The Power of AppreciationWritten by Lisa van den Berg
I was driving down highway other day. I was in slow lane, adhering to speed limit, when suddenly truck in front of me had to brake sharply because of a slow moving truck in front of him. I was in one of those situations where I wouldn’t have enough time to brake to avoid an accident and couldn’t overtake because of a car coming up fast in overtake lane.As if seeing my predicament, driver in overtake lane quickly moved to fast lane, thus freeing up space I needed to avoid hitting back of truck. As he drove past me we looked at each other at precisely same moment and both raised our hands to say ‘Thank You’. I was really touched by this spontaneous ‘meeting’ of our two spirits. For that split second we were in complete harmony with each other. What he had done for me (without usual issues of dominance on road) had most probably helped me avoid a serious accident. It really brought home to me what a powerful force ‘power of appreciation’ is. How differently we react when someone answers our angry comment with a kind word. What a difference it makes when someone takes time to listen when we need to talk. Next time someone does something for you, take a minute and express your sincere appreciation. I mean really express it.
| | 10 Things Between You and A Great LifeWritten by Kathy Gates
1. Unfinished business: Free yourself from past by identifying and cleaning up your unfinished business. Call an end to whatever you started - a project, a diet, a feud, a commitment - by dumping it, delegating it, or doing it.2. Ignoring Present: Today is a result of all Today's that came before it. A well lived present will naturally produce wonderful future. Save a dollar today, and you'll have a dollar tomorrow. Eat 500 calories less today, and you'll lose weight tomorrow. Only what you do TODAY can affect tomorrow. 3. No Priorities: Never trade what you want at moment, for what you want most. If you just react to next thing that gets your attention, you'll never have enough time for what is important. Don't schedule your time around your priorities.schedule your Priorities around your time. 4. Betraying yourself: Telling lies to yourself is most hurtful form of disrespect. Write out ways in which you have been untruthful to yourself, and how you can change that. "I will no longer pretend that what I put into my mouth doesn't matter." "I will no longer pretend that overspending my budget is ok." 5. People Pleasing: If you always say yes even when you want to say no, you will find yourself unhappily going through motions of living, giving control of your time, energy, and spirit to anyone who asks for it. Free yourself by learning to quietly assert your boundaries.
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