The curiosity and enthusiasm of a child . . .

Do you start each day begrudgingly; dreading the tasks that await?  Or do you awaken eagerly looking forward to your day?  Often we get caught up in the routine of our lives and lose sight of the newness that each day brings.  Our daily events become so common place that we tend to forget their impact and importance.

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, 

which means never losing your enthusiasm. 

- Aldous Huxley

Have you ever noticed that a child can be completely intrigued by a simple cardboard box.  As adults we often observe and think, "There are all these toys around and yet they choose to play with an empty cardboard box.  I just don't get it."

"Act enthusiastic and you will be enthusiastic" 

- Dale Carnegie

Well, the reason we don't get it is that somewhere along the way, we lose our enthusiasm for the simple things.  You look at the box and see, well . . . a cardboard box.  A child looks at a cardboard box and sees so much more:  a race car speeding down the track, a abandoned cave filled with lost treasure, a spaceship traveling distant galaxies, a castle perched atop a majestic mountain.

 Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called 

'All the Things That Could Go Wrong'. 

- Marianne Williamson

 
As adults, it now takes much more to hold our attention or excite us.  We become disenchanted and disillusioned.  If we're not careful, we can even get to the point where we proudly wear a badge of being 'not easily impressed'.   Don't believe me?  How often have you had someone compliment you on something only to have you quickly dismiss it?  Or how often have you heard someone telling a very animated story about something that they recently experienced only for you to think to yourself 'big deal'?  As we become more and more apathetic, it seems there are fewer and fewer things to be enthusiastic about.

Enthusiasm finds the opportunities, 

and energy makes the most of them. 

- Henry S. Hoskins

Renew your enthusiasm.  Refresh your perspective.  Challenge yourself to enjoy simplicity.  Revel in complexities. Get back in touch with your inner child.  Become fascinated with learning and exploring new things.  Open yourself to new experiences.  Unleash your curiosity and creativity.  Create opportunities to expand your horizons.  Discover and pursue your passions.


What's the worse that could happen?  You just might enjoy yourself . . .

Make resolutions. . . EVERY DAY

As 2011 draws to a close, we find ourselves busy wrapping up old tasks and thinking about the coming year. Over the next few days, people will begin making their New Year's resolutions.  There will be promises to ourselves to lose weight, get out of debt, exercise more, stop smoking, spend more time with family, and numerous other avowals to improve ourselves and our lives.

For most, the lists are quite familiar and contain ambitions that have carried over from previous years.  But there are those that don't bother to make any resolutions at all because they think to themselves, "What's the point? By the end of January, I will have broken all my resolutions anyway."

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. 

Well, neither does bathing -- that's why we recommend it daily." 

- Zig Ziglar 

Resolutions often aren't achieved because we attempt to make significant changes at one time. Yes, the goals we identify are important to us, but we tend to set ourselves up for failure; not because we don't have the ability to achieve our goal, but because we don't allow ourselves to be human or imperfect.  For instance, we set a resolution to change a habit or a situation that took years to create, like being overweight or smoking, but we give ourselves a very limited amount of time to reverse that situation.  Too frequently, after a few insignificant setbacks, we lose focus of our goals and concede defeat.  Days, weeks, and months pass . . . and we find ourselves at the beginning of a brand new year; with those same unresolved resolutions in tow.

I think in terms of the day's resolutions, not the years'.

- Henry Moore

Why is it that we feel the need to wait for the 'clean slate' of a NEW YEAR to make impactful goals for ourselves?  EVERY DAY presents a new opportunity to make a positive change in your life.  EVERY DAY is a clean canvas from which you have the ability create the masterpiece of your life.  EVERY DAY holds the promise of a new day.  EVERY DAY is afforded unlimited possibility.  EVERY DAY is the first day of the rest of your life.

It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living. 

-Eckhart Tolle

As the current year concludes and the new year begins, remember this . . . the most powerful day to make or achieve a goal for yourself is TODAY.  Make a resolution to begin each day anew, regardless of the previous day's events, with continued focus and intent. 

Finding happiness despite your circumstance

About twenty-two months ago, I received news that no person wants to hear.  My father called to inform me that he'd just been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma; an incurable cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow.  His words were simple and direct, 

"Honey, remember I told you that I've been feeling a bit fatigued for the past few months.  Well, the doctors ran some tests and the results are in.  I have Multiple Myeloma."

I remember a wave of emotions washing over me:  panic, anger, fear, and sadness.  As I struggled to quiet the inner dialogue going on in my head and focus on what my father was saying, I was astounded by how unbelievably calm he was. At first, I thought it was just the protective nature of a parent, shielding his little girl from unpleasantness.  But the longer we talked, the more I realized that he wasn't protecting me.  He was calm for a completely different reason . . . he had found ACCEPTANCE.  

"Happiness can exist only in acceptance." 

- George Orwell

Now, don't be confused; acceptance doesn't mean giving up.  Acceptance means acknowledging something to be true without protest.  As unpleasant and difficult as this news was, my father had completely accepted his diagnosis and the path that lay ahead of him.  He said to me, 

"There's no cure for this, but I don't want you to worry.  I've lived a very long, good life and if tomorrow is my last day on earth, I will die a happy man.  I have no regrets.  I couldn't be more proud of my children and the life I've lived.  But I promise you this . . . I'm not done living yet!"

The words resounded in my head . . . "I'm not done living yet!"  My father could've easily chosen to become bitter, adopt a 'why me' mentality, or begin to worry and fret about what the future held.  Instead, he chose to accept that from this point on, his life would look different than he had expected and he was determined to live each day to its fullest in a state of gratitude.

How many times have we stopped living our lives because unexpected things come up?  How many times do we look at change through a lens of fear?  How many times do we let circumstance paralyze us?  How many times are we so focused on the WHAT IFs that we lose sight of WHAT IS?  

"Happiness doesn't depend on any external conditions,
it is governed by our mental attitude" 

- Dale Carnegie

 

A life of happiness isn't one that is devoid of change, challenge or difficulty.  A life of happiness is one that is lived to its fullest, regardless of circumstance.  

I am happy to report that my Dad has kept his promise to me.  Twenty-two months from his initial diagnosis, my father's still 'not done living yet'.  He has been a source of motivation, positivity, strength and courage to those who know and love him.  In fact, just yesterday, I received another phone call from my dad; very different from the one we had almost 2 years ago.  This one went a little like this, 

"The doctors have decided to stop my treatment because my levels have returned to normal and there is currently no sign of cancer.  We will continue to test and monitor and will resume treatment if needed."  

I was humbled, overwhelmed with relief and grateful at the news.  And once again, I found myself amazed at my father's calmness; the same calmness he had when he first told me of his illness.  I realize now that it's because no matter the circumstance, he is genuinely happy.

The next time life throws you a challenge that seems too large to handle, face it head on and say . . .

"I'm not done living yet!"

BLISSTITUDE defined . . .

To truly understand BLISSTITUDE, let's take a closer look at the definition:

BLISSTITUDE = BLISS + GRATITUDE 

BLISS

Bliss is defined as perfect happiness; great joy.  You're probably asking yourself if perfect happiness is even possible.  I'm here to tell you that perfect happiness is attainable.  Perfect happiness isn't about being happy all the time; every moment of every single day.  Perfect happiness is a state of being where you can be your authentic self, let go of the desire to control external situations, and live in the present.  But bliss is only one part of the equation.

Follow your bliss 

and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.

- Joseph Campbell

GRATITUDE

Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.  Gratitude is such a simple concept, but its impact on you and those around you is profound.  What would happen if you suddenly started to be more grateful for the things in your life?  If you took a moment to pause and step back from your hectic schedule, your commitments and your frustrations, I suspect you'd discover there are many things you currently take for granted.

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, 

but the parent of all the others.

- Cicero 

Individually, both of these concepts are powerful; combined, they create a dynamic state of being that can change your attitude and life forever.