Thought for the day

How can we get life to slow down?

Travis Wengreen 2 Comments

Why does it seem that life is so busy?

Could it be because we are not doing what we love?  What makes us happy?

I feel that the answers to these questions are unique to each individual and is part of our journey to answer if we choose to.

I have been reading a book titled “Unchain the Elephant”.  In the book it provides an insight into these questions that have provided me with some additional clarity on what I can do to slow life down.

“An amazing thing happens when you get honest with yourself and start doing what you love, what makes you happy. Your life literally slows down.  You stop wishing for the weekend.  You stop merely looking forward to special events. You begin to live in each moment and you start feeling like a human being.  You just ride the wave that is life, with this feeling of contentment and joy. You move fluidly, steadily, calm and grateful.  A veil is lifted and a whole new perspective is born.”  – Jes Allen

What sort of activities make life slow down for you?

Do the thing you think you cannot do!

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“You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face.  You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

Play Big and Begin it now!

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“There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.”  – Nelson Mandela

“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, Begin it.  Boldness has genius, power and magic in it, Begin it now.”  – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

Break away from the pack!

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For those men who, sooner or later,
are lucky enough to break away from the pack,
the most intoxicating moment comes
when they cease being bodies in other men’s command
and find that they control their own time,
when they learn their own voice and authority.
– Theodore H. White

Independence of solitude

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It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinions;
it is easy in solitude to live after your own;
but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd
keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

You can do anything you decide to do

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The most difficult thing is the decision to act,
the rest is merely tenacity.
The fears are paper tigers.
You can do anything you decide to do.
You can act to change and control your life;
and the procedure, the process is its own reward.
– Amelia Earhart

Why do some people find themselves feeling so empty?

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I have been reading Victor Frankl’s book “Man’s search for meaning”.

It has been humbling and inspiring to hear all that this man went through.  I have been inspired by his resolve to maintain a positive attitude in every circumstance he found himself in.

The topic of  Why do some people find themselves feeling so empty was discussed in the pages I read this morning.  One thought in particular stuck out to me:

“It is a question of the attitude one takes toward life’s challenges and opportunities, both large and small.  A positive attitude enables a person to endure suffering and disappointment as well as enhance enjoyment and satisfaction. A negative attitude intensifies pain and deepens disappointments; it undermines and diminishes pleasure, happiness, and satisfaction; it may even lead to depression and physical illness.” Victor Frankl

I have seen this principle play out in my life over and over.  A positive attitude enhances all of life’s experiences.  A negative attitude holds a person down, enhances the negative experiences, and takes the power and excited away from the positive experiences.

It is amazing that we get to make the choice each day on what type of attitude we are going to have.

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“Why?” is the most useless question in the universe.
The only question with any meaning is “What?”
Asking “Why is this happening?” can only disempower you.
Asking “What do I want to make of this?” does exactly the opposite.
– Neale Donald Walsch

Follow your Vision

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I have shared this one before, but I absolutely love this quote.  I have this quote on my desk and look at it each day.  this is a great reminder to never stop focusing on your vision.

“Advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life you have imagined.  The future is not just some place you are going to, but is a place you are creating, and the paths to it are not found, they are made.  Follow your passion as long as you live, and on this you will reach success.” – anonymous