The first synonym the dictionary has for “happiness” is “contentment.” Are you content with your life?

I believe that the course of events throughout our lives should not necessarily affect our sense of contentment. Oh yes, we all experience disappointment, sadness, frustration and other negative feelings. Despite these common emotions, however, you should not allow them to undermine your underlying sense of contentment?

There are two things in life: fact and perception. …and fact doesn’t count!

Your perceptions are not what happens, but how you look upon the things that happen. Because your perceptions are completely under your control, you can choose to view negative events without permitting them to irrevocably damage your deep felt sense of happiness!

If not today, when?

 

If you want to make more money and move your career curve upward, you need to do somethings other people don’t want to do.

What is the edge that you can bring to your present employment to show your superiors that you’re a keeper and must be rewarded financially in order to keep you as an employee?

Is it your enthusiasm? Is it your problem solving skills? Is it your curiosity that reveals ideas you can bring to your employer to improve sales? Is it your willingness to work overtime? Is it your punctuality? Is it your pleasant demeanor in stressful work related situations?

You just can’t do the same thing each day and expect different results!

What is your edge?

If not today, when?

We were in the funeral home because our son’s best friend had died in an auto accident at the age of 21. Many years earlier, the dead boy’s older brother had died in an auto accident also.

His parents were receiving the condolences of mourners when our son came up to the dead boy’s father. He just stood there in front of him and began to cry.

Although there were still other mourners in line, the boy’s father left the other people and took our son off to the side. He spent considerable time trying to console our son who was heartbroken by  the loss of his best friend.

The man who needed condolences was instead consoling someone who needed it also.

That act of selflessness will always remain with me!

If not today, when?

 

 

Thankfully, our lives are only served up one day at a time. They’re like bite sized morsels. And, that’s the way you build our life, one day at a time.

So, each day counts toward what you make of yourself. Don’t allow yourself to end any day without doing one thing well!

It could be that you had a very positive achievement of some kind or that you handled a negative incident very well. These are all the building blocks of a successful life. Don’t allow anyone to dictate who or what you are.

Just continue to to do one thing well each day and you will build a strong foundation that no one can take away from you.

You are what you make of yourself!

If not today, when?

 

Of course, everything has its price and worry is no exception. Now, after 77 years of living, I’ve had my share of worries. I’ve always been a risk taker by starting up numerous businesses and these worries were self made.

Many of our worries are self made and come about as the result of poor decision making. So, these worries can be reduced in number  with better decisions.

Worries that are created by circumstances out of your control are a different matter. When these occur, some thoughts:

1. Ask yourself, “Can I help solve the issue?” If so, do something.
2. If you can’t help, pray!
3. If it doesn’t directly affect you, turn it loose!                                                                                                                                                       Worries can be crippling. Please try to prevent them from dictating the course of your life. Each day presents the opportunity to start anew.                                                                                                                                                                                         If not today, when? 

I think we have all done things that, in hindsight, we regret. Was it your idea or was it prompted by a friend?

Some friendships add to the quality of our lives while other “so called” friends may diminish our happiness either accidentally or deliberately.

Have you established certain standards of behavior that you will not violate? If not, it is about time you did! Without a system of values, you will always be susceptible to bad advice.

You should make decisions not to please others if those decisions violate your standards of behavior. And, if the same friend is trying to influence you to do the wrong thing, he or she doesn’t deserve to be your friend any longer.

It’s your life! Be true to yourself!

If not today, when?

 

Do you say, “I love you” often enough? Even though they know you love them, it’s very nice to hear the words.

There are also even more dramatic ways to express your love:

Look at the responsibilities of your partner and volunteer to make some them yours from now on.

Think of some little surprise that can lift your partner’s burden today.

When asked to do something, don’t ignore it and do it as soon as you can.

Be sure to give compliments when occasions dictate.

Say “Thank you” in return for an act of kindness extended to you.

Never criticize or demean your partner in front of other people!

Express your gratitude that he or she is in your life!

If not today, when?

 

All week long, you’re running around performing all your responsibilities at work and at home. I’m sure much of your time is spent for the benefit others.

So, how about setting some time aside just for you on the weekends? Hopefully, you have some discretionary time that you can use to refresh your soul on the weekend.

Remember, if you don’t take good care of you, you won’t be able to address the needs of others over the long haul of your life! What activity would most assuredly refresh your soul? Of course, it’s different for all of us.

Take a moment now and ask yourself how you would like to spend some time every weekend just for yourself?

If not today, when?

Want a better world? Let it begin with you!

When is the last time you extended an act of kindness to another person? You want strangers to treat you right? Perform some simple act of kindness for a stranger.

It can be some simple thing like allowing a person to take your place in line at the check out counter in the grocery store. Surprising a family member with their favorite dessert would be a big hit. A small gesture can go a long way like buying a cup of coffee for a co-worker.

Good manners while driving is usually noticed by other drivers. It  sends a message that we can even be kind to someone we don’t know and will never meet.

You have the power to make your world better today!

If not today, when?

 

With the universal interest in the social media, many people don’t take the time nor have the inclination to read. If this is true with you, here some reading benefits to consider:

It’s a retreat from the world around you. You are free to escape all the unwanted activity and slip into a world of your choosing. It’s time set aside just for you.

Find great entertainment in a book. There are more prolific authors than ever before. Lose yourself in a compelling story.

You can travel anywhere without leaving home. Explore faraway places and gain the wisdom of ancient civilizations that you can apply in your own life.

Take online classes that can enable you to change careers. If your career has become stagnate, go back to school online and become a student again.

If not today, when?