Musings by John Weir

Yearning is the most important thing a person can do, because a person who does not yearn for anything will never achieve anything. Yearning is not, however, simply hoping for something with an attitude of despair. It is a burning desire that motivates one to action. According to Jewish tradition, one of the first questions a person is asked when arriving in heaven after their worldly sojourn is through is, "Did you yearn for the redemption?" The word for "yearn" is "tsipita," which also could be translated as, "Did you attempt to see." So yearning that is correct involves seeing the outcome in as real a way as you can. Thus, you will believ that it can become reality. From there, it must follow that you will strive to fulfill that yearning. Thus, when we are to be asked, "Did you yearn for the redemption," we are in effect being asked, "Did you strive to bring your corner of the world, however large or small that may be, closer to redemption by making it a better, more redeemed, place."

"Esa einai el heharim, me’ayin yavo ezri = I lift my eyes to the mountains, from whence comes my help."

Man has an insatiable thirst for spirituality. Sometimes he gets  confused, and thinks he can quench that thirst with material things. This insatiable thirst shows us that man is capable of unlimited achievement in spiritual matters. Do we believe in ourselves enough to try?

What you think about and how you think about it matters.

Focusing on frustration is fruitless – it only makes you bog down in negativity.
Dwelling on injustices is depressing – it only makes you feel more abused.

Communication is what prepares the way for change.
Action is what moves you from a bad situation to a good one.

The difference between choosing to dwell on frustrations and choosing to communicate and act boils down to one thing. Your attitude. And no matter what anyone says, you’re the only one who can control that.

Your attitude will determine your thoughts which will determine your actions which will determine your opportunities which will determine your life.

Choose well.

THE 30-SECOND RULE GIVES PEOPLE THE TRIPLE-A TREATMENT

All people feel better and do better when you give them attention, affirmation, and appreciation. The next time you make contact with people, begin by giving them your undivided attention during the first thirty seconds. Affirm them and show your appreciation for them in some way. Then watch what happens. You will be surprised by how positively they respond. And if you have trouble remembering to keep your focus on them instead of on yourself, then perhaps the words of William King will help you. He said, “A gossip is one who talks to you about other people. A bore is one who talks to you about himself. And a brilliant conversationalist is one who talks to you about yourself.”

THE 30-SECOND RULE GIVES PEOPLE ENERGY

Psychologist Henry H. Goddard conducted a study on energy levels in children using an instrument he called the “ergograph.” His findings are fascinating. He discovered that when tired children were given a word of praise or commendation, the ergograph showed an immediate upward surge of energy in the children. When the children were criticized or discouraged, the ergograph showed that their physical energy took a sudden nosedive.

You may have already discovered this intuitively. When someone praises you, doesn’t your energy level go up? And when you are criticized, doesn’t that comment drag you down? Words have great power.

What kind of environment do you think you could create if you continually affirmed people when you first came into contact with them? Not only would you encourage them, but you would also become an energy carrier. Whenever you walked into a room, the people would light up! You would help to create the kind of environment everyone loves. Just your presence alone would brighten people’s days.

Lamentations 3:21 Memory is frequently the slave of despondency. Despairing minds remember every dark prediction in the past and expand upon every gloomy feature in the present; in this way memory, clothed in sackcloth, presents to the mind a cup of bitter-tasting herbs. There is, however, no necessity for this. Wisdom can readily transform memory into an angel of comfort. That same recollection that on the one hand brings so many gloomy omens may be trained instead to provide a wealth of hopeful signs. She need not wear a crown of iron; she may encircle her brow with a tiara of gold, all spangled with stars.

Such was Jeremiah’s experience: in the previous verse memory had brought him to deep humiliation of soul: "My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me"; but now this same memory restored him to life and comfort. "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope." Like a two-edged sword, his memory first killed his pride with one edge and then slew his despair with the other.

As a general principle, if we would exercise our memories more wisely, we might, in our very darkest distress, strike a match that would instantaneously kindle the lamp of comfort. There is no need for God to create a new thing upon the earth in order to restore believers’ joy; if they would prayerfully rake the ashes of the past, they would find light for the present; and if they would turn to the book of truth and the throne of grace, their candle would soon shine as before.

Let us then remember the loving-kindness of the Lord and rehearse His deeds of grace. Let us open the volume of recollection, which is so richly illuminated with memories of His mercy, and we will soon be happy. Thus memory may be, as Coleridge calls it, "the bosom-spring of joy," and when the Divine Comforter bends it to His service, it is then the greatest earthly comfort we can know.

That was the final quote on one episode of Criminal Minds. What truth that one small sentence speaks. In our efforts to be normal, or to be perceived as such how many of us hide the very same things as everyone around us? Those things that make  us feel out of place or strange, but are also the same things that when found in another make us soul mates and kindred spirits. Or maybe it isn’t an effort to be or appear normal after all, maybe it is only the fear of rejection and ridicule.  It starts when we are so young, that need to be like everyone else, to be liked by everyone else. And even after we are adults and we feel we should be past it, it’s their.

If we knew each others secrets what comfort would we find. We would find that we are all keeping them, and they are all similar, and none of us are normal and it is ok. Really it is OK.

I recently was asked about what does it really take to make it. My advice in part is… get up early, work late. Get up the next day and do it again. Keep doing it, even after the profits start to roll in. Smile at Challenges. Curse at Idleness. Be true to your dream. Don’t stop until you achieve it. Then dream another dream. And work to achieve that. PASS ON YOUR VALUES. NOT JUST YOUR ASSETS. Give your family a better life. And the world a better life too. Leave no statues. Leave signs of significance.  You know who you are, and I salute you

1. Smile: If you smile, you’ll notice two things: smiles are contagious, and they actually improve your mood.  People respond to smiles with friendliness and generosity, which could turn your whole day around. Smiles even work during telephone conversations, where they can be heard clear as day by whomever you’re speaking with.

2. Project Confidence: Boost the positive energy in your communications by providing additional non-verbal cues: upright posture, firm handshake, uncrossed arms, calm demeanor, and appropriate eye contact. 

3. Dress the Part: You don’t have to dress like James Bond everyday (unless maybe you’re a caterer), but dressing near the peak of appropriateness for your surroundings has 2 important effects: people may lend you greater legitimacy and respect, and because of this, you may feel and act more empowered.  Superficial or not, the effect is real.   

4. Say Something Nice: Every day, life presents you with another opportunity to say something kind, generous, and genuine to somebody. Whether it’s complimenting a co-worker on his new tie or admiring someone’s accomplishment, boosting the positive energy in someone else’s life boosts it in your own too.

5. Increase Positive Relationships: If you surround yourself with positive, supportive people instead of deadbeats and abusers – well, that’s half the battle, isn’t it?

6. Group Learning: Find something productive that you love to do (writing, dancing, acting, programming, or whatever) and then find a group of like-minded people who are interested in learning this activity with you. The group is your support structure and your growth catalyst, and it will help you accomplish something you can be proud of.

7. Morning Gratitude: Every morning, remind yourself of all the things you have to be thankful for: relationships, shelter, food, family, and whatever else makes you feel happy to be alive.

8. Turn a Problem into a Puzzle: Sometimes a single word can make all the difference, and “problem” is one of those words. I’ve often wondered if children would take more readily to mathematics if we called them math puzzles instead of math problems: problem is such a negative, hopeless, impotent word. When a problem descends upon your life, think of it as a puzzle. Is there a way to solve this puzzle? If so, start putting the pieces together, calmly and with confidence.

9. Fill that Glass: Yes, the world is full of negative circumstances that require your attention, so don’t bury your head in the sand. But do remind yourself that there are just as many positive forces in the world as negative ones; your fixation on the negative is a matter of perspective and choice.

10. Make Negative Thoughts Count: Make sure the time you spend thinking unhappy thoughts is productive: planning solutions, developing serenity, or learning a valuable lesson.

11. Positive Introspection: Take time to inventory the characteristics that make you valuable: skills, attitudes, generosity, capacity to love, and so forth. Be aware of all the wonderful abilities you bring to the table. Write them down if you have to. Everyone has something valuable to contribute.

12. Positive Affirmation: I’ve never been much of an affirmation specialist, but my motto on affirmations is simple: as long as affirmations are representative of reality and are not keeping you from dealing with true problem areas, they’re good; do them if they work.

A short-term dip into one of these emotional ruts is fine, but sometimes we need a boost so we can climb back into the sunshine and resume the pursuit of our goals.  Whether you’re struggling to lose weight, finish a college course, become more socially active, or accomplish some other important goal, review these 10 tips to reclaim  your lost motivation:

1. Process Orientation: Instead of focusing on your goals, try extracting joy from each individual task along the way. In other words, focus on the process instead of the product. You may find that many of your tasks are enjoyable (or can be made that way) if you stop worrying about their overall purpose.

2. Set a Goal: Conversely, it’s also important to have goals so that you know where you’re heading. This tip may seem to be in conflict with the previous one, but it’s not. Goals (like losing weight, graduating college, etc.) are important in the sense that they help lay out what tasks we should pursue.

3. Create an Action Plan: Clarify all the steps required to obtain your objective, the anticipated timeline, and the resources you will need.  

4. Jury of Peers: Once you have an action plan, find a group of people who will hold you accountable and tell them what you intend to do. Tell them to ask you for progress reports on a regular basis, to keep you on track.

5. Write it Down: There is something about the act of writing down a goal that makes it official. On a sheet of paper, make a contract: clearly document your goal, then sign the contract, signaling commitment. Stick the contract onto the walls in your work area, your fridge, or anywhere else where it might serve to keep you motivated.

6. Create a Ritual: We are creatures of habit. The easiest way to climb out of an emotional rut is to establish routines that encourage productivity. When it comes to establishing new rituals, the first 30 days seem to be the most critical; so for the next 30 days, try structuring your days such that you are consistently working toward your goals.

7. Back on the Horse: Instead of allowing a short-term failure to ruin your motivation, make up your mind to jump back on that horse and keep moving forward. We learn from our failures; in this sense, our failures are good, all part of the plan, if only we’ll treat them that way.

8. List the Benefits: If you’ve forgotten why you’re trying to accomplish a particular goal (which is pretty common whenever we lose motivation), try writing down all the benefits you plan to experience once your goal is attained. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, consider your gains in health, vitality, energy, life span, and attractiveness. Focus on the benefits instead of the challenges.

9. Visualize: Close your eyes and visualize the future you anticipate. Make this a part of your routine. The purpose of such visualization is to solidify within your mind the worthiness of the goal, to clarify your path.

10. Change Priorities: Sometimes our lives or opinions change in such a way that renders certain goals obsolete. For example, if you have a goal to increase your income despite feeling financially satisfied, perhaps the answer is to find a new goal that will inspire you more.

There you have it: 10 ways to break through your motivational roadblock so you can resume your forward progress.

The Secrets of TIME Mastery

•1) Divide Your day up into 3 SFB’s- Sections For Blessings.

•Morning- Afternoon- and Evening- SFBs!

•2) MORNING- What are your Priorities – THEN tasks? How are you going to bless God this morning? Is it a GREAT MORNING or Go into MOURNING?

•3) AFTERNOON- What are your Priorities- THEN Tasks? How are you going to bless God this Afternoon? Is it Afternoon or After Later?

•4) EVENING- What are your Priorities- THEN Tasks? How are you going to bless God this evening? Is it Evening or Eventually?

A group of botanists went on an expedition into a hard-to-reach location in the Alps, searching for new varieties of flowers. One day as a scientist looked through his binoculars, he saw a beautiful, rare species growing at the bottom of a deep ravine. To reach it, someone would have to be lowered into that gorge. Noticing a local youngster standing nearby, the man asked him if he would help them get the flower. The boy was told that a rope would be tied around his waist and the men would then lower him to the floor of the canyon.
Excited yet apprehensive about the adventure, the youngster peered thoughtfully into the chasm. "Wait," he said, "I’ll be back," and off he dashed. When he returned, he was accompanied by an older man. Approaching the head botanist, the boy said, "I’ll go over the cliff now and get the flower for you, but this man must hold onto the rope. He’s my dad!" – Our Daily Bread.

F.B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveler, guide, traveler, guide. They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice. But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him.

The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the ice. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing. F.B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, "I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ. And because He stands, I will never perish." – Our Daily Bread.

The story is told of a monastery in Portugal, perched high on a 3,000 foot cliff and accessible only by a terrifying ride in a swaying basket. The basket is pulled with a single rope by several strong men, perspiring under the strain of the fully loaded basket. One American tourist who visited the site got nervous halfway up the cliff when he noticed that the rope was old and frayed. Hoping to relive his fear he asked, "How often do you change the rope?" The monk in charge replied, "Whenever it breaks!" – Daily Walk.

The 3-year old felt secure in his father’s arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, "Deeper and deeper and deeper," as the water rose higher and higher on the child. The lad’s face registered increasing degrees of panic, as he held all the more tightly to his father, who, of course, easily touched the bottom. Had the little boy been able to analyze his situation, he’d have realized there was no reason for increased anxiety. The water’s depth in ANY part of the pool was over his head. Even in the shallowest part, had he not been held up, he’d have drowned. His safety anywhere in that pool depended on Dad.

At various points in our lives, all of us feel we’re getting "out of our depth" — problems abound, a job is lost, someone dies. Our temptation is to panic, for we feel we’ve lost control. Yet, as with the child in the pool, the truth is we’ve never been in control over the most valuable things of life. We’ve always been held up by the grace of God, our Father, and that does not change. God is never out of his depth, and therefore we’re safe when we’re "going deeper" than we’ve ever been. – Charles Ryrie.

Wow! Now that our hearts are beating regularly, let’s consider what we have just read over a cup of Java, and thank the Lord that He will never leave us, or forsake us, and also for the power of the Holy Spirit, that reminds us of these powerful promises.

Loving Father, I thank you for the beautiful weekend that I have just had. Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit to start off this week, by taking on board some of the advice that I have just read, and to remember that I am safe in my Savior’s arms. In the wonderful and mighty name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.