Don't reject your blessings

“Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best what is good for us.” - Socrates

What you are today is God's gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God. He is waiting for that gift right now. Make it something extraordinary.

Do take note that blessings may comes in different package.

Take a look at this story:

The Gift
A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, in the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study and told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold.

Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "with all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was a very successful businessman. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day.

Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away and had willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago.

With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse: Matthew 7:11 "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father, who is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

(Source: Internet; Author Unknown)

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

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Speak or Say No Evil

“He who knows, does not speak.
He who speaks, does not know.” - Lao Tzu

Karen, the author of Waterlearner is encouraging everyone to speak no evil! Well, I had joined her boot camp.

She has indeed inspired me to come out with this post.


"To be aware of a single shortcoming within oneself is more useful than to be aware of a thousand in somebody else. Rather than speaking badly about people and in ways that will produce friction and unrest in their lives, we should practice a purer perception of them, and when we speak of others, speak of their good qualities." - Dalai Lama

"If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: "He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned" - Epictetus

"The difference between a smart man and a wise man is that a smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows whether or not to say it." - Frank M. Garafola

“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” - Plato

“Too often the strong, silent man is silent only because he does not know what to say, and is reputed strong only because he has remained silent.” - Winston Churchill

“The best answer to anger is silence.”

According to Dale Carnegie, “There are four ways, and only four ways, in which we have contact with the world. We are evaluated and classified by these four contacts, what we do, how we look, what we say, and how we say it.

The bible tells us in James 3:7-10 (NIV):

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

So think twice before you speak! Do you agree?

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Be careful how you react!

“Life is 10% of what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it.” - John Maxwell

The 90/10 Principle of Stephen Covey

You might have come across this, but I believe this is still worth sharing. Do apply this principle and you'll see the difference in your life!

What is this principle?

10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean?

We really have no control over 10% of what happens to us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane will be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%. How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you; YOU can control how you react.

Let's use an example.

You are eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just what happened.

What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over.

She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt. Back downstairs, you find your daughter has been too busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work.

You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit. After a 15-minute delay and throwing $60 traffic fine away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs into the building without saying goodbye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase !!!

Your day has started terribly.

As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to coming home, When you arrive home, you find a small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?

A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D.

You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened:

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say, "It's ok honey, you just need, to be more careful next time." Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase, you come back down in time to look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good the day you are having.

Notice the difference?

Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% was determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 principle.

If someone says something negative about you, don't be a sponge. Let the attack roll off like water on glass. You don't have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out etc.

How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you lose your temper? Pound on the steering wheel? A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off! Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you try and bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the cars ruin your drive?

Remember the 90/10 principle, and do not worry about it.

You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep and get irritated? It will work out. Use your worrying energy and time into finding another job.

The plane is late; it is going to mangle your schedule for the day. Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no control over what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

Now you know the 90-10 principle.

Apply it and you will be amazed at the results. You will lose nothing if you try it.

The 90-10 principle is incredible. Very few know and apply this principle. The result? Millions of people are suffering from undeserved stress, trials, problems and heartache. There never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening, one after another !!! There is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time. Anger breaks friendships and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel.

Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different!

Understand and apply the 90/10 principle.
It will change your life.

(Source: Internet; Author: Stephen Covey)

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Don't let evil forces dominate you!

Nowadays, there are more and more horrifying cases that we thought can only happen in movies. Recently, there was a reported case of a man having his body chopped up into 11 pieces and stuffed into five rubbish bags before being put into the refrigerator. Click here for more details.

Isn't that horrible? You might ask. What's wrong with this people? Well, indeed, it is difficult to comprehend. Anyway, the following quotes are very true:

"Anger is one letter short of danger."

"Great anger is more destructive than the sword."

Well, in the moment of anger, many people can become totally insane and such unbecoming actions can happen.

Let's take a look at this story:

A man came out of his home to admire his new car. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the car.

The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital. Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands.

When the boy woke up from the surgery and saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your car." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home and committed suicide.

(Source: Internet; Author Unknown)
Please take note that the above story has been classified as Urban Legend

Think about this story the next time you see someone spill milk at a dinner table or steps on your feet and you wish to take revenge. Think first before you lose your patience with someone you love. Cars can be repaired. Broken bones and hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever. Pause and ponder. Think before you act. Be patient. Understand and love.

"Every time you get angry, you poison your own system." - Alfred Montapert

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Anger is a momentary madness, so control your passion or it will control you." - Horace

"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow." - Chinese Proverb

Have you personally witness any good friend of yours that had loses their mind when they lost their cool? Do share any stories that you think is beneficial.

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Understanding Stress

A little bit of stress is useful to get things going but too much of it can kills!

"Stress is the trash of modern life - we all generate it but if you don't dispose of it properly, it will pile up and overtake your life." - Danzae Pace

"If your teeth are clenched and your fists are clenched, your lifespan is probably clenched." - Adabella Radici

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” - William James

"For fast-acting relief, try slowing down." - Lily Tomlin

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important." - Bertrand Russell

"Whether a person is spiritual or not, we all seek to get away from the stress, anger, and anxiety of everyday life. Some people drink, do drugs, or do worse to escape, and they hurt themselves in the process. Some people listen to music, mine included, and feel better." - Yanni

Check out this website for the Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Effects of Stress.

The bible tells us in Matthew 6:31-34 (NKJV) -

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Well, do you have a lot of stress? If you have, do feel free to share how you overcome it.

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Say no to violence!

There is indeed so much of violence in our societies these days.

According to Mahatma Gandhi - “The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles”

“The main goal of the future is to stop violence. The world is addicted to it.” - Bill Cosby

“War will disappear only when men shall take no part whatever in violence and shall be ready to suffer every persecution that their abstention will bring them. It is the only way to abolish war.” - Anatole France

The bible tells us in Matthew 26:52 (NKJV) that one should not resolve to violence:

"But Jesus said to him, "Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."

Violence is not the way to make matters rest. It makes matters worse!

What do you think? Do you have any idea how to stop violence?

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Do you really understand?

"Thinking you know when in fact you don't is a fatal mistake, to which we are all prone" - Bertrand Russell

“It is better to understand little than to misunderstand a lot.” - Anatole France

“Everyone hears only what he understands.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“Yearn to understand first and to be understood second.” - Beca Lewis

“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Let us live in complete harmony without any misunderstanding.

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Do you know your weakest point?

“You can live a lifetime and, at the end of it, know more about other people than you know about yourself” - Beryl Markham

“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” - Mother Teresa

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If a link is broken, the entire chain breaks.”

"Whenever a man falls, it is usually at the point where he thinks he is strong."

"Rudeness, yelling, anger and swearing are a weak man's imitation of strength."

“Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.”

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Never lose your temper

"Men are like steel. When they lose their temper, they lose their worth." - Chuck Norris

“Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.” - Baltasar Gracian

If you lose your temper, your sound sleep will go, and you will have to use a tranquilizer or sleeping pills… Then gradually, more white hair, wrinkles.” - Tenzin Gyatso

“There are only two people who can tell you the truth about yourself - an enemy who has lost his temper and a friend who loves you dearly.” - Antisthenes

"When you're in the right, you can afford to keep your temper. When in the wrong, you can't afford to lose it."

"The worst-tempered people I've ever met were the people who knew they were wrong." - Wilson Mizener

So never lose your temper and beware of those who loses their temper.

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Be a gentleman - Speak Softly, Don't Argue!

"After a heated argument on some trivial matter Nancy [Astor] shouted, If I were your wife I would put poison in your coffee! Whereupon Winston [Churchill] answered, And if I were your husband I would drink it." - John Fellows Akers

“Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; argument is an exchange of ignorance” - Robert Quillen

“To argue with a man who has renounced his reason is like giving medicine to the dead” - Robert Green Ingersoll

"It isn't smart to argue with a fool; listeners can't tell which is which."

"When you argue with your inferiors, you convince them of only one thing: they are as clever as you." - Irving Layton

When an argument flares up, the wise man quenches it with silence. It takes two to quarrel, but only one to end it. When two men quarrel, he who is first silent, is the greater gentleman.

"Agreements get better results than arguments."

"War will cease when men refuse to fight." - F. Hansen

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Do good, seek peace and pursue it!

“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” - Buddha

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.”

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away.” - Robert Fulghum

“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it”

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Take good care of your Heart!

“Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.” - Albert Smith

"Tears are words the heart can't express"

“Always give people a piece of your heart, not a piece of your mind”

"A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up."

"The nearest thing to perpetual motion is the heart. Guard it well. When it stops, you stop."

“It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful, but what you have in your heart.”

Happiness is not something you have in your hands; it is something you carry in your heart.

"Drive too fast and invite a car wreck; live too fast and invite a heart attack."

There's no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery. You can't do any business from there. - Colonel Sanders

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Grow and move forward wisely!

“You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on.” - Dan Castellaneta

"Youth is when you blame everything on your parents. Maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation." - George Bernard Shaw

You're not fully mature unless you're prepared for the unexpected.

Wisdom is when you accept the blame and embrace the learning.

“Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness” - Jean Vanier

He that never corrects his mistakes will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

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Anger Prevention Kit

A match stick has a head, but it does not have a brain.

Therefore, whenever there is a little friction, it flares up immediately. Now, at times the effects of this flaring up can be devastating as it can engulf a whole lot of many things and play havoc and cause destruction.

We have a lesson to learn from this tiny match-stick. All of us have heads. And unlike the match-stick, we have brains as well. Therefore, our wisdom lies in not reacting on impulse - a habit of great importance when managing people.

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Nucleur weapons: The end to mankind?

"In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war the fathers bury their sons." - Croesus

“Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind"

“You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.” - Albert Einstein

"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." - Jimmy Carter

Older men declare war. But it is the youth who must fight and die! - Herbert Hoover

“If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children.” - Mahatma Gandhi

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Don't find fault, find a remedy

Two things are hard for the heart: Running up stairs and running down people.

However blind a man may be, others' faults, he's sure to see.

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.” - Jack Handey

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain and most fools do.” - Benjamin Franklin

“Don't find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain” - Henry Ford

The wheel that squeaks the loudest is the first to be replaced.

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The Value of Laughter

Laughter is the best exercise, the cheapest medicine, the cheapest vacation, the cheapest tonic, it stirs the blood, exercises the chest, stimulates the nerves, chases fear, prevents ulcers, cures the blues, relaxes strangers, wins friends and gives all a cleansing rehabilitation.

"The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed." - Bennett Alfred Cerf

"Laughter is a tranquilizer with no side effects." - Arnold H. Glasgow

Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live. Laughter is the shock absorber that eases the blows of life

“An optimist laughs to forget, a pessimist forgets to laugh.”

"Beware of those who laugh at nothing or everything." - Arnold H Glasgow

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How to response to Stress

"Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response to what happens. And Response is something we can choose." - Maureen Killoran

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question:
Will this matter in 5 years from now?
If yes, then do something about the situation.
If no, then let it go." - Catherine Pulsifer

"Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight." - Benjamin Franklin

For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. - Lily Tomlin

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Angry? - Calm down to remain wise

Indeed, it is never easy to calm down at time. However, we mustn't forget "Anger is only one letter, and one second, away from Danger". There are people who knows your weakness would like to make you angry in front of a crowd. Thus, always bear in mind that "He who anger you, conquers you."

When the wise get angry, they lose their wisdom. We must never answer an angry word with an angry word. It's always the second remark that starts the trouble.

The best cure for anger is delay. There's plenty of time. While delaying, think of the consequences. They're always worse than the cause.

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