When you spend a little time each morning reinforcing your desires, you put yourself in position to follow through on your commitments to yourself.

To help you look at any sabotage programs you may be running there is a great book that I mentioned in last newsletter called "The Midas Method". You can pick up a free copy at http://www.megastep.com/mmgo/

You can make this year year that you follow through on promises made to most important person in your life - YOU!

BUT YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION

Involve your whole family and others A good experience shared is a greater one. When united in a good cause, our relationships become richer. Many years ago I managed several programmers developing software to be used by nursing home personnel. They had developed that “ivory tower” attitude that users were idiots, and they were superiors. There was also terrible job dissatisfaction and turnover in department. I had to find a way to help them feel a greater purpose in their labors. I began taking them to some of nursing homes, and had them volunteer. Not once in their visits did they watch their software being used. Instead, they helped with activities, gave manicures, and served food. Almost immediately, tone of department changed. They viewed their work more as a purposeful calling than as a difficult labor. They gained an admiration for workers who used their products. And they began working more as a team. The sense of meaning and unified purpose changed everything.

The same effect can result when we involve our families in serving others.

Who needs your help? Keep your eyes and ears open—opportunities to serve surround us. We just need to become aware. Read your local newspaper and newsletters from your schools. It’s not hard to find people or agencies that need helpers.

Nursing homes always need visitors and volunteers. The elderly who live at home need yard work, snow removal and home repairs. Youth need athletic coaches, scout leaders, and vocational trainers. Health associations need people to help in office, stuff envelopes, and many other tasks.

Check your yellow pages for social agencies and service clubs.

Do something right away. I have heard people say that they will first make their fortune, then perform some grand and exotic service to mankind. But I have found that we can do more good by doing many little things throughout our lives—day after day. Samuel Johnson said, “He who waits to do a great deal of good at once, will never do anything.”

Find a worthy cause, and thrust your heart into it. Your community will benefit greatly—and so will you.