Ripples #767: See The Best.

Ripples #767:  See The Best.
For our tribe of busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
27 Jan 2014

PEBBLE:
A loving person lives in a loving world.
A hostile person lives in a hostile world;
everyone you meet is your mirror.
-Ken Keyes, Jr., shared by Heather in Anchorage, AK

BOULDER:
If we see only the worst,
it destroys our capacity to do something.
If we remember those times and places—
-and there are so many—
-where people have behaved magnificently,
this gives us the energy to act,
and at least the possibility
of sending this spinning top of a world
in a different direction.
-Howard Zinn, shared by David in San Luis Obispo, CA

PONDER:
There are big heaps of good stuff in the world, along with plenty of poopiness as well.  It is important not to ignore the yucky stuff completely, as there are lessons to be learned and people to be cautious about.  Sometimes, though, we can get too focused on the difficulties.  That can harden our heart which then makes it more difficult to see any of the positive aspects of life...which then causes to lose hope and our heart further hardens.

If you need a lift this week, I dare you to practice focusing on the upbeat people and happy happenings and delightful other-things that you encounter.  It may not be possible (or prudent) to ONLY see the good stuff, but keeping your eyes open for sunshine will likely make your day brighter.  And that could make all the difference.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #760: Falling Into Fabulous!

Ripples #760:  Falling Into Fabulous!
For our tribe of busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
16 Dec 2013

PEBBLE:
The bad news is you are falling through the air;
nothing to hang on to, no parachute.
The good news is there is no ground.
-Chogyam Trungpa, shared by Ryan in La Crosse, WI

BOULDER:
Today I learned in class that
if light and sound did not travel as waves,
we would not be able to perceive them;
no grandeur color or sounds of nature.
If you were to view this
as a metaphor of your own life,
you might recognize that life's ups and downs
are just the natural price we pay
for the experience of each breath.
-written and shared by Zach Koop in La Crosse, WI

PONDER:
Life is *not* always easy.  At various times there might be really frustrating stuff happening with work, school, relationships, chores, and other aspects of life.  I never want to be that shmarmy dude on stage (or in these Ripples posts) with a plastic smile suggesting that all you have to do is "think positive" or "follow my easy advice" to have a magical and wonderful existence.  Life is, in my experience, sometimes really messy.  Poopy, even.  And while I don't WISH any crappity crap on you, I do know that the inevitable difficulties that arise in the course of a lifetime often leave us tougher, wiser, and more compassionate.  On the downside, they can also lead us into the temptation of bitter, meaner, and more crusty.  The next time you find yourself falling, I hope you'll fall into fabulous.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #747: Sheer Delight!

Ripples #747:  Sheer Delight!
For our tribe of 29,532 busy people who believe in
unleashing Ripples of compassion & kindness: uRock!
16 Sep 2013

PEBBLE:
Sheer delight is hidden everywhere
for those who care to see.
-Mark Hierholzer, shared by Julia in Blanchardville, WI

BOULDER:
When you recover or discover something
that nourishes your soul and brings joy,
care enough about yourself
to make room for it in your life.
-Jean Shinoda Bolen

PONDER:
Whether you're savoring a stretch of "everything is awesome," stuck in a quagmire of "OMG my life is sooo poopy," or even enduring a really mediocre "meh, is this all there is?"; this issue of Ripples is being unleashed for the purpose of encouraging you to keep your eyes, ears, and heart open for the "sheer delight" that Mr. Hierholzer reminds us about in the pebble above.

It isn't always easy to find the delight;
it is, in my experience usually worth it.

Peace!
Paul

Ripples #719: The Optimist's Cha-cha!

Ripples #719: The Optimist's Cha-cha!
For our tribe of 31,141 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Monday, March 4, 2013

PEBBLE:
Nothing is a waste of time
if you use the experience wisely.
-Auguste Rodin, shared by Kim in De Pere, WI

BOULDER:
An optimist is someone who figures
that taking a step backward
after a step forward
is not a disaster;
it's a cha-cha.
-Robert Brault, shared by Melissa in San Luis Obispo, CA

PONDER:
Last week I was all excited to roll out another round of $100 Ripples
Grants to inspire ripples of joy and kindness. And then the system we use
to send out Ripples hiccuped and most people didn't receive Ripples last
week. PHOOEY! It was Wednesday before I could shake it off and recognize
that waiting until next week wouldn't be the end of the world. And then,
when I saw these quotes in the pile I knew: this was just a little
cha-cha! I hope *you* can transform any inevitable setbacks you face this
week and them into opportunities to dance.

Peace,
Paul
P.S. Oh, and here is the video with details about the grants!
http://youtu.be/3hFMsc4jRuU

Ripples #717: Mini-Puzzles!

Ripples #717: Mini-Puzzles!
For our tribe of 31,176 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
02/19/2013

PEBBLE:
If you find a path with no obstacles,
it probably doesn't lead anywhere.
-Frank A Clark, shared by Susan in Woodland, CA


BOULDER:
It's life's complexities
that make it fun;
mini-puzzles all over the place
just waiting to be skillfully solved!
-written and shared by Holly from South Jersey

PONDER:
Life ain't always easy.

Depending upon what your life is currently like, your reaction to this statement could range anywhere from a slight nod and shrug all the way up to a sarcastic, "Duh!" or maybe even all the way to screaming, "TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW, AND THEN TELL ME HOW TO FIX MY CRAPPY LIFE!"

The bad news is that I don't likely have the answers to fix all the challenges you're facing right now. The good news is that there are more answers within you than you might realize, and one of the most useful way to transform obstacles into opportunities is to change how you view them. The trick is to tweak your attitude just a bit; shift your perspective enough to see your current difficulties as mini-puzzles that, once solved, will help you acquire new skills. The bigger the puzzle, the more difficult this can be AND the more lessons you can learn from it. Of course, shifting your attitude alone won't solve the puzzles. It will, however, unlock significant internal resources to help you get started.


Peace,
Paul

Ripples #715: Smart Cookie!

Ripples #715: Smart Cookie!
For our tribe of 31,322 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
02/05/2013

PEBBLE:
You can't be a smart cookie
if you have a crummy attitude.
-John Maxwell, shared by Sue in Lincoln, NE

BOULDER:
I am determined to be cheerful and happy
in whatever situation I may find myself.
For I have learned that the greater part
of our misery or unhappiness is determined
not by our circumstance but by our disposition.
-Martha Washington, shared by Nick in New Jersey

PONDER:
We all have crummy days, that is for sure. The trick is not to crumble when you encounter them. I don't know if you have to follow Ms. Washington's strategy of ALWAYS striving for cheerful and happy, because sometimes tears need to be shed and frustration needs to be vented.

Just remember that you need to put your bestest, highest self in charge of choosing the best mood for the occasion. Avoid getting TRAPPED in grief or anger and remember that at some point it can be useful to jump up, dust yourself off, and remember what a smart cookie you really are.

Peace,
Paul
p.s. I apologize if, like me, this week's theme instills in you a temptation to devour sweets.

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Ripples #706: Believing vs. Knowing.

Ripples #706: Believing vs. Knowing.
For our tribe of 31,768 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
12/04/2012

PEBBLE:
Be less certain.
Be more curious.
-Steve Robbins, submitted by Brett in Madison, WI

BOULDER:
People take different roads
seeking fulfillment and happiness.
Just because they're not on your road
doesn't mean they've gotten lost.
-Dalai Lama

PONDER:
Two movies I've seen in the past week have me pondering what I believe and what I know to be true. "The Life of Pi" and "Rise of the Guardians" are amazing and I recommend both highly (see them in 3D if you can--they are each visually stunning without overwhelming). In very different ways, they explore the interplay between faith and facts.

Yesterday I used my iPhone to capture some thoughts that sprang up in the middle of a serene Sunday hike. The transcript would exceed my 60 second rule about the length of these Ripples, but I'll share the link in the hopes that some of you may take 5 minutes to watch: http://theripplesproject.org/12all/lt.php?c=497&m=867&nl=13&s=dfb706258cf0416bd4d6592ffb5ddd13&lid=2470&l=-http--www.youtube.com/watch--Q-v--E-BCaPeoVotZw

If life is too busy for that, at least make an effort this week to be less certain and more curious. For me, for you, and for us all.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #699: Brick Walls.

Ripples #699: Brick Walls.
For our tribe of 31,811 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
10/16/2012

PEBBLE:
When the world says, "Give up."
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."
-source unknown, submitted by Angela in Mississauga, Ontario

BOULDER:
The brick walls are there for a reason.
The brick walls are not there to keep us out.
The brick walls are there to give us a chance
to show us how badly we want something.
Because the brick walls are there to stop
the people who don't want it badly enough.
They're there to stop the other people.
-Randy Pausch, submitted by Sarah in Fond du Lac, WI

PONDER:
I often joke with my buddies who work in campus recreational sports that the reason I don't do weight training as part of my fitness routines is that the dumbbells are just too heavy--if they were lighter, I'd lift weights every day! Of course, if the weights were light then they really wouldn't help me maintain/build muscles.

Whether you're facing a brick wall or some heavy weights, now isn't the time for giving up. Now is the time to take a few breaths and either take a running start and scamper up the wall OR stretch your muscles and do the heavy lifting (but some free extra advice: don't try to tackle the brick wall while lifting the weights--that just seems dangerous).

But seriously, you're a tougher gal/guy than you realize, and I think this should be the week to face the wall or the weights and you'll be better and stronger next week. #GoForIt

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #694: Do You Matter?

Ripples #694: Do You Matter?
For our tribe of 31,477 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
09/11/2012

PEBBLE:
We must hold in our minds
these utterly contradictory thoughts:
not one of us matters at all;
each of us is infinitely precious.
-Jane Emily Bowers

BOULDER:
Accepting that the world
can do quite fine without us
allows us to put down the burden
of being corrective heroes
and simply concentrate on
absorbing the journey
of being alive.
-Mark Nepo, submitted by Nick in New Jersey

PONDER:
Sometimes we underestimate how important we are to others.
Sometimes we overestimate how important we are to others.

A wise middle ground might be to humbly acknowledge the possibility that we are much MORE important than our least confident selves recognize, and we are much LESS important than our over-confident egos occasionally presume.

I believe we have far more capacity to MAKE someone's day than to RUIN it: smiles, kind words, and/or warm gestures are needed by most everyone we encounter. Let's march out into our crazy week with the determination to leverage that capacity to positively influence and worry less about the potential downsides. Are you in?

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #687: What Happened?

Ripples #687: What Happened?
For our tribe of 30,992 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
07/23/2012

PEBBLE:
Life is all about how you handle Plan B.
-Suzy Toronto

BOULDER:
Life is rarely about what happened;
it's mostly about what we think happened.
-Chuck Klosterman, submitted by Jen at Marian University, WI

PONDER:
Something blechy might have happened recently for you; it could have been a minor annoyance, or possibly it was a real doozy. Whatever it is and however much it has knocked you off your best game: I'm sorry it happened AND I know you can handle it. You did what was necessary to make it to this particular moment, and that seems a good indication that you can hang in there and keep making things better. Remember that you don't have to be GLAD something happened in order to GROW from it. Hang in there and bring your best possible self to this challenge; the best part is that your BEST SELF will likely grow stronger, wiser, better on the other side of this!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #678: The Risk of Living.

Ripples #678: The Risk of Living.
For our tribe of 30,943 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
05/21/2012

PEBBLE:
Here is the world.
Beautiful and terrible things will happen.
Don't be afraid.
-Frederick Buechner, submitted by Amy in Charlotte, NC

BOULDER:
It takes so much to be a full human being
that there are very few who have
the enlightenment or courage to pay the price...
One has to abandon altogether the search for security
and reach out to the risk of living with both arms.

One has to accept pain as a condition of existence.
One has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of knowing.
One needs a will stubborn in conflict,
but apt always to total acceptance
of every consequence of living and dying.
-Morris West, submitted by Jessica in Brooklyn, NY

PONDER:
Remember, folks, we have only one day to live: Today. We cannot live in the past or the future, although we are sometimes tempted by worry, guilt, and regret to try. It just doesn't work out that way. Yes we need to keep our eye on what is coming up in our lives, and it is true that our past offers some valuable history lessons worth keeping in mind. AND: Today is where it is at, it the right place to be; it's what all the cool cats are drinking. So let's grab a red Solo cup and fill it to the top with the delicious, thirst-quenching tonic of THIS VALUABLE DAY!

Embrace all the good and all the messy and all the joy and all the sadness: indeed, let's you and I enjoy the RISK OF LIVING just for today. Okay?

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #672: Donuts & Holes.

Ripples #672: Donuts & Holes.
For our tribe of 30,676 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
04/09/2012

PEBBLE:
As you ramble on through life, brother,
whatever be your goal,
keep your eye upon the donut
and not upon the hole.
-on the wall at "Dippy Donuts" in Omaha, NE;
submitted by Diane in Gilbert, AZ


BOULDER:
Decide to be happy today,
to live with what is yours:
your family, your business, your job, your luck.
If you can't have what you like,
maybe you can like what you have.
Just for today, be kind, cheerful, agreeable,
responsible, caring and understanding.
Be your best, dress your best, talk softly,
look for the bright side of things.
Praise people for what they do and
don't criticize them for what they cannot do.
If someone does something stupid,
forgive and forget.
After all,
it's just for one day.
-source unknown, submitted by Karen in Cincinnati, OH

PONDER:
If I asked you to brainstorm a list of things that would help make your life easier, you could probably identify a few pretty quickly: more money, different circumstances, more time with some people you enjoy and perhaps less time with certain other people.

Let's save that list for another day; instead, I want you to notice the "donuts" in your life.....the people and things and situations that make your life taste good. I challenge you, just for today (or maybe throughout this week?), to ignore the "hole"--the pieces that sometime feel missing--and just savor the goodness in your life.

Your life may be more delicious than you realize!

Peace,
Paul
p.s. Yeah, I know...I'm hungry for donuts now as well. Sorry about that...

Ripples #670: The Happiness Mindset.

Ripples #670: The Happiness Mindset.
For our tribe of 30,375 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
03/26/2012

PEBBLE:
Happiness is a mindset for your journey,
not the result of your destination.
-submitted by Swati from CA, inspired by Shawn Achor's TED talk
http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html

BOULDER:
We tend to forget that happiness
doesn't come as a result of getting
something we don't have,
but rather of recognizing
and appreciating
what we do have.
-Frederick Keonig, submitted by Nick in New Jersey & Mary in Arizona

PONDER:
Despite what you might think, happiness is not simply a personality trait that you're either born with or "oh well." Nor is it an elusive goal only achieved if you unlock a secret door or discover the hidden treasure. Research over the past 40 years suggests that while some people seem to have a higher "happiness set point," the concept of happiness is more accurately viewed as a SKILL that we can improve with training. We can "practice" happy by helping others, expressing gratitude, finding fresh ways to exercise, etc. I picked up these tidbits from a fantastic documentary called, simply enough, "Happy." http://www.thehappymovie.com/ It is a fast-paced 75-minute film that is definitely worth a peek.

Happiness isn't about painting a smile on your face and gritting your teeth through the inevitable difficulties that life hands us. Instead, it is about getting to know ourselves better and finding the courage to see if changing how we look at the world might actually change the world.

If you can easily identify a few people or activities in your life that consistently make you happy, be sure to enjoy them this week. If you'd like to be happier next week than you are today, I dare you to experiment: try a new food, strike up a conversation with a potential new friend, or find a new route to arrive at your usual destination.

It also helps to follow the advice that Bobby McFerrin planted in some of our heads a few decades ago: Don't worry, be happy!

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #659: Forgive.

Ripples #659: Forgive.
For our tribe of 29,696 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
01/10/2012

PEBBLE:
Forgiveness is not an occasional act,
it is a constant attitude.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

BOULDER:
Forgiving does not erase the bitter past.
A healed memory is not a deleted memory.
Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget
creates a new way to remember.
We change the memory of our past into a hope for our future.
-Lewis B. Smedes, submitted by Nathan in Plymouth, NH

PONDER:
I have complicated, conflicting perspectives on forgiveness and I have been pondering the above boulder that Nathan submitted a few months ago. On the one hand I recognize there
is a weight to carrying a grudge or holding on to a past hurt in a way that burdens a person who was wronged, possibly without any consequence to the offender. On the other hand, I recognize that many people have experienced significant wounds that were intentionally inflicted without compassion for the injured.

The distinction between a "healed" and "deleted" memory is a powerful one, and I invite you to join me in pondering how creating a "new way to remember" old hurts might help us move forward with our lives and improve how we engage with others.

Peace,
Paul

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

Ripples #636: Better Not Bitter!

Ripples #636:  Better Not Bitter!
For our tribe of 27,796 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Aug 1, 2011

PEBBLE:  
The difficulties of life are intended 
to make us better, not bitter.
-Jim Vaske, submitted by Kathy in Marshfield, WI

BOULDER: 
It may be hard for an egg 
to turn into a bird: 
it would be a jolly sight harder 
for it to learn to fly 
while remaining an egg. 

We are like eggs at present. 
And you cannot go on indefinitely 
being just an ordinary, decent egg. 
We must be hatched or go bad.
-C.S. Lewis, submitted by Lisa in Christmas, FL

PONDER:  
I connected this week with a few of my friends who are each facing
significant challenges in their lives right now.  I want them (and YOU!) to
know that I am pushing out all kinds of positive energy this week with the
hopes that any of my fellow Ripplers who are struggling can hatch themselves
into the next stage of life.  

It may not be time to fly just yet, but I feel certain you can at least
crack the shell.  

Peace,
Paul
P.S.  My sincere gratitude to over 1,000 Ripplers who bipped over to like
my FB page in the past few weeks.  Shut up I love connecting with you there,
too--I'll keep up the extra splashes just for you!
http://Facebook.com/TheRipplesGuy

Ripples #634: Invigorating Views!

Ripples #634: Invigorating Views!
For our tribe of 27,864 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
July 18, 2011

PEBBLE:
You haven't seen a tree until you've seen its shadow from the sky.
-Amelia Earhart

BOULDER:
More than anything else
the sensation is one of perfect peace
mingled with an excitement
that strains every nerve to the utmost,
if you can conceive of such a combination.
-Wilbur Wright

PONDER:
Some of you know I honored a childhood dream of mine by jumping out of an
airplane this weekend. The combination of an electric 100 mph free-fall
followed by a serene 20 mph parachute glide back to earth is difficult to
describe (Amelia Earhart and Wilbur Wright do a pretty good job in the above
quotes).

I don't think one needs to skydive see the world from a different
perspective, but I wonder if you could think of some way to shift your
viewpoint this week? Maybe you could peek out from the top floor of a
building, or pause on a route you regularly travel to view the scene in a
different way. There's a good chance it could help bring energy to a
challenge you're facing because when you change the way you look at a thing,
it has the potential to change both you and the thing.

Peace,
Paul
p.s.  Here's the video of my skydiving:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pkOMeqYrgY

Ripples #627: Have Fun!

Ripples #627: Have Fun!
For our tribe of 27,790 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
May 30, 2011

PEBBLE:
Have fun doing the boring stuff so
you won't get bored doing the fun stuff.
-written and submitted by Sterling, Waukesha WI

BOULDER:
Fun is not defined as
the absence of challenging circumstances,
but as the absence of anger about them.
-Neale Donald Walsch

PONDER:
Here in the U.S. our summer season kicks off with Memorial Day weekend, a
holiday to commemorate those who gave their lives while serving our country
in the military.

Carve out at least a few minutes to acknowledge them, and then dive into a
weekend and indeed a whole summer full of FUN!

Peace,
Paul
p.s. Does anyone read this if I send it out on a holiday?

Ripples #621: Wrong Turns.

Ripples #621: Wrong Turns.
For our tribe of 27,717 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Apr 18, 2011

PEBBLE:
Wrong turns are as important as right turns. More important, sometimes.
-Richard Bach, submitted by Megan, Camden NJ

BOULDER:
Success becomes mine as I build
creatively and enthusiastically
on each small failure that tries
temporarily and fruitlessly
to slow me down.
-James Richards, submitted by Troy, Minneapolis MN

PONDER:
Did you make a wrong turn recently? Good for you! Whether you know it or
not, that may have been the best mistake you ever made. You will learn from
it, you will be humbled by it, and hopefully you will be motivated to avoid
THAT mistake again.

Don't spend too many minutes shaming or blaming. Instead, take a few deep
breaths so you can access your best, full self and then decide how you will
move forward from here.

Peace,
Paul

Ripples #617: Spring Thaw!

Ripples #617: Spring Thaw!
For our tribe of 27,335 busy people who share encouragement and gratitude.
Mar 21, 2011

PEBBLE:
Spring is when you feel like whistling
even with a shoe full of slush.
-Doug Larson

BOULDER:
If there comes a little thaw,
Still the air is chill and raw,
Here and there a patch of snow,
Dirtier than the ground below,
Dribbles down a marshy flood;
Ankle-deep you stick in mud
In the meadows while you sing,
"This is Spring."
-Christopher Pearce Cranch, A Spring Growl

PONDER:
Happy spring to you. As the snow melts and the ground thaws, Mother Nature
is preparing to dazzle us with green grass, blue skies, and oh yes the
myriad hues of flowers. It also means we'll need to put up with some
blustery, rainy days (like the one we're experiencing here in Madison as I
write this).

I hope you get to experience some hopeful sign of spring this week, and I
hope you find the patience to endure some of the inevitable messiness that
comes along with transitions.

Peace,
Paul