“Human relationships are the perfect tool for sanding away our rough edges and getting at the core of divinity within us.”
-- Eknath Easwaran
Dr. Brené Brown is a researcher professor at the University of Houston, Graduate College of Social Work, where she has spent the past ten years studying a concept that she calls Wholeheartedness, posing the questions: How do we engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness? How do we cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough -- that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy?
365 DAYS. TWO WORDS. ONE MIRACULOUS TRUE STORY.
One recent December, at age 53, John Kralik found his life at a terrible, frightening low. All aspects of his life seemed to be failing: his relationships with his children and partner, his work, his health.
Then, hiking on New Year's Day, John was struck by the thought that his life might become at least tolerable if he could be grateful for what he had. Inspired by a beautiful, simple note he had received thanking him for a Christmas gift, John set himself the goal of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.
One by one, day after day, he handwrote thank yous for gifts or kindnesses he'd received, large and small, from loved ones and coworkers, past business associates and current foes, school friends and doctors and handymen and neighbours, and anyone, really, who'd done him a good turn.
Immediately after he'd sent his very first notes, surprising benefits began to come John's way. Over the year John was writing his notes, his whole life turned around.
365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir, its touching message delivered in the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a good life. To read 365 Thank Yous is to be changed.
365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life
by John Kralik
Format: Hardcover
ISBN : 9781401324056
Publisher: Hyperion
Published: 2010
Available from Amazon
or, in Australia, from Fishpond.com.au
"If your guard is up, let it down. If you've constructed a defensive wall to protect yourself and keep all the bad guys out, don't forget who that wall also prevents from getting in - the good guys."
Brendon Burchard
It's a wise custom to end an old year and begin a new one with serious self-reflection.
What did you learn this year that could improve your life and make you a wiser and better person?
If you want to have a successful and fulfilling New year, start by examining the way you think and feel about your job, your relationships, and yourself. After all, the single most important factor in personal happiness and your impact on others is your attitude.
In the geometry of life, the axiom is "positive attitudes produce positive results." They make success more likely, failures less harmful, pleasures more frequent, and pain more bearable. Some people tend to bring warm sunshine wherever they go; others bring cold chills. What do you bring?
To find out where you can improve, take an inventory of your predispositions, the attitude you're most likely to start with:
Are you generally optimistic or pessimistic?
Do you tend to assume the best or expect the worst of people?
Is your first instinct to be empathetic or judgmental?
Is your first instinct to be supportive or critical?
Do you send the message that you enjoy life or that you're barely enduring it?
Do you come across as the captain of your own ship or simply a passenger?
Wherever you are on the positive-attitude spectrum, think how much better things could be if you were more consistently and self-consciously optimistic, empathetic, supportive, grateful, enthusiastic, hopeful, and cheerful.
So why not resolve to think, act, and speak more positively about yourself, your family, your coworkers, and everyone else in your life?
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.
Michael Josephson
www.charactercounts.org
Learn how to turn your anxiety into a great public speech with this free video lesson from a professional public speaker.
"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly."
Thomas H. Huxley
"Presenters using visuals conduct meetings in 28% less time, increase audience retention as much as five times, and get proposals approved twice as often"
~ Claire Raines and Linda Williamson
It was by invitation only.
Every single Friday, a group of four women met for lunch. Usually, they either had Chinese food, hamburgers, or salads. However, it really did not matter what the cuisine was; rather, it was the friendship and support they derived from each other that was important.
Throughout the years there had been plenty of happy occasions that would be the center of discussion around their Friday meal; however, there also had been so much sorrow and sadness discussed around the table, throughout the many restaurant meals.
When Helen discussed the upcoming marriage of her son, all four were so generally happy and proud. However, when Carol was sharing her pain in regard to her sister-in-law's recurring cancer all in the "lunch group" got the same lumps in their throats.
When Allene's daughter made wedding plans at a Caribbean hotel all were happy; however when the wedding day happened to coincide with the arrival of a hurricane on the island, not too many of the family and guests were pleased. (However, fortunately, the wedding was moved to another location on the mainland and the bride and groom eventually had smiles on their faces--and everyone as well.)
One of the group's members, Toby, experienced a trauma when her son was involved in a near-fatal injury; however, she, too, eventually returned to the group. And Toby, her family, and her son are doing well -- partly due to the support of the "lunch group."
I think that the "lunch group" learned many years ago that "Life is not fair;" however, it is important to "play the hand you are dealt the best you can."
That attitude was vital when Helen's husband became ill with dementia. For a few years, she lived with him in their home, taking care of him. Then, when the illness became even more severe, he had to be hospitalized, eventually going to a nursing home. For more than a year, Helen went daily to that facility. She wanted to make sure her husband was as happy as he could be, doing the best she could "with the cards she had been dealt." But she was not alone. Every day, she had family and friends with her and her husband at the nursing home; however, not on Friday afternoons during lunch time. On Fridays, after she made sure that her husband had his meal, guess where she would go? You guessed it - she would be with her "lunch group."
All four were always ready to do anything necessary for the other three. (That is the true meaning of "friendship.") However, one day the group could do nothing but cry as one of the four, Allene, passed away. She had been so ill for so long, but three things were a certainty: she was always smiling; she never complained; and -- she always made her Friday "lunch group" with the other three.
There was an empty seat that Friday when the others decided to return to their ritual. However, the others seemed to be able to feel a "spirit" at Allene's empty chair. At first, there were many tears around the table; however, soon there was a feeling of comfort. I think Allene would have wanted the group to continue. In fact, everyone who knew her believed that; she was that kind of special person.
The four were, and are, all wonderful in their own special ways; however, they all possess such loving hearts, caring souls, and were, and are, friends to the end. True friends are so important.
The members of the "lunch group" were, and are, so very lucky as they will always have each other -- forever.
Michael Jordan Segal ©2008
Michael Jordan Segal, who defied all odds after being shot in the head, is a husband, father, social worker, freelance author (including a CD/Download of 12 stories, read with light backgroud music, entitled POSSIBLE), and inspirational speaker, sharing his recipe for happiness, recovery and success before conferences and businesses. To contact Mike or to order his CD, please visit www.InspirationByMike.com as well as checking out his youtube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNeRqpaoNpQ
