"You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday."

Charles Kettering
1876-1958, Inventor and Engineer

"My idea of Christmas whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: love others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?"

Bob Hope

"We are here to take care of the children.  The children of the world are our children.  We're here to take care of our home.  The whole planet is our home." 

Marianne Williamson

"With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time you can change the world."

Steve Maraboli
Author, Speaker and Radio Show Host

“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.” —Lao Tzu

As the Mayan Calendar ends (it's already the 21st in Australia), let it be the beginning of ANew world, a new time where there are more random acts of kindness, there is more generosity, more love and more gratitude... The children of our planet deserve no less...and it's completely in our hands. All we have to do is decide. Please share...

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Michael Althsuler

 

"The best way to gain self-confidence is to do what you are afraid to do."

William Jennings Bryan
1860-1925, Politician

 

"We owe our children—the most vulnerable of citizens in our society—a life free of violence and fear."


Nelson Mandela

 

On this day of great national sadness.... 

"Be the change you want to see in the world.”      Ghandi

"I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties."

James Cash Penney
1875-1971, Founder of J.C. Penney Stores

"People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates."

Thomas Szasz, Psychiatrist and Author

 

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.”
― Kahlil Gibran

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." 

 Maya Angelou

     

“All those hard times, it feels like it goes to show that if you put in the hard work and don’t stop believing, it can happen.”

Bruno Mars in an interview with Lee Cowan on CBS Sunday Morning

"Be present - it is the only moment that matters."

Dan Millman - Author of Way Of The Peaceful Warrior

 

"Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world." 

T Harv Eker

     

"Others can stop you temporarily – you are the only one who can do it permanently." - Zig Ziglar

"If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think."      

T Harv Eker

     

"There are only two rules for being successful; one, figure out exactly what you want to do, and two, do it. "

Mario Cuomo

     

“We spend most of our lives cutting down our ambitions because the world has told us to think small. Dreams express what your soul is telling you, so as crazy as your dream might seem—even to you—I don’t care: You have to let that out.”

Madhin— Eleni Gabre-Madhin

 

As long as we dare to dream and don't get in the way of ourselves, anything is possible--there's truly no end to where our dreams can take us.”

— Hilary Swank

"No one is an instant star.  Nobody is instant.  No matter who you see they had to do the work for people to respond to them the way they do." 

Oprah Winfrey in an interview with Justin Bieber who did hundreds of hours of radio tours and performances long before he was discovered on YouTube.

"When someone tells you that you can't do something, perhaps you should consider that they are only telling you what they can't do."

Sheldon Cahoon
Co-Author of Complete Child Development

"Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do."

Emmanuel Swedenborg
1688-1772, Scientist, Philosopher and Theologian

“Clutter isn’t just the stuff in your closet. It’s anything that gets between you and the life that you want to be living, whether its in your home, in your head, in your heart or on your hips.”  

 Peter Walsh

— Peter Walsh

"Our greatest weapon against stress is the ability to choose one thought over another."

William James

"Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new."  

Brian Tracy

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"The facts tell us what to do and how to do it but it is our humanity which tells us that we must do something and why we must do it."  

Captain Sully Sullenberger

"Utilize the "law of momentum" which states that, "A body at rest tends to remain at rest while a body in motion tends to remain in motion". In short, get into motion! Remember, moods are a product of the "mind". Train yourself and your body to "get started" even if you're not in the mood." ~ T Harv Eker

 

"Reduce your plan to writing. The moment you complete this, you will have definitely given concrete form to the intangible desire."

Napoleon Hill
1883-1970, Author of Think and Grow Rich

"Most people fail in life not because they aim too high and miss, but because they aim too low and hit."

Les Brown
Speaker

"No amount of reading or memorizing will make you successful in life. It is the understanding and application of wise thought which counts."

 ~ Bob Proctor

"Comfort kills! If your goal in life is to be comfortable, I guarantee two things. First, you will never be rich. Second, you will never be happy. Happiness doesn’t come from living a lukewarm life, always wondering what could have been. Happiness comes as a result of being in our natural state of growth and living up to our fullest potential." ~ T Harv Eker

"To believe in the things you can see and touch is no belief at all - but to believe in the unseen is a triumph and a blessing."

Abraham Lincoln
1809-1865, Sixteenth President of the United States

"We lift ourselves by our thought. We climb upon our vision of ourselves. If you want to enlarge your life, you must first enlarge your thought of it and of yourself. Hold the ideal of yourself as you long to be, always everywhere."

Orison Swett Marden
1850-1924, Inspirational Writer
Click here for our printable version

"Everyone can have a luxury life. It's a state of mind. It's not necessarily about having the biggest house. It's about living life to the fullest."

Paul Miklas
Developer

“Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” 

 ― Paul Brandt

"Remember, happiness doesn't depend on who you are or what you have; it depends solely on what you think."

Dale Carnegie
1888-1955, Author of How to Win Friends and Influence People

"To have the desire means you can - otherwise you wouldn't have the desire."  Deepok Chopra

"We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future."

Robin Sharma
Author of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

"Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some."
-Charles Dickens

"No positive change is possible unless action has been taken. What action should you take to create the change that you want?"   Natalie Ledwell, Speaker and Author


Want to add more positivity to your life? 

Join Marianne Douglas at her Power of Positivity seminar at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, RI on October 24th from 6:00 to 8:30 pm.  for more information or to register, go to www.SecretsofSuccess101.com . 

Can't make it?  Pick up her audio  Power of Positivity(CD or mp3 immediate download)   at www.MarianneDouglas.com/audio.htm.

"Set higher standards for your own performance than anyone around you, and it won't matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one. It won't matter whether the competition is pushing you hard, because you'll be competing with yourself."

Rick Pitino
Basketball Coach, Author and Speaker

If you're tired of starting over, stop giving up.

Success occurs when your dreams get bigger than your excuses.

"Failures do what is tension relieving, while winners do what is goal achieving." - Dennis Waitley

A smile is contagious; be a carrier.

A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.

A friend is a person who does his knocking before he enters instead of after he leaves. 

Irene Keepin

A pat on the back, although only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants, is miles ahead in results. 

Bennett Cerf

Act the part; walk and talk exactly as if you were already the person you want to be.

Affluence and abundance are our natural state.  Reawaken the memory.

Deepok Chopra

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.  Chinese proverb

A journey of a thousand miles starts with an argument over how to load the car.

Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records.  William Arthur Ward

"A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep." 

Cinderella

A bend in the road is not the end of the road…unless you fail to make the turn.  Anonynmous

A bad attitude cancels all other positive skills.

"Among the things you can give and still keep are your word, a smile, and a grateful heart."

Zig Ziglar
Author and Speaker

"Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life."  J. K. Rowling, Novelist

 

"Set your sights high, the higher the better. Expect the most wonderful things to happen, not in the future but right now. Realize that nothing is too good. Allow absolutely nothing to hamper you or hold you up in any way."

Eileen Caddy
1917-2006, Author

The only person you should ever compete with is yourself. You can't hope for a fairer match." ~Todd Ruthman

Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation.  Your character is what you really are while your reputation is merely what others think you are.  John Wooden

All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action.  James Russell Lowell Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

"A bad attitude cancels all other positive skills.”

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein

Fantasies are more than substitutes for unpleasant reality; they are also dress rehearsals, plans. All acts performed in the world begin in the imagination." Barbara Grizzuti Harrison 1934-2002, Journalist and Essayist

“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.”

Life’s Little Instruction Book

"Actions expresses priorities."  Gandhi

My dear friend Annie who is no longer with us had the biggest heart, the greatest intelligence and the highest integrity of almost anyone I knew.  She also had a quick wit, a great sense of humor and the fastest comeback.  When some would say they were going to do something, her favorite line was, "Talk is cheap.  Put it in a check!"

She called them to task with that comment.  Invited them to step up and act.  So many of us are full of words.  I knew someone who was great on promises but lacking in action.  The words were there but the follow though wasn't.  We need to do what we say we're going to do.  The words should be the beginning of the process, not the end.

"Always do the right thing.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."  Mark Twain

So many people are seeking self-esteem.  Many of them are looking in all the wrong places - buying the biggest and latest gadget, trying to look like celebrities.  One of the keys to self-esteem is simply doing the right thing.  Since self-esteem is a feeling in you, your mind knows when you do the right thing and raises your self-esteem accordingly.  Ah...so simple...and so much fun to astonish the rest!

 

 

"Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

Og Mandino
1923-1996, Author

"A smile is happiness you'll find right under your nose." -Tom Wilson


Nothing much to add here except that if you want to change your day, smile.  Even if you don't feel like it because smiling changes the way you feel simply and easily.  Try it.  You'll be amazed at how many smiles you'll get back.

“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier." Mother Teresa

Ellen DeGeneres always ends her show by saying, "Be kind to each other."  It's such a simple concept and one that's so easy to do.  It' s as simple as not judging, not saying a mean thought, giving the other person the benefit of the doubt, smiling.  Most of us want a better world for ourselves and our children.  Kindness is one of the easiest ways to get there...if we all do our part.

It’s imperative to realize that it is not necessary to try to get rid of fear in order to succeed. Rich and successful people have fear, rich and successful people have doubts, rich and successful people have worries. They just don’t let these feelings stop them. Unsuccessful people have fears, doubts, and worries, then let those feelings stop them.   T Harv Eker

Here's to plunging forward past the worries and fears and visualizing success on every level including financial - in solving current problems, in dealing with challenging people, in coping with negative politicians and news, and difficult economic times.  And more than visualizing, learning as much as possible because no one can take that learning away. 

"Sometimes I wonder about my life.  I live a small life.  It's valuable but small.  Sometimes I wonder if I do it because I like it or because I haven't been brave." 
From the movie "You've Got Mail"

How are you living your life?  Is it the size you want it to be?  Maybe it's in a dormant, small phase which is fine.  No one else has the right to judge anyone else's life.  But if you're thinking your life is smaller than you wanted, then maybe it's time to be a little braver and step it up. 

"Never, and I mean never, allow anyone else's idea of who you can and can't become sully your dream or pollute your imagination. This is your territory, and a KEEP OUT sign is a great thing to erect at all entrances to your imagination."  Dr. Wayne Dyer

Our imaginations are extremely powerful and very personal.  How we act and feel is based directly on what we think.  Imagine you can't do something and you'll act on that thought.  It's bad enough we allow our own negativity to enter our thoughts, but no one else has the right...or the key.. to enter our imaginations unless we give it to them.  So put out that "Keep Out" sign except for the best thoughts and the most wonderful dreams. 

A bad attitude is like a flat tire.  You can't go anywhere til you change it.

You can go places but no one's going to enjoy being around you if your attitude is bad.  No one will want to work with or for you.  No one will want to date or live with you for long.  No one will be happy if you wait on them so not much of a tip is coming your way.  But it's simple to fix...just change your attitude and watch what happens.

"If I could give you one gift, it would be the ability to see yourself as I see you so you'd know how truly special you are."  Unknown

This Valentine's Day and every day, it's important to realize that whether or not we have someone special in our lives, we still bring value to the world.  We each have our own special talents that no other person has, our own unique perspective.  We have value, we matter.  Besides, just because we didn't get a gift or card today doesn't mean someone isn't thinking about us.  They just might not have gotten around to letting us know...

"Our attitude towards others determines their attitude towards us." - Earl Nightingale

People often wonder why they're treated poorly at times.  Could it be that they're not putting forth the best attitude?  We tend to reflect what's around us unless we're consciously trying to be positive.  If we want to be treated well, it we want a pleasant atmosphere, doesn't it make sense to treat people well first?  It doesn't take much effort..and it's well worth the time.

"Winners, leaders, masters -- people with personal power -- all understand that if you try something and do not get the outcome you want, it's simply feedback. You use that information to make finer distinctions about what you need to do to produce the results you desire.... Sometimes we learn from our mistakes, sometimes from the mistakes of others. Take a minute to reflect on the five greatest so-called 'failures' of your life. What did you learn from these experiences? Chances are they were some of the most valuable lessons you've learned in your life."  Tony Robbins 

What we perceive as a failure may simply be our inner being's way of telling us that we are ready to move to a new level of growth."— Anne Wilson Schaef

One team had to lose the Superbowl.  Just the way sports works.  It's not win-win.  But once the feeling of failure is over, there is the chance to learn, the chance to move on to a new reincarnation of who you are as a player and who you are as a team.  The same applies to all of us because we all fail at things.  In fact, most successful people talk about how recognize that failure isn't a bad thing.  In fact it's an essential part of success.  So fail and move on to a new you...whether you're a New England Patriot football player or just you.

You don't have to see the whole staircase.  Just take the first step in faith.  Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm pretty sure football was not what was in mind when this quote was first stated but there is a link because both teams today on SuperBowl Sunday have to do the work to prep and then take the first step.  They are visualizing the same end result - a victory.  But they have to have faith in their training, in their team, in their coaches, in themselves and for some, in a higher power.  Same for us in whatever challenges we're facing.  We need to do the prep, have faith where it counts and then take that first step...

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Look at the most successful people.  Whether their success is in business, sports, relationships, the arts, family or financial, they had to be more than passively involved to achieve that success.  So if you're sitting on the couch wondering why your life isn't more successful, perhaps it's time to crank up your energy and go for what you truly want your life to be.  The couch will always be there...

"Once you decide to do something, and you're pretty sure you're right, then you gotta go ahead and do it. Because if you piddle around, somebody else will beat you to it." - Ted Turner on Master Class

Just do it. Go for it. What are we waiting for? If not now, when? Cliches? Maybe but as with most cliches, they're commonly said because there's some truth behind them. We all have goals, dreams, wishes but we often get stuck in our fears. And most of the fears are irrational. As soon as you start, the fears fall away and you begin to wonder why you waited so long. So start...before someone else gets there before you!

"Interruptions can be viewed as sources of irritation or opportunities for service, as moments lost or experience gained, as time wasted or horizons widened. They can annoy us or enrich us, get under our skin or give us a shot in the arm. Monopolize our minutes or spice our schedules, depending on our attitude toward them." - William Ward

We're all got interruptions going on around us.  From technology to kids to co-workers, it's hard to find an uninterrupted stretch of time.  But like so much else in life, it's how we choose to react that matters most.  We can fly off the handle, complain constantly, or just get back to what we were doing before the interruption.  Granted after the 10th interruption in a row, it's pretty challenging to not get frustrated.  But we do get to choose and what we choose has an energy attached to it that we feel and we send out to those around us, especially to little ones who feel it and model what we adults do.  So choose rather than react don't let your interruptions run your life.

‎"Belief is nothing but a state, an internal representation that governs behavior. It can be an empowering belief in possibility -- a belief that we will succeed in something or achieve something else. It can be a disempowering belief -- a belief that we can't succeed, that our limitations are clear, intractable, and overwhelming. If you believe in success, you'll be empowered to achieve it. If you believe in failure, those messages will lead you to experience that as well."   Anthony Robbins

What do you believe about yourself?  As you can see from the quote above, what we believe governs our behavior.  Doesn’t it?  If you believe you can’t do something, what’s the chance you’re going to be able to do it?  Our brains act on what we tell them…and what we say is tied to our beliefs.  Are you beliefs working for you or is it time perhaps to replace them with more empowering ones?  How?  There are great books out there on this topic and even better seminars where in as little as 3 days, you can completely turn your beliefs around.  Check out the Millionaire Mind Intensive for a great one on money beliefs.  Money issues will never be the same for you again.

"Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars." -Warren Buffett

A lot of people who wish they had more money actually hate those who do have it.  But how can you bring more money into your life if you hate the people who have more?  You'd be hating yourself.  And because of that you subconsciously push money away.  Doesn't that make sense?  If you had more money, you'd be the same person you are now - just with more money.  The best way to understand this is to learn what your true beliefs are about money, eliminate the ones that don't support you and replace them with new empowering ones.  Doing so will change your financial life forever. Need help with the process?  Read "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" by T. Harv Eker or even better, go to one of his free weekend Millionaire Mind Intensive sessions held around the world. 

“Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other.” ~ Mother Teresa

There's research that says that every body position matches an emotion.  Try it out.  If you sit in a recliner, even if you're not tired, you'll be yawning soon.  Or stand as if you're sad and in no time you'll feel that emotion.  So smile - whether you feel like It or not - and you'll feel better in a very short time.  Do it for you...do it for the rest of us.  Our world needs more smilers...and love for each other.  :)

"If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think." ~ T Harv Eker


We spend so much time thinking we're not as good as others.  Our focus on celebrity only makes us feel less.  But even they're insecure about things - especially their looks because they're under tighter scrutiny than most of us.  So go forward knowing that focusing on being less only uses up valuable time you could spend being who you want to be.  And isn't that  time better spent?

"Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world."  ~T Harv Eker

Happiness isn't those crazy times the commercials show when people are screaming with joy over a can of Pringles! (Thanks for that concept Martha Beck in "O Magazine").  It's a collection of small events.  I often hear myself saying, "Thank makes me happy" when something puts a smile on my face.  Now I'm making a list of them - and doing them as often as possible.  Very simple - live, notice, collect, do.  And that makes me happy!

 "Utilize the "law of momentum" which states that, "A body at rest tends to remain at rest while a body in motion tends to remain in motion". In short, get into motion!  Remember, moods are a product of the "mind". Train yourself and your body to "get started" even if you're not in the mood." ~ T Harv Eker

Procrastination an issue for you?  You need to get that body in motion!  Notice what does get you going - for me it's doing something creative even if it has nothing to do with what I need to do or getting curious about something.  Once you know what works for you, use it to get that body in motion.  Still stuck?  Set the timer for 15 minutes.  Tell yourself that you'll do whatever it is you don't really want to do but need to do for that 15 minutes.  Give yourself permission to quit when the timer goes off.  Then start.  Even though you know it's a trick, the law of momentum will take over and you'll be a body in motion and get the job done.  You can always be a body at rest when you're done for the day!

"Love yourself—accept yourself—forgive yourself—and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.” — Leo F. Buscaglia


No, it's not Valentine’s Day but it is a time to show love – to ourselves.  Why?  Because if we don’t love ourselves, we have a hard time living.  Loving ourselves doesn’t mean being selfish or egotist.  It just means valuing ourselves enough to be kind to ourselves because that will help us be kind to the other 7 billion who inhabit this planet we call home.  Love ourselves…even if we’ve already dropped our resolutions, even if we don’t have the perfect body, job, relationship, car, and so on…  Love ourselves because we each bring something special that no one else does...

"Happiness is not an accident. Nor is it something you wish for. Happiness is something you design." ~ Jim Rohn 

Start noticing things that make you happy.  Once you tell your brain that you want to be aware of what makes you happy, it will help you start noticing.   Here's an example: When I found the background for this blog, it made me happy because it was the ocean.  Yes, what makes you happy can be that simple.  Start noticing ...and collecting things that make you happy. 

"If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think." ~ T Harv Eker

It's easy to think that everyone else has their act together but they're struggling with the same issues we all have.  Successful people just choose to act despite those feelings.  So if you've got something difficult to do, just do it.  Nike was right.

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain." ~ Maya Angelou
Reminds me of the another quote (don't know where I heard it): "Are you  complaining because your life is miserable or is your life miserable because you're always complaining?"  Something to think about. 

Want to change how much you complain?  Check out www.ComplaintFreeWorld.org for a rubber bracelet.  Goal?  To keep it on one wrist for a month.  Tricky part?  You have to switch wrists everytime you complain.  But imagine what your life will be like if you don't complain for a month???

"Happy people build their inner world; unhappy people blame their outer world." ~T Harv Eker

We spend a lot of time blaming others for the circumstances of our lives.  When we do that, we give the power to others.  Choose to learn instead of blame because it puts you back in the driver's seat.

"The best way to predict your future is to create it. ~ Peter Drucker

We all get to set the course for our future. Sure things come along to pull us off course but it's up to us whether to get back on course.  An airplane is the perfect example.  It has a destination in mind, takes off heading to that point.  But it's constantly affected by the wind and other airplane traffic so it's always off course for a brief second.  Then the pilot...or auto-pilot...corrects the path and the plane continues.  Without judgment, by the way. The plane doesn't berate itself for going off course.  No "You're so stupid, how could you fail?" like we humans tend to do.  Just sets a destination/goal, heads that way, makes adjustments as needed, arrives.  Something to think about.

"If you want to have a successful and fulfilling New year, start by examining the way you think and feel about your job, your relationships, and yourself. After all, the single most important factor in personal happiness and your impact on others is your attitude." Michael Josephson


After all, we get to decide what we think.  Just because a thought passes through our head doesn't mean we have to let it set up a home there.  Decide to look the best in a situation.

Welcome!

We're all looking for a way to improve our lives in some way - a better job, less stress, more money to pay our bills, great relationships, more happiness.  The list goes on and is as personal as we are.

Our world has gotten a bit turbulent lately - earthquakes, tusnamis, cruise ships crashing, the economy, politics...the list goes on and on.  Makes it seem like there is no positive news anywhere.  But in reality, according to research, there are 10 positive things that happen for every negative one that does.

What we see in the news is not really what's new, but the list of the 10 worst things that happened yesterday.  With 7 billion people in the world, we hear mostly about the ones who do the worst things.  Tends to give us a warped view of the world.  We all could use a positive boost...a tip, a quote, a strategy to help us see the world in a better light.  

So watch the news if you want but realize that there are hundreds of wonderful things that happened yesterday that you didn't hear about.  And that should make you feel hopeful and happier.