In the Direction of Dreams

We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.

2012-02-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

Buy This at Allposters.com Too often we attribute our degree of happiness to the world around us and fail to consider our own contribution to our condition. Somehow, we have all been raised to believe that those around us control our happiness and our ability to reach our goals. The truth is: Only you hold that power. How we react to, and deal with, the circumstances of our lives

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain!"

2012-02-10T07:43:00.001-05:00

If you are like most people, you might find yourself thinking that things will be better as soon as the current storm of difficulties passes. Or that now isn't the time to focus on your dreams, because the circumstances of your life aren't perfect. This thinking will get you nowhere for life is filled with storms. The secret is in learning to succeed in spite of them. Strive today to find

If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. Frank Howard Clark

2012-02-08T06:12:00.001-05:00

As human beings we often find ourselves surprised when obstacles seemingly block our way. For many, a simple tree across the path is a signal to turn back or to find another path. For others, the tree simply slows them down a bit as they decide on the best way to get around the obstacle. As some of you know, I have recently faced an obstacle that has caused me to stop in my tracks and

You will never "find" time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. Charles Bruxton

2012-01-30T11:11:00.002-05:00

So many times we spend our day running around and declaring we simply don't have time for all the things we want to do that we forget each of us is allotted 24 hours in a day - no more and no less. How we choose to use those hours is up to us. I ran across some interesting information last night while doing some research. The author suggested that any time we spend during our work day that is

The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yourself.” Mark Caine

2012-01-10T23:18:00.001-05:00

So often we begin to view our lives and our dreams in relation to the obstacles in our paths. We become overwhelmed with the false belief that the circumstances around us hold us captive and we fail to realize that we already hold the key to our success. Strive today to break free of negative thoughts and beliefs and rise above the seeming obstacles in your way. Give no mind to the

To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others. Albert Camus

2012-01-07T10:17:00.000-05:00

So often we let others determine our happiness or peace of mind by being too concerned about what they think to enjoy our lives. Although others are important and treating them with love and respect is always a good choice - being true to yourself is important too. Strive to remember that what others think about your dreams and goals is never as important as what you think. Seek

Time is but the stream I go a-fishin in. Henry David Thoreau

2012-01-01T21:30:00.000-05:00

It's funny how our perception of time changes from day to day. Sometimes, it seems to loom before us - yet somehow slips away like the flowing river. Strive today to spend your time in leisure - neither wishing time away - nor squandering it on things you do not enjoy. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that to reach our dreams and goals we must devote all out time in their pursuit and

There is more to life than increasing its speed. Mahatma Ghandi

2011-12-31T22:16:00.000-05:00

How well you handle the closing one year and the beginning of another depends in part on your frame of mind. For many, New Year's Eve evokes memories of the good times experienced through the year, while others dwell on all the bad that has happened. I like to think I am the former. I like to look at how far I've come and how much I have accomplished - but that is only part of the appeal of

Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling. Margaret Lee Runbeck

2011-12-07T10:15:00.001-05:00

If you are in the habit of thinking that you will be happy when you have more money - or when you reach your goals - and hold onto the belief that the circumstances of your life control your happiness, it's time to stop. Sure circumstances of your life may create momentary happiness - but that kind of happiness is always dependent on the outside world and can be torn away at a moment's notice.

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet. Albert Schweitzer

2011-12-07T10:14:00.001-05:00

Often we become so focused on reaching our goals, that we forget to enjoy the journey. Guard against becoming so single minded that your goals and dreams take over your life and prevent you from experiencing what life has to offer along the way. Although it is necessary to keep you eyes on your goal and work steadfastly in the direction of your dreams, life is meant to be lived. Take time today

The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts; therefore guard accordingly. Marcus Aurelius

2011-12-07T10:13:00.001-05:00

So many of us get into the habit of greeting the world with a running commentary of the lack in our lives that we forget to take stock of what we have, and get sucked into believing that we are unhappy due to the circumstances in our lives. We are so eager to believe that the world controls our lives that we simply forget to look to our contributions to our own unhappy circumstances. Strive

One who understands much displays a greater simplicity of character than one who understands little. Alexander Chase

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

As Christmas approaches, many of us become so involved in doing all the things we think we need to do to make it through the season that we forget what pleasure simplicity brings. The smell of the tree, the twinkle of lights and mounds of new fallen snow that evoke memories of Christmas long ago are what bring me pleasure at Christmas. Yet, somehow I get get caught up in the hustle and bustle

We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails. ~Author Unknown

2011-12-01T07:56:00.000-05:00

It's amazing how often we make our way through life thinking that if we but change the world around us, our lives will suddenly fall into place, without considering that perhaps we need to adjust our sails. The direction we will go and the destination we will reach depends on our ability and willingness to set the course. Consider the journey you wish to take today and instead of fighting the

The secret of getting ahead is getting started. Mark Twain

2011-11-10T20:43:00.000-05:00

For many of us the problem does not lie in accomplishing the task at hand, but it getting started in the first place. Oh, we may justify our reluctance by saying the time isn't right, we aren't prepared or that the world is not ready for us yet. The truth is: we are lying to ourselves. To reach our dreams and goals, we must get down to the business of starting. Yesterday, I posted about my

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

2011-11-08T19:45:00.000-05:00

Keeping the faith is easy when all things work together as they should, but for many of us, when things get difficult, our faith begins to waiver. I've been waivering lately. Not because I don't have faith, exactly -- but because I am not sure of the direction I should go. As many of you know, I am a writer by trade. Recent situations have arisen where my main source of writing income has

You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind. Author Unknown

2011-10-30T07:50:00.000-04:00

So often, we spend so much time thinking about what we are going to do that we never accomplish the things we want in life. Somehow, we think that everything will fall in place -- if only we wait for the right time. But the right time never comes, because we have not prepared the field for our dreams to grow. The gardener doesn't wait until the conditions are perfect for growing and then

"The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never scoring." — Bill Copeland

2011-10-13T08:26:00.000-04:00

How often we go through life dreaming of something more -- something better -- without any clue as to what that something more is. Yet, we squander time striving for the seeming impossible simply because we haven't taken the time or energy to define what that something more is. Knowing the right path to take to reach your destination requires knowing where you want to go. Strive today to

“When you have come to the edge Of all light that you know And are about to drop off into the darkness Of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly” ~ Patrick Overton

2011-10-09T10:23:00.001-04:00

Many of us go through life with the mindset that obstacles in our way prevent us from achieving our dreams. Instead of forging forward with faith in ourselves and the guiding hand that created us, we turn back if we think the way is blocked. Cultivate faith today. Have faith that there are no obstacles you cannot overcome. It may require work and thinking outside the box, but you already

Change always comes bearing gifts. ~Price Pritchett

2011-10-07T10:32:00.001-04:00

Today Recently, I have encountered some challenging events that require me to step outside of my professional bubble and seek out new writing opportunities. Those of you who are writers, undoubtedly understand how intimidating the process can be. Those of you who aren't, let's just say it requires getting out of your pjs and taking action to find your place in the ever-changing world

Dream and give yourself permission to envision a You that you choose to be. Joy Page

2011-10-02T09:17:00.000-04:00

Many of us fall short of what we want in life, not because we are not capable, but because we lack the courage to give ourselves permission to succeed. Cultivate the courage to dream big and give yourself permission to reach those dreams, today. Know that what lies in you is greater than the ways of the world. It is bigger than the petty thoughts of those who want to prevent your success. It is

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

2011-09-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

If you are like most people, you probably take the little things in your life for granted. Not because you don't appreciate them, and not because they aren't important, but because they've always been there and you have come to see them as "normal" parts of your life. Deborah Norville refers to it as Thank you Power in her book entitled Thank You Power, others refer to it a gratitude and still

"When we are no longer able to change a situation... We are challenged to change ourselves" ~ VIKTOR FRANKL

2011-09-09T07:45:00.000-04:00

Many of us spend our days looking to others and thinking if only "they" would change, my life would be better, without realizing that life isn't about changing others to fit our needs. If it seems that those around you are in need of drastic change, consider the fact that it might be you that needs the change, not them. Refusing to accept your part in creating the conditions of your life is no

"To reach a port, we must sail - sail, not tie at anchor - sail, not drift." -- FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT

2011-09-07T07:16:00.000-04:00

So many times, we set our sights on a destination and then sit ourselves down with the expectation that we will somehow reach it without even setting the sails for that direction. We cast our hopes and dreams to the wind, thinking that the wind itself will power our path--never entertaining the thought that in order to sail we must harness its power. Cultivate the habit of setting your sails.

"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." -- MARK TWAIN

2011-08-14T12:08:00.000-04:00

Often in life we think we know what lies before us. As humans we are accustomed to seeing what we already believe to be true. As Marl Twain points out, if you imagination is out of focus, what you see may be too. A long time ago, a dealt with a young man who had overheard his father's conversation on the phone. As the father spoke, unaware that the son was listening from another room, he made a

Life is full of obstacle illusions. ~Grant Frazier

2011-08-04T08:02:00.000-04:00

As human beings we become so accustomed to seeing the things that stand in our way, that we forget there is always a way around them. Instead of looking for another way, we often give up and assume that our goals and dreams cannot be met. But, as Grant Frazier cleverly points out: that is often an illusion. Consider the obstacles in your path today and get in the habit of seeing them as a mere