The sound of the birds chirping.  Everything gets green.  The flowers start budding and there is beautiful color everywhere.  You take off the layers of clothing and look forward to going out.  You don’t mind doing things because the heavy burden of winter gear is all over with and put out of sight.  Everything is better. Everything feels better.  Everything looks better.  You are better.

Time to spring clean.  You clean the windows and open them throughout the house so the air begins to flow and you actually feel your connection to the universe.  You hear the birds singing, watch the squirrels chasing one another, and hear the people as they walk by with their dogs.  You want to freshen up the house, take out the summer clothes and catch some of the rays of the sun while you feel this renewal within you and all around you.  You have energy again.  You walk with a bounce.  You clean with the music playing and you find that you are looking forward.  You are looking forward to the warm weather and the season of summer and of being outside.

While you are cleaning everything outside: the house, the walls, the windows, the furniture, the lawn, the garden, what about the internal cleaning?  How do you clean up your spirit?  How do you clean up your mindset?  How do you clean up your attitude?  You already feel your winter blues lifting.  The weather alone makes you happier and hopeful.  Now is the time to clean up whatever thought patterns that have been bringing you down or standing in your way of moving forward.  Allow yourself to grow with the garden.

Contact Madelynan Doyle for some Spring Time, Personal Growth.  Call 866-514-3963 for some personal development and spring cleaning.

Watch my video on @animoto called “My Animoto Video” http://animoto.com/s/pZ1li4Lox1YSX621NT3IPg

I received the following in an email that I just felt had to be shared.  Although it came with magnificent photographs that I couldn’t copy, I believe these are thoughts to be shared.  Enjoy and continue sharing.

Friendship

A Birth Certificate shows that we were born
A Death Certificate shows that we died
Pictures show that we live!
Have a seat. Relax . . .
And read this slowly.

I Believe…
That just because two people argue,
It doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
It doesn’t mean they do love each other.

 I Believe…
That we don’t have to change friends if
We understand that friends change

 I Believe….
That no matter how good a friend is,
They’re going to hurt you,
Every once in a while
And you must forgive them for that.

 I Believe…..
That true friendship continues to grow,
Even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

 I Believe…
That you can do something in an instant
That will give you heartache for life.

 I Believe….
That it’s taking me a long time
To become the person I want to be.

 I Believe…
That you should always leave loved ones with Loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

 I Believe….
That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

 I Believe….
That we are responsible for what
We do, no matter how we feel.

 I Believe…
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I Believe….
That heroes are the people
Who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done,
Regardless of the consequences.

 I Believe….
That my best friend and I
Can do anything or nothing
And have the best time.

 I Believe….
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
That sometimes when I’m angry
I have the right to be angry, but that
Doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

 I Believe…
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had
And what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

 I Believe…..
That it isn’t always enough,
To be forgiven by others.
Sometimes, you have to learn
To forgive yourself.

 I Believe…
That no matter how bad
Your heart is broken,
The world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I Believe….
That our background and circumstances
May have influenced who we are, but,
We are responsible for who we become.

 I Believe…
That you shouldn’t be
So eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

I Believe….
Two people can look at the exact same
Thing and see something totally different.

 I Believe…
That your life can be changed
In a matter of hours
By people who don’t even know you.

I Believe…
That even when you think
You have no more to give,
When a friend cries out to you,
You will find the strength to help.

 I Believe…
That credentials on the wall
Do not make you a decent human being.

 I Believe…
That the people you care about
Most in life
Are taken from you too soon.

 I Believe…
That you should send this to
All of the people that you believe in.
I just did.

 ‘The happiest of people don’t necessarily have
the best of everything;
They just make the most of everything they have.

HAVE A WONDERFUL AND BLESSED DAY!

TOO POWERFUL AND TRUE…NOT TO PASS ON

http://animoto.com/play/IFvV0FqCkgS00VBX61McbA

Click on the above link and enjoy the video!

What causes us to hold on to thoughts that don’t serve us?  What causes us to continue to do the same things over and over again that keep getting the same results when we are not happy with those results?  Why do we get into these patterns of behavior that seem never to change?   If what we claim we want is change, what are we doing to create change?  Change has to start somewhere and usually the change has to start with you.  We cannot change what goes on in the world outside of ourself.  The only change we can create is a change within ourself.  Change starts with you. 

Maybe you are in a relationship that frustrates you.  You seem to argue about the same things over and over again.  The same things that annoyed you three years ago, are still annoying you now.  You hear yourself saying the same things over and over again in each argument.  Your partner knows the routine and knows the complaints.  Your partner has probably tuned this argument out as soon as it began.  Maybe, just maybe, you have to change how you are communicating what upsets you.  If your partner has not heard your complaints in the last three years, what makes you think s/he will hear it now, the five hundredth time you have repeated it?  Not very likely.  I remember someone quoting something like this, ” The sign of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again and expecting to get different results.”   I know I bungled the quote but you should get the message.  If you want different results, you probably have to do something differently.

We all claim we want change when we are in the middle of complaining but often we honestly fear change.  We know what we have, we don’t know we will have when change takes place.  It’s easy to think we want a change but we can’t always control change.  One change can set in motion change in many different areas.  So, fear binds us and we continue to do the same crazy things we have always done.  Also, we love to blame.  If we blame someone else, we don’t have to take responsibility for our part in the conflict.  If it’s outside of ourself, then we don’t have to change.  Someone else has to change!  It’s less scary if you believe someone else has to change and if they don’t, then it’s their fault, not yours.  So we put ourselves in the position to complain, to blame others, to take no responsibility in the process of change and to continue to do whatever we had been doing and the cycle continues as we go around and around in a circle, repeating the same behavior over and over again.  Does this not sound a little insane?

If something is making you unhappy in your life, You Need To Change Something!  Happiness comes from within.  It’s no one else’s responsibility to make you happy.  If there are patterns in your life that are not life fulfilling, what can you do to change that experience.  Blame is our way of not taking responsibility.  Stop the blame game.  Usually we are talking about people in our lives that we love: parents, siblings, partners, children,  and friends.  These are people we love and people who love us.  The intention is never to make us unhappy.  We all have conflict in our internal lives and that conflict can come out as a conflict with us.   Be patient with others and begin to look within.  Ask yourself, are they really intending to make me upset or unhappy.  The answer will probably be no.  If their intention is not to upset us, then what do we need to do to change our reaction to their actions?  Change starts with you.  If you change your reaction, you may get a new action from the outside world. 

You are repsonsible for your own change.  You can only change you, you cannot change anyone else.  However, your own personal change can cause a chain reaction in others.  Begin with you.  Realize you are loved and cared for and no one is out to hurt you.  You may get caught in the cross fires of someone else’s conflict but check your own reaction.  Don’t get caught up in the circle of insanity.  Change starts with you.  Don’t fear it; embrace it.

I was working with a young girl today who is really struggling with her relationship with her mother.  She says, “I know my mother loves me.  I have no doubt about that.  I just don’t want to accept her love.  I want her to leave me alone.”  What possibly can a person be doing to make a person you love, not want to accept that love?  What could be so wrong?  Words have to be selected carefully.  Words should make people feel good.  Words are powerful!

How we talk to each other, the words we choose, are very, very powerful.  The tone in which we speak to people affects the way they hear our messages or whether they hear the message at all.  Perception is very powerful and not always accurate.  The same way five different people see and report an accident or incident focusing on five different points of view, the same happens with hearing.  If you are constantly complaining that someone is not listening to you or not hearing you, you may have to look at how you are getting your message across.  

If you are screaming or scowling, I don’t care how much you say I love you, that message is not getting through. If you are constantly complaining, demanding, or scolding, the only message someone will get is, “I’m not good enough. I can’t do anything right. I’m no good.”  Is that the message you want to give a person you love?

You may be very frustrated that the person you love is not getting the messages you are trying to give them.  You may not enjoy that you find yourself nagging or scolding.  But if you have said something time and time and again and they are not getting the message, don’t you have to think about how you are telling them?  If they haven’t gotten the message yet, you have to change how you are giving the message.  That’s communication!

If we have told our loved one something 1500 times and they still haven’t responded to the message, isn’t it a little crazy that we haven’t changed our approach.  Why would you repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat and still not get the result you are looking for?  You have to change your strategy.  Communication is a two way street.  Just because you have said something, doesn’t mean the other person received the message and will act on it.  If you have repeated something several times and there still is no reaction, your communication is not getting through.  You have to change how you have given the communication. 

Honestly, how many people do you know enjoy being yelled at?  Scolded?  Reprimanded?  Humiliated?  Put down? Called names?  Told they’re a failure?  Not too many people I know respond well to those types of communications.  Yet, when we are angry, frustrated, stressed or overwhelmed with life, it is so easy to resort to those tactics of communication.  How many people grow from these tactics?  How many people actually listen to the message when you begin with these tactics?

Words are so powerful and they bring with them tremendous emotional response.  If you want something from someone you love, you may want to reconsider how you are asking them.  If you find you are yelling, scolding, degrading, humiliating, name calling or any other of the tactics listed above, you need to re-evaluate your communication.  It’s hard to listen when these tactics are used.  Begin thinking about respect and respectful words. 

We are all different and we all care about a number of different things.  Your priorities may not be the priorities of the person you love.  Respect the differences and learn to get your message across with respect for that person you love.  Without respect, love is a meaningless word.  Without respect, relationships cannot grow.  Without respect, it’s impossible to feel the love coming through.  Choose your words wisely and always remember to respect.

Today was one of “those days” again.  It seems like there have been more of “those days” than days that bring a bounce to your walk and smile to your face.  There is a lot of sadness, frustration, unhappiness in this world we live in.  It seems everywhere you look, you see this discontent and everyone you speak with seems to be experiencing the same “tone” in life.  The news brings us nothing but the top 20 worst events of the day.  People are struggling to make ends meet and if someone is fortunate enough to be employed they are feeling underappreciated, underpaid,understimulated,  uninterested or unsatisfied with their work. It’s very hard to stay positive when negativity permeates the very air you breathe! Sometimes you have to look at the little things and find pleasure.  Sometimes you have to appreciate the “little successes” to get past the negativity and appreciate.

So what do you need to do to put that bounce back in your step and smile back on your face?  How do you let the negativity go through you and not stick? How do you let it flow like the wind, simply brushing by without really becoming a part of you?  You have to learn to sort of slip and slide letting it just pass you by.  One way to slip and slide is to practice gratitude.  If you go through life focusing on what you are grateful for, concentrating on what really counts, you may be able to slip and slide around those moments filled with negativity.  Get into the habit of spending time each day focusing on what you are grateful for.  Begin a gratitude list and add to it each and everyday.  If you are struggling with negativity, stop, take a deep breath and begin to count your blessings.  Take inventory of the gifts you have been given in this life.  Once you begin to truly appreciate those gifts, you will find a smile return to your face and maybe even a bounce in your step.  Learn to slip and slide.  Let the windfall of negativity just breeze by you.  Focus on what really counts.  Focus on the gifts.  Be grateful and appreciate.

Do you ever sit around wondering, “What is life really all about?”  It seems that so often, challenge pops up  just to put a wedge in the door of happiness.  Who is sick?  Who is getting divorced?  Who is drug dependent?   Who is alcohol dependent?  Who is struggling with career issues?  Who is unemployed?  Who doesn’t have enough money for the month?  Who is unhappy in their relationship?  It just goes on and on and people really struggle with finding joy or happiness in their daily lives. 

This world is a world of duality: the ying and the yang, the good and bad, the ups and downs, the  high tides and low tides.  The rhythmn of life includes this duality and our human experience offers many challenges because of it.  I believe that these challenges are  trials for our “souls”.  These challenges give us opportunities to forgive, to love and to grow. 

What do you think about forgiveness?  Are you the type of person who is always looking for something or someone to blame for all the challenges?  I think there is no reason to blame anyone for anything.  Human beings make mistakes.  Do you see the glass as half full or half empty?  I see it always as half full.  How do you see the human race?  Good or evil? I believe that people are basically good.  However, people make mistakes.  As good as they want to be, they don’t always have the best judgment in making decisions.  Human beings make mistakes.  The fact that they make mistakes doesn’t make people bad or evil; it just makes them human and imperfect.  It’s very rare that you run into someone with “bad” intentions.  Someone may engage in bad actions, but what are their intentions?  Is the robber robbing just to rob or are they trying to get something valuable for money.  How often does someone get injured or even killed without that ever being the intention.  Look at war.  The intention is always to protect but people are wounded and many die.  People make mistakes, make poor decisions and bad things can happen.  But how often was evil the real intention? 

I believe we need to forgive.  We have all been placed on this planet for a reason. Yes there is much duality and that can leave us confused about what is important. As I grow older, I become more and more spiritual and in turn often think about our relationship to one another and to our Source. I believe we are all connected not only to one another but also to our Source. I believe we need to learn to honestly forgive and to love one another, mistakes and all.  We need to let go of blame and forgive.  Open your heart, grow your spirit, forgive your trespassers and love one another.  That is what I believe we are here to learn and when we learn to forgive and to love,  we will grow our “souls”.

Well my friends, it has been a while since my site has been up and functioning.  It has a new look, new products and services, and new suggestions for life strategies.  I apologize for the time it has taken to get back up and running and I hope it will be worth the wait.  Now, not only do I have my thoughts to share with you but I now have the thoughts, experience and expertise of many successful leaders in the area of personal development.  Please take your time to go through the many products available.  I am sure you will find materials for whatever life challenge has presented itself in your journey through life.

Remember to seek joy.  Concentrate on the positive and always move forward.  We attract what we think about, so make sure your thoughts are about what you want in your life and not what you don’t want.  Learn to expect the best and then demand it.  You are the creator of your life, so find your joy and focus on what brings you joy.  Then, go out and get more of it.  You deserve it.

Take your time.  Read, explore, and treat yourself to the gift of personal development.

Do you ever find yourself questioning the meaning of life? I know for me it’s all about finding joy. That’s my purpose and it has been for as long as I can remember. But only you can decide what it is that brings you joy and for each person it can be different. For me, helping others find the joy in their lives has been my mission. Life brings us many bumps in the road and we can focus on those bumps or focus on what brings a smile to our faces. I’ve been a counselor for young adolescents for over the past 25 years and there were days when it was a challenge to help someone find joy in their lives. Some lives are difficult. The question is, do you settle and focus on the difficulties or do you find solutions, always searching for joy and seeing the amazing possibilities that are just around the corner?

Maybe you find yourself wondering what is missing? You’ve worked hard for many years. You’ve contributed to your family, your work community, your friends, your church or temple. All has been fine, yet “something is missing. ” You keep coming back to the thought that “something is missing;” you are just not satisfied. You have more to give, more to be and more to get out of life. You begin to question why you worked so hard. What does it all mean anyway. If you left your job, your home, your community, tomorrow, life would carry on. So what does it all mean; what is the purpose?

Do you remember the last time you went through this kind of questioning? You may have been young and trying to figure out your life’s mission. You may have been trying to find your career or you may have been looking for your mate, or you may have been trying to establish your faith. You went through this questioning, this exploration, this search for your reason why you get up in the morning and face the world. You searched for your joy.

We all want our lives to be meaningful. We all want to have touched others in a meaningful way. We all want to be seen for our uniqueness. We all want to find peace in our hearts and souls. And we all want to live a life of abundance.The gift of life was meant for abundance. Abundance is meant for all. The purpose of life is joy. We are all meant to have joy now. Are you living in joy and abundance? Are you happy with your life circumstances? Are you fulfilled socially, emotionally and financially? Is it a life of abundance ?

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