Discipline

It takes a measure of consistency to stay on the road to inspiration, optimism and miracles. All successful spiritual travelers employ a ritual that ensures that their hearts and minds remain open to all the good that life has in store for us.

Since miracles know no time, it is important to persevere if things are not happening on our own schedule. That is where optimism comes in. It is of paramount importance to remain optimistic even when our backs are against the wall.

A ritual I highly recommend is to make a list of all the people, places and things that you are grateful for. Appreciating and recognizing the good that is already in your life puts you in a position to welcome even greater.

Try it. It works, I promise.

Dream and Imagine

Do not be afraid to dream. To imagine. Respect the power of creating. Know anything is possible.

As a young person growing up in abject poverty, I had a ritual every night before I went to sleep: put my head on the window sill in my bedroom and gaze out into the darkness. I would imagine having all the food I could eat, my father getting a job and actually keeping it for more than a week or two. I also pictured myself as a college basketball coach.

All of these dreams came to fruition.

While speaking at a meeting for Fox Entertainment, I inspired them to see things not as they seem, but to find the window sill in their lives and dream a better future. I urged them to appreciate the magic of everyday miracles. Pay more attention to them. Value them. Enjoy the adventure of living life to its fullest. Lessen the focus on end results and focus on the journey: the real pearl of optimistic living.

Strive to feel real joy in your life. How? Stop accumulating stress. How do you stop accumulating stress? Realize that optimism is an “inside’ job. Let go of external conditions and circumstance. Change on the inside first, and then the conditions and circumstances will look different on the outside.

Recognize the difference between excellence and success. Excellence is a total integration of mind, body and spirit. Nothing can rob you of that; whether you succeed or not. Success is often subject to changing conditions and circumstances you can’t control. Effort is not.

Just Dream, Imagine and Do.

I trust, I know, I am abundant

Today is the first day in a long time in which I felt free to write. Thanks to those of you who continued to check in.

I was addressing a group of students from Kean University in New Jersey recently and we were discussing how to preserve optimism during this economic crisis. They were concerned about not being able to find work upon their graduation. I shared with them that as future leaders, it is important to be resilient and demonstrate perseverance during challenging times. By being in a state of fear and frustration, they lose the ability to inspire others.

A great way to maintain the ability to be a source of inspiration is to give.

Look for opportunities to contribute. Give what you can: time, money, your personal resources or talents. This is the way an optimist says to the universe, “I trust, I know, I am abundant.” This is the kind of selfless behavior that a leader should exhibit.

My family and I went to the grocery store on Sunday and purchased food to donate to the food bank. My daughters loved it. It felt great!! So give without conditions, the wealth you receive back cannot be measured in dollars and cents.

Thanks for tuning in!

Ritualize Positive Thinking

A belief is nothing more than a thought that occurs numerous times. That thought then becomes what a person believes to be a truth.

A great tool for optimistic living is to train yourself to think different thoughts over and over again.  Set up a ritual to be silent, and bring to your mind positive thoughts about  situations that seem to be challenging. Think and FEEL the positive resolution.

Do it repeatedly. Make it a habit.

Thinking and feeling positively will formulate a different set of beliefs about those challenging situations. Go ahead, try it.

I dare you.