Split Second Decisions

Once I had the privilege of traveling in the cockpit of the aero-plane. I found that the captain of the plane was sitting idle most of the time. He seemed relaxed. He was enjoying his coffee and chatting to me in very casual manner, as if he was a traveller too like me.

This was just opposite to my perception which I had about the working of the captain in the cockpit of a moving plane. I assumed him to be a busy, tense, worried person and physically engaged in activities of adjusting and controlling the buttons & levers etc.

I asked him why the job of a pilot is highly paid and considered tough and 'what was his specific role as a captain of the plane?'

He explained to me how the modern planes can be programmed to run on auto pilot mode till everything is working normally on 'expected lines'. The other crew members were busy in rituals according to the instructions given to them by him before the take-off. They can manage minor problems in the working.

He has to be just watchful that everything (the machines, controls and his crew members) is working as expected. His real job starts during emergency situations. It is during those situations, where his vast experience and training will count. He has to take split second decisions in the worst of circumstances. That is what he is paid for. To facilitate him to execute his decisions, he was having parallel but overriding controls to the co-pilot who is actually flying the plane. Thus, he was able to negate the effect of any immature action by the co-pilot.To perform his job honestly and sincerely (realizing that his own life and lives of all passengers were at stake on his performance) he was being 'at ease' with the environment so that he can work at his best.

It is also possible to have similar arrangement in our lives and fly in the vast sky of our imagination. Most of the activities in our society today are just mechanical rituals. Let them happen as it is, unless there is something very disturbing. Do not overload your mind. Just relax and enjoy. Just instruct the work team (in case you have the privilege of having one) reporting to you before the start of any major event. After that allow them to do their work and do not interfere. Be cheerful and conserve your energies and skills for any emergency situation, if at all it comes in your life.

We should leave our mind free to identify the emergency situation little early and focus on decision-making during that time. But alas, we are pre occupied with so many things in our mind that we turn the normal events in our lives as emergency and use our power of decision-making so lavishly that we are exhausted by the time we encounter the real event.

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Success and Happiness Are Not the Same

As we grow up, we're told that reaching goals, specially the highest ones, will bring us happiness. Get the best grades, graduate from the best university, obtain the best jobs... And we launch ourselves to the task at hand. But let's now look back. How many of you REALLY felt happy while doing all that? How many of you felt relief instead of happiness? How many of you TRULY felt satisfied upon getting the best grades, graduating from university and obtaining the best jobs? How long did you feel that satisfaction?

We reach one goal to immediately set the next one in a never-ending race to always get the best and grandest. We want to succeed. We want to reach the top. But let's not fool ourselves. That has nothing to do with happiness, does it? The journey to those goals is most often not a very pleasant one: the long hours, the accumulated stress, the demands on our health and time... We invest so much of ourselves that there's nothing left to enjoy.

And what about reaching the top? What top? There's always another top upon the last one, isn't there? It's just never enough.

And still the world insists on selling us the idea that success equals happiness.

Truly happy people, on the other hand, consider themselves successful just the way they are; it couldn't be any other way, as it would mean lacking something and thus, by definition, feeling unhappy. They don't need to join the constant race for the best and the greatest. Depending on their personal definition of happiness, enjoying life and feeling content and satisfied might already represent success to them.

Some people include success into their definition of happiness, true. That's their choice. Happiness is a very subjective concept. The only question they then need to answer is how successful they need to be to consider themselves successful enough and thus happy.

So let's start calling things by their correct names. Success is one thing. Happiness is something else. And they don't necessarily come together.

Next time somebody tells you that in order to be happy you need to be successful, ask yourself what it is that YOU want from life. After all, you're the only one who can answer that question. And if the answer is to be successful, by all means, go for it. But don't pretend to be pursuing happiness. Be honest to yourself.

And whatever you do, enjoy life, ALL of it,

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Message From the Universe: When TODAY Is Just Pure Greatness!

"If there was an event that was so super-extraordinary, so rare, and so fantastically incredible that it only happened once every 7 to 10 billion years, it would still be infinitely more ordinary, routine, and credible than the passage of today.

Infinitely.

Count your lucky stars,

The Universe"

Everyday of your life should be perceived as super-extraordinary, rare, so fantastically incredible as it happens only ONCE every 7 to 10 billion years and should be lucky to have this day to enjoy. We all have to deal with life's responsibilities, obligations, work, bills, challenges, hurdles, disappointment and so much more. But who doesn't? There are a few who lives better than others and are more fortunate financially speaking, but again, they also deal with bigger problems than you do. Yes, they may have money, but they also have much bigger expenses. So considering how you live within your means, you are dealing with less stress than they do on a daily basis. Something to definitely feel more grateful for and enjoy your blessings. It is definitely important to have goals and to accomplish them accordingly. Wanting to reach for wealth and glory is something you should aim for but just be careful what you wish for. Great accomplishments comes with great responsibilities. If you know how to handle the sudden growth and world recognition, then I definitely wish you the best in your future endeavors.

Life is full of surprises and every day you focus on what you love doing the most is another day you slowly but surely accomplish your goals. Do not focus on what others are doing, focus on what you do best and do it better. There is always room for improvement in everything you do. You do not want to live life with regret and wonder what things you could have done better in your everyday life. Today is unique and it will NEVER come back, so appreciate what you have TODAY and not feel down or depressed because things didn't happen your way. Yes, you do have TOMORROW but do not live your life to expect that tomorrow is guaranteed. No one knows what will happen the next day as we are not G-d to predict our life. We are given the opportunity to enjoy what we already have, what we are blessed with and what we are capable to do for ourselves and others who do not have that same motivation as we do to move forward. Make sure to hang around the people that will be a blessing in your life and will always encourage your dreams. Stop dealing with vision blockers as they will find any possible way to break your dreams and goals. They are the one who will tell you to NOT bother with this idea as it will fail. Remember that they are talking about their own lack of motivation to do ANYTHING and they want to stop everyone else to do the same. Take them out of your life and focus on living your life today. This is what is required from you to do. So go out there and DO IT!

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Why Do We Deprive Ourselves By Trying To Race To The Finish Line?

It's the harsh realization, but unless your in an actual race, it's not your job to race to the finish line. Life is short enough without all of society trying to quickly get through the next step before we've even finished the current step. It's so very important in this life to enjoy everything before you with joy and gratitude while paying attention to the journey along the way. It's in the journey of life that we receive our blessings, learn our lessons and grow as a person, but most are so busy taking that next step, that we tend to miss those important milestones that shape our lives.

For Type A personalities such as myself, this is such a hard lesson. By continuously focusing on doing what's right and attaining the goal, most times you miss out on all of the beauty right in front of you. More importantly, in life there are lessons to be learned and if you are continuously looking for the finish line, those lessons get away from you. But rest assured, they will most certainly come back to bite you. They always do, so take the time to smell the roses and enjoy the journey, however difficult a journey it may be. Truly, it's your journey to have and living in the now allows you to appreciate, recognize, process, learn and grow. Don't we all deserve that much?

Talk to the mother who couldn't wait for her baby to walk for the shear convenience of it, and then ask her how she feels after her baby no longer wants to be held. It's only when that child is now walking that she realizes she missed reveling in the moment of that very last time her baby wanted to be held close to her. It's a sad realization for her that she wanted to rush the process and she'll never be able to get that moment back.

Remember to take the time in this moment to look at all of the beauty around you. In chaotic, confusing or even sad times in your life, just take the time to sit in the current moment looking at all of the blessings in your life. Easier said than done, yes, but remember that at the end of the day, tomorrow is not promised. All you have is today and this moment. And although things may seem sometimes less than ideal and you may even have to look harder than usual at times, your blessings are always there, right in front of you.

I share this with you because writing is how I heal me, and I just recently forgot the lesson of enjoying the journey yet again. Like many, I fall down often, but eventually I get back up again and if I can help one person through my own experience, I'm being called to do just that. So please also share this with anyone you feel could use this gentle reminder of the important things in life.

Love and light to you! Enjoy the truly important things and your many blessings during this holiday season!

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Ways to Use Affirmations to Help You Find Your Place in Life

I'm going to share with you some affirmations you can use to find your passion and what you do in life. First, let me share what happened with an acquaintance. I was doing a Body Talk session with her and boredom and came up. Unfortunately, boredom is a common experience of people in their job. Many people feel stuck because they aren't happy with what they're doing or they feel that something is lacking, but they don't know how to find that sweet spot of life.

How You Block Your Inner Knowing

Within you, what I call your inner knowing, is the answer to what it is you would like to do with your life. It isn't often in the form of a bill board. The answer is rarely delivered in a letter. Usually, you come to know where you belong in the work world by paying attention to the excitement or tingling sensation which comes when you think about a particular opportunity.

Many people try too hard to figure out what they want to do. Often, they completely forget to notice what they already enjoy. The key to your passion is what you love to do. There can be a wide variety of activities or occupations in what you most enjoy. For instance, if you enjoy working with children, and have the necessary education, you could be a teacher, adoption worker, foster care worker, own a day care, work with the Special Olympics, be a foster or adoptive parent, run or work in a camp, or multitudes of other possibilities.

Others cut off the knowledge that comes from deep within because they're afraid of making a mistake with their choice. If you have an idea of what you would like to do, and it involves a great deal of education, volunteer or apprentice in that particular area if at all possible. I have a cousin who wanted to be a nurse. That is an intense educational process. She decided to see if she would like that vocation by becoming educated at the lowest level of caretaking in the nursing field. After discovering she did, indeed, enjoy the nursing field, she became a nurse and worked in it for a number of years.

If you only work in your chosen field for a few years, you've gained invaluable experience. My personal belief is that every job or profession you undertake, as well as every experience in life, brings you to whatever is next. There are no mistakes in this area. There is only a gathering of experience and learning. Go ahead and take a risk and try doing something you have in mind.

Affirmations to Clear the Subconscious Mind

Now let's give your subconscious mind some instructions. These instructions are very important. They tell your subconscious mind what it is you actually want to happen in your life. Whatever is there on the deepest levels of yourself, that is what your subconscious mind works to make happen. We want to give this very powerful and often forgotten aspect of yourself some clear instructions about what you want. Remember, we want them to be positive.

Before I give you these affirmations, I want to impress upon you the importance of engaging the feeling level of yourself in this process. Don't just repeat the statements to yourself like the multiplication tables. Feel them. See yourself engaged and happy in whatever it is you're doing. Use all of your senses as you repeat these affirmations to yourself.

1. It is easy for me to know what I want to do with my life.
2. I pay attention to the quiet whispers of my inner knowing.
3. Every day my passion in life becomes clearer and clearer.
4. I am excited, delighted and fulfilled by what I have chosen to do.
5. I am filled with a sense of purpose.

Get started with these affirmations, now. Search the Internet for others which ring true to you. Take a risk and have fun.

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Be Better Than Who You Were Yesterday

Early on in life, I discovered that you only need to try to be better than who you were yesterday and not compare yourself to anyone. But, at times, I still do, like any human being. This world is in constant flux and change. And yet, most people are comparing rather than focusing on themselves.

A ton of questions might run through your mind right now. Questions like "Why do I need to compare myself to others? How is he more successful than I am? Why am I not as lucky?"

If you are wondering; it can be out of jealousy, greed, desire, or more. It might be easy to say, but you should not envy anyone. The only person you should try to be envious of and be better than, is the person you were yesterday. If you can do this, then you become better with each day that passes.

And yes, it would be a lie if I told you that the road to being greater is easy as you try to live better each day. The truth is that it won't be easy at all. Each day is filled with its barriers and challenges, but it is also full of many different opportunities.

Try to Be Better 

As you try to be better than whom you were yesterday, you will begin to realize, appreciate and enjoy the gifts and benefits life has in store for you. And you may even start to discover various possibilities in each given challenge. So, be better than who you were yesterday, even if it happens only via one percent each day, week or month.

What I mean is that even if you make mistakes, it is your ability not to allow your errors to influence or control you. It is what makes you who you are. And if there is one thing I learned time and time again is to be better than who I was yesterday.

Therefore, if you do not do something right or you know you made a blunder for one reason or the other, do not give those mistakes power. I know that we are all going through this. So, do not let the errors you make rule your life, learn from them, move on and do not judge you or what you can do.

Be More than Yesterday 

Believe it or not, the power you acquired through all of your experiences can help you avoid many costly mistakes. You just have to learn, work, live and strive to be better than the person you were yesterday. I am not telling you to try to reach perfection but only that you do not have to live your life in the same way if you are unsatisfied with it.

After all, you have the power to make any change your heart desires. And if you make a mistake, do not blame yourself, just pick yourself up, dust away from the negative thoughts that bring you down and work at becoming a better person than who you were the day before.

If you do not believe you are capable of it, just imagine for an instant, that one day you are doing better. Would not that make you feel like some renewed confidence is soaring through you? And is not that a better use of your time than some negative feelings? By thinking that way, you will move forward and grow to be a remarkable person.

How to Be Better than Before 

Now, you are your competition; so compete only with yourself. Successful people always follow and practice this. Those individuals become successful by not slacking off and waiting for luck to come along. They instead create it! And they work hard and persist in their vision each day.

Moreover, people who are successful do not let barriers and challenges stop them from achieving their objectives. Instead, they use these encounters to make them stronger by learning from them. They look for problems to solve while others purely try to avoid problems.

Successful people also hone their skills and talent to be better than they were yesterday. They do not stop to compare themselves with others. Why? The reason is that they consider it a waste of their valuable time gone in smoke which they can instead use working on their projects.

Strive to Get Better 

Learn to strive to get better for you, and not by comparing what others do. They can be an inspiration but do not let bitterness take over by looking at what you do not have yet. Instead, appreciate the things you have right now, no matter how little, and focus on how you can make them better one day at a time.

Therefore, do not wonder if you are at the top yet, push to be better than yesterday. And I tell you, it won't be long before you become the inspiration for others to improve and work harder. Work hard. Get your mind involved in every other aspect of your life.

And yes, sometimes, errors are bound to happen but never let them define who you are. Do not be stuck in the past. Some mistakes are costly due to lack of knowledge, selfishness, pride, stupidity or foolishness. Just try to correct them if you can. And if you cannot do anything about it, learn, let go and look forward to the next opportunity by not making the same blunder again.

A Brief Recap to Be Better 

So here is a brief recap of the tips to be better than who you were yesterday.

• Work on yourself each day to improve.
• Never compare yourself to others.
• Stop being envious of other people.
• Be more present in your own life.
• Let go of the past.
• Learn from your mistakes and move on.
• Look forward to other opportunities.
• Let successful people be an inspiration to you.
• Avoid making the same mistakes again.
• Believe in your capacity to be better.
• Enjoy your victories, no matter how small.
• Rule number one for success: Belief in yourself.

You hone yourself that much. Now, go ahead and challenge yourself, and practice by being the best and success will follow. So always strive to be better than you were yesterday!

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Hear the Music

Feel that music as you play it. Truly go deep into your mind as you listen to a certain song. Create images in your mind with the music. Begin to see the notes in the air. Imagine deeply that all of this that you have created is real. It is real because you have thought of it much like we think about the way a tree grows are watching people having beautiful moments. The reality is that which we choose.

To become a writer, one must decide to write. It matters not what type or with what one writes. Writing is writing and writing is the writer. The I am phrase comes to mind. When one states I am (fill in the blank) that is what one is. I am father. I am brother. I am husband. I am family. I am friend. I am love. It is that which decides we are going to live right now. Choose a word to put in after the I am. Write it down and say it feeling everything that means to you. Does it make your outlook on life change?

Another question is what do you want to be doing? A person can decide right in the moment they want to have a drink on a warm beach. Does the person go to the beach and have a drink right then? Maybe you're more the person who then begins to plan to go to the beach. Or maybe you are the person that gets in your car and begins to go to the beach to get a drink.

Every moment we can listen to the music that resides within. It will tell you which direction you would most enjoy. Then live that experience. Enjoy, love and grasp every moment for the lesson that you get to learn from it. Life then becomes a joy by way of living in the most peaceful way. This line of thinking would end disharmony that has been plaguing the world. If each person that reads this and passes it on takes in these words we could see a shift in positive alignment with the universe. This world would be a much more beautiful place to live. Always learning by way of wanting to understand something.

I hope this has had a positive impact on your life. May you share some of these words with people who may need them to improve all of life around us.

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Learning to Enjoy Every Minute Of Your Life

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Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. We often get so caught up with our busy lives that we tend to forget how important it is to truly live in and experience each and every moment. We live for the big and exciting things while appreciating little things at the same.

To be happy, we need have a quality life and a balance among work and friends and family. Happiness is a choice. You can choose to be happy. With me, what you see is what you get. Yes, call me naive, but I love life. I am happy, and for that, I make no apologies.

Trust yourself. If you're happy, if you're feeling good, then nothing else matters. Don't waste a minute not being happy. Be happy with being you. Love your flaws. Own your quirks.

We overlook the seemingly meaningless, for the something meaningful. And we live for the big things, and not for today. Do what you've been dreaming of doing. Enjoy every moment. And follow your heart completely. And do it all while you still have the chance.

It is common to assume the happiness of this life is more important that the happiness of future lives, but if we consider more carefully we shall see that the happiness of future lives must be more important because the happiness of this life is brief whereas future lives are many and long. We work so hard and put so much effort into securing happiness for ourselves later on this life, but it makes more sense to work as hard as we can to prepare for future lives.

If we are to respond to life's difficulties with a positive or peaceful mind they would not be problems for us; indeed we may even come to regard them as challenges or opportunities for spiritual growth. So, despite the delusion of anger, for example, views other people as intrinsically bad, but there is no such thing as an intrinsically bad person. This shows that in itself ice cream is neither delicious nor disgusting.

That is why I am not affected with what other people say. I am happy because I am myself and my kids love me. I am very happy also especially when I see my old friends way back in high school. It's easy to impress me. I don't need a fancy party to be happy. Just good friends, good food, and good laughs.

I'm happy. I'm satisfied. I'm content. Life is beautiful. What about you?

I want to dedicate this article to Holy Cross of Sulop, Inc. Batch 1992. Because of you guys I forgot my problems and realized that we need to live life to the fullest by enjoying every minute of it. Love you guys!

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