It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers. – James Thurber
Asking the right questions often helps us get on the right path.
Especially if we can look for the answers in the right places.
Some of my favorites:
What would a wise person do?
What does love require of me?
Has someone else figured this out already?
Who can I ask who knows more about this?
Make it a great day.
Jake
PS – What are some of your favorite questions?
When things aren’t adding up in your life, start subtracting.
Life is as much about what you say no to as it is what you say yes to.
They are two sides to the coin. Two parts to the math equation. Addition and subtraction.
We have been given the opportunity to continually add.
Add more stuff.
Add more to dos.
Add more friends on the FaceBox.
Add more square feet to our house.
At some point though things stop adding up.
We stop being happy with that new gadget.
We stop being satisfied with so many "likes" on our hilarious FaceBox post.
We start being irritated by the amount of stuff in all those square feet.
Simplify. Subtract until things start to add up. Remove clutter until you gain clarity.
Make it a point to get rid of something today.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Better remain silent, better not even think, if you are not prepared to act. – Annie Besant
In life, there are plenty of balances to be struck.
One is between action and inaction.
Too much of one can ruin you.
In this case though, I think it’s best if we can get to 51% (or a little more) bias towards action.
Towards activity and progress.
It’s not always the way and wisdom is required, but in the end I have come to believe that more action is better.
Make it a great day.
Jake
A baby is born with a need to be loved – and never outgrows it. – Frank A. Clark
This is one of my favorite quotes.
We all were born with a need to be loved and have not outgrown it.
Our job is to love others.
My advice is to start at home.
But however you can find a way to show more love this week – do it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Easter is a reminder of what God really thinks of you.
He sent His son to die on the cross to set things right for you.
He looked across time and space and at all of your foibles, mistakes and selfishness and send His son to die for you.
I hope this thought brings you hope, peace and joy this Easter.
I hope that the cares and trials of this world melt away in the face of this awe-inspiring series of events.
I hope that you can let go of your insecurities and anxieties and give them all to your Father in heaven.
Happy Easter.
Jake
You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe
The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Easter is a reminder of what God really thinks of you.
He sent His son to die on the cross to set things right for you.
He looked across time and space and at all of your foibles, mistakes and selfishness and send His son to die for you.
I hope this thought brings you hope, peace and joy this Easter.
I hope that the cares and trials of this world melt away in the face of this awe-inspiring series of events.
I hope that you can let go of your insecurities and anxieties and give them all to your Father in heaven.
Happy Easter.
Jake
"Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime."
– Martin Luther King Jr.
Easter is also a great time to think about all the good of spring.
Spring represents new life and opportunity.
Make the most of this time of renewal.
Renew your spirit, body and mind.
Spend time outside.
Plant something.
Read something inspiring.
Go for a long walk or run.
Make it a great day.
Jake
The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. – Thomas Jefferson
I like the mental picture – a glowing warm thought.
What if we could fill our minds with this?
What if our first thought when meeting a stranger was like this?
What if our mind was so full of warm thoughts that we let all the little annoyances of life slide by?
Idealistic? Definitely.
Maybe just a few more warm thoughts today than yesterday? That seems doable.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Tax day! Everybody’s favorite.
In one of Jim Rohn’s talks he talks about taxes.
He talks about how we have to pay for all the stuff we want.
Roads, sidewalks, etc.
We have to pay those soldiers to stand guard for our freedoms.
Do we pay too much? Probably.
Does the government waste some of the money? Probably.
Should we pay less? Probably.
But we do need to pay some. And we should proud to play our little part in making this country great.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Resending this daily attitude email from a few years ago…
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.
St. Francis of Assisi
Meaghan has this hanging in the office at home where I was working yesterday.
I had the thought, “What if I could really keep this thought in my heart? What if I could actually make this my priority each day?”
It’s easier to spend the day thinking about yourself.
Our own needs and desires are so close and powerful, they are hard to ignore.
This prayer reminds me that true peace, joy, love and happiness happens when I can retrain myself to focus instead on others.
Our opportunities for greatness lie in our ability to serve and love others.
I believe this more and more every day.
I fail at this every day as well, but I’m getting better.
My challenge for you today is to read this prayer out loud to yourself. Then to move on to your day with as much of a focus on others as you can muster. Then try to do better tomorrow.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Practical Steps for Friendship, Unity and Intimacy in Your Marriage
The Daily Attitude Email 