Category Archives: Seen Elsewhere

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A Thankful Thanksgiving by Jim Rohn

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My friend Darren Hardy, who is President of TSTN, posted this to his blog a few days ago and it begs to be shared:

A Thankful Thanksgiving by Jim Rohn

As a person who has experienced over 70 Thanksgivings, I recognize that being thankful is something that we have to work at, even on Thanksgiving.

Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest for becoming more thankful:

Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have “it”. But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I’m thankful for.

Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, “I sure wish I had what he does.” That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank. And not just during the holidays – everybody works there then – but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. The next time you are at lunch with a friend, ask him or her what they are most thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.

Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you’ll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.

Of course we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn’t it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let’s do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds will experience more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune.

Happy Thanksgiving! ~Jim Rohn

Seen Elsewhere

What’s your excuse?

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Ben Underwood plays killer foosball and is an absolute master of video games. But so are a lot of 14-year-olds.

Except Ben is blind.

Watch this video and maybe you’ll see that the limitations you think you have, really aren’t limitations after all….

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It’s how you play your cards

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Jonathan Swain

I’ve heard it said that it’s not important what hand you’re dealt in life, it’s how you play your cards.

According to MSNBC “by any measure, Jonathan Swain, who contracted AIDS as a baby in 1983, isn’t supposed to be here.” But this is not just a story about an AIDS baby who made it. This is a story about a very special human being who still refuses to accept that just because you’re dealt a bad hand doesn’t mean you always have to fold.

It’ll take a little time to read this story, but trust me, it’s worth the investment. I promise you’ll think a whole lot differently about the cards you are holding in your hand right now.

Read more about Jonathan Swain…

Seen Elsewhere

Everything happens for a reason

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Here is a great article that appeared in Jeff Keller’s newsletter this month. It bears reading every couple of months because the wisdom is incredible.

Would you like to enjoy more success and have less stress in your life? Do you wish that your daily aggravations had less power over you? Would you appreciate some peace of mind?No, you don’t need to find a genie in a bottle to enjoy these spectacular benefits. What you do need, however, is a belief in one key concept — that everything happens for a reason.When I began speaking before groups more than ten years ago, I often asked the members of my audience, “How many of you believe that everything happens for a reason?” Typically, about 25% of the people would raise their hands. Now, when I ask that same question, anywhere from 50% to 80% of the audience answers in the affirmative.

Whether you already believe that things happen for a purpose, or are unsure about this notion, here are some points to consider to get the maximum results from this principle:

1. Don’t curse your present circumstances … or gripe about the past. When we encounter “negative” or stressful situations in our lives, our immediate reaction is to be outraged, frustrated or depressed. This is the start of a downward spiral in which we fill our minds with gloomy thoughts and generate more negative results.

On the contrary, when you believe there’s a purpose for your difficulties, your state of mind is quite different. You realize that your current situation is serving you in some way, whether it’s a turn in the road or a lesson that you can apply at a later date.

2. This principle is not limited to tragedies and problems.

While it’s true that you can find positive aspects to every setback, the idea that everything happens for a reason applies to positive experiences and “neutral” events as well.

For instance, let’s say that you meet someone at a networking meeting. The person holds no special significance to you and doesn’t seem likely to bring you any business.

What you’re not considering are the possible ways that the two of you might help each other in the future.

3. Being passive is not the answer. Just because there is a “reason” for the events that happen to you doesn’t mean you can achieve your goals by sitting back and waiting for success to occur on its own. It’s still up to you to be proactive and make things happen. That requires energy, creativity and, yes, a lot of effort on your part!

4. Recognize the “two way street.” It’s easy to get caught up with the idea that every person you meet has something to contribute to you. That’s true to some extent. But, don’t overlook the fact that there is something for you to impart to others as well!

And, while there are often ways in which each party contributes to the other, there are many instances where it’s not an equal “give and take.” Thus, there are times in a relationship when you may be serving another person more often than you are receiving from them.

5. You are always being directed toward something “better.”

Have you ever been fired from a job … then moved on to find a better career? Or, have you terminated a personal relationship (or been terminated yourself!) … and then met someone who was a far better partner for you?

In both of these instances, life was pushing you toward something that would bring you even more satisfaction. Of course, in all of these situations, you had the option to close off the improved alternative.

For instance, after being fired, you could have complained about the lack of job opportunities. Or, after the relationship ended, you could have concluded that you are “unlucky in love.” Yet, had you taken these approaches, you would have missed the better situation that was just around the corner.

6. You’ll never be able to explain everything. The notion that “everything happens for a reason” will not answer every question that you have about life! On the contrary, although you’ll find that you are better able to understand certain events, there will still be many mysteries that you can’t explain.

There are no coincidences. When you believe this, you’ll enter a new world of possibility. When a problem occurs, instead of crying, “Why Me?” you’ll look for the lesson you can learn, or the opportunity that is on the horizon.

You’ll realize that it makes no sense to argue that something shouldn’t have happened to you. It did happen …

there’s a reason for it … and, if you’re wise, you’ll use it to your advantage!

You can subscribe to Jeff’s outstanding newsletter here….

(c) Attitude is Everything

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3 days with 2 legends

Are you ready to accomplish more in the rest of this year than you have in the last five years — combined! And it’s as easy as “flipping the switch”…when you know which switch to flip.

I’ve been working on this for several years and finally put it together — two living legends who transformed my life and the lives of millions of others around the globe are getting together for the first time. And they’ll show you how to create an action plan that virtually guarantees you will be more, earn more, love more and live more!

Find out how to Claim Your Power Now….