Daily Motivator - July

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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

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July 17

Current possibilities

Pretty much anything you can imagine is eventually possible. Yet what you can act upon immediately is whatever is now possible.

Act to transform current possibilities into reality, and you create whole new sets of possibilities. Continue to act on those new possibilities you create, and you can make your way to any result.

By all means, look with determination toward the ultimate goal you seek. Then look around, where you are, and embrace the current possibilities that can move you toward that goal.

When there is just one possibility within reach, then no possibility can continue to stay out of reach. And wherever you are, whatever way you’ve traveled, there is always one possibility within reach.

You don’t have to figure out how to get all the way there. You just have to take one step, available to you right now, that will move you in the direction of your goal.

Take that step, and then the next and the next. By embracing and actualizing your current possibilities, you can achieve whatever you choose.

— Ralph Marston

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July 18

Your response is your choice

Decide today that what used to drain you, will now energize you. Direct your thoughts so that what used to frustrate you, will now make you more determined.

Make the choice that what previously angered you will now make you eager to create an alternative. Adjust your attitude so that what once would annoy you will now motivate you to be more focused.

Your response to anything is always your choice. Base that choice on what is best for you, best for all you love and care about.

Consider that nothing is inherently frustrating, maddening, boring or dismal. Whatever you feel about each circumstance or experience is what you have decided to feel.

Choose what you will take from each event, how you will feel about each circumstance, each encounter, each day. Feel empowered, creative, compassionate, effective and enthusiastic about making a difference.

Don’t let random events steal the goodness from your life. Decide how you will approach all the moments, how you will see them, how you will live them, and fill them all with the best you can imagine.

— Ralph Marston

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July 19

Willing to pay the price

To have anything desirable in your life, you have to do more than want it. You have to make it happen.

There are many great people, things, experiences that will make you feel good, that you want in your life. But wanting is not enough, even if it feels like you want them a whole, whole lot.

If you want the benefits, you also have to be eager to pay the costs. What distinguishes a goal from a fantasy is your willingness to put forth all the effort necessary to achieve that goal.

If you’re not willing to work for it, you don’t really want it. That’s perfectly okay, and the sooner you admit it, the better.

The sooner you admit it, the sooner you can begin creating what you really do want. You enable yourself to move forward toward whatever you are willing to work for.

Ask yourself what you’re eager to pay the price for. That’s what you truly want, and you’ll find great fulfillment in bringing it into your life.

— Ralph Marston

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July 20

Heart of authenticity

What if your life memories relied on the intensity of your experience instead of the sophistication of your technology? Would it change the way you approach what you do?

Imagine for a moment that there are no video cameras, no photo sharing apps. How would you make sure that twenty years from now, or even a month from now, you remember this day?

What would you do differently if you were doing it not to create a pretty picture, but to lock in a valuable memory? How would you live this day if all you could put into it were your thoughts, words and actions, and all you could take from it were memories?

Consider how you would live each moment if you never had a single thought of trying to impress others, or of doing something just because it’s popular. Challenge yourself to act from the heart of your authenticity.

Think of being in a place of incredible natural beauty, with no camera. Think of how you would take it all in, to experience it fully, not to merely record it.

Let go of the need to jump through all kinds of hoops for the purpose of projecting a certain image. Experience the genuine beauty of real life as it flows through the person you really are.

— Ralph Marston

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July 21

The opportunity in front of you

When there’s an opening, take it. When there’s progress to be made, make it.

Even if it’s not convenient or comfortable, do what you must. Although it may be far from the ideal situation, take the opportunity that’s in front of you.

Stay true to your values, and do what you must. Carry with you the highest of expectations, and seize the opportunity of here and now.

Fulfill the possibilities of this day, then prepare yourself to work on the next ones. New possibilities are always arriving, and they appear first to whoever is already on the move.

The opportunity in front of you may not be the best one you’ve ever seen. Even so, seizing that opportunity will prepare you and align you with the next opportunity, which could very well be much better.

There’s nothing gained by waiting for something better to come along. Go with the opportunity in front of you, and get yourself in the habit of achievement.

— Ralph Marston

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July 22

Prepared to persist

Expect your first attempt to work. At the same time, be prepared to quickly make another attempt.

When your initial attempt brings the results you intended, great. If it doesn’t, there’s no time to waste feeling disappointed and sorry for yourself.

Expect to succeed, and be prepared to persist. If one or two or a dozen options are exhausted, quickly round up some more options.

Just because success isn’t immediate, doesn’t mean it is out of reach. Know there’s a way, and persist.

What looks like genius is most often persistence. Be prepared to make enough attempts, and just about any achievement is within reach.

With persistence, soft droplets of water wear away the hardest stone. Imagine what you can now do with the power of persistence.

— Ralph Marston

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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

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July 24

Summon the power of motivation

Are you not motivated to take action? Then take action to get motivated.

Do some little something. That will make you feel like doing something more.

Motivation is not some esoteric power possessed only by elite achievers. Motivation happens when you mix desire or fear with some common sense, and add a touch of momentum.

To summon the power of motivation, first understand what you truly want. Next, remind yourself that you’ll have to take some action to fulfill that desire.

Finally, go ahead and give yourself a taste of that action, even if it’s just a small one. Once you feel yourself acting to reach a goal you really, truly desire, you’ll want a lot more of that great feeling.

At that point, guess what? You’re motivated, and you can ride that motivation wherever you intend to go.

— Ralph Marston

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July 25

Each and every step

Pay no attention to how difficult it has been, or will be. Focus only on what you can do right now.

Put the whole of your attention and energy into what you can do now, into what you are doing now. Give your best to it, learn from it, pull more and more excellence out of it.

In the small moments, big achievements are built. Success is a matter of fully utilizing enough small moments.

It’s great to have big ambitions and high expectations, and to let them drive you forward. For today though, focus intently on what you can do today, and on getting it done to the best of your ability.

The task at hand may seem minor. Yet this is the task that matters the most now, because this is the task you are doing.

Give all your respect and focus to each and every step along the way. By so doing, you’ll reach the most spectacular destination you can imagine.

— Ralph Marston

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July 26

Opportunity in misfortune

Something negative, disruptive, disappointing has happened in your life. Use it to your advantage.

Opportunity comes dressed in many forms. Great opportunity often comes dressed as misfortune.

Don’t waste that opportunity mired in feeling sorry for yourself. Jump into it with all you have, and discover how strong, resilient, capable, effective you can be.

When things look hopeless is when positive, aggressive action makes the biggest difference. Instead of shrinking from the moment, seize it and run with it.

Decide to redirect the energy of whatever is pushing against you. Take it and make it propel you ahead.

Embrace the situation, knowing you can make it work for you. Success is there, ready for you to step boldly forward and claim it.

— Ralph Marston

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July 27

Go ahead

Your next move does not have to be perfect. Just go ahead and make it.

The situation is what it is. Go ahead, accept it, and you can find good ways to work with it.

You may not feel particularly inspired, creative, effective or energetic at the moment. Go ahead anyway, and give your best effort.

Regardless of what has or has not happened, you can go ahead and make progress today. Instead of wondering what could have been, or making judgments about what is, go ahead and make a positive difference in your world.

Go ahead, even if you don’t feel like it, especially if you don’t feel like it. Now is the time you have, now is the moment to utilize, and you’ll soon thank yourself for doing so.

Step over the doubts, the excuses, the hesitation, and step into action. Go ahead, and give the best you can to this amazing life you’re living.

— Ralph Marston

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July 28

Choose strength

What is inside you is completely yours to choose. Choose strength, endurance, kindness, love.

Though you can make great, intelligent, informed effort, sometimes that effort fails. Though you can give your absolute best, sometimes forces beyond your control render your actions useless.

Yet even when disappointment is piled on top of disappointment, you can face forward with hope and the highest expectations. When life utterly fails to reward, you can reward yourself with new strength, with fresh resolve to keep going.

You have your life, you have your choice of how to see it, you have your strength of will. Choose to be strong inside, and nothing can invalidate that choice.

Though you can prudently avoid many problems, and cleverly solve many others, some things you just have to endure. And you can, when you make the commitment to yourself to be strong.

Just because life can be disappointing, doesn’t mean you have to be. Choose strength, endurance, kindness, love.

— Ralph Marston

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July 29

Challenge yourself

You’ve done many good things. Challenge yourself to do more.

You’re strong, capable, smart, resourceful. Challenge yourself to push your capabilities beyond their previous limits.

There’s nothing more enriching than a meaningful challenge, and the commitment to work through it. Give that special richness to yourself.

Don’t settle for the assumption that the best of life is behind you. Challenge yourself to look forward with the highest expectations ever.

Don’t allow yourself to hide behind excuses. Re-imagine those excuses, transforming them into reasons for moving forward.

Challenge yourself to exceed yourself, to be better than you’ve ever been. You’ll quickly thank yourself for having the fortitude to follow through on it.

— Ralph Marston

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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