Daily Motivator - October
 

October 1

Do the work

You find it difficult to turn away from the comforts of the moment to work on a future achievement. Difficult, yet the quality of your life demands it.

Compared to immediate gratification, everything else feels like work. Be strong, be purposeful, rise above shortsightedness, and do the work.

Enjoy each moment, be good to yourself, but don’t pamper yourself into a meaningless existence. You are able to do great things, so get your hands dirty and get those great things done.

There is no real joy in endless empty pleasure. If you’re not creating meaningful value, you’re accumulating bitter regret.

Great possibilities abound right now, so seize them, work with them. The opportunities, the challenges, the efforts strengthen you, energize you, fulfill you.

Substance and richness are what you seek. Let them come through your efforts, every chance you get.

-Ralph S. Marston

October 2

Rise above comfort

Comfort feels good, but it can water down your best possibilities. Today, rise above comfort and make some real progress.

Put new excellence and value in the world with your eagerness to take on difficult challenges. Step beyond what is easy and familiar and into the realm of high achievement.

Embrace responsibility, action, commitment. Be willing to say what must be said, to do what is good and right.

Comfort is pleasant, but too much comfort will melt you into complacency. Too much desire for comfort will imprison you in a situation where nothing gets done.

Enjoy life’s comforts but be careful not to let them hold you back. Find occasional refuge in comfort, then step again into the challenging world where you can get plenty of good work done.

You have much to offer, much to do, much to give to life. Rise above comfort, and achieve great things.

— Ralph Marston

October 3

Recognition and attention

There’s nothing inherently wrong with getting attention. Yet there’s much potential for harm when seeking attention becomes the primary focus of a person, or of a culture.

There’s no meaningful value in being recognized when your sole aim is to be recognized. Recognition and attention are best when they are natural byproducts of making a positive contribution.

Life is too precious to compromise it in seeking attention merely for attention’s sake. When there’s no value or achievement to undergird it, attention is hollow, empty, tragic.

There is so much good to be lived, so much beauty to be experienced, so much joy to be shared. There are so many opportunities to genuinely lift up lives with love and care.

Be inspired by those who make a difference, and not obsessed with those who crave attention. Focus on who you can benefit, not on who is watching.

Let go of any need to prove yourself. And embrace the opportunity to peacefully, respectfully improve the magnificent treasure that is life.

— Ralph Marston

October 4

Thoughts that serve you

Your thoughts are yours to choose. Choose the thoughts that serve you best.

Think of all you have to be thankful for. Think of the new possibilities being born in every moment.

Think of how great it feels to make a difference, to achieve, to get good stuff done. Think of what you can do, right now, of how you can take action to start moving in a positive direction.

Think of all you love about life. Think of how you can transform the energy of that love into actions to benefit what you care most about.

Think of the strength, the skills, the wisdom you’ve gained from all you’ve been through. Think of the good things you can now do with all that value.

Think the best thoughts, let those thoughts energize and empower you. Then feel the joy and great sense of fulfillment as you put those thoughts into action.

— Ralph Marston

October 5

Build new goodness

Some things you can control and influence, and other things you can’t. Yet you can always choose how to feel, what to think, and how to respond.

Fighting against what has already taken place, is useless. Put your energy, your focus, your unique creative brilliance into improving what comes next.

At times the ride will be slow and bumpy, and at other times it becomes smooth and easy. In all cases, in every moment, there is something beneficial you can do.

Fulfillment arises not from what life delivers to you, but from the actions you take to make life good. You always have the opportunity to care, to love, to make a difference.

Each moment arrives with a unique, never-before-tasted flavor. Instead of judging it or running from it, embrace it and build new goodness within it.

Build new goodness from the ups, the downs, the frustrations and joys. Build new goodness from it all.

— Ralph Marston

October 6

The more you give

What takes much out of you, adds much to you. Pour your energy into life and the level of your energy goes up, as does its quality.

The love you give, gives you the wherewithal to love that much more. Each effort you put forth motivates you to make even greater effort.

It would be foolish to ever give less than you are capable of giving. For the more you give of yourself, the richer your life becomes.

Get yourself out into life and grab some of its most arduous challenges. As the work flows out from you, value, achievement, and positive substance flow in.

When much is asked of you, respond with even more. If great things are expected of you, choose to exceed those expectations.

Step forward into this day, reminding yourself that you never can give too much. Because the more you give, the better life gets.

— Ralph Marston

October 7

Widespread influence

The work you do takes on a life of its own as it benefits the lives of others. Each positive effort you make continues to live and expand in influence.

After you have moved on to something else, what you do to make a difference keeps on making a difference. The song lives on in the hearts of those who hear it, long after the singer is finished.

Kindness you offer, gives birth to more kindness. The love you give, enables more and more love.

All of life is connected. Once your words are uttered, once your actions are taken, they begin spreading through the connections.

Life expands, amplifies, widens the impact of the way you choose to live. Choose goodness, truth, love, peace, and your influence lifts the world in ways you cannot imagine.

Visualize your actions cascading through the miles, through lives, over centuries. Make every choice worthy of the lasting, widespread influence it will have as it fans out through all of life.

— Ralph Marston

October 8

Intention

Action creates achievement. Intention makes sure those achievements are meaningful and useful.

Intention alone does not achieve anything. Yet intention determines what the achievements will be.

You’ll get much more done when you start the day with a detailed list of what you intend to do. Intention immunizes you from the distractions and interruptions.

To achieve whatever you desire, you must begin by knowing precisely what that is. Intention directs your energy and activity toward meaningful results.

Today presents you with countless ways to waste your time. With intention, you avoid wasting such a precious, valuable, irreplaceable resource.

Give your life the respect and the fulfillment it deserves. Live it each day with intention.

-Ralph S. Marston

October 9

Satisfaction and fulfillment

It’s powerful when you know precisely where you intend to go. But it’s not enough.

No matter how strong your desire is, desire alone will not achieve what you wish to achieve. That’s your job, and your great opportunity.

You must cross the distance between where you are and where you want to be. You must take action, with focus, with discipline, commitment and persistence.

You’re perfectly capable of doing all that. So go ahead, engage that capability, make the effort, reach the goal.

Yes, it will be difficult, challenging, uncomfortable, inconvenient. That’s what makes it worth doing, what gives it value.

Feel your desire to achieve, to go from where you are now to where you want to be. Then find great satisfaction and fulfillment in doing the work, in covering the ground to make it happen.

— Ralph Marston

October 10

As time goes on

Make the most of this moment while it’s here. Just be sure not to compromise the long-term quality of your life in exchange for fleeting, momentary pleasure or advantage.

You’ll spend a lot more of your life living all the moments, months, and years to come than you’ll spend living this day. So get the very best out of this one day without borrowing from the larger future.

Be good to yourself and all those around you today, in this moment. At the same time, be good to your future self.

Time gives you great leverage. A small action today can have a large impact a year from now.

Use that leverage wisely. Invest yourself in ways right now that will continue to benefit your world for years to come.

This moment will soon end, yet your choices and actions can extend its value indefinitely. Live well now, with consideration for the future, and live even better as time goes on.

— Ralph Marston

October 11

Move to a higher perspective

How can you change your life completely without changing it at all? Move yourself to a higher perspective.

Keep on doing what you do and being who you are. Yet choose to see it all in a new and more positive light.

Keep on doing all the work that must be done. Yet do it with love and gratitude, instead of with frustration and resentment.

Continue meeting the challenges and working through the obstacles that appear in your path. And do it with the confidecne that what’s truly important cannot be diminished by random circumstances.

Continue to pay attention to the details, while at the same time rising above the petty concerns. Persist in putting forth your very best efforts, while also living beyond the destructive worries and anxieties.

Keep on experiencing what you’ve always experienced, yet from a higher perspective on the inside. And without even changing anything on the outside, you can change everything for the better.

— Ralph Marston

October 12

Love empowers

Love is not possession. Possession contaminates love, renders love into what it is not.

Love loves, and allows. Possession wraps itself around, strangles, cuts off energy.

Possession brings on stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, resentment, jealousy. Love gives birth to freedom, hope, fulfillment, cooperation, peace.

Possession imprisons. Love empowers.

Take responsibility, commit yourself to love, offer your highest and best. And let go of any desire to own.

That is love. You know, and you can.

— Ralph Marston

October 13

Fresh, new positive attitude

If you’ve recently had a difficult day, congratulations. Now you’re stronger because of it, more capable, more experienced.

Now you can transform what was a negative experience into positive energy. Now you can be more focused, motivated, determined.

Sure, you could choose to feel angry, resentful or sad about the difficulties you’ve been through. But your negativity won’t change what happened, and won’t do you any good now.

Instead, you can decide now to be thankful you made it through. You can look at life with a renewed sense of purpose.

Don’t prolong the difficulties by continuing to lament them. Choose to quickly get over them and get on with living your life in more enjoyable, fulfilling ways.

Reward yourself today with a fresh, new positive attitude. You’ve got great things to do.

— Ralph Marston

October 14

Tomorrow will come

At the end of this day, what will you wish you had made a top priority? Now is your chance to do that.

At the end of the year, what will you wish you had done every day? Now is your opportunity to finish the year thankful instead of regretful.

The moment you’re in gives you great leverage over all the moments to come. Utilize that leverage while you have it.

It’s all too easy to get distracted, make excuses, waste your time. Remind yourself, though, that tomorrow will come and when it does, you’ll be thankful for making good use of today.

Tomorrow will come, and now is when you can maximize the value with which it arrives. Tomorrow will come, and with your efforts today you can position yourself to welcome it with confidence and enthusiasm.

Take the opportunity that’s yours today. Tomorrow will come, and there’s much you can do right now to make it a rich and fulfilling time.

— Ralph Marston

October 15

Face forward

Don’t let the difficult times drain your hope. Don’t let the good times melt your ambition.

Life changes, and you have a hand in making those changes. Time continues to pass, yet no day is ever exactly like the one before.

Be careful not to become too smug about the successes or too discouraged about the failures. Instead, direct your attention, your focus, your energy and efforts toward what you can do now.

You can be certain the world will change as you move through the moments, days and years. Within such a dynamic environment, you can always create new, positive value.

Briefly look back to learn, to be inspired, to fuel your determination. Then face forward and give life your best, most positive, focused, effective self.

Face forward, knowing you can rise above the disappointments and push beyond the victories. Face forward, with love, generosity, purpose and passion, and do all the great things you know you can do.

-Ralph S. Marston

October 16

Best thing to do

There is at least one person who benefits greatly when you do the right thing. That person is you.

Whether or not you are noticed, appreciated, recognized or thanked by others, do the right thing. Because you’ll notice, you’ll know, you’ll continue to live with yourself and your choices.

Your image of yourself is an accumulation of everything you observe yourself doing. Each action influences your confidence in your values and in yourself.

Often, doing what’s right is not the most convenient or expedient choice. That’s especially true if you know that no one is watching.

Yet doing what’s right, what’s good, what affirms life, is the best thing to do. It’s the best choice for you, for your world, for all of life.

Even if no one else ever knows, do something that genuinely feels good, something that creates goodness. Do what you know is good, what you know is right.

— Ralph Marston

October 17

Liberated by kindness

Kindness is evidence of great strength. When you are strong enough to respond with kindness, you are strong indeed.

It would be easy to return the insults of others with insults of your own. Kindness, on the other hand, not only shows you are strong, it adds to your strength.

Kindness puts you in control. Kindness raises you above what’s petty and insignificant.

You don’t have to be trapped by resentment, envy or frustration. You can be liberated by kindness.

Let anger end when it reaches you. Enable new kindness to begin with you.

Discover how strong, how effective, how influential you can be. Whatever the situation, choose kindness.

— Ralph Marston

October 18

There will be bumps

You do all you can to make today the best it can be. Yet it is not going to be perfect, and that is perfectly fine.

You work, plan and strategize to minimize the problems, to facilitate your progress. Yet there still will be some problems, and you’ll be able to deal with them.

It’s nice when life unfolds as you had hoped, planned, expected. However, when things don’t go the way you wanted, that’s not the end of the world.

There will be bumps on the journey, big bumps, small ones, irritating, frustrating, even painful. And you’ll work your way past every one.

Just the fact you’re hitting the bumps in the first place means you’re making progress. Keep going.

Whatever way life unfolds, embrace it, utilize it, and without complaint, regret or hesitation, keep going. Life is as it is, and it is yours to live with positive purpose.

— Ralph Marston

October 19

Ready today

You are ready today to jump into life with more determination than ever before. Seize the opportunity that begins right now.

Don’t dwell too much on how you got to this point. Give your attention now to where you’re headed and what you can do to get there.

Each thought, each action pushes the reality of your life in a specific direction. Make that direction a consistent one that aligns with all you love and value.

Though events will sometimes leave you feeling persecuted and abused, you have much going for you. Shake off the disappointments, and wrap your awareness around the fulfillment of your unique potential.

You’re ready to channel the energy of your joys and frustrations, of your dreams as well as your setbacks, into positive, effective action. You’re ready to gather the wisdom, insight, skills and inspiration gained from every experience and apply it all to move your world forward.

You’re ready today to live with positive purpose and power. Now that you’re ready, get going and make it great.

— Ralph Marston

October 20

Nobody’s perfect

Don’t hide from your mistakes or pretend they didn’t happen. Own them, embrace them, celebrate them, learn from them and get better because of what you take from them.

When you’ve discovered an error, you’ve found a clear and specific path for improvement. Seize it, dive into it, transform it into new strength and effectiveness.

It is a waste of your time, your life, your energy to deny your mistakes. Even worse, it’s wasted opportunity.

If you try to pretend you’re perfect, that you never make mistakes, absolutely no one will believe you. Yet when you eagerly admit your mistakes and deal with them in a positive manner, people gain great respect for you.

The fact is, from time to time you’ll make a mistake. So make the choice to turn that fact of life into a positive force.

Sure, do all you can to avoid mistakes, but once you’ve made one, transform it into something beneficial. Nobody’s perfect, and in that imperfection is a whole world of progress to be made.

— Ralph Marston

October 21

The journey to this day

You’ve put a lifetime of effort and energy into arriving at this day. Make whatever you do today worthy of all you’ve done to get here.

Respect the value of every experience that has come before by putting that value to good use now. Continue the momentum that is your life, and point it in a positive, fulfilling direction.

You’ve worked your way through sacrifice, challenge and trouble. This is your chance to make all the trouble worth the trouble.

Reward yourself in the best way possible for all the good work you’ve done. Give yourself that reward in the form of a day well lived.

Honor the skills, wisdom and experience you’ve worked so hard to assemble by putting them all to good use. Show gratitude for the good times you’ve enjoyed and the difficulties you’ve endured by filling today with richness and meaning.

You’ve successfully completed the journey to this day. Now, grab the new opportunity you’ve created and build on your good fortune.

— Ralph Marston

October 22

Great time to do more

Don’t let success spoil your success. After you’ve achieved the goal, set your sights on an even higher goal, and keep going.

The worst time to stop is after you’ve made progress, for it wastes the momentum you’ve worked so hard to build. Instead, keep riding that momentum, keep getting good work done.

Every accomplishment creates new opportunities. Instead of sinking into complacency, enjoy taking on a challenge that’s even more meaningful than before.

When you’ve already done enough, that’s a great time to do more. When you’ve felt the thrill of achievement, you’re highly inspired to create it again.

You’ve already made a valuable contribution to life, already made a positive difference. That’s a great reason to keep going, to keep giving more of the good stuff you have.

Enjoy each success, and instead of resting on it, climb to the top of it, standing tall, looking forward. Then joyfully launch yourself on the next new adventure.

-Ralph S. Marston

October 23

Undivided attention

Let go of the constant feeling that you need to be doing something else. Let yourself focus completely and continuously on the work you’re now doing.

If you try to switch too quickly from one thing to another and back again, much of your attention gets left behind. Give each task the undivided attention it deserves.

Seek to stay singularly focused until you reach a natural stopping point. You can then fully let go of what you had been doing and move the whole of your attention on to something else.

Your attention is valuable, and deserves to be protected as you would protect your money or other valuables. Just because everyone wants it, is no reason to give it to them.

Enjoy the robust awareness that comes with deep, sustained investment of your attention. Gather novel, original insights rather than predictable, hollow impressions.

Step away from the meaningless noise, as enticing as it may be. Feel the freedom, create the space to truly think, focus and understand.

— Ralph Marston

October 24

Live your happiness

Think of something today into which you can pour genuine joy and happiness. Then do it.

You won’t add one little bit of value to the world by being miserable. Take the more positive, productive alternative, and live your happiness.

Expect to find a way, in whatever you’re doing, to live your happiness. Even when you’re not pleased with the situation, you can give the gift of your own happiness to it.

Live your true, authentic happiness and with it, you will make a difference. The happier you choose to be, the more effective, generous, and helpful you become.

Don’t limit your happiness just to certain specific conditions. Employ happiness as a powerful means of adding value to every circumstance.

Get yourself focused on the positive and energized into action. Live your happiness, and live life at your best.

— Ralph Marston

October 25

Set an intention

What are your intentions for this day? Are they clear, specific, meaningful, challenging, realistic?

Noise, distractions, excuses will come at you today from every direction. Shield yourself with resolute intentions, and enable yourself to get achievement done.

You’ve been amazed in the past at how much you can accomplish when you just decide to do it. Today, make sure you’ve decided exactly what you intend to do, and be amazed all over again.

Great power resides in your thoughts and actions, yet too often that power gets wasted and diluted. You deserve the benefits of focusing it all in a meaningful direction.

Set an intention, one that feels right, that’s beneficial for your world, for your life, in a way you care about. You know the things that must be done, and today is your opportunity to do them.

Give your highest purpose a way to express itself, a way to make a difference. Set an intention, and set about to get it done.

— Ralph Marston

October 26

Doing great work

You have much to get done, and that’s nothing to get wound up about. Let go of the drama, of the pressure your mind has constructed around it, and let your best effort happen.

Make each action a choice, not a chore. Decide to see your obligations and responsibilities in a positive light.

Don’t make your work more difficult by considering it a burden. Just take the next step, and the next and the next, thankful for the opportunity to do your part.

Dial down the pressure and angst, and you dial up your effectiveness. Rise above any tinge of discontent, and enable your creativity to flow.

The way to feel your best in this moment is not to wish you were somewhere else doing something else. Feel your best by cheerfully doing your best, right here, with the task at hand.

Remind yourself what a good place you’re in. And give your awareness, your focus, your effort to doing the great work you know you can do.

— Ralph Marston

October 27

All in stride

Problems will come, and you’ll be able to handle them all. You’ve done it before and you’ll do it many times again.

Challenges will arise, and you’ll navigate your way through them all. All the while you’ll be adding to your skills, your experience, and to the value in your world.

Life will unfold precisely as it will, whether you worry about it or not. So find something other than worrying to do.

Some situations will go your way and others won’t. Be prepared for the ups, prepared for the downs, and in a position to take it all in stride.

Graciously accept the victories without becoming too complacent. Gracefully yield to the disappointments while at the same time drawing positive determination from them.

Though you don’t know exactly what it will be, you have everything to look forward to. Because you can take it all in stride and make the best of whatever may appear.

— Ralph Marston

October 28

The power of your love

Go ahead, allow yourself to enjoy the spectacular beauty of this moment. Drink it all in with a thankful heart and an accepting spirit.

Marvel at the miraculous energy of life as it flows through you. See the colors, hear the whispers, join in with the motion, melt into the love.

The abundance that fills your awareness is immense and magnificent. Yet it is only a tiny fraction of all that exists.

Relax, and let all fear, doubt and hesitation drain away. Feel the potential for new goodness as it rises from deep inside you.

With a calm mind and peaceful heart, know the power you have. It is the power to make a difference.

Even in the smallest of moments, your appreciation of life is unbounded. Experience all the beauty that is, and expand that beauty with the power of your love.

— Ralph Marston

October 29

Do in truth

Whatever you do, do in truth. Make it real and make it last by making it honest.

Deception might seem like the easy way out, but it is not a way out at all. Deception is a mistake that will eventually bring you down.

Truth is often difficult and inconvenient, and yet truth carries great power. Fill your words, your actions, your life with that power.

Honest efforts are the ones that bring lasting value to your life. Authentic relationships are the ones from which you’ll enjoy great benefit.

Demonstrate your respect for yourself, for others, for all of life by being truthful. Engage the full force of your own unique existence by being truthful and authentic.

Whenever there’s a question, a choice, a decision to be made, make it on the side of truth. Truth puts you and your world in the best possible position.

Ralph S. Marston

October 30

Choose your thoughts

Your thoughts are powerful. Put their power on your side.

You can think your way into despair, or you can think your way into joyous enthusiasm. You can think your way into being annoyed and distracted, or focused and effective.

Every thought you think is a choice you make. Choose the thoughts that serve you best, and avoid the temptation to choose anything less.

In choosing what to think about anything, you’re setting the stage for what you choose to do about it. In this way your thoughts have great leverage, so make good use of that leverage.

Use your thoughts to envision all the good things you can do today. Then, select the positive, encouraging, insistent thoughts that will push you into action.

The way you think from moment to moment directly impacts the way you live. Remember to choose the thoughts, again and again, that lead you to make life great.

— Ralph Marston

October 31

One glorious morning

Yesterday’s dark clouds make this morning’s sunshine brighter. Tomorrow, you’ll look back at today’s challenges with gratitude for having worked through them.

Suffering through a season of illness and pain will give you great appreciation for good health when it returns. The burdens of the present build new strength in you for the future.

If there had never been any darkness, light would be meaningless. You cannot fully experience how good life can be unless you’ve also known its difficulties.

Stand resolute when the hard times come, and take heart. Your experiences now are making the good times richer.

Yes, one glorious morning after the storm has passed, the sun will rise. As it warms your face, you’ll feel a newfound sense of determination and positive purpose.

Carry on, push forward through whatever may come. You’ll emerge from it better than you’ve ever been.

— Ralph Marston