The Value of Life

What a joy it is when we disagree with each other. For it gives us the opportunity to better understand.

What a joy it is when an unexpected problem arises. For in that problem is a valuable lesson to be learned.

What a joy it is to experience discomfort. For discomfort is how it feels to grow stronger.

What a joy it is to live in a world filled with challenges, difficulties and obstacles. For there is always a reason and a way to make a positive difference.

What a joy it is that the road ahead is an uphill climb. For where it leads is all the way to the top.

Forgiveness can indeed be difficult. Yet in the long run, it is far easier to forgive than to live with resentment or continuing retribution.

Through forgiveness, you can move away from the pains of the past. With forgiveness, you can achieve real freedom.

There are always opportunities to benefit from the value of forgiveness. You can forgive yourself, you can forgive others, and you can forgive even when you don't know exactly who to forgive.

Because forgiveness is not about who is to blame or who is at fault. Forgiveness is mostly about letting go, completely and permanently, within yourself.

Forgiveness is recognizing the reality that what has happened has happened, and that there's no point in allowing it to dominate your life. Forgiveness refreshingly clears the slate and enables you to move positively forward.

Carrying around a load of resentment can be an enormous and unnecessary burden. Forgive early and often, and you'll considerably lighten your load.

What if half the things you thought you needed, you didn't really need at all? Imagine the freedom of letting them go.

What if half the things that worry you so much were really no cause for concern? Think of how much more positive and productive you could be.

Some of your needs and your worries have some basis in reality. Yet they can easily become blown far out of proportion by your thinking.

You can choose to put them in their place. You can choose to simply let them fall away and to put your energy into those things that truly matter.

This is a great day to begin living with positive, creative intention. This is a great day to go beyond the limitations that your mind has previously convinced you to accept.

Open your eyes to the abundance that is yours. Focus more energy on your best possibilities and bring your own special joy to life.

Whatever you desire for yourself, desire it for others as well. That will help to take you beyond the constraining influence of your ego.

There is nothing of any value to be gained by taking from others. For anything you take away from someone else can just as easily be taken from you.

Instead, choose to become the living embodiment of that which you wish to have. Give energy and focus and action to your dreams, and those dreams will come to life all around you.

The more people who benefit from your positive thoughts and efforts, the more quickly those efforts will bring valuable results. To experience great abundance, be a channel through which that abundance can flow.

Make a positive difference that extends into the lives around you. Create value that goes beyond you.

It is by giving that you make room to receive even more. Seek to give what you wish to have, and it will surely become real for you.

Learn to love challenge, and you'll fill your life with accomplishment. Learn to love effort, and your skills will grow more valuable with each passing day.

Learn to love making a difference, and doors will quickly open for you wherever you go. Learn to love giving freely of yourself, and you'll receive more fulfillment than you ever could imagine.

Learn to love being the authentic person you are, and everything you do will be infused with integrity. Learn to love whatever work you're doing, and that work will bring abundant rewards.

Learn to love beauty for beauty's sake, and you'll discover a wealth of it in places no one else would even think to look. Learn to love unconditionally, and there will be no limit to what your love can accomplish.

Learn to love life just because it is, and each day will be a grand new adventure. Learn to love the moment you're in, and you'll find richness in every direction.

Learn to love the possibilities, and you'll make your way to whatever you seek. Learn to love no matter what, and you'll discover what a miracle you truly are.

How is it possible to know joy? It comes when you simply allow it.

Joy requires no special conditions. You can experience joy in the smallest of moments as well as in the most magnificent situations.

Even in times of sadness and loss, there is room for joy. That joy, melancholy as it may be, comes from the realization that your sadness means you sincerely care.

See joy as something you give rather than something that has to be created for you. Understand that joy is a choice you can make at any time, and you will experience it in abundance.

Put joy into what you do, and you will do it better. Give joy to your relationships, and they will grow strong.

Joy will come when you let it. Let joy flow freely through the moments of your life, and the rich value it gives will always be yours.

Do something difficult, something that will stretch you, something that will take you past what you already knew you could do. Choose a challenge that requires time, effort, dedication and commitment, then see it through to completion.

The most valuable experiences are not those that come easy. The things that mean the most are the things into which you put the most of yourself.

If life seems too empty, invest more of yourself in it. Nothing brings fulfillment until you put yourself into it. That requires effort. And the more rigorous the effort, the more fulfillment it makes possible.

Imagine how absolutely invigorating it will be to look back with satisfaction on a difficult and challenging job well done. Imagine the extraordinary level of confidence with which you'll then be able to look to the future.

What a blessing it is that life can be such a challenge. For it is in working through those challenges that we truly shine.

You may not consider yourself a visionary, yet you most certainly have a vision. It is a grand and powerful vision, and it is unique to you.

How do you know what it is? It probably won't come to you in some dazzling epiphany. Most likely, you'll come to know and understand your vision through your frustrations.

Yes, the things which frustrate you form a clear and compelling indication of your most deeply held vision. Frustration comes when the reality of the world does not live up to your expectations. Frustration comes when you know, deep inside, that there must be a better way. And that puts you directly in touch with your vision.

In your frustration, your vision is revealed. But wait! There's more. You also get from your frustration the energy and the burning desire to follow that vision. Are you frustrated? That's great. Listen to what your frustration is trying to tell you, and allow its built-in motivation to get you going.

When you find yourself beginning to feel overwhelmed by negativity, you can always choose to break the pattern. Stop whatever you are doing, and for three of four minutes focus your mind on thoughts of gratitude, acceptance and peacefulness.

Breathe deeply, and relax the muscles throughout your body. Reflect on how very fortunate you are to be alive and aware in this universe that's overflowing with positive possibilities.

Give yourself a peaceful break. Give your spirit the opportunity of resetting to a more positive perspective, and it will.

In a few short moments, you can easily and naturally break free of any negative pattern in which you may have been caught. You'll be vastly better positioned to effectively respond to whatever life sends your way.

Instead of acting out of anger or frustration, fear or anxiety, you'll be able to choose your actions based on your own positive purpose. Instead of being caught up in the grip of negativity, you'll be calmly and firmly in control.

When the negativity starts to get overwhelming, choose to interrupt it with a positive, peaceful break. You'll find it can make a profound and positive difference.

There is a richness to life that cannot be exhausted. In every moment it is here.

In the smallest details you can find the most magnificent beauty. In the most ordinary moments, you can know the extraordinary experience of being.

Consider the warm golden glow of sunlight as it falls upon autumn leaves. Let the thought of such unassuming beauty bring peace into your heart.

Feel the cool, crisp mountain air as dusk falls quietly upon the land. And let the experience energize your spirit.

Your life is more than making judgments and accumulating trophies. Let yourself remember how truly magnificent it is to simply be alive and aware.

Let your heart be filled with the richness that is your life. For the more you touch it, the greater that richness will grow.

You don't have to travel to some remote mountain retreat in order to experience peace. You don't have to convince all the other people in your life to be peaceful in order to experience peace.

You don't need to resolve every conflict before you can experience a deep and abiding sense of peace. You don't have to solve every problem in your life before you can enjoy being at peace.

To experience peace is very simple and always available to you. To experience peace, gently let go of all else and allow peace to fill your awareness.

Peace is always there, ready for you whenever you choose to let it be a part of your life. Choose often to fill your moments with peace and the positive power will resonate throughout your whole life.

Peace requires no special preparations or conditions. Peace asks only that you allow yourself to fully know and experience it.

The more you experience peace, the more you'll want to express and to spread it in all that you do. Let peace continue to fill you, and it will soon overflow into the world in which you live.

Be firm about what matters and flexible about what doesn't. Your time, your energy, and the moments of your life are far too precious to waste.

There is nothing to be gained, and much to be lost, by fighting and agonizing over trivial matters. In such cases, even when you win, you lose.

If something truly makes a difference to you and your world, then put the best of yourself into it. If it doesn't really matter, then quietly and calmly let it go.

Choose not to let the little, meaningless things get to you. And you'll free up enormous resources for successfully dealing with the truly important things.

Imagine how it would be if fully half of your frustrations were to suddenly disappear. Know that you can easily and naturally make that happen.

Decide today to let all the silly, trivial matters just float right on by. With a greatly lightened load, you'll then move faster ahead than ever before.

When you've reached the goal you've chosen for yourself, set your sights on an even higher objective. And keep going.

When things have not worked out the way you planned, learn the valuable lessons that the experience has to offer. And keep going.

The key to meaningful achievement is not in how clever you are or how lucky you are or in how much advantage you can gain over others. The key is to keep going.

When other people give you encouragement, insight and assistance, thank them for their help while offering your own special value to in return. And keep going.

When others seek to block your every effort, raise yourself up to where you can clearly see beyond their petty, shortsighted attempts. And keep going.

Whatever may come or go or happen or fail to happen, there is always a way, some way or another, to keep going. You will get wherever you wish to go when you consistently choose, in each moment, to simply, thankfully and gracefully keep going.

Make today a celebration of the good fortune you have to be alive and aware and able to make a difference in your world. You will pass through this day only once, so fill it with joy while you're here.

Imagine traveling for hundreds of years through darkness and silence, and then suddenly arriving at where you are right now. Get out and explore the magnificent landscape that's filled to the brim with possibilities.

See the colors, taste the flavors, feel the warmth and texture of it all. And delight in the truly awesome ability that you possess to make it even better.

Every important occasion calls for a joyous celebration. And what could be a more important occasion than life itself on this very day?

Make every moment, every thought, every action into a celebration. Whatever you find yourself doing, do it with a joyful heart.

And see how many others you can infect with your joy. For the more you think about it, the more you know that this is truly a day to celebrate.

Sure, the task is difficult, the road is long, and the challenges are great. And yet, somewhere deep inside, you know you can do it.

Your outer thoughts and words may complain loudly about the trouble, frustration and annoyance. Yet your innermost thoughts know that what is best is to move ahead with it, despite all the trouble.

Listen to that inner voice, the one telling you that yes, you can. Listen to that inner voice, the one reminding you that yes, you must.

That inner voice can give you valuable perspective, for it is not distracted or dismayed by the events of the moment. Certainly it's useful to pay attention to the moment, and it's also important to keep the big picture in mind.

And when you measure the challenges of this moment against the big picture of your life, you'll know that you can handle those challenges. When you view the opportunities of this moment within the big picture, you'll know that your efforts will be richly rewarded.

Listen to that inner voice, the one that's saying yes to life.

When a new challenge arises, you might think that you need to first acquire some new skill or knowledge or resource in order to deal with that challenge. Yet in every case, you can begin with something you already have, and then steadily grow into the challenge.

Along the way you will most certainly acquire new skills, develop new knowledge, gain access to new resources. That is a big part of the value of challenge.

Yet the best starting point is where you are. The sooner you begin, the sooner you will grow strong enough to move successfully through whatever challenge you face.

There is a path that leads directly to the most positive outcome you can imagine. And the first step on that path is right in front of you.

No matter how imposing the challenge, no matter how ambitious the goal, you have what is necessary to take the first step. And once you're on your way, you'll find and develop what you need to continue.

Move confidently forward in the direction you know you must go. Start with what you have, and you'll grow into whatever you need.

With your actions, prompted and guided by your thoughts, you are always creating something. On this day, in this moment, the life you are living makes a real difference in one way or another.

It is an awesome power, and yet it can be difficult to comprehend because it is usually so spread out over time. The little, seemingly meaningless things you do from moment to moment combine together to create the life you live.

The most magnificent achievement you could imagine is, at its heart, built upon the recognition that every moment counts. To the degree that you acknowledge and act upon that reality, success will come your way.

You are rich beyond all calculation, and yet that richness cannot be hoarded or hidden away. To be experienced and enjoyed, it must be lived out across the individual moments in each passing day.

Live as though you have nothing to hold you back and everything to pull you forward. For in the richness of the moment, both conditions are true.

Every moment counts, especially this one. Make it count for something wonderful.

A decision is nothing more than a wish until you act on it. The more quickly you act on the decisions you make, the more powerful and effective those decisions will be.

Every moment you wait before taking action makes that action less and less likely. The moment you decide is the moment to start putting real substance behind your decision.

Give power to your choices by giving them your efforts. Even if the first step is small, take it right away. For your actions will create momentum. Once momentum is on your side, you greatly increase your success rate.

Being truly decisive means more than just making decisions. It means making a commitment to see them through. That takes action. And the sooner it starts, the more power it has.

When things seem to be getting worse, there's a good chance that they're actually about to get better. The night is often at its darkest just before dawn begins to light the sky.

When difficulties that have been looming break free and begin to run their course, the moment they will end suddenly begins to grow closer. When problems come out in the open where everyone can see them, that is when they are most likely to be solved.

When the challenges grow bigger, so do the opportunities for positive progress. When everything is going wrong, that's when you become the most highly motivated to make things right.

When the world looks bleak, do not despair. Instead, take the highly charged energy of the moment and turn it in a positive direction.

When the situation is at its worst, that's an excellent opportunity for you to be your best. That's when you can make the biggest positive difference.

The opportunities to move forward are always there, especially when they don't seem to be. When times are tough, that's when positive, focused action truly pays.

Don't let yourself get too caught up in what could have been, or would have been, or should have been. Look instead at the power and possibility of what is.

The things you see as problems are realities that you have chosen to interpret in a certain way. Consider that you can view them from a more positive and empowering perspective any time you wish.

Many of the burdens that weigh you down come from fighting against what has already happened. Gracefully accept what is, and experience the enormous sense of freedom that acceptance brings.

There is real value that exists right now in this moment, in this situation, in this unique set of circumstances. Allow yourself to fully accept the reality of what is, and you compel yourself to uncover that value.

Accept even what you cannot control, and you'll discover more power and effectiveness in those things you can control. Accept responsibility for the things that influence your life, and you'll be able to focus all that energy in a positive direction.

Accept all that is life, with its many twists and turns, in whatever way it may come to you. And you'll find real opportunities for fulfillment and joy.

We usually think of determination as a very tense state, full of anxiety. When visualizing oneself as determined, it is common to grit one's teeth and become tense.

Consider, though, how much more powerful and effective a calm, peaceful determination would be, free of tension and anxiety. Imagine the great things you could accomplish if you were determined and committed without being consumed by apprehension.

Realize that whatever happens is for the best when you are fully committed to being your best. Although life will not unfold in the way you imagined, that does not prevent you from being precisely the person you want yourself to be.

Your true essence is completely detached from anything which could possibly cause tension or anxiety. Live with that thought from moment to moment, and you'll enjoy a calm, peaceful determination.

Take your deepest desires, values and purposes, and translate them into thoughts. Then take those thoughts, and put them into words.

Next, put the words into action. And then, grow the actions into commitments.

Translate those commitments so that they resonate in the world and in the lives around you. And you will end up with valuable, meaningful achievements that flow from your deepest values.

Start with knowing and understanding the authentic person you are. Then work to express yourself within the context of the world in which you live. Translate your inner values outward into all of life. And life will grow more beautiful.

When there's something you need to do, something you know you have to do, you probably resent it and fight against it, and think up excuses for not doing it. It may very well end up not ever getting done. By contrast, when there's something you want to do, you'll be busy thinking up all sorts of great reasons why you should do it, and you'll do whatever is necessary to get it done. That's a big, big difference.

There's a fine, but very important, line between the things you need to do and the things you want to do. That line exists in your mind and is controlled by your attitude. And guess who is in control of your attitude? You are!

With a simple change in attitude, all those things you need to do, all those things you have to do, can instantly become things you want to do. When that happens, they'll get done.

So what do you need to do that you really don't want to do? Have you been putting it off? Have you been busy thinking up excuses for not taking action? Well, do you want to move your life forward? Then try this simple exercise. Whatever it is you've been putting off, whatever it is you've been avoiding, tell yourself you want to do it. Instead of saying "I have to" in your mind, say "I want to" out loud. It's as simple as that.

When you starting thinking of it as something you want to do, it will get done. And what a powerful difference that can make in your life!

Nothing stirs the spirit in quite the same way as beauty. There is something inside of us which resonates with productive, joyful energy in the presence of beauty.

Beauty is difficult to define, yet easy to recognize. It can exist on a grand scale, and in the smallest detail. Beauty is a mountain peak, the smiling eyes of a child, the intricate workings of a powerful machine, a musical passage, elegantly designed software, a convincing idea. Beauty compels and inspires like nothing else.

What do you do that's beautiful? You don't have to be a painter or a poet to create beauty. You don't have to be a supermodel to be beautiful. Anything undertaken with passion and commitment can produce beauty. The greatest, most celebrated achievements are always beautiful in their own unique way.

Be the best that you can be. In your work, your play, your world, your life, be beautiful.

Take something ordinary, add some focus, commitment and effort, and you have greatness. Greatness arises out of the common and the ordinary. The raw material of greatness is nothing special. A magnificent mansion is made out of ordinary wood, bricks and nails. A literary masterpiece is printed on ordinary paper. A beautiful symphony is performed with ordinary musical instruments.

Greatness depends not on what we have to work with, but on what we do with it. Greatness is achieved not because of what we have, but as a result of what we do.

Though greatness by definition is rare, it is within the reach of anyone. Because the greatest greatness comes from common, ordinary beginnings. Whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you have to work with, greatness is always waiting for you to make it happen.

Creativity does not get used up. In fact, the more you exercise your creativity, the more you have of it. Creativity feeds upon itself. What may at first seem like a small, insignificant idea, can grow into something substantial when you let the creativity continue to flow.

A magnificent painting begins with a single brush stroke, creatively applied. One creative act leads to another, and soon you have a masterpiece. We often imagine creativity as being on a grand scale, and yet it is in the grainy texture of life that true creativity occurs.

Anyone, anywhere can be creative. It's just a matter of opening the mind, stepping outside the comfortable box of your limitations, then putting into form and action the original thoughts which come to you.

Create, and then create again. Allow your creativity to build upon its own energy, into something of unique value and beauty.

Every day you change the world in some way. You cannot avoid doing it. After this day is over, the world will be a little bit different place because of what you have done. Will it be a better place, or worse, or just different? That depends on what you do.

Why should you care? Because you are a part of the world. The positive things you do, come back to you, as do the negative things. You cannot escape the consequences of your own thoughts and actions. So make them the best that you can.

You can change the world. You will change the world. You do change the world. You have the power and the ability to change it for the better, right this moment and every moment. As long as you're going to change the world, you might as well change it in a positive way.

You're changing the world. It's a big responsibility and a tremendous opportunity. Make the best of it, today and every day.

Anything you think to be "beneath" you will limit what you're able to achieve. The people who are truly the most accomplished are those who do not consider themselves to be better than anyone else. Humility is critical to success. Why? Because lasting success in this world depends on the support of other people. And humility is a sincere expression of respect for those around you.

If others are constantly subjected to your pride and arrogance, then any success you manage to accomplish will be short-lived. Meaningful achievement comes from raising people up, not from putting them down. Those who are consumed with being better than everyone else, never give themselves the opportunity to be the best they can be.

Self importance and arrogant behavior reflect underlying weakness, while true strength, confidence and effectiveness are evidenced by quiet humility. Be a part of the world, not apart from the world, and your success will have a strong, solid foundation.

Have you ever tried to locate something quickly in a cluttered room or on a cluttered desk? It is indeed frustrating to know that what you need is right in front of you and you're unable to get your hands on it.

The solution is to organize your things, devising a system for storing them and knowing where they are. That way you can quickly find what you need. Putting things away where you can find them does not prevent you from using or enjoying those things. Indeed, it enables you to use them much more effectively.

A similar benefit comes from focusing your efforts. Staying focused does not prevent you from doing anything. Rather, it enables you to do whatever you do more effectively. If you attempt to do everything at once, your efforts become cluttered and diluted. Without focus, the path to achievement can actually be blocked by your own ambition. With no focus, the more intensely you work the more frustrated you can become, because you're often working against yourself and wasting your own time.

Yet when you discipline yourself to focus on one thing, get it done, and then focus on the next task, you're actually able to get more accomplished. Make a point to focus your efforts, and bring more of your positive possibilities into reality.

For anything worth having, anything of value, there is a price to pay. If there were no price, there would be no value. The price is not arbitrarily imposed on the thing of value. The price is in fact a big part of what gives it the value.

If diamonds were scattered around on the ground everywhere, they would be worth no more than pieces of gravel. The rarity of diamonds, and the resulting price that must be paid to obtain them, are what make them so valuable.

Trying to obtain something of value without paying the price will only lead to frustration and disappointment. Much of the misery in the world today is the result of such misguided quests.

For anything of value, be willing to pay the price. Be grateful and enthusiastic about paying the price. Because without the price to pay, there is nothing of value.

More things can be accomplished more quickly in a situation where there is trust among everyone involved. Trust can often make the difference between success and failure.

Trust grows and thrives when there is a genuine commitment to truth. Truth is not always convenient or easy. It is often difficult and awkward. Yet truth is an absolute necessity for building trust, and without trust it is difficult to get anything accomplished.

Even liars demonstrate a respect for the truth, though sadly they also demonstrate an ignorance of how to attain it. A lie would have no purpose if there was no truth. Yet the real, lasting power of truth comes only from being truthful.

There are countless ways to evade the truth. They are all, in the end, a tragic waste of effort. Truth is just as essential to nourish the mind as is food to nourish the body. The more fully you live each moment in truth, the more powerful and effective those moments will be.

Do you have trouble taking the actions you know you need to be taking? Do you tend to put things off, and continue putting them off?

There's a way out, and it begins in your mind. When you're having trouble getting yourself to take action, focus your concentration on a time when you did take action, a time when you were able to move forward and get things done. At some time in your life you've had such an experience. Think back to it. Experience it again in your mind. Recall the things you did, the feelings you had, and the kinds of things you were thinking during that time.

How did you get moving before? What steps did you take? What thoughts did you think? How did it feel? You likely felt positive, successful and effective, and you can do so again. Recall that time vividly enough and you'll move yourself from a mental state of procrastination to a state in which you can get up immediately and start making things happen.

You've been effective before, and you can do it again right now. Get in touch with the best you can be, and put it to work for you today.

Live today in peace. Peacefully accept what is, and work diligently to make of it what you wish. Act with peace toward others and you will be enjoy more peace yourself. Have the courage and strength to spend some time in silence and contemplation.

Let go of fear and guilt. Replace them with kindness and forgiveness. Rather than fretting over what is most impressive or most strategic, put your energy into doing what is right. Use your judgment not as a weapon for putting down others, but as a tool for building your own character.

Look past the things that usually annoy you. Marvel at the beauty of the world in which you live. Stop rushing so frantically. It accomplishes nothing. Make your efforts measured and determined. The results will be undeniably magnificent.

Decide to live this day in peace. See how powerful that can be. In peace there is strength. In peace there is effectiveness, purpose and determination. Experience the power of peace today and understand how very rich life can be.

Greatness most often results not from extraordinary ability, but rather from ordinary ability followed through with extraordinary devotion. Commitment, depth of passion and clarity of purpose will elevate even the most ordinary, mundane efforts into the realm of truly great achievement.

Exceptional ability is a wonderful gift, though by itself it won't get you very far. More important than ability are desire and commitment. Without them, ability is useless. With them, any shortage of ability can be overcome.

Everyone alive has plenty of passion, though too often the true identity of that passion lies hidden. When you make the effort to understand and solidly connect with your passion, the result is an unyielding level of commitment to fulfilling that passion.

Whatever your level of ability, it will take you wherever you desire to go when energized with passion and commitment.

There is no obstacle as powerful or as insidious as your own doubt. Though you may set ambitious goals for yourself, if there is doubt which lingers deep within you, you'll have trouble reaching those goals.

Doubts are difficult to overcome because they are so intimately connected to you. Once they've been established, they take on a life of their own. They need no proof or other support. Once they're yours, they're yours until you get rid of them.

The way you can do that is to prove to yourself that your doubts are wrong. That takes effort. It takes faith and persistence. And it can be done. When you conquer your doubts and raise your expectations, the reality of your life will reflect those improved expectations, almost as if by magic.

Though your doubts can be difficult to overcome, it is most certainly worth the effort. Work to truly remove your doubts, and your performance will skyrocket. Free yourself from your own doubts, and nothing will be able to hold you down.

What has happened has happened. If you've had a difficult day, or month, or year, it does no good to dwell on your unfortunate experiences. Move on past them. Avoid the temptation to feel sorry for yourself or to enlist the pity of others. Your troubles are in the past so there is no reason whatsoever for dismay.

Get up and get going. The future is completely open and filled with an unlimited supply of positive possibilities. Today is a new day and you are fortunate enough to be living it. Furthermore, you can decide precisely how to live this day. You can determine what will become of it. Don't look backward with regret or contempt. Look forward with gratitude and excitement.

Your attitude right now matters more than anything that could have ever happened in the past. Forget about making excuses. Focus on making a difference. Every bit of negativity you've ever experienced is now in the past. Do yourself a big favor and leave it there.

Think not of what you can get out of this moment. Focus instead on what you can give from this moment.

Look at all you can give to yourself. Look at all you can give to others.

There is far more value to be given than there is value to be taken. Focus on what you can give, and you truly focus on abundance.

Seek to give, and that abundance comes to life. Give to this moment, give from this moment, and value that never existed before, springs forth.

There is never more than a paltry, token amount available to be taken, yet there is literally no limit to what can be given. Give, and align yourself with value that has no end.

This moment is here, ready to be lived.

Use it to give, and it will overflow with real abundance.

There is something you've always wanted to do. There is some desire that you've always told yourself you would someday pursue. Well, why not today? Today is the perfect day for you to begin. Of all the days you have available to choose from, today will give you the earliest start and the best advantage.

There is an ideal version of you that you've always dreamed of becoming. You can start right now to work toward becoming that person, toward living that life you've always wanted.

Taking the first step is not difficult. It is well within your reach. It's your life we're talking about here. Don't you want to do everything possible to make it as great as it can be? Why would you want to spend even another minute waiting to get started?

Time is constantly passing by. Starting right now to pursue the life you've always wanted will immediately put time on your side. As soon as you make the commitment to move forward, every moment will bring you closer to your goal.

Get up and go for it. Start right now to create for yourself the life you deserve, the very best life you can imagine.

Self discipline is the way to turn your intentions into reality. Self discipline is the way to transform your weaknesses into strengths. Without discipline, even when you know what you want, you're unable to achieve it. Without discipline, even though you know what you don't want, you're unable to avoid it.

Self discipline is essential to living life on your own terms. It takes effort, it takes determination, it takes sacrifice, yet it is not a punishment. Rather, it is a fulfillment, the means to reaching your highest and best possibilities.

How do you "get" self discipline? You already have it. It involves nothing more than controlling your own actions, and you've been doing that since you were a child. To discipline yourself, you simply must decide to do it. The powerful tool of self discipline is yours to use whenever you're ready to start living life on your own terms.

You are at your best when you're enjoying yourself. When you're enjoying yourself, all kinds of positive energy line up in your favor. You sincerely appreciate being alive, and that gratitude gives positive power to everything you do. You feel good, and that positive feeling allows you to see possibilities which would otherwise stay hidden.

So by all means enjoy yourself. But how can you enjoy yourself when you're doing something that's not so enjoyable?

First, realize that your idea of what is and what is not enjoyable is completely up to you. You can change it if it suits your purpose, and it always suits your purpose to enjoy yourself as much as possible, no matter what you're doing.

Beyond that, find something in whatever you're doing that you can sincerely enjoy. Enjoy the challenge. Enjoy the surroundings. Enjoy the people you're with. Enjoy the opportunity to learn. Enjoy thinking about the positive end result of whatever you're working to accomplish.

There's always a way to enjoy yourself. Find it, allow it, live it and yes, truly enjoy it. Feel great and your performance will soar. And that in itself can be quite enjoyable indeed.

Now is the time to follow your dreams. Now is the time to fulfill your possibilities. Life can be as full, rich and joyful and you're willing to make it. There's absolutely no reason to put it off until later. You'll only cheat yourself out of the golden days that can be yours.

Stop for a moment and consider your dreams, your hopes and your ambitions. They are yours for a reason. They are yours because you are in the best position to follow and fulfill them. They are yours because they will compel you to make a positive difference in your own special way.

Today is the time for action, for commitment, for living with purpose and positive direction. Today is an opportunity for you to be the best you can be by making progress toward your own special dreams. What are they? What can you do right now to move toward them? Consider how great that will make you feel, and how memorable it will make today.

Imagine yourself out on the open ocean in a very fast and powerful speedboat. Fifty miles away from you in one direction is an island. On that island is everything you could ever desire, the fulfillment of your most deeply held dreams. And all you need to do is get yourself there. It's just over the horizon. But which horizon?

The problem is that you have no compass, no GPS, no map, no radio, no telephone, no idea which direction it is to the island. In every other direction are thousands of miles of nothing but ocean. You look out in every direction and all you see are water and sky.

In less than two hours, you could be pulling up to the dock on your dream island. Yet if you go off in the wrong direction, you'll run out of fuel before you ever reach land.

Living without a well-defined set of goals, without knowing and understanding the purpose of your life, presents you with a similar dilemma. Your dreams are most certainly within your reach, yet to reach them you must know what and where and why they are. You must be able to set your course and maintain that course until you reach them. To get where you want to go, you need a map. Make the effort to make that map as detailed and as accurate as it can be, and then it's simply a matter of steadily following the course you've set.

Have you ever considered that perhaps your difficulties come to you precisely because you need them, because of what they can teach you, because of how they will compel you to grow? Imagine what would happen if you could look at your troubles not as some sort of cruel and random punishment, but rather as a potent form of empowerment.

Do you resent the difficulties in your own life? Why? What purpose does that resentment serve? There is nothing of value that it will bring you.

Resenting your troubles only makes them more troubling. It only brings you down even more. On the other hand, finding a way to appreciate those problems will help them become a positive force in your life.

Gratitude will move your life positively forward not only when you're grateful for your blessings but also when you're grateful for your troubles. Find a way to be genuinely thankful for it all, and the reality of your life will reflect that positive and empowering focus.

TUMOUR WEIGHING 5KG REMOVED

(January 7, 2008) On 24^th July 2007, Huang Chuncai, the China’s elephant man had his first operation to remove part of his crippling tumours drooping from his head and face at Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, China. It was a complicated but successful operation. The wound from the operation healed well.

The Guangzhou Fuda Cancer Hospital, after a thorough examination on Huang’s conditions, had decided to perform the second surgery on 7^th January, 2008 morning. The whole process of the operation which lasted four hours was witnessed by this reporter.

“After this operation, can you please bring me to tour Guangzhou and see the beautiful world around?” Huang asked this reporter before being wheeled into the operation theater. After receiving an affirmation, Huang happily closed his eyes while anesthetic was being administered.

The operation began at 8:30 a.m. Mdm. Ho Poh Hua, Huang’s mother and the rest of her family were waiting anxiously outside the operation theater. After a four hours operation, a massive tumour weighing 5kg was removed successfully. According to Dr. Niu Lizhi, the chief surgeon, the amount of blood lost during this operation was much more than that of the first operation when a tumour of 12.5 kg was removed. This was because the surface area of the wound resulting from the operation was twice as big.

According to the head of the hospital, Professor Xu Kecheng, the second operation incurred much greater risk than the first one as it covered a bigger surface area. Besides the challenge of stanching hemorrhaging, there were other challenges facing the medical team.

“The tumours have completely covered the ears. We have to take into consideration the reconstruction of his ears after the operation and we cannot seal them off completely as any secretion from the ears would back-flow into the brain and this would be fatal.” Professor Xu explained.

This reporter was made to understand that, after this operation, Huang would be able to walk properly and lead a normal life. But for him to have a face of a normal person, he would require no less than four plastic surgeries of the face.

Huang’s condition has been the focus of attention around the world. A reporter from the Reuters revealed that their news reports on Huang’s case received six hundred million hits, the highest hit for 2007. According to Professor Xu, a Medical Research Centre of the USA had specially set up a study on Huang’s neurofibromatosis and it’s hereditary. The centre would conduct detailed analysis of the blood from the Huang’s family for genetics and hereditability studies. The China National Genetic Engineering (Shanghai) Research Centre is responsible for the collection of genetic specimens at the national level, has also collected specimens for further studies purposes. These would help to build up a strong base for the early detection, diagnosis and treatments of the disease.

Professor Xu also disclosed that the managing director of the Shanghai Doer Management Group, Mr. Wilson Lim, who is a prominent businessman from Taiwan, and Madam Law Lee Poh, managing director of Excellence Medical Information Centre, Malaysia had shown great cares and concerns on Huang’s sickness, its treatments and progress. They had organized fund raising campaigns and collected donations of about RMB200000.00 Yuan. They had also promised to raise more funds for Huang’s future medical expenses.

It is understood that the September Film Production Company of England is now filming a documentary on Huang. Upon completion, the film will be broadcaster over various media in England. As the first media to report on Huang’s predicament that had caught the attention of the medical world, this paper had been invited to participate in the production of the film, too.

Are you afraid to fail, so afraid that you don't even make the attempt? When you think about it, that really makes no sense. By not even making an attempt, you are guaranteeing failure. So the fear of failure leads straight to certain failure.

Do you feel fear? Great! Examine that fear. Look for the message it is intended to convey. Fear can make you more aware. It can give you increased energy. It can prepare you to overcome difficult challenges. Fear can harness your resources like nothing else can.

Your fear is there to help you move effectively forward, not to hold you back. Let it teach you. Let it prepare you. Don't let it stop you. When fear is holding you back, look closely at that fear and you'll find a way to move forward.

The only lasting failure is the failure to act. If you do make the attempt and fail to get the desired result, learn from it and give it another go. You cannot fail when you continue to take action.

Would you think differently about your problems if they were not yours, but instead were being experienced by someone else? Consider for a moment the most difficult problem you currently face. Now, imagine that you're not the person experiencing the problem, that you're only an observer.

In such a situation, what advice would you give to the person experiencing the problem? Would you advise that person to become depressed? Of course not. Would you advise that person to run and hide from the problem? Certainly not! Would you advise that person to take positive, productive, sustained actions that will deal with the problem? Sure you would.

So, is that what you're doing? Are you following your own advice? Or have you allowed the problem to take over your thinking?

Your problems do not define you. You can detach yourself from them just as surely as if they were being experienced by someone else. Step back and look objectively at the challenges you face. Don't allow your problems to cloud your thinking just because you're the person who happens to be experiencing them. Think clearly, act decisively and keep moving yourself positively forward.

Go beyond your ego, and there is nothing to fear. Go beyond your ego, and anything is possible.

The anger, the worry, the anxiety, the disappointment and conflict all come from seeing life in only the most superficial way. When you get beyond the need for drama, possessions and appearances, a vast realm of possibilities suddenly opens up.

Are the things you fight and fret over really that important to who you truly are? Or do they merely serve to prop up a limited ego-based sense of self?

Have you ever been totally absorbed in something so truly magnificent that you momentarily forgot yourself? Such moments are glimpses of how powerful it can be to go beyond your own ego.

Beyond your ego, you are not limited by what you need. Beyond your ego, you are free to fully become the best of who you are.

Listen to your ego, then softly let it go. The more you move beyond it, the more freedom you will know.

When you woke up this morning you opened your eyes on a treasure more precious than anything money could buy -- your life. Stop for a moment and remind yourself how very fortunate you are to be living in a world filled with limitless possibilities. Consider how truly blessed you are to be able to think, to experience, to learn, to laugh, to love.

What are you going to do with this precious treasure that is your life today? Will you focus on the negativity around you and darken your day with despair? Or will you look for the positive possibilities and take steps to move your world forward?

No one has a monopoly on the future. It is open and available for everyone who wishes to influence it by what they do right now. What kind of future are you working to create?

What you do today will make a difference, in your own life and in the lives of those around you. It can be a positive difference, or a negative one. What would you prefer to spend this precious day of your life creating? It's a great day to be alive. Fill it with the best you can imagine.

What if a thousand people were to come up to you today and express serious doubts about what you are doing and your ability to get it done? Think of how much your confidence would be shaken.

Now imagine how stunningly different it would be if a thousand people today were to offer you a word of encouragement, and to express enthusiasm for what you're doing. You'd be so completely confident that nothing could stop you.

In fact, you will receive a thousand opinions today. But the vast majority of them won't come from strangers. They will come from someone you have believed and trusted all your life. They will come from you.

In every moment, in each thought you think, you have the opportunity to express confidence in yourself and in the value of what you're doing. The power of those thoughts can add up very quickly.

Every moment you are thinking something, and you can choose what those thoughts will be. So choose the ones that will lift you up and push you positively forward.

If there is one thing we've come to understand over the last few months, it is this. The more tumultuous and uncertain the world around us becomes, the more important it is to nurture a real and abiding peace within our hearts. When there is trouble around you, it is more important than ever to have peace within.

Peace is strength at rest. It is high energy without high tension. Those who are strong enough to live in peace and at peace, are the strongest indeed.

Today, and every day, is an opportunity to put the power of peace to work in your life. Though there may be turmoil and confusion all around you, with a peaceful heart you can find the strength to make each and every moment more beautiful than the last.

Act from a perspective of genuine peacefulness, and you'll act with strength, confidence and effectiveness. Hold peace firmly in your heart. Nurture it and let it flow from you, and it will give power to whatever you undertake.

Find your own genuine inner peace and with the strength of that peace you can truly change your world.

If you think that your life lacks focus, consider this. You are always focused on something. You definitely have the ability to focus your attention. Yet in order to benefit from that ability to focus, you must be willing to continually exercise control over it.

Staying positively and productively focused is not so much a skill that must be learned as it is a choice that must be made. And you're much more likely to make the necessary choice when that choice is clear to you.

In every moment you have a choice. You can choose achievement or you can choose mediocrity. You can choose victory or you can choose defeat. You can choose to keep yourself focused on the thoughts and actions which will move you forward, or you can choose to let your focus wander uselessly from one thing to another.

Staying positively focused is a matter of choice. You can focus your efforts in the direction of success, whenever you choose to do so. You're always focused on something, so make the choice to make that focus count.