Mikes Blog

Dreams cannot die
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Fulfilling your dream is good, and arriving at your goal is important. But a successful result is not necessary for the dream, for the goal, to have value.

The beauty of purpose arises in the living of that purpose. And the achievement that occurs along the way is icing on the cake.

That’s not to say achievement is a trivial thing, for achievement is essential if life is to continue. Yet even more essential is the hope for achievement, the desire to achieve.

Dreams cannot die after they’ve already been lived, no matter what the final result may be. You exist at your highest level when you live in the service of a worthy objective.

Even when you end up falling short of the goal, the goal has added value to your life. That value begins to be realized the instant you commit your actions to the goal.

Do all you can to achieve the results you desire. Feel the richness as it accrues in your life, every step of the way.

— Ralph Marston

Opportunity of the unknown
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What can you embrace about each difficulty you encounter? What can you make use of in the challenges that appear in your life?

Unpleasant, undesirable things will happen, many times beyond your ability to expect, prevent, or avoid. Yet you always have the ability to respond in a positive way.

Indeed, difficulties will often push you to become stronger, more capable, more highly experienced and effective. Difficulties will force abilities to the surface that you never before realized you had.

You won’t do yourself much good by fearing circumstances beyond your control. Instead, welcome the opportunity of the unknown, even when it encompasses challenge and difficulty.

Look for some aspect of each situation that you can put to positive use. Find a path to follow that brings you out of the situation ahead of where you were when you encountered it.

You can be much stronger, much more capable than you’ve yet discovered. Seek opportunity in the unknown, and give your best qualities a way to emerge.

— Ralph Marston

The path to possible
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Imagine the impossible, and suddenly it moves closer to being possible. Imagine the impossible, and give yourself the chance to fully explore what you imagine.

Often when something is considered impossible, it’s the method that’s deemed impossible, not the result. And quite often, there’s another, completely workable method that no one has thought of yet.

That’s why so very many things that were once dismissed as impossible are now commonplace. For each one, someone figured out a way to make it happen.

Imagine something impossible, and think of exactly what its benefit would be, if it were in fact possible. Then ask yourself, is there another way to produce that same benefit?

The path to possible begins with the acknowledgment that there’s more than just one path. Imagine the impossible, but don’t let your imagination get stuck on just one version of it.

Maybe your impossible dream is not as impossible as you think. Immerse your thoughts in the meaningful goodness it can bring, and you’re much more likely to find your way there.

— Ralph Marston

Gift of discipline
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Discipline is good for you. Reward yourself with some.

Discipline demonstrates to you how much you’re capable of accomplishing. Practice discipline, and it strengthens itself along with all your other skills.

You cannot choose whether or not to be disciplined. You can only choose whether that discipline will be imposed by you, or by some force outside your control.

Life improves dramatically when the discipline you are subject to is the discipline you choose. That choice transforms discipline from punishment to empowerment.

Every action, or neglect of action, has consequences. Discipline guides you to perform the actions that produce the most desirable consequences.

If you’re disappointed with your results, find a way to add more discipline to your efforts. Give yourself the powerful gift of discipline, and give your world the benefit of all the great things you can achieve.

— Ralph Marston