Thought I'd Share...

"It takes years to build up trust, but only seconds to destroy it.
You can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that you'd better know something.
Don't compare yourself to the best others can do,
But to the best you can do.
It's not what happens to people that's important.
It's what they do about it.
Always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
You control your attitude or it controls you.
It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
Your background and circumstances may have influenced who you are,
But you are responsible for who you become.
Even if you do the right thing for the wrong reason,
It's still the wrong thing to do.--Anonymous

Much Of the Battle Is Within Us.

Much of the battle is within us;
For we must overcome the tendency
To be negative, afraid and lazy.

~ I forgot who said it but I'm sure it was a great individual because that is a very wise and true quote.


I have been finding myself lazy to update my blog. I am doing absolutely nothing besides listening music but somehow I keep putting it off cause I don't want to think. While in the mean time my mind is bombarded with negative thoughts which means that in effect I'm actually wasting time and not being productive. Being negative, afraid and lazy are three of the main things that hold us back. Any of the three leads to unproductive behavior. The good news is that we are not stuck with these tendencies forever. They are just bad habits, habits can be changed.
NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE EASY. BUT IT IS POSSIBLE.

I tend to be negative, most of the time, I'm working on it and I think I am becoming successful.
Negative thinking is a habit. Nothing more. After practicing something for a long enough time, you actually become good at it. Negative thinking is no different. The brain got "good" at the negative thought pattern so now it's like second nature, it just happens. But, of course we can change that! Just like how you practiced negative thinking, you can also start practicing positive thinking. There's is no trick in going from being pessimistic to being optimist. You are the one making the choice. YOU CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS, THEY DO NOT CONTROL YOU! Simply being more conscious and aware of what you are thinking, then replacing the negative with a positive can make a huge difference. However, this doesn't happen over night. I read somewhere that said " for every negative you need 5 positives" ( or 4 positives ?) I agree, one positive thought replacing a negative one doesn't really help much when you are automatically negative. Act like an optimist and you will ultimately become one. Try it. Go around acting like 'Pollyanna', look for the best in things, eventually that too will become habit. A good one.

Afraid! Who isn't afraid of something? My personal issue is that I am not actually afraid, it's just my mind telling me that I am or creating reasons of why I should be. There was once a time when I was actually afraid, literally fearful. But then I got over it Thank God. A good remedy for fear is Faith. Yup! You are not a religious person, doesn't mean you can't be faithful. In my case, I just prayed and believed, I am from a Christian background. Praying is one of the easiest things you can do to combat fear. "Fear Not For The Lord Is With Thee" I'm not sure of what scripture that is. But it helped! Another way to combat fear is by using Affirmations. Saying positive words out loud, leads to having more positive thoughts in the mind, which leads a great feeling in the body. One affirmation that I got from Susan Jeffers' book 'Feel the Fear... and Do it Anyway is' "I am powerful and I am Loving and I have nothing to fear" and "I let go and I trust" There are a lot of affirmations all over the internet. Just Google it.


LAZY! LAZY!LAZY! I try not to be but...you know. I am going to be completely honest right now, after purchasing and reading all those self- help books I should be like A self-help Guru by now. Really. But guess what, reading the books alone doesn't help. I have to do the exercise and practice what I've learn. Do I do that?...well I try. Step by step, I'll get there. I tend to resist, I know what I should be doing, yoga, meditation, saying my affirmations, praying, or listening to my inspiration audios, all these things make me feel so good when I practice them. As much as I like how it feels, I STILL RESIST. I still haven't come with an explanation for my resistance. I know that I resist meditation because I'm afraid what might come up in my mind, like something that I really don't want to deal with. I know I'm going have to look at whatever it is that I am hiding from myself if I want to get better. It's a bit complicated though. However, I'm growing and learning and I'm getting better and better everyday in every way. Being a resister myself, I can only say that when you feel like resisting....Just Do It! Or think of the rewards in doing what you are resisting to do. The rewards list is always good motivation.


Make a habit of not being negative, not being afraid and not being lazy.
In other words, make a habit of being positive, faithful and productive!
And...YES YOU CAN!

...I just realized that being negative makes you afraid and when you are afraid you don't want to do anything which some would call being lazy. Makes sense?


Word to the Wise: Everything You Do Is A Choice!

The Power Of NOW

I've recently realized that I get a better feeling when I add "now" to the end of my affirmations.
For example : I am happy NOW or I am healthy NOW. I suggest that you try it. Adding now brings sense of power and love or even peace that I just cant explain.

No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope and fear;
But grateful take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
John G. Whittier

Being present and in the Now is one of the best things you can do to improve your life. I know its hard, TRUST ME, I know. Attempting to say in the present moment is a great challenge for me. However, I am sure that it can be done. Okay, the present moment can be a bit boring like it is right now in my house. Its really quiet, I can hear the activity from outside (cars, planes, kids) I can see the trees bouncing lightly back and forth through my window. All these things believe it or not brings this peacefulness and a profound feeling of well-being.

My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. - Michel de Montaigne

One thing that you must do in order to stay present is to appreciate life for what it is instead of living in your head and creating a "false" world. The things you are thinking about sometimes aren't necessarily real, people create a false realities for themselves all the time. Either because they are trying to escape reality or they are thinking about the past or dreaming of the future.

Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.~Benjamin Franklin

Worrying prevents us from being present because in our minds we are trying to figure out how to fix what it is we are worrying about. Some benefits of being present that I've noticed are....YES! You've guessed it... FEWER NEGATIVE THOUGHTS!!!! yay!!!Instead of being stuck in your head, your focus is outside and in the present moment. Hence, there is somewhat of a blockage to negative thoughts but they are never too far off.

If you don't like something change it; if you cant change it, change the way you think about it.~Mary Engelbreit

For motivation to stay in the present moment I always try to look for the beauty in my surroundings. If there is anything wrong think of ways to make it better or just SIMPLY CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT! Also, looking at things from different perspective keeps you in the present moment longer.

Add the word "NOW" to your affirmations. Even Try to think of the word "NOW" through out your day to bring you back into the present. Don't forget that the Present is A Gift.

Person Benjamin Franklin

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Powerful Beyond Measure

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to brilliant, gorgeous,
Talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that
Other people will not feel secure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were all meant to make manifest this glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us: It is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give others the permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fears,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
~Marianne Williamson.

Blog Inspiration

I got the title for this blog from a prayer that a Wise-Man* introduced me to.

"I know God has not given us the spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind."

A wonderful prayer indeed, I might share it with you in the future. The initial title for the blog was supposed to be "Direction to Perfection" now I feel as though it should be "Work in Progress" because that is what I am - A Work in Progress! Funny enough, I just realized that this morning. I am no "self-help- positive- thinking-I've- got- it- all- figured- out" guru. I am simply an individual trying to find my way or the right way. I wanted this blog to inspire those who read it so I was trying to think of things that would be pleasing to an audience. Then I came to my senses - I don't have an audience ( this is not a show!) and even if I did, I don't know who they are or what they want to read. So, I decided that instead of trying to impress an unknown audience, why not just be real and express myself. That has been one of my problem areas in life. I frequently seek approval, trying to live up to other people's ideals. Enough! I want to impress ME!

I JUST NEED TO BE ME! BE FREE! JUST BE!

It's harder than it sounds, people's criticism will play in my head for months. No joke. I've been striving to be "an individual" for a few months now, doing as I please, but I still find myself holding back because there is always that one person who is going to object. What I will try is ( this is quite difficulty) to move out of my comfort zone. I am going to wear bright blue nail polish! ( I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but it kind of is) People are going to say that I'm doing it for attention. I am going to do it anyways.Even if I ask for attention, you don't have to give it to me.


Word To The Wise: Living according to someone else's ideals is just a waste - of time, energy and precious life. No matter how much you try to please some people, in their minds they are just not impressed. Try pleasing Yourself and see how happy that makes you.

I cannot give the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure - which is to try to please everybody.~ Bill Cosby

Do what you want. Express yourself. Don't hold back. Be an individual. Don't conform to someone else's ideal or what you think might impress others.


My new motto is : If they are not impressing you, then you shouldn't be worried about impressing them. Even if you are impressed by them, try to impress yourself.


Note : When you find yourself second guessing yourself because of what others might think. Just do it. Remember it is really your life, not theirs.

AFFIRM: I APPROVE OF MYSELF! Say it 100 times! (if you can)

* - You'll probably read a lot about this mentor of mine. He's truly an inspiration

-Love Power Sound Mind

Let Your Mind Dwell On These Things

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
- Philippians 4:8

Currently, the quote above is on my mirror. I think that its a great one for encouraging positive thoughts and its actually a scripture from the Bible. It basically states that GOOD things are what you should be focusing on. Hence, Positive thinking. Simple.

Positive and negative are directions. Which direction do you choose?

Positive thoughts require a lot of work and commitment but I think that we are more than capable of accomplishing it. With LOVE in our hearts and the POWER/will to change, we can ultimately end up with a SOUND MIND filled with positive thoughts. If we love ourselves and loved ones enough to initiate change, we will move on to enjoying life more and creating a better world.

So often time it happens, we all live our life in chains, and we never even know we have the key. ~The Eagles,

People don't realize how much potential they have within themselves. Its not worth it to sink into depression. YOU were meant to do great things on this planet, YOU are capable of doing something. Life can get us down sometimes, no matter who you are there have been some mishaps in your life but don't let that deter you.

The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is so much to be grateful for in this life. Just look up at the sky!Beautiful? Look at nature, the trees, the flowers, beautiful? Your family, your health. Grateful? Your house, your car, your arm, your leg. Are we Thankful yet? What I've learned is that there is always someone who is worst off than you, so learn to be grateful for what you do have.

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. ~Herm Albright

[SMILE! :-)]



- LOVE POWER SOUND MIND