Re: what are you waiting for?

[Guest guest]

This is incredibly inspiring, and is exactly what I needed to read

right now. I've been focusing on the things I can no longer do and on

the things I haven't been able to accomplish, instead of on what I am

still able to do, what I can do to make it better, and what I have

been able to accomplish. Thank you for helping to change my

perspective.

Best wishes,

On 1/15/11, cammaltby <cammaltby@...> wrote:

> I read this today (from a swim team website, no less), but felt like it was

> very worth sharing. ~Cam

>

> Excerpt: Living a Five Star Life by Betty Mahalik

>

> In this day and age, we are surrounded by messages that virtually scream,

> " Your life would be perfect if... " My life would be perfect if I had a

> different job, a different house, car, nose, spouse, bank account (fill in

> the blank). Or my life would be perfect if I could be like some celebrity

> whose life appears so well-ordered and perfect-o. This week I encourage you

> to stop playing " my life would be perfect if, " and start playing " my perfect

> life. " What's the difference?

>

> Three things: being in the present, an attitude of gratitude, taking action

> with what's available now. When we're caught up in the " my life would be

> perfect if " trap, we've lost touch with the present. And the moment we

> detach from the present, we can no longer practice gratitude. Think about

> it: it's difficult to be grateful for what you don't have...and what you

> don't have is always somewhere out in future-ville.

>

> Look around you right now. Think of 10 things you're grateful for. Do you

> have a roof over your head and food to eat? I'm

> guessing the answer is yes. Do you have at least a few good friends or close

> relationships? Then appreciate them too, right now. Keep going, and

> practice being in the present and being grateful for what is here and now at

> least a couple times a day. You're also probably sitting there thinking

> " yes but. " Yes, but I want more money, a better relationship, more time to

> travel, to be thinner, happier or whatever. It's one of the great mysteries

> I'll never figure out. The minute you stop focusing on what you lack, start

> focusing on what you've already got, and add the " magic " ingredient of

> action, you actually begin to attract more of what you want. It's an

> amazing formula for really living your perfect life!

>

> Let's say you want to lose weight or get in better shape, but you don't have

> an hour a day to spend exercising at the gym.

> Therefore, you've pretty well resigned yourself to not losing weight or

> getting in shape. What if you had five minutes though...just about everyone

> can find five minutes to exercise, stretch, walk around the block or walk

> the dog. Would you be willing to be grateful for five minutes and make the

> best possible use of it? Therein lies the beginning of your perfect life!

>

> A simple formula may help you remember how to apply this principle:

>

> The present

> + an attitude of gratitude

> + positive action

> = my perfect life.

> Try it for a day.

>

> Each time you start dreaming about how perfect your life would be if...come

> back to this moment, give thanks for what is, and do one thing to perfect

> what you have and who you are right now. There's a saying that " when the

> student is ready, the teacher appears. " If you're ready to start perfecting

> your life, your teachers are all around you.

>

> What are you waiting for?

>

>

>

>

--

Curran

melissacurran530@...

www.beadedrelics.com