COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

"The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

ACTION = LESS DISAPPOINTMENT

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

DO SOMETHING!

"In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt

REQUIREMENTS TO CHANGE

"Energy and persistence alter all things." - Benjamin Franklin

HOW TO GO FAR IN LIFE

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these." - George Washington

SUCCESS REQUIRES UNCOMMON DISCIPLINE & PERSISTENCE

"Success is not a matter of mastering subtle, sophisticated theory, but rather of embracing common sense with uncommon levels of discipline and persistence." - Patrick Lencioni

Patrick Lencioni's book The Five Dysfunctions of a Team gives great insight into leadership and teams. It's also a quick and easy read. Follow this Amazon Affiliate link to get your own copy: http://amzn.to/2dwVtFM

HAVE A PURPOSE

"...The dividing line between success and failure is found at the stage where aimless drifting ceases." - Quoted by Napoleon Hill

TRY!

"Where there is nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain if successful, by all means try.  Do It Now!" - Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude

Get your own copy of 'Success through a Positive Mental Attitude' by Napoleon Hill and W. Clement Stone at your local library, bookstore, or by following this Amazon affiliate link: http://amzn.to/2hVjUNJ

FAILURE IS STEPPING STONE TO SUCCESS

"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." - Dale Carnegie

MY TOP 3 MOTIVATIONAL THOUGHTS

I’m sometimes asked how I am able to stay so positive, even during obviously trying times.  So this week I’m going to share my “secret” to staying positive.  Of course I try to drown myself in daily motivational sessions, but sometimes life can really eat away at your confidence.  So these are the three quotes or thoughts that flash through my mind during my most trying moments.  After taking a moment to dwell on these, I am ready to conquer the world…again:

“Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit.” - Napoleon Hill

The first thought that enters my mind during the most trying times, is the Napoleon Hill quote above.  It reminds me that there is always something to learn or benefit from in every obstacle I face.  So when I start realizing I am really struggling, I sit down and ask myself, “What am I learning from this?”  It’s surprising how quickly my attitude is re-focused when I remind myself that every obstacle carries a benefit greater than the obstacle itself.

“You were born to be a champion, and no matter what obstacles and difficulties lie in your way, they are not one tenth so great as the ones that have already been overcome at the moment of your conception.” - Napoleon Hill

I recently wrote a blog post titled “Against the Odds,” which was specifically devoted to this Napoleon Hill quote.  This quote, and the story behind it, was absolutely life changing.  It becomes painfully clear that you can overcome anything when you really sit and ponder everything that had to happen to bring you into existence.  Here’s the link to my blog post about this topic: "Against the Odds".

The last quote is actually three, but I always read them together.  It is the most special and motivating to me.  Despite remembering that every problem carries a solution and a benefit, and remembering that I have already conquered life’s greatest battle, sometimes I need even more help to keep positive.  The following comes from the greatest book ever written, The Bible.  In all honesty, you could get through all of life with only this book as your guide.  Although there are numerous verses that will provide strength and motivation, I find the following three to be the most powerful for me during times of great struggle:

“Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are not you of much more value than they?” - Matthew 6: 26

“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows.” - Matthew 10: 29-31

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?  Yea, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear not therefore: you are of more value than many sparrows.” - Luke 12: 6-7

These three scriptures were my key to getting me through my life’s greatest struggles, and I turn to them frequently to constantly remind myself of their message.

So there you have it, my top 3 motivational thoughts.  What are your greatest motivational reminders?  If you don’t have any, start looking.  You will be amazed at the strength you can develop by having a warehouse of mental motivators.

FAILURE CARRIES A SEED

"Every adversity, every failure and every heartache carries with it the seed of an equivalent or a greater benefit." - Napoleon Hill

TAKE STEP # 1

"I've discovered that in 100% of the cases, no exceptions, people who won't take step #1 never take step #2." - Zig Ziglar