I am an information junkie and because of that, it sometimes keeps me standing still.  Action on my part can be slow and occasionally nonexistent. I guess eating for 24 hours straight and never being able feel full is about the same as taking in all that information and not doing anything with it. It almost feels as painful as what I imagine the marathon eating session would be!

I had the same situation while researching an paper in college. I would just gather everything I could get my hands on and then sometimes just look at it all wondering where to start. I am one of those people who has a bad habit of needing to absolutely understand what I am doing before I put a plan into action. What I forget is that the best type of learning is done by trial and error and I forget that I personally learn best by doing!

If you have trouble making decisions, this can also be a factor when you’re trying to put a focus on all the information you have gathered. How many times have you stood in the store staring at all the different brands of allergy medicine? You have your fast acting or your long lasting variety. As I’ve heard one comedian joke, “Do I want to feel better now or later?” This is taking indecision to an art form.

At some point, a person just needs to focus and make a decision. In the context of Internet marketing, this can mean you need to make a plan to focus on article marketing, press releases, Adsense or search engine optimization. That doesn’t mean that it is a final decision, but having a dozen things going at one time or trying to have your finger in every pie is not helpful in maintaining focus. Taking ideas from possibility to reality requires focus, making a plan and taking action, even if it’s wrong the first time or the fifth time. The difference between a dream and reality is a plan and a timeline to accomplish the plan. Do you think it’s time to get busy?!

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Don’t forget life’s lessons – some of them hurt enough the first time!

It’s okay to laugh at yourself.  Laugh often with friends and at them when they need it.

Gather all the hugs you can.

Know you are worthy – nothing made by Spirit is unworthy.

Life is a gift even if it didn’t come with a bow on it.

Having earned every line on your face, be glad you lived log enough to see them in the mirror!

Take life seriously but not yourself.

Fifty is young for an older person.  LOL

Glad to be here and looking forward to the next 50!!

God love you all.  I do.  Robin

“I do the very best I know how, the very best I can, and I mean to keep on doing so until the end”  -  Abraham Lincoln

No matter what you do in life, doing it well reaps great rewards.  Whether this concept is applied to your work or your health, your relationships or your personal goals, making a commitment to your own personal best in whatever you do virtually guarantees a life of fulfillment, success and passion.

What does having a personal best have to do with anything?  As with most things in life, the results we experience tend to be in proportion with the quality of effort we put forth.  If we give a halfhearted effort, we experience minimal results.  If we give our absolute best, we always get excellent results (even if they aren’t what we initially intended).  Sometimes the results are BETTER than we expected.

You may wonder whether striving for a personal best really matters.  Can’t you do something “well enough” and call it good?  Yes, and that’s not always a bad thing to do.  You can still get good results from good intentions and adequate efforts.  But the question you need to ask yourself in every situation is, “Am I willing to settle for ‘good enough?’”  If not, you might want to change your approach and learn to apply your own personal best to everything you do.

This post is written by a dear and wise friend.  I hope you enjoy it.

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At the deepest levels of ourselves, we are wise, and in our wisdom, we find our peace. Journaling is one of the strongest practices to tap into these deeper levels. Whether you like to write or writing is difficult for you, following these five steps will guide you to using journaling as a means to reach your inner wisdom and peace.

Step 1: Go on a fun quest to find the perfect journal. Your journal can be a $2 notebook or a $35 leather-bound journal. What matters is that the journal feels good in your hands. It is something that you want to pick, hold, and use. Your journal should be a book you feel comfortable with. The same is true of the pen or pens you choose to use. Whether you use a black ink pen or pens of several different colors, the pen must be comfortable in your hand. At some point, you will find the very act of observing ink flowing from the pen is so meditative that you want to keep writing.

Step 2: Set aside some time everyday to journal. The best times are early in the morning and late at night, both if possible. Start with about 10 minutes. You can increase this time as you like, but do make a commitment to at least 10 minutes a day. By making journaling a part of your daily ritual, you put your inner guidance on notice that you are ready to tap into your inner wisdom.

Step 3: Journaling does not have to always be recorded in words. If you are a visual person, you may want to draw pictures or diagrams. Fill your journal with thoughts, feelings, drawings, pieces of this and that. If you have trouble getting started, begin with the words: “Thank you,” and then make a list of the things you are thankful for. Or, begin by recording the events of your day or a conservation you had. What’s important is that you begin and keep putting words down on the page. Soon words will seem to magically pour forth from you pen. It is in this place of words flowing, that the inner wisdom comes. Be patient. This does take practice and desire.

Step 4: Keep your journal with you. A journal that stays behind is less useful than one that travels with you, allowing you to record moments of realization, or the wisdom that comes while writing an e-mail to a friend, later to be cut and pasted into the journal pages; or to record the celebrations, the frustrations, the questions, the ups and downs of your day. It is within the ordinariness of your everyday life that you often find the most profound wisdom. Take out your journal in a restaurant while waiting to be served, or in your office while on break or waiting for someone to respond to you, on airplanes and in airports, or while in the dentist or doctor’s waiting room.

Step 5: Once you have filled a journal, reread it. You will be amazed at your own inner wisdom. It may also delight and surprise you. You already know what you wrote in your journal. Still, you may find yourself cheering yourself on during the difficult times and congratulating yourself during the peak times. Sometimes your life may seem mundane and ordinary; other times you will be amazed by the whisperings and wisdom of your inner world, and knowing your own inner wisdom will give you a profound sense of inner peace.

Diana Rankin, author of 23 Days, A Celtic Journey, is a gifted psychic medium, international speaker, and radio personality. For a private reading by phone or in person, or for information on workshop, seminars, or speaking to your group, please contact Diana at 937-593-6500, or http://www.dianarankin.com To read her latest book, while she is writing it, go to http://dianarankin.blogspot.com

(1)  Bring your digital camera on a nature walk. Experiencing the sights and sounds of nature cannot be compared to anything else. This explosion of the senses can truly open you up and inspire your creativity again.

(2)  Listen to music you wouldn’t ordinarily listen to. If you’re a country music fan, try some jazz. Contrarily, if you are a rock and roll fan, listen to some Beethoven or Mozart. Interestingly enough, many experts say that listening to classical music can open up your creativity a million different ways. Give it a try!

(3)  Turn off your television for one week. With the incessant chatter of talking in the background all day every day, we’re overcome with this flood of input. Turning off the TV. for a few days will help clear your mind and open you up again.

(4)  Step away from your project for a day. Sometimes when you’re blocked, the best thing to do is simply walk away. If your creativity level is low, you could probably benefit from leaving your project as is and coming back to it later. Sometimes all you need is just a 10- or 20-minute break.

If you’re able to walk away for a full day, you’ll find yourself yearning to get back to it and will feel an increased sense of creativity once you are able to get busy again.