Category Archives: Happiness

Attitude, Celebration, Decision, Emotions, Energy, Focus, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Mindset, Positive Thinking, Responsibility, Smiling, Visualization

Don’t Let Them Suck You Dry! Stop Energy Vampires!

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“Have you ever noticed sometimes you feel blah and aren’t sure why? Perhaps, you feel down or negative, even ornery and can’t put your finger on it. We catch illness from others has it ever occurred to you we may catch attitudes too. Because, we do!

The people around us might be bumming us out. Your mental states are just as contagious as your physical states. Are you aware of that? Did you know? Just as you can catch a cold or flue or strep from others you can catch or infect others with a negative attitude.

Therefore, it is important to inoculate yourself with positivity. Seek to be positive and give away positive thoughts and feelings. Always strive to be in the company of positive people. You may need to temporarily quarantine people if they are too negative. Avoid them.

This applies to what you read, listen to and watch. If your social media is a downer, a bummer, as much as we know the news is, limit your time on it. Switch to something more beneficial. Read and listen to inspirational speakers. Fill your mind and heart with good.

The More We Do The More We Can Do

Hang around with positive and uplifting people. Be positive and uplifting too. First, get your own house in order. Don’t be an energy vampire either. We don’t like it when we feel down so don’t be one. Help yourself and others to feel good. You’ll be more productive.

You think, feel, and act your best when you are your best. Thought precedes feeling and action. When you’re feeling down change your thoughts. Also,change what you are doing physically. Get up and go for a walk if you need to. Shake it up! Change your physiology.

Or lie down if the need applies. The body and mind are part of the same cybernetic system which means they influence each other. Smiling more can help you think better and if you think better you automatically smile more. It works this way. Treat yourself well!

Take it lightly, never let it become a big issue. Be aware of yours and other people’s energy.  Make wise, peaceful, quiet, positive choices. Never rock the boat. Never accuse others of being a ‘downer or a bummer’. Be kind. Simply, opt to be around more positive people.

Never Let Anyone Rain On Your Parade – Rise Above That

In order to perform well in your career, on the job, at home, with friends, family or strangers you need to be your best in thought and feeling. Cut off the energy vampires. Seek wise and positive people to fraternize with. Contribute as much or even more of the same!

The more often you are positive the stronger you become. Positivity grows. Imagine protective shields of positivity around you reflecting away from you all negative thoughts and feelings. You are encased in teflon armor and nothing negative sticks. You’re protected! Free!

Some imagine themselves incased in a protective bubble of light. It does not allow negativity in. Others imagine a shower that cleanses inside the head and body, as well as the outside. Rinsing all negativity away from you and down the drain. Refreshing you!

When negativity leaves fill yourself with positivity. That imaginary shower can fill the inside and outside of you with golden white positive, healthy, healing, completing energy. Bask in it, Savor and enjoy it.

Build Positive Success Habits

Remember this, you never have to fight the darkness. You only have to turn on the light. Light a candle and darkness flees. Think positive. Two thoughts cannot occupy the same mind or space. Continue to think positive and negativity cannot take hold.

Celebrate! It is freeing it is to let go of the less than glorious. Drop it! Simply concentrate, focus on and feel the glorious! Discover what is good and new and enjoy. Then delight in it. Then delight some more!” Rex Sikes

Live long and prosper!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Acceptance, Attitude, Beliefs, Creating The Future, Faith, Flow, Focus, Goals, Gratitude, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Law Of Attraction, Mindset, Persistence, Positive Thinking, Responsibility

Things Suck! Life Sucks! What You Can Do About It!

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horizons the-end-of-days-phil-koch

“My career sucks! My relationship sucks! Life suck! Why bother with career, relationship and life goals? Why dream and want to make things better? What is the point?  It seems like it will always be this way. These are some questions I am asked.  Others include:

I’ve heard manifesting is easy, is it? I have heard the process of deliberate creation is difficult? Well? It’s can’t be both can it? What if I suck at it? Life sucks! What to do about it? Is working with the Law Of Attraction tough?

Yes, sometimes it may seem like it. What is going on? Why bother? What is the payoff? I might struggle and not end up getting my goals, then what was it all for? I am not sure it is worth my time. Have you heard or thought things like this? Many people do, I have. It’s okay if you do.

People Think Life Is A Certain Set Of Circumstances

Intentional, deliberate creation and the Law Of Attraction are simple, and easy. Truly! Yes, it can take some time to see results and it typically does. It takes time for plants to grow so patience is required.  Still, things can happen faster or slower depending on your attitude and approach. Let it go.  You can’t suck at it

Whether you get what you want precisely, the ultimate pay off is huge. The benefit beyond your desire and your belief. Some people are too narrowly focused and miss what else is available to them. It requires a blend of concentration and an open mind. Flexibility is desirable.

Dedication and commitment are required. Dabblers get dabbler results. When you dive in and immerse yourself you tend to get quicker results. Things change for the better all over. Still, you swim the length of the pool bit by bit. You are rarely beamed up anywhere. That is just the way nature unfolds. We work with nature!

Some things do seem instantaneous. Transformation can occur immediately. Aha’s can make everything miraculous in a moment. Still, everything is what it is. The best attitude is absolutely committed, and persistent. Yet you have fun and enjoy the process regardless of the speed. Speed isn’t the greatest benefit anyway.

Life Is Actually A Certain Set Of Attitudes

Take it lightly. After all you can’t push a rope. You can’t force things. When things are easy. you may coast a bit, while remaining dedicated. When the going gets rough,  hang in there, and remember that’s when ‘the tough get going’. Self discipline and persistence are required. A big benefit is you learn flexibility by going through it.

Working with creation and attraction isn’t about suddenly finding oneself in utopia. Indeed, there can be obstacles. Usually there are, perhaps numerous, you just have to accept that. Skiing down a hill you may frequently encounter some pretty big bumps, dips and jumps; that is what makes it fascinating and enjoyable.

Becoming skilled and hanging in there no matter what means you don’t quit or give up when you encounter obstacles.  You create more of what you want as necessary. Continue undaunted. You learn from whatever is going on to become more resilient. For most of us, this would be a really big benefit to learn. A major plus!

Life IS what it is. The biggest and most valuable lesson may be to learn how to go with the flow while you direct the current. Those may seem at odds but they aren’t. You get to discover how they work together. Once you  embark on the journey it is an amazing adventure. It is a blend of many different things! Allow it! Enjoy!

There Is A Time To Plant And A Time To Harvest

There are so many delights. There are times when it is challenging. So why bother? Why put yourself through it? I believe for the many reason I have already cited. You become deliberate and flexible. You create wonderful things, learn patience and dedication. You learn to maximize and utilize your resources but there is something greater.

The greatest benefit is discovering WHO you are. You find out what you are made of and capable of. As you peel an onion the layers come off. When you are challenged you uncover  your true self. Challenges are an opportunity to learn who you are and ‘what you got’ each moment. You discover new talents and abilities. AND it’s learning how to go with the flow!

There can be nothing better than becoming one with yourself. You never arrive but you get closer to home. It is exciting. It is relaxing to come into your own power. It is beyond words. In order to be at one with yourself, to embrace the true you, you must go through the process. Whatever that process is for you. Trust it.

At times you may be exhilarated, at other times bored. You might be challenged to your limits and other times coast or blast along at amazing speed. It IS what it is. You were born to discover who you are, and what life can be like!  It IS what you were born to do! You were born to enjoy the good life.

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

You are here to maximize your potential. You were born to evolve and to realize your true nature. You are here to wake up. You are here to become aware of your real self.You are here to learn YOU create your reality. You have already been creating it all along. It is time to wake up to your power and your responsibility.

You are an amazing creator and attractor. If the results you previously have gotten aren’t to your liking you can change that. Learn from it and change it! You are here to delight! You are here to enjoy the fullness of life and all the good things that abound. You have been born to celebrate and to create all sorts of wonderful moments!  Seek yourself!” Rex Sikes

Enjoy your day!

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Acceptance, Affirmations, Attitude, Celebration, Confidence, Decision, Definite Chief Purpose, Emotions, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Mindset, Persistence, Positive Thinking, Responsibility

What Are You Waiting For? Do This Now! Start Succeeding!

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horizons we-cannot-let-our-angels-go-phil-koch

“Some people wait until they feel ready to begin. They wait until they know what to do. They think if they wait they will feel more assured. Usually, that never happens and they just end up waiting. There is no perfect time. There is never THE perfect moment to begin. Consider this in the reverse.

Death always interrupts us from something we are doing. We don’t get to complete it. Whatever we are doing is left unfinished. Apply this thought to the beginning: We don’t have to be ready to begin. There is never THE right time.  We  just need to start it now. We will never be ready enough. Just do it.

It is now or never! Sure it might be scary. New things tend to  be. If you wait until the fear goes away you could wait for ever. It is normal for people to be apprehensive when doing something new. It is completely normal, so get over yourself and your drama around it and go do it! The longer you wait the longer it will take. Get it?

The Past Is Gone The Future Hasn’t Happened Now Is All We Have

In, ‘ A Year Of Growing Rich’ Hill states, ‘If you want to achieve success make today the day you stop drifting. Decide upon a definite goal. Write it down. Commit it to memory.’

‘Decide exactly how you plan to achieve it. Then begin putting your plan into immediate action. Your future is what you make it. Decide now what it shall be.’ Napoleon is pretty clear. This isn’t rocket science. Okay?

Don’t put it off. Do it now! He who waits, waits. That is all that will happen if you put it off; you will only delay it further. So begin now. Know this, your plan doesn’t have to be perfect. It most likely will change anyway, as you move forward. That is normal.

The Present Is A Gift To You

Once you are on the road, even though you’ve planned your trip, you may wish to deviate, take a side road, a detour, remain longer in one place than another, bypass a particular location altogether. Plans changes. Just make one you can implement and start doing it now.

Do something today. Do something tomorrow. Work you plan. Ask yourself each day, ‘What can I do today to move closer to getting my goal’. At the conclusion of the day ask, ‘What did I do today that moved me closer to having my goal?’ Both times and both questions are important.

Ask and answer. If you didn’t do much do more tomorrow. Make a list, a short list so it is manageable. Cross off things you accomplish. Little by little you will accomplish a lot. Don’t wait, Do! Feel how good it feels to get things done! Notice Napoleon Hill’s last two lines in the quote above.

‘Your future is what you make it. Decide now what it shall be.’ Whatever it is going to be you make it so. It is your decision. Decide now! No one else makes it for you. No one else can decide for you. No one else can do it for you. Only you choose your future and only you make it happen. Accept this and begin moving forward now.

The Only Thing We Have To Fear Is Fear Itself

The Wright Brothers didn’t know how to fly until they had already done it. Until they did it they were simply trying things to find out what worked. They kept doing until they succeeded. You should to. Keep doing, keep trying, keep experimenting. Your devotion will pay off. If you do nothing you get nothing. So what is it going to be?

Don’t wait for the perfect plan, you will never have it. It will never come and you will just waste time waiting and hoping. Instead just do it! Be grateful and acknowledge your positive productivity. Then determine what you will do tomorrow. The next morning begin again. In this manner each day you close in on your destiny. Feel proud as you move forward.

You’ll get further along and closer to where you want to be. Soon you will arrive! Have fun along the way. Take it all lightly! Then the journey will be enjoyable and seem to pass more quickly.  Celebrate and delight in everything. Enjoy each moment. Why not? If you have to do it anyway, you might as well make the best of it, right? Okay, get moving!” Rex Sikes

Celebrate and plan today!

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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, Attitude, Blessings, Celebration, Decision, Emotions, Energy, Expectations, Flow, Gratitude, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Living In The Moment, Mindset, Overcoming Difficulty, Patience, Positive Thinking, Rehearsal And Practice, Trust

It’s A New Year! Life Plans Change. So What? Do This

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Horizons longing-for-some-solitary-company-phil-koch

“What do you do when life throws your a curve ball? Something happens other than what you hoped for. Everything gets shaken up a bit. You have an opportunity to go with the changes or try to fight to keep the old way from slipping away. What do you do? You can react or respond to whatever is happening.

It was New Year’s Eve and I was to dinner party with dear friends. I purchased a nice bottle of wine and some expensive cheese to bring. I was looking forward to the evening with fine people. I prepared, got ready and went out the door. The evening cold, in the 20s. F

I got about 2 blocks from the house and noticed the car ride a bit strange. I stopped, got out, but since it was dark I couldn’t see behind the headlights. I felt the passenger side front tire and it was pretty pancaked. I had a flat. Luckily, there is a service station another couple blocks.

Sometimes Things Don’t Go As Planned

If I can get there without slicing up the tire, great. I can purchase a can of ‘fix a flat’ hope that works and fill the tire with air and be on my way. I get there and park near the air pump. I go in to borrow a tire gauge and get the can of tire foam. These station doesn’t sell anything like that, I am told. WOW! Well okay, I actually have one in my car.

BUT it is too cold to use. I try but nothing will come out. So I go for the air. Nope, the pins don’t line up and the air won’t go in. My hands at this point are becoming numb. A guy, in a truck, pulls up, asks me what’s wrong. Turns out he overheard me while in the station trying to secure a warm can of ‘fix a flat’. He throws a spot on.

He tries to put air in the tire too. Nope, it is not going in. My hands hurt. He says, ‘why not leave it here. It is open 24 hours. I’ll give you a lift home.’ I move the car, grab the wine, but drop it, it shatters. Grab the cheese and go in to return the gage. Turns out I can keep the car there but not where I parked it. So I move it.

Do You React Or Respond

I get in Kevin’s truck. I asked his name, told him mine, we shook hands. ‘Do you like cheese?’ I asked the odd ball question. ‘Here is some nice cheese’. And I put it on his console. He drove me home. I said thanks and Happy New Year. Entered the house. Called my daughter, wished her a nice evening and hunkered down.

New Years Day, I have a date with a tow truck. Hopefully, I can get the tire fixed or replaced. I could have called a tow truck, put on spare and traveled on, but really didn’t want to spend time waiting in a gas station. I could have. Home was more comfortable. I called my friends, told my host the news, apologized, and enjoyed some time alone.

What IS is. What to do about it? I was pleased none of this ruffled my feathers. Years back, I would not have been so even about it. I would have reacted poorly. Now, this time, it was different. More how I would hope it to be. Still, I did nothing special other than accept what was going on. I simply responded to what was happening.

Do You Like Cheese

I was quickly able to realize this is what IS. There is no reason to fight it or be dismayed. No reason to curse or swear or get upset because things went differently than anticipated. Maybe something good will come of this I can’t yet see. Who knows? Maybe maybe not.

My practice of surrender on the roadway seems to be paying off. You can find it within this blog in other posts of mine. I have mentioned it before.  BUT in a nutshell here it is:

I have a theory that the best modern day opportunity to learn surrender and ‘going with the flow’ is in traffic. If anything presses our buttons it is getting stuck, a’hole drivers going to fast or riding our ass. Stupid slow drivers who can’t move fast enough or turn and get out of our way. Yup, traffic is a great place to let it all go.

Some may be tempted to think, ‘well that NYE thingee really is all that big of deal’ and no it wasn’t. Rehearse and practice acceptance with little things, and you can inch your way up to bigger things. Practice letting go and accepting what is in traffic, and in everyday life.  Ultimately you build a habit of learning to respond.

Life Is Ultimately What You Make It

Fewer things will get us. We freak out less. We increase our batting average but we may never be perfect. OR maybe we will, who knows. It is pretty much going to be up to what we believe it will be like. Our expectations shape our reality. Life seems to be about learning and evolving. We learn to evolve to let go and enjoy more!

So, I watched some TV, read a little. I was going to open a bottle of wine and pour a glass but I didn’t. Soon, I fell asleep, just nodded off. New Year’s Eve came and went. I must have needed the rest. I woke at 2:39 am and realized I had yet to write my blog. Well, this is it. Happy New Year Everyone!!!

If you can’t change it don’t fight it. Accept it. There is something else available for you when you allow for it. I had a pleasant, uneventful evening at home. The year changed over and now wonderful new opportunities exist. They always exist! Opportunity is there when you need it. As are good samaritan’s, frequently. Thanks Kevin!” Rex Sikes

It is a new day! Celebrate!

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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, Autosuggestion, Beliefs, Blessings, Creating The Future, Decision, Definite Chief Purpose, Deliberate Creators, Faith, Focus, Habit Formation, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Mindset, Persistence, Positive Thinking, Responsibility, Success

There Is A Magic Ingredient That Makes All Of Life Better

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horizons nobodys-home-phil-koch

“Did you know there is something that determines your happiness, your success, your victories more than anything else. It is the ‘magic’ ingredient! I bet you already know what it is.

It is your attitude! You say, ‘Really, attitude? Well, of course, I already knew this.’  See, I knew you’d think something like that.

Your attitude is comprised of your beliefs and what you think is important, your values. It is your mindset. You (and I) aren’t born with attitude. You develop it. You can change it. You can make it serve you OR you can serve it.

Whether IT serves you or YOU serve it is critical. If you have a poor attitude you are the servant. If your attitude is right, IT serves you. You have heard of a ‘winning’ or ‘winner’s attitude’.

Your Attitude Determines Your Circumstances

If you have a poor attitude know this: YOU are not stuck with THAT attitude. You can change it to better serve you. Your attitude is your chronic, habitual thinking patterns. It is your OLD reliable thoughts.

If these suck, you need to replace this old habit with a new and better, more productive, thinking habit. It takes a little time and effort true, but it is far simpler than you might believe. AND what you believe is JUST THAT. It is what YOU believe.

‘A happy person is not a person with a certain set of circumstances but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.’ Hugh Downs. We tend to think happiness comes by having the right people, things or circumstances in our lives. It doesn’t. It IS the other way around.

Your attitude determines whether you find the world a friendly and inviting place or not. Your attitude determines your circumstances and how you navigate them more than anything else. Your thoughts create your reality. YOUR THOUGHTS create YOUR REALITY!

Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

‘Your attitude determines your altitude.’ This last statement is a quote sometimes attributed to Zig Ziglar. There is a slightly longer version.

‘Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude.’ Said another way, ‘Your success is determined by how much you desire it and not by your talents.’ This is very close to what I think Napoleon Hill says. I paraphrase below:

You must have a Definite Chief Purpose. You must know what you want. You must want to achieve it with all your heart. You must be passionate about it. You must want it with a white hot burning desire.

You must have complete faith in yourself. You must believe you will achieve it in spite of any obstacle or negative circumstances. You must keep going and persist, until you do. Stick with it! Make it happen!

Your Attitude Determines Your Experience Of The World

‘Whatever the mind of man can conceive, and come to believe, it can achieve.’ Napoleon Hill. Everything first originates as a thought or an idea. That is why he said you can THINK and grow rich. Riches originate within. Riches, happiness, success, health begin in the mind.

Your thought, your mindset or attitude, is critical to your success and happiness. What you think determines how far you will go. Henry Ford said, ‘whether you think you can or you think you can’t you are right!’ I say, never let a thought stop you from a positive good!

Thoughts are powerful. Thoughts become things. Still, when all is said and done, it is, after all, just a thought. A mental packet of energy. YOU chose what YOUR thoughts WILL BE! Make ALL your thoughts SERVE YOU instead of you serving them!

‘He rarely hits the mark or wins the game, who says, I know I’ll miss while taking aim.’ Allan Guiterman. You must already know this. If you don’t think you will you RARELY will. You are less apt to succeed if you think you are going to fail. Think YOU will WIN!

Your Attitude Determines What You Make Happen

Another Guiterman quote. ‘What one approves, another scorns, And thus his nature each discloses. You find the rosebush full of thorns, I find the thornbush full of roses.’ I’ve discussed it in these blog pages many times. Your mindset or attitude determines what you find.

Out brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS) looks for proof in the world for what we already believd. It looks for a match. It has no vested interest in what that is. If you think negatively it will find that as much as if you think positively. It doesn’t care BUT you should.

You are so much more likely to succeed and have what you want when you take charge of your attitude. When you take control of your thoughts and feelings. When you decide you are going to make things happen you will.

If you decide the world is friendly and you can be, do and have anything you want your RAS will look and find that evidence for you. That is what it is designed to do.

Your Attitude Determines Whether You Win Or Lose

Hill stated, anything you turn over to your subconscious mind by emotionally charge repetition, you subconscious will work to make reality. This is already working for you and I.

We can’t escape it. We can only aim it. We are either predominantly positive or predominantly negative in our thinking. What we think most and how we think most of the time, determines the kind results we get back. We get either positive or negative results.

If you wait for ‘magic’ to happen or for things to come to you on their own, you might just wait all your life. The time is NOW to fashion and craft the winning attitude that carries you across the finish line. ‘If IT is to BE IT is up to ME!’ William Johnsen. You decide!

Your Positive Attitude Can Make Everything Much Better

Everything changes for the better when you change your attitude for the better. All of your life will transform. If you begin to believe this is possible THEN it IS possible. Make it happen!

If you don’t believe it, for you, it won’t be possible. You determine the outcome by what you choose to believe. That is how it works. It is always a choice whether you recognize it as one or not. Choose!Take responsibility, take charge.

Put yourself in the driver’s seat. Take control. Don’t wait for others or circumstances to be right, create the circumstances. It is time to be the master of your fate and the captain of your soul. It begins with your thoughts! It ALL begins with your attitude! Remember, ‘Your attitude determines you altitude!” Rex Sikes

Make the most of your 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, Beliefs, Celebration, Decision, Emotions, Expectations, Focus, Forgiveness, Getting Over The Past, Gratitude, Habit Formation, Happiness, Intentional Thinking, Mindset, Overcoming Difficulty, Personal Development, Positive Thinking, Responsibility, Success

What Holds You Back? What You Can Do About It

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Horizons staying-within-the-lines-phil-koch

“‘I appreciate the idea of staying positive. But I really struggle with the blind spot here. Children around the world are suffering and dying. They are not responsible for their situation.

This kind of “teaching” suggests there is some way those innocent children could have prevented the awful scenario we see played out in front of us. It’s not enough to turn the telly off and act like everything is ok. It’s not.

This teaching is about attaching to an idea and/or outcome, and that is the birthplace of suffering. Of course, in general terms, there is merit in being positive. Be happy.’ From Hugh

“Today, my blog post is my reply to this comment made yesterday. I included the comment above.  Of course, you can read it at the post page from yesterday too, along with others. Below is my answer, my opinion. My response.

Excellent points and questions. I am glad you raised them. Napoleon Hill stated he faced the very same concerns, deeply, when his son was born without ears or internal hearing apparatus.

No, no one is saying innocents are responsible for their condition. Life is what life is. In fact, until 7, 8,9 or 10, one could argue, children are mostly just programmed by adults, peers, and situations they grow up around and in.

What this teaching stresses is, if at some point, one is lucky enough to be exposed to it, one can learn to control their own thinking. A person can then work to overcome life circumstances and the conditioning they were brought up in.

Whether they do or not is up to them and no judgement should be made.

Some will yell that the underprivileged feel entitled and are lazy. That is not the case at all. Most people want to better themselves. And if there are some who do not that is their choice.

There are people at both ends of the wealth spectrum that benefit from entitlements. There are some wealthy who are lazy. No one is casting dispersion here, or at least I am not. Nor do I think the teaching does.

It could be said, if one wants to learn how to fish, this teaching will teach them. If some prefer to be fed, I have no problem with that. That is what charity and philanthropy and generosity and good will are all about.

Yes, there is suffering in the world. How one handles the suffering is an individual thing AND largely based on the life experiences and conditioning the person has had. I am no judge.

SO I cannot hold people accountable for their conditioning or their experiences or lack of them. If there is a creator, or divine intelligence, or whom or whatever, that is their domain not mine.

I can only share what I know. I know this. You can go through an experience thinking and feeling negative or thinking and feeling positive. One seems to work better than the other.

Positive thinking does not guarantee success, but makes it more likely than negative thinking. So for me, I choose to be positive. My life and world work better that way.

As for turning off television or turning a blind eye to troubles around the world I don’t think that is realistic. I don’t think being overly fixated on it serves anyone either.

With 24/7 news and bombardment in all media of negative messages AND really mostly ONLY negative messages, because that is what news is,

I say be enlightened and informed to local and world events. JUST don’t get caught up in the negativity.

Negativity is great for knowing what you don’t want or what you want to avoid or exclude. It informs you what you may want to leave behind.

Positivity tells you or informs you what you want to move toward, where you are going or headed, what you want to include or have more of.

Both are necessary. But we need one more than the other. IF you are being chased by a bear in the woods, let’s call this negative, you want to flee the bear, avoid it, leave it behind, not get eaten, and run to a safe place where you are safe and without fear or worry.

You must run with everything you have.

You can’t do that if you keep your eyes on the bear. You have to keep your focus on where you are running to, in front of you. You KNOW the bear is there but your focus is on safety.

The bear is a huge motivator to get there quickly.

In the same way, negativity informs us what we don’t want and can motivate us to get what we do want and more quickly if we use it.

Negative thoughts and feelings are part of life. Positive feelings are part of life too.

Where you spend most of your time determines the quality of your life. Two people born in poverty one exclaims, ‘that is it! I refuse to be poor ever again!’ and works to become rich.

The other says, ‘Wow cool, the rich life is for me! I want all that!’ and works to become rich.

Both are possible. My thought is spend most of your time being positive. It feels better, makes things easier and is more enjoyable.

To the extent you want to, evolve yourself, take control of your thinking and feeling, so you enjoy life more fully.

Help others, help make the world a better place. If you see a wrong, attempt to right it. Delight in and celebrate everything.

If there is a problem, examine it and then turn your attention toward a solution. We rarely accomplish anything by fighting hate with hate, violence with violence, anger with anger, racism with racism, poverty with poverty.

We need to focus on what we want to bring about and work to bring it about. We do that by maintaining our focus on what we want, what we want to include, what we want more of.

We continue to think positive and feel good because life is more enjoyable that way.

Still, it rains on the rich and the poor. Calamity and disaster and heartbreak visit both. How those are responded to and handled is up to the individual and no one, in my opinion, should fault any other human for how they handle difficulty.

Just always remember, night gives way to day, cold becomes warm, waves that have gone out return. This too shall pass. Life is cyclic.

In my world view, evolve yourself to be the best person you can be. Allow other to be who they are. Love lots and forgive much. Learn from adversity and less than desirable circumstances.

Our beliefs either support us and free us up to be, do and have anything we want or they constrain or limit us in some way. We need to learn to recognize when our own mindset is preventing us and change it if we so chose. We can if we believe we can.

If you have goals and dreams go after them, don’t wait. It is not likely others will get them and give them to you. You have to work for it yourself.

Learn to control your thoughts and feelings so you think the best and feel the best 80 or 90% of your time. Whether you have one life or multiple lives, right now is all you have right now!

Celebrate, delight and enjoy it for no reason other than – why not?

It is your life choose what you want to it to be and make it such. Have fun all along the way. Learn to not take things too seriously, relax, let go, play.

Suffering is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Both revolve around outcomes. OR neither have anything to do with circumstances.

Some people in the worst of circumstances are delightfully fulfilled and happy. Others have everything, it seems, yet suffer. Finding out how to best live our life is up to each of us.

My hope is that I have addressed the points and questions. I hope that you, I and others can learn to be grateful and celebrate more of what is available to us while we are here. Let us delight and enjoy it all!

Meanwhile, the best wishes, always in everything!” Rex Sikes

Today is your day!

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Do You Know These Lyrics To Another Popular TV Show?

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“I was delighted to hear these lyrics. I never knew these until now. It is also fun to see the star of the show singing them. One version is on FB the other version I posted here. Take these to heart and enjoy them! May they put a smile on your lips and a song in your heart.

Recently, Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 90th birthday. On May 6, 2011 a gentleman named Evan Cutler asked Dick what the words were to the theme song of the Dick Van Dyke Show. Dick sang them on video. I don’t have a link to that but I did find Dick singing it as an ad for MeTV. (There are some other versions on youtube. Here is that link for your enjoyment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oysJIdKKj40

I transcribed Dick singing the diddly. Here it is.

‘So you think that you’ve got trouble

well, troubles a bubble so tell ole mister trouble to get lost.

Why not hold your head up high and stop crying, start trying

and don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed.

When you find the joy of living is loving and giving

you’ll be there when the winning dice are tossed.

A smile is just a frown that is turned upside down

so smile and that frown will defrost.

And don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed.”

Lyrics by Morey Amsterdam

Enjoy your day, and if you find yourself humming the song, remember the words and take them to heart. Celebrate and smile!” Rex Sikes

Make the day marvelous!

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I’ll Bet You Never Actually Heard The Lyrics To This Famous Song!

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“I’m sharing a famous song. Perhaps, it is time you stopped and listened to the lyrics. I’m sure most of you have seen the show or heard this countless times.

Did you realize this is what they were singing about? Probably not. Seems to have slipped by most people. No worries. I’m sure it wasn’t meant to make us think.

Perhaps now, though we should embrace it. Maybe, we should each make it our own personal theme song. I mean, why not? It is catchy, after all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJzF8_df1R8

Did you enjoy that? I hope so.

Enjoy, your day!”

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Breaking News! Success Won’t Make You Happy But This Will!

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“Breaking news! Success won’t make you happy. Wait, there is more. Borne out by science and decades of research; Success won’t make you happy BUT happy can make you successful! Yes, again, I repeat, happiness leads to success. Happiness leads to success!

From ancient times until now it has been pointed out that happiness and positive thinking and optimistic thinking is healthy and leads to better health, wealth, and abilities. Happiness makes you better at what you do and makes what you do much easier. Sadly, most people, through the centuries, got it backwards.

Sadly, people believe the right job or success, the right partner or mate,  money or things would make them happy. They thought happiness came as a result of something else happening first.

Sad again. They only discovered that they delayed feeling good, if at all, and that even acquiring many things still left them feeling empty. It is because IT really is the other way around! It IS the other way!

It is time to straighten everyone out. The happier you are the healthier you tend to be. Happiness affects your health, your well-being, you ability to handle or process stress, your thinking and clarity and your productivity. The happier you are the more you can accomplish.

Happiness Is Its Own Reward And Has Multiple Benefits

Since the early 80’s I have been teaching workshops pointing out that by practicing happiness and positivity you could develop new neural pathways.You could develop wonderfully supportive habits, live more delightfully, successfully and happily, easily and nearly effortlessly.

You could open up your neurology to be capable of evolving yourself in positive ways. I suggested you could create positive habits which would positively serve you.

In my workshops we practice daily gratitude, asking positive directed questions, smiling more, laughing meditation, feeling good and accessing wonderful and powerful resource states, imaging a better future, scanning for positive and new moments each day and more. A lot more. But these were core rituals or practices.

We had rituals we did each class session and each day. I pointed out that making a habit requires a minimum of 21 days repeated practice or rehearsal. What people began as practice during my  10 or 14 day programs they were encourage to continue back home.

Habits Come From Rituals And Rituals Become Habits

Rituals are things we do everyday. For some people that includes hygiene, brushing teeth and washing. We eat, sleep, go to school or work. We may read the paper or get online. Have a cup of coffee. There are things we do regularly each and every day; sometimes multiple times throughout the day.

Spaced repetition builds habit. Correct spaced repetition builds reliable skill. Reading instructions doesn’t change you but implementing what the instructions tell you to do can change you. This is why I suggest doing these practices as often as possible each day.

I called it rehearsal, from my acting background, or the kind of conditioning athletes go through or practice professional sports teams undergo to build reliable skill sets for performance.

Create The Happiness Habit

I was harshly criticized in a number of books and publications as promoting pseudoscience and pie in the sky thinking. I was even accused (rightly) of utilizing the placebo effect.

How cool of me! Then again, they scoffed because I told people we could deliberately utilize the placebo effect. Some finally are catching on. Some Psychologists, as are scientists, catching up.

I and others pointed to things like ‘mirror neurons’ prior to their discovery. We knew through mediation, rapport studies, and other practice that many things were ‘contagious’. Smiling, rapport, happiness, peace, relaxation are infectious.

One person, neurologically, can affect another. Large groups practicing the meditation or laughter or peace have a dynamic, synergistic effect and affect others, even those not practicing. Hooray, some are finally catching on! Not nearly enough though.

Decades later research has verified what I knew back then, and far greater minds than mine have known for centuries. The better you feel the better you do. I repeat. The better you feel the better you do. Happiness leads to success and not the other way around.

Happiness is a choice! Practice feeling better a little bit each day. By practicing daily you eventually make it a reliable habit AND grow new neural pathways and connections thereby overall evolving yourself!!! Research Neuroplasticity and evolving your brain.

Here is the rub with science. IT is usually behind not ahead except for some cases. Scientific testing works this way to test a theory. Scientists make a claim, or stated hypotheses.

Happiness Is A Choice

Then they try to disprove the hypothesis. If it can’t be disproved it is accepted as the best theory you currently have for explaining what is going on. In research validation, they seek independent replication of results.

Science takes time to verify and establish new theories and validate. Not all science is equal, nor is it all good, nor is testing or reporting or publishing or disseminating the findings reliable or always upright.

BUT STILL much of science is what we hope it to be. Rigorous and trustworthy. OPEN and flexible. Because science is supposed to update theories, as better explanations become available, through testing.

Choose To Be Happy And You Will Be

There are many abstracts citing the research and conclusions. You can look them up. Look up topics such as happiness, optimism, placebo, overcoming depression naturally, mindfulness, meditation, relaxation, mirror neurons,  etc.

There are many, MANY, books written citing the research in health, healing, attitude, psychology, meditation, spirituality. One I want to refer you to (not only because it concludes and incorporates many of the practices that I and others have taught for many years but) because they really delved into researching the topic.

You can read Shawn Anchor’s findings and the research conclusions in The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work. He has since published other books. Available at amazon. Check out the research and the results.

Why Would You Ever Choose To Not Be Happy

If you aren’t going to read it then at least stay tuned to this blog. I will bring you the latest and greatest as well as the oldest and the tried and true.

HAPPINESS is something that you can have more of anytime. If you do certain things you are guaranteed to become happier. It can be as easy as a couple minutes spent daily.

While, it probably won’t occur overnight it will occur in time as you stick with it. One of the greatest life transforming things you can do, is to practice gratitude. Feel gratitude, live it daily.

In my workshops I had people create list of 25 things they were grateful for each night. Shawn has them do as few as three every day. Something so simple can be so profound.

We’ll discuss more. We have happiness, beliefs, and a number of topics currently in play here. So keep reading and re-reading. Most importantly, begin doing, if you haven’t already, and keep doing.

You can rewire your brain, feel better, be healthier, think more clearly and enjoy more success and prosperity as you do! SO Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Have a wonderful day!

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Horizons photo used with permission of Phil Koch.

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Stop Being Stuck It Doesn’t Have To Suck! Live The Life You Want!

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horizons taking-a-time-out-phil-koch

“What happens when we don’t think we can’t accomplish something because it is too difficult? Since, thoughts determine our reality shouldn’t we be more careful what we believe? Can we do something about self-limitations ? How do we overcome what seems to hold us back?

Switch your thoughts! Stop thinking what you are thinking and begin to think new, different productive thoughts. You may exclaim, ‘but that is hard’. Yes, if you think it is, it most probably will be. THAT is but another thought!

Thoughts determine our reality. Everything begins with thought. Are you really going to let a thought prevent you from seeking the highest good? Are you? You would let a mental packet of energy, or an internal feeling prevent you from being and doing and having everything you want? Really? Sad, that seems pretty wimpy.

At some point you simply have to face it. If you want things to change you must change some things. You can’t keep doing the same things over and over again and expect anything to be different. It doesn’t work like that. So give it up and face the fact that YOU have make some alterations if you want the clothes to fit. So to speak.

Why Would I Ever Choose To Believe That

You need to think more positive, productive thoughts. So whenever you discover yourself thinking or saying something less than productive or counter to what you want you challenge it.

When you encounter a limiting belief and recognize it as such ask yourself, ‘why would I ever choose to believe that?’

Your answers will be more of your paradigm of your limiting beliefs. More grapes from the cluster may appear. If you treat them as no big deal they will be no big deal. They are conditioning from your past that you accepted from other people. If you treat them as big things they will be big things.

You determine whether your responses will be minor or a big problem for you to deal with them.  How you feel about them will determine whether it’s  difficult or whether it is something you can easily and effortlessly change. YOU decide! Again, YOU DECIDE!

You can change effortlessly and let all your limiting beliefs go.

Whenever you encounter a limiting belief, from time to time, celebrate be happy. When you encounter something and you think ‘I can’t do that’ celebrate that you uncovered it because that’s the moment when you can become free.

Even If That Were True Why Would I Ever Choose To Believe That

If you become aware of a limiting belief then you can do something to change it. If you’re not aware of it it will just remain obscure. So as they come up, notice and let them go. Treat them as minor incidences. Ask yourself, ‘why would I EVER choose to believe that?’

You will get answers that are other reasons.  Continue to ask that. You can even state, ‘EVEN if that’s is true why would I choose believe that?’  The answers may sound logical, even plausible but be willing to simply gently challenge or question the belief statements.

For example, you think, ‘I can’t make a lot of money’ or ‘Other people get all the luck’, whatever the limitation statements may be THINK ABOUT IT – WHY ON EARTH would you EVER choose to belief that? WHY would YOU ever choose to limit yourself in this way? Who says you can’t?

How would your life be different if you didn’t believe that? Why would you ever accept that as true? Even if it were true why would you chose to believe it? Ask and repeatedly ask. You may find you get into a recursive loop of, ‘just because I do.’

Who Says? According tTo Whom?

The reason why most of our beliefs have some sort of power is because the assumptions within them go unchallenged. Questions have a way of helping you bring light to the darkness. Once illuminated you have some choices to make. Adopt new ones or continue with old.

There are many other questions you can ask, ‘ How do you know?’ ‘Who says’ or ‘According to whom?’ “How specifically does X cause Y?’ or “How do you know this causes that?’ ‘How does thinking this limit me?’ ‘How does X mean Y?’ ‘How does thinking this stop me from doing what I want?’ ‘Whose fault is it that I have this problem?’

‘How does this limitation benefit me?’ ‘What can I learn from this limitation or problem, or negative thought?’ ‘What seed of opportunity or advantage can I discover hidden within this?’ There are other questions.

Realize it is your choice. At some point you just let it go. IF you could be, do and have anything you want in the world why would you ever let a negative thought stop you? Yup, there might be that answer? BUT so what, that answer is only another thought.

Who Is Wearing Your Pants?

YOU could be, do and have anything you want in the world. It’s unlimited. Give yourself permission! Allow yourself to discover who you are without limitations. Seek the positive, the highest good for yourself and everyone else and enjoy what life offers.

In addition to the previous questions you can also ask,  ‘What do I want?’ ‘When, where and with whom do I want it?’  ‘What positive benefits and opportunities are there for me to explore?  ‘When I get what I want, what else will improve?’

What stops me from having the what I want already?’ (Yep, this question again explores the negative, limitation, or problem aspect of any situation) ‘What resources do I have to help me achieve what I want?’ or ‘In how many different ways am I resourceful?’

Time For You To Realize You Are In Charge – You Decide

‘What are the many different ways I am able to overcome it being a limitation?’ ‘What am I going to do to accomplish my goals and dreams?’ ‘What can I easily do to begin making it happen?’ ‘What will I do next?’ ‘How much fun can I have making my dreams come true?’

Don’t suck for your paradigm.  Don’t suck for a cluster of limiting beliefs you unconsciously adopted while growing up. Don’t let negativity and limitations hold you back from the positive good things in life. BUT treat them all lightly. They are not big things even when they may seem like it. They are what they are. Routine, patterned though habits.

There are not things in your unconscious you need to get rid of. If you worry about your paradigm you will worry about your paradigms and create another problem for yourself. Don’t be silly in this way. Others want you worried about your paradigms but you need not be. Be free instead! Be free. Enjoy life and have fun!

They are simply, old habits, familiar, comfortable ways of thinking because you didn’t think differently. Yes, they are traps, but they are only thought habits. They hold fast but they are no big deal. YOU can overcome negative thought habits and create new powerful positive thought habits. Let go of them. Keep it simple. Have fun. Enjoy!

Just remember to THINK that they are easy. THINK this will be easy. THINK This is easy. You probably have already thought for years that they are difficult. THIS TIME, right NOW, you determine how it is going to be instead of letting them call the shots.

When You Drop Your Keys You Don’t Try To – You Just Drop Them

Decide it will be easy and it will be a heck of a lot easier than if you decide it will be hard. That is how this thing works. Do not take them seriously or make an issue of them. Determine to keep it simple, easy, fun and free and it will be. Put your energy into what you want!

Declare yourself to bigger, larger, freer. You are unlimited. You are powerful. Assert it, affirm it, declare it with gusto and you will be! Remember, whatever you affirm negatively you will end up with too. You decide what you will affirm and declare. YOU make it so! You are the one who decides what and how life will be! Make it what YOU want!” Rex Sikes

Why not celebrate everything today!

If you think these posts would help others please share them. Please 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!