You are so Blessed

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

Who are You?

Are you what you think? Are you what you do? Are you what your history is? We are all products of our environment. Are we living to be that person that we desire to be?

Don't let the choices of the past decide what you will be tomorrow. Make your own choice today.

"There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." ~Denis Waitley

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you stuck where you are?

Are you still functioning in your dysfunction? Then let's change our Thoughts. Your thoughts become words, your words become actions and your actions become your character.

By Changing Your Thinking,You change your beliefs;
When you change your beliefs,You change your expectations;
When you change your expectations,You change your attitude;
When you change your attitude,You change your behavior;
When you change your behavior,You change your performance;
When you change your performance;You Change Your Life!
~Author Unknown

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought." ~ Buddha

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

The 3 D's

"In order to be successful, you have to fail at something today." ~Coach Mike Tully

Do you live by the 3 F's? Some people get Frozen by their Fear of Failure. These people play it safe and stay in their comfort zone. When we play it safe we don't go for anything. This creates boredom.

It's better to go all out and Fail than to play it safe and win. Failing brings you one step closer to the dream you wish to achieve. How? Live by the 3 D's.

Determination- attitude, the will to achieve it
Desire- consistent craving for it
Daring- courage to take action

"We must be willing to fail and to appreciate the truth that often, Life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived." ~M. Scott Peck

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

Who is on your Team?

Whatever your desires; whatever your dreams; whatever your hopes; whatever your passion is, requires one thing. A TEAM
Anyone who has influenced you in life is part of your team. Keep them close. Give to others what you have learned yourself. Who are you influencing today?

Togeter Everyone Achieves More
with
Total Effort from All Members

How do you get what you want out of life? By helping enough other people get what they want. When you help others, you help yourself.

"Life is not a sprint it's a marathon and requires a TEAM."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

Are you Stressed?

Are you stressed? Why? Are your stressor's true stressor's or are they self imposed? We all have stress in life, but it's what you do about it that will determine your level of stress.

E + R= O
Event + Response= Outcome

Your response determines many of your stressor's in life. Think about the times you were stressed. Now think about your reactions to the event that caused you this stress.

"Stress is simply the adaptation of our bodies and minds to change."
~ Peter G. Hanson, M.D.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

Accept Criticism?

Dedicated to the man who is changing the way we think,
Ed Agresta.
26,280. That is how many days the average person has to live (72 years). Doesn't seem believable. Go ahead, do the math. That is all the time we have. So time is very valuable. Some spend that time criticising you. How do you handle this?

Answer: Thank them. Why? Because you cannot allow others to rent space in your head. Once you allow others in your head:
- they throw a party
- trash the place and leave
- and you are stuck with cleaning up the garbage.

They are spending their valuable time of life to talk about you. So Thank them for making you feel important.

"When someone is stabbing you in the back, that is how you know you are standing in front of them." ~Ed Agresta

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

You are so Blessed

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

Quote of the month: "Happiness in not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you responsible?

How are the people that you encounter everyday? Are they bringing you to life or bringing you to death? Are they lifting you up or pulling you down? If they are pulling you down than what are you doing about it.

You are responsible to enlighten the room. You are responsible to bring people up and bring encouragement and enthusiasm into the lives of others.
Why?
Because you get what you give.
You reap what you sew.
Whatever you put out into the world comes back to you.
People need what you have. What are you giving to others that you wish to have upon yourself?

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." ~Albert Einstein

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you getting your monies worth?

During a college class, the professor asked the students if they would like to stay an extra 15 minutes. After the students were finished grunting and grinning about it, the professor said, "Ok. When you go to a concert, do you leave after the band walks off the stage or do you wait for an encore." After the students smiled as if to say they understood what the professor was trying to say, the professor then said, "Well I don't understand. How come no one wants to stay and get more than their monies worth."

"If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

Who is laughing at you?

Do you know, If no one is laughing at you then your dreams aren't big enough.
Walt Disney would have great ideas. Once he got 10 people to reject his ideas or just laugh at him, he would then put those ideas into action. In order to be successful you have to do things that others wouldn't do. Others laugh because they don't have the courage to go for it. They want to keep you right where they are. Because if you go for it then they might feel guilty for not going all out in their own life.

While laying in bed one night, Thomas Edison's wife said to him, "Do you think the world is going to re-wire itself because of you."

"No one can stop you from being Unstoppable."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

W. Mitchell, Truly Unstoppable

W. Mitchell continued 2 of 2

As you know W. Mitchell had a huge setback in life. While riding his Harley motorcycle, he was hit by a truck and his clothing went up in flames (looked like a human torch). The amazing thing is, he actually survived. However, without any fingers or toes, W. Mitchell pressed on and became very successful in business and now owns a private plane. W. Mitchell would fly his plane, which helped him relax and relieve the everyday stresses of life.

One day while in flight, his plane was experiencing engine problems. He attempted to land but lost control and crashed. Once again he survived. This time he woke up and took a long look at himself. He saw a burned man, now paralyzed and forced to live the rest of his life in a wheel chair. Once again he decided NOT TO give up!

W. Mitchell is now one of the top motivational speakers in the world. He owns homes in Colorado, California, and Hawaii. He turned his Extraordinary setbacks into Amazing comebacks. Truly an unbelievable story.

Pick up his book today. You will be instantly inspired. "It's not what happens to you It's what you do about it" by W. Mitchell This book is directed at anyone who has ever claimed defeat before trying.

"In life, we must turn our problems into possibilities and our challenges into opportunities."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

And what are we complaining about?

W. Mitchell Part 1 of 2
He is called, "The Man who will Not be Defeated".
About 33 years ago, W. Mitchell lived for riding his Harley Davidson between working as a cable operator and going to school. He loved the refreshing wind blowing on his face as it was the most relaxing part of his life. Until:

Mitchell was crossing an intersection and a huge truck ran a red light and slammed into him. As he laid there in agony, he smelled gas and suddenly realized that he was covered with it. The truck then exploded and the bike went up in flames as the fire engulfed Mitchell. He was a human torch.

But some how, he survived.

He lost his fingers and toes and was left with no resemblance of his former self. After going through months of agonizing surgery and rehabilitation, he made a decision, "I WILL NOT GIVE UP!"

Years later he started his own business and was very successful. His setback became a setup for a come back. He made so much money, he purchased a private plane. He flies his plane as it is now one of his loves in life.

Sometimes life isn't as bad as we make it out to be.

W. Mitchell lives by this quote, "You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control what you do about it."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

You have to let go in order to Grow

A man was driving by his old job with his 6 year old son in the passenger seat. The boy said, "Dad isn't that where you use to work." Father replied, "Yes it is". He then asked, "Dad, did you get fired." Dad answered, "No son. I quit!" The son's eyes became watery and with disappointment the boy said, "Daddy, you quit? You quit? But, Daddy, you told me never to give up; you said I should never ever give up. And you quit?" The Father pulled the car over, as he wiped his son's tears, that were pouring down his face. The Father said, "William, I'm going to give you a life lesson, Son. See, yes I quit! But not because I was giving up! But because I was going up!"
~Willie Jolley

What are you allowing in your life to keep you right where you are? What is holding you back from opportunity?

"You must be willing to jump... and grow wings on the way down." ~Rosita Perez

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

You are so blessed

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation;

You are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

When someone says NO!

Did you know that a "No" is a "Yes" waiting to happen. When someone tells you NO; How quickly you bounce back, will determine how far you're going to go. A No doesn't mean you should give up, "It Means you should get up."

"Persistence always breaks down Resistance."
~Willie Jolley

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Does Persistence need Determination?

A special Hello and a Speedy recovery to the warm-hearted Debbie Frisoli.
Absolutely.
Some may think that these are the same but they are different. Determination is the attitude, Persistence is the action.

No matter what, can you make a commitment to keep going? It may look difficult but it doesn't have to be. Your brain decides what difficult is. Just say, "Compared to what." Find something that you think is more difficult than what you are doing. Your task may not seem so difficult as you once thought.

"The difference between a big shot and a little shot is a big shot is a little shot who just kept on shooting." ~Zig Ziglar

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Is your brain in your way?

"I can't. It's too hard. I'll never make it." Get out of your own way!

If you googled Alline Banks Sprouse: not only would you find out that she was one of the best basketball players of her time, or the Most Valuable Player 9 times or an All American 11 times or in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame or that she played on 7 national championship teams, you would find out this.

Alline Banks Sprouse, while playing for the Atlanta Blues, did something remarkable. “I had taken a knee in the shoulder during our game in Pittsburgh and the next night we caught a plane to New York to play. I’d never shot with my left hand before. It was my idea to play, I always played. He (the coach) never asked me if I wanted to play or not play – he knew I was going to play, regardless,” said Sprouse. That night with her right arm taped to her body, Alline scored 56 points in the game. Did you hear that. They had to tape her right arm to her body and she had to shoot lefty. She never shot lefty before in her life.

Sometimes we are just a mood change away from success. When something seems impossible to do, do you say? "It's possible but too difficult," or do you say, "It's difficult but it's possible." There are no limitations in your life. The limitations are only falsy set in your brain. Stop thinking and take action.

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." ~Charle R. Swindoll

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Squeeze the Juice!

Dedicated to Coach Elise Cooper and the Montclair State University Women's Volleyball Team.
Last night was an honor to be part of the coaching staff for the Montclair State University Women's Volleyball Team.

How do you get your energy up to do things you need to do when you need to do them? Answer- surround yourself with those who are already Energized. In our modern day society, there is actual sports teams that need motivational speakers, pre-game rituals, music, in your face pep talks etc... in order to get energized. Yes, sounds strange but true.

At Montclair State University, the Women's Volleyball team only need to hear 3 words, which brings their already energetic atmosphere to an ultimate high. Those words are It's Game Time. If you want to get energized, then go see the Montclair State Women's Volleyball team. It doesn't matter what kind of day you are having, you will automatically get energized. In their pre-game huddle, one girl yells out squeeze and the rest of the team rattles the gym by shouting Juice! That is to remind them, they have to get the most out of their abilities. Like squeezing the juice out of a lemon. If you want every last drop of juice out of the lemon, you have to squeeze with everything you've got. The same goes for life. In life, are you giving all you've got in your profession, in your relationships, in school, in each day? Can you squeeze the juice each day? Not tomorrow just today.

Well the opposing team was having a hard time focusing on their coach's pre-game speech because every time the Montclair State Red Hawks chanted, the opposition would look in Montclair State's direction as if to say, "Why are they so fired up." The opposing team came out flat with an excessive amount of unforced errors, almost looking intimidated by the determination and energy that Montclair State portrayed. Montclair State out energized the other team from the minute they walked into the gym.


In life you only get out of it what you put into it. How much life are you putting into your own life?

"Some people are living but aren't really ALIVE!"

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Howard Thurman

Congratulations to Coach Elise Cooper and the Montclair State Women's Volleyball Team.
Next home game is Thurs., September 20 vs. Rutgers-Camden.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you a Leader?

Dedicated to everyone affected by 9/11.
6 years ago today, we all became Leaders for each other.

YES you are a leader. Aren't you leading your own life? I once asked someone this same question. Are you a leader? Their answer was No. Believe it or not, I was speaking to a Mom.

Leaders:
give advice, have families, interact with children

You are an example for your friends, family, or any child that looks up to you. That is a leadership position. Your actions preach to others. What is your actions saying about yourself? The people who make it a constant habit to complain or vent, are the ones who are saying, "I can't handle my life." It is ok to vent once in awhile but does it become the theme of your life? Do we look for things to complain about or do we look for things to be happy about when we are tempted to complain? Do you submit to the temptation or do you have control over your life? Anyone can have a temper tantrum, that's easy.

There are 2 types of people: Leaders and Followers.
You are a leader. Stop being 2nd best. Take control of your emotions and you will take control of your life. Others are watching you. What example will you be for someone today?

Ok this is a long blog. If you can just follow the quote of the month and make it a part of you, then you'll be ready to face the days challenges. Are you ready Today?

"People who complain, cry over spilled milk. A leader cleans it up."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict but the ability to cope with it."

What is your worst emotion?

What stops you from being unstoppable? What keeps you in your comfort zone? What experiences have you missed in life because of a certain emotion?

Do you stand on the platform and watch everyone else jump? Have you ever said, "I want to do that, but I'm too scared"?

Never let your fears make your decisions. You make them! How many times in life have you not done something because you were scared? You decide what to do not your fears. Your fears are from what your mind has told you and whatever is in your mind, is because you have put it there.

"The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure."
~ Sven Goran Eriksson
The Great Michael Jordan once said, "Fear is an illusion; you think something is standing in your way but nothing is really there."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

You are so blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,

you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

You have 2 choices in life

You can rise to your challenges

OR

Be conquered by them

"Anything unattempted remains impossible."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you making a deposit?

Have some of you spent most of your life wondering what it would be like to have a child? Some of you might still be wondering. Raising a child is one the most amazing experiences anyone can have. Whether you have a child, a little niece, a nephew, a little brother, I know one thing about them. They are very important to you and are a big piece of your life. Everyday you want the best for them. But how would it make you feel if others didn't show any care for that child. Everyone around that child is affecting that kid in some way or another. The same with the people, that you come across in your life.

Everyday is an opportunity to make a deposit in some one's life. What are you doing today? You see, some of us might be stuck in self pity, worried about the past. Some of you might be waiting for your ship to come in. When some of you haven't sent a ship out yet.

"Others are so consumed in their own fears and anxieties, that it doesn't occur to them to respond in a positive way."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Is your brain constipated?

How do you know if you have a constipated brain?

* Doing the same thing everyday and expecting different results.
* When someone doesn't get a different result, they make excuses for their actions.
This causes a disease in the brain called MOOMBA.

My Own Obstacle May Be Attitude ~Ed Agresta

Your Attitude will Make you or Break you.

"Excuses are like rear ends. We all have them, but some are bigger than others."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Can you be in 3 places at the same time?

Dedicated to the Great Energetic Motvational Speaker,
Ed Agresta.

YES!
Will you make a memory today? Have you ever made a memory while living in the past or worrying about the future? Memories are made by living in the moment.

Did you know that some people live in the past, worry about the future, while trying to live in the present.

"A women worries about the future until she gets a husband, while a man never worries about the future until he gets a wife." Not taking credit for that quote.

Past= indulging in self pity or still stuck in past praise. What have you done lately? Get out of the old and start something new.

Future- What are you worried about? "Worry is like a rocking chair. It passes the time but doesn't get you anywhere."

Present- Can you be Right here Right NOW!

"I only have this moment for it will soon pass away
and be lost to me forever as part of yesterday."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Are you addicted?

Dedicated to a Fantastic Break Dancer Steve Rosa, aka, Steve Styles.

"It's too cold. It's too hot."
Are you Addicted to being Comfortable? Do you practice everyday being comfortable. As soon as we are at a discomfort, we find a way to be comfortable. We have practiced this method throughout our entire lives and now it has become a habit.

Question: How do we break this habit?
Answer: Get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Comfort keeps us stuck inside our comfort zone. That is where everything we ever knew about life is. To learn something new we must step outside our comfort zone. It's ok to be uncomfortable. It is when you are confused that your are on the brink of learning something new.

"Bad habits are like a comfortable bed, easy to get into, but hard to get out of."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

Successful people never take a day off?

Dedicated to the "Working populace".

Do you think today is a day off?
A 12 year old boy was ecstatic as he waited to get his picture taken with an admired celebrity. As he waited, his excitement began to grow. His eyes widened as the line grew thin, he became closer to this celebrity . After taken the picture, his admired celebrity shook his hand as the little boy stood there speechless.

The adult, feeling bad, noticed that he forgot to save the picture in his cell phone and was afraid to upset the boy, as the boy was eager to have the picture text to his cell. The adult finally told the young boy that his picture was accidentally erased. Amazingly, as the adult was speaking, the boy cut the adult off and responded confidently and enthusiastically, "That's ok I have a mental picture. And I can see it in my mind. The memory of it is worth more than the actual picture."

To capture the desires of your life, will depend on your character in action. Your Character never gets a day off. Just for today can you practice positive reactions. Your positive reactions will build better relationships, success in your career and will wash away some of that stress that we carry around.

Most reactions build stress. Positive reactions prevent it.

"All that we are is the result of what we have thought."

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

On the day you are called by God

The first question God may ask is:

God won't ask the color of you skin. He'll ask about the content of your character.

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."

What are your goals?

Special Hello to the mental training expert and founder of "Tennis Solutions" Ed Tseng.

During a seminar for female athletes at Jackson High School, the athletes were asked, "What are your goals?" Some of them answered: "College, to win the state championship, to beat a rival team.

The goals that you set out for yourself will determine the direction that you take. Those are great goals to have but aren't they a little broad. Your goals should be more specific.

Example: Instead of College- Studying 15 minutes extra each day, find the strategy that some of the other students use.

Instead of winning the state finals- Stay 15 minutes after practice and work a little bit more. Ask the coach specific questions on how to improve your game.

"Vague goals bring Vague results." ~Ed Tseng

Quote of the month: "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it."