Happy New Year 2008

“The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.”

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

As a new year cascades forward with new beginnings....

May all of us be blessed with Happiness and Well being to last throughout the year

H ours of happy times with friends and family

A bundant time for relaxation

P rosperity

P lenty of love when you need it the most

Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber

E verything you need

W ishing you love and light

Y ears and years of good health

E njoyment and mirth

A ll your tomorrows are bright

R emembrances of happy years!

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Preparing for the New Year

An important part of preparing for the New Year is to review the past year and to learn from it.…

I learned many lessons this year and I know I still have a lot to learn. What about you?

Reflect upon what you did, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn’t and what you learned.

Here are some questions useful for reflection:

What did I learn?
What did I accomplish?
What would I have done differently?
What were the most significant events of the year past?
What did I do right?
What do I feel especially good about?
What was my greatest contribution?
What were my biggest challenges/difficulties?
What am I particularly grateful for?

"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." - Bill Vaughan

Do not look forward to the New Year for a new start on old habits but rather examine your actions and deeds.

May we find out what matters most so that we can do better in the year to come.

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Remember the important things in life

You see the above almost every day and yet you might not recognize the real logo.

Indeed, there are many things that we see everyday. However, that does not mean we can remember them better because many a time, we see but do not notice. Moreover, we tend to remember what is more important, or what has had an impact.

"So often we overlook the important while attending to the urgent."

“Always tell the truth - it's the easiest thing to remember” - David Mamet

“Remember, people will judge you by your actions, not your intentions. You may have a heart of gold -- but so does a hard-boiled egg.”

“Happiness isn't something you experience; it's something you remember.” - Oscar Levant

Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time and never forget everything and every person that has the least place within your heart.

May we remember all those people who have been with us throughout the year. May we never forget what is worth remembering, nor ever remember what is best forgotten.

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How will you paint your life?

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it." - Danny Kaye

The world is full of beauty when the heart is full of love. Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them.

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in." - Amy Lowell

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary" - Pablo Picasso

I find the following paper art slide really amazing. Check it out!


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Quality Expectations

“The Quality of Expectations determines the Quality of our Action.” - A. Godin

According to PBN.com, In the last five years, there is an increase in customers’ expectations in terms of:

• Customer service levels – 81.3%
• Competitive pricing – 75.0%
• Faster turnaround – 68.8%
• Product quality – 43.8%

What about your own expectations about yourselves? Are you happy with how you are living your life now? It is good that we spend some time and think about it. Our wrong expectations may hinder our path in life because it is very seldom that an individual exceed his own expectations.

“Our environment, the world in which we live and work, is a mirror of our Attitudes and Expectations.” - Earl Nightingale

“If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.” - Norman Vincent Peale

“When we create something, we always create it first in a thought form. If we are basically positive in attitude, expecting and envisioning pleasure, satisfaction and happiness, we will attract and create people, situations, and events which conform to our positive expectations.” - Shakti Gawain

“Our limitations and success will be based, most often, on your own expectations for ourselves. What the mind dwells upon, the body acts upon.” - Denis Waitley

"Whatever we expect with confidence becomes our own self-fulfilling prophecy." - Brian Tracy

Although, it maybe hard to live up to other people expectations, but don't give up on yourself. If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can't, you're right too! Make very sure that you have great and quality expectations to do better.

Photo by kkimpel taken from this source

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Preparation is a necessity for success

“Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure.” - Confucius

During festive seasons, my mum needs to spend almost the entire day to prepare a sumptuous dinner for the family. The preparation takes many hours but it takes less than an hour to finish the meal.

Building a successful business, doing well in studies or even to be able to cook a nice meal takes a lot of preparation. Are you willing to pay the price for success?

You can be successful if you are making all the necessary preparations.

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”

“Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results” - Dennis Wholey

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - Benjamin Franklin

"It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret." - Jackie Joyner-Kersee

“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.” - Arthur Ashe

In order to excel in anything, you must be prepared to work hard. Success takes work and preparation. Are you willing to put forth the time and effort that it takes?

Photo by LaDiabla taken from this source

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Learn to adapt to changes

"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail." - Abraham H. Maslow

One of the reasons that may hinder us from reaching our goals is our inability to be flexible. Being too rigid in our thinking tends to make us difficulty in adapting to change. Adapting to changes in our lives sometimes can be easy and at other times can be difficult.

Everywhere, major change is occurring. Those especially in technology fields have to rethink the way they look at markets. I remember in the past, all banks put up signs that mobile phones are not allow in the bank. However, as more and more people are having mobile phone, I could now see many people using mobile phones in any of the bank without any problem. Think why?

“The key to success is often the ability to adapt.”

"When we allow ourselves to adapt to different situations, life is easier." - Catherine Pulsifer

"The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings." - K. Okakaura

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher” - Chinese Proverbs

“Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” - Nolan Ryan

"If you do not change, you can become extinct. Get out of your comfort zone and adapt to change sooner. Take control, rather than let things happen to you." - Dr. Spencer Johnston

The only constant is change. Sometimes things change and are never the same again. Will you be ready?

Photo 1 by oskay taken from this source
Photo 2 by mattymatt taken from this source

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50th Years of Independence

Today, Malaysia is celebrating 50th years of independence.

May all Malaysians continue to live in peace and harmony and have a fair and equal chance of success.

A happy birthday to Malaysia!

Some Questions for Malaysians to ponder

• Do you appreciate the meaning of Merdeka?
• Are we more united after these 50 years?
• Is everyone really being treated fairly?
• Are we experiencing a brain drain? What are the causes?
• Is there really a fair opportunity to education, employment and business?
• Why is there still discrimination?
  

“Any discrimination, like sharp turns in a road, becomes critical because of the tremendous speed at which we are traveling into the high-tech world of a service economy.” - Clarence Thomas

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing." - 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV)

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Awaken your potential!

"You are the only person on earth who can use your ability." - Zig Ziglar

We are all born with potential. The potential for greatness actually lives within each of us.

However, many still do not realize of those unique potential of body, mind and spirit that he or she possesses. Sometimes, we just don't know how great we can be! What we can accomplish! And what our potential is!

"No matter what the level of your ability, you have more potential than you can ever develop in a lifetime." - James T. Mccay

To be successful, it is very important to know where to set your focus. The key to unlock our potential is continuous effort and be improvement-conscious. To unleash your potential, you need to get rid of your false beliefs.

"Questions provide the key to unlocking our unlimited potential." - Anthony Robbins

"To accomplish great things we must first dream, then visualize, then plan... believe... act!" - Alfred A. Montapert

Do find out how and I hope you can live up to your full potential.

Photo 1 by tsmyther taken from this source
Photo 2 by tsmyther taken from this source

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Know Your Purpose In Life

"The tragedy of life is what dies inside a man while he lives." - Albert Schweitzer

Everything is created for a certain purpose.

A glass bottle is created to serve as a packaging container for wine, spirits, beverages, and personal care products. It is ridiculous if we were to use it as a hammer. A glass bottle will break into pieces if used wrongly as a hammer.

Your life too has its purpose. Without a firm idea and the purpose of life, one cannot live and would sooner destroy oneself pursuing wrong things in life.

“We have not come into the world to be numbered; we have been created for a purpose; for great things: to love and be loved.” - Mother Teresa of Calcutta

"The meaning of life is to give life meaning." - Ken Hudgins

“Purpose is what gives life a meaning.” - Charles H. Perkhurst

“You come into the world with nothing, and the purpose of your life is to make something out of nothing” - Henry Louis Mencken

“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” - Mitch Albom

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds:

• Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world.
• Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and your discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” - Patanjali
  

"Outstanding people have one thing in common: an absolute sense of mission." - Zig Ziglar

"Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose." - Leonardo da Vinci

What would you think of a person who used up all his life before finding out its purpose? Make very sure you have find out your purpose in life!

Photo by Dr Phil taken from this source

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Human Change When Their Status Change

“To the generous mind the heaviest debt is that of gratitude, when it is not in our power to repay it.” - Benjamin Franklin

Source: Internet e-mail

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Live a balanced life

Nowadays, in our lives, we are taking on so many roles that we ought to constantly remind ourselves to do our best to find the right balance. As for me, I am a Husband, Father, Son, Manager, Employee, Friend, Christian, Preacher, Blogger and the list can just go on.

"People with great gifts are easy to find, but symmetrical and balanced ones never." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"At times, it is difficult to keep a proper balance in our lives. But, over time, an improper balance will lead to problems." - Catherine Pulsifer

“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.” - Brian Tracy

“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is a gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness.” - Stephen R. Covey

"In fact, everyone should take time out once in a while to recharge and revitalize their energy. The key is to have a balanced life." - Michael Lee, CPA

"Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony." - Thomas Merton

Bill Gates says "In my 20s, I worked very, very hard. I have a much more balanced life now."

Check out: The Interactive Wheel of Life - maybe it can help you to find and map your life balance.

Well, what is your balance? Is it family, work and service?

Photo 1 by Sipula taken from this source
Photo 2 by bubblestar taken from this source

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Vision Affects Your Attitude

This post is dedicated to my friend Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness for her remarkable meme titled "Hold the Vision".

The world is in the hands of us all. We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools. If we only listen!, I envision in years to come, people of all nations can blend together harmoniously. Then, major problems such as pestilence, war, famine, intolerance will fade away. All people can then look forward to a clear bright future!

“When you have vision, it affects your attitude. Your attitude is optimistic rather than pessimistic.”- Charles R. Swindoll

“A different world cannot be built by indifferent people”

"We are not here merely to make a living. We are here to enrich the world." - Woodrow Wilson

Let's encourage one another because anyone of us can make a difference. However, we must not forget that great accomplishment requires persistence. We can learn a great deal about persistence from a video about the growth of Bamboo Tree.

Photo by carf taken from this source

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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

“Art is making something out of nothing and selling it.” - Frank Zappa

On the right is a painting of butterfly and flowers, but if you move away from your screen, you may notice a beautiful girl instead.

This is a simple illustration of this saying: "We tend to perceive what we expect to perceive."

“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others.” - Jonathan Swift

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Photo by gandhiji40 taken from this source

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The future is NOW!

"For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow only a vision. But today, well-lived, makes every yesterday, a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope and joy. Look well then to this day."

"Today is the future I created yesterday."

“Make the best of today, for there is no tomorrow until after today.”

"Your future is created by what you do today, not tomorrow" - Robert Kiyosaki

"The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today's work supremely well."

"The poor, the unsuccessful, the unhappy, the unhealthy are the ones who use the word tomorrow the most" - Robert Kiyosaki

Photo by tricky. taken from this source

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Remember to Pass It On Well

“We have the power to make this the best generation of mankind in the history of the world - or to make it the last.” - John Fitzgerald Kennedy

“Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it” - George Orwell

“It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children and of future generations.” - Christine Gregoire

“If you want happiness for a lifetime - help the next generation.”

Photo by DistortionDotUS taken from this source

Frequent Self check is necessary

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Tony Robbins says: "The past does not predict the future - unless you live in it".

That last part - "unless you live in it" is the key - because we all do. Somehow, many still have not come to the realization of this fact. We may not make any good progress until we had truly decided to change for the better.

Dale E. Turner says: “Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.”

That's true. However, make sure you got get rid of all painful and damaging thoughts that entrap you. Forgive and love yourself and let go of the past and learn to live in the now.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

“He who moves not forward, goes backward” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” - C.S. Lewis

Photo by kukies taken from this source

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You need to look within

“The outer conditions of a person's life will always be found to reflect their inner beliefs” - James Allen

"Look within!... The secret is inside you." - Hui-neng

"Seeing within changes one's outer vision." - Joseph Chilton Pearce

"When a wise man is advised of his errors, he will reflect on and improve his conduct."

“The superior man will watch over himself when he is alone. He examines his heart that there may be nothing wrong there, and that he may have no cause of dissatisfaction with himself.” - Confucius

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” - Mark Twain

"The unexamined life is not worth living." - Socrates

Photo by justindc taken from this source

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Condition your mind for success

In some mysterious way the subconscious mind tends to actualize what we visualize. So, even when the roof is caving in, picture yourself as a giant success.

"To win a race, you must first win it in your mind."

“Great athletes train their minds as well as their bodies. There are various mental conditioning techniques many use when preparing for an event. Perhaps the best known technique is visualization, creating a mental image not only of the desired result (the gold medal, a new world record, a hole-in-one), but also of every move that will be taken en route to the ultimate goal.”

I had started another blog with this objective; that is to help you condition your mind using images or photos. For example, if you were to mimic this photo and you will feel like laughing. Try it!

Photo by frogarythm taken from this source

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Having the ability is not good enough

“Ability is of little account without opportunity.” - Napoleon Bonaparte

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." - Lou Holtz

"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden

"Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence is the key to unlocking our potential." - Liane Cardes

"Joy comes from using your potential" - Will Schultz

“For success, attitude is equally as important as ability.” - Harry F. Banks

“You have to have confidence in your ability, and then be tough enough to follow through.” - Rosalynn Carter

“Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.” - Zig Ziglar

“We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision.”

Photo by mscaprikell taken from this source

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