Inspiration

Aug 03

Do You Have the Oars to Row Your Boat?

By DrPaul M-Power

My family jokes that I can take any event and turn it into a lesson. I heard of one recently where two teens took one of their parent’s boat out fishing. They were just going lake fishing so they weren’t out in the ocean but this boat had a little motor. They took the boat out a ways from shore and fished for a while. Then they couldn’t get the motor to start. So they go to grab the oars and start rowing, but there is only one oar. Even with some ingenious rowing, (take one stroke and pass the oar to the other person to take a stroke), they can’t make any progress without the other oar. So they decide they are going to push the boat back to the shore. They jump overboard and get behind the boat and start kicking in the water and pushing the boat. …

Mar 15

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Hope

By DrPaul M-Power

As you may know, I have been preparing for several months now to host the World Hopecast, which is happening this week! My sweetheart, Vicki, shared with me a thought that I wanted to pass along. She asked me a question that got me thinking about the difference between hope and wishing. When you hope for something to happen, there is a positive assumption behind it. When you wish for something to happen, the assumption is negative. Hope is choosing to believe in a desired outcome that serves you well. It is a powerful catalyst of mental resilience and health. Wishing is based more in fantasy and magical thinking. I hope that you will join us for the World Hopecast this week. Let’s combine our hope to instill hope in others and collectively boost the resilience of our species. Hope is being able to see that there is light despite…

Dec 20

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Light Prevails

By DrPaul M-Power

Following the devastating events at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown Connecticut, a number of friends, clients, even strangers, approach me wondering how to deal with this tragedy. The conversations focus initially on the Sandy Hook tragedy itself, then generally expand to address the question of how to deal with tragedy and trauma in general. My initial observation – and suggestion – is that until we know individually what to do, we simply pay attention not just to the tragedy, but the amazing way humans intuitively respond to such difficult things – and take heart from what we observe. Yes, it was a dark day in Newtown, as it was in Columbine, as it was on 9-11. Yet within those days of darkness we also see something else. Light. Light following immediately on the heels of the darkness. Light rushing in from all over the world to dispel the overwhelming darkness….

Dec 20

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There’s No Such Thing as a Flashdark

By DrPaul M-Power

When you turn on a flashlight, you see a little spot of light projected wherever you point the device. Have you ever seen a flashdark? This is a device that projects a little spot of dark wherever you point it. Not! Similarly, what happens when you open a dark closet in a brightly lit room? The darkness rushes out and fills the room? No. The light rushes in to displace the darkness. It always goes that direction. Light always has the power to displace darkness. Darkness happens. Boston, Sandy Hook, 9-11… As our hearts and prayers go out to those affected by darkness, we also see emerging from these tragedies inspiring stories of love, caring, and human goodness. There will always be those who bring dark. Those who bring light win. There is no such thing as a flashdark. Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear…

Oct 25

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Pathological Positivity

By DrPaul M-Power

Is there a program or process that propels us predictably to unprecedented personal power, productivity, and profit? Yes. Pathological Positivity. Our planet is plagued with a pandemic of poisonous pessimism. The popular perception of painful or perturbing problems is pathogenically paralyzing. Pathological Positivity programs and positions us to perceive positive possibilities in problems. It inspires and provokes people to apply positive principles and practices even in paralyzing predicaments. Pathological Positivity isn’t just a program or philosophy, it is a personal preference. It is a programmed proclivity to purposefully opt for the positive from a plethora of possible perceptions. This promotes powerful productivity and profit. Pandemic, pestilent and pernicious pessimism is pummeled into powder as professionals apply and promote pathologically positive paradigms. The payoff is phenomenal prosperity. What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson Image courtesy of twobee/FreeDigitalPhotos.net about…

Oct 03

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Questions in Disguise

By DrPaul M-Power

Questions are power tools of change. Power tools work best when plugged in and turned on. Sometimes the questions we ask are not really questions. My friend and creative editor, Tom Cantrell, called me on this recently when he asked, “Was that a question, or a statement disguised as a question?” Here’s a common example: “How can I be happy with all of this going on?” That’s not a bad question, if it is used as a question. Normally a question like this really means, “I can’t be happy with all of this going on” – it is a statement disguised as a question. Another example is in my last message – “What could possibly be good about this?” Another great question, if you stay plugged in to the question. “Nothing could possibly be good about this” is the statement that sometimes gets into that question’s disguise. Plug in the power – turn it back into a question and get…

Sep 04

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That’s Good!

By DrPaul M-Power

The motivational master, Earl Nightingale promoted Pathological Positivity when he suggested that we learn to habitually respond to even devastating circumstances by saying “that’s good” – then engage our marvelous minds to discover or create what’s good about it. As a psychologist, I see the power in this strategy. Our mind will dutifully fulfill our commands and requests. If we ask our mind to find out what is bad about something we can certainly find supportive evidence. If, on the other hand, we ask our minds to find out what is good about something, our minds will get to work on that. “What could possibly be good about this!?” Well, that’s not a bad question – get busy finding a legitimate answer instead of assuming that there couldn’t be one. life loans It’s our attitude in life that determines life’s attitude toward us. ~ Earl Nightingale

Jul 17

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Positive On Purpose

By DrPaul M-Power

Sometimes I am accused of being pathologically positive, like Pollyanna from the 1960 Disney movie. Is this a compliment or a criticism? I wasn’t sure so I rented the movie. I remember as a child liking the movie. It seems that when I got older, I joined in with the other popular opinions that it was just corny and, well, pollyannaish. Watching it this time, I really paid attention to what Pollyanna was doing in light of my positive psychology practice. Here is a kid who was orphaned at an age when she could understand what was going on. Unquestionably a huge and painful adversity. Her father had been a minister, and taught her a game that she liked to play whenever something difficult or unpleasant was happening – the glad game. The game is that you intentionally look for something to be glad about related to your situation. It is…

Jun 14

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Head For Higher Ground

By DrPaul M-Power

December 26, 2006 was the date. An earthquake beneath the Indian Ocean caused a shift in the earth’s plates that led to a displacement of the sea itself. The waters withdrew from the shore in preparation for an enormous tsunami to follow. Those who saw and recognized the signs immediately began to retreat for higher ground – they knew what was coming. There are plenty of signs around indicating that our world is in danger – everything from economic indicators to crime rates. There is ample reason to believe that we need to head for higher ground. Identify the higher ground in your life and invite others along. Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it. ~ James Arthur Baldwin

Jul 20

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Chewable Chunks

By DrPaul M-Power

When you take on life’s challenges it can seem overwhelming at times to even begin. Looking at the entire project can be so daunting that you shrink from the task altogether. Vicki and I just started cleaning out the “junk room” in the basement. We were feeling a little this way, but realized that if we just start and take on small bits at a time, it becomes very do-able. Take a look at that daunting task that you have been avoiding. What little piece can you take on now? Don’t worry about doing everything, just do something! EOSDESIGNS.COM/AMANDA/cheap loans personal Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be. John Wooden

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