Garbage In, Garbage Out

I took several computer programming classes in college. For me, the most frustrating thing was to carefully write a piece of code only to find that there were errors or that it wouldn't run correctly. When I would be unsuccessful on an assignment, I had one professor that would always say, "You put garbage in, you get garbage out!"

Our brain is similar to computers in this way. What are you putting into your brain on a regular basis? Are you putting in positive thoughts that motivate you? Are you reading up on the latest strategies that will help you to reach new heights in your job or profession? Are you nourishing your brain with what it needs to bring you positive success? Take a moment and consider what you are feeding your brain with. Don't get stagnant. Beware of harmful ideas or inappropriate thoughts. It was Earl Nightingale that said, "We become what we think about."

Garbage in, garbage out. Yikes!

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

One of my all-time favorite books is Judith Viorst's book, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." It is a children's book but it has a wonderful message for adults as well. Alexander is a young man who very simply put, has a bad day. He has gum in his hair when he wakes up, he trips on his skateboard, he has a run in with his brothers, a dessertless lunch and a cavity at the dentist. As his day continues, he faces challenge after challenge. Because of his challenges, he resolves several times throughout the book to escape by moving to Australia.

Do you ever have days like that? Days where everything seems to go wrong and you just want to curl up in a ball, take a nap or run away to Australia? Life can be discouraging at times. You have challenges that can ruin your day, week, month or even your year. I often find comfort in the quote by Mary Anne Radmacher who said, Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'

Don't give up. Push through it. Try again tomorrow! As Alexander's Mom wisely states at the end of the book, "Some days are like that. Even in Australia."

Be Happy

Push yourself to be happy. Make it a goal and work at it. Fake being happy until you are happy. It is an attitude and something that you decide. Count all of your blessings and realize that you have a lot to be happy about. You might have a lot to be sad about but consider the glass half full and not half empty-be happy.

Consider the quote from Spencer Kimball, Happiness does not come by pressing a button, as does the electric light; happiness is a state of mind and comes from within. It must be earned. It cannot be purchased with money; it cannot be taken for nothing.

You deserve to be happy-and it's always just one choice away.

Happy...New...Year

Happy - What are you going to do that will make 2011 a "happy" year? What will it take? Is it a change of attitude? A change of environment or situation? What are you going to do to make 2011 happy? Because if you are not happy...what's the point? Life is meant to be happy.

New-What are you going to do "new" this year? Have you set your goals for the year yet? Maybe you have thought about some ideas. Write them down! Get serious about them. Do something new and exciting this year.

Year -January can be a year where we feel a lot of pressure to get things done. Sometimes that pressure might cause you to want to just curl up and be mediocre. Break the year down into it's parts. What will you accomplish each month, each week and then execute today? Don't get overwhelmed. Get organized and then get to it.

Happy New Year. May 2011 exceed your positive expectations and be full of standing ovations.

It's The Total Performance-Not One Act

I came across this quote during my planning time the other day:

Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.

-Corita Kent

At the end of the circus performance, most people enthusiastically clap and cheer, and may even give it a standing ovation. But have you ever thought about what they are cheering for? It's really not the closing act or an act they saw during the first half. It's the total performance-the combination of everything they have experienced during the event. Some acts were perfect, some were mediocre and some may have even gone wrong.

While one act in our lineup may not go well one day, it's vital to realize that you get another opportunity the next moment to be successful-to try again. And if we make the most of each moment, win or lose we will most likely give ourselves a standing ovation when the day is over.