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The Origins of the Sunni/Shia split in Islam
by Hussein Abdulwaheed Amin, Editor of IslamForToday.com
Introduction
The Shia shahadah (declaration of faith) states:
'There is no god but Alláh, Muhammad is the Messenger of Alláh, Alí is the Friend of Alláh. The Successor of the Messenger of Alláh And his first Caliph.'
If you are already familiar with standard Sunni beliefs, you will immediately notice the addition to the shahadah regarding Imam Ali (ra), cousin of the Prophet (pbuh), husband of his daughter Fatima, father of Hassan "
Monday, February 27, 2006
Who are Right -- Protestants or Catholics?
Who are Right -- Protestants or Catholics?: "Who are right, Catholics or Protestants? Is there any difference between their beliefs besides that Protestants don't consider the Pope the earthly leader of all Christians?'
There are fundamental differences between Roman Catholicism and all Protestant and Messianic Jewish denominations.
Note: This is a very general overview. For details see the Catholic Catechism Compared to the Bible--quote-for-quote.
PROTESTANT / MESSIANICCATHOLIC (official text)
The Old and New Testaments are the only sources of Christian doctrine.
(Messianic Judaism refers to these by their Hebrew names, Tanakh and B'rit Chadasha ['New Covenant'])Sources of doctrine include:
Certain papal declarations
Bishops in conjunction with the pope
Old Testament
New Testament
Apocrypha (some additions to the Bible)
Catholic Church Tradition
Catholic interpretation of the Bible
We are justified (saved) by faith alone, not by good works. Good works will result in greater rewards in the afterlife but have no effect on getting saved. This 'faith' means relying on Jesus' sacrifice as full atonement for our sins and trusting in God enough to try to live as he said to live. It is not mere intellectual belief in a set of facts.When a person gets baptized his 'original sin' is forgiven and God gives him some grace. This grace enables him to do good works. God appreciates the good works and rewards them with more grace. Because the Christian has more grace, he can now do even better works. This pleases God even more, so He gives even more grace, etc.
Purgatory is totally unscriptural. Christ's sacrifice on the Cross was th"
There are fundamental differences between Roman Catholicism and all Protestant and Messianic Jewish denominations.
Note: This is a very general overview. For details see the Catholic Catechism Compared to the Bible--quote-for-quote.
PROTESTANT / MESSIANICCATHOLIC (official text)
The Old and New Testaments are the only sources of Christian doctrine.
(Messianic Judaism refers to these by their Hebrew names, Tanakh and B'rit Chadasha ['New Covenant'])Sources of doctrine include:
Certain papal declarations
Bishops in conjunction with the pope
Old Testament
New Testament
Apocrypha (some additions to the Bible)
Catholic Church Tradition
Catholic interpretation of the Bible
We are justified (saved) by faith alone, not by good works. Good works will result in greater rewards in the afterlife but have no effect on getting saved. This 'faith' means relying on Jesus' sacrifice as full atonement for our sins and trusting in God enough to try to live as he said to live. It is not mere intellectual belief in a set of facts.When a person gets baptized his 'original sin' is forgiven and God gives him some grace. This grace enables him to do good works. God appreciates the good works and rewards them with more grace. Because the Christian has more grace, he can now do even better works. This pleases God even more, so He gives even more grace, etc.
Purgatory is totally unscriptural. Christ's sacrifice on the Cross was th"
Monday, February 13, 2006
Average Sucks! - Success
Average Sucks! - Success: "Average Sucks!
The very first 'motivational speaker' I heard as an adult was a gentleman named Mort Utley. I experienced his speech in May of 1989 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of a week of Sales School with the Southwestern Company. I was 19 years old and had just finished my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, and Mr. Utley's speech was the final component of my formal training to sell educational books door-to-door for the summer. I was absolutely coming out of my skin with an indescribable combination of intense excitement and great fear. Mort Utley's speech made one of the most 'un-motivational' statements I had ever heard. He said:
'Most people do not get what they want out of Life.'
How depressing, I thought. This guy gets paid large amounts of money to 'motivate' people and he comes on stage and says that most people do not get what they want out of Life. Thanks for the tip, Mister genius - I suppose next you'll tell me that people from France all speak French. No kidding most people don't get what they want out of Life, I thought - WHY DO YOU THINK I AM LISTENING TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!?!
I didn't want to be most people, and my guess is that you don't either. If you want to be most people - broke, unhealthy, and with too little time to actually enjoy your Life - then I doubt you would be receiving this newsletter in the first place. However, throughout these installments you will have some of the things you might believe are 'just the way the world is' challenged very directly, and this is the first one. We spend so much of our lives wanting to fit in and be normal that we often unconsciously find ourselves striving to be like most people. In other words, we are actually trying to be average.
In America at the beginning of 2003, "
The very first 'motivational speaker' I heard as an adult was a gentleman named Mort Utley. I experienced his speech in May of 1989 in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of a week of Sales School with the Southwestern Company. I was 19 years old and had just finished my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin, and Mr. Utley's speech was the final component of my formal training to sell educational books door-to-door for the summer. I was absolutely coming out of my skin with an indescribable combination of intense excitement and great fear. Mort Utley's speech made one of the most 'un-motivational' statements I had ever heard. He said:
'Most people do not get what they want out of Life.'
How depressing, I thought. This guy gets paid large amounts of money to 'motivate' people and he comes on stage and says that most people do not get what they want out of Life. Thanks for the tip, Mister genius - I suppose next you'll tell me that people from France all speak French. No kidding most people don't get what they want out of Life, I thought - WHY DO YOU THINK I AM LISTENING TO YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE?!?!?!
I didn't want to be most people, and my guess is that you don't either. If you want to be most people - broke, unhealthy, and with too little time to actually enjoy your Life - then I doubt you would be receiving this newsletter in the first place. However, throughout these installments you will have some of the things you might believe are 'just the way the world is' challenged very directly, and this is the first one. We spend so much of our lives wanting to fit in and be normal that we often unconsciously find ourselves striving to be like most people. In other words, we are actually trying to be average.
In America at the beginning of 2003, "
Thursday, February 09, 2006
fundamentals of success
: "Consider what it takes to become an undeniable success with these sincere quotations that identify the fundamental factors necessary to triumph...
' Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.'
-- Abraham Lincoln
'God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; head you win -- tails, you lose.'
-- Anonymous
'The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.'
-- Ayn Rand
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.'
-- B. R. Hayden
'Success is a journey, not a destination.'
-- Ben Sweetland
'The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.'
-- Benjamin Disraeli
'I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.'
-- Bill Cosby
'The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm? to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.'
-- Cyril Connolly
'All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.'
-- Danny Thomas
'Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.'
-- Erma Bombeck
'Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.'
-- Fred Shero
'Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.'
-- George Berna"
' Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.'
-- Abraham Lincoln
'God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; head you win -- tails, you lose.'
-- Anonymous
'The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.'
-- Ayn Rand
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.'
-- B. R. Hayden
'Success is a journey, not a destination.'
-- Ben Sweetland
'The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.'
-- Benjamin Disraeli
'I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.'
-- Bill Cosby
'The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm? to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.'
-- Cyril Connolly
'All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.'
-- Danny Thomas
'Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.'
-- Erma Bombeck
'Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.'
-- Fred Shero
'Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.'
-- George Berna"
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Story of Frog
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged
a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer
on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the
top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
****AKUL*****
"They will NEVER make it to the top."
or:
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and
higher....
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will
make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for
the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who
reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this
one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to
succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful
dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have.
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
A nd above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer
on the contestants....
The race began....
Honestly:
No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the
top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
****AKUL*****
"They will NEVER make it to the top."
or:
"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"
The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and
higher....
The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will
make it!"
More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....
This one wouldn't give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for
the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who
reached the top!
THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this
one frog managed to do it?
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to
succeed and reach the goal?
It turned out....
That the winner was DEAF!!!!
The wisdom of this story is:
Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful
dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!
Always think of the power words have.
Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!
Therefore:
ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!
A nd above all:
Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!
Monday, February 06, 2006
The DNA of Top Achievers - Success
The DNA of Top Achievers - Success: "The DNA of Top Achievers
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of DNA. It is the source code that determines who we are. When we look at DNA we can see what a person will look like, what diseases they may come down with, etc. This has been a tremendous breakthrough for scientists and will continue to be so for some time, I think.
This got me to thinking about what makes up those who are top achievers. Is there a 'DNA' to them? Obviously, all top achievers wouldn't have the same literal DNA but what about a figurative DNA? Is there a common 'gene' that they all have? Are there common 'genes' perhaps? I think so!
If we could get right down to it, I think these are the genes we would find in the DNA of top achievers:
A predisposition to setting high, lofty goals. Top achievers are people who won't and can't settle for the status quo. They see average as a place they want to keep in the rear-view mirror. Instead, they continually look for ways to stretch themselves, to get better, to do better, to be better! They set their sights on goals that others have never even thought of. They want to shoot so high that even if they miss, they go higher than everyone else. This is what makes them top achievers.
An ability to focus intently upon reaching their desired destination. Many people can set high goals, but just as many people get sidetracked by one thing or another on their way to those goals. High, lofty goals usually take a while to get there so there will always be plenty of time to be tempted to stray away from the road that is taking you to those goals. Often, those things that sidetrack people are good things, but not the best things. Top achievers do not get sidetracked. They stay focused. They know where they are going. They have an ability to say 'no' to the goo"
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of DNA. It is the source code that determines who we are. When we look at DNA we can see what a person will look like, what diseases they may come down with, etc. This has been a tremendous breakthrough for scientists and will continue to be so for some time, I think.
This got me to thinking about what makes up those who are top achievers. Is there a 'DNA' to them? Obviously, all top achievers wouldn't have the same literal DNA but what about a figurative DNA? Is there a common 'gene' that they all have? Are there common 'genes' perhaps? I think so!
If we could get right down to it, I think these are the genes we would find in the DNA of top achievers:
A predisposition to setting high, lofty goals. Top achievers are people who won't and can't settle for the status quo. They see average as a place they want to keep in the rear-view mirror. Instead, they continually look for ways to stretch themselves, to get better, to do better, to be better! They set their sights on goals that others have never even thought of. They want to shoot so high that even if they miss, they go higher than everyone else. This is what makes them top achievers.
An ability to focus intently upon reaching their desired destination. Many people can set high goals, but just as many people get sidetracked by one thing or another on their way to those goals. High, lofty goals usually take a while to get there so there will always be plenty of time to be tempted to stray away from the road that is taking you to those goals. Often, those things that sidetrack people are good things, but not the best things. Top achievers do not get sidetracked. They stay focused. They know where they are going. They have an ability to say 'no' to the goo"
K.O.R.E. Elements of Success - Success
K.O.R.E. Elements of Success - Success: "K.O.R.E. Elements of Success
I want to focus our thoughts on each of these four elements of success. While these were originally written for a business audience, the principles can be easily translated to cover yourself or any group or organization you belong to.
Knowledge.
Before one begins down the road of success, they need knowledge. Today, even jobs that once required little working knowledge or intelligence now see the need for training as those jobs become more dependant on technology. We will cover the importance of knowledge and ways to get more for yourself and the others in your business or organization.
Opportunity.
One element that you see over and over again in our country is that we are indeed the 'land of opportunity.' It is great to be able to live in a country where people can pursue their dreams, and where it is possible to reach them. But some people have a hard time seeing opportunity. We will focus on ways to find and take advantage of opportunities.
Risk.
Once a person sees opportunity, it is up to them to step through the open door and go for it. Yet many stop at the edge, unwilling to take a risk. Many times, often actually, taking advantage of opportunities requires risk. We will cover the importance of taking risks and to understand the difference between taking risks and being 'risky.'
Excellence.
Businesses, organizations, and people who succeed are the ones who operate from a base of excellence. Think of Nordstrom's as a perfect example. We'll cover the importance of excellence and ways to raise your excellence quotient.
Knowledge
The starting point in the elements of success is Knowledge. This is becoming increasingly so as we continue deeper into the information and technology age. There simply is no turning back now. Even jobs that used "
I want to focus our thoughts on each of these four elements of success. While these were originally written for a business audience, the principles can be easily translated to cover yourself or any group or organization you belong to.
Knowledge.
Before one begins down the road of success, they need knowledge. Today, even jobs that once required little working knowledge or intelligence now see the need for training as those jobs become more dependant on technology. We will cover the importance of knowledge and ways to get more for yourself and the others in your business or organization.
Opportunity.
One element that you see over and over again in our country is that we are indeed the 'land of opportunity.' It is great to be able to live in a country where people can pursue their dreams, and where it is possible to reach them. But some people have a hard time seeing opportunity. We will focus on ways to find and take advantage of opportunities.
Risk.
Once a person sees opportunity, it is up to them to step through the open door and go for it. Yet many stop at the edge, unwilling to take a risk. Many times, often actually, taking advantage of opportunities requires risk. We will cover the importance of taking risks and to understand the difference between taking risks and being 'risky.'
Excellence.
Businesses, organizations, and people who succeed are the ones who operate from a base of excellence. Think of Nordstrom's as a perfect example. We'll cover the importance of excellence and ways to raise your excellence quotient.
Knowledge
The starting point in the elements of success is Knowledge. This is becoming increasingly so as we continue deeper into the information and technology age. There simply is no turning back now. Even jobs that used "
Are You Good Enough? - Success
Are You Good Enough? - Success: "Are You Good Enough?
Several years ago, I attended a 'success' seminar in northern Virginia. 'Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it.' I don't remember the name of the seminar nor the presenter, but I have two small pieces of wood that have locked that seminar in my mind and changed my life.
If you've ever attended a motivational seminar, you may remember the presenter encouraging you to 'be all you can be.' You may have been convinced that you can make a million dollars or reach other dreams using their methods. This seemed like the way that seminar was headed, until someone began passing us pieces of wood, an 8 X 12 inch board three-quarters of an inch thick. 'Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it. Now in one word describe the feeling.' I was skeptical, not really with it. Suddenly inspiration hit-WOW! That's how I would feel. Then the presenter told us to turn the board over and write on the other side what was standing in our way. I couldn't think of anything and as he kept talking, I figured, 'Well this is a waste.' From out of the blue came, 'not good enough.' My insecurity, feeling inadequate, thinking of everyone who could do things better than I, held me back. So I wrote 'not good enough' on the board, only half listening as he was explaining the next step. With our bare hand we could break through the negative idea we'd written on the board and reach our goals. 'Oh, yeah,' I thought. 'Right.' I had to be the oldest, most out of shape person in the room!
Other people rushed to the front of the room to be first in line to break the board. I sat still, looking for someone like me. People began to step up and break through the board."
Several years ago, I attended a 'success' seminar in northern Virginia. 'Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it.' I don't remember the name of the seminar nor the presenter, but I have two small pieces of wood that have locked that seminar in my mind and changed my life.
If you've ever attended a motivational seminar, you may remember the presenter encouraging you to 'be all you can be.' You may have been convinced that you can make a million dollars or reach other dreams using their methods. This seemed like the way that seminar was headed, until someone began passing us pieces of wood, an 8 X 12 inch board three-quarters of an inch thick. 'Think of how you'll feel when you reach your goal. Imagine you've arrived! Feel it, smell it. Now in one word describe the feeling.' I was skeptical, not really with it. Suddenly inspiration hit-WOW! That's how I would feel. Then the presenter told us to turn the board over and write on the other side what was standing in our way. I couldn't think of anything and as he kept talking, I figured, 'Well this is a waste.' From out of the blue came, 'not good enough.' My insecurity, feeling inadequate, thinking of everyone who could do things better than I, held me back. So I wrote 'not good enough' on the board, only half listening as he was explaining the next step. With our bare hand we could break through the negative idea we'd written on the board and reach our goals. 'Oh, yeah,' I thought. 'Right.' I had to be the oldest, most out of shape person in the room!
Other people rushed to the front of the room to be first in line to break the board. I sat still, looking for someone like me. People began to step up and break through the board."
Reading-The Best 15 minutes Youll Ever Invest - Success
Reading-The Best 15 minutes Youll Ever Invest - Success: "Reading-The Best 15 minutes Youll Ever Invest
I recently was made aware of two comparative statistics that I thought you might find extremely valuable. I learned that the average American reads less than 2 books per year- one and a half to be exact, with almost two thirds of those going unfinished. On the whole, Americans have lost the habit of reading good books.
There is a notable exception, however. CEO's of Fortune 500 companies read, on average, roughly FOUR BOOKS PER WEEK! That equates to about 200 times the average for the rest of America, and I can guarantee that the vast majority of those books are good, meaty stuff that causes them to think about their business and/or their Life in a very healthy way.
Now I am not saying that you yourself need to start reading 4 books a week, but I will tell you this- I have personally seen that there is a direct and positive correlation between the amount of good reading an individual does and their influence and income. Unquestionably, the most life-changing habit you can develop is to systematically read good books. Charlie 'Tremendous' Jones coined the phrase that 'Leaders are always Readers'. Our friend Brian Tracy has seen it happen many times where an individual went from zero to 30 minutes a day of good reading and saw their income double, and we've seen it too. If you do not currently make positive reading a regular part of your Life- DO SO IMMEDIATELY!!!! Along with changing who you spend your time with, it is absolutely the most powerful way to change your life for the better.
Don't get me wrong- I realize that you need to work, spend time with your family and engage in all the great activities that you engage in, and you should. You don't need to become a full time student or some kind of hermit boo"
I recently was made aware of two comparative statistics that I thought you might find extremely valuable. I learned that the average American reads less than 2 books per year- one and a half to be exact, with almost two thirds of those going unfinished. On the whole, Americans have lost the habit of reading good books.
There is a notable exception, however. CEO's of Fortune 500 companies read, on average, roughly FOUR BOOKS PER WEEK! That equates to about 200 times the average for the rest of America, and I can guarantee that the vast majority of those books are good, meaty stuff that causes them to think about their business and/or their Life in a very healthy way.
Now I am not saying that you yourself need to start reading 4 books a week, but I will tell you this- I have personally seen that there is a direct and positive correlation between the amount of good reading an individual does and their influence and income. Unquestionably, the most life-changing habit you can develop is to systematically read good books. Charlie 'Tremendous' Jones coined the phrase that 'Leaders are always Readers'. Our friend Brian Tracy has seen it happen many times where an individual went from zero to 30 minutes a day of good reading and saw their income double, and we've seen it too. If you do not currently make positive reading a regular part of your Life- DO SO IMMEDIATELY!!!! Along with changing who you spend your time with, it is absolutely the most powerful way to change your life for the better.
Don't get me wrong- I realize that you need to work, spend time with your family and engage in all the great activities that you engage in, and you should. You don't need to become a full time student or some kind of hermit boo"
Change Your Thinking -- Change Your Life!
The only thing in life we have direct control over is our thoughts and our thoughts determine how we experience life.
You may know of someone who has what appears to be a perfect life ... a loving family, a beautiful home, an amazing career ... but if this person is filled with negative thoughts, he or she is not able to fully enjoy what life has to offer. This person may be focusing instead on what is missing or what is perceived wrong.
You may also know of someone who has faced a difficult situation, lives a humble existence, has to work two or three jobs to make ends meet, but regardless of the situation, always has a smile, a wave and an appreciation for everything good in life.
The good news is regardless of our current circumstances, we can choose our thoughts and how we respond to any situation. We can choose to be positive, loving and appreciative, or negative, judgmental and critical. It's all up to us.
When you find yourself caught up in negative thinking, recognize what is happening and stop yourself. Then ask yourself one or more of the following questions.
1. How is this negative thinking serving me?
2. Am I willing to let something beyond my control consume my thoughts and ruin my day?
3. Is there something I can do about this to make it better?
4. How can I turn this negative thought into a positive one?
Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, teaches that 90 percent of our thoughts are habitual. If you find the majority of your thoughts are negative, it is because you allowed them to make themselves at home in your mind so they play as recordings over and over again. You may find it difficult to shut them out, even though you want to.
Since 90 percent of what you think about is habitual, you can create new thoughts to replace the negative ones and develop new thinking habits. A good place to start is by playing a little game.
Every time a negative thought enters your mind, acknowledge it, then find a positive one to replace it. Now this won't always be easy, but it can be done. You can be as conservative or as extreme as you like. Here are a few examples to get you started ...
Negative -- The taxes on my pay stub are outrageous!Positive -- I have a job.
Negative -- I hate doing housework!Positive -- I have a home.
Negative -- My clothes are too tight!Positive -- I have enough food to eat.
Negative -- The only parking space I could find was at the far end of the lot!Positive -- I am capable of walking and I have a car.
Negative -- My heating bill is huge!Positive -- I am warm in the winter.
The next time you are faced with a negative thought, try taking control and making a positive change. In the famous words of Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
The only thing in life we have direct control over is our thoughts and our thoughts determine how we experience life.
You may know of someone who has what appears to be a perfect life ... a loving family, a beautiful home, an amazing career ... but if this person is filled with negative thoughts, he or she is not able to fully enjoy what life has to offer. This person may be focusing instead on what is missing or what is perceived wrong.
You may also know of someone who has faced a difficult situation, lives a humble existence, has to work two or three jobs to make ends meet, but regardless of the situation, always has a smile, a wave and an appreciation for everything good in life.
The good news is regardless of our current circumstances, we can choose our thoughts and how we respond to any situation. We can choose to be positive, loving and appreciative, or negative, judgmental and critical. It's all up to us.
When you find yourself caught up in negative thinking, recognize what is happening and stop yourself. Then ask yourself one or more of the following questions.
1. How is this negative thinking serving me?
2. Am I willing to let something beyond my control consume my thoughts and ruin my day?
3. Is there something I can do about this to make it better?
4. How can I turn this negative thought into a positive one?
Jack Canfield, co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, teaches that 90 percent of our thoughts are habitual. If you find the majority of your thoughts are negative, it is because you allowed them to make themselves at home in your mind so they play as recordings over and over again. You may find it difficult to shut them out, even though you want to.
Since 90 percent of what you think about is habitual, you can create new thoughts to replace the negative ones and develop new thinking habits. A good place to start is by playing a little game.
Every time a negative thought enters your mind, acknowledge it, then find a positive one to replace it. Now this won't always be easy, but it can be done. You can be as conservative or as extreme as you like. Here are a few examples to get you started ...
Negative -- The taxes on my pay stub are outrageous!Positive -- I have a job.
Negative -- I hate doing housework!Positive -- I have a home.
Negative -- My clothes are too tight!Positive -- I have enough food to eat.
Negative -- The only parking space I could find was at the far end of the lot!Positive -- I am capable of walking and I have a car.
Negative -- My heating bill is huge!Positive -- I am warm in the winter.
The next time you are faced with a negative thought, try taking control and making a positive change. In the famous words of Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right."
Top 25 Success Quotations - Success
Top 25 Success Quotations - Success: "Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.'
-- Abraham Lincoln
'God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; head you win -- tails, you lose.'
-- Anonymous
'The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.'
-- Ayn Rand
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.'
-- B. R. Hayden
'Success is a journey, not a destination.'
-- Ben Sweetland
'The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.'
-- Benjamin Disraeli
'I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.'
-- Bill Cosby
'The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm? to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.'
-- Cyril Connolly
'All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.'
-- Danny Thomas
'Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.'
-- Erma Bombeck
'Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.'
-- Fred Shero
'Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.'
-- George Bernard Shaw
'A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.'
-- Joyce Brothers
'Failure is success if we learn from it.'
-- Malcolm S. Forbes
'The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yo"
-- Abraham Lincoln
'God gave us two ends. One to sit on and one to think with. Success depends on which one you use; head you win -- tails, you lose.'
-- Anonymous
'The ladder of success is best climbed by stepping on the rungs of opportunity.'
-- Ayn Rand
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.'
-- B. R. Hayden
'Success is a journey, not a destination.'
-- Ben Sweetland
'The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.'
-- Benjamin Disraeli
'I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.'
-- Bill Cosby
'The secret of success is to be in harmony with existence, to be always calm? to let each wave of life wash us a little farther up the shore.'
-- Cyril Connolly
'All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don't discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others.'
-- Danny Thomas
'Don't confuse fame with success. Madonna is one; Helen Keller is the other.'
-- Erma Bombeck
'Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must first set yourself on fire.'
-- Fred Shero
'Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.'
-- George Bernard Shaw
'A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.'
-- Joyce Brothers
'Failure is success if we learn from it.'
-- Malcolm S. Forbes
'The first step toward success is taken when you refuse to be a captive of the environment in which you first find yo"
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