One of the of the authors who compete for my attention is a business owner, turned columnist and motivational speaker from Minneapolis, Harvey Mackay, the author of the best selling business motivational book, "Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive".
He is also a United Features columnist, featured in hundreds of newspapers across the country, including the Evansville Courier and Press. In today's column Mackay shared "The Other 10 Commandments". I share them with you for your consideration and assimilation. Words of wisdom for today's environment.
I. Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities. A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. People get so busy worrying about yesterday or tomorrow, they forget about today. Today is all you have to work with.
II. Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass. Every crisis we face is multiplied when we act out of fear. When we fear something, we empower it. When we refuse to concede to our fear, then we have nothing to fear.
III. Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded. Solve the issues before you right now. Tomorrow's problems may not be problems tomorrow.
IV. Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one problem at a time anyway. Problem solving is not easy, so don't make it any more difficult than it already is.
V. Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make poor bedfellows. Problems always seem bigger in the middle of the night. Wait for the light of day to shed new light on your problem.
VI. Thou shall not borrow other people's problems. They can handle their problems better than you can, even if you think you are better equipped to handle them.
VII. Thou shall not try to relive yesterday. For better or worse, it is forever gone. Concentrate on what is happening in your life today and be happy now! You are responsible for your own happiness.
VIII. Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth. People will only listen to you once they feel that you have listened to them.
IX. Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action. Frustration has never improved a situation. Better to take a break, collect your thoughts, and redirect your attention to a positive first step.
X. Thou shall count they blessings! Never overlook the small blessings in life, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one. We all have something to be grateful for, even on the worst day.
As Harvey says, "These may not be chiseled in stone, but try them...they'll make your life less rocky." I couldn't agree more!
Sir Hook the Mackay Moses of Warrick
He is one of my favorite people to read - after you three Sir D's of course!
ReplyDeleteThese are 10 more good things to remember - along with the "dog list" he writes about
just yesterday I read about journaling "yesterday" - an idea that you sit down and write a short page about what happened yesterday - what you worried about, what you planned, what actually happened etc.- so you
have the perspective in line with his #1-3 maybe?
Have to think about this some more and try it for a few days along with Mr. Mackay's words of wisdom - though it counteracts his #7 maybe it would give me insight to how my mind works (promise you guys if I figure it out I'll share)
Lady Suzanne of Greenbriar
who sees most worries as opportunities to pray
........seeing as there are lists going around... here is the one of the rooms in the new George Dubya Bush Library...
ReplyDelete----- The George W. Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages and accepting donations.
The Library will include:
1. The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.
2. The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won't be able to remember anything.
3. The Texas Air National Guard Room, where you don't even have to show up.
4. The Walter Reed Hospital Room, where they don't let you in.
5. The Guantanamo Bay Room, where they don't let you out.
6. The Weapons of Mass Destruction Room, which no one has been able to find.
7. The National Debt Room, which is huge and has no ceiling.
8. The Tax Cut Room, with entry only to the wealthy.
9. The Economy Room, which is in the toilet.
10. The Iraq War Room. (After you complete your first visit, they make you go back for a second, third, fourth, and sometimes fifth visit.)
11. The Dick Cheney Room, in the famous undisclosed location, complete with shooting gallery.
12. The Environmental Conservation Room, still empty.
13. The Supreme Gift Shop, where you can buy an election.
14. The Airport Men's Room, where you can meet some of your favorite Republican Senators.
15. The Decider Room, complete with dart board, magic 8-ball, Ouija board, dice, coins, and straws.
Note: The library will feature an electron microscope to help you locate and view the President's accomplishments.
Sir D ( D for Dubya ) of Oxenfordenshireness
Lady Suzanne...I like your idea of journaling yesterday. It can be your contribution to "Knight Time" and we look forward to your report!
ReplyDeleteSir Dubya...loved the list for the Bush library! I wonder if it's location is still being considered at the land fill outside of Houston?
I went yesterday to a town hall meeting in Newburgh to listen to Congressman Brad Ellsworth, a friend, who represents us in Washington. I left with the following conclusion:
1. You can tell who syncs their brain to Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limpballs.
2. You can smell the die hard liberals.
3. We don't have a clue where this ship is going, but we're all passengers on the same boat.
Let's hope it's HMS Victory instead of Titanic!
Sir Hook the Hopeful of Warrick
The same boat analogy is spot on..and you could feel the same thing here yesterday when i was out on a main street in Oxford, putting floral graphics on a fashion shop... and just chatting with passers by.. other workmen...and shopkeepers.. there is a definite upbeat "lets all pull together" and " we know the government has dropped us in this shit and haven't a clue about getting us out...so we'll all muck in and help ourselves out instead."...community spirit. Its like WW3 (or should that be WW£) has broken out... and the Spirit of the British Blitz. I helped people out and they gave me work in return.
ReplyDeleteDo we actually need a Government??? LOL... we all have something in common again.
D of O
that's like the article in the news about people eating out less since income levels are down - the return to home-cooked meals eaten around the family dinner table - so bad times create good times?
ReplyDeletethe hard times in life make you work harder to make life better - it's when things are going so well that we tend to get sloppy and careless with what is really important and valued
stepping off my soapbox now...
Lady Suzanne of Greenbriar
Nah.. Suz...You look Cute up there. :))
ReplyDeletedo
Agreed! Reminds me of a Soap Box I saw in researching our trip. It appears that in a corner of Hyde Park on Sunday's they have a soap box where anyone can get up and proclaim loudly their belief, grudge, jokes, whatever is on their mind if they're brave enough to share.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed to realize that we will not be in London on a Sunday both trips there. I would have enjoyed seeing and hearing that. But most of all I would have loved to get up there myself!
Sir Hook the Oracle of Warrick
could we all 5 fit on it??
ReplyDeleteLady S
Yeah Speakers Corner is an awesome place.. I stop there when i go up on a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta be one brave soul to get up there in front of that crowd, because as well as great speakers people go along there for a great argument...
DO
Negative thoughts are something with which I have struggled all my life. I've heard many of these 10 commandments before in various forms. Good advice, but seeing the truth doesn't always mean one's mind follows. However, I have made another little file of these 10 and will try to live them. To try is all we we can do (sorry Yoda). Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteSir James of recently bad mental state Taylor
Sir James, I wish you well. No wise words from me, because i know at times like that, it can only come from yourself, within. You make your own bricks.
ReplyDeleteDO