Overlooked treasure

Somewhere in your life there is a golden treasure that you've overlooked. It sits there patiently, waiting to be discovered, waiting to bring its value into your world.
Do you know what it could be? Perhaps it is a skill that you've never taken the time to develop. Or maybe that hidden treasure is a person in your life whom you've never really taken the time to get to know. Or it could be a challenge that you have not yet had the nerve to overcome.
Perhaps it is something you've always been meaning to do, but never felt that the time was right. What a terrible shame it would be if you continued to overlook that hidden treasure and never came to know its value.
Somewhere there's a treasure you've overlooked, and once you find it, you will not want to be without it. Know that it is there, decide to open yourself up to it, and soon it will become perfectly apparent.

Spending your thoughts

To remove a problem from your life, first remove it from your mind. Rather than spending your thoughts on those things you don't want, apply those thoughts toward your positive possibilities.
Instead of looking for things to worry about in a particular situation, look for ways to make a positive difference. What you focus upon has a way of becoming real, for your thoughts are what guide your actions.
You would not choose to spend a lot of your hard earned money on something you did not want, for that would not make sense. And in the same way it does not make sense to spend your powerful, influential thoughts on those things you do not want.
See clearly what is there in front of you, and think of it in terms of the positive possibilities. There is a positive, forward looking response to even the most negative and difficult situation.
Your thoughts can give power and life to what you don't want, or to what you know is best and most positive. You can choose whatever you prefer by the thoughts you choose to keep in mind.

Venture out

You have no way of knowing how much you can do until you actually begin to do it. You do not know how far you can go until you actually begin to venture out. Just because no one has done it before does not make it impossible. You may be the very person who finally finds a way.
If you knew the full extent of what you were capable of achieving, you would never hesitate to step boldly forward. If you truly knew how very, very much was indeed possible, doubt would never be a part of your thinking.
The way to know what you can do is not to guess or wish or speculate. The way to know what you can accomplish is to begin and then to persist.
Become aware of your own strength by putting it to use. And become aware of the best of your possibilities by bringing them to life.

What Motivates Billionaires?

Have you ever wondered what motivates billionaires? They've long since accumulated enough wealth to provide a life of ease for themselves, their children, their grandchildren and probably even more generations. Yet many billionaires are very hard working people, getting up early each morning and putting in long days. They certainly don't need the money. What drives them to do it?
Is it greed, or the desire for power? Perhaps. But, by and large, greedy people do not usually succeed to any great extent because they are unwilling to provide value to people. With few exceptions, modern-day billionaires didn't get to be billionaires by being greedy.
Hard-working billionaires are motivated by their vision, by the need to make a difference, by the need to leave their mark on the world. And it is most likely this motivation that made them billionaires in the first place.
Do you want to live like a billionaire? It is very simple. Stop trying to just make a living and start trying to make a difference.

Ralph Marston

__________________
They say NOBODY is perfect so just call me NOBODY

Dear Mo,

Ever since I joined this board I for one eagerly await your daily posts, and they are far from boring. The very first letter I sent to my first pen-pal I included the following story I'd received, and to this day (8 months later), he still refers to this little story, by always reminding me "90/10" when I need a boost and I do the same. Something so simple causes such happiness! I NEVER send a letter or a card without sending either a story like this, joke or positive pass-on. If I forget my PPs will write back that I must have forgotten to include something and how much they look forward to it. I've got people rushing to make copies and passing them around to fellow prisoners and even sending this stuff to their other pen-pals and families too! I've been kinda bombarding them with the stuff you've posted and they are ALL thrilled. One guy even shares with the guards. I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you and all that you do and please don't ever let the words of "a few" nay-sayers cause you to stop posting these wonderful inspirational and funny messages. Life is serious and stressful enough!
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The 90/10 Secret

This is a very good secret! It's so good, you shouldn't keep it to yourself. Please pass on!

The 90/10 secret is incredible! Very few know and apply this secret. The result? Millions of people are suffering undeserved stress, trials, problems, and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. Their's is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships, and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest.. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel.
Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different! Understand and apply the 90/10 secret. It will change your life!

What is this secret?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you, YOU can control how you react! Let's use an example.

You're eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs you find your daughter has been busy crying, finish breakfast, and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter
To school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15 minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase. Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to going home. When you arrive home you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning. Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the Policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say "It's OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase. You come back down in time look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both go to work. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference. Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 secret.
If someone says something negative about you, do not be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You do not have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out, etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the blue car ruin your drive. Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? It will work out. Use your "worrying" energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger, etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

You now know the 90-10 secret. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.

Ima thank you for your kind words (((hug))) don't worry I'm not gonna stop posting the daily pass on bits although the one section will be changed to a Christmas pass on seeing as its that time of the year [smile]
I know some people find it hard to accept humour in the same sentence as prison but even God had a sense of humour - which he passed onto us to spread around which is exactly what I'm trying to do here!
Prison is hard enough with the daily hardships so to be able to 'escape' for even a brief time can only be a good thing.
Thanks again for your kind words [blush]

__________________
They say NOBODY is perfect so just call me NOBODY

Trying to apply the 90/10 secret daily, what about you?

__________________
The last of all freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances.
G. W. Allport.