Get Fired Up

God gave us power and authority over every day to make it either good or bad. Every morning we have the choice whether it shall be a good or bad day.

I choose to make it a great day. It’s not about positive thinking. It’s about making a conscious choice to see the silver lining beneath every cloud that floats our way. There will always be challenges in life; the idea is to see them as challenges and not problems. Today, thanks to the training I received working with my brother last time, you won’t even hear me using the word “problem.” It’s wiped out from my vocabulary.

So, start the day with enthusiasm. As Charles M Swab says, “A man can succeed at almost anything for which he has unlimited enthusiasm.”

And enthusiasm does make a difference – that between success and failure. Norman Vincent Peale said in his book Enthusiasm Makes the Difference: “The people who do the most with their lives are those who approach human existence, its opportunities and its problems, even its rough moments, with a confident attitude and an enthusiastic point of view.”

He cautions though, “Enthusiasm builds a fire within a person, but he must control his enthusiasm for an idea or project rather than be controlled by it. He must never allow uncontrolled anticipation to run away with judgement and reason. Like any powerful force, uncontrolled enthusiasm can destroy, as controlled enthusiasm can create.”

How can we ignite this fire inside us? Historian Arnold Toynbee believes that enthusiasm can only be aroused by two things: first, an ideal which takes the imagination by storm, and second, a definite intelligible plan for carrying that ideal into practice.

Put simply, enthusiasm is not that abstract thing which “some have it, some don’t.” It just takes some dreaming, and a whole lot of planning. It is difficult for us to be enthusiastic about something we are not quite sure about.

That’s why I spend a lot of time researching and reading, and learning from my mentors about health. And the more I learn, the more enthusiastic and passionate I get about sharing what I have learnt. (Do check out my blog: meals2heal.blogspot.com for my articles on health.)

So, first, think a good day. Then, plan a good day. And finally, give the day all you’ve got, and it will give you all it’s got, which will be plenty.

Inner Beauty

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out; but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light within.” – Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

In 1985, a man in Florence, Italy, went to a doctor for a checkup. When the doctor asked if anything was wrong with him, the man replied, “I am filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep. I’ve been unable to eat and find myself isolated from even my closest friends.”

After a thorough examination, the doctor concluded that the man was in excellent physical condition. He decided the man needed to get out of his rut and have a good time. The doctor recommended the man to visit the circus that was in town then and enjoy the hilarious antics of the star performer, a clown named Grimaldi. “Laughter is the best medicine,” says the doctor, “Just go and enjoy the fun and laughter Grimaldi produces.”

“No, no, I can’t, Doctor!” replies the man. “You see, I’m Grimaldi!”

People are not always what they appear to be. Some even spend their lifetimes existing in two worlds: One is what they feel inside, and the other is what they allow others to see. You can look beautiful/gorgeous and confident on the outside, clad in an outfit that cost what most people can’t earn in a year, zipping around town in a Lamborghini, and still be full of insecurities and fears within.

What immediately come to mind are the celebrities who take their own lives, despite an outward appearance of success. Recently, South Korean pop star Kim Jong-Hyun left millions of fans devastated when he took his own life at age 27. His suicide note shows the pain he felt inside: “I was broken from the inside. The depression slowly chipped me away, finally devouring me…. I tried figuring out the reasons for my pain and suffering. I already have the answer. I was in pain because of me. It’s all my fault that I carry so many imperfections.”

It is so sad, and my passion is to be able to help whoever God puts in my path to see their inner beauty, which comes with high self-esteem, confidence and happiness. 

It’s easier said than done, you say. What can I do if I am unhappy, if I’m being mentally and emotionally abused by those closest to me? What if I don’t even know why I’m suffering from depression despite having a good life, people who love me; yet I just feel an emptiness inside?

You can do something; the beautiful thing about life is – there’s always a choice. We only have to see and understand it.

There are many causes of depression and one of it could be chemical imbalance. However, research suggests that depression doesn't spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems. It's complex. (UnderstandingDepression, Harvard Medical School.) 

Well, start by realizing that whatever, the reason for the unhappiness, we have the power to change it. If you are feeling that way, talk to someone who can help you, a professional if necessary, learn to love and accept yourself, eat well, treat your body well, provide good “nutrition” to your mind as well. Everyday, write down at least three things you are grateful for, make an attempt to carry out a random act of kindness. And then your inner beauty cannot help but radiate from within.