Ripples #649: Scare Your Fears!
For our tribe of 29,550 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 31, 2011
PEBBLE:
Fairy tales are more than true;
not because they tell us that dragons exist,
but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.
-G.K. Chesterton, submitted by Elizabeth in La Crosse, WI
BOULDER:
I believe that anyone can conquer fear
by doing the things he fears to do,
provided he keeps doing them
until he gets a record
of successful experiences behind him.
-Eleanor Roosevelt, submitted by Angie in York, PA
PONDER:
BOO! I thought we could celebrate Halloween today by scaring our fears. Wait now, what?
If we take off the mask that our fears wear, we usually find nothing more than an overblown worry about the possible "worst case" outcomes that almost never materialize. Even in those rare instances when they do come true, they are often less awful than we anticipated. The best way to decrease our fears is to turn on the lights, and in most cases that means taking action.
I triple-dog dare you to take some steps today to scare a fear away. If there is an opportunity you have been hesitant to pursue, take some concrete action to start the process. If you have been holding off on having a fierce conversation with someone, maybe you can mentally rehearse the words you want to say, or if you're feeling ready then reach out and set up the time to chat.
And here is the best news: even if it doesn't turn out exactly as you hoped, it will likely make you a braver and wiser person.
So, what fear are you going to scare away today?
Peace,
Paul
P.S. Find more Ripples content here: http://Facebook.com/TheRipplesGuy
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Ripples #648: Lessons Learned!
Ripples #648: Lessons Learned!
For our tribe of 29,555 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 24, 2011
PEBBLE:
The mistakes of our past are not
a depiction of ourselves, but rather
a list of lessons learned on life's journey.
-written & submitted by C. J. Massie in Edwardsville, IL
BOULDER:
Everything you learn
will help you to solve
your problems.
What you don't learn
will cause your problems.
-written & submitted by Warren P. Brown in Sun Prairie, WI
PONDER:
This might be a good week to pause and reflect on what you have learned so
far this year in school, work, and/or life. I'm intrigued that both of the
above quotes (which were awesomely crafted and submitted by our own
Ripplers!) make it easier to re-frame something that you may have thought as
a "mistake" or a "failure" into an opportunity to learn.
There is still plenty of time before the year ends to take those lessons
and make sure that 2011 is a year of growth. Ponder, then act!
Peace,
Paul
For our tribe of 29,555 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 24, 2011
PEBBLE:
The mistakes of our past are not
a depiction of ourselves, but rather
a list of lessons learned on life's journey.
-written & submitted by C. J. Massie in Edwardsville, IL
BOULDER:
Everything you learn
will help you to solve
your problems.
What you don't learn
will cause your problems.
-written & submitted by Warren P. Brown in Sun Prairie, WI
PONDER:
This might be a good week to pause and reflect on what you have learned so
far this year in school, work, and/or life. I'm intrigued that both of the
above quotes (which were awesomely crafted and submitted by our own
Ripplers!) make it easier to re-frame something that you may have thought as
a "mistake" or a "failure" into an opportunity to learn.
There is still plenty of time before the year ends to take those lessons
and make sure that 2011 is a year of growth. Ponder, then act!
Peace,
Paul
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Ripples #647: Sing!
Ripples #647: Sing!
For our tribe of 29,334 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 17, 2011
PEBBLE:
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer;
it sings because it has a song.
-Maya Angelou, submitted by Judy in Carbondale, IL
BOULDER:
It is essential
to our well-being,
and to our lives,
that we play and enjoy life.
Every single day,
do something that makes your heart sing.
-Marcia Wieder
PONDER:
What activities allow your heart to sing?
Perhaps it is literally singing out loud while jamming to your favorite
music; OR laughing loudly with your friends and telling stories about your
crazy adventures. Besides these louder activities, it could just as easily
be an activity that is quiet on the outside, but still gets your heart
singing loudly on the inside: a leisurely twilight stroll, curling up with
a book, or putting together a puzzle.
Whatever the activity, make sure that you carve out time to play so that
you can return to your "to do" list with a renewed spirit.
Peace,
Paul
For our tribe of 29,334 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 17, 2011
PEBBLE:
A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer;
it sings because it has a song.
-Maya Angelou, submitted by Judy in Carbondale, IL
BOULDER:
It is essential
to our well-being,
and to our lives,
that we play and enjoy life.
Every single day,
do something that makes your heart sing.
-Marcia Wieder
PONDER:
What activities allow your heart to sing?
Perhaps it is literally singing out loud while jamming to your favorite
music; OR laughing loudly with your friends and telling stories about your
crazy adventures. Besides these louder activities, it could just as easily
be an activity that is quiet on the outside, but still gets your heart
singing loudly on the inside: a leisurely twilight stroll, curling up with
a book, or putting together a puzzle.
Whatever the activity, make sure that you carve out time to play so that
you can return to your "to do" list with a renewed spirit.
Peace,
Paul
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Ripples #646: Overcoming.
Ripples #646: Overcoming.
For our tribe of 29,297 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 10, 2011
PEBBLE:
All the world is full of suffering.
It is also full of overcoming.
-Helen Keller, submitted by Nick in New Jersey
BOULDER:
Keep in mind, at all times,
that we grow the most
from our greatest suffering.
As we go through it, it hurts.
But as we move through it, it also heals.
When a jug of water falls to the floor and cracks,
what was hidden within begins to pour out.
When life sends you one of its curves,
remember that it has come
to help crack you open
so that all the love, power and potential
that have been slumbering within you
can be poured into the world outside you.
And, like a fractured bone,
we do become stronger in the broken places.
-Robin Sharma, submitted by Esther in Pune, India
PONDER:
Over the past few weeks I have heard from several of our fellow ripplers
who are struggling with significant challenges. This news is both
heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. On the one hand I am sorry
that so many of us are dealing with difficulty; on the other hand, it is
somehow comforting to know they are not alone--others out there are also
facing (and hopefully conquering) challenges.
Life is pretty good for me right now,
but I know what it is like to face "big stuff."
I wouldn't wish my biggest challenges on another person, AND
I wouldn't wish them away from my own experience as a human being.
If life is difficult right now, remember to breathe deeply, rest when you
must, and then when you are ready: stand up, brush yourself off, and face
life fiercely. You can overcome, and you will!
Peace,
Paul
For our tribe of 29,297 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 10, 2011
PEBBLE:
All the world is full of suffering.
It is also full of overcoming.
-Helen Keller, submitted by Nick in New Jersey
BOULDER:
Keep in mind, at all times,
that we grow the most
from our greatest suffering.
As we go through it, it hurts.
But as we move through it, it also heals.
When a jug of water falls to the floor and cracks,
what was hidden within begins to pour out.
When life sends you one of its curves,
remember that it has come
to help crack you open
so that all the love, power and potential
that have been slumbering within you
can be poured into the world outside you.
And, like a fractured bone,
we do become stronger in the broken places.
-Robin Sharma, submitted by Esther in Pune, India
PONDER:
Over the past few weeks I have heard from several of our fellow ripplers
who are struggling with significant challenges. This news is both
heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. On the one hand I am sorry
that so many of us are dealing with difficulty; on the other hand, it is
somehow comforting to know they are not alone--others out there are also
facing (and hopefully conquering) challenges.
Life is pretty good for me right now,
but I know what it is like to face "big stuff."
I wouldn't wish my biggest challenges on another person, AND
I wouldn't wish them away from my own experience as a human being.
If life is difficult right now, remember to breathe deeply, rest when you
must, and then when you are ready: stand up, brush yourself off, and face
life fiercely. You can overcome, and you will!
Peace,
Paul
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Ripples #645: An Invitation.
Ripples #645: An Invitation.
For our tribe of 29,078 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 3, 2011
PEBBLE:
How people treat you is their karma;
how you react is yours.
-Wayne Dyer
BOULDER:
Every situation,
if you think about it,
is an invitation for us
to react in a certain way,
but being mindful
gives us the chance
to decide how to RSVP.
-Catherine Price, submitted by Carol in Milwaukee, WI
PONDER:
Some situations, and some people, invite us to be less than who we are;
less than our "full, best self." And lately it seems that work and school
and life are zooming toward us with unprecedented speed and force. This
makes it too easy to slip into a mindset of "rush-rush-rush, don't think
about it just react then move on to the next thing."
When you find yourself in an unpleasant situation with someone who is
making things worse instead of better, gently remember that you have other
options besides treating that person as you think they deserve. Perhaps you
could invite yourself to pause briefly and consider how your best self on
your best day might respond to someone who is not capable of bringing their
best self to the situation at hand. And you don't have to take the higher
ground because THEY deserve it; you can choose to respond more gracefully
because YOU deserve it.
Peace,
Paul
For our tribe of 29,078 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Oct 3, 2011
PEBBLE:
How people treat you is their karma;
how you react is yours.
-Wayne Dyer
BOULDER:
Every situation,
if you think about it,
is an invitation for us
to react in a certain way,
but being mindful
gives us the chance
to decide how to RSVP.
-Catherine Price, submitted by Carol in Milwaukee, WI
PONDER:
Some situations, and some people, invite us to be less than who we are;
less than our "full, best self." And lately it seems that work and school
and life are zooming toward us with unprecedented speed and force. This
makes it too easy to slip into a mindset of "rush-rush-rush, don't think
about it just react then move on to the next thing."
When you find yourself in an unpleasant situation with someone who is
making things worse instead of better, gently remember that you have other
options besides treating that person as you think they deserve. Perhaps you
could invite yourself to pause briefly and consider how your best self on
your best day might respond to someone who is not capable of bringing their
best self to the situation at hand. And you don't have to take the higher
ground because THEY deserve it; you can choose to respond more gracefully
because YOU deserve it.
Peace,
Paul
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