2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

[free at last]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Made me think of the poet Rumi -- "What you seek is seeking you." Thanks for the words of encouragement.

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

free at last;1481608 wrote: Made me think of the poet Rumi -- "What you seek is seeking you." Thanks for the words of encouragement.

After reading your post, I searched out quotes by Rumi. I never knew one of my all time favorites was one of his:

?The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.?
― Rumi, The Illuminated Rumi

I saw this one, and thought it very appropriate for us here:


?The wound is the place where the Light enters you.?
― Rumi

Thanks for your reply... and thanks to everyone else too! :l

[free at last]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Rumi rocks

[NoSugar]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Rumi fans

free at last;1481710 wrote: Rumi rocks

Have you seen the documentary, I Am (I AM The Documentary | Official Site)?

Tom Shadyac, the director of several movies such as Bruce Almighty and some Jim Carrey movies had a major trauma, started rethinking his life, what is wrong with the world, and especially, what can be done about it. He interviewed scholars, philosophers, scientists, and others, including The author of The Essential Rumi. What he concludes (this is not a spoiler) is the importance of the interconnectedness of all of us and in fact, among all forms of life. I was really moved by the film and watched it 3 times - once by myself and with both my husband and daughter so I could be sure they really watched it!

I was hoping for an opportunity to mention it on MWO because I think that this interconnectedness is what generates this forum's power. I have read text similar to the posts here in self-help books, on websites explaining how to get past an addiction, etc. but it was not until I was part of a community that those words had meaning.

I think it is an important film and if you watch, you will see Rumi's wisdom offered several times.

:h NS

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

March 23rd

NS, I looked into that site I AM... looks very interesting. I would love to see the movie.
Now here's another pearl of wisdom from your guy Ralphie




The Effort of the Journey


The life you desire to live is precisely one step away. Once you take that step, with your initial action you are beginning to live that life.

The essence of fulfillment is in the direction and in the process, not just in the ultimate reward. The substance of life is in the living, from moment to moment, toward the goals you have chosen.

Think of how terribly empty it would be to always get what you want without the opportunity to look forward to it. Without the time and effort of the journey, you cannot fully enjoy the destination.

If you were to have it all now, you would be cheated out of the rich joy of anticipation. Fortunately, you cannot have it all now so you can indeed anticipate to your heart?s delight.

Step forward toward whatever you treasure, and you?ll begin to live the reality of what you treasure. Keep going, and enjoy every bit of value as you work to build it day by day.

You can?t get all the way there all at once, and that is truly a blessing. Because it is in the effort of the journey that you can truly appreciate and enjoy the reward of the destination.

? Ralph Marston

[Eve11]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

NoSugar;1481736 wrote: Have you seen the documentary, I Am (I AM The Documentary | Official Site)?

Thanks for the tip NoSugar. I ordered it on Netflix. Watched the trailer and it totally resonates with my way of thinking.

Thanks again!
:l
Eve11

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

March 24th



The Power of Enthusiasm


Your life is a great and wonderful experience, so don?t be afraid to show some genuine, infectious enthusiasm for it. The world is filled with outstanding opportunities, and you can make the most of those opportunities by being enthusiastic about them.

Yes, sometimes you might look a little bit silly. However, it?s much better to be laughed at for being enthusiastic than to be pitied and avoided for being dull.

Enthusiasm keeps you young, energizes your days, and attracts positive people to your efforts. Enthusiasm keeps you focused on moving forward, even when there are obstacles and distractions working against you.

To be enthusiastic, you must do what you truly care about, and genuinely care about what you?re doing. To be enthusiastic, be honest with yourself about what your passions are, and follow those passions without holding back.

Feel how good it feels to let enthusiasm freely flow. Feel how powerful it is when your actions are continually energized by your enthusiasm.

Find those things about which you can be authentically enthusiastic. And then, let the power of your enthusiasm flow.

? Ralph Marston

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

March 25th



Seeds of Thought



Plant the seed of a thought in your mind and it quickly takes root. Nurture that seed as the days and months go along, and it will grow into something substantial.

In this moment, and in every moment, you can choose what to put into your mind. And whatever you consistently put into your mind will soon become a part of your life.

If you use every opportunity you have to put regret, envy, anger, greed, and despair into your mind, what will be the result? The reality of your world will overflow with all those negative influences.

Instead, in each moment, every chance you get, put positive, empowering thoughts into your mind. And as time goes on, every aspect of your life will be lifted higher as a result.

You can choose which seeds of thought you put into your mind. Choose thoughts of love, possibility, generosity, abundance, compassion, strength and gratitude.

No matter what is going on in the world around you, you can plant and nurture precisely the thoughts you choose. Choose wisely, and it will have an enormous impact on the direction of your life.

? Ralph Marston

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

March 26th



Performing the Magic


Every step you take on the journey gets you that much closer to your destination. Every purposeful effort you make brings you closer and closer to your goal.

When you are taking intentional, directed action, you are making progress. You are creating the very rewards you seek.

When you become weary, take a moment to remind yourself why you?ve chosen to go where you?ve chosen to go. When you feel a tinge of discouragement, overwhelm it with positive anticipation for the good and valuable place where you?re headed.

Not only can you do it, you are doing it. You are performing the magic of transforming dreams into reality.

What you?re doing is difficult and burdensome in some ways. And yet it is also truly amazing, because you?re creating value that never existed before.

Continue the effort, continue to persist, and continue performing the magic. And delight in the outstanding rewards it brings.

? Ralph Marston

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread





A Work of Art
By Steve Goodier



Edward Fischer writes in Notre Dame Magazine (February, 1983), that a leper (or, more correctly, a sufferer of Hansen's Disease) in Fiji followed the leading of his twisted hands. He became an internationally known artist. "My sickness I see as a gift of God leading me to my life?s work," he said. "If it had not been for my sickness, none of these things would have happened."

As a young girl, Jessamyn West had tuberculosis. She was so sick that she was sent away to die. During that time she developed her skill as a writer and authored numerous novels in her lifetime.

That great author Flannery O?Connor suffered numerous ailments - lupus struck her at 25 and she walked only with the aid of crutches for the final fourteen years of her life. She noted, however, that this illness narrowed her activities in such a way that she had time for the real work of her life, which was writing.

Some people succeed in spite of handicaps. Others succeed because of them. The truth is, our problems help to make us what we are. Those who suffer often learn the value of compassion. Those who struggle often learn perseverance. And those who fall down often teach others how to rise again. Our troubles can shape us in ways a carefree existence cannot.

A story is told of an Eastern village that, through the centuries, was known for its exquisite pottery. Especially striking were its urns; high as tables, wide as chairs, they were admired around the globe for their strong form and delicate beauty.

Legend has it that when each urn was apparently finished, there was one final step. The artist broke it - and then put it back together with gold filigree.

An ordinary urn was then transformed into a priceless work of art. What seemed finished wasn?t, until it was broken.

So it is with people! Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, they can become disappointed and bitter. But when mended by a hand of infinite patience and love, the finished product will be a work of exquisite beauty and effectiveness; a life that could only reach its wholeness after it was broken.

If you feel broken remember that you are a work of art! And you may not actually be complete until the pieces are reassembled and bonded with a golden filigree of love.

[NoSugar]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

FallenAngel;1483703 wrote:
A story is told of an Eastern village that, through the centuries, was known for its exquisite pottery. Especially striking were its urns; high as tables, wide as chairs, they were admired around the globe for their strong form and delicate beauty.

Legend has it that when each urn was apparently finished, there was one final step. The artist broke it - and then put it back together with gold filigree.

An ordinary urn was then transformed into a priceless work of art. What seemed finished wasn?t, until it was broken.

So it is with people! Broken by hardships, disappointments and tragedy, they can become disappointed and bitter. But when mended by a hand of infinite patience and love, the finished product will be a work of exquisite beauty and effectiveness; a life that could only reach its wholeness after it was broken.

If you feel broken remember that you are a work of art! And you may not actually be complete until the pieces are reassembled and bonded with a golden filigree of love.

I wish everyone on MWO could read at least this part! I think I might need to post this in the Newbies Nest. Thanks, FA! :l

[Wildflowers]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

NoSugar;1483704 wrote: I wish everyone on MWO could read at least this part! I think I might need to post this in the Newbies Nest. Thanks, FA! :l

I agree! This last one is so beautiful! :h

I started reading this thread more actively about a wk or two ago. Was reminded of "The Daily Motivator" by Ralph Marston. I had stumbled upon last summer. I fdwd to some people. This is a great thread & when I come to MWO, it's a staple now. Thank you Fallen Angel :l

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread


As you think, you travel. As you love, you attract.






You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

You cannot escape the results of your thoughts; but you can
endure and learn, accept and be glad. You will realize the vision of your
heart, not the idle wish. You will gravitate toward that which you secretly
most love. Into your hands will be placed the exact result of your thoughts;
you will receive that which you earn; no more, no less. Whatever your
present environment may be, you will fall, remain, or rise with your thoughts,
your vision--your ideal.

If you're feeling good, then you're creating a future that's on track
with your desires. If you're feeling bad, you're creating a future
that's off track with your desires. As you go about your day,
the law of attraction is working in every second. Everything we think
and feel is creating our future. If you're worried or in fear, then you're
bringing more of that into your life throughout the day.

Marci Shimoff

[Slaythefear]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

Fallen Angel, your post for 'A Work of Art' By Steve Goodier is beautiful and resonates deeply with me.


When I start my inspiration book, this will definitely be within its pages. Thank you. I've always felt like God was breaking me throughout my life as I've been through so very much and it continues today. (I am quite stubborn.) There has to be an end product to so much suffering that was meant to be or to serve a purpose in its stages toward the end. Like a finely orchestrated piece of music that plays out to enchant an audience of one or more. Or maybe in the end, it is all for our very own discovery and not for something outside of ourselves. This piece is my favorite as it resonates so deeply to my life. When I had strong faith, I would often think these trials and tribulations were to break me and build me into what God knew would in the end save me from myself.

YOU are doing such a great job on this thread. I love the resources you have shared and believe you should continue to share them here. They have such beauty, hope and inspirational quality to each one. Carry on my friend. You are earning your wings.

Love,

Leeloo

[FallenAngel]

2013 Daily Encouragement Thread

March 29th

So good to see you Slay! I'm so glad you liked that article. "The Will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you." ~author unknown.
Peace be with you my friend. :l






Just a few things to think about when life delivers a dose of difficulty and stress?



You are not what happened to you in the past. ? No matter how chaotic the past has been, the future is a clean, fresh, wide open slate. You are not your past habits. You are not your past failures. You are not how others have at one time treated you. You are only who you think you are right now in this moment. You are only what you do right now in this moment.

Not getting what you want can be a blessing. ? Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of good luck, because it forces you reevaluate things, opening new doors to opportunities and information you would have otherwise overlooked. Remember, some things in life fall apart so that better things can fall together.

Being a ?work in progress? is a great state to be in. ? Stop berating yourself for being a work in progress. Start embracing it! Because being a work in progress doesn?t mean you?re not good enough today; it means you want a better tomorrow, and you wish to love yourself completely, so you can live your life fully. It means you?re determined to heal your heart, expand your mind and cultivate the gifts you know you?re meant to share. May we all be works in progress forever, and celebrate the fact that we are!

Nobody else can do it for you. ? Keep doing what you know in your heart is right for YOU. Let your dreams be bigger than your fears and your actions louder than your words. Live by choice, not by chance. Make changes, not excuses. Be motivated, not manipulated. Work to excel, not compete. Choose to listen to your inner voice, not the jumbled opinions of everyone else. It?s your road, and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

Life is not easy, but it?s worth it. ? If you expect it to be, you will perpetually disappoint yourself. Achieving anything worthwhile in life takes effort. So start every morning ready to run farther than you did yesterday and fight harder than you ever have before. Above all, make sure you properly align your efforts with your goals. It won?t be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.

~author unknown