Present Condition?

“Happiness is a present attitude – not a future condition”.   — Hugh Prather

You’ve seen the consistency with which I end virtually every post with, “Carpe diem”!

Carpe diem is a present attitude.

It is, of course, the concept of seizing the day.

I like to break it down even further to, “Seize the moment”.

This takes practice to be fully present. Often, I struggle with it when my workload gets really intense.

But I take comfort in my imperfection, forgive myself, and then move on and try to always do my best.

Keep trying. Keep forgiving. Keep doing your best. It’s the only path to being fully present.

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

Thought Dependent?

“The happiness of our life depends on the quality of our thoughts”. — Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

My new friend Frank, the front office manager at Mitchell’s Sand Castles, on Sanibel Island, told me I am always smiling. I wanted to say, “And your point is”?, but I didn’t.

We had a decent discussion about finding your source for motivation, and finding your purpose in life.

Just yesterday, I wrote a post about something that daily enhances my life.

Amazing how something as simple as changing a radio station has yielded such noticeable benefits.

Well, not only changing the station, but then keeping it there.  Carpe diem,  jeff noel 🙂

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Quality of Mind

“Happiness is a quality of the mind.  It is something we possess within…  If we do not have it within, nothing outside can give it to us”.   —  Paramananda

I hope at mid-life, whether you are having a mid-life crisis or not, that you find the source of your happiness.

Initially, many years ago, I found it difficult to find happiness within. Really didn’t even know what that meant.

Thought it meant going to parties and seeking fun and adventure for myself.

I’m glad I now understand the difference between external and internal happiness.

Ya with me?

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

PS. Only 19 days until Helsinki – www.Lane8.org

PSS.  I’m not running for Lane 8 to give myself glory. I’m running to give glory to someone else. Once I figured this out, an amazing sense of Peace filled my heart, and happiness flows more abundantly.

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Unhappiness

“Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations”.—  Edward de Bono

“If your goal isn’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough”.   —  jeff noel  🙂

Most people aren’t prepared or determined to do the hard work.

The easy way does not exist.

The only path to great results, in anything, is the long way. The hard way.

Once I accepted this fact of life, I started to, and continue to, see much better quality of life than I thought was possible.

It’s been over 100 days now. Every morning the same.

Try this simple exercise. Start your day on your knees. Spend as much time as you feel comfortable with, even if it’s just one minute.

If you can’t do this, go look in the mirror and sell yourself on why it’s not possible.

Go ahead.  What have you got to lose?

This is the same exercise I did. I’ll never suggest you do anything I haven’t done myself.

“It matters little to walk to do the preaching, if not the walking is the preaching”.

Carpe diem, jeff noel  🙂

PS. By the way, I’ve made serious, life-altering changes 17 years ago, ten years ago, almost eight years ago, and again 18 months ago.  So please don’t think I’ve only been on this bandwagon for 100 days.

PSS.  I also realize that some of you may not have any knees.  A good friend of mine doesn’t.  So, when I said it I meant it figuratively, as well as literally.

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Simplicity, Simplicity, Simplicity

“Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!  I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and not a hundred or a thousand…..  We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without”.   — Henry David Thoreau

Sure looks good on paper.

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot on my plate:

  1. Faith
  2. Family
  3. Career

These are the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Each one has a subset of additional topics.

1. Servant, Disciple, Church, Prayer, Emmaus Brothers, Catechism, First Holy Communion, Lector, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Cub Scouts, Networker, Volunteer, Innovator.

2. Servant, Husband, Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin, Neighbor, Friend, Home Owner, Yard Man, Mechanic, Pet Owner, Chief Financial Officer, Investor, Small Business Owner, Writer, Professional Speaker, Student, Leader, Teacher, Historian, Networker, Innovator, Runner, Athlete, Comedian.

3. Servant, Leader, Follower, Team Member, Teacher, Professional Speaker, Idea Generator, Envelope Pusher, Ambassador, Spokes Person, Student, Trainer, Lead Generator, Historian, Writer, Helper, Friend, Colleague, Profit Driver, Innovator, Traveler, Listener, Planner, Comedian.

No wonder it’s so challenging for me to relax.

I’ll tell you what though, I would rather be aware of this and consciously and consistently work on simplification, than to be oblivious.

Plus, the harder I work, the luckier I get.

Carpe diem!

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