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| taken by/Nicole Schmidt/Santa Barbara 2010 |
"Nothing external to you has any power over you."
Steve Goodier's books & newsletter:
http://LifeSupportSystem.com
May you always be willing to exercise your greatest power.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
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"Becoming aware of my character defects leads me naturally to the next step of blaming my parents," one woman quips.
Benjamin Franklin didn't feel that way. Becoming aware of his character defects led him to something quite remarkable. He exercised what author J. Martin Kohe calls YOUR GREATEST POWER (1955 & 2005) --
Benjamin Franklin didn't feel that way. Becoming aware of his character defects led him to something quite remarkable. He exercised what author J. Martin Kohe calls YOUR GREATEST POWER (1955 & 2005) --
your power to choose.
Franklin noticed that he had difficulty getting along with people. He tended to argue too much. He had trouble making and keeping friends. So he made a choice. He chose to examine his own personality and make a list of what he considered undesirable personality traits. (It's not known if other people helped him make this list.)
It was New Year's Day. Franklin finished his list of personality traits he wanted to change. He identified 13 character flaws and determined to work on each one for a week. He did this for an entire year and finally checked each trait off his list.
Benjamin Franklin developed one of the finest personalities in America. People looked up to him and admired him. When the colonies needed help from France, they sent Franklin. The French liked him and gave him what he wanted.
Suppose Franklin had chosen to go through life without using his greatest power -- his power to choose. Suppose he reasoned that there was really nothing he could do about himself. Would France have supported he colonies? The history of the world may have been significantly different.
One good wish changes nothing. But one good decision changes everything. Your power to choose, to make a good decision, spells the difference between wishing and making those wishes come true.
Do you need to exercise your greatest power? Your power to choose can never be taken from you. It can be neglected. It can be ignored. But if used, it can make all the difference
Franklin noticed that he had difficulty getting along with people. He tended to argue too much. He had trouble making and keeping friends. So he made a choice. He chose to examine his own personality and make a list of what he considered undesirable personality traits. (It's not known if other people helped him make this list.)
It was New Year's Day. Franklin finished his list of personality traits he wanted to change. He identified 13 character flaws and determined to work on each one for a week. He did this for an entire year and finally checked each trait off his list.
Benjamin Franklin developed one of the finest personalities in America. People looked up to him and admired him. When the colonies needed help from France, they sent Franklin. The French liked him and gave him what he wanted.
Suppose Franklin had chosen to go through life without using his greatest power -- his power to choose. Suppose he reasoned that there was really nothing he could do about himself. Would France have supported he colonies? The history of the world may have been significantly different.
One good wish changes nothing. But one good decision changes everything. Your power to choose, to make a good decision, spells the difference between wishing and making those wishes come true.
Do you need to exercise your greatest power? Your power to choose can never be taken from you. It can be neglected. It can be ignored. But if used, it can make all the difference
Use your greatest power and, whether or not you change history, you will certainly change your future.
http://LifeSupportSystem.com
May you always be willing to exercise your greatest power.
“Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal,” ~Julia Child
click above link for recipe
Last week I went to book club at my friend Michelle's house. Michelle is a very accomplished cook and most gracious hostess. She is forever trying new recipes and expanding her culinary horizons. For lunch we had these AMAZINGLY YUMMY sandwiches! I'm not kidding. I saw these as they were being prepared and I thought to myself..."butternut squash sandwiches...I don't know about this" but I kept my thoughts to myself and waited for lunch to be served. Well let me tell you, these sandwiches were out of this world! The butternut squash paired with the manchego cheese and caramelized onions, was an explosion of sweet and savory goodness in my mouth!
This lunch made me remember what I love about dining with friends and the experience of trying new things. In my house we can easily become creatures of habit. Often eating the same six items over and over again, not really stepping out of our comfort zone. I would have passed right over this recipe if I would have been thumbing through the magazine, because the combination of ingredients didn't appeal to me at all. But thanks to Michelle, and a delightful afternoon shared with friends, I will be looking at recipes with a new appreciation.
May you always be open to try new things.
If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.
~Vincent Van Gogh
All too often we listen to that voice within, whispering, sometimes shouting that we are less than. Insisting that love, happiness or success is just short of our grasp. It is so important to pay attention to the messages we send ourselves, for those thoughts that are repeated today will become the belief's of tomorrow. Silence the voice of can't and embrace the voice of can. The only way you will ever discover the talented and amazing individual that you are is to believe that he/she already exists.
May you always be willing to see the masterpiece within.
~Vincent Van Gogh
May you always be willing to see the masterpiece within.
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