Beliefs that I Hold Dear

At this time of the year, people are making all kinds of resolutions. The diet starts tomorrow and I'm going to lose at least 20 pounds. I need to quit my cigarettes and I'm really going to do it this time. My beer consumption has gotten out of hand and I'm going to join AA. The credit cards have got to go! The list goes on, and the regrets start coming in around February.

In years past I have made my own personal promises. My husband is still waiting for me to get a good handle on how long it takes me to be "ready" to go. When I say, "Five more minutes," it really means "fifteen minutes." I am constantly late leaving from anywhere, and this causes me to drive a bit more strategically than I probably should. Speeding tickets have not been a strong enough consequence due to the fact that I don't get caught. (It's a gift.) Another resolution that I have made in good faith is to put myself to bed on time. Invariably, I will force my eyes to remain awake to watch something that I have recorded on TiVo and then I fall asleep on the couch. I crawl into bed around 4:00 a.m. and then groan at my alarm when it goes off at 5:15 a.m. Notice a pattern?

Rather than spout a list of promises that I most likely won't be able to keep, this year I have decided to share some beliefs that represent the core of my personality. If any of these thoughts strike a chord with you, then I hope that you will comment and even share a personal story of your own.

I absolutely believe that magic happens when I think positively. You may have heard reference to "The Secret" in this regard. It's a great movie and book. Every day, I have innumerable instances where I can choose to gripe and complain, or choose to respond in the positive. For example, although I am typically late and moving at top speed on the highway, people still manage to cut me off. I know many people who choose to yell expletives at these drivers even though they can not hear the comments. What good does that do? Your blood pressure rises, the action has still happened and can't be changed. The answer, it does no good at all. I have trained myself to think more positively. "Wow. That took skill. I don't think that I would have even thought to squeeze into that space." Then, I visualize that driver being in the opposite lane as I drive past. Invariably, I DO pass them and I silently thank them for the opportunity to have that moment of focus on an otherwise boring ride. I come out ahead, and their defensive driving skills have put them behind.

The universe will provide whatever I take the time to visualize. I can't control the time line, but I can control the outcome. Now, I am saying "the universe" but I could also be saying "God." For me, "universe" may as well be a pronoun such as He and be capitalized. In my business, I look for people who are hardworking and willing to do whatever it takes to become successful. I won't settle for those that don't show the level of commitment that I am willing to give. I can hear in my mind what that person's voice will sound like, and I can sense their overall ability to learn. The perfect person for the business has a giving spirit, willing to help others before thinking of their own needs. I have spent time building this outline of a person in my mind, and I believe that it has been sent out to the universe and this person/people will manifest into my life. This process has worked for several people in my business circle, and I know that it will happen for me as well.

My last belief comes from a quote that I have displayed in my home office. It was made my Mark Twain: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowliness. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails." Every day, I need to push myself to learn or do something that I didn't know or haven't done before. By extending myself outside of my comfort zone, I become a better person. At the same time, I look for ways that my growth will help others to grow. We all need to reach out, communicate, and interact on a mental/emotional/compassionate level. If everyone worked harder at helping others around them, then we would all be aided in amazing ways. I believe that by posting my thoughts about these beliefs for you all to read, I will, in some small way, be a catalyst for this way of thinking on a more global scale.

What do you believe? What can you do to make someone else's life better?