To be beautiful means to be yourself

“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

A key to prosperity...

“A key to prosperity is to simply add value, that is, make something or someone better. Add value to your surroundings and you will prosper!” ~ Pastor Phil

The best way to find yourself...

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others" 

~ Mahatma Gandhi

No matter what it is you’re working on...

Chef’s Note: No matter what it is you’re working on, everything that touches the product MUST be of the highest possible quality.  Integrity is a key ingredient here, along with Self-Confidence and Perseverance.  You must demand the best of yourself, insist on the best from others, and never settle for anything less.  

change is life shedding one’s skin

our suffering is caused by the learned reaction of fearing the inevitable change in life rather than by embracing them as opportunities to heal and develop. change is life shedding one’s skin ~ it allows a more beautiful you to emerge…

Judging and shaming...

“Judging and shaming children gets you nowhere. Just being there for them, and holding a loving space, allows for the relationship to blossom.” ~ Wally Amos

If we are peaceful, if we are happy...

"If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Go to Grow...

Thank you God! Thank you for the ability to greet each day with gratitude and a positive outlook – seeing each circumstance not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to grow and allow my faith to see your hand at work in this life. I firmly believe that we “go to things” so that we can GROW through things…think…we GO to GROW! See the Opportunity…

Take Action...

"Take Action...The antidote to worry is action, Do something! As you begin to focus on doing, you will get results and a new perspective on your situation. No matte how large or small the problem, it's important not to take on the whole thing. Break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Don't become anxious, worried or frustrated. See your problems as friends to help you expand your critical thinking capability. Also, remember problems do not come to stay, they come to pass." ~ Aloha, Wally

The quality of my life matters...

 The quality of my life matters and I strive to live the best I can! My goal is to live out the plan set before me. Focus on the good things and give thanks. I practice healthy habits, because when I feel good physically I feel good emotionally. Everywhere I see a new source of happiness. Today, I choose to look at life through appreciative eyes focusing on the small things that bring joy, health and happiness.

“Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live.”

Don’t Let Bitterness Take Root

Years ago, there was a terrible outbreak of disease in a tiny village in a remote part of Africa. Both children and adults were getting sick with nausea. Several weeks passed, and the sickness became widespread, and people started dying. Word of the disease reached the main city in that area, and experts were dispatched to try to figure out what was causing the problem. They soon discovered the water was contaminated.  The village was getting its water supply from a mountain stream that was fed from a spring, so the experts decided to trek upstream and hopefully find the source of pollution. They traveled for days and finally came to the mouth of the stream. But on the surface they found nothing wrong. Puzzled they decided to send some divers down to search as closely to the spring's opening as possible. 

What they found shocked the experts.  A large mother pig and her baby piglets were wedged right at the opening of the spring. Evidently they had fallen in, drowned and somehow got stuck there. Now all that crystal-clear, pure mountain springwater was being contaminated as it flowed past the decomposing remains of the dead pigs. In no time after the divers were able to remove the dead pigs, the water begin to flow clean and pure again.

In our lives, something similar takes place. We all have negative things happened to us. Maybe last week, last month, or ten to twenty years ago somebody hurt us. Too often instead of lettings it go and giving it to God, we’ve held on to it. We haven't forgiven, and just as those pigs soured that crystal-clear water, our own lives have become contaminated. The Root of bitterness has taken hold.

Worse yet, after a while, we accept it. We make room in our hearts for that bitterness; we learn to live with it. "Well, I am just an angry person. That’s just my personality. I am always like this. I'm always bitter. This is who I am".

No, with all due respect, that’s not who you are. You need to get rid of the poison that is polluting your life.  You were made to be a crystal-clear stream. God created you in His image.  He wants you to be happy, healthy, and whole.  God wants you to enjoy life to the full, not to live with bitterness and resentment, polluted and putrefied yourself and contaminating everyone else with whom you have influenced.

Imagine yourself as a crystal-clear stream.  It doesn’t matter how polluted the stream may be right now, or how muddy or murky the water may look in your life today.  If you’ll begin to forgive the people who have offended you, and release all those hurts and pains, that bitterness will leave and you’ll begin to see that crystal-clear water once again.  You’ll begin to experience the joy, peace, and freedom God intended you to have.

~ Joel Osteen

I know I am valuable...

No matter what is happening in my life, I know I am valuable and my life has meaning and true purpose. Because I see the beauty in my life, I am able to accept what comes to me and appreciate all of it. I give thanks to the life force that creates and sustains me. I appreciate and make use of every moment I have been given.

“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” ~ Dalai Lama

You are NEVER alone. Love envelopes you on ALL sides. YOU ARE LOVE!

I received this message from a dear friend today…it has such a beautiful message that can speak to each of us, regardless of what we are going through.  I hope that it lifts you as much as it did for me. Peace, Love and Blessings!

"Choose to see the exquisiteness of your life as it is right now. Even if things aren't going as you had planned, even though you haven't found your Soul Mate yet, in spite of the fact that you still need to drop that last 50lbs and even if you feel completely alone, it is ALL PERFECTION.

And remind yourself, you are NEVER alone. Love envelopes you on ALL sides. YOU ARE LOVE. You can connect to your Source anytime you want or need to. There is comfort. There is peace. And there are most assuredly MIRACLES waiting to be summoned into your life.

CELEBRATE where and who you are RIGHT NOW in THIS MOMENT!! I don't know about you but I am ready. I have my paint brush in hand and I'm excited about creating the masterpiece of my life. All of the "lack" that my mind and eyes have been focused on simply created more lack and the fact is that it is simply an illusion. I choose to redirect my energy and mind towards the truth which is that there is nothing that I lack. Everything I want and need surrounds me in this very moment and it's up to ME to manifest it all. The emptiness, loneliness, and frustration that you feel is simply an illusion.

Make the decision to live your ideal life as much as you possibly can RIGHT now in this moment. Sit in peace right where you are and summon the miracles. Appreciate what you have now and where you are and I promise you the doors will open, ideas will come, a way will be made, and MIRACLES WILL RAIN DOWN"!

What you give attention to grows...

What you give attention to grows ~ plain and simple. Instead of giving attention to what you don’t have or the negative things…cultivate, be thankful and focus on what you do have. Every seed you plant and nurture will reap a harvest in due time.

"Love the inner you and keep moving ahead, because you can't stand still and improve at the same time." ~ Wally Amos

You're either in or you're out...

“There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between.” ~ Pat Riley 

Your life deserves better than a half-hearted effort. Meet your goals with a weak handshake and they’ll soon be waving you goodbye. Since you probably don’t want to look back on a life full of “almost made it” memories, it’s time for total commitment. Leave it all on the field, don’t hold anything back. Is there anything more satisfying than pouring out your entire being, straddling the cliff, reaching your total limit, then looking up and realizing that oh-my-gosh-I-can’t-believe-I-really-did-it? And is there anything more tragic than failing and realizing you could have done more? If you feel “out” of your current life, that’s okay. Make your first goal to build a life that you can get “in”-to. Then don’t look back. Make every day count and live purposefully, live energetically, live completely.  ~ Via Life Quotes

Surround yourself with positive people...

Surround yourself with positive people. Most people who soar to incredible heights of accomplishment in their lives do so because they surround themselves with positive, encouraging people. It’s hard to have a positive outlook when everyone around you is complaining all the time. 

 

If you surround yourself with people who routinely seek the good inside of you, you’ll begin to do the same. Spend less time with negative people and more time with those who speak words of support into your life. If you do, you’ll experience greater power, self-confidence and joy.  ~ Franck Pasquet

 

We must have a theme in life...

“We must have a theme, a goal, a purpose in our lives. If you don't know where you're aiming, you don't have a goal. My goal is to live my life in such a way that when I die, someone can say, she cared.” ~ Mary Kay Ash

Love and Compassion...

"Spread love everywhere you go.  Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." ~ Mother Teresa

Today, I accept that every moment is a unique opportunity to learn something new.  I am fully open to receiving fresh ideas, and my heart is open to sharing and acknowledging love. I am walking in absolute love and compassion, and fully aware of the requirements of others.  By taking the time to carefully listen and adjust to meet the needs of those around me, I am actively applying principles of true love.  I ask my Creator to soften my heart and remove any and all negative selfish behavior, disinfect my thoughts and repair and restore any broken past that could be hindering me from walking in compassion and loving to my full potential. 

Change is a blessing that I am learning to enjoy...

“The key to change... is to let go of fear. ~ Rosanne Cash

 Change is a blessing that I am learning to enjoy each and every day.  I thank my creator for the gift of change. Without change, I would never grow, learn new things, accomplish my goals and dreams, cultivate healthy relationships or look forward to anything different at all.  Even though I struggle with change sometimes, I am learning to enjoy its possibilities.  Change is a blessing that comes with the power of choice. I can choose to leave things the way they are, or change them to something better.  Each day brings its share of changes and I choose to welcome them all and enjoy the opportunities that come my way.

I love who I am...

(photo credit: favim.com)

Regardless of my imperfections or my past, I can accomplish wonderful things. Everywhere I go, my light shines bright. I love to encourage, edify and support those around me. I take pleasure in using the gifts and talents from my Creator. Every intricate part of me was uniquely hand crafted ~ I love who I am.  Regardless of my circumstances I can find happiness, contentment and pleasure in every area of my life. 

"We can always choose to perceive things differently. You can focus on what’s wrong in your life or you can focus on what’s right." ~ Marianne Williamson