of my mantras is, ‘all good things flow my way and I joyously receive them’. Open the doors for more and more wonderful things to enjoy. Don’t sweat the less than glorious stuff, let it go. Don’t try to force things, allow.

Receive. Whether you creator or attractor, simply put it out there positively and let go. As when you tell your waitperson what you want for lunch. You place the order and allow them to bring it. You don’t go back and tell everyone how to do it. At least, some don’t.

Magic Happens When You Allow Wonder And Let It Happen

Life is a gift. I think too many of us forget that. We get caught up in trying to make things happen. We get frustrated and disappointed that things don’t work out. We compare to others and feel bad. Stop, that isn’t why we are here. Well, I can’t actually tell you why.

Perhaps, we are here to fulfill some larger cosmic purpose. Perhaps, we are here by a random accident. Who cares? We are here. Either we love it and enjoy it or we don’t. Why not make it a point to have the best life possible no matter what?

That is a decision you and I can make. The rest is not all that important. Live, love, and laugh! I like to enjoy the ride. What about you? It is a most wonderful, mysterious one. That is what adventure is all about; not having it all go by plan but by being surprised.

Receive It – Allow It – Accept It – Be Open To It – Say Yes

It isn’t about knowing all the answers or what is around every bend. To choose which fork in the road and be surprised is all a part of it. Adventure isn’t predictable or it isn’t adventure. Life is a mystery. It is not something that should be solved. It’s to be lived! Explored!

Sometimes it is challenging and scary other times it delightful beyond belief. So, I am counting my blessings. Enjoy and be grateful for the little miracles that make you smile. Count the blessings and more come your way. It is always all good, regardless! Regardless!

My two auditions, upcoming this week, are within a half an hour of the restaurant. Perhaps, I’ll return. Yum. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Delight or don’t. It is your choice.

If you like these posts please subscribe. If you think these posts would help others please share them. Help Spread the word. 

Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW BLOG SITE LAUNCHES SOON – Do you get this blog emailed to you? You will have  to again subscribe to this blog, newsletter. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches. Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude!

Acceptance, Blessings, Celebration, Decision

What To Do About Unexpected Difficulty?

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horizons harbor-light-phil-koch

“28 hours without sleep. I just got home. Beautiful day, fantastic evening with talented actors and casting directors. How does a day like this conclude?

As I mentioned I just got home. It is 5am. I should have been back by 1 at the latest. So I will tell you about it, since this is a blog and it was magical and mysterious. Cool and a bit weird.

I had just given an actress and a casting director rides home in Chicago. Got on the freeway, gone about 20 miles when the driver’s rear tire blew. It disintegrated, I fishtailed a few times.

I managed to navigate to the shoulder where I left a trail of tire dust, rubber on the road. This was around 11:30 pm. I had been looking forward to getting home by 1 because I had been up since 2am.

I usually write my blog between 3 and 5 and then do business stuff, eat and go about my day. Last night I began at 2. The evening with actors was fun and exhausting. Now, I sit on roadside calling AAA.

You may recall, New Year’s Eve on the way to a party I blew the right front passenger tire and had to cancel my plans. 2 new tires and a new wheel were the result that time. The universe is silly sometimes.

Coming up at 9 am I was to take my car in have the oil changed and rotate the tires. I left a message there stating perhaps Friday would be a better day. AAA said 45 minutes the tow would arrive.

45 minutes later I sat there still no tow truck. So I called AAA when a truck pulled up behind me. I informed dispatch the tow had arrived but it hadn’t. It was the DOT. He put down some flares and left.

Not before we had a pleasant chat though. I knew that AAA would arrive and tow me 90 miles home. So I relaxed and enjoyed sitting peacefully. A fellow driver stopped and asked if I needed help.

He said he had a blow out 2 weeks before, someone had helped him, so he wanted to be sure to stop for others. I said ‘nope, thanks, that is so cool and I am waiting for a tow’. Well, eventually it came.

At about 3:50 am a tow arrived. During this time I had wonderful conversation with a woman dispatcher from Tennessee. She liked my attitude while getting updates. I liked hers too.

Heck, what to do, right? This is what happened. It could have been a whole lot worse. I was safe, settled and waiting. Gave me time to relax and think and count my blessings.

The driver of the tow was an incredible guy. Dante. We had a great conversation, stopped at the Skyway, I bought coffee and tipped him 5 bucks. He was incredibly grateful.

We resumed until he got me outside my house, at which time he put on the spare, the donut tire, so I can drive to the tire store at 7am. I gave him my last remaining cash, another 5 and off he went.

I came in, fed the cat, sat down at the computer and decided to share this. I love it when I delight and surprise myself. I am learning more and more that whatever happens you can enjoy it. It is a choice.

The evening, the universe, god or random happenstance, found me on the side of road with a nasty flat. What to do about it? Complaining wouldn’t have solved it. It is what is it. I have learned.

I have learned if you can’t do anything about it expect the best. Unexpected good always comes to me, to us, often disguised as difficulty. I don’t know why the tire blew and I don’t care.

Things always work out for the best. I know tomorrow, I mean in less than 75 minutes I will purchase 2 new tires. One to replace the flat and one to replace the other one just in case. Then I’ll have 4 new.

I bought two back in January. So now every wheel will have a new tire. I think the funny thing is as I drove my casting director friend home, I mentioned to her an earlier time 2 years ago in Chicago.

I drove down to go to an acting class. A Sunday afternoon. I turned a corner at about 5 miles an hour, hit a speed bump which tore apart the bottom of my car. I was bleeding transmission fluid everywhere.

Found a gas station a few blocks away. Called AAA, pulled a each chair out of the back and sat and waited for the truck. About as many hours later it arrived. I sat and read a book in the parking lot.

What to do? Absolutely nothing. Had a fabulous conversation with that tow driver too. Things happen. It is much easier in the long run to let it go and stay calm and expect the best. It could have been worse. It wasn’t.

So tonight I spent some time doing something unexpected. I got towed home shortly after recounting my towed home story. How cool or odd is that? Okay, in 70 minutes  the tire store opens and I gotta buy some tires. I’m going to close this now and nap.

The bottom line is life is for living not complaining. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

You Got Another Day! How Do You Want To Spend It?

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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