Week 52, Way 52

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. - unknown

I've ended this journey with over 2,800 Twitter followers and 12 subscribers to the blog itself. But countless more people have read the blog and been inspired.

I usually share this quote with my students at the end of our communication experience but I also thought it was poignant to share here. It sums up this journey that I have gone on and that you have taken with me.

Becoming a better 'you' starts with your thoughts. If you think it, it plants a seed. And you want to grown tall, majestic trees, not stubby old weeds.

The book 'The Secret' offers up a lot of tools to live a more fulfilled life, but the book can summed up to this quote. If you think that you're going to fail - you will. But if you think success, success will come. And this is not a hokey excuse for living...it is the true. You are your thoughts.

Your assignment for the rest of your life - change your thoughts!

Week 51, Way 51

Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions. - Albert Einstein

It seems as if the doldrums of today have relegated us moping and moaning. But we must not let our imagination go the way of the world. Without your imagination, you will simply wake up and live each day as every other. But where is the fun in that?

When you use your imagination - you dare to dream. And if you dream it, you can achieve it. When I first started this blog, I imagined myself becoming a more positive and peaceful person. If you knew me in real life, you'd probably think that dream would never come true. But it did. Writing inspiring posts for a whole year has made me more inspired. It has challenged my old thoughts and beliefs and forced me to see things more clearly and succinct. I imagined this blog at Week 52 and that it was made me continue to write every week. I wanted my imaginative thoughts to become real life.

Your assignment this week is to imagine what next year could be like, then put pen to paper and make a plan so that you can turn those thoughts into real life.

Week 50, Way 50

"Understanding is a two-way street." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

I teach interpersonal communication and by the time that I have completed the 'listening' chapter, the class finally gets it. They realize that listening is an active process and they'd been missing the biggest component - understanding.

Understanding is a two way street...don't assume that someone heard you because they just so happened to be in the room while you spoke. Make sure that they heard you and that they spend time contemplating what they just heard. Make sure that you both come to an understanding.

So your assignment this week is to actively listen then confirm understanding with everyone that you meet. You make yourself a better person in the process and a heck of lot less frustrated.