Now is all we have, Choose Wisely, and let God do the rest.
Amen. |
January 27
A mirror You are capable of behaviors you despise in others. Indeed, that is why you have such a fervent opinion about what they do, to prevent yourself from engaging in similar activities. When you strongly disapprove of another person’s actions, still you can have a degree of understanding. Because it could be you. Happily, you are also capable of engaging in the pursuits you most admire in others. Your identification and admiration can often lead to imitation, bringing benefit to all of life. No matter how you feel about what others do, what you’re feeling is connection. That sense of connection has unimaginable value and is responsible for a significant portion of human progress. It is both uplifting and sobering to be reminded of what you can be in every person you encounter. Pay attention, and you’ll learn how to balance humility with ambition, while developing deeper levels of empathy, understanding, and compassion. Each person in your world holds a mirror up to you. Look, and learn, and find new ways to love what you see. — Ralph Marston |
January 28
Connection to beauty Invest time and effort today making a connection to beauty. In return, beauty will grow your strength and offer an experience of transcendence. From abundance, create beauty. Out of challenge and difficulty and great exertion, make beauty. In beauty exists truth that is impossible to ignore. You can instantly recognize authentic beauty though you cannot explain why. Let beauty fill you with its mystery, its contradictions, its peacefulness and its energy. Be inspired to put work and commitment into giving life to beauty and giving beauty to life. Beauty resides at the heart of what makes life worth living. You’ll find great benefit in giving it whatever respect, awe, time and sacrifice you are able. Do the work to see the beauty, to be the beauty, to live the beauty. And reap all the richness that beauty offers. — Ralph Marston |
January 29
Patience and persistence If you need something tomorrow your choices are starkly limited. If you desire something in ten years it can be pretty much anything you imagine. The most desirable results are not immediate results. The most desirable results ask for patience and persistence in return. Are you disappointed by the choices you have right now? Step back and consider how much better your choices would be if you were to add some patience and persistence. Patience gives you the serenity of knowing that good things take time. Persistence gives you the energy to continue putting forth effort until you reach your objective. You cannot instantly jump over to the other side of the mountain. Yet with patience and persistence you can climb up, then climb down, and arrive on the other side. What particular forms of goodness do you wish to add to life? With patience and persistence they are well within your reach. — Ralph Marston |
January 30
You can do this You can do this. As a result of what you undertake, you can produce a positive impact on this day. You can experience the satisfaction of knowing you’re making meaningful progress. You can feel less overwhelmed, more focused and purposeful. You can do this even with the inevitable interruptions, distractions, obstacles and frustrations. You can do this by making a choice and sticking with it. It won’t be particularly easy yet it is well within your reach. You can do this because you’ve done it before and you have good reason to do it now. Take a deep breath, relax your body, quiet your thoughts. In peaceful contemplation, feel the power of your own intention. Then calmly release your objections and set that intention to work. Notice how highly effective you become when you remind yourself of the simple truth that you can do this. — Ralph Marston |
January 31
Something difficult You need something difficult to do. You need something meaningful to do. Find it, start it, complete it and then move on to another challenge. No one, no matter how well positioned, has the luxury of merely basking in pleasure and luxury all the time. Strength, capability, and competence do not appear just because you want them. They are forged when you push yourself through difficult tasks. At some point you’ll find it necessary to call upon and depend upon your abilities. Make sure you’re well prepared, with those abilities tested and honed, before you reach that point. Choose to subject yourself to meaningful challenges, and give your best efforts to meet those challenges. That helps you deal with the inevitable arrival of challenges you haven’t chosen. Do all you can to make life good, but don’t encumber yourself with the illusion that life should be easy. Instead, seek to grow in strength by continually finding worthwhile ways to put that strength to the test. — Ralph Marston |
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