Inspiration

One of the greatest things we have that can influence people is inspiration.  The word inspiration literally means to breathe in spirit.  As we inspire, we breathe in divinity.

We can not force, manipulate, or coerce.  Everyone, ultimately, makes their own choices.  We can introduce people to themselves.  We can awaken them to their spirit, to their divine heritage.  This awakening, this influence, this inspiration is never forced.  It cannot be done with debate or argument.  It can only be done with inspiration.

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Changing Myself

“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world.  Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” – Rumi

I work very hard at offering assistance rather than trying to change someone.  I am sometimes tempted to want to change family, friends, workmates and loved ones.  When I am aware my helping is slipping into changing, I look in the mirror and ask, “What areas of my life need to be changed?  What do I need to do to grow?”   We all need to find our own joy.  We all, as Joseph Campbell suggested “need to find our own bliss.”

When I attempt to try and change someone to be as I think they should be, we both are hurt.  I have always found it is healthier when I accept someone as they are;  Children of God.  Mother Teresa once said, “If everyone cleaned up their own doorstep, the whole world would be clean.”  I can only change myself.  In each situation life presents to me I realize if I want to change the situation, I must first change myself.  If I want to change myself, I must first change my perceptions.

Change situation à Change self à Change perceptions

                                                                        - Stephen Covey

When I see others and the world through the eyes of love, I see them as they truly are; Children of God.  Seeing through the eyes of love changes our perspective, changes ourselves and often changes others.  When we feel acceptance, we can let our light shine.   When we express love, we receive love.

Dreams.

Every dream, every vision, every fragile secret desire of your spirit is life assuring you that you are one with your dream.  Our dreams are not to be taken lightly.  They are not “day dreams.”  They are soul dreams.  They have been sent to us by God.  We are part of that divinity.  When we reach for our dreams, divinity is always there to assist.

Some ideas that I share with my students on achieving our dreams are:

- Write a vision statement.  Write it in the first person, present tense.  This way you can feel it and sense it as if you are living it in the here and now. 

- Take time to visualize your vision statement.  Relax and see it in your minds eye.

- Create a support group or team that can help you accomplish your vision.  Be sure to include people who have been down the dream road you are traveling.

- Let go of negative people, places, and things (behaviors) that will roadblock your dream.

- Take baby steps.  Your new business may start as a weekend or evening activity.

- Take a new step toward your dream, now.

As human beings we have an innate, overwhelming, biological need to be creative.  We need to contribute something of value to this life.  We need to feel that we have made a difference.

“Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it.

            Boldness has genius, magic and power in it.

                                    Begin it now.”

                                                            - Goethe

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When our lives are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of others, our lives will always have meaning.

Love.

Our purpose in this life is that which we are most passionate about.  Pay attention to the “still small voice.”  Be aware of your deepest self.

Love

Now

Love by day

Love by night

Love when the snows of winter covers your life

Love when the heat of summer makes you sweat

We are here to love

Everything else is secondary

Great literature is love

Essential science is love

The core of healthy relationships is love

The only real wealth is love

The only policy I have ever lived by is love

My bible is love

The secret to life is simple

LOVE

The Moment

“There were moments in his life and he gave his life to those moments”     – Epitaph on Bill Wilson’s gravestone

When I reflect on all the lessons and teachers in my life, I am humbled by the power of the moment.  The here and now, awareness, everything resides in the moment.  The rest is either anxiety about the future or memory.

I think back to everyone in my life who taught me how to love. 

My Mom expressed sincere gratitude every time her young innocent son brought in a gift from nature. 

My Dad who stood at the outfield fence, for what seemed like hours, when I was too afraid to join the Little League. 

My friend Joe who stood with me in the rain, under the highway overpass halfway between Ohio and Pennsylvania, reminding me this was a night we would never forget.  I did not forget. 

My beautiful, loving wife Sandra who said “yes” on my third try - I finally got it right. 

My daughter Ashley, who cannot speak, lives fully every moment.  They tell me she is developmentally delayed, severely, profoundly retarded.  Ashley and I have shared life and death moments. 

The moment the doctor said, “you might want to have your sons come in and say goodbye to their sister”  - that was the moment I devoted the rest of my life to love. 

The moment when the monitor began to beep in recognition that her life was returning - that was the moment that I devoted my life to gratitude. 

The moment in the mountains of Idaho when I prayed for Ashley to be healed and I heard God’s still small voice say “she is not to be healed, she is the healer, let her do her work”  - that was the moment I devoted my life to sharing Ashley’s story with the world. 

That was the moment I devoted my life to service.