Daily Ramblings – Motivation Monday – Tools and Keeping it Simple

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Apps, KISS, Monday, motivation, Resistance, simplicity, Simplify, tasks, Techniques, Tools

Have you ever found yourself using an app or some other tool to add some efficiency to your day? What happens when you find out that the app or tool is much less efficient than you initially thought?

There are some great apps and tools out there to help us become more efficient at what we do. Calendars, to-do lists, time-tracking, you name it. But sometimes these apps cause more work for us. I used to use an app called Any.do. Initially, it was terrific. My tasks were laid out each day and I check them off as I go. Then, suddenly, the app stopped working with Chrome and I could only access my to-do list through my phone or iPad. You already know where this is going. I dropped the app.

Whenever a tool becomes more of a chore than the actual doing of a task, it’s time for that tool to be gone. Take some time to reevaluate the tools you use. Do you suffer from the same thing, but didn’t realize it? It’s easy to do.

Keeping things simple is another aspect of motivation. When things become too complex or difficult to deal with, we tend to shy away from the doing. We resist it. This resistance can cause us to procrastinate or avoid the task altogether. Whenever this occurs in my life, I simply look at what the task involves and begin picking it apart for smaller things to do. The key to tackling this resistance is simplification. Simply reduce the complexity and you’ll find like I have that the resistance dissipates.

Another way to simplify a task is to take some time to learn more. Each month I have a report I have to kick into my organization. This report is in an MS Excel format. I decided that I needed to relearn MS Excel so I could put together better charts, create a better presentation, and take less time putting these together. I simplified the task by learning the tool I was using. Yet another way to simplify what you are doing. Simple translates into less resistance.

Well, that’s it for today. I hope all of you have a terrific Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Simple Things

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Birds, Calm, Chipmunks, Free, Joy, Peaceful, Simple, simplicity, Squirrels

Sometimes I think about the simple things in life. I was just staring out my window and watching the leaves flutter in the wind. The simple things don’t cost any money. They are there for our enjoyment. My Dad placed dispensers of corn and nuts in our yard and the squirrels and chipmunks love them. In appreciation, they give Dad a show to enjoy all day.

Another benefit of having these dispensers are the frequent visits by a pair of Mallard ducks. They come every few days to pick up the nuts and corn the squirrels have left behind on the ground.

We have a squirrel my Mom nicknamed Pete. He enjoys chewing on a dog bone that our last dog stopped chewing on. We also have a chipmunk who comes to our deck from time to time to visit. Then there are a collection of birds that entertain my mom in the morning.

I have been helping my wife study for a teaching exam she has to get through by November. It is nice to spend time with her and help her. We go through questions, remember funny things about our past, talk about them, and then get back to the questions. It’s nice.

It’s nice to sit in my easy chair and type out these words. I’m enjoying the quiet, typing these words, and thinking. Simplicity. Quiet. Calm.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – Grateful for Life

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Acceptance, Awareness, Grateful, Gratitude, Joy, reality, simplicity, spirituality

“When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege, it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love.” Marcus Aurelius

It is a privilege to be alive. I am thankful for each day and all the experiences that come with it. Each of us is here to gain experience and take one more step back to our true home–God. The lessons keep coming and we either learn or fail to recognize the lesson presented to us. The lessons keep coming.

I believe that everything is in its rightful place in the universes of God. It is not reality that is the problem. It is our inability to accept reality for what it is. Some things we can change or avoid, but who can avoid being sick, the death of a loved one, or the loss of a job? No one. These things happen. People get sick, they die, and in today’s business climate will lose work.

There is always a lesson to be learned in every problem we encounter. You can get emotional, you can throw a tantrum, you can ignore the problem, but the problem and the lesson remain. God is persistent. If you fail this time, God will give you ample opportunity to try again, and again, and again. God has all the time there is to help you grow and return to your home. It will happen sooner or later. Why not make it sooner?

I have had a good share of trouble in my life. I’ve filed bankruptcy twice, divorced twice, lost a home, surrendered a few vehicles, lost my job, and a whole host of other things. Did I learn anything? You bet. I realized that happiness has nothing to do with whom you have in your life, how healthy or sick you are, or if you have a soul mate. Happiness is a personal choice. If you want to be happy–be happy. It is that simple.

Find the joy in the moment. Savor that first cup of coffee. Listen to a loved one tell you about his or her day. Talk to your dog or cat and spend time with them. Enjoy every bite of that cheesecake. Happiness to me is all about paying attention to how great we all have it. I have enough food to eat; I have a roof over my head; I have projects that keep me busy; we have a nice dog, a nice home, a great backyard, and the technology we need to interact online, play games, and watch television shows.

For me happiness is recognizing the things I have, rather than thinking about what I do not have. It is literally taking into account all the things I am grateful for and savoring the thoughts that come from that place where all is well. I do this every morning and it is really a great thing to do. Simply write down all the things you are grateful for and keep adding to the list until you feel it–that feeling of comfort, love, and satisfaction, knowing all is right with your world. I do this in my gratitude journal and it is an awesome daily practice. Try it out. Start small and write down 3 things you are grateful for. That’s it. As you establish this habit, you’ll find that you will uncover more and more things you are grateful for. Be as specific as you want or as generalized as you want.

When you have established the habit of a gratitude journal, you’ll begin to notice a shift in your attitude. You will begin to realize that you really do have all you need. Things will rattle you less. Things will roll off of your back instead of sticking to you. When you realize you have all you need, life becomes a true joy to live.

Thank you, to all of my new followers this week. I really appreciate the growth. My goal this year is to get to 1000 followers. I am at 564 so far, so I have some more work to do to gain more. If you enjoy reading Daily Ramblings, send your friends here. I thank you in advance for any help you provide.

Two things I’d like you to keep in the back of your mind as you move forward with your life. All is in its rightful place in the universes of God and God will never give you a problem you cannot solve. These two points should give you great solace as you move forward. I wish you well.

Have a great Saturday everybody! See you on Monday!

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday – The HU Chant

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Calm, Focus, Good Habits, HU Chant, Meditation, Relaxation, simplicity

Have you ever thought about meditation? There are many benefits to this practice, particularly the benefits of calm and focus. Another benefit is the simplicity of the act. You can close your eyes and meditate anywhere, provided you are comfortable and the place you choose is remote or away from noise.

Here are the basics:

• Sit down or lay down on a bed or couch
• Close your eyes
• Focus on your breath (breathe in and breath out)

If you would like to use another technique to keep your focus you can chant silently to yourself or out loud, depending on where you are. If you chant, use the word HU. HU is an ancient name for God and pronounced like the word “hue”. Chant this word for whatever period you have available. I recommend 10 minutes for starters.

Chanting HU can help you in times of stress or trouble. Chanting HU is not religious. You can use the HU chant if you are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or any other religion.

Try it. Many people, the world over, use the HU chant daily. I do this in the early morning, before I head to the gym. Other people I know do the HU chant during their lunch break or right before they go to bed. Start small. 10-20 minutes is all you need.

If you try this out or have questions, comment below.

Have a great Saturday folks!

Until next time…

Dave

 

 

Daily Ramblings – Spiritual Saturday

Tags

change, Saturday, simplicity, Snowstorm, Truth, Weekend

“Truth is so simple. So why doesn’t everybody know it? Because it’s too simple. Because we have our preconceived notions about what truth is or what it should be.”

—Harold Klemp The Language of Soul

It’s snowing in Michigan! Today, most of the North East is getting pounded by the snow and we have more coming next week. I love the snow. I think it is such a great weather pattern, particularly when it snows for a while. It is so peaceful to look at.

Today’s quote relates to the simplicity that lies beneath the complexity we create. I am always amazed when I read a research study or a really good book. As you are reading a book, typically a culmination of years of research and study, you say to yourself, “How simple. Of course, that’s the way it is.” We all know truth when we see it. Truth remains hidden, behind some curtain—a curtain that is built into us. We all think truth is more than it is. This causes us to disregard the truth that is staring us in the face because it is ordinary and mundane, compared to our expectations.

Why is truth so important? Because we want the security of standing on firm ground. Truth survives the tempestuousness of our reality, which is constantly changing. Today, we’re happy and everything is great. Tomorrow, your life falls apart. Sometimes the things that change are disruptive to our life. We get sick, a loved one passes, a friend betrays us, we lose our job. In other cases, we benefit from the changes and they are life-building. We come across a large sum of money, we meet the love of our life, we recover from a incurable disease. Both groups of situations could arise. This reality we live in is in a consistent flux. Truth defies the flux. Truth never changes. When we find truth, our lives are a little more stable—we have a foundation to stand on. This solidity is what makes us comfortable. This is why we pursue truth and consider it important.

How do we find truth? We need to keep our eyes open to the things that don’t change. Truth is always there. When you find it you’ll know that you have.

I hope all of you have a great weekend and enjoy the snow if you are in an area that is getting it today.

Until next time…

Dave

Daily Ramblings – Daily Quotes

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Einstein, Godin, Growth, limits, simplicity, Walsch

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch

This is a terrific quote, but one that needs a little clarification in my opinion. The note I would add would be: “for some people”. The reason I add this is because there are some folks who are interested in the status quo. They don’t want to push beyond their comfort zone. They prefer staying in their little fenced in area where it’s safe.

This quote is about pushing past your limits, going beyond what you think you can do. Read more, write more, contribute more, love more, achieve more. It makes no sense to me to stick in one place and not move forward truly striving for something beyond what I am.

“Good ideas come from bad ideas, but only if there are enough of them.” – Seth Godin

This quote reminds me of Thomas Edison’s attempt to invent the lightbulb. He found a multitude of ways that wouldn’t work before he discovered the way it would work. Perseverance is always required when inventing new things, exploring new things, or learning new things.

“Make things as simple as possible, but not simpler.” – Albert Einstein

This quote is also a great one. I enjoy reading Albert Einstein’s quotes. He was a great communicator of complex ideas, which is what smart folks can do. Steven Hawking is also an individual who can do the same thing. If you haven’t read one of his books, I highly recommend it. He takes some very complex ideas and explains them in a way you and I can understand them.

I hope everyone’s Wednesday is terrific! If you have any quotes you would like to contribute or have any comments on these, feel free to drop a note.

See you tomorrow!

Just Be

Tags

flower, Nature, simplicity, Zen

“A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it. It just blooms.” Zen Shin

Nature has an interesting way of teaching us. Read the quote above. The flower takes what it needs from the Earth, the Sun, the rain, and the bees and doesn’t take any more than it needs. It only uses what it needs to survive. In return, it gives a fragrance or provides itself as food, and purifies the air.

If we all step back from our lives for a moment, we can do the same thing. We eat what we need and no more. We drink what we need and no more. We can also contribute to society by using the talents and abilities we were born with.

We can write, create art, make music, or perform in a position for a company. Each of us possesses talents and expertise we were born with. It’s like each one of us was created to fill in a puzzle piece in the universe that makes this place just one step closer to completeness.

By just being aware of what we love doing, what we are passionate about, we fulfill what the flower does. It just is. It takes what it needs, gives of itself, and exists. Nature is simple.

I find that there is a pure joy in writing. A real joy in inspiring others. I believe that writing is my way of contributing to the world. I challenge you to find your passion. You’ll know what it is because you’ve always known. The difficulty with this is that sometimes we succumb to the pressures of society to work in a job we don’t like, to buy the things we don’t like, in order to fit in with the groups we don’t like. We box ourselves into the same trap everyone else is in. We buy, we owe, and then have to earn the money to pay for the things we really didn’t want or need in the first place, and the cycle goes around and around.

Remember the simplicity of the flower. It plays its part. It lives. It contributes. It does what its true nature dictates. You can do the same.

Until next time…