An Old Farmer’s Advice:

Your fences need to be horse-high, pig tight, and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around your own stump.

A bumblebee is considerably faster than a John Deere tracker.

Words that soam into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

Meanness don’t just happen over night.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about, ain’t gonna happen anyway.

Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good and honorable life, then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

Don’t interfere with something that ain’t bothering you none.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

Sometimes you get, and sometims you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every morning.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.

If you get to thinking you’re a person of some influence, try ordering somebody else’s dog around.

Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and enjoy the ride.

Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just shoot you!

The True Signs Of Holiness

What do you think of when you hear the word “spirituality” or a “spiritual person, ” a “holy man?” Most people picture someone who is somber, mystical transcendent. But in Acts 13:52, it is written that the disciples were “filled with great joy and the Holy Spirit.” Joy and the Holy Spirit… go together. Joy is even listed as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

So you see, the most spiritual people are also those who have joy and who are truly filled with the Spirit. They do not argue all day about the gifts of the Spirit but have the joy of the Lord.

Those believers rejoice in the love of God from morning to night. The good news is since joy is of the Spirit, it is not dependent on the flesh or the world or your circumstances. There is never a situation in which you can’t have joy, for true joy is based on the Spirit, and the Spirit is not bound by circumstance. Rejoice in the Lord always. For it’s time to get spiritual, and the spiritual are those who rejoice.

Practice the practice of rejoicing always, rejoicing unconditionally, rejoicing no matter what-However far you get, you’ll be more blessed than you were.

Eyes Are Windows To The Soul

Our eyes don’t lie: they’re windows to the soul. They show the truth no matter what face you put on, in any situation. The best way to get to know someone is to look them in the eyes observe what they reveal about their emotional state

Our eyes, just like our body language, give us away, and they say more than we ever could with words. As a matter of fact, most of the information we convey is none-verbal, which ranges from simple looks to all of the movements we make.

Windows to the soul is another way of looking at each other

Studies have shown that when we meet someone for the first time, our eyes can convey a wide range of feelings: trust or distrust, security, contentment, fear, etc… We know this is true because it happens every day: it’s as if we were capable of transcending our bodily limits and reaching their soul through their eyes.

“The soul can speak through the eyes, and kiss with a look.” – Gustavo Adolo Be’cquer

Some experts, whose jobs require them to study faces, have observed that eyes are the window to the soul because they’re the most sincere part of the face. We don’t have any control over our eyes, as opposed to the mouth, for example: When you look at something, your pupils dilate involuntarily and give you away, and they contract as a sign of rejection.

The none-verbal language of our eyes.

Here’s a list of some of the information that eyes can convey:

Sadness. Through the windows of the soul, we can see sadness, one of the emotions we feel the most but often try to hide. In this case, the eyelids rise, as does the lower edge of the eyebrows.

Anger. When we get angry, our eyebrows arch and our expression is completely serious.

Uncertainty or Evaluation. When we listen to someone and narrow our eyes, we’re indicating that we’re either evaluating what they’re saying and doubting its validity, not we don’t understand what they’re saying. Half-closed eyes can also indicate tiredness.

Sexual desire or concentration. When we feel sexual desire or concentrate, the pupils dialate as I’ve mentioned before, which leaves us completely exposed to the other person. We cannot avoid it, so we usually rub our eyes because they get wet and we feel comfortable.

“They terrify me, weaken me, it kills me to know that your beauty is not in your eyes, but in the way, you look at me.” -David Sant

Social Faces. As I’ve talked about, the expression “the eyes are windows to the soul” is based on truth. However, it goes much further than that. A study was done by psychologists and other scientists from different branches of the study of human language, throughout our lives, up until we’re about 40 years old, were chosen from a series of faces that we adapt to different, distinct communicative situations.

This is called social face.

Example. In sad moments when we feel, the urge to laugh, our expression keeps its composure. On this subject, Teresa Bar’o said that this doesn’t mean we’re liars, since we live in a society that demands certain patterns of behavior that we must maintain as a manner of survival.

We are not liars because we can’t be. We can voluntarily make our facial expressions and movements more appropriate, but we can’t stop our eyes from reflecting how we feel.

“The worst way you can betray yourself is to not do the things that make your eyes shine.” -Anonymous

Steps To Set And Achieve Bold Goals

I just applied a Goal Sheet, that I use when I need to set a goal. It is a guide line for when you want to set goals.

I am meeting with a group of friends every week using a weekly goal sheet to help us further our success in life.

I am working on Being Bold in public. I find it difficult to be bold and speak up when in a conversation with others. It is a goal that will take longer than a week, but that’s okay. It’s something I’ve needed to accomplish for a while now.

You’ve heard the saying, and it’s well known for a reason: If your goals aren’t big enough that they inspire the socks off you (even if they simultaneously leave your knees shaking), then you’re going to be hard pressed to stay the course over the long term to make the. A reality.

There’s a catch: You need to write them down.

While it’s now accepted wisdom that having a plan that sets you up for success, versus having no plan, sticking rigidity to a pre-set course of action can actually work against you in the long run.

The Key Is Flexibility

Put another way, if your plan A to get from where you are now to where you want to go isn’t working for you, then be willing to change course and go with plan B, or C or D.

Having a plan to achieve a goal can improve your change for success, but if followed rigidly, it can make you close-Minded and unable to identify better and more viable options as conditions change.

I have set up times during my day, the work on my goal, such as praying and asking God for help. Reading articles of goal setting. Even if it 20 minutes a day. It will help you achieve your goals.

Qualities Everyone Needs To Reach Their Biggest Goals

1. Set Bold Goals. Vision equals power. So as you look out to the year ahead, dare to set some brave, clear and compelling goals that excite and inspire you. Doing so helps you focus your time and energy more effectively and will set you up to accomplish more than you otherwise would.

For example, do you want to change jobs. Do want to watch your mouth. Write it down in ways that specify a clear what and when that enable you to track and measure success.

2. Make A Plan. Create a game plan to achieve your goals. That is, what specific actions and strategies will you use to get from point A to your desired point B? If you want to change jobs you may want to take a few classes to learn a different skill, so you’ll be more capable for the other job. If you have to set your alarm earlier to work on your goal.

3. Review Your Plan. Every few weeks you can dedicate time to compare your progress to your plan and objectively assess how effectively your plan is working for you. If it’s not, look at the underlying reasons why. Are they temporary or permanent? Are they within your control or outside it? Be honest, even if the reality isn’t what you were hoping for.

4. Embrace Failing Forward. No one likes to fail. But unless we gives ourselves permission to fail fast and often we cannot possibly succeed. Often, people can get stuck because they were so attached to their plan A they don’t want to admit it’s not working or needs refining. So ask yourself here, what it might cost me if I maintain my current approach? Again be honest, even if it’s painful.

Sunk cost bias can drive otherwise intelligent people into a cycle of self-defeating (and unintelligent) decision-making. Don’t kid yourself into thinking that doing more of what’s not working suddenly will start working. Smart people fail all the time. They just don’t take years to do it. Learn to fail fast and quit quickly.

5. Tweak Continually. To get where you want to go you need to keep tweaking (experiencing) and adjusting your course until you arrive at your desired destination. This also includes adjusting where you’ve set your sights depending on what you learn as you move

Sometimes as we move toward goals, we gain greater clarity about what we truly want and what we don’t want. This is part of our journey as “human beings” discovering who we are and who we’re called to become in this world. For instance, when I decided to make a career change in Nursing in my late 30’s, I went to college to study Psychology and Criminal Justice. And I learned what my true calling as it was to be a bridge for others who were suffering through life.

Sometimes As We Move Towards Goals, We Gain Greater Clarity About What We Truly Want And What We Don’t Want.

Feel The Feeling But Don’t Become The Emotion

Just like our thoughts, our feelings and emotions are powerful. What we think and how we feel are related.

We must never underestimate the power of our emotions. Our thoughts and emotions are entangled and linked in ways we sometimes can’t comprehend. A common flaw in everyone is the lack of awareness of our thoughts. Most times we tend to react rather the reflect or respond.

The technique to transform is by being aware of what we are thinking, feeling, and witnessing them without judgments. From this space of awareness we can choose to release what’s not needed and connect with the power of choice we have.

Reflect

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and invite a feeling of calmness. With every breath in- be aware of air going in and out with every Breath out- Release, let go of any tensions, worries… Continue to breathe and keep the focus on breath, sensations, and feelings.

Respond

If you feel any tension, stress or negative thoughts come back to your breath.

Pick 1 or more Affirmations (Positive statements).

Affirm by repeating them:

“I am Relaxed”

“I am Calm”

“I breathe and leg go”

Intregate

Remember this practice and affirmations. At any time if you feel stress, emotional, angry, anxious, take a pause to reflect and respond by breathing and letting go.

Remind yourself that “you are the captain of your sailboat” the master of your life.

I always combine this quote with an Affirmation “ I allow myself to feel and release” and forgiveness.

Loving Kindness Meditation

In loving mother ndness meditation, one is guided through I imaginary, words to phrases to extend positive thoughts to others and the self. Loving-kindness meditation cultivates feelings of compassion, equanimity, and gratitude. Loving-kindness is a mindfulness meditation that helps with mental calmness, composite, and evenness of temper, especially in difficult situations.

“Feel The Feeling But Don’t Become The Emotion. Witness it. Allow it. Release it!” -Crystal Andrus

Reasons You Should Never Depend On Anyone Else To Find Happiness

Although we need other people in our lives to avoid indefinite isolation we also need to be able to support ourselves when the going gets tough. That being said we should not depend on anyone else to support the need we can support ourselves. Here are some reasons why being independent is the best way to live your life.

You Are The Key To Your Own Success

Truth be told no one is going to walk you through life and hold your hand every step of the way. We luckily have tools built into us, tools like drive, desire, passion, motivation, and got that allow us to leave our mark and reach our goals. These are the tools, no one can take away from us, and although support from the outside can help, how far you will go is ultimately up to you. We all have what it takes, but it’s up to you if you to put in the effort.

Relying Completely On Others Will Only Result In Being Let Down

Although friends and family are key to any healthy lifestyle the truth is we all lead busy lives. Friends, family, and co-workers will listen to your problems, but they won’t solve them, and depending on them for that purpose will only lead to disappointment. With that being said, it’s important to learn to be able to power through on your own sometimes and not always depend on others to help you out of a tough spot. However, know it’s never wrong to ask for help when you need to.

A Helping Hand Will Only Carry You So Far

We all need a helping hand once in a while, but relying on it all the time can be detrimental to your success. You can power through even the toughest of storms, and if you rely on the help of others all the time you’ll never discover your full potential. Remember you can go the distance.

You Know Yourself Better Than Anyone

No matter how close you are to your friends and family only you know what makes you tick. You are beautiful, You are unique, you are one of a kind and you know everything there is to know about you. That being said you know you can always depend on yourself when all else is lost.

You Can Find Happiness Within Yourself

Happiness is not a tangible object you can see, it’s more than a state of mind. Although a large part of our happiness is derived through our connections to our families and friends, we need to learn how to find happiness within ourselves. Once we learn to do thishappiness, takes on a whole new meaning and we discover we appreciate it more than ever.

You Have More Potential Than Anyone You Know

When it comes to achieving your goals, there is only one person who stands in your way. Yourself. Once you become to this realization you know that once you defeat your lack of motivation or whatever stands in your way, all other obstacles are obsolete in your journey of accomplishment.

You Have The Power To Make Change Happen

No matter where you derive your motivation know only you have the power to make your goals a reality. You hold all the power in your life and you decide what makes you happy. Relying on others for something so essential to life will make your life a waiting game and life is too short for that. Instead, make your life a game of action and adventure and derive your happiness from the changes you have the power to make.