Good in Great Out, GIGO Redefined
You can often change your circumstances by changing your attitude. Eleanor Roosevelt Updated February 6, 2025 Harvard Medical School reports that people with positive attitudes can live longer. Their “How to achieve a positive attitude” list begins, Savor pleasure as it’s happening Stay in the present moment [rather than past or future] Focus on what can be controlled Practice gratitude Indeed.com finds that positive attitudes help people grab opportunities quicker and overcome obstacles better. Indeed’s top tips for staying upbeat include, Describe yourself and your life with positive words Try to make others happy Focus on what you get to do instead of what you have to do Along with seeing glasses as half full [rather than half empty], the Berkeley Well-Being Institute recommends looking for silver linings and practicing random acts of kindness. Their web site offers inspiring videos, including Brian Tracy’s “7 Keys to a Positive Personality.” He recommends changing the computer acronym GIGO {Garbage In, Garbage Out] to Good In, Good Out. The input could be Good thoughts, Good influences, Good ideas, Good notions. All can cause Good outcomes. This prayer prayer is credited to Marianne Williamson, May every aspect of my being be converted to Truth. May every cell fall into place and serve a higher plan. I no longer wish to be who I was. I wish to be more. And if you want some really big smiles along with great insights, view Zig Ziglar’s video below, “Attitude Makes All The Difference.” Succeed and Soar! Eleanor’s Insights Collection 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 journals, greeting cards, totes, coffee mugs, shower curtains, clothing, puzzles and much more. Shop Here Thanks for your support!
Life Well Lived #3: Tough As Nails
If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. -Emile Zola Might the one place on Earth with more human diversity than the United States – races, religions, ethnicities, etc. – be the planet itself? Because of all these differences, the U.S. has extraordinary potential. A personal goal for a Life Well Lived could be to ‘live out loud,’ vibrant and enthused as Zola said. Along the way, that individual energy could make the world great [in addition to America]. On Wednesday night, in the first episodes of the CBS TV show Tough As Nails, I saw two challenges which seem like metaphors for how wealth is achieved. One trial was of individuals seeking to win ahead of everyone else. The other test involved people working together to reach First Place as a team. Most heartwarming was how opponents encouraged other’s efforts best efforts. Thank you, Phil Keoghan [also the host], Louise Keoghan and Anthony Carbone for producing a program that reminds what makes human beings everywhere Great. Check out Tough As Nails. NOTE: The videos offered with each post are chosen for visual interest, inspiration, ideas and brevity. This week, enjoy an uplifting and lovely moment from the movie Akeelah and The Bee. Outdoor Movie Theaters A favorite summer memory from childhood was watching movies under the stars. Thank goodness, drive-in movies remain. During these social distancing times, here are ways to find them: 18 Best Drive-in Theaters 7 Drive-in’s [relatively] close to Pittsburgh Create your own theater under the stars An added, special feature: The first time I saw shooting stars was when they kept zoom-zoom-zooming over a drive-in movie screen. Each week, a featured item is offered at 25% off [plus any discounts offered by my Galleries]. This week, “Shasta Daisies” is on sale. Shop here. Thank you to everyone who visits the galleries and for your purchases. They support Succeed and Soar. NOTE The original image was shot with a Nikon Coolpix camera. The jpg was “developed” in Adobe Photoshop Elements 14. In addition to enriching the color saturation and vibrance, the image was processed through a filter that gives the Watercolor effect.
Path to Joy: 12th of 12 – Your Magnificence
Let us remember that within us there is a palace of immense magnificence. Teresa of Avila The last of these Twelve Paths to Joy is: Allowing Our Magnificence. This concept aligns with the United States’ founding belief, written by Thomas Jefferson:We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Now, add these uplifting thoughts: Limitless is your potential. Magnificent is your future. Gordon B. Hinckley Be magnificent. Life’s short. Get out there. You can do it. Everyone can do it. Everyone. -Andy Serkis When we focus on special gifts that allow happiness, what wonderful lives become possible. What joys can bloom in the world. Read the entire Declaration of Independence that begins: When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for a people to dissolve political bands which have connected them with another … I hope you enjoy this “Paths to Joy” series. I’m working on a beautiful little book. When it’s finished, Join My Mail List and you’ll be the first to know. Each “Path to Joy” and its art is in this special section here at Succeed and Soar. Stop by for refreshments, and be sure to view The Right Cut [Kut Kings] video. This true story about a barber shop on wheels will warm your heart, make you smile and shed a tear of joy. A Path to Joy Arts Meditation: Your Magnificence What I like best about the picture The glowing flowers. Why They’re like a meadow of Independence Day fireworks, seeds grown into fields of bright possibilities. What does this picture teach? I understand each Illustrated Wisdom is a symbol-rich reminder from my heart and soul to my mind. This one teaches that I exist in a field of many who glow with magnificent talents. How can these insights lead to joy? Marianne Williamson gives a great answer, We are all meant to shine, As children do. We were born to make manifest The glory of God that is within us. Read entire poem Seek joy! NOTE: These ‘Paths to Joy’ are adapted from The Treasure Chest, an old book I found years ago. Page 117 contained “The Twelve Rules of Happiness.” Of special delight is using paints markers and ink to illustrate meditations inspired by this wisdom. The technique is adapted from the book Visual Journaling, Going Deeper Than Words, by Barbara Ganim and Susan Fox. For information about and to purchase the art, visit Sandra’s Galleries.