The Inner Path: No Need For Disappointments

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

You're disappointed, again.  You failed your exam, your favorite sports team lost, you dropped your iPad, your heel broke.  Let's face it, your expectations were unfulfilled and the feeling of dissatisfaction that follows begins to manifest. You're angry, sad, hurt and fearful. You don't take disappointments well.  You just don't know how to deal with it and want to give in.  But don't let disappointments take a toll on you.  As the great poet and lecturer Dr. Maya Angelou says,  “If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.” So just how do you overcome disappointments? Know that disappointment is temporal and hope is eternal.

• Disappointment is temporal.  It is what it is. It happened.  But know that every disappointment, however real it may be to you, is temporary and can always be overcome in time, along with the hurt, the fear, and the pain that accompanies it. Only your thought about it is permanent. So change your mind about what has disappointed you and you will change your life.  
• Hope is eternal.  There is always hope. Hope erases doubts, clears your vision and makes you far sighted. Hope promotes the belief in a good outcome of events in your life and that things will turn out for the best.  Hope always returns, continually.
  Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning is from a quote offering hope.
  

No disappointment is permanent and hope can sometimes persuade you to haste across the finish line even when you are tempted to give up. When there is hope there is life, for hope is the oxygen that fuels the spirit.  Hope infuses courage and provides you the momentum to keep moving forward.  However, no one or nothing is perfect and remember we would never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world. So remember this, there's no need for disappointment, even in the midst of it.... it is what it is.

Personal Development: Influence You

 “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” ~ Albert Schweitzer


Instead of looking outside of yourself for influence, strive to be an influential individual. When you are influential, you have more control over your life, your finances and how you are treated, and what you say holds more weight with those who listen to you. We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.  So, what do you need to be influential? Check out some of the traits of truly influential people and work on getting the following characteristics of influential people for yourself.

1. Walking in self confidence is a virtue for an influencer.  They know what they want and do not hesitate when it's decision time. There is no doubt in them about their capabilities because they know that they can handle anything life throws at them.  
2. Be self motivated.  Influencers don't rely on others to motivate their actions as they have the ability to provide all the motivation they need to accomplish any task. 
3. As  poet C. S. Lewis puts it, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” Influencers word is their bond. When they say they'll do something, they always follow through with it, including setting priorities and good time management. 

The Inner Path: Living Gratitude Out Loud

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is
not to utter words, but to live by them." JFK

Don't ever take the good you already have in your life for granted... some people tend to do just that. Really, just imagine losing some of the things that you consider comfort... home, car, job, your ability to see, hear, or walk. Then imagine one day, getting each of them back, one by one.  I can just imagine how grateful you'd be for each and every one. Now you know the feeling... well that's gratitude:

• being thankful
• counting your blessings 
• acknowledging everything that you receive
• living everyday as if everything were a miracle
• being aware of how much you’ve been given. 

Being aware of gratitude shifts your focus from what you're lacking in life to the fullness that's already present.  And, you'll be happier!  Living a grateful life can increase your natural happiness level.  Yes, let's say, for example, your natural happiness level is ground "zero".  That feels natural to your body, so that's your basic level of happiness.  Well, if something bad happens to you during the day, your happiness level drops below that zero level. So, knowing it dropped, you make adjustments in your feeling and try to level it back to zero. Now, likewise, if something good happens to you, your happiness level rises, and when you're ready, returns to zero.  Gratitude keeps your happiness high regardless of outside circumstances.  Practicing gratitude doesn't mean that everything in your life is necessarily great... it means you're aware of your blessings.