Path to Joy 12, Your Magnificence
Consider You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman. — Max Lucado All “Illustrated Wisdoms” in this 2023 Paths to Joy series were created by splattering viscous Dylusions shimmer spray on 11×14, 98 pound, Canson mixed media paper, then spritzing with water to see how the colors would run and gather. When dry, the white satin DecoArt paint brightened this illustration’s outlines. Ultra fine Pen & Gear markers created small star shapes [pink] and little starburst [green]. Art is available with and without the quote. Shop Sandra’s Galleries. Succeed and Soar first presented the “Twelve Paths to Joy” series in 2020. I hope 2023’s re-interpretation both refreshed and opens a year of enriching possibilities. As Teresa of Avila said, Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence. What a different world if everyone saw themselves this way. All begins with one. Psychology Today lists these “Four Ways to Become Your Best Self,” Develop natural gifts. In this way, we can succeed with less energy and effort. Cultivate activities that give life meaning and purpose. Follow your heart. Embrace open-mindedness and a willingness to evolve. Read article Wikihow offers three stages for figuring out who we are now , because, “we are always growing, changing, and learning new things.” While each stage has several parts, the main categories are titled, Take Action Be Aware of Your Thoughts Continue The Search In choosing more joy in 2024, Minimalism Made Simple offers “Eleven Powerful Ways to be Your Best Self.” My favorites are: 4. Focus on Healthy Habits 8. Use Positive Affirmations 10. Celebrate Little Wins 11. Help Others Read all eleven. For encouragements along this 12th Path to Joy [and your magnificence], here are “17 Super Inspiring Quotes About Always Being Your Best Self.” These brought my biggest smiles, The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self. — The Dalai LamaDo the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. — Maya AngelouSet a goal so big that you can’t achieve it until you grow into the person who can. — Zig Ziglar Read all seventeen. Succeed and Soar! Paths to Joy Illustrations In addition to posters and framed prints, the art from the 2020 and 2023 “Paths to Joy” art is available as greeting cards, puzzles, cups and journals, even shower curtains, pillows, weekender bags and more. Build your beautiful collection. Shop here. Thanks! NOTE: Use CUSTOMIZE. tools with item to: Enlarge, reduce size of art Change placement of art and text Over 60 background colors can be chosen [shades of yellows, blues, greens, grays and more].
Mistakes a/k/a Sub-Optimal Decisions
You are not the mistake that you made, unless you continue to do it. – Rodney Stotts According to the Tessian Report, “a mistake is a decision or action that produces an unwanted or unintentional result. As emotional beings, humans make mistakes because we cannot always make objective decisions … Because of this, we sometimes make decisions that are suboptimal.” In addition, Kathryn Schulz adds, “The kinds of things that we can make mistakes about are essentially unlimited.” Okay. But some blunders hurt. They haunt, like the pain I feel at choosing to maintain my excellent, eighth-grade attendance record rather than walking my dog home [two miles] and securing her. I thought my little, Cocker Spaniel mutt would wait for me outside the school. I never saw Lady again. A vagabond once sat beside me at a bus stop and asked for a doughnut from the bag I’d just bought. My 33-year-old self was offended. I still regret my huffy, tiny-hearted stinginess. In “7 Reasons Why It’s OK to Make Mistakes,” The Odyssey Online says, “Every mistake … is a valuable lesson gained.” They add, “Your mistake doesn’t define you. … It simply makes you human.” Quora answers the question, What happens when we make mistakes, with: “To be brief we learn our lessons if mistakes are not deadly or fatal.” Okay. A flub, foul-up, fumble or foolishness is survived. A lesson learned. But remorse, regret, pain persists. What to do? Consider: Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well. — Dalai Lama We are built to make mistakes, coded for error. — Lewis Thomas We’ll just have to try to make better mistakes tomorrow. — Alexandra Bracken We all make mistakes, but one of our biggest mistakes is continually revisiting the past. — Bryant McGill This post opens with Rodney Stott’s words about mistakes. See this former drug dealer’s story [3 minutes] Support Stott’s work, The Earth Conservation Corps’ Anacostia Raptor Watch Buy his book, Bird Brother, A Falconer’s Journey Story Talk In Saving Grace, a woman flies to England to escape toxic experiences. Here’s how a British doctor describes her medical care, “Do you know,” shaking his head in disgust, “95 percent of those types of medications are prescribed in America? And America only makes up five percent of the world’s population. … In 1996, the rate of diagnoses for Bi-Polar Disorder was one in 20,000. And do you know what it is today in America? One in twenty. And they think it’s going up to one in ten [because] the drug companies are pushing these terrible drugs.” Saving Grace, by Jane Green: A riveting novel about one woman’s journey to save her family―and herself [Amazon] Good Reads Reviews Shop Sandra’s Gallery Art available with or without text, framed, on canvas, as posters as well as tote bags, tee shirts, journals, puzzles, phone cases, ornaments, face masks, towels, blankets, cups, pillows, shower curtains and more Shop All Art and Collections HERE.
Happiness
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. — Eleanor Roosevelt Of what might happiness be a by-product? The Dalai Lama says, “compassion.” Another suggests, “… letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like.” Sam Sunquist advises, “Some days, you have to create your own sunshine.” Over 2,000 years ago, Aristotle said, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.” If so and happiness is like success, a journey rather than a destination, here are items for the suitcase: Deep breathing, it reduces stress. Giving sincere compliments, regular exercise and plenty of sleep boost happiness along with these habits. Rev. Billy Graham described happiness as circumstances that are pleasant and free from troubles. He added, “The kind of happiness that’s lasting is an inner joy and peace, which endures in any circumstance no matter what comes our way. It may even grow stronger in adversity.” From April 4 to June 20, 2020, Succeed and Soar published “Twelve Paths to Joy.” The posts reminded to celebrate your magnificence, follow your bliss, remember that a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles and no one knows what palaces we may build with beautiful thoughts. Enjoy more. Because some friends, family, co-workers, etc. must have missed Aristotle’s memo, keep Abraham Lincoln’s insight in mind, “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” So, nurture and protect your own path toward inner joy. Along it, plant birds of paradise, roses and lilies of happiness. Grow sunflowers, poppies and chrysanthemums of peace. Succeed and Soar! Here are books I’ve been reading this month. All offer fascinating topics for Succeed and Soar’s next Zoom chat.Nothing to See Here. Kevin Wilson’s novel shows how a lonely young woman learns what family means while caring for children who burst into flame when upset. Captivated Reading Review. Toms River. Dan Fagin’s research is an astonishing exploration-explanation of how beautiful dyes connected with unusually high cancer rates in Jersey Shore children. New York Times Review. Born A Crime. Trevor Noah is one of comedy’s brightest voices. Recalling the apartheid world where he was never supposed to exist, Noah presents his life story, of “a lovable delinquent making his way through a damaged world in a dangerous time.” C.aprichos Books Review Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here