Help Your Self

My email today contained an allegorical story about an Amazon Indian hunter who was failing.

First he blamed the lack of animals in the forest for his lack of success. Then his hunting technique. But when he saw that those factors were not affecting other hunters, he asked his shaman for help.

The leader told him that all he needed to do was to look inside himself. And to take responsibility for his actions.

He did, they did, and his world became a happy place once again.

Sitting down to write this, I flipped open a book for inspiration, and the first line that sprang to sight was:

"Today's winning beliefs:
1. I take complete responsibility for my responses to situations."

Synchronicity? Or a message.

Your responsibiility.

Oh, and in case you wondered, here are the other winning beliefs:

2. I respond positively to all situations, no matter what.
3. Whatever happens to me, I live and renew my purpose in harmony.
4. I am bigger than anything that can happen to me.
5. I am willing to keep learning about life and what it takes to make it work.

Go well.

Have you been looking for success, but just not been able to find it? Instead of finding success and peace you often feel like you are struggling simply to keep your head above water? It seems like the waves of life are rising higher by the moment, preparing to swallow you alive, and every breath you take could be your last!

Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest! Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and my load is easy to carry".

I distinctly recall moments in my life where everything just seemed so overwhelming and difficult. Times where the more I strived to make things happen, the less I seemed to accomplish.

Have you ever felt like that?

At times it seemed that there was so much to do that I just didn't have time to pause and come to Jesus. How would I manage to do all the pressing, urgent things that needed to be done...right then?

But I have discovered the most amazing thing...the ONLY thing that has ever brought me true success.

The times when I pause to come to Jesus are the times I manage to jump back into my work with gusto and get the most done.

The times I am anxious or frustrated...or feel I need to reorganize are often signals that I need simply to pause and seek Jesus.

So, by now you are probably wondering how one comes to Jesus. Right?

In the Bible, John 1 tells us that Jesus is the Living Word. And when we come to the Word allowing the Holy Spirit of God to teach us and reveal the truth, the Word becomes real and living in our lives.

Joshua 1:8 tells us why this is the secret to success.

"This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you will do all that is written in it, for then you will make your way prosperous and find good success."

Do you want proof that these words are real and true? If so, I'm here to testify about all the exciting and wonderful things God has done in my life.

But the most amazing thing I experience is the deep, abiding satisfaction I sense when I take time to meditate on the Living Word of God and come to Jesus.

This is something you can experience if you are willing to open your heart and give Jesus a try...

Do you desire true and lasting satisfaction and success in your life?

If so, what are you waiting for? It's time to get some "rest!"

Grab the Word and come to Jesus!

-- Contributed

Have you ever been kicked while you were down?

Or, to put it another way - is there a time when you were down that you were NOT kicked?

Chances are, your answers were 'Yes' and 'No' - In that order.

Why? Because that is the way the universe works.

When we are having a bad trot, Murphy kicks in, and everything goes wrong. Doesn't it?

The power of that principle is awesome to behold. And totally destructive.

And do you know what? Its reverse is just as powerful. And just as life-changing.

'Like attracts like' ... 'Birds of a feather flock together' ... 'You're judged by the company you keep' ...

They are all phrases you are familiar with. Because, again, they are principles. Enduring patterns. Facts you can use to improve your own situation.

The critical trigger, however, is the one most likely to be missing when you need it most.

How to recognize that you are in a 'downer' and summon the inner strength to reach out and flick the positive switch from 'off' to 'on' .

The Amazing Race television series serves up a continuing series of examples for those who want to learn this inspirational key.

The show pits 12 pairs against each other to overcome challenges and get to a destination first. The last pair into the 'pit stop' on each leg may be eliminated.

Occasionally, the 'losers' are allowed to remain in the race, but are stripped of all money and resources.

They are the folk to watch. They are down, and they are being kicked. What do they do?

Most go to beg for money from the citizens of whatever town they are in.

One older couple faced this situation in an African country where the people lived in absolute poverty.

Their consciences would not allow them to ask those poor people to bail them out of their million-dollar race. So they asked their competitors to fund them for the next leg.

Perhaps that is why it's called the 'amazing' race.

Those 'beaten' competitors drew a line. Though they desperately wanted to go on and win the million dollars, they would not kick the locals who were already down.

And amazingly, as a direct result, the other competitors agreed to finance the very people who could come back up and take the million away from them.

Can you imagine that happening in an Olympic final?

That is the power of the switch.

Now all you need to do is learn to control it. And use it.

How? By simply looking around at reality. The poor people around you. No matter what situation you are in, count your blessings.

The fact that you are reading this means that you have access to a computer. That presupposes that you can read. Which presupposes that your eyesight is intact. Which presupposes that you ate today. And drank. And already you are inside four walls ....

Man, you are lucky! Two-thirds of the world's population cannot claim those things.

Run the drill on whatever your current 'downer' is. Draw the line. Decide to change your world.

Because only you can change your world. And as soon as you do, you will be amazed to find how much the rest of the world changes with you.

Kicked while you are down? Yes.

Try a smile. Feel it.

Instant. 'Downer' changes to 'upper' .

Stand up straight and square your shoulders. Now look around.

And count how many of the next ten people you see return your smile.

Try it ... You just might be very pleasantly surprised.

Whenever we decide to help ourselves, there is often a faint hope that someone else will come along to make it a bit easier for us. Isn't there?

Mmm. And some go so far as to look beyond mere people, to the unseen powers of the universe - both for explanations, and for guidance.

A fascinating site that came to my attention this week has a lot of information about zodiac signs and Chinese astrology.

And, by crikey, when you start getting into it, there are some startling insights.

Believe it or not, you can spend quite some time checking your own position, and that of your friends, relations and those around you.

Whether it helps you to help yourself is up to how much you believe and what you do with that knowledge.

But if you're at all stuck, it's a great place to kick-start your creativity.