Category Archives: Focus

Working Harder Doesn’t Make You Richer Or Happier BUT THIS DOES!

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“Napoleon Hill in his classic book ‘Think And Grow Rich’ stated the following when it came to the accumulation of wealth. He stated these same ‘money principles’ applied to  fulfilling any goal. Here is what Hill had to say:

‘The steps call for no “hard labor.” They call for no sacrifice. They do not require one to become ridiculous, or credulous. To apply them calls for no great amount of education.

But the successful application of these six steps does call for sufficient imagination to enable one to see, and to understand, that accumulation of money cannot be left to chance, good fortune, and luck.

You Must Get A White Hot Burning Desire

One must realize that all who have accumulated great fortunes, first did a certain amount of dreaming, hoping, wishing, DESIRING, and PLANNING before they acquired money.

You may as well know, right here, that you can never have riches in great quantities, UNLESS you can work yourself into a white heat of DESIRE for money, and actually BELIEVE you will possess it.’

Earlier, just prior to these words he states, ‘Money consciousness’ means that the mind has become so thoroughly saturated with the DESIRE for money, that one can see one’s self already in possession of it.’

See Yourself Already In Possession Of It

There really isn’t much more to add. Hill points out that these principles came from Andrew Carnegie, a self made millionaire, at the time the world’s richest man, and from the study of over 500 hundred of the world’s richest and most successful.

I’d like to re-emphasize a few things. He states it is not about hard work or labor. If hard word and labor made people rich than many janitors, migrant workers and common laborers would be rich. It isn’t working harder it is thinking better that makes the difference.

He named his book THINK and Grow Rich because mindset, attitude, is one of the greatest determining factors for success in attaining any goal. Education was not a pre-requisite. Plenty of drop-outs have attained great wealth and accomplished great things.

Attitude Is Everything

So, in not education or hard work, what did he state was important. Imagination and desire. One had to be able to see the goal as already accomplished. One has to be able to see the good one wants as already theirs. One must believe it is theirs to have and to possess.

Attitude, the unwavering faith that one will succeed no matter what, is crucial. Persistence and planning accompany success. One must never give up if one wants to succeed.

These principles are simple to implement but not necessarily easy. If they were easy everyone would be rich. It requires daily commitment.

Give Up The Standard Excuses Everybody Uses

Too many quit too soon. They fail to realize their dreams when obstacles arise. You must not. You can’t give up and still win. You must persist and prevail. Learn from the obstacles. Adjust your plans, your route, but keep going towards it. Never quit. Commit!

Here is a very important point Napoleon Hill points out, as have other New Thought Leaders, and even ancient texts. You have to know what you want. You have to see the end result. The end result is the Burning Desire. It IS what keeps you motivated and inspired.

You must imagine it as if you already have it. BUT you DO NOT have to know how you got it. Never get hung up on how. The how will take care of itself as you move forward. Once the seed is planted in the mind it begins to grow. It grows in darkness.

Why You Want It Is More Important Than The How 

People use ‘I don’t know what to do’ or ‘I don’t know how’ as an excuse to not act. You don’t have to know ‘how’ but you do have to know what you want. Keep your mind on your burning desire.  Stay focused as Hill prescribes. This is key to getting it. Don’t get distracted.

Your mind will work on it day and night and while you sleep to help you formulate the plans and the hows. That is the brains job. The plan you begin with will not be the plan that takes you across the finish line. Your plans will change. That is okay. Be flexible.

We only know ‘how’ after the fact. Edison didn’t know how to make a light bulb work until it worked. THEN he understood how. The Wright Brothers didn’t know how to fly until after they got airborne. Then they understood.

Hindsight is 20/20

Hindsight IS 20/20. We can see the path only after we arrived and look back. We can look back over our life and see how the decisions we made brought us to where we are today. After the fact we know and understand how, but never before. So don’t use that excuse.

Don’t think you can be lazy and succeed. That isn’t what Hill implies. What he emphasizes is that it is NOT what most people think it is (hard work, education, luck, upbringing, economy, politics, etc.) that determines success. It is not those things.

Most people use those as excuses for why they can’t or haven’t succeeded. Napoleon says the way to riches and success and happiness is clear. He modeled it and studied those who mastered it. Success comes to the prepared mind.  There is  a formula.

Read Think And Grow Rich

Remember, we become what we think about. What we think about expands. What we think about we bring about. Napoleon said, ‘What you can conceive and believe, you can achieve’. Don’t let excuses prevent you from going after what you want.

I leave you with this quote from Napoleon, ‘When you begin to THINK AND GROW RICH, you will observe that riches begin with a state of mind, with definiteness of purpose, with little or no hard work. You, and every other person, ought to be interested in knowing how to acquire that state of mind which will attract riches.’

There Are 6 Steps To Get What You Want

Implement Napoleon Hill’s six steps for attaining your desires. Read and study them in Think And Grow Rich. This book has stood the test of time. Countless lives have been improved from having read this book. I know mine has. Yours can be too! It is powerful!

We could discuss Hills work for decades. It is so deep and layered. Study it! You will be glad you did. See you tomorrow.” Rex Sikes

What a beautiful day to enjoy!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

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Do This – Live Well And Enjoy More!

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“What must we do to have the life we want and deserve? How do I get unstuck? How do we manifest what we desire? Does what we do make a difference? What should I do to make everything better?Does the Law Of Attraction actually work?

How do I eliminate bad habits? How do we change our lives? How do I live the good life? So many people ask me questions like this. I know they are on the minds of many more. How do we have a great life? That is what these blog pages are all about.

I hope you are going back through them and reading and re-reading them. Make them a study because thoughts and ideas you missed the first time or second time through will present themselves to you each time. You will learn and discover new things you missed.

Everyday is a gift! We never know how much time we have on this planet. It could all be gone tomorrow. Later today it could be over. We should cherish the time we have.

Cherish the people we love and like. We are here briefly and then gone. Some religions have conditioned people that our reward isn’t here but elsewhere at another time.

Live And Enjoy Now

That is really sad. Much of Christendom and many religions preach this.  That is not what I find when I study the Bible or other ancient texts. I see a garden paradise intended for us. I see that abundance of all good things our birthright. It is right there on the pages.

I don’t care what religion you adhere to there is no reason to suffer here. Our rewards are now! Right now while on earth! Maybe there are elsewhere too but the God of the Bible puts our rewards on earth first. Since you are here and reading this – claim your fabulous earthly life. Claim the promise of prosperity and happiness.

Declare it! Believe you deserve it. Unfortunately, too many people have learned the opposite while growing up. They have been sadly misinformed and mistaken. You need to change your mind! Every day is an opportunity to love and to live fully and abundantly now!

Every moment! Each day is an opportunity to learn more and improve yourself and your circumstances.  We only have so much time here so use it wisely, use it well. Use your time to smile and delight more!  Love more, celebrate more and live more fully.

Let go of the past and anything that holds you back. Give it up.  Drop anything that was yesterday and less than glorious. Learn from it and let go of it. Become free! BE free now. Time is short. Let it go!

Embrace the future and put your back against the past. Don’t let anything hold you back or hold you down. You deserve better!Be grateful now! Be thankful for everything no matter what it was. Let it go and be grateful.

Let Go Of The Old

Celebrate this moment and everything in it. You and I are blessed in more ways than we can ever realize. Begin looking for those ways. Open your eyes. Find and celebrate all the good things around you right now!

Forgive yourself.  Forgive those who may have hurt or harmed you past and present. Let it go. Forgiveness is not an act for them it is an act for you. You are not giving anyone else a free pass you are giving yourself a free pass to move on.

Never be held back by less than glorious circumstances. That is the big lie. You can move beyond it and be free. Heal yourself through forgiveness and gratitude!

Wait patiently and expectantly. Seeds plant grow under cover of darkness. Most of what sees do we never see. We never see how growth occurs we only notice benchmarks in progress. Be patient and know good things come to those who wait.

Don’t give up keep moving forward. There IS a time to harvest. You will discover so many wonderful things if you let go, forgive, celebrate now with gratitude and be patient.

While waiting stay in the present. Stay focused on your blessings right now. Parts of your brain will attempt to get you to think about the past and regret it to protect you from doing that again.

Write A New Story

There is a noble intent to regret and that is to not ever engage in that same behavior or activity again. The brain will also project into the future to protect us by anticipating what might be coming. Worry is noble too in that it is an attempt to prepare.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing, wrong with the brain attempting to prevent the past mistakes or avoid future ones but some people get caught up and miss right now.

Now is where all the blessings are. Right now is where the celebration is. Right now is actually all you have. The past is gone only memories we relive and the future is only a projection, it is not here yet.

The gift is our present. Staying in this moment helps keep us calm and peaceful. Enjoy and delight in this moment. In each moment.Life is meant for you to enjoy! You have a short shot when all is considered. Live it well.

It doesn’t matter so much what you have as it matters who you are. Be the kind of person who savors and enjoys life. Dream big and live large. Have fun, smile and laugh. If you fill each present moment with so much positive enjoyable living you will have lived well! Don’t you think?” Rex Sikes

How wonderfully can you spend today?

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

Do You Have What It Takes? This Quality Separates The Winner From The Pack

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“One quality often separates the haves from the have nots. The winners from the not winners. Those who are victorious embody this attribute. What is it that divides champions from mere mortals, the successful from the non-success? Persistence!

People who have made great wealth are persistent. Olympic athletes who medal, or those who compete multiple times are persistent. These people don’t quit. They’d rather fight than switch, they would sink with the ship.

They will do anything to not fail and succeed. If you want to cross the finish line you must stay in the race.

Many champion athletes have known great heartbreak, injury and setback but have gone on to face incredible odds and prevail. Countless self made millionaires have built fortunes and lost them only to build them again. They don’t let falling down keep them down. They get up, dust of and move on.

Keep Moving Toward Your Goal Step By Step

These champions in sports, wealth, business, and life do what other people neglect to do. They work every day towards their goal. They relentlessly pursue their major purpose and they develop habits to move them along.

They repeat that which makes them successful. They condition their mind and their being for success. They do whatever it takes.

They let nothing stop them. Mistakes, obstacles, that which appears as defeat does not defeat them. There is no failure in falling down, getting up and going on to cross that finish line. The only ones who fail are those who leave the race early. Winners keep moving forward. Challenges and obstacles are part of playing the game.

Successful people may adjust their plans but never give up their dream. They learn what works and what doesn’t by continuously trying. Sometimes they get lucky but it is because they keep going after it until they discover opportunity and advantage.

Successful people persist in the face of relentless opposition. They don’t let well meaning people discourage them from accomplishing their dreams.

Learn From Obstacles And Challenges

The learn the power of focus and have learned concentration and how to tune out and ignore distractions. They use their time well. Habits rule our lives and they learn success habits that support them in their pursuits.

Our habits can either help us to succeed or be the reason we don’t. We need to insure, as the champions do that we have success habits.

Habits can be changed. If you have some that don’t serve you well this is great news. Habits can be changed through awareness and effort. You need to notice when you aren’t doing what you want to be doing and then do what you want to immediately.

You repeat this process. You are aware of starting to engage in the old habitual behavior and you stop, decide to engage in the new behavior you want to become a habit.

You have to repeat this over and over. There are different estimates on how long it takes for a new behavior to become habit. The range is somewhere between 21 to 90 days.

This is great news! Within a relatively short period of time you and I can learn positive productive habits that can revolutionize our lives!

Play The Game Well And Enjoy Winning

When you get rid of the habits that hold you back and replace them with positive new ones your life will change for the better. It may take some time, yes, but it is worth it.  Whenever you begin to engage in the old habit, stop, decide to engage the new behaviors and praise yourself for noticing the opportunity to change. Don’t be critical or hard on yourself. Instead encourage change.

AS you notice yourself engaging in the new habit celebrate. Celebrate everything. A good habit is formed by engaging in the good habit, the correct behavior, repeatedly over the time period.

As the new habits take hold you will be amazed and delighted with the progress. You too, just like the self-made millionaires can make changes and become unstoppable. You can see yourself over the finish line and make you dreams come true!” Rex Sikes

Smile big live large today. Enjoy everything!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

Stop Wasting Time: Invest Your Time!

horizons tracks and blue sky

“You can never get back? You can lose money and make more again. People have been devastated by losing everything they own and yet they rebuild and purchase more stuff. Loved ones and friends once gone are gone. Cherish them. Still, there is that something else we can never ever get back.

We take it for granted it but once gone it is gone for ever. It never ever gets returned to us. You know what it is.  It is time. Your time! Once spent it is gone forever. Perhaps, the reason why we aren’t more thoughtful, or careful or protective of our time is because there seems to be an abundance of it. Yes, there is. There IS always plenty of time!!! Until there isn’t.

We do not live as if we were actually our last day. IF WE DID you can bet we would have very different days. WE do not treat our loved ones as if it may be the last time we ever saw them BECAUSE if we did we would treat them very much differently. No, we seem to always think there will be plenty of time.

So we watch television. We spend endless hours on social media. We play electronic games or find many different ways to distract us from what is truly important. We may hang out in bars, read graphic novels, scour the internet for another silly animal video. Maybe we just while away the hours in bed.

The point is there are only so many hours in a day and only so many days in one’s life. I don’t believe we should live as though we are being chased, we shouldn’t fear life we should enjoy it. We should enjoy and value our time with family, friends and alone! Often, when people get older they begin to feel like time is running out. Some feel this way even when young. I don’t think that is what we want either.

What we do need to do is learn to invest our time wisely. We ought to put it to good use. We can use our time feeling wonderful, making positive changes, improving our life circumstances. We can evolve ourselves, pursue goals and dreams and make wonderful things happen. We should discover and go after our major purpose in life.

Investments can pay dividends down the road. Time wisely invested in learning to be happier, healthier, more loving and have more loving relationships seems like time well spent. You can learn how to become more confident and live more fully; become financially secure; improve your life and help others improve theirs.

If you realize you don’t actually have all the time in the world perhaps you will spend your time more wisely and productively.

Studies of successful people show that those who have become millionaires watch little TV. Maybe an hour or less a day. They don’t spend much time on the internet. WHY? Because they are busy building their lives. The less wasted time the more time they had available to pursue their dreams.

Use whatever time you have in smart ways. Go for your goals. Invest in yourself! A great use of your time is in celebration and gratitude because you can do it anywhere and everywhere. You can feel happy right now. Be thankful for your blessings in life. Smile and laugh more. Love more. Enjoy the people around you and each moment you have! Celebrate it!” Rex Sikes

Have a brighter day today.

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

How To Quickly Manifest What You Want

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“People often ask, ‘How do we create or manifest what we want?’ ‘Is there a way to attract to ourselves what we desire?’ They want to know if there are ways and how to work it all the more quickly. Can we reduce the time it takes to make things happen? What must we do?

The quickest way to become what you want to be in life is to say ‘I am’ that which you want to be. Declare it! ‘I am happy’; ‘I am successful’; ‘I am loving’; ‘I am healthy’.  What you think about you bring about. You can declare ‘I have health’; ‘I have wealth’; ‘I have everything I need to be happy and successful’. Affirm it!

‘I Am’ is creation. ‘I have’ is creation. You declare what you want as though you already have it. You imagine the good you desire in life and you affirm it. ‘I am’ is the spoken word you declare. ‘I am’ is the picture you seen in your mind. ‘I am’ is the feeling. Feel it fully!

Picture what you want as thought you already have it and savor the incredible feelings. Feeling are the key. Just repeating things endlessly makes no difference. You must see, say AND feel what it is like to already have that which you desire for the future.

Those feelings are the creative power. See it. Declare it done. Feel it fully. It is all three! It is the combination of all three,  pictures, your word, and feelings, that make your affirmations powerful. “As a man thinks in his heart so he is’.  Affirm what you want.

Declare what you want. Your affirmation is your mantra. Repeat it again and again. What you focus on expands. What you think about all day long you become! When you ‘act as if’ you already have you everything you desire and feel it fully your brain gets the message and works full steam to bring it about.

Then get out of the way and allow yourself to have it. You have to be able to receive without resistance. This is hard for many people. You have to believe it is on its way. If you get distracted and think about how your current circumstances are different from what you want you set up resistance. What you resist persists. Stop it!

If you want a new car declare it. Then accept it is on its way. If you do all the creating but then you keep complaining about the current car you are noticing the lack of the new car. Your focus is on what you don’t like and don’t enjoy.

If you knew you had a new car on order and that is is coming from the dealership you’d be eager for it. Without question. You would also know it was on its way without question. You wouldn’t doubt whether it was going to materialize. You know it is because you ordered it and the dealership is delivering it.

You’d feel great knowing you are the owner of this new car and excited about. If you won the lottery and you this for a fact. You’d be thrilled even though you haven’t received the money yet. You still know the money is yours because you won it. THIS FEELING of having it already is how we create what we want in life.

It is the steadfast focus on what you create and the wonderful feelings of possession that open the floodgates. The easiest way to get what you want is to simply feel the best you can most of the time. Live in celebration and gratitude. Love and enjoy everything. Then your mindset is incredibly positive and powerful.

You feel marvelous. If you feel marvelous most of the day, every day, whether or not you got your dreams everything would still be incredible. The secret is when you feel wonderful most of the time you are creating and inviting good things into your life. When you feel incredible life is incredible! This is the way to live!

To feel wonderful you must think wonderful. AND you must do those positive things that encourage positive feelings. Celebrate and be glad. When feeling down shift yourself out of it. Get yourself to feel at least a little bit better. Make yourself! Move toward delight until eventually you get there. Keep moving step by step. Bit by bit.

Dance, sing, play, laugh, skip, walk, do whatever you do to feel your best AND keep doing it. Enjoy life and everything about it! When you love it all you accept it all. You get out of the way so you can be gifted with all good things. You radiate, vibrate, magnetically attract and create because you are that kind of person. Life is grand!

You want to get the things you want as quick as possible? Stop focusing on lack. Stop being distracted with petty annoyances and daily frustrations that bring you down and tire you out. Live fully. Be alive. Have fun, feel good. Be of good cheer.

Be positive and thankful and everything will come your way most quickly. Live, love, laugh and celebrate everything! Live with passion and with zest and you can have everything you want!” Rex Sikes

Whose day will you brighten today?

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON

Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

A Secret I Learned To Keep From Spiraling Down And Out During Tough Times

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“What do you do when things go awry? What do you do when the fan is hit hard? Times can get tough. There are obstacles and challenges. We all go through them. What can you do? How do you apply these principles to make a difference?

I can tell you what I do. I have been challenged recently in some big ways. Years ago it might have meant screeching to a halt or hitting the skids. Today, it is much, much different. It doesn’t mean challenges are less severe it means, sometimes, I handle them better.

I Take Control Of What I Imagine And What I Say To Myself

When I become aware that I am feeling down and out, or thinking negatively or beginning to wonder ‘why in the world am I going through this’ in that instant I realize I have a choice. I can continue to spiral down or to apply what I know works. I’m at a decision point.

When I am wise enough I apply what works. I give up. I accept that I have no clue what is going on. I let go as much as able and I remind myself ‘things always work out for the best for me.’ I know, it sounds trite but it is actually true. Things do work out for the best.

In the long run, that place far away that we can’t see yet, everything does seem to work out well.  I have written before that many times people look back at the ‘worst time’ in their life and state emphatically had it not been for that time they would not have and enjoy where they are right now.

What We Focus On Is What We Get

I know sometimes we have to really search to find the good or the lesson but it is hidden there as a seed. We just have to find it! When times are tough my mantra becomes ‘things always work out for the best’. I think ‘how come I am so lucky, so blessed and fortunate!’

I turn my attention to what I am grateful for and celebrate as much and as enthusiastically as I can. I make it a point to have faith that everything will resolve in a positive way even if I can’t see it or understand it. Somewhere, somehow, good will come of this.

Whether you believe it or not, whether it is accurate or not, really isn’t the point. It allows me to move through it faster and stay more resourceful. It helps me focus on  being productive and consider what I want and not spend time dwelling on what I don’t want.

Times can be very tough for any one of us. This is one of the best ways I know how to get through tough times. I know that every time times are tough I somehow manage better because between those times and during those times I apply these principles I am sharing as best I am able. Whew, did you get that?

Your Mind Is Obedient Once You Learn To Control It

This is one of the reasons I write so much about building positive habits because they will carry you  once established. There is strength in a strong foundation. It is also why I write about loving and praising yourself through difficult times or when mistakes are made. Criticism and self loathing doesn’t help any.

You know what? I don’t know why shit hits the fan. I don’t know why it rains on the rich and the poor or the good and the bad. I don’t! I know what I might believe about it. I know many different philosophic and scientific answers for why but I don’t know that any are true. I don’t think it really matters to know why.

I prefer to think somehow it is to wake us up. Whether by design or intelligence OR NOT, bad things happen and are opportunities to confront our programs and patterns and wake up to them. These events and circumstances challenge us to become aware and go beyond how we routinely react. So we can move into new ways of being.

The World And Her People Hold Mirrors Up For Us To See

While I may not immediately recognize them as such, I reframe the tough times as gifts. Blessings to help me examine myself and become better. The challenge for me is to look inward and not outward for the solution or the cause. I want to learn to respond with awareness not blame or accuse others or events.

Gifts to become more aware. Gifts to become free. Seems sad sometimes that we wake up through loss and tragedy but perhaps there is no other way to get our own attention. If nothing shakes us up we just go on doing what we have been conditioned to. So I think of less than glorious circumstances as a necessary evil.

I may resist them. Fight them. BUT when I surrender to them I always learn something and grow more. It hurts to grow sometimes. There are growing pangs. AND I certainly haven’t all the answers. Actually, I have very few. What I can have is faith in myself.

Turn Resistance Into Assistance

I can have faith that everything always does work out for the best, somehow in the long run. Then I begin to look for the blessing s and opportunities hidden inside these situations. Whether right or wrong I get more done. I don’t feel so bad and I stay on track. It is helpful for me to consider it this way. Attitude is everything.

Life is a series of adjusting to stay on course. Just as when you drive your car down a straight lane. You are always adjusting left and right to stay within the lines. So why should it be any different in anything else. If I get negative I adjust back toward the positive. I feel better. The more I make the adjustments the easier the next adjustment becomes. This is how habits are formed through positive repetition.

So, celebration, gratitude, looking for blessings and finding them in the midst of trouble is a skill we can develop. This too can become a habit. As said before, habits may be difficult to initiate but once formed they are difficult to break and they will carry you. It is good to have positive habits. “everything always works out for the best!'”Rex Sikes

I hope your day today is amazing!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON

Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

A Realist Never Flew – It Took A Dreamer To Make It Possible: Which Are You?

horizons fencepost and barn

“There are those who say ‘I am a realist when it comes to thinking’. Interestingly enough, a realist may see what is there but only a visionary can see what can be.

One may be good at recognizing what is present. The other builds the future. All innovation stems from visionaries and dreamers, who saw what needed to be added to the present. They sought to  make it better.

A realist never flew. A dreamer made it possible. Become a dreamer. Look around you and be glad for all of it. Celebrate it. Then add to it. Dream big. Think beyond the boundaries. It all first begins as a thought!

Napoleon Hill said, ‘If you can conceive it and believe it you can achieve it.’  Everything in the human world is first conceived of as a thought, a possibility. It only comes into being in reality when creators believe it is possible.

What you think about you can bring about. From the inside to the outside is the process of creation. The results you get are first born between your ears. If you see it in your mind you can hold it in your hand.

So dream big. Believe it is possible. Make it happen. Oliver Wendall Holmes stated, ‘A mind stretched to a new idea can never go back to it’s original dimension.’ When it comes to you and your life dare to go beyond what you already know into something truly incredible!

Great discoveries and innovations arose when brave men and women dared the impossible. It was Audrey Hepburn who said, ‘Impossible means I’m possible.’ You can make your dreams come true.” Rex Sikes

Make today wonderful for you and yours?

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

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Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

No One Can Live Your Dreams For You

horizons train tracks orange sky

“How are you nourishing yourself? You eat three times a day for your body? What do you do for your mind and spirit? How do you stay healthy in mind and attitude? Here’s what you can do right now.

I’m an advocate of reading every day to fill your mind with positive inspirational material. Reading and re-reading and learning from books is a great way to stay on target and keep your attitude up.

Want Life To Change – Change Things In Your Life

Keeping a positivity and gratefulness journal is fantastic. Writing everyday about what you are grateful for and celebrate can make a huge difference in how you feel and what you accomplish.

Using the journal to write out how you fulfill your dreams to help you visualize better is an awesome assist. I mentioned this in my previous blog post. Works like a charm. Imagine ‘As If’ it is done!

Listening to inspiring and motivational speakers on audio is easy and you can do it while you drive. You can turn your drive time into learning time when you do this. This is so easy, no excuse not to.

If You Always Do What You Always Did You’ll Always Get What You Always Got

My daughter and I currently are attending a seminar. Not only is it great to be learning but learning with a family member is wonderful. We spend time together and are surrounded by positive people.

Hang out with people who are accomplishing what you want to accomplish or who are moving forward positively is important. Learn with them and celebrate with them success. Applaud them!

Put positive posters, or infographics up around where you live so what you see frequently are positive reminders for you. You can never get enough positive messages in a day. Practice positivity!

If You Hold It In Your Head You Can Hold It In Your Hand

Spend time visualizing your goals. I’ve described how best to do this. Manage your self talk. Ask Directed Questions™ and make affirmations as often as possible throughout each day. Stay focused.

Smile and laugh more. Use your body more. Dance or jump and get totally charged and energized. Learn how to relax, feel peaceful and let go. Both are important. Have fun! Be curious! Delight and enjoy!

There are many things you can do to stay on track with your positive purpose. How many of these can you incorporate? How many are you doing? We become what we think about most of the time!

The Brain Is As Strong As The Weakest Think

I really enjoy learning with my daughter. It is quality time spent with someone dear to me AND surrounded by positive others. We learn and can discuss what we learn. It is a sharing and bonding time.

Nothing beats having partners who encourage you and you them. A positivity accountability partner can help keep you positive, call you on your BS while encouraging you to keep going. It is wonderful!

There are many opportunities listed to help you focus on your success. There are many more to explore. If you haven’t already put some of these into practice begin now. Be of benefit to yourself!

The More You Do The More You Can Do

Make each day move you closer to the life you want. Drop by drop fills the tub. Each step you take moves you closer to accomplishing your goals. Be purposeful. Live with passion. Be persistent.

If you know what you want and you keep going no matter what you will succeed. Be unstoppable and you will get the prize. Too many give up when the faced with obstacles. If you keep going you’ll win.

Learn from challenges. Learn from opportunities. Take full and complete responsibility for everything instead of blaming or making excuses and you will find yourself more than half of the way there.

You Are Where Your Thoughts Take You

All of these steps are designed for one thing. You may think they are there to add to your knowledge and give you the edge. Sure, they are. These are to help you recognize the talent you already have.

Release the winner within you! You have everything it takes to succeed. You are champion material. You may have been told or conditioned otherwise so you don’t believe it. Learn to believe it!

Look inside to your inner resources. Manage your thinking! Take charge of your thoughts and abilities. Discover the reason to have faith in YOU! Make it happen. Create what you want.

If It Is To Be It Is Up To Me

Don’t live excuses! Live your dreams! No one can live your dreams but you. Start living them now!Do whatever it takes to be, do and have everything you want. What you think about you bring about. Think the best and bring about the very best for you. Start today!” Rex Sikes

What will you do to make this day special?

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON

Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

What You See Is What You Get: How To See It!

horizon multicolor beach

“How do you make changes and get what you want? That seems to be on a lot of minds? What do I do? How should I think about it? What if I don’t visualize well? Can you help me? These and other questions I get asked a lot by clients and at speaking events or workshops.

Yesterday, a client emailed me asking how to think about getting a new job. How should she create it in her mind or use the Law Of Attraction to land the kind of ideal job she wants. Should she use a vision board? What can she do?

She stated she doesn’t see her pictures. I thought I’d include the answer here as a sample of what you can do. I said, YES, a vision board can help. Absolutely, this is a great practice. Plus, she has had success using one in the past. SO that is good news.

Writing Helps You Visualize

I also suggested the person visualize what they wanted ‘as if’ they already had it all right now. Life is perfect and she is working the perfect job. Imagine what that is like in detail. Because she stated she didn’t see anything I suggested she write it in a journal. Not only once but write it down daily. This is an amazing practice.

Record what she experienced and how she feels when everything is perfect. Fully Imagine already having that perfect job. Describe it in detail. Write down what she does, who is around her, what it is like working there AND HOW IT FEELS!

I gave her some sample text instructing her to put it in her own words. After all, it is her perfect job, not mine. I suggested  she might write some things like this. ‘I love my co-workers they are so cool. I appreciate how we support each other and interact. I look forward each day to seeing them.’

‘I love going to work it makes me feel extra special. I smile as I approach the place because I know I will have a great day with great people doing work and helping others.’

It Is What You Are Feeling That Is Most Important

‘I love the money this new job pays me. I enjoy having money coming in. Imagine being able to do something I enjoy so much and make good money doing it. I am blessed.’

So each day write more about it. Each day write and feel wonderful for five minutes or more. The more the better. As long as you feel the wonderful feelings while you are doing it. It is all about the feelings you have.

I explained that you write to help yourself visualize what you want and to feel all the incredible feelings you would feel as you live this reality. Remember, you are answering the question, ‘if life were perfect how would you feel?’ What are you doing and what are you grateful for?

We Are Always Using Affirmations 

I then suggested she use ‘I am’ and ‘I have’ statements to continue to create what she wants. Anything that follows ‘I am’ or ‘I have’ is what we experience. Unfortunately, too many people make horribly negative ‘I am’ and ‘I have’ statements.

People affirm what they don’t want all the time. They say things such as, ‘I am broke.’ ‘I have no money.’ ‘I have too many bills.’ ‘I am stupid’ or ‘Why am I so stupid?’ the sad list goes on and on. It is no wonder they keep getting more of the same. Birds of a feather flock together.

I suggested these statements as example. ‘I am happy in my job. I have lots of happy experiences because of the people I am interacting with. I am contributing and adding value to my employers. This always makes me feel wonderful.’

Learn To Use Affirmations To Get What You Want

‘I have all the right talents to work in this arena. I am confident and happy. I love and appreciate everything this job brings me. I attract the right people to me. I am surrounded by good friends. I am brave and confident.’

‘I can control my thoughts. I am in charge. I can learn to do anything I put my mind to. I am resourceful. I have all the money I need and more keeps coming to me. I feel secure. I am creative. I am peaceful and relaxed.’

I told her you can do this! Watch your thoughts and feelings. Whenever you are feeling less than glorious change what you are thinking about to something positive. Stop the negativity. Rephrase whatever you are thinking about into the positive.

Learn to Use ‘As If’ To Create The Results You Want

Your feelings are a great indicator of your thoughts. Your feelings let you know, whether you feel good or not, whether you are thinking positive or not. Less than good means less than positive. Stop, take a breath and change it.

Ask positive Directed Questions™ which lead your mind where you want it to go. If at first, you have difficulty accepting or believing the other powerful affirmations use questions.  ‘How soon can I enjoy discovering how truly resourceful I am?’

‘In how many ways can I find myself feeling blessed and excited?’ “How quickly will I amaze myself to find many different things I feel truly grateful for?’ ‘As I go through my day I wonder how surprised I might be to discover how much fun I can have that puts a smile on my face and a song in my heart?’

Use Intentional Thinking Don’t Be Haphazard

Count your blessings and feel blessed. Take my examples and come up with your own. Watch what you think and say to yourself.  If it is less than glorious or what you DO NOT WANT change it.  Be in charge of your own mind. Think positive and keep thinking positive. Make it a habit by repeating it again and again.

You can do this! Drop by drop fills the tub. Think all blessings! Celebrate and enjoy! You will be amazed at how quickly you can create or attract and live the kind of life you want to live. When you aim your mind positively your mind finds opportunity and advantages in the outer world you would have otherwise missed.

Get your mind working for you. Program it to work for you. Write in your journal. Make positive affirmations and questions emphatically with positive emotion and enthusiasm. Once a habit it will continue to work for you automatically. Great News! DO IT!!!” Rex Sikes

What grand things will you discover today?

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON

Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.

You Are So Much More Powerful Than You Realize

horizons barn and silo clouds

“What if you had a hidden reserve of  vast treasures. Gold, jewels, money all available to you to use however, whenever you like. Wouldn’t that be incredible? Wouldn’t it really suck if you had all that but never knew about it? All this wealth with no idea it’s yours.

Many people, sadly, live below their means. They live as paupers when actually they are rich. They just don’t realize it. They have talents and abilities and resources to make anything they want to of their lives.Instead they live in spiritual, mental, emotional, and financial poverty.

Yes, that truly sucks! It sucks if you or I live that way. Believe me I have. There is no shame in saying so. Transformation happens when we own up to everything. When we take responsibility for every result we have ever gotten, good or bad. ALL OF IT! Change begins!

To continue our discussion of the two minds we have I have also used the terms ‘in awareness’ and ‘outside of awareness’ to attempt to describe the processes of each. This seems to me to be a most apt descriptor as when we drive for miles without realizing it.

From Within To Without

You know, you get lost in thought and then suddenly realize you have been driving all along, safely. Whoa, were did you go? Who was driving while you went away? The driving was outside of your awareness but being perfectly handled. Amazing isn’t it! WOW!

Having said that we should drive using two sober, alert, non-texting minds. BUT aren’t our abilities incredible! This other mind of ours beats our heart, fills our lung with air, digests our food, processes our dreams, monitors our body temperature, our position in space and so much more. Our 2 minds are fantastic! I am so grateful!

Obviously, we could never run all these processes consciously. So we have an entire system designed to do it for us. Not only does it do these things but is also responsible for helping us make our dreams come true. From within to without.

From the inside to the outside this power house determines the results we get. This mind carries out whatever it is directed to carry out or programmed to do. Positive or negative. The results you get are completely up to what you consciously choose.

Results On The Outside First Begin On The Inside

The conscious mind can handle 40 bits of data per second the other mind 40 million per second. More than that. Trillions of bits of data impinge on our eyes, ears, being, during the day. The conscious mind seems to make sense of the world by moving from place to place.

It cannot think two thoughts simultaneously so it is sequential in much of its tasking. Whereas, this other mind is sequential and simultaneous. What an incredible powerful we have between our ears, or in our body, or surrounding us.

Our little conscious mind should not be taken lightly either because it can direct this ‘servo-mechanism’ in powerful way. Just as a tiny rudder turns an entire ship our conscious mind can provide direction for this incredible mind when we know how.

Learning how to direct the other mind to get what we want and to fulfill our dreams and destiny is the quest many of us are on. The great news is from the earliest times to now people have been assisting us in this adventure.

What You Hold In Your Head – You Can Hold In Your Hand

The secret is well known but not by many. The saying, ‘can’t see the forest for the trees’ is apt when it comes to describing how this secret is hidden. It is hidden in plain sight. We have everything we need right inside us but can’t yet see it. BUT it is right there now!

It is right there in front of us. All we have to do is apply it. When we do nearly anything is possible. We have so much power residing within us. Most people aren’t even a fraction aware of what they can do if they put their mind to it.

It is all about becoming aware! It is about opening up and exploring more of our potential. We have so much power and energy. We can harness this energy and make it work for us! You can! So what are you waiting for? Tap into it now!” Rex Sikes

May your day amaze you!

If you like this post and it helps you – help others by sharing and re-blogging.

NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON  NEWS    SOON

Horizon photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

NEW SITE TO LAUNCH SOON – Daily Inspiration And Gratitude’s new URL is coming soon. The site will have a new look and feel.

If you get this blog emailed to you, I don’t know whether that will continue or not. I do know you will be able to subscribe to the blog and my new newsletter.

Stick with me. I’d hate for you to miss anything when it switches.

PS A great practice is read the posts daily and then go back and re-read from time to time. You will discover things you missed the first few readings. Try it, you will be surprised.

Subscribe and Follow Daily Inspiration and Gratitude! Leave comments.