"You Can't Travel Within and Stand Still Without"

Looking through my posts I realized that this is the second blog I have written on this same quote. Evidently this quote is very important to me now and my hope is that maybe you need to see it again too.

The above quote is from James Allen and " As a Man Thinketh." We are always so quick to blame other people for our failures and sorrows in life. We think, "If only I had better parents." "If my boss wasn't such a jerk." "It is all my spouse or partner's fault." "The economy is bad." It is too hot, cold, rainy, sunny to do anything." I am too poor, old, young, uneducated, unlucky."

Take your pick as these are all excuses many of us use to stop us from having or living the life we want. When we blame another, we are not acknowledging that we are the main creator of our own lives.

We need to go inside and examine our character, examine our thoughts, examine our feeling, examine our behavior. We need to acknowledge that no one can mess up our lives unless we allow them to. I think Allen is suggesting in this quote that when we do inside work, our outside circumstances will improve.

Stephen Covey in the book, "The 8Th Habit," says something very similar. He says, "Any time you think the problem is out there, that very thought is the problem. Any time you wrap your emotional life around the weaknesses of another person, you give away your emotional freedom to that person and give them permission to continue to mess up your life. Your past holds your future hostage."

It is not easy to do the inside work, of self-reflection and soul searching. It is not easy to acknowledge your role in the difficulties of your life. However I think that working inside out is the only way to true happiness and that makes it worth it.

And isn't that something to think and write about?

Jana Ruth
Author of Laugh and Live Happier: P.L.A.Y.S. of Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.laughterworld.blogspot.com

Contact me for Humor and Motivational speaking and Life Coaching
480-600-5178

You Can't Travel Within and Stand Still Without

This is a quote from James Allen from "As a Man Thinketh," and it got me thinking this week. As many of you might be facing, I am facing the possible lay off at my job. The government entity that I work for, which shall remain nameless, to protect the guilty, is going through difficult budget and economic problems. Being in training, anytime a organization or company looks to cut that is where they look to cut. Anyway, the possibility raised it ugly head this week, and I experienced quite a bit of stress.

As a motivational speaker and believer in being positive and looking at all things as a challenge and an opportunity this week has tested my beliefs. I am realizing that I may have to really practice what I preach.

So after finding this quote, and I do believe that "when the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I needed to do some soul searching. I needed to go within and find some answers. The first answer I got was to not let FEAR dominate my life. I may not be able to control what happens to me, but I can control how I respond.

Several things have come to me in the last few days from my reading and internal search and I want to share them with you:

1. Stay in the present moment. The present moment is all we have and that is where we find peace.

2. Stay grateful for what you have. Focus on what you have and you will create more of it.

3. Have fun and laugh. Stop worrying it doesn't help.

4. Do at least one thing each day for your self-improvement

5. Read and listen to positive uplifting things to help you stay positive

6. Love yourself.

I want to leave you with a some great insights from Emmet Fox:

"The eye symbolizes spiritual perception. Whatever you give your attention to, is the thing that governs your life. Attention is the key. Your free will lies in the direction of your attention. Whatever you steadfastly direct your attention to, will come into your life and dominate it. If you do not direct your attention consistently to anything in particular, and many people do not, then nothing in particular will come into your life except uncertainty and suspense."

In Laughter,

Jana Ruth
Author of Laugh and Live Happier: P.LA.Y.S. for Life
www.janaruth.biz
www.laughandlivehappier.com
www.laughingworld.blogspot.com