Jenks Hypnosis and Training Center, LLC

805 N. Fir, Jenks, OK 74037    (918) 298-6884
Located in Jenks, America, near the heart of south Tulsa





Food For Thought

Most of my life, I have gathered statements, witticisms and wisdoms. Words of Grace that both teach and touch my heart. One because I love words - good, uplifting words. And two, if we can learn from the wisdom of the ages, we don't have to invent it ourselves. I've gathered from the ancient wisdom of Buddha to the rather contemporary wisdom of The River. (Yes, even Country Western music has it moments!) I give these tidbits to clients who truly need a lift to their spirits and sagging self esteem. I use them in my classes, in my sessions. And I use them in my life. I thought this month, I'd share some of these Grace Notes with you.

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.
Buddha


Over and over, I've said, "your thoughts, your words have power." What we think makes us who we are. We can choose to spiral downward. We can choose to soar into the heights. Our thoughts are our wings - or the chains that bind us.

What a man thinks of himself . . . determines, or rather, indicates his fate.
Henry David Thoreau


Fill your mind with positive thoughts. Value yourself. Remember, you are a compilation of all your thoughts. Only you have the power to make them positive or negative. So why negate yourself? There are plenty of folks out there willing to do that. You don't need to be one of them. Self confidence increases with accomplishments. Every day, remind yourself of the things you've done that you are proud of, that you consider worthwhile. The key word here is YOU. Forget what others think. (Actually they are so busy thinking about themselves, they have very little time left to think about you!)

The mind is slow in unlearning what it has been long in learning.
Seneca


Buddah and Seneca may have been decades apart, but they thought along the same line. Change takes time. It takes consistency. It requires two steps forward and one step back. No change is without backsets.

Learning to live is learning to let go.
Sogyal Rinpoche


Change is the only promise life offers. Nothing lasts forever - even the bad stuff and especially not the good stuff. Life is all about change. When you open your hands, you release the pain and are ready to receive something new. Something, perhaps, unexpected. Think of anger, pain, negative emotions as a hot coal sitting in the palm of your hand. You didn't put it there, but you are the one holding onto it. Who is being injured? You are. Do those who gave it to you know you still have it? Probably not. If they did, would they care? Probably not. So why are you holding on so determinedly? Release the past. Let go and live!

Perform every act in life as though it were your last.
Marcus Aurelius


If today were the last day you could spend on Earth, would you spend it angry, arguing, intolerant? Would you spend it closeted away pouting, brooding, wrapping yourself in gloomy thoughts? Life is short. Shorter than you think it will be. Tomorrow is a possibility, not a promise. Today is sacred. Not something to be wasted. Embrace all of life - the good and the bad. How can you embrace joy unless you have experienced sadness to know the difference?

Patience is the companion of Wisdom.
Augustine


Any change worth making is going to take a little time. This is especially true when making changes in yourself. You didn't get here in one day. You won't change your way out in one day. Be tolerant with yourself. Do your best each day. That is all that is asked of you. Let the rest go. Most likely, it will still be there tomorrow. Each day is a new beginning, unsullied, unmarred by yesterday. A clean slate ready to be filled with positive thoughts, words and actions. The past is not an indicator of today or tomorrow.

We never listen when we are eager to speak.
Cardinal Duc De La Rochefoucauld


One might think listening is a passive activity. One might need to think again. Listening requires catching not only the words but the thoughts, emotions and intentions of the speaker. It takes your full attention to listen. Your silent attentiveness is a gift only you can give.

Every once in awhile, a song comes along that really speaks to me. The River is one of those songs.

You know a dream is like a river ever changin' as it flows. And a dreamer's just a vessel that must follow where it goes. Trying to learn from what's behind you and never knowing what's in store makes each day a constant battle just to stay between the shores.

Too many times we stand aside and let the waters slip away 'til what we put off 'til tomorrow has now become today. So don't you sit upon the shoreline and say you're satisfied. Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.

There's bound to be rough waters and I know I'll take some falls, but with the good Lord as my captain I can make it through them all. . . . I'll never reach my destination if I never try.


Don't take life for granted. Life is life - Fight for it. Grab it with both hands and hang on. Life is a challenge - meet it head on. Stand proud. You make the choices of your life. You can't control the situations; you can't control other people-what they say, think, feel or do. You control only yourself. Life is an adventure - Dare it. Chance the Rapids. Dare the Tides.