Today, I'd like to share a story sent to me yesterday by Jeff Lake.
It's based on a Japanese folktale, and it's called "The House of 1000 Mirrors"...
Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."
In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."
All the faces in the world are mirrors.
What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?
This morning, I received such an inspirational e-mail that I simply had to share it with you...
It came from Chris Seaton, one of my readers who coincidentally lives within my home county of Durham.
He shares a story of how his Random Act of Kindness really had a profound impact on one young lady's day...
* * *
Hi Karl,
The bride and I are regular readers of your inspirational emails, and we are great believers in random acts of kindness, and what a difference they can make. I'll tell you a little story here...
The other day, I was in our local Tesco joining the end of the queue at the checkout. I couldn't do anything as the belt was full, so I just stood looking around as one does. And then a couple of ladies joined the queue behind me. One was a young lady in her twenties, and the other, I was guessing (correctly, as it happened) her mother.
The young lady had a really nasty bright red/purple birthmark which covered most of her face. Now this may have come from reading your wonderful e-mails, but I put the biggest smile on my face I could muster, and greeted the two ladies, but I have to confess that I gave more eye contact to the young lady with the birthmark. Following that, a few polite words were exchanged about the weather, and then a space appeared on the belt, and I got on with the serious business of loading up my shopping.
As I was loading the car with my groceries, the young lady's mother walked over to me with a tear in her eye and thanked me warmly. She explained that most people look away from her daughter when they see her face, and that she was sitting in their car right now crying tears of joy because a stranger had given her full eye contact and treated her as normal.
When the lady had returned to her daughter in the car, I felt twenty feet tall.
PLEASE Karl, spread the word...
Ask your many subscribers to do something very important. When they see someone with a facial disfigurement or disability, look them in the eyes and give them a big smile, and a word if they have the time. The feeling is incredible.
Thanks for reading Chris & Tina
* * *
What a difference Chris made.
To read the original "Smile!" Random Act of Kindness, click here.
And so let me ask...
Could YOU raise a smile for someone in need of it today?
Here's one of the fundamental truths of the universe...
Everything in life arises in duality.
In order to have day, there must be night. In order to have cold, we must have hot. In order to have good, we must have bad.
This is one of the deepest lessons a human being can ever learn, and yet how many people truly understand it?
How many people continue to supress, deny, and resist the negative... And continually strive for positive-positive-positive?
How many individuals believe PURELY in one side of life... And REFUSE to let in the other?
Let me explain the meaning behind a symbol I bet you know only too well...
Most people know it as the "Yin-Yang" symbol, but it's actual name is the taijitu.
Apart from looking a "bit Eastern," have you ever wondered what this symbol really means?
It represents the concept of "Yin and Yang", which is ultimately the idea that everything arises in duality... and that you shouldn't resist the opposite, because it will always be there.
Look at the symbol.
The Yin (predominantly white segment) and the Yang (mainly black) are co-dependant. They cannot exist without each other. They do not exclude each other.
In fact, they support each other.
And look at the coloured dots within each. This represents the idea that part of yin is in yang, and part of yang is in yin. It represents a seed, a reminder that there is always trace of one within the other.
In bad, there is a trace of good. In masculine, there exists some feminine. In black, there exists some white. In the dark sky, there exist bright stars.
It reminds us that the potential for change is always present.
Have you ever put your hand in a freezing cold bath, only to pull it out sharply, thinking the water is boiling hot?
Even in cold, there is a potential for hot!
The two dualities are often closer than you think.
So the next time you find yourself trying to resist anything in life, step back and ask yourself whether you're really embracing the entire duality.
It's so simple that you might already do it. But maybe, just for today, you could say "Hello" or "Good morning" to those individuals you wouldn't normally.
You know who I mean. Those people that don't get the attention for one reason or another. They're the ones that most need it.
So pass it on. Say "Hello!" or "Good Morning!" at least a dozen times today to absolutely random people.
I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me And I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed--you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and After a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures, as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine Plus the intelligence of a person. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -- if makes no difference to me. Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.
How many people reading this are still putting off their happiness...
... Until tomorrow?
Seriously.
Are you thinking to yourself that you'll just get through today, and then TOMORROW you'll be happy? And when tomorrow comes, maybe you'll change the goal posts to next month? Or next year?
It's like a sign we have in the pubs here in the UK: "Free beer tomorrow."
And, of course, tomorrow never comes.
Life is only ever NOW.
Today's post is just to remind you that you're LIVING LIFE RIGHT NOW. You should be enjoying it!
If you're NOT in a place of happiness, why not? Perhaps you think the grass is greener on the other side?
No way.
Jimmy Dean said: "I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."
"Sheesh! I didn't know subscribing to this blog would cost me!!"
Well, it's all for a good cause - and you'll be making a little change in the world, and perhaps a massive change for one animal.
Let me share a little story with you...
An old man was watching a young boy flinging starfish back into the sea.
An exceptionally high tide had strewn millions of them over the beach and a merciless sun was drying them out and killing them. The more the old man watched the more agitated he got. It seemed like such a futile effort.
Finally he walked straight up to the boy and asked "Why are you throwing these starfish back into the sea. Can't you see there are millions of them? What possible difference can your efforts make?"
"Makes a difference to this one" replied the young boy.
And he flung another starfish far out to sea.
Today's Random Act of Kindness is to buy a few tins of dog/cat food from your local supermarket...
And then head down and donate them to your nearby animal shelter.
I'm not saying you'll change the world. But you'll certainly change the next few days for one being. And, really, that's all that matters.
These quotes will be published onto 50,000 "inspiration cards" and distributed to customers of the WCCL Network.
Well... It was tough. I mean, really tough.
However here are the final four quotes I chose to distribute to the "world." Deep and meaningful words that have really had a profound impact on my outlook on life.
Enjoy :)
* * *
"A ship is safe in harbor... But that's not what ships were built for" -- William Shed
"There is nothing either good or bad... But thinking makes it so" -- William Shakespeare
"All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become" --Buddha
"Life is not measured by its length... But by it's depth" -- Anonymous
That's King Henry the Eighth, if your Roman numerals are a bit dodgy.
The official answer is... two.
I know, I know. This Friday Factoid thing always sounds unbelievable.
In England and the US, British history students are taught that King Henry VIII had exactly six wives.
There was Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr.
You may recall that helpful mnemonic to help remember their ultimate fates: "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived."
But even though he did actually "marry" all six of his wives, only two of those marriages were official. Henry's fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled, as the couple never did the "deed," as it were. But annulment is not quite the same as divorce. Legally, it means the marriage never took place.
So, we're down to five...
The Pope officially declared his second marriage to Anne Boleyn illegal, because Henry was still officially married to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Henry - official head of the Church of England - in turn claimed that the first marriage with Catherine itself was also illegal, because the Old Testament ("God's Law") stated a man could not sleep with his brother's widow. Which she was.
"And then there were three."
Henry went on to declare his marriage to fifth wife, Catherine Howard, illegal too. He stated that she was unfaithful to him and so annulled the whole marriage. Oh, and he had her executed for adultery too -- just like Boleyn.
So officially, that makes four annulments and only two definitively legal marriages.
So how many wives did King Henry VIII have? Two.
Sounds like a real-life soap opera? You're not kidding.
Many years ago, when I used to work as a freelance development consultant, I entered the corporate offices of a large UK manufacturer.
I was only 18 at the time -- but I'd somehow landed this great job, outscoring the older applicants during the interview tests.
That's when I was informed of the secret plans of this group.
They intended to close down 80% of their factories...
They wanted me to build a system to help manage the whole downsizing and automation effort. Suddenly I remembered that my cousin worked for one of the factories they intended to shutdown.
"But why??" I asked. "They seem to be making you money!"
I just nodded at that point. I had no idea what they were talking about.
About three hours later, I knew what the Pareto principle was -- and I've been using it ever since. It's a way of thinking that can help you gain more pleasure out of ANYTHING...
The term comes from an Italian economist called Vilfredo Pareto. In the early 1900's, he made the mathematical observation that everywhere in life, 80% of consequences stem from 20% of causes.
It's commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule, and it means that...
... 80% of revenue comes from just 20% of the factories.
... 80% of orders come from 20% of customers.
... 80% of the world's money is owned by 20% of the people.
... 80% of your happiness is derived from 20% of your activities.
It's a rule-of-thumb measurement that genuinely works. I researched it. I applied it to my own life.
I realized that the Pareto principle... is real.
So, how can you apply the rule to yourself?
Well, ask yourself these questions...
.... Which 20% of your daily activites generate 80% of your income?
.... What 20% of your time brings you 80% of your enjoyment?
.... Which 20% of your spiritual development is bringing you 80% of your results?
And, like the factory owners, when you realize which 20% of causes are causing 80% of the results, you can decide whether to increase those causes, or let go of the 80% of wasted effort.
Today, I'd like to share with you a great little PowerPoint slideshow my friend Karen Hyde sent to me just a couple of days ago.
If you're feeling a slightly lost in your spiritual development, or you sense your soul is a little off-kilter, or you just have the weight of the world on your shoulders right now, then please download this.
I'm sure many people reading this post have seen "The Lion King."
I had colleagues that visited the studios years before it was released, and returned with prototype drawings. They were glorious.
I found the animation wonderful. And of course the one song that most people associate with the production is from Elton John...
"It's the Circle of Life.... And It Moves Us All!"
I love the lyrics to this one. And isn't it the truth?
No matter what we might think, we're all constantly moving within the Circle of Life. It really does move us all.
Indeed, it's the basic teaching of Buddhism, that "Everything is change."
This essential concept has really helped me understand many recent moments in my life - not least of all the passing of my dog from my teenage years, Billy.
We're living in the Circle of Life. It's all change. Nothing ever stays the same.
The sooner we can accept that and begin to live more in the moment, the happier we will become.
Think in your life about someone you love, but whom you haven't told recently.
Perhaps you're just "too close" to say that to them. Heck, they know it already, right? You're not in that sort of relationship where you say that kind of thing, right?
Of course. And that's perfect for this RAK!
For absolutely no reason whatsoever, tell someone you love that you love them.
Before going to bed. Or just before finishing a conversation. Or simply in an e-mail, for no reason whatsoever. Randomly.
Not everyone likes this sort of "challenge." They fear the response.
But how bad can it be?
And what joy might you secretly cause, when the doors are closed and the lights are dimmed? How good will you make that person feel?
Try it out. You never know what is lying around the corner.
Seize the day, live in the moment - and remember that you only regret the things you don't do :)
I want to express my thanks to international "busker" Peter Jones for donating all of the music from his great album "Sunshine Up Ahead" for use on Self Dev Radio and Writers FM.
I absolutely fell in love with the track "Sunshine Up Ahead" and wrote to Peter over the weekend. He wrote back, sending his entire album, and granting full permission to use any of his stuff.
Wow! :O
To listen to "Sunshine Up Ahead", visit my blog homepage at www.karlblog.com and scroll down to the red music player on the right-hand side of the page. Click on "Sunshine Up Ahead" to listen. It's a great song.
PLUS....
A brand new Self Dev Radio interview is now online, with self-help author Guy Finley.
Guy has sold over a million books, hosted over 4000 self-development conferences - and he's just launched his massive new 16-CD album, "The Secrets of Being Unstoppable."
We've all wanted approval at some time in our lives.
We want to be liked. We want to be loved. Even in writing this post, there's a part of me that wants you to think I'm a nice guy, and that I'm a good writer.
I'm seeking your approval.
And although wanting any form of approval is restricting, it's still a relatively normal feeling...
... In moderation.
But how many times have you seen people (not you, of course!) that have really wanted a little too much approval? Those individuals for whom approval controls them?
... The overly-eager bar-hawk that drools over the girl - and never impresses.
... The people pleaser that burns out, working for everyone - and eventually explodes.
... The weak-partner who refuses to have a personality - but exists merely to please the spouse.
Now here's the real paradox...
Wanting approval doesn't get you approval. Instead, wanting approval just makes you appear desperate, and loses you respect.
By letting go of wanting approval however, you ironically end up receiving MORE of it - and therefore become much more comfortable living in your own personality.
It's a push for some people. But if you try it, you might discover it's magic.
However, that's not the end.
Here's the true secret to freedom...
Can you let go of wanting your OWN approval? Completely!
Sounds interesting, eh?
Can you do something without wanting your own approval for it?
This could be the last step toward freedom you need.
Remember, letting go of wanting approval doesn't mean being disrespectful, or not caring for the feelings of others. Rather, it just means that you let go of the "clingy" behaviour that "desperately wanting something" can bring. It means standing up for what you believe, and saying what you think - without worrying how others will judge you.
And I'm sure that's something YOU could do easily.
"What one thing can be found on EVERY postage stamp in the world?"
The answer is the country name, such as the USA or Australia.
Unless that is, you live in the UK.
No kidding!
Back in the 1840's, a bloke called Sir Rowland Hill practically invented the postal system over here in UK. He's credited with creating the world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black.
And by worldwide agreement, the UK is still the ONLY country not required to include its name on stamps - because it invented them in the first place.
Still, it's probably a good thing we don't have the name of the UK on stamps. You see, not many people know it, but the official name of the UK is actually "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland."
Which is the second longest official country name, after Taiwan, which has an official title of "The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)."
Try saying that after a night on the town.
That's all for this Friday. I can now go sleep for a week before the next dose of desperate Thursday night research.
So here is the version Tony Bennett and Celine Dion did together. Look beyond the love tint here. It's a song about change. Enjoy :)
And why not sing along? ....
* * *
If I ruled the world Every day would be the first day of Spring Every heart would have a new song to sing And we'd sing of the joy every morning would bring
If I ruled the world Every man would be as free as a bird Every voice would be a voice to be heard Take my word, we would treasure each day that occurred
My world would be a beautiful place Where we would weave such wonderful dreams My world would wear a smile on its face Like the man in the moon when the moon beams
If I ruled the world Every man would say the world was his friend There'd be happiness that no man could end No my friend, not if I ruled the world
Every head would be held up high There'd be sunshine in everyone's sky If the day ever dawned when I ruled the world
Today, I'd like to share a great little quote from Henry Ford.
I have no doubt you've heard it before. But I remember when I was first introduced to the phrase, I never really understood what it meant.
"Whether you think you can or can't, you're probably right"
What the devil was this guy thinking?
It didn't make sense to me.
Until I realised just how much our thoughts affect the world around us. And whether we think it is or it isn't, whether we think we can or we can't, whether we think we will or we won't... we're ultimately right.
Are YOU doing something right now that, secretly, you think will FAIL?
Like stopping smoking, or getting involved in a relationship, or joining a new gym?
And if you are... Is it possible for you to change your thinking, and give yourself a real chance?
I remember sitting in a Sheffield audience once, watching the late, great Harry Secombe sing "The Impossible Dream."
It was The Pickwick Papers panto, so it didn't quite hold Harry's typical Songs of Praise spirituality. It was maybe 15 years ago, but I absolutely loved it - and today I'd like to share that song with you.
Here it is, alongside a video created by someone at YouTube:
Enjoy - and if you care to sing along, here are those noble lyrics:
To dream the impossible dream To fight the unbeatable foe To bear with unbearable sorrow To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong To love pure and chaste from afar To try when your arms are too weary To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest To follow that star No matter how hopeless No matter how far
To fight for the right Without question or pause To be willing to march into Hell For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true To this glorious quest That my heart will lie peaceful and calm When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this That one man, scorned and covered with scars Still strove with his last ounce of courage To reach the unreachable star
(If you're reading this by e-mail, visit the blog online at www.karlblog.com to view the video.)
This week it's SO easy you might not even realize you're doing it. But by consciously making a special effort to take time out and do this thing, you might just raise a few extra smiles today.
Well, quite simply - hold the door open for somebody behind you.
How crazily easy is that?
It's a true act of random kindness - but in today's busy world, especially in the cities, you'll be surprised at how often this doesn't happen.
By holding the door open for the person behind you, you'll undoubtedly raise a smile and a "thank you." And they might just "Pay It Forward" too, in some small way.
Who knows... Your simple act could change the world today.
So that's the challenge for this Monday. Hold open the door at every opportunity.
There's one topic I haven't written much about on this blog...
And it's the subject of forgiveness.
We all have somebody we could forgive if we wanted to. Somebody who wronged us in the past, an individual that did something that somehow affects us even today.
Alexander Pope said: "To err is human; to forgive, divine."
Could YOU be divine today?
Scientific studies have shown that the actual act of forgiving someone can have seriously positive benefits to your health. Psychologists have even developed a scale for measuring forgiveness, called the Heartland Forgiveness Scale (HFS).
Those that don't forgive regularly typically experience even greater feelings of distrust, vengeance and hostility. And those that do forgive regularly enjoy lower cortisol responses. That's the stress hormone, so a low response is a good thing.
But what really IS forgiveness?
Well, here's what it isn't - at least for me...
It ISN'T condoning the behaviour that originally hurt you. Oh no.
It's ISN'T saying "Hey, Mr Hitler - what you did was fine!"
Instead, it's a process of letting go of the negative emotions that you connect with the event and individual. You're giving yourself permission to release the poisonous anger built up inside of you.
You accept that the situation happened this particular way. You don't like it... In fact, you might seriously HATE it. And that's fine!
But by accepting, and releasing, you're no longer a victim of your hatred.
The late author Lewis B. Smedes wrote: "When we forgive evil, we do not excuse it, we do not tolerate it, we do not smother it. We look the evil full in the face, call it what it is, let it's horror shock and stun and enrage us, and only then do we forgive."
He added: "To forgive is to set a prisoner free - and then discover that the prisoner was you."
How beautifully put.
So let me ask... Who could YOU forgive today?
Take five minutes out to sit down and really accept your feelings. If you're angry, you're ANGRY - no point denying it. Enjoy it! :)
And when you're ready, just release on that feeling. Let it go. It's just a feeling after all. The moment has passed. Get to a place of acceptance - it was bad, but that's how it was.
Set the prisoner free.
And if all of that is just too spiritual for you, remember the words of Oscar Wilde...
"Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much."
