Daily Motivator - July
 

July 1

Positive influence

The actions you take do not stop with you. They travel far beyond you, to people and places you may never know about.

Any time you create new value, that value does not merely benefit you. It takes on a life of its own, setting the stage for more positive value throughout the world.

Some positive action you took in the past has made someone’s life better today. The world just became a better place because you made the choice to do the right thing, weeks, months or even years ago.

Once you take action it begins to have an influence, and you cannot control how far that influence extends. What you can do is to make your action a meaningful and beneficial one.

Each time you act, you have one chance to make sure your action has a positive influence as its consequences spread throughout life. Put the best of yourself into your actions, so they filter through the world in a beneficial way.

The consequences of your actions go far beyond you. Put goodness, truth and integrity into all you do, and you’ll lift up life in more ways than you’ll ever know.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 2

When the truth hurts

When the truth hurts, that’s when you better pay attention. In each painful truth is opportunity for new strength.

Those who agree when they know you are wrong are doing you no favor. Listen instead to those who care enough to tell the truth even when you don’t want to hear it.

If you run from the truth it will soon overwhelm you. If you fight against the truth, you will lose.

Choose instead to face the truth. Learn from it, do what you must to align yourself with it, and grow stronger.

When it hurts to hear the truth, be thankful. Because you’ve been given the opportunity to avoid much more pain later on.

Get yourself on the side of truth, whatever it may be. The more the truth hurts, the more it can help you.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 3

Move on

You’re going along great, making progress, enjoying the effort, and then an unexpected interruption crashes your efforts to the ground. So, deal with the interruption, then let it go, and move on.

You’ve worked long and hard to achieve the results you desire, but the results you end up getting are not what you wanted. Accept the disappointment, learn all you can from it, and move on.

Out of the blue, something new and wonderful suddenly comes into your life. So enjoy the moment fully, and then move on.

Whether it’s pleasant or unpleasant, expected or unexpected, fulfilling or disappointing, life brings new substance every day. Live it fully, making the most of what comes, and then get moving along.

Don’t keep fighting against the bad stuff that’s already occurred, or continue clinging to the good stuff that’s already over. Let what has happened be what has happened, and move on.

Whether it’s been wonderful or disappointing or a mixture of both, be thankful for whatever you’ve just experienced. Feel your renewed inspiration, activate your new strength, and move positively on.

— Ralph Marston

July 4

Enabled by freedom

Freedom gives us the opportunity to succeed, and also to fail. Freedom allows us to make our own way in life, and insists that we accept responsibility for doing so.

Freedom and responsibility simply cannot exist apart from each other. You can remain free only by being fully responsible for your life, your actions, and your role in a free society.

Though millions have died for it, and most would choose freedom over any alternative, freedom can at times be frightening. It often imposes difficult decisions, and requires valiant effort to maintain.

Though freedom is the best course, it is seldom the easiest. Yet freedom is worth the effort, for it is a human catalyst that has no equal.

The best way to celebrate freedom is to use it wisely. The best way to protect freedom is to make sure as many people as possible benefit from it.

Freedom enables you to do great things. Today, and every day, take freedom up on the offer.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 5

Your moment to begin

The best time to start is now. The best place to start is here.

The best resources to use are whatever you have. The best way to proceed is by doing whatever you can do.

It's fine to have ambitious and detailed plans, but the plans are not the achievement. Achievement requires action, and the sooner you start the better.

It's good to study carefully and prepare yourself for the effort. Yet much of what you need to know, you'll have to learn as you go along, so go, do, learn, achieve.

Don't let the good things you envision stay stuck in your imagination. Give them life by giving them your immediate and persistent effort.

There are countless things you can do to make life better. And now is your moment to begin.

Ralph Marston

July 6

Do something about it

Today you can decide you will. Today you can do what you decide.

Today you do not have to beg or wish or wait for permission. Today you can do what must be done, what you would love to get done.

Your dreams have teased you long enough. Today you can act to make them real.

You’ve avoided your best possibilities all too often. With your efforts today you’re able to push them into reality.

Transform the disappointments of the past into determination. Take the energy from every feeling and point it all in a positive direction.

One moment ends, another begins, and you can make use of every one. Ask yourself what you love and treasure and today, do something about it.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 7

Persistent positive example

You can choose to be kind, even when others are not. You can speak truthfully, even when some people seek to deceive.

You can be generous, respectful, polite and positive, no matter how the world responds. You can be joyful without any particular reason.

When wasting time on trivial minutia is the popular thing to do, you can fill your moments with substance. Instead of fighting to prove others wrong, you can listen, learn and understand.

If you want the world to be kind, considerate, honest and sincere, show the world how. Living your values is much more effective than preaching and lecturing about them.

A light in the darkness is always noticed, even when it is not acknowledged. Shine your light often enough, and it cannot help but make a difference.

You have the option to live a good and valuable life every day. Live well, be a persistent positive example, and allow the world to follow along.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 8

Live with intention

The distractions distract you not because of their power, but because of your weakness to resist. Intention eliminates that weakness.

When you’re clear about what’s important, you don’t have to be bothered by what’s not. When you’re committed to a specific result, distractions bounce right off you.

Ask yourself this and insist on a detailed answer. What do you intend to do today?

Your life is too important to let it be controlled by people you don’t even know. Your time is too precious to waste on things that have no meaning.

Today is filled with opportunities to create value, satisfaction, fulfillment. Instead of getting pulled in a hundred meaningless directions, choose your path and stay on it.

Live this day with respect and appreciation for the beautiful, unique life that’s yours. Live this day with intention.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 9

See the pathway

You are surrounded by valuable opportunities right now. How many of them can you see?

Mostly, you see whatever you expect to see. So on this day, in this place, what are your expectations?

There are far too many details in the world for you to notice them all. Your expectations act as a filter for your awareness.

When you change your expectations, you change the things that catch your attention. Raise your expectations, and new opportunities pop into view.

What good opportunities have you missed because you did not expect to see them? What opportunities would you like to see now?

Choose a destination, and expect to reach it. Suddenly you’ll see the pathway there.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 10

Good to be honest

It feels good to be honest, even when that honesty is difficult. It feels powerful to be on the side of truth, even when there is pain in the truth.

Admitting who you are, refreshes your spirit. Stop struggling to hide your desires, insecurities, ambitions, fears, likes and dislikes, and feel how good it feels to be genuine.

Let yourself be yourself. You’ll find it is much easier than pretending to be someone or something you are not, and a whole lot more fulfilling.

Admit what you love, and then put your energy into doing something about it. You were born to be you, and your greatest success will come from doing what you were born to do.

There is greatness within you that can only be reached by being honest about who you are. Let go of the pretenses, and let that greatness shine through.

You have a unique and valuable perspective to offer the world. Be honest, without compromise, about what matters to you, and bring your own special treasure to life.

— Ralph Marston

July 11

Doing great

You’re making progress. Now you can make more.

You’ve done some things right and some things wrong. Now you can learn from them all, and apply that experience to move forward.

You know how good it feels to stay focused on a goal, and to make a difference. Today you can earn yourself some more of that good feeling.

With your efforts, you’ve survived every challenge, and those efforts have made you strong. Now you can become even stronger.

Though you have felt fear, you have not let that fear stop you. You’ve shown yourself how much courage you have, and now you can put that courage to new use.

Through the ups and downs, setbacks and victories, pains and joys, you’ve succeeded in making your way here. You’re doing great, so keep going.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 12

Dissatisfaction

Are you always wishing you were somewhere else? Well, for the moment you’re not, so your best choice is to make the most of where you are.

Do you wish you had more money, resources, time, connections or experience? The way to get those things you don’t yet have is to make full use of what you do have.

Do you fear what you’re doing is causing you to miss out on something better? Remind yourself you’re doing what you’re doing because of the choices you’ve made, and honor those choices.

Wishing for something better takes time and energy away from actually creating something better. Stop wishing and start creating.

Pay attention to your feelings, but don’t let them destroy your effectiveness. Listen to your desires, devise a realistic plan to get where you want to be, and work that plan.

Feel your dissatisfaction, and take positive energy from it. Transform that energy into focused effort, and push your life where you want it to go.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 13

Do a little more

When you've done all that needs to be done, you've earned the opportunity to go above and beyond. Instead of stopping when you're finished, you can take advantage of the momentum you've created.

When you do just what's needed, just what's expected, you'll always manage to get by. Yet by adding a little extra effort, you can exceed expectations and move into the realm of greatness.

When you've given the task all you can, consider giving a little more. That extra effort will magnify the value of what you've already done.

In a 14-minute, 5000 meter footrace, the difference between first and second place is often just a few hundredths of a second. Just a fraction of a percent of extra effort, of extra speed, wins the race.

Extra effort transforms mediocrity into excellence. Extra effort leverages what you've already done, sometimes increasing the reward by orders of magnitude.

If you've done enough, do a little more. Discover what a big difference it can make.

-Ralph Marston

July 14

New value to create

Don’t let a few problems stop you. Don’t let a few obstacles stand in your way.

Instead of running from the problems, step boldly toward them. Instead of using them as an excuse to quit, use them to develop a path for moving forward.

With each problem, you can choose to either work through it or to work around it. What you don’t want to do is back away from it.

The value of any achievement comes from the problems that must be addressed to reach that achievement. Diamonds are more difficult to mine than gravel, and so are worth much more.

When you’re good at solving problems, you’re good at creating value. When you’re willing to deal with problems, you’re able to achieve great things.

In this life there will always be problems. And so, there will always be new value to create.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 15

Obligations and responsibilities

The obligation to do something is not the problem. The problem is your anxiety about it.

The responsibility you have is not the problem. The problem is your resentment of it.

Instead of trying to avoid obligations and responsibilities, focus on their benefits. They burden you only to the degree you see them as burdens.

Following through on your obligations will earn you respect. Upholding your responsibilities will give you influence with others.

Every person has a desire to matter, to make a difference. Obligations and responsibilities enable you to make a difference in a meaningful, positive way.

Choose to stop fighting, stop worrying, stop complaining about obligations and responsibilities. Embrace the great richness they can bring.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 16

Beautiful place

Each day has its own beauty. See the beauty, live the beauty in this unique day.

Wind blows, rain falls, stars shine, friends cry, families gather, joy appears from nowhere. Your experience of life gains more substance.

Tragedies, pleasant surprises, disappointments, and discoveries happen, journeys are ended and friendships begun. Let it all build your strength, deepen your understanding and liberate your love.

Before you judge, if you judge at all, take a moment to appreciate, to learn, to empathize. Expect to see beauty, especially when it’s not obvious, for it is surely there.

Notice again and again how fortunate you are. The evidence is all around you, and beautiful, and well worth gathering into your awareness.

Fall in love again each moment with the beauty, letting its freshness lift your spirit. Give yourself the formidable benefit of living always in a beautiful place.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 17

Challenging environment

If your efforts are not bringing results, don’t make yourself into a victim, complaining about how unfair life is. Change your efforts, making them more focused and effective.

If something is not working for you, don’t make a lot of excuses or look for someone to blame. Instead, look for how you can change your strategy.

Yes, conditions have changed and they will continue to change even faster than before. Rather than seeing that as an excuse, see it as an opportunity.

Doing something new is not a sure thing, but if you refuse to change, it is a sure thing that you’ll get yourself stuck in the past.

If whatever has worked in the past no longer works, that can be disturbing and uncomfortable. Can you find a way to see discomfort as your friend, to push on through, and to transform a disappointing change into a positive opportunity?

Life is not fair, and the world does not stand still, waiting for you to catch up. Yet even in such a challenging environment, you have what it takes to experience a rich and fulfilling life.

— Ralph Marston

July 18

Thankful no matter what

Whatever you are thankful for gains value from your thankfulness. Whatever you appreciate becomes more useful and accessible by virtue of your appreciation.

You get much more from life when you appreciate what you already have. That’s true for relationships, resources, skills, situations and experiences.

The circumstances hardest to appreciate are where appreciation can make the greatest positive difference. Find a way to appreciate, and you find your way to new value.

Goodness comes into your life in countless forms. Gratitude takes you to the heart of goodness, no matter how it appears on the outside.

It’s easy to be thankful for the pleasant things, and certainly a good idea to do so. Yet it is even more empowering and transformative to be thankful for all the other things.

Find a way to be thankful, no matter what. You’ll find new value each time you do.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 19

Do what is best

What do you do when you feel like nothing you do is appreciated? Continue with what you know is best, for even when no one else seems to care, it matters that you care.

Don’t let anyone steal your values or your self esteem. Do what you know is best, no matter what response you get.

If you think no one notices, you’re mistaken. You notice, and that makes an enormous difference.

The purpose of doing good is not to look good, not to impress anyone. Do what is right because it is right, and feel the inner peace, the inner strength it brings.

Ultimately, integrity wins. Truth and goodness cannot be denied for long.

Do what is best, but not for show. Do what is right, what is best, because your precious life deserves nothing less from you.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 20

When fighting stops

Progress happens when fighting stops. Accept this moment, these conditions, the people around you, and move forward.

Change is essential, unavoidable, and positive change is the result of a positive perspective. Rather than fighting against what is, work to transform it into something more beneficial for everyone.

Life is not perfect, and will never be. Yet within the imperfection is great beauty, much power, value and fulfillment.

You won’t find a perfect solution to every problem, yet you can successfully address each problem. Get good things done not by striving to make everything perfect, but by working around the imperfections.

Enjoy the moment without trying to force the joy. Let it be what it is, and feel the immense power of not having to fight it.

It is by gracefully joining in life’s flow that you can offer your own positive influence. Practice acceptance, and point all your power in a good and useful direction.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 21

Get the work done

Every effort you make, makes the goal feel more achievable. Celebrate each small victory by immediately going to work on the next one.

Every step you take creates more motivation to take the next step. If you don’t feel motivated to work, the very best thing you can do is get to work.

You are in control of what you do from moment to moment. Choose over and over again to exercise that control wisely.

Benefit your life by putting effective effort into it. Expand the richness of your whole world by giving your time, your thought, your focus, your action to make a difference.

Feel your feelings, enjoy them, learn from them, but don’t let them imprison you in complacency. Whether you feel like it or not, it’s in your best interest to make the effort.

Decide not to let the distractions, setbacks or excuses stop you. Get going, get the work done, and discover again how great it feels.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 22

Power of life

Quiet your thoughts now, take a slow, deep breath and feel life itself. Just feel, without the need to label, the essence that is you.

Allow yourself to feel love for all you love. Allow your vision of life at its best to fill your awareness.

Stay here a moment, and remind yourself, this is what’s important. Pure, authentic life and love are what matter.

Nothing can take the best of you away from you. Through pain, loss, achievement, joy, ups and downs, you still can love all that you love.

In any situation, you can give of yourself to life. You can always make a difference, you can always matter, you can always love.

Remind yourself of the good, unique power that is your own life. Remind yourself now to point that power in a worthy, meaningful direction.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 23

Consider the possibilities

Before you decide something is too much trouble, step back. Is it really, or are you just making excuses?

Before you conclude something is out of your reach, pause and ask yourself. Is it really, or are you just reluctant to venture away from what's familiar and comfortable?

There are many factors that can hold you back. Don't let your own thinking, your own assumptions, your own generalizations be among those factors.

It's easy to know something is possible and practical if you've already done it. For everything else, don't let yourself be too quick to dismiss it.

Think of things you now take for granted that were once considered out of reach. Some of your assumptions may no longer be valid, even those that were once indisputable.

With each day, with each discovery, with each turn of events, new possibilities are born. Don't let the best ones pass you by just because you think they're not for you.

-Ralph Marston

July 24

Proven path

An action that doesn’t get very good results is still better than no action at all. Being mediocre at doing something is better than being highly skilled at doing nothing.

Your initial effort at solving the problem or reaching the achievement may not work. But that’s no reason to avoid the effort.

Even if you fail, and fail again, you can still reach the success you seek. However, if you let the fear of failure prevent you from taking action, you will never achieve that success.

Do your best. If that’s not good enough, get better.

The way to get better is by doing. Whether the results are what you intended or not, every action makes you stronger, more capable, more experienced and more effective.

Develop your best strategy, take action, learn from it, and do it again. That is the proven path to wherever you wish to go.

— Ralph Marston

July 25

Active participation

Don’t let this be a time you look back on with regret for not doing more. Make this a day you recall with satisfaction for all you were able to do.

Even if you don’t particularly feel like making the effort, you can make the effort nonetheless. Even if a dozen obstacles stand in your way, you can step forward and make progress.

Fill the moments with effective action, not lame excuses. Today will only be available to you today, so use it while you can.

Demonstrate your gratitude for the life you treasure by doing something valuable with it. Express your love for all you care about by offering your active support.

You are here right now with knowledge, skills, resources, energy, and a desire to matter. Give yourself and your world something to show for it all.

Your future begins in this moment. Fill it with meaningful richness through your active participation.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 26

Positive and realistic

Being positive about your prospects will improve your prospects. You’ll be more energetic, more persistent, more effective.

A positive perspective might be justified, or it might not be. In either case, it’s the best choice.

Being positive does not mean you must deny that negative factors exist. Rather, it means you commit yourself to successfully working through those negative influences.

You’ll encounter plenty of challenges pushing back against your efforts. Don’t let your own outlook be one of those challenges.

Though negativity might be the most obvious reaction, it is not in your best interest. You can always choose to be both positive and realistic.

Give yourself the advantage of a positive perspective. No matter how difficult the situation, being positive will put you in the best position to deal with it.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 27

Encouraged about the future

Every prediction of the future is based on the past. No person knows for sure what will happen tomorrow, or next year.

If you’re tempted to be discouraged about the future, avoid that temptation. The results are not in yet, and you can act right now to dramatically improve those results.

There are billions of people in this world, seeking to live prosperous and fulfilling lives. Each day, a whole lot of them are doing so.

Countless new and worthwhile ideas are born every moment. In our highly interconnected world, good ideas and their implementations can quickly spread.

No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Yet there’s an enormous shared incentive, spread throughout the world, to make tomorrow a little better than today.

Let yourself envision a bright future ahead, then do something to make it so. You can be sure many others, every day, are doing the same.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 28

Enthusiastic energy

Activity creates energy. Involvement generates enthusiasm.

If you feel stuck, get up, get yourself moving, and create a change of scenery. If you feel bored or indifferent, make a commitment to make a positive difference for others.

Those who get the most out of life are those who put the most into it. Around every corner are situations where you can make meaningful contributions.

If you expect genuine fulfillment to be served to you on a silver platter, you’ll be sadly disappointed. If you’re cynical or dismayed, there’s much you can do to change your impression.

If you care about life enough to criticize it, then you can care enough to actively improve it. You can transform the power of your dismay and disappointment into energy that will make a positive difference.

Get yourself more active and get yourself more involved. Feel the joy and fulfillment of pointing enthusiastic energy in a positive direction.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 29

Get it done sooner

Do you want to get the most out of your effort? Then make that effort at the first minute rather than the last minute.

Is there something you’ve been putting off? The longer you procrastinate, the more difficult it will be.

Instead of spending most of your available time worrying that the job is not done, just go ahead and do it. Then you can spend the remaining time free of worry and full of satisfaction that the work is finished.

You’re going to have to do it sooner or later, so do it sooner. Give it your best by getting to it right away.

Use your time and energy to make progress, not to make excuses. Give yourself more good options by getting way out ahead of the deadline.

Want to make your work easier and less stressful? Then go ahead, right now, and get it done, long before you have to.

-Ralph S. Marston

July 30

Cut the nonsense

Refuse to accept any more nonsense from yourself. Refuse to settle for the same old excuses, draining thought patterns, destructive habits.

You deserve more. You deserve a life filled with the best you have to give it.

You don’t have to take any more abuse from your own thoughts and actions. You wouldn’t take it from anyone else, so you certainly don’t need to allow it from yourself.

Decide right now to feel empowered because you are empowered. Grab the control you’ve always had access to, and use it in crafting a life of excellence.

The difficult truth is you can do a whole lot more good in this life than you’ve ever done. Get yourself on the side of that truth, as inconvenient and uncomfortable as it may be.

Let your love overpower your fear. Cut the nonsense, and endure whatever is necessary to live the greatness you know you have.

Ralph S. Marston

July 31

Just let yourself

Instead of fighting against the work, just let yourself do it. Rather than worrying about the outcome, just let yourself make it happen.

What is the best technique for doing this or doing that, for ending procrastination, for staying focused, for seeing the world in a positive light? Stop obsessing over the best technique, and just let yourself.

There is power in you that you cannot explain, yet you can always use it. Just let yourself.

Create the intention, and hold it firmly within your awareness. Persist in just letting yourself do what that intention tells you to do.

You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve if you’ll just let yourself. Open your mind, open your heart, take a deep breath, step forward, and just let yourself.

Making progress is hard work, but not mysterious or complicated. Just let yourself.

— Ralph Marston