The Most Important Thing

Thanks for this. Very clear. Very useful. I will quote you!

I just discovered your blog and your words echo what I feel exactly. It’s time to make some sandals. Right on!

Great list. I agree with every item on there.

One additional thing I did that made a huge difference in my life is to retrain my mind to start looking for what is right, rather than analyzing everything in terms of what is wrong. This works with people, relationships, jobs…

There will always be plenty of people around to point out all the things that are wrong in the world, so no worries that you will miss out on anything! And when you come across something that makes you angry, do what you can about it as soon as you can, and then let it go.

I am just returning from speaking at an international conference. I had people from no less than 20 different countries in my session — countries that if you relied solely on news reports would never have their citizens in the same room. It was heart-warming and inspiring to see these fabulous and intelligent people from diverse backgrounds rallying together around a universal cause.

There are great things happening every day. Make an effort to seek them out and it will change your life experience.

When I divorced five years ago, I was forced to divest myself of most of my material possessions. To my surprise, I haven’t missed them at all. I feel freer, lighter, and less encumbered. It’s a great feeling.

Great topic. Our society seems to get so caught up with what is happening now, that we are not able to enjoy the ‘now’.

Life will always be stressful, but we have choices in how we react to the never-ending life challenges. If we learn to take care of ourselves and keep our thoughts, ideas, and actions focused on solutions and gratitude, our lives will be so much richer.

These 10 tips are right on!

This was a timely message. I think it is alway important to focus on the positive things in life. Life can be simple if we learn to love more and hate less.

I just returned home from my daughters high school graduation and I wish that any one of the speakers had come close to being able to quantify to these young kids the type of wisdom that is in the 10 points.
I’m going to print up cards with one of the points and directions to your site so more folks, young and old, get the message!

Your message was very timely as I am going through a very difficult time in my life. A stranger who I called “father” that left us 30 years ago wants to come back in our life because he is very ill and desperately needs someone to take care of him. My inner self says I should. But seeing the pain, the hurt but more importantly the scare in my mom’s eyes brought back all the painful memories. Situation like this can throw anyone off balance easily. But your list helps me to reinforce what is important in life…the love for my family. I am at peace. Thank you, thank you…

A while ago, I made my own seven commandments. They reflect much of what is being said here. There’s some great advice. I love the news fasting bit, and as far as choosing not to drive, as much as I wholeheartedly concur, I was still surprised to see somebody echo such an idea! Driving is just plain bad Karma in so many ways.

1. Treat your body like a Temple.
2. Love yourself and your neighbor.
3. Keep your spirits up.
4. Live the present moment.
5. Live simply.
6. Accept what you cannot change.
7. Be and do who you are.

Will,

I have so enjoyed seeing the various comments on the ‘10 Best Practices’ that have thus far been posted by your readers. Thank you for the initial inspiration… to the basic necessities of life - - food, air, water - - you have offered another element critical to sustenance, and that is encouragement. Unlike children, who in normal circumstances receive the encouragement of parents, teachers, coaches, and others focused on their development, adults often struggle for want of encouragement. Adults are expected to be stable, centered and strong. Adults don’t always have people rallying around them, and yet as the fairly consistent responses to your blog seem to show, people require encouragement throughout their lives and adults, especially, are so very grateful and relieved when they receive it. Reading through the responses to this week’s blog, I sense that each person has written from a place of feeling the weight of the world had, for a moment, lifted. Thanks, Will.

I can’t help but think that there is a deliberate attempt to scare us. Gas & food prices, dire economic predictions, global warming, etc. etc (sounds like the sky is falling, doesn’t it). It makes it easier to push hidden agendas and to get us to accept things we would otherwise never stand for. Don’t fall for it! Fear is the enemy, don’t give into it. Perfect love drives out fear.
On a positive note - Primal Leadership. If you have not read the book yet, I recommend that you do so.

I will share your uplifting insights. There are no greater gifts than peace of mind which leads to happiness. Being clear of what is important in life and adjusting your priorities to what is near and dear to you is worth all the material things in the world and more! Thank you for your words of wisdom.I am grateful.

I just sent this e-mail to a group of my friends and have gotten some positive feedback.

Try to lift someone else up and you go right up with them.

Hi Friends,

I took six and a half days off of news and I felt much stronger. I am now limiting myself to about 1/100th the time I was wasting reading bad news.

This morning I saw an interesting headline from the Washington Post. As a nation, we are gloomier than our economy. See article here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/17/AR2008061702463_pf.html

Things are not as bad as most folks feel.

Take a moment to count your blessings.

Cheers!

Scott
Scott Gentry
RE/MAX Properties
423-320-2995
www.ChattanoogasGreat.com

Excellent comments. We are surrounded by too much negativity right now. Your suggestions are worth following. We need more positive actions in this world. One addition might be to work on giving something to others who are in need of help. You will be amazed at how great you will feel in return and it takes your mind off of your problems.

I like what Kelly said about printing up cards with a tidbit and directions to your website to distribute to her friends…

If every time we see something good, we make a point to pass it on, and all our acquaintances do the same, then GOOD will win over BAD, because BAD will have to pay for advertising time, while GOOD will get free advertising…

It’s one way to make the world a better place that doesn’t cost us money… Collect all the good you come across, and share it with everyone you meet…

And have a blast doing it!

Now, to practice what I preach, allow me to share with you some good stuff I’ve come across…

(1) For anyone wishing to lose weight… improve health, or fix digestive problems… read the book “Fit For Life” by Harvey & Marilyn Diamond (about $7.00 at BNoble)

(2) Help your mom avoid osteoporosis… get her the book “Strong women stay young” by Ph.D Miriam Nelson.

(3) Good movie: Wall-E…

(4) Understand male / female dynamics in romantic relationships… read “Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus” by John Gray Ph.D and other titles by him also.

Bill,

Your post has generataed the best set of comments yet. Not one commentor has suggested what someone else should do. no commentor has said what politicians need to do, what the government needs to do, what their Mom needs to do….. Every poster has said what they do or have done and right there is the power for change. This is in fact the solution. If I see somehting that does not work for me, then I need to be the source of the fix. This means that I fix it and then, assuming my friends may not see it, I need to do some proselitizing like, “please don’t buy that Hummer and buy a hybrid instead.” That’s it. If this approach of “I am the fix” is not working, I guess I need to work harder.