Promises to Yourself
April 28, 2009
By Christian D. Larsen
Promise yourself….
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind;
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet;
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them;
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true;
To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best;
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own;
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future;
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile;
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others;
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble;
To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds;
To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you.
Muhammad Ali “This I Believe”
April 6, 2009
I heard this piece this afternoon while driving home. If this does not intimately describe Napoleon Hill’s philosophy I don’t know what does. Its magical.
Christina Helwig
As heard on NPR’s All Things Considered, April 6, 2009. Essay read by Lonnie Ali.
I have always believed in myself, even as a young child growing up in Louisville, Kentucky. My parents instilled a sense of pride and confidence in me, and taught me and my brother that we could be the best at anything. I must have believed them because I remember being the neighborhood marble champion and challenging my neighborhood buddies to see who could jump the tallest hedges or run a foot race the length of the block. Of course I knew when I made the challenge that I would win. I never even thought of losing.
In high school I boasted weekly—if not daily—that one day I was going to be the heavyweight champion of the world. As part of my boxing training, I would run down Fourth Street in downtown Louisville, darting in and out of local shops, taking just enough time to tell them I was training for the Olympics and I was going to win a gold medal. And when I came back home I was going to turn pro and become the world heavyweight champion in boxing. I never thought of the possibility of failing—only of the fame and glory I was going to get when I won. I could see it. I could almost feel it. When I proclaimed that I was the “Greatest of All Time,” I believed in myself. And I still do.
Throughout my entire boxing career, my belief in my abilities triumphed over the skill of an opponent. My will was stronger than their skills. What I didn’t know was that my will would be tested even more when I retired.
In 1984, I was conclusively diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since that diagnosis, my symptoms have increased and my ability to speak in audible tones has diminished. If there was anything that would strike at the core of my confidence in myself, it would be this insidious disease. But my confidence and will to continue to live life as I choose won’t be compromised.
Early in 1996, I was asked to light the cauldron at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia. Of course my immediate answer was yes. I never even thought of having Parkinson’s or what physical challenges that would present for me.
When the moment came for me to walk out on the 140-foot high scaffolding and take the torch from Janet Evans, I realized I had the eyes of the world on me. I also realized that as I held the Olympic torch high above my head, my tremors had taken over. Just at that moment, I heard a rumble in the stadium that became a pounding roar and then turned into a deafening applause. I was reminded of my 1960 Olympic experience in Rome, when I won the gold medal. Those 36 years between Rome and Atlanta flashed before me and I realized that I had come full circle.
Nothing in life has defeated me. I am still “The Greatest.” This I believe.
Muhammad Ali won the world heavyweight boxing championship three times. He retired in 1981 and became active in humanitarian causes, including goodwill missions to Afghanistan, North Korea, and Cuba. Ali married childhood friend Lonnie Williams in 1986.
Independently produced for NPR by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman with John Gregory and Viki Merrick.
Ali photo by John Lair. Photo of Muhammad and Lonnie Ali courtesy Celebrity Fight Night. Special thanks to the Muhammad Ali Center, an international education center and cultural attraction in Louisville, Ky., that preserves and promotes Ali’s Legacy.
Climb ‘Til Your Dream Comes True
March 30, 2009
Often your tasks will be many,
And more than you think you can do.
Often the road will be rugged
And the hills insurmountable, too.
But always remember,
The hills ahead
Are never as steep as they seem,
And with Faith in your heart
Start upward
And climb ’til you reach your dream.
For nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the courage to try it,
And you have the faith to believe.
For faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill,
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God’s wisdom and will.
For faith is a mover of mountains,
There’s nothing that God cannot do,
So, start out today with faith in your heart,
And climb ’til your dream comes true!
~ Helen Steiner Rice
Change Your World
March 17, 2009
You cannot change the world,
But you can present the world with one improved person -
Yourself.
You can go to work on yourself to make yourself
Into the kind of person you admire and respect.
You can become a role model and set a standard for others.
You can control and discipline yourself to resist acting
Or speaking in a negative way
Toward anyone for any reason.
You can insist upon always doing things the loving way,
Rather than the hurtful way.
By doing these things each day,
You can continue on your journey
Toward becoming an exceptional human being.
by: Brian Tracy
To view videos from Brian Tracy visit: www.GlobalSuccessILG.com
The Victor
March 14, 2009
The Victor
If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will.
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you are out classed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.
by: C. W. Longenecker
It Couldn’t Be Done
March 11, 2009
It couldn’t be done
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it”;
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you, one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
- Edgar A. Guest
Happiness Affirmation Video
March 9, 2009
Daily Affirmation Video
March 9, 2009
Twitter’s Favorite Personal Development Books
February 19, 2009
Here is a list of favorite books from my twitter followers:
“Excuse Me , Your Life is Waiting” by Lynn Grabhorn: www.twitter.com/sariantra
“The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” by John Maxwell: www.twitter.com/Kozwell
“Success Principles” by Jack Canfield: www.twitter.com/drwrightdc
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky www.twitter.com/jakeofalltrade
“The Go-Giver” By Bob Burg and John David Mann and “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle: www.twitter.com/BradleyWill
“Ask and it is Given” by Abraham-Hicks and “Loving What Is” by Byron Katie: www.twitter.com/PetParentAuthor and Lisa on Facebook.
“7 Simple Steps” by Jonathan Wells: Johnathan Wells himself 
www.twitter.com/mrjWells
“You Can Heal Your Life” by Louis Hay: Bryn on Facebook
“Science of Getting Rich” by Wallace Wattles: Bryn on Facebook
“I Will” by Ben Sweetland: www.twitter.com/screamingeagle1 [P.s. this man is one of my all-time favorite tweeps]
I have posted the links of the twitter people. Out of respect for the privacy of my Facebook friends I have not posted a link to you. I will post one if you ask me too. Please enjoy these books.
Are You On A Life Journey?
February 3, 2009
I listened to Kim-Gould’s Blog radio show this evening and she mentioned a very interesting term “Life Journey.” This concept is something I am going to be integrating into my being. My life is a journey with a series of challenges, trials and wonderful events. Thinking about your life in this way also helps you to remember that you do not have to reach any certain point by a certain time. You can let go a little bit and enjoy the ride.
We get so caught up in the hustle of daily life and “to-do lists” that we often forget to stop and enjoy ourselves. I saw a beautiful sunset tonight as I drove home in rush hour. I would not have gotten that gift had I not been sent out to a deposition that was a couple hours away. I also got extra time to listen to my affirmation cd and think about my vision of what I want to create in my life. So take time to notice the little things that make your life special, even in the middle of rush hour.
Christina Helwig