Daily Motivator - May
 

May 1

Own your mistakes

You’re going to make mistakes. When you do, acknowledge them, learn from them, and move on.

It all sounds so simple and obvious, as indeed it is. But that doesn’t mean it is trivial.

Each mistake can be either a powerful opportunity if you are honest about it. Or it can become a crushing burden if you’re not.

Some mistakes are costly. Yet the sooner you pay their price, the lower that price will be.

That’s why the moment you realize you’ve made a mistake is a moment to be thankful. For that’s when you can begin to transform the mistake from a problem into an opportunity.

Own your mistakes. And proceed to create real, positive value from the truth of what you have done.

— Ralph Marston

Happy New Month family,
Thanking God for getting us though
the month Of April sober happy and free.
God bless you on your new month
Journey in the Lord. Amen.

May 2

Good and tired

Being tired from ambitious effort feels a whole lot better than being tired of doing nothing. If you’re going to be tired anyway at the end of the day, then make it count for something.

Perhaps the weariness you feel is not because you’re doing too much. Perhaps it’s because you’re not invested in what you’re doing.

A difficult challenge that’s aligned with your purpose will generate far more energy in you than an easy task that has no real meaning for you. You can accomplish much more when what you’re accomplishing is what you care about.

When your body is tired, a good night’s sleep will revive you. When your spirit is weary, you’ll need something more.

You have a unique voice and a unique purpose that are longing to be expressed. Start living that expression and you’ll find an endless source of energy flowing through your life.

Get yourself good and tired with focused, disciplined work on a purpose that connects with who you truly are. And you’re likely to discover each day you have even more energy than the day before.

— Ralph Marston

May 3

One thing or another

Devote more time to joy, and there will be less time for anxiety. Make more space for love, and there will be less room for anger.

Light and darkness cannot exist in the same spot. Hope and despair cannot share the same stretch of awareness.

Choose more of what’s desirable, of what’s good and beautiful. Encourage and support that goodness with your time, your actions, your focus.

Even when the going is slow, keep going forward. That’s what prevents you from sliding backwards.

In every situation you can focus your energy on one thing or another. Invest that energy on the one thing that is most beneficial for you and all you care about.

Every decision makes a difference in how the world unfolds. Decide to help all that’s good overwhelm all that’s not.

— Ralph Marston

Good Friday morning.

Love's gentle touch,
Guiding the broken soul,
God's grace shines bright,
Wisdom's steady hand at helm,
Yacht of recovery sails on.

Selflessness blooms,
In service to others' needs,
Awareness dawns,
Gratitude fills every sail,
Yacht of recovery stands tall.

Through storms we learn,
Patience, strength, resilience grow,
Love's beacon calls,
Guiding through darkest of nights,
Yacht of recovery prevails.

In the end, we find,
Triumph over all despair,
Love's light prevails,
Yacht of recovery, a beacon,
Guiding others to safe shores.

May 4

Also enjoy tomorrow

Momentary pleasures are great, provided they don’t result in long-term burdens. If the cost lingers longer than the pleasure, it’s probably not worth it.

With each choice you make, consider more than just the immediate results. Though you cannot stop the future from coming, you can avoid making it needlessly burdensome.

No matter how much fun you have today, tomorrow will arrive precisely at its scheduled time. Position yourself so you can welcome it with eagerness rather than with regret.

Give your future self the benefit of your thoughtful consideration. Make your future self thankful for what you’re doing right now.

Yes, by all means live in the moment, making the most of your present opportunities. Just keep in mind there are many other moments to follow.

Enjoy today in such a way that enables you to also enjoy tomorrow. Be good to the person you’ll soon become.

— Ralph Marston

May 5

Something good from it

What irritates you does not last. Consider that, let go of the irritation, and move on.

What frustrates you provides insight into your own priorities. Use that as an opportunity to focus on those priorities rather than on the frustration.

What angers you gives you energy. Find a way to point that energy in a positive, productive direction.

What frightens you alerts you to possible dangers. Use that awareness to better prepare yourself for successfully handling or avoiding the dangers.

What initially arrives as difficulty, discomfort or unpleasantness can be turned to your advantage. That’s been the catalyst for much of your skill, wisdom, strength, and will continue to be.

What is going on in your world right now, and how can you make something good from it? Challenge yourself to find a way, for your very own history proves that you will.

— Ralph Marston

This is an awesome read from todays thought.

Resolve to be thyself; and know that who finds himself, loses his misery.

~Matthew Arnold

Our need for approval compels us to try to look good - no matter what's going on. We imagine that somehow everything will be okay as long as it looks okay. Our hearts may be breaking from fear, disillusionment, and rejection, real or imagined, but we keep smiling so that no one will guess.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Is it so hard to turn to a friend and say, "Hey, I'm hurting. I’ve been having a bad time and I need help"? Would the earth tremble if we said it right out, just like that? We're not likely to get what we don't ask for. Instead of denying that our knees are shaking, our hands are sweating, and our stomachs are in torment, we can admit and share the truth. We don’t have to say "Fine!" when someone in the program asks us how we're doing. Our real friends aren't impressed by stiff upper lips; they're impressed by personal honesty.

Today, I will tell someone the truth about how I feel. If I'm not fine, I won't say that I am.

May the fourth be with you:)

Petitions to my Higher Power

God,
Each day You present me with new opportunities to build up my faith and renew my strength. When the time is right, lead me on a path to helping newcomers. Help me to keep my focus on the narrow path and walk hand in hand with You today.
Amen.

May 6

New fulfillment

Allow your life to be good. Appreciate everything you have the opportunity to experience.

There have been times you would have given just about anything to be where you are right now. And here you are, so live it well.

Things are far from perfect, but so what? You have plenty of good possibilities to choose from.

Connect your thoughts to what you love, to what you care about. Dwell on the things that fascinate you, that impassion you, that you wish to explore, support, and expand upon.

There’s so much you can do from where you are, with what you have, in the time that’s available. Just a few moments of focused imagination can give you a wealth of ideas.

New fulfillment is yours to create. Make it your business right now to do just that.

— Ralph Marston

May 7

Step up and start

The bolts are rusty. But give them a forceful turn of the wrench and you just might be able to loosen them.

The stack of papers is twenty inches high. Yet one page at a time, you can get everything organized and in its place.

Your good ideas will receive some pushback. Go ahead and lay them out anyway.

It’s very easy and appropriate to anticipate all sorts of problems and challenges. But you don’t have to let that stop you.

Anything worth doing is going to be demanding. The sooner you step up and start addressing those demands, the better.

Rather than letting the potential problems stop you before you start, let them prepare you and inspire you. Then step forward and discover just how well you can work your way through them.

— Ralph Marston

May 8

Different choices

Just because you didn’t, doesn’t mean you can’t. Though you may have wasted much time and opportunity, there’s no need to continue doing so.

The past is the past and it doesn’t have to continue into the future. Because here you are right now in the present, able to turn in whatever direction you choose.

What if your disappointments stopped disappointing you? What if they started teaching you and motivating you to make different choices?

Today you have the opportunity to choose action, effectiveness, and valuable results. Whatever happened yesterday no longer matters.

If you’ve ever wished you had done something differently, your wish can now come true. Here is your chance to make the different, better choice, and to follow it through.

You know very clearly that your choices matter. Right now is when you can act on that knowledge.

— Ralph Marston

May 9

Promises, promises

You wouldn’t rely on the promise of promptness from someone who is always late. You can’t rely on the promise of payment from someone who is always broke.

A promise that’s easy to make is just as easy to break. Certainly words have meaning, but actions mean a whole lot more.

When a promise sounds too good to be true, that’s exactly what it is. Just because you want to believe it, doesn’t change the reality.

It can be tempting to depend on empty promises from others, and even from yourself. What’s better, though, is to hold out and insist on proven competence and reliability.

A promise has great value when it comes from someone with a long history of reliability. So before you consider the promise, carefully consider the source.

When you hear a promise, put in the diligence to be sure it means something. When you give a promise, put in the work to make sure it happens.

— Ralph Marston

May 10

Keep growing

Right now you have an opportunity to grow. Take advantage of that opportunity to add depth, substance, and meaning to life.

No matter what you’ve already accomplished, every challenge you take on can bring new benefits. Whatever your level of learning and experience, you can always learn and do more.

When you get to thinking you’ve seen it all, that cuts you off from new and enlightening experiences. Think instead about the possibilities of the moment, draw fresh energy from them, and jump out of your complacency.

If you ever feel like you have all the answers, get busy and find more questions. See that each new discovery is a starting point, not a final destination.

The joy of life is in the journey. The fulfillment you accumulate is in the growing.

Whatever comes, whatever goes, keep growing. Never let it stop.

— Ralph Marston