Tag: Inspiration

Getting Past Fear to Action – Day 285 of 365 Days to a Better You

There’s an old German proverb that says, “Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.”

You want to build your side business, change jobs, or go back and get that degree, but something is stopping you. Sure, time, money, the ease of staying put are often the easy culprits. Are they really the reasons you haven’t taken action or is there a conscious or unconscious fear anchoring you in place?

Change is a wolf and our fears about it do make it look bigger than it is. Are you feeling a little fear about the change? It doesn’t mean you’re coward or weak, it just means your human and you’ve allowed the wolf of fear to swallow your dream.

Want to know a secret? Most of the time, that wolf is a shadow puppet on the walls of your mind. It’s only as big as you make it.

Powerhack: Here are some things you can do turn stagnant fear into action when you’re stuck.

  1. Just jump – do you remember, as a kid, the first time you jumped off a diving board? You had that same lump in your throat you have about this. You stared at the water, you counted, and you heard your self-talk talking you out of it. Finally, one of your friends yelled, “Just jump!” That was the solution. You shut down your mind and just acted. Before you knew it, you were hitting the refreshing water and rising back to the surface in joy. That worked out and so will this.
  2. Dream bigger – yeah, this one gets a bad rap because everyone says it, but it’s applicable here. Maybe you don’t have a dream big enough to overcome your fear of acting. Have you ever REALLY wanted something? I mean REALLY? You let nothing stand in your way. If this dream doesn’t have you that passionate, dream a bigger dream.
  3. Find examples – maybe you’re thinking, “Someone my age can’t do that” or “Someone in my situation can’t do that.” Wrong! I simply guarantee you’re wrong. There is someone out there who overcame none than you to get what you want. Find them and let their story inspire you.
  4. Past is prologue– you’ve done this before. At some point in your life, you faced a challenge, thought you couldn’t, but did anyway. Remember those examples and be inspired that you’ve done it before and you can do it again.

See, that wolf isn’t as big as he seems. In the face of your determination, he turns into a lovable pup.

Just in case no one else had reminded you today, you’re AWESOME!

Ray

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10 NOW Affirmations

Now is that instant between an eternal past and an eternal future. It is the crossroad of the multiverse. It is the only time where we can change our direction, make a difference, and build the of your choosing.

  1. Today is the day! Today is YOUR day!
  2. Now IS your moment!
  3. Right here, right now I make a stand for who I am!
  4. Today I harness the power of NOW to create all my tomorrows!
  5. I AM happy right here and right now!
  6. I am grateful right here and right now!
  7. I am peaceful right here and right now!
  8. I am empowered to be me right here and right now!
  9. I am loving and filled with love right here and right now!
  10. Beginning right now, amazing opportunities are showing up in my life!

Be your BEST you right now!

Ray

Ray
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7 Confidence Affirmations for Your Sunday

Merriam-Webster defines confidence as “a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances.” Dictionary.com describes it as, “belief in oneself and one’s powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.”

To manifest success in your life, confidence is a characteristic you must develop and magnify. Here are seven affirmations to help.

  1. Confidence Affirmation: My future is coming together precisely as I script it and today I am scripting BIG!
  2. Today I AM the person I came to this planet to be!
  3. I came here to be a great and conscious being and so that is what I am.
  4. Today I AM confidence armored with the power of my beliefs and strength of my abilities.
  5. Life is about choices and today I am making all the right choices for me!
  6. I am always a great bet! Today I am making it happen!
  7. I am bigger than any doubt, bolder than any fear, and stronger any obstacle!

Have a fantastic day!

Ray

More confidence-related content on the TAS Website.

Keep On Running – Day 284 of 365 Days to a Better You

A diiferent form of this post originally appeared on this blog in March 2009.

Saturday was beautiful Spring-like day in the Kansas City area. I took my beautiful black lab Mia for a walk. We live next door the elementary school here and between the school and us is a baseball field.

There was a kickball game going on as we passed by. I paused to watch for a few minutes. It was a mix of adults, little kids, and littler kids – probably a family get-together of some kind.

As Mia and I stood there, one of the smallest kids stepped up the plate. The pitcher rolled the ball and the little boy kicked with all his might. The ball dribbled slowly toward tbe third base. The little boy was chugging down the to first base for all he was worth.

The third baseman fielded the ball and tried to hit the little boy with it to get him out. The ball missed and rolled behind first base.

At this point, chaos broke out. The little boy stopped at first momentarily and then people started yelling, “Run, run, run.” He took off for second. As he neared second, people started yelling, “Stop, stop, stop.”

Another fielder threw the ball trying to get the little boy out at second, but missed again. The ball rolled away from the fielder. Now people were yelling a mix of, “Run, run, run” and ”Stop, stop, stop.”

The comedy of fielding errors continued and the little boy, no longer listening to the mixed shouts coming from the crowd, forced the issue by rounding third and heading for home.

The ball arrived to the catcher too late and the little boy dove into home plate head first and scored.

I took this as a metaphor. The little boy, through all the chaos and the advice from the divided experts, just kept on running. He wasn’t really paying attention to what the fielders were doing with the ball. He seemed to be locked in on one idea – scoring that run. He kept on running!

How often, as you try to achieve your goals in life, do you have people telling you, “Do this” or “Don’t do that?” Do you let it stop you and knock you off course or do you keep on running? It’s easy to get stalled listening to the experts or worrying what “the fielders are doing with the ball.”

Take it from this little boy. Ignore the chaos and stay focused! Keep moving toward your dreams. I’m not saying experts can’t be helpful and I’m not saying ignore other aspects of your life. I am saying that when you have a goal or a dream your job is to keep on running.

If you do, you’ll be sliding into home plate with a big score as well!

In case no one else reminded you today, you’re AWESOME!

Ray

Ray
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Making the World a Better Place – Day 283 of 365 Days to a Better You

Today’s Affirmation

My world is what I make of it and I choose to make it a compassionate place to be!

Has the world gone nuts? It seems so some days. Thankfully, you need not wait for change to occur in the world. You can start right now to create a more sane and compassionate world in the ways you touch it.

The simple things are still the recipe for greater happiness.

  • Treat others with kindness even when they don’t return the favor.
  • Only use what you need.
  • Maintain a measure of mindfulness with regard to your thoughts and activities.
  • Join with others who share your hope for a better, more evolved world and take the first steps today.
  • Smile, lighten up, have fun, and enjoy your life on this beautiful world and in this marvelous Universe.

Take the Ten Commandments, The Golden Rule, the Five Precepts of Buddhism, or other ageless tenets and try living by them. Not under the commandment of any God, religious organization, or out of fear of punishment, but out of a recognition that they make rational sense and create a better world.

The philosophy you hold – Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Muslim, Hindu – is not what is ultimately important. What is important is being the most ethical, compassionate Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, or Buddhist you can be and the world will be a better place for it.

During his 1989 visit to Los Angeles, The Dalai Lama said, “We don’t need temple, we don’t big Cathedral. We need warmth of heart. We, each of us, have a responsibility to shape the future of humanity. So let us try and contribute as much as we can.”

You have the power right now to do the good that you see needs doing in the world. Certainly, collective action by a group is important, but your actions or inactions in your life today affect the world around you in big ways. Never underestimate yourself and your power to influence things.

  • If someone cuts you off in traffic, don’t respond with anger that puts negative energy out into the universe. That helps.
  • Not giving in to your own prejudices and weaknesses that contribute the problems in the world. That helps.
  • Going out of your way to be friendly to a stranger just because. That helps.

There is no end to what you can do that will make the world a better place.

The problems we face in the world are a result of our interpersonal conflicts and our own internal conflicts projected out onto the world. If you do not address the anger and fear you feel in your own heart you will only be bandaging the problems of the world.

With just a little effort today, you can make all the difference!

In case no one else has told you today, you’re AWESOME!

Ray

Ray
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Take Your Own Wise Counsel – Day 282 of 365 Days to a Better You

Today’s affirmation: I am a vast source of wisdom. I am a wise counselor. I have the answers within me.

Here’s something to stick in your back pocket today. You know an amazingly wise and perceptive person who is always ready and able to provide you fantastic advice. Fortunately, you have access to that person 365/24/7. I’m talking about you, of course. You’re a wise old owl.

“Me?” you say. “I’ve got lots of challenges I can’t figure out. How can I help myself?”

Don’t be so quick to discount yourself. It’s all a matter of perspective. You need to step outside your challenges, put on your wise counselor’s hat, and analyze your situation like you are a friend or a family member coming to you for advice.

You’ve played that role many times in your life. With some detachment, you’re amazingly wise, stunning insightful, and brimming with compassion.

Give yourself the benefit of that sagely master within you. What would you tell a friend to do in your situation? What would you caution him or her about? How would you encourage your friend?

You’re much more critical and cynical when dealing with yourself. Lend the wisdom and compassion you’d show someone you care about. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this powerful internal resource walking around in you all day long.

In case no one else has told you today, you ARE amazing!

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Ray

Ray
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5 Fred (Mister) Rogers Quotes to Start Your Day Right