Make Today Matter » Words that Shaped My Life http://brooknoel.com Start Living the Life You Want, Today! Sat, 31 Mar 2012 03:38:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Good Morning! What Is Your Spiritual Bank Balance? http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/soul-food/good-morning-what-is-your-spiritual-bank-balance-2/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/soul-food/good-morning-what-is-your-spiritual-bank-balance-2/#comments Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:58:14 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=3394 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

Around the Corner:
“Faith dares the soul to go farther than it can see.”
~William Clark
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Good morning!
To me, faith has always been a light in the darkness. When I am unsure, nervous, anxious, or scared… I fall back on faith. It always lights the path ahead. In one of my other books, “Grief Steps,” I wrote –”Faith is the soul’s food. One cannot live without it, or live well on just a little.” While I have drifted back and forth many times in how diligently and actively I practice my faith, I have noticed the times my life is most complete and content are when faith is a high priority.
Your turn: If you could imagine faith as a bank account, what would your balance be? Do you need to take steps to increase how actively you “live” your faith? If so, what is a step you might take today?
Your affirmation: I let my faith light the path of my soul.
(c) 2011 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/soul-food/good-morning-what-is-your-spiritual-bank-balance-2/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Simplify Your Life! http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/words-that-shaped-my-life/good-morning-simplify-your-life/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/words-that-shaped-my-life/good-morning-simplify-your-life/#comments Wed, 17 Nov 2010 07:07:26 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=1642 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“Go confidently in the directions of your dreams; live the life
you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the
universe will be simpler.”
~Henry David Thoreau
 
Good morning!  
I had heard the first part of this quote–but I had
not heard this second part until Annastasia sent it in. I have
noticed that just as our surroundings get cluttered, our minds also
get cluttered. I can testify that today’s quote is true–whether
applied to your physical surroundings or to uncluttering your mind.
 
Often we become our own obstacle–especially within our mind. We
get wrapped up in something we can’t change or doesn’t really
matter. We exert hours of thinking over a situation that doesn’t
advance us any or help anyone. We engage with negative people and
let their negativity overshadow us. We make life more complicated
than it needs to be. When we conduct “spring cleaning” of the mind
and shed the thought patterns that don’t bring us any benefit, life
becomes simpler. Sometimes instead of fighting an uphill battle, it
is better to turn around and just walk down the hill and find a
better hill to climb.
 
Your Turn:
Where have you been making life more complicated than it needs to
be? What can you do today to bring the focus back to a simpler way?
 
Your Affirmation:
Each day, I focus on where I make a difference.
 
 
 

And as always, don’t forget to start your day with a heartfelt: “Something great is going to happen today… I can’t wait to see what it is!”

And when ending your day ask yourself:
“What is one more thing I can do to make today matter?”

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/words-that-shaped-my-life/good-morning-simplify-your-life/feed/ 0 Good Morning: You Can Accomplish Anything http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-you-can-accomplish-anything/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-you-can-accomplish-anything/#comments Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:56:36 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=1390 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“Your preoccupation should be on doing what you do as well as you can.”
~Jay Leno

Good morning!  
One night I was tossing and turning, as I often do when trying to fall asleep. Sammy, who was nine at the time, had been sitting in a bean bag in my room reading a book. She must have noticed because she said, “What are you doing, Momma?”

“Well, just turn it off,” Sammy stated simply.

“You just do,” she said matter-of-factly. “You think about nothing. If you believe that you can think about nothing and turn your mind off, then you can. That’s what I do.”

I think she could tell that I wasn’t convinced. “Come on, try it,”she said. “Is your mind clear now?”

I paused for a moment. Yes, it’s clear Sammy.”

A moment later: “Are you thinking about anything?”

Sammy laughed. “Okay, try this. Imagine a night sky with beautiful stars. Just look up at the stars in your mind and get lost in them.” I did as she instructed, keeping my focus on the stars and their patterns.

“Are you thinking anything now, momma?”

Well, actually, she had to tell me after I woke up that she had asked that question–I had already fallen asleep.

That night Sammy reminded me how what we set our mind to is often what we create in our lives. I had convinced myself I would toss and turn and Sammy changed my focus.

Your Turn:
Where are you tossing and turning in your own life because you have set your mind to “I can’t” Today, choose one area that is being penalized by an “I can’t” attitude and change your view
to “I CAN!”

Today’s Affirmation:
I can accomplish anything I set my mind to doing.

And as always, don’t forget to start your day with a heartfelt: “Something great is going to happen today… I can’t wait to see what it is!”

And when ending your day ask yourself:
“What is one more thing I can do to make today matter?”

“I am thinking that I am thinking nothing.”

“Okay so don’t think about anything.”

“How do I do that?”

“Trying to sleep. I often have a hard time falling asleep though, my mind just keeps spinning.”

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-you-can-accomplish-anything/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Be Rich – in Spirit… http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-be-rich-in-spirit/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-be-rich-in-spirit/#comments Sat, 04 Sep 2010 09:00:22 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=1231 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

Good Morning!

Today I want to share an anecdote I stumbled across about
thankfullness.

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip
to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people
can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor
family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his
son, “How was the trip?” Very good, Dad!” “Did you see how poor people
can be?” the father asked. “Yeah!” “And what did you learn?”

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have
four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they
have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden,
they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have
a whole horizon. When the little boy was finishing, his father was
speechless.

His son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!” Isn’t
it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you
have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive
attitude toward life, you’ve got everything!

You can’t buy any of these things. You can have all the material
possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but
if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!”

Your Turn: 
No matter how you define wealth, I believe we can all
agree that without a thankful heart, none of us are wealthy. Watch
how your life becomes richer as you celebrate the practical ideas
for giving Thanks throughout November.

Affirmation:
The key to wealth of spirit is gratitude.

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-be-rich-in-spirit/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Learn to re-Start Your Day http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-learn-to-re-start-your-day/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-learn-to-re-start-your-day/#comments Sun, 22 Aug 2010 07:52:13 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=1124 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“I can start my day over anytime I choose.”
~Brook Noel
 
Good morning!  
While my mother and I were chatting recently, she reminded me of something I had done as a little girl. Every once in a while, she would see me stop for a moment and close my eyes as if intently concentrating on something. One day, when I was doing this after lunch, she asked me what I was doing. I informed her that, “My day isn’t going that good, so I am starting it over.” I don’t know where I learned the skill, but it has served me well.
 
A while ago, I was being interviewed by a Penn State Researcher
studying the minds of media entrepreneurs. Toward the end of the
interview she asked me, “What keeps you going during the bad days?”

I didn’t pause for a second before responding, “I don’t have bad
days.” While there are moments during the day that can be
challenging or troubling, very rarely do I let that moment seep
into the attitude of the entire day. If my morning is challenging,
then come lunchtime, I take a moment to clear my mind and “restart
my day” anticipating nothing but the best for the afternoon.

Surely, there is joy to be found each and every day. If we let a
challenging circumstance set the stage for the entire day, we miss
that joy and the opportunity of the day at hand.
 
Your Turn:
When you face a challenging day this week try the technique of
“restarting your day.”
 
Your Affirmation:
Each day brings joy, fulfillment and love.

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-learn-to-re-start-your-day/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Live Each Day to the Fullest http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-live-each-day-to-the-fullest/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-live-each-day-to-the-fullest/#comments Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:02:33 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=966 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“When your life flashes before your eyes, make sure that you’ve got plenty to watch.”
~Unknown
 
Good morning!  
Today’s quote offers the important reminder that we need to live life to its fullest–not just when it is convenient for us, but every day. It can be tempting to let our dreams, goals and relationships pile up on our to-do list while we tend to the daily logistics of living – but we must remember that our dreams, goals and relationships are what build a life. We never know what tomorrow brings, which makes it all the more important to make today count.
 
Your Turn:
What dreams, ambitions or relationships have you had “on hold” while tending to the day-to-day logistics of living? How can you incorporate these  important areas at the center of your day-to-day life?
 
Your Affirmation:
I live each day to the fullest.

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-live-each-day-to-the-fullest/feed/ 0 Good Morning: There is no such thing as a small decision… http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-small-decision/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-small-decision/#comments Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:03:27 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=891 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“Daily Decisions Decide Destiny.”
 ~Shared by Kelli Sibbitt
 
Good morning! 
Mary Kay Consultant Kelli Sibbitt sent this quote to me. What a wonderful way to sum up in 4 simple words what we should keep in mind as we move throughout the day. Often we think it is the “big decisions” that require our heart and mind and soul. But life is composed mostly from the little decisions–for these many little decisions become “our life.”
 
Your Turn:
As you move throughout your day, realize that each decision (whether large or small) is a brick in the foundation of your destiny. Give each decision the attention of your heart and soul, remembering that there is no such thing as a “little decision.”
 
Your Affirmation:
I make thoughtful decisions each day.

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-small-decision/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Will You Make a Difference http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-will-you-make-a-difference/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-will-you-make-a-difference/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:54:28 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=839 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“Go confidently in the directions of your dreams; live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”

 ~Henry David Thoreau
 
Good morning! 
I had heard the first part of this quote–but I had not heard this second part until Annastasia sent it in. As many of you know I host the 10 Week Extreme Home Makeover class. It has been interesting to see how many of us have finally “had it with clutter” and are purging things besides paper! Knick-knacks, miscellaneous–by the garbage bag we are hauling “stuff” out. The other night I walked into one of my “de-cluttered” rooms and was amazed at how good the room felt. I had space to think or twirl in a circle if I wanted.
 
In a past Challenge Weekly, I focused also on “spring cleaning for the mind.” I have noticed that just as our surroundings get cluttered, our minds also get cluttered. I can testify that today’s quote is true–whether applied to your physical surroundings or to
uncluttering your mind.
 
Often we become our own obstacle–especially within our mind. We get wrapped up in something we can’t change or doesn’t really matter. We exert hours of thinking over a situation that doesn’t advance us any or help anyone. We engage with negative people and
let their negativity overshadow us. We make life more complicated than it needs to be. When we conduct “spring cleaning” of the mind and shed the thought patterns that don’t bring us any benefit, life becomes simpler. Sometimes instead of fighting an uphill battle, it is better to turn around and just walk down the hill and find a better hill to climb.
 
Your Turn:
Where have you been making life more complicated than it needs to be? What can you do today to bring the focus back to a simpler way?
 
Your Affirmation:
Each day, I focus on where I make a difference.

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/attitude/good-morning-will-you-make-a-difference/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Make Your Dreams Come True http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-make-your-dreams-come-true/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-make-your-dreams-come-true/#comments Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:30:24 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=837 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

“We are never given a dream without the power to make it come true…..”

 ~Richard Bach
 
Good morning! 
The book titled: Level Six Performance which revealed the “secrets of success” for 17 Olympians. While various techniques, skills and training methods were used, one thing remained constant–the dedication to the dream.
 
Most great accomplishments aren’t found at the end of smooth pathways. They are found by climbing mountains, going through dark valleys and treading through murky water. When we start ONLY looking at the mountain, or a dark valley, or murky water, it is easy to lose sight of the dream. But Felicia and Bach remind us that “We are never given a dream without the power to make it come true.” While we will get sidetracked and look other directions at times, we have to remember to hold the vision of our dream like we would a precious jewel.
 
Think of all the people who have had great visions and dreams… Martin Luther King, the Wright brothers, Alexander Graham Bell, Walt Disney … a long and varied list is endless. Had one of these individuals chosen not to cherish the dream and nurture it forward, our world would be vastly different.
 
Your Turn:
What is your precious jewel of a dream? It can be simple or complex, but whatever it is do not lose sight of it. The realization of a dream will have a profound influence on your home, your community, the country, or the world.
 
Your Affirmation:

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]]> http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/challenges/good-morning-make-your-dreams-come-true/feed/ 0 Good Morning: Have Trust in Life http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/soul-food/good-morning-have-trust-in-life/ http://brooknoel.com/reading-room/brooks-journal/soul-food/good-morning-have-trust-in-life/#comments Sun, 25 Jul 2010 06:19:12 +0000 Brook http://brooknoel.com/?p=833 Continue reading →]]> HotmailYahoo MailGoogle GmailTwitterAOL MailFacebookBlogger PostLinkedInDiggShare/Bookmark

 “Generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, Because once you are real you can’t be ugly, Except to people who don’t understand.”

 ~Margery Williams, The Velveteen Rabbit
 
Good morning! 

When I opened this morning’s email and found this quote, I felt like I was being transported back in time. I read The Velveteen Rabbit as a little girl (the Easter bunny left it in my basket) and I loved the passage quoted above.
 
Donna also shared that a close friend cross-stitched this quote for her during a rough time. She wrote, “Each morning  I wake up, read it and remember that no matter what I start to ‘think’ I may be… I am real because I am loved. I think this is one of the most beautiful and ageless tales ever written. I am blessed to have the family and friends I do. Every wrinkle for laughing and smiling and crying makes us beautiful and real because we are loved.”
 
When we talk about self-discovery and personal peace, we are looking for that “real place.” We long to be centered and have a centered (and sane!) anchor within. We long to make decisions from a peaceful and rational place, instead of beneath external pressure. We don’t get to that place overnight. Like today’s quote shares–it takes a long time, but it is worth it. All the little things cease to matter once we are “real.”
 
Your Turn:
Take a moment today to center yourself and be still. Take 10 deep breaths, counting to 5 as you inhale and then again to 5 as you exhale. Remember that everything you face in life is bringing you nearer to that “real” place. Trust life.
 
Your Affirmation:
I trust life.

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