Daily Motivation

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Wed, Nov 22 2023 12:03 PM

  Wednesday, November 22, 2023

  The understander

  Understanding arises from more than just facts, information, knowledge. To truly understand, you must take into account the understander.

  Your own understanding of anything takes place within a specific context. That context is you, and your life, your experience, all you know, all you feel.

  That’s the case with you, and with everyone else. As such, understanding is not something that can be forced, or automated, or replicated en masse.

  Certainly understanding can be encouraged, enabled, and facilitated to a great degree. Yet it remains an intensely personal activity, and occurs only when the person is fully involved.

  If you seek understanding, you have to gain it within the realm of your own existence, and not as some disinterested observer. When you seek to be understood, proceed with all the empathy you can muster for each very real and complicated person in your audience.

  Understanding can be a powerful, beautiful, and highly useful part of life. And it happens when you respect the real, live person who is doing the understanding.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Thu, Nov 23 2023 6:52 AM

  Thursday, November 23, 2023

  Unconditional gratitude

  In the joys, in the annoyances, in the wins and losses, in the frustrations and moments of shining insight, is life. Every little bit of it is connected with all the rest.

  Because of such connection, gratitude for anything amounts to gratitude for everything. That gratitude is a desirable vantage from which to embark.

  When you embrace what is, as it is, you align yourself with reality, with truth. Though it’s not always comfortable or pleasant, it’s your most authentic and effective way forward.

  The forces that push against your progress show you clearly where and why you must grow stronger. As you grow in strength and experience, you’re able to make better use of the beneficial parts of life.

  With unconditional gratitude the distractions can aid in your focus, the defeats will set you up for victory. You’ll harness the ever-changing winds to carry you in a consistent and meaningful direction.

  Allow gratitude to flow throughout the connection between all you are, all you have, and all that is. Be a positive force as you discover and expand upon the goodness in it all.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• kipdog87 2,070 Posts

  Thu, Nov 23 2023 11:36 AM

  Dogs know best woof woof

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Fri, Nov 24 2023 8:34 AM

  Mental environment

  Are your thoughts in a gloomy, unproductive place? You have the ability to quickly carry them somewhere else.

  Would you prefer to be on a beach in Fiji or a forest in the north woods? Simply instruct your imagination to go there, and to bring your thoughts along.

  Of course you cannot transport your physical self across time and space just by thinking. Yet you absolutely can take your thoughts to any time, any place, any situation you choose.

  And you can achieve real value in the real world by doing so. By upgrading your mental environment you can improve your mental performance.

  Enabling your thoughts to soar can lead to soaring creativity. Keeping your mind in a positive, supportive state will enhance the quality of any activity or experience.

  Use your imagination, and bring your mind to a place where your best thoughts can be nurtured. Then enjoy the benefits as your good and useful thoughts flourish.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Mon, Nov 27 2023 9:04 AM

  Monday, November 27, 2023

  The latest thing

  You seek answers, comfort, and richness in what’s new. Yet what you long for is not likely to be found in the latest thing.

  Much of what’s new is empty and useless, contrived solely for the sake of novelty. It’s shiny and bright, designed specifically to capture your attention, but beneath the irresistible veneer is nothing.

  Certainly, authentic new things have the power to bring much value to your life. Genuine novelty can stimulate your imagination and energize your spirit.

  But just because something is new does not magically make it useful. Having the latest version does not automatically equate with having the best version.

  There already exist thousands of years worth of values, insights, and innovations that have stood the test of time. While not themselves new, most are indeed new to you, and very accessible as well.

  Don’t dismiss all the good and useful old things you’ve never known just to chase what everybody is currently chattering about. The substance you seek might very well be found in what’s been there all along.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Tue, Nov 28 2023 8:58 AM

  Tuesday, November 28, 2023

  Let life sink in

  Have the courage and wisdom to spend time alone, thinking. Give yourself the chance to let life sink in, to make sense of what you learn and experience.

  If someone handed you twenty million dollars in cash, would you simply set it aside and rush ahead to the next encounter? No, you would take the time to deposit the funds into your bank account.

  The wealth of data you receive each day requires the same sort of diligence. You must integrate its value into the structure of your life and your purpose.

  That takes thought, and time, and focus, and care. Absent such diligence, all the stimulation and information in the world is useless to you.

  Of course you don’t want to spend all your time just contemplating. Seek to find an optimum balance between thinking about life and putting your thoughts into living practice.

  Engage, observe, and act in the real world. Then on a regular basis, give focused thought to all you’ve learned and experienced, so as to make the best of it going forward.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Wed, Nov 29 2023 11:22 AM

  Wednesday, November 29, 2023

  Act on inspiration

  Many treasures and experiences you must earn before you attain. Inspiration is the other way around.

  When something inspires you, in the moment of inspiration you become obligated to then earn that inspiration. You do so with inspired action.

  As powerful as inspiration is, it can also be debilitating if you seek to linger indefinitely in awe. Stop congratulating yourself on having the good fortune of being inspired, and step forth to do something useful with that inspiration.

  Inspiration fills you with energy in a unique and compelling way. So rather than allowing that energy to be drained away and wasted, connect the inspiration you feel to a purpose you know.

  Doing so enables you to be inspired in a meaningful direction and to take specific actions. You can layer action on top of inspiration and inspiration on top of action, again and again.

  Inspiration puts you in a state of high energy. With a clear and positive purpose, transform that energy into lasting goodness.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Thu, Nov 30 2023 8:46 AM

  Thursday, November 30, 2023

  Your presence

  For yourself, for others, be there, be present. Of all the things you can offer, your presence is likely to matter the most.

  Whether it’s peaceful or hectic, desirable or not, be truthful about where you are. Express that truth with your attention, your acceptance, your presence.

  If you’re not sure what to say or do, just be you, authentic. Let the moment exist and let yourself be fully in it, as it comes, as it is.

  You dream, you plan, you remember, you speculate and wonder. Yet all those things are faint shadows cast by your mind on the reality of where you are, of now.

  Treasure what has been, love what could be, while you live what is. With your presence, transcend time, space, thought, feeling, and bring it all into the miracle of your existence in this moment.

  Every thought is possible, and no thought is necessary. Give and experience the beauty of your presence.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Fri, Dec 1 2023 8:53 AM

  Friday, December 1, 2023

  Giving all you can

  Here is your opportunity for a day of richness and fulfillment. Seize the opportunity by giving the best of yourself.

  Look beyond the empty, contrived spectacles that do nothing other than waste your precious time. Seek instead to engage your body, mind, and spirit in pursuits that genuinely challenge, enlighten, and inspire you.

  Pass right on by what is free and effortless and demands nothing from you. You’ll find zero fulfillment or satisfaction there.

  Get yourself into situations where you can contribute consequential value. Spend your moments in the service of life, making a positive difference for yourself and others.

  Grow stronger by making use of your strengths. Expand your skills by putting them to the test.

  Refuse to be trapped by worn out assumptions, false dramas, and hollow transactions. You deserve the incomparable fulfillment of giving all you can to change life for the better.

   

  — Ralph Marston

• Ladychipper 23,050 Posts

  Mon, Dec 4 2023 8:36 AM

  Monday, December 4, 2023

  Enjoy the day

  Enjoy the day. Enjoy your life.

  Bask in the sunshine when it appears. Revel in awe at the drama of storms that occasionally pass through.

  Walk through the seasons with steady intention. Find wonder as you wander across the truth of existence.

  You’re sure to encounter trouble and pain, but they don’t have to stop you. Use your strength to keep going, for there’s always beauty ahead.

  Something new, someone fascinating, is waiting to be seen, appreciated, treasured. Delight in the discoveries you’re able to make, the genuine good you’re able to do.

  Whatever the day holds, decide to enjoy it. Experience again and again how beneficial and fulfilling such a choice can be.

   

  — Ralph Marston