Face Your Fear And Win!

an old bridge

over a canyon

winter night

Do you doubt yourself? Does your body tremble with every important decision you make? Fear not, for help is at hand. By following these suggestions, you can drive away fear from the depths of your heart.

When you are afraid, the most important thing is not to panic. Resist the urge to flee from your fear. Instead, ask yourself this question: What is the worst thing that could happen to me? Picture this in your mind. Once you have a good grasp of the worst thing that could happen to you, your present problem will not seem so bad. Practice this often and you will reduce the troubles in your life.

The next step is to believe in yourself. Any action taken without a belief in yourself is doomed to fail. You have the power within yourself to make a difference in your life, but you must take action. Whenever you are confronted with a hard task, tell yourself how wonderful you are. Say this with conviction, and you will be amazed at the results.

So whenever you are feeling down, remember to follow these steps. Ask yourself: What is the worst thing that could happen to me? Then follow this up with a strong conviction in your heart: Yes, I believe, I know I can do it! With these two rules you can safely encounter any problem that comes your way. You too can step over the old bridge in the canyon of deepest doubt. Face your fear and win!

Are You A Penny Pincher?

pennies

in a fountain

goldmine

Are you a penny pincher? If not, you are cheating yourself from a happy financial future. Your success depends on being a strict jailer to the money in your pocket. Do not let the thief escape. Guard him well with these suggestions.

Do not be seduced by products on the market. Crafty merchants will suck the money from your wallet if you listen to their silver tongued promises. Instead, ask yourself if you really need this product or service. Is it a life or death situation? Must you have this item at all costs? Wait a bit, and your money will thank you, as your desire to purchase that must have item diminishes.

Pocket the extra money that you do not spend. Put it in a bank account, a mutual fund, a piggy bank, or anywhere you feel it will be safe. Promise yourself that you will not touch your Golden Horde. As time passes, you will be surprised that the money you put away is slowly growing under your care.

Remember the lesson of this haiku. Pennies will turn into a goldmine with a little frugal decision making. Be a penny pincher. And watch your gold flow in.

Are You Boiling Inside?

a teapot

on the stove

volcano

Do you burn inside? Do the hot waves of anger and resentment boil within you? Will you explode at any moment?

Think of yourself as a teapot. The flames of life burn the water within you, but you must take care not to reach the boiling point. Do not be an exploding volcano that lashes out against others.

Learn to control yourself in stressful situations. Emulate the feel and flow of water. Think of its calming effect--the slow, graceful waves that wash against the shores of the sea.  Be like water and watch yourself turn into a calmer person.

How To Make The Most Of Your Circumstances

cheeseburgers

on silver trays

cooks day off

Life can take surprising turns. One moment, you are doing fine, and then disaster strikes.  This can be devastating. You may lose all hope and feel sorry for yourself.

But it does not have to be this way. Think of the cheeseburger. Many would consider this a fast food meal, something not worthy of attention. And yet, this burger would seem like a taste of heaven to a starving person.

Learn to make the most of your circumstances. Times can be bad, but don't let your grief cloud your judgement. Solutions can be found, and these five suggestions will help guide you to a better understanding of yourself:

1. Do not despair--think calmly and clearly
2. Learn to be grateful for the things you have
3. Understand that life comes in cycles: there will be ups and downs
4. Think positive and be positive
5.  Believe in yourself

 Remember this, and you will not fall into the pit of despair when the cook has his day off. The cheeseburger, once thought of as lowly, will become a trusted friend in your darkest days.

Is There A Worm Lurking In Your Friends And Family?

green and red apples

displayed at the country fair

soon a worm will feed

Look at these apples in the picture. Aren't they beautiful? Notice the shine of the skin--such bright, healthy colors that radiate an aura of vitality. No wonder they are so prized at the country fair.

But what if you look closer? What if you really look down into the core of an apple to see how it is? That under such bright, eye appealing colors, a worm lurks hidden at its core, slowly eating away and corrupting it.

Let us then learn the lesson that the apple teaches. Do not judge on appearances alone, but seek to discover if there is a hidden worm in the heart of a person. Beauty and charm may dazzle the eyes at first sight, but it can burn you if you are caught unaware. Trust your instincts, and let them be your guide in first impressions. So often that uneasy feeling we have when we first meet someone comes true.

 Don't let the worm fool you. Things are always more than skin deep.

Is There A Monster In Your Life?

high atop the cliffs

a monster awaits sailors

drunk on berry wine

Look closely at this picture. What do you see? Most likely, you will see a ship on a successful voyage, its goods loaded with the produce from foreign lands. To celebrate their success, the sailors open several casks of the finest berry wine, and guzzle down its sparkling liquid.

Then disaster strikes. Not being fully alert, they run into a reef. The ship's hull is broken, and water quickly fills the interior. Silently, the ship slips into the sea. All hands are lost.

Do not let the "monster" drag you down to a similar fate. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Pay close attention to the details in your life and be sure that nothing endangers you. You never know when the monster may strike.

Do this, and the sea of life will always be smooth sailing for you.

Where Are You Going?

green pheasants

fly towards the sun

a rising sun

Look at the green pheasants in this picture. Do you see how they fly towards the rising sun? They have purpose and patience, and their wings carry them towards their goal.

If animals have this sense of direction, why do we humans seem to stray so often? Why do we feel so lost and uncertain of our actions?

The answer is that we have no true goal. And this is what holds us back. Observe the birds and beasts and the creatures in the sea. Every one of them has a clear purpose. A need that propels them to act in order to survive.

Learn from these examples. Promise yourself that you will not go adrift in the world without a sense of purpose. Plan your goals and what you want to do. Make them happen by your willpower and determination. You can do this if you believe in yourself.

Fly towards the rising sun. Make your plans a reality.

Do You Know There Are Diamonds All Around You?

ice cubes

in the glass

diamonds

Look into the glass. What do you see? Do you see ice cubes? Or perhaps something more?

Life is so complex. We often overlook the simple things in front of us. But are they really so simple that they should be ignored?

Think about the ice cube. By itself, it may seem puny and above our notice. But look closer. What you see is a marvelous transformation. Water, the basic building block of life, is frozen for us and kept in a solid state. These ice cubes make it easier for us to store this precious life giving substance. Without it, it would be much harder to preserve our food and our drinks certainly wouldn't be as cold as we are used to. These ice cubes truly are diamonds.

Learn to appreciate the simple things around you. They are diamonds just waiting to be discovered and treasured.

Watch Your Step!

winter moon

cracked ice

on a lake

Life is filled with tricky situations. The pace of life often forces us to act faster than we should. But is this wise? What advantage do we get by jumping into things headfirst?

You must learn to be more cautious in your daily living. Think carefully, before you make a decision. Plan ahead, so there are no surprises from your brash actions.

But how do we do this? Whenever you are faced with a decision, make a note of it. Acknowledge that you have something important to solve, and that it needs careful planning. If possible, try to write down your problem on a piece of paper.

 Using a pencil or pen, draw a line straight down the middle. On the left side, write pros. On the right side, cons. Take a few minutes to write down all the advantages and disadvantages of the problem that needs to be solved.

When you are finished, take a break for five minutes. When you return, look at the pros and cons with fresh eyes. Notice if there are any serious sides to the problem. If one side seems to be more heavily favored with your notes, that is the side you want to pay special attention to. By doing this, you will make a clear, logical decision without your emotions getting in the way. 

Try this with every important problem you have. As you get used to the process, you will learn how to do this without paper, to makes these decisions in your head clearly and effectively. You will learn how to watch your step. And this will make all the difference.

Think, then act. And you will avoid the cracked ice in your life.

Which Road Will You Take?

two travelers

part at a crossroad

migrant birds

We face many choices in life. And one of them is our traveling companions. These are often family and friends. But they can be coworkers as well. In all these circumstances, we travel with them on the road of life. They guide and encourage us on the way, as we navigate through a hostile world. 

But there comes a time, when differences in opinion force us to part ways. This is not to been seen as negative, but merely a fact of life. Times change and we must learn and adapt to them in order to survive.

So the next time you are forced to part with someone, do not be grieved. As the seasons come and go, you too must be prepared. For every companion that parts ways, you will gain others that will follow you for a time. Embrace this idea, and it will bring you peace.

Follow your road. Do this with confidence in yourself, and you will relish the people you meet on the way.

Happy Hearts

moonlight

a piano sonata

on the lake

sweet summer nights

spent in your arms

The power of love. What a sweet sensation that fills our body--a lightness of walking on air. We drift in clouds and dream of delights with our special other. The whole world seems more magical and worth living when our dearest is there with us. Somehow, things just seem to click and fall into place. We feel whole.

Cherish these memories. Love and respect the other person in your life. Learn to think in a "We" attitude. Understand yourself, so that you may better understand your love. Always think with a sense of togetherness--two people must beat with one heart. Just as there is harmony and melody in music, so must there be in a happy relationship.

Make these things a part of your life. And feel your bond with your partner grow. Love, so that you may be loved. Be a Happy Heart.

Are You Listening?

the tick

of dripping water

a cannon ball

Have you ever listened to water drip? The sound is barely audible to some. But what if you payed closer attention? What if you really listened to the water-drops as they hit the puddle? The answer could shock you.

 Learn to listen to the world around you. Train your ears to hear things that most people ignore. As you develop this skill, you will discover a hidden world just waiting to be explored.

Did you hear the sound of a cannon ball from a drop of water? Listen, really listen, and you will.

What Do You See?

red and blue

fireworks over the bay

a flower garden

Look into the picture. What do you see? Do you see just fireworks--or something more?

Beyond the ordinary, there are things that often elude us. We have eyes, but we fail to see the hidden meaning. And this hurts us. We overlook something that was in plain sight.

Learn to use your eyes. Everyday for five minutes, train yourself to observe things. Watch a sunrise. Watch ants crawl on a table. Watch your favorite pet. Just find something and observe it. Practice this and you will open up a new world that was invisible to you. You will see deeper into things and understand their true nature.

This power is just waiting to be tapped. Open your eyes to a new world.

Slow Down!

speeding cars

amateur

NASCAR racers

Zoom! Life is one crazy car race. Everywhere we go, there is pressure to hurry things up. Do this. Do that. We want it now.

But is this what you want? Do you always want to be in a hurry?

Don't be like the speeding cars in your life. Learn to slow down. Life is so much more than just a blurry road on a highway. Take time to go down the side roads. Explore yourself and your world--but at your pace and on your terms.

So the next time your feeling all stressed and crazy--hit the brakes!

Are You Taking ME Time?

alone on a peak

I stare at the world below

pinpoints on a map

We live in a busy world. Everyday, we are confronted with demands for our time, attention, and money. It seems like we never have enough time for ourselves.

But we do have time. If we know how to properly use it.

Starting today, promise yourself that you will take five minutes to close your eyes and dream. Yes, just dream. Dream you are in another world, another place, another time. Think of happy thoughts and what you would love to do in this imaginary world of yours.

Now open your eyes. Recall your dream and make a promise to yourself that you will do this everyday for five minutes. Five minutes may not seem like much, but when you are truly happy, time can stand still.

Don't delay. Practice this today.

Why Are You Angry?

snowflakes fall outside

as I stare at the fireplace

watching the wood burn

We all feel anger. Inside is a fire that threatens to consume us. If left unchecked, it will burn away our very being, leaving us prey to our bestial instincts.

But you can control it. Whenever you feel angry, think of snowflakes falling outside. Observe their calm stately motion as they gradually drift to the ground. Become the snowflake and feel the hot waves of anger leave you.

Think calm. Be calm. And watch the wood burn to ash.

Transform Yourself!

fireflies

in the night

torch bearers

Inside all of us there is a light burning. This light makes up our essence, our life force. 

Look at the example of the firefly. They shine from within. Their inner beauty is a light to all, a force of transformation. They carry this torch as they light the night.

You too can do this. Learn from the firefly. Take the inner light that is within you and transform yourself with your creativity and imagination. Light up your world.

Did You Have Some Humble Pie?

under the sky

a mountain range

little rocks

We are all part of a natural order. No matter how high our station in life, there are things that are greater than us. Things far beyond our abilities, that make us look like little rocks beneath their feet.

You must learn to cultivate a sense of humility. When we know our true place and purpose in this world, what need is there to puff ourselves up with false boasting? Under the bright blue sky, all things are little to it. Understand this, and you will free yourself from the pressure of pleasing others.

This power is within you. Be humble in your thoughts and you will be great in deeds.

You are Important!

an elephant herd

on the savanna

one ivory tusk

As people, we tend to forget ourselves in our efforts to please the group. But we neglect a very important part of our development. You matter as a person. In all of human history, there will never be another person exactly like you.

So embrace your uniqueness. Learn to live and love the way you do things. Relish those moments and be glad that you are different from others. Be the ivory tusk that is so precious.

Are You A Team Player?

monks sing

hymns in unison

a perfect prayer

We are social creatures. We love being around others and hearing them speak. The sound of their voices is like musical notes to our ears. Not only do we crave this attention, we thrive on it.

 To be a happier person, you must learn to harmonize with others. Take the example of the monks. They work as one to achieve the greater goal. Help others, so they may help you.

Be the link in the chain. And you will discover the power of many.