Daily Mood Quotes - November 8, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quote

Day 188 – November 8, 2011

The thought manifests the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops in the habit; Habit hardens into the character; Character gives birth to the destiny; So, watch your thoughts with care, And let it spring from love; Born out of respect for all beings...

~Maha Ghosananda

Yesterday, I was on a tirade because of the laziness I saw in others. Its effect on me was very negative, because I allowed the negativity that others put out to cause me to act and react just a poorly as those, who were in my opinion, lazy. Shame on me for giving it that kind of energy.

Last night my husband found an article on the internet titled Buddhist Intention: Being Kind in Unkind Times by Mediation Teacher Larry Yang from the HuffPost Religion section (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larry-yang/intention-being-kind-in-unkind-times_b_1077740.html). My husband asked me to read it and when I was finished, I felt ashamed because I had allowed the difficulties of my life, and those highlighted by the news media, which provides a constant stream of negative information (painful experiences, disasters, poverty – 49.1 million people, just to name a few) from the television and radio, to have an effect on me without realizing it. I also allowed my husband's and my difficulty in finding a job, to color my perception of what I am seeing in the current workforce. Having the holidays right around the corner only added to the stress and further colored my perception of the world.

In the article Mr. Yang quotes Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank; two people who saw the world for what it could be while enduring what it was in their time. Robert F. Kennedy said, “There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why...I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” It seems as if I had gotten caught up in the “whys” and completely forgot about the “why nots?” Mr. Yang's article reminded me of why I started this blog in the first place. I am not by nature an unkind person and yet I got caught up in all the negativity that surrounds us, courtesy of the economy and the 24/7 news cycle and was swept away by it, at least temporarily. Now I must stop to mention, going through menopause really doesn't help. I feel like I'm in hormone hell, but I know this is a hell that will pass. Unlike the one I was headed for, if I would have continued down the path of negativity. Like Yoda (yes I like that little green sage) said to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back, "But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny," Well it's time to pull out of that negative spin and spin life in a positive direction. 

Rodney Atkins says it best when he sings, “If you’re going through Hell; Keep on going, don't slow down, if you're scared, don't show it; You might get out, Before the devil even knows you're there” but if you engage in the meanness of hell, then you might just get stuck there. My husband says, “The true test of integrity is being kind to people whose opinions, attitudes and actions could make your blood boil, even if your heart is in the right place. Its not as easy as it may sound." Robert Kennedy also said, “Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies." It's a deliberate choice to change an attitude; one only you can make.

Just something to think about. “Kindness in Unkind Times” Thank you Mr. Yang.

How will you be kind today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quote - November 3, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 183 – November 3, 2011

“Integrity is telling myself the truth. And honesty is telling the truth to other people.”

~Spencer Johnson

Integrity is defined as, adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character, honest. And, honesty is defined as, the quality of fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness. Truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness, freedom from deceit or fraud. (thank you Dictionary.com). So, if we know what they mean, then why do we have so much difficulty in understanding them.?

Over the past several months, I have used the mute button on my remote control to silence the political ads on television, and when they come on the radio, I turn it off. I don't know about you, but as a voter, I am sick and tired of the negative, pointing fingers, he said, she said, they said...I say, “knock it off, I've heard enough.” Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Tea Party, really as the song by Billy Joel goes, “we didn't start the fire, it was always burning, since the world's been turning, we didn't start the fire, no we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it.” Now we're just sick of being burned by people who can apparently do nothing but point fingers, find fault and distract us from the truth that none of them are really worthy of our votes. Personally, I wish they would put their fingers in a light socket, it may shock back to common sense. You never know...

So, in all the political crap, where is the truth? Hidden by political advisers and PR firms, who would sell their bosses out for a nickel and a shot at an interview on 60 Minutes. And also, where pray tell is the most remote relevance to what they should be focusing on? The needs of the people should be on all the agenda's of those running for office. Somehow, somewhere the “vote for me, because the other person is worse” has become acceptable practice. To quote an old friend from Long Island, “What, Are you kidding me!! It's like dealing with a group of elementary school children on a kindergarten playground, trying to be the most popular student. Getting attention and gaining popularity through tattle-tailing? Obviously, we missed those lessons about growing up and taking responsibility for our actions. It just makes me sick to see our political system, once the highest expression of human aspiration, dragged into the gutters by these losers. “We the people” let this happen and “we the people” will need to make a few adjustments to what we pay attention to. That is if we can pry ourselves away form reality shows, video games and online auctions long enough to see what we have let happen.

Here's where the honesty and integrity part comes in, let's be honest with ourselves; we as a nation only pay attention to the bad crap and not to the important issues, unless we're the ones who are suffering. “Painful, the truth is.” (Thanks Yoda). Personally, I'd say “Vote for none of the Above!” just as Monty Brewster, (played by Richard Pryor) said in Brewster's Millions, but that would let the “biggest loser” win without a fight. And so even though we disapprove, we let it slide and those of us who aren't buried in their Wii tennis, wobble to the poles and punch the button for the name they recognize most. Ouch, I've even done that once - a very long time ago and I apologize to all of America for that. Its insanity and we perpetuate and enable it by our apathy. Thomas Jefferson said, “Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom.” So lets wise up and be honest about that fact that we let ourselves get into this situation by our own collective hand. We have to get ourselves out by participating a little in our own governmental process (remember grade school civics class?). In the movie The American President, Lewis Rothschild (played by Michael J. Fox) said “...And in this country it is not only permissible to question our leaders, it's our responsibility!” By the way that's the last thing they really want. As Michael Douglas who played President Andrew Shepard in the same movie noted, “And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you, (insert candidate here) is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things and two things only: making you afraid of it and telling you who's to blame for it. That, ladies and gentlemen, is how you win elections.” Sadly, that theatrical bit of monologue is painfully true. Just watch what happens over the next 12 months. We are in for an interesting year...more thoughts on honesty, truth and integrity tomorrow.

How will you be honest today?

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Thank you for reading.

Daily Mood Quotes - November 1, 2011

 

Daily Mood Quotes

Day 181 – November 1, 2011

They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.

~Andy Warhol (1928-1987)

How many of us knew that this quote was actually The Philosophy of Andy Warhol? Several years ago in my undergrad program I took a music and art class, my final class project was the life of Andy Warhol. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he grew up to be a noted American artist (his work is amazing) and a filmmaker. Many credit him with leading the Pop Art movement in the 1960's. In reading his story, he once said, “I'd prefer to remain a mystery. I never give my background and, anyway I make it all up different every time I'm asked.” I guess it's safe to say, Mr. Warhol did it his way.

You know as I sit here typing this morning, I wonder if maybe that's the key, "doing it his way" or maybe just a different way. We all have a chance to change things, for the better, or worse; for richer, or poorer; in sickness, or health (I know these are the marriage vows, but think about them in the context of daily life). Three years ago, my husband was diagnosed with a life-long, crippling autoimmune illness and was facing the rest of his life sitting in a wheelchair. From doctor to doctor, medication to medication and one frustrating day after another we pushed forward and we found a way to overcome the pain. Just this past summer, with doctor's approval he began walking (this was a full two years into the diagnoses). He could barely walk 300 feet before the pain was too much to handle. His words “It's like standing in a blast furnace with your face, feet and hands in molten metal.” Through strength of mind, force of will, and good doctor care, my husband can now walk three miles a day with minimal pain and his quality of life has increased, while his time in the wheelchair has disappeared. It sits in the corner of our bedroom as a constant reminder and motivator.

The point is, sometimes when the odds are stacked against us, we need to change, or invent a new way of looking at our lives, Mr. Warhol did, often.  It seems much of the problem revolved not around the immune system attacking his nerves, but also how much he used his hands and feet. Common sense says to use them less to decrease the pain, but the reality was that the more he walked and used his hands the better he felt, to a point. There simply is no real way to get around the pain, just reduce it. His career was working against him; he had spent the last 25 years sitting at a computer in a occupation that made that behavior a requisite. Not any more... He still cannot sit in any way, at any angle for more than an hour at a time without blazing pain. Counter-intuitive yes, but true none-the-less. Hey, maybe we should place a computer on a wall...just a thought, it makes us laugh every time we say it.

In the movie Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda (played by Frank Oz) said, “No~ No different. Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.” and in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Yoda said to Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), “Much to learn you still have...my old padawan.”...”This is just the beginning!” You see it doesn't matter where you are in your life, Harrison Ford said, “we all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.” What you do with that second chance is a choice. My husband chooses not to quit and I stand along side him and we walk three miles a day, together.

Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.

~King Whitney, Jr.

How will you view change today?

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Thank you for reading

Daily Mood Quote - June 1, 2011

Daily Mood Quote

Day 28 – June 1, 2011

 

“Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”

 ~Napoleon Hill

One of my favorite writers is Napoleon Hill. This quote gives me reason for pause every time I read it, because in my lifetime I have witnessed, been party to and made the mistake of not thinking before speaking. We are in a time where social networking, immediate responses and instant gratification have become the norm. The problem is when we “fire off” our statements before we think them through, the effect, in some cases, can be negative and lifelong. It can affect you, your career, relationships and loved ones, instantly.

Each of us individually has a great power. “The power of words.” I remembered as a child the phrase, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Except words, they do hurt, they hurt everyone, the person you are speaking too, the issue you are speaking about and they hurt you, the speaker. “yes, sticks and stones can break my bones, but they will heal.  Words can hurt and can last a lifetime.” For many of us, words do last a lifetime. Words have the power to initiate peace, or create conflict. To make the world a better place, or much worse. Now, with social networking sites the words we say for the world to see, can be seen all over the world. What you put in cyberspace has a great affect, not just to the person or issue you are speaking about, but on any opportunities you may be seeking, like... a job. I know we may delete what we say, but truly once it is “out there”, it is there forever, and it doesn't matter how many times you hit the “delete” button. Someone somewhere read it before you deleted it, remembered it and pass it along through conversations. There is a concept called, “six degrees of separation” Imagine this recipe, you wrote something negative, someone read it, passed it along, and before you know it, it reaches someone who actually knows or has heard of you, now add some more negative words like, “I hate” or “embarrassed” or adjectives like “stupid” or “ignorant” and you are speaking about a class, social group or culture. The recipe result is disastrous, for you and those around you. As our little green friend Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) said to Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, in Star Wars: Episode V, The Empire Strikes Back... “Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”

I am not a big fan of being politically correct, but I am a fan of honesty and thinking before you speak. I had a college professor drive home the point in a communications class, “It's not what you say, it's how you say it.” When we choose angry and hateful words, we choose to have it come back on us. In an earlier blog (Day Seven, May 11,... I promise to not do many call-backs, but this begged to be restated) the quote was:

"It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
— J. W. Goethe

The simple fact of the matter is, you get what you give. No matter what you call it, the energy you put out there is the energy you will get back. Many would call that karma. My husband calls it balancing the universe.”

What will you think about before you communicate today?

Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote

Thank you for reading