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In Loving Memory of my Grandmother, Mildred P. Christian
A Memorial

 

In Loving Memory of Bayla Lynne Mack
A Memorial

 

 

The "Plus and Minus" - Steve J. Garrod

I truly believe that behavioral life today is composed of a series of pluses and minuses.  It sounds like a simplistic concept but carries so many outlying repercussions associated with it. 

Human behavior is driven by "what works" or "what doesn't work".  This applies to nearly any area of one's life and in nearly any circumstance.  This concept dates back far back to Pavlov's dog and has been proven to date with time.   It all began with a very simple theory :

Behavior x is positively rewarded with outcome a.
Behavior y is negatively punished with outcome b.

The theory is basic but it expands to every aspect of life.  In this year 2002, why do we do what we do?  Why does one smoke?  Why does one drink?  Why does one exercise on a regular basis?  Why does one associate with a particular social group? . . . Each of us performs a specific action in return for the reward that we get.  We would not perform the action again should it render negative results. 

Any one of us will try a certain action until it produces a negative consequence.  Once it does, we will not reproduce that action.  If we are rewarded for that action (either physically or emotionally), then it will persist.  

We must look at every action in our life and determine how it has originated.  If it is a positive phenomenon in our life (i.e. exericse) then we must focus on what is rewarding about it and expound upon it to thus increase its likelihood of endurance.  If it is a negative phenomenon, then we must punish ourselves for reproducing that action or reward ourselves for not performing it - in a positive way.

This simple concept is explained in greater detail in Dr. Phil McGraw's book "Life Strategies"  with his Life Law #3 : People do what works.

With this aforementioned information, what are you doing in life that is working for you?  What are you doing that is not working?  What outcomes are encouraging either the positive or negative behavior in your life?  It is well worth looking into! 

 


ALL KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

The most successful people in life
are the one's with the best information.
People with power are people who know how to get things done.
Knowing how to do something is sometimes
virtually the same as having done it.

When you educate yourself,
you build the power to accomplish your goals.
This power comes from knowing how to do something.
Power is the product of understanding.

Knowledge will come to you
by having your eyes and mind always open.
There is no knowledge that is not power.

In the land of the blind, the one eyed man is king.

DESIRE IS THE STARTING POINT OF SUCCESS

The first thing that will contribute to reaching your goal
is that you simply want to reach it badly enough.
You must learn how to desire with sufficient intensity to be successful.

If you have the desire you have the power to attain success.
You can really have anything you want in life if you go after it.
But you have to want it.

As a drowning soul desires air,
as a shipwrecked person craves fresh water,
so must you feel that intense, eager, insistent, demanding,
ravenous desire for your success.

Your desire for success must be so strong within you
that it becomes the very breath of your life.
It must be your first thought when you wake up,
and your last thought when you go to bed at night.

You can have anything you want if you go after it with intensity.


This Scroll is Taken from Og Mandino's

"The Greatest Secret in the World"

I encourage you to pick up a copy of it, or even any of his work... you will be truly delighted and changed in your thoughts.

THE SCROLL MARKED V

I will live this day as if it is my last.

And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping? First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand. I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad.

Can sand flow upward in the hour glass? Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises? Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole? Can I become younger than yesterday? Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused? No. Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.

I will live this day as if it is my last.

And what then shall I do? Forgetting yesterday neither will I think of tomorrow. Why should I throw now after maybe? Can tomorrow's sand flow through the glass before today's? Will the sun rise twice this morning? Can I perform tomorrow's deeds while standing in today's path?

Can I place tomorrow's gold in today's purse? Can tomorrow's child be born today? Can tomorrow's death cast its shadow backward and darken today's joy? Should I concern myself over events which I may never witness? Should I torment myself with problems that may never come to pass? No! Tomorrow lies buried with yesterday, and I will think of it no more.

I will live this day as if it is my last.

This day is all I have and these hours are now my eternity. I greet this sunrise with cries of joy as a prisoner who is reprieved from death. I lift mine arms with thanks for this priceless gift of a new day. So too, I will beat upon my heart with gratitude as I consider all who greeted yesterday's sunrise who are no longer with the living today. I am indeed a fortunate man and today's hours are but a bonus, undeserved. Why have I been allowed to live this extra day when others, far better than I, have departed? Is it that they have accomplished their purpose while mine is yet to be achieved? Is this another opportunity for me to become the man I know I can be? Is there a purpose in nature? Is this my day to excel?

I will live this day as if it is my last.

I have not but one life and life is naught but a measurement of time. When I waste one I destroy the other. If I waste today I destroy the last page of my life. Therefore, each hour of this day will I cherish for it can never return. It cannot be banked today to be withdrawn on the morrow, for who can trap the wind? Each minute of this day will I grasp with both hands and fondle with love for its value is beyond price. What dying man can purchase another breath though he willingly give all his gold? What price dare I place on the hours ahead? I will make them priceless!

I will live this day as if it is my last.

I will avoid with fury the killers of time. Procrastination I will destroy with action; doubt I will bury under faith; fear I will dismember with confidence. Where there are idle mouths I will listen not; where there are idle hands I will linger not; where there are idle bodies I will visit not. Henceforth I know that to court idleness is to steal food, clothing, and warmth from those I love. I am not a thief. I am a man of love and today is my last chance to prove my love and my greatness.

I will live this day as if it is my last.

The duties of today I shall fulfill today. Today I shall fondle my children while they are young; tomorrow they will be gone, and so will I. Today I shall embrace my woman with sweet kisses; tomorrow she will be gone, and so shall I. Today I shall lift up a friend in need; tomorrow he will no longer cry for help, nor will I hear his cries. Today I shall give myself in sacrifice and work; tomorrow I will have nothing to give, and there will be none to receive.

I will live this day as if it is my last.

And if it is my last, it will be my greatest monument. This day I will make the best day of my life. This day I will drink every minute to its full. I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will maketh every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value. I will labor harder than ever before and push my muscles until they cry for relief, and then I will continue. I will make more calls than ever before. I will sell more goods than ever before. I will earn more gold than ever before. Each minute of today will be more fruitful than hours of yesterday. My last must be my best.

I will live this day as if it is my last. And if it is not, I shall fall to my knees and give thanks.

Check Out the Daily Motivator ... Updated Here Daily

The Daily Motivator by Ralph Marston