Firstly, read some sort of self-improvement message every day, and this can be a message you write out on a card that you keep by your bed, and can read before and after sleep. This is powerful for programming subconscious.

Incidentally, most people that ‘poo-poo’ an idea like this, have never tried it!

Secondly, imagine one of those ‘Strongest Men in World’ shows on TV, where a huge mountain of a man is trying to pull a 50 ton truck with his teeth.

His eyes are popping, veins bulging on his neck, but truck doesn’t move.

Then truck wobbles, and slowly begins to edge forward. The crowd cheers, and strongman starts to walk forward, grunting like an elephant.

If he stops, he is in trouble, because he has to start all over again with eye-popping, but if he keeps going, it gets easier for him, because truck picks up momentum, and begins to move by itself.

The man still needs to pull, or truck will stop, but man’s effort has been reduced to keeping up movement, and nothing more.

This is due to laws of physics, and can be applied to goal achievement and life change.

You need to keep going until your life picks up new momentum, and even then, you need to keep putting in effort.

Intention to form new habits is great, taking action to form new habits is even better, but it won’t amount to anything unless you accept that you need to keep working until momentum kicks in! (It *always* does eventually!)

We call this..."dealing with reality." It's okay.

WE MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED AND KEEP GOING FORWARD

Activity is good: more normal, better.

I don't expect to produce at my "top level."

However, neither do I presume that I will work at my lowest possible level.

I need to adjust. To flex. And keep going forward.

I need to do best I can within confines of my physical and emotional state -- but keep doing what needs to be done on a daily basis.

There is a good measure of truth in old statement: "Life must go on."

WE LAUGH

Laughter and good humor -- each has its place during sad times we face. They help us gain a sense of balance.

Light moments tend to assist us in dealing with pain.

And, those lighter moments are "okay."

WE SEE HOPE

Because there are good people in world, we see hope in them. They help, pitch in, care, and pray.

Because of our own experiences that we have had to walk through in life, we can see hope in ourselves and our ability to deal with bad things that happen to us.

Because of who God is and how He has worked in our lives, we have hope. Hope in His strength, guidance and goodness.

IF I WERE TO TURN THESE OBSERVATIONS AROUND...

And make them into a set of personal suggestions to help in initial moments of difficult times, they would be:

*Do what you need to do first. Do whatever it takes.

*Look for good in people and in world.

*Have realistic expectations about yourself and others during those times.

*Make whatever adjustments you need to make and strive to keep moving forward as much as possible.

*Allow humor and laughter into your world. It's okay to laugh.

*Don't lose hope. See hope in others, in yourself and in God.

A PERSONAL WISH

If this article finds its way to you while you are somewhere "on other side of easy," I wish you personal peace, strength to endure, and God's best.

Should only one short comment or thought bring you a ray of hope or a moment of personal joy, I will consider my taking time to write these brief thoughts worthwhile.

Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,

Lee

------------------------------- Lee is a seminary administrator, has a part-time business at home, and writes two motivational ezines: "A Beautiful Moment In Time" and "Hope For Daily Living." Permission is given to distribute article. This paragraph must be included. Email: Lee@seariches.net Link: http://www.seariches.net