Our mind is a powerful thing. Often, I think it is impossible to understand how really powerful it is. If medical science cant get the full grasp of it, how in the world are we supposed to understand it ourselves? Yet, at the same time the trial and error of life gives us insights into different ways the mind operates and that allows us to make course corrections on our life path. The one thing that most people will agree on is that if you fill your mind with negative thoughts, the ability to change your life becomes not only difficult, it often makes it down right impossible.

We all encounter different types of people as we go through our life’s journey. Think about the individuals you have come across where everything in their life is negative. They hate their home life. Work does what ever it can to make their life difficult. Their personal lives are a mess. The one thing that all those things have in common are the individual themselves. They truly believe that the world’s sole purpose is to make them miserable and their buying into that not only exacerbates the situation, it keeps them from allowing any change in their life to take place.

Subtle changes can often have dramatic effects. Changing I can’t to I can or I won’t to I will begins to unlock the possibilities of change that elude us when we stay in those negative states that block any opportunity for alteration. Understanding that we are contributing to those walls, rather than believing that they are a result of everyone else’s action, allows us to start to make the course corrections that may eventually lead to the better life that we desire.

Throughout life I have met some of the most amazing people that have had the most horrible things happen to them. Yet they have found the inner strength to forgive and live a life filled with positive thoughts that keeps them on the path they desire. Alternatively, I have seen individuals that have never had bad things happen to them, yet they still see the world as their problem and choose to live a life mired in negativity. The former could have gone in the same direction, but they chose positivity over negativity and allowed their life to change for the better.

There is a difference between having a bad day, or even a bad week and allowing ourselves to be void of positive thoughts as a normal course of life. Change comes about because we are willing to let it happen and weed out that which is making us weaker. When we fill our life with positivity, it not only affects us, it affects everyone around us that have the ability to contribute to making our life that much better.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

Mornings with Ron is now available on podcast at https://anchor.fm/morningswithron

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When I saw this quote, my mind immediately went back to the time when we were dealing with my grandmother’s dementia. It was hard to spot in the early days and when we finally figured out what was going on it became very difficult to deal with it. What was reality in her mind and what we knew to be true conflicted. As a result, we often found ourselves trying to correct her to help her understand the true reality. It was only through research, as well as trial and error, that we soon learned that our need to be right was proving detrimental both ourselves and her.

There is no science to dealing with dementia patients. Often the best way to learn is by interacting with those that have gone through the same situation. Levels of dementia are different and peoples actions and responses are different. However, there is one general consensus. Trying to battle with dementia patients who are saying things that are not true to us and attempting to prove that we are right does no good for either patient or family member. The sooner we realize that what they are saying is real in their world, the easier it becomes to interact with those that we are quickly losing.

When we would visit my grandmother, we really never knew what state she would be in. Sometimes she would be in a different time period where what she was saying was true, just not in the time period where we were living. Other times she would say things that we knew could not possibly be true, but in her mind they were. As we learned to go along with what she was saying and alter our responses to fit her dialogue, the more pleasant our visits became as we learned to live in her reality.

Our need to battle and be right is innate. When we know the truth as individuals, we have this need to ensure that truth prevails and often try and satisfy that self fulfilling need to be right. While that may create conflict in a world where individuals have all their faculties that can be worked through, dementia patients aren’t afforded the ability to understand the truth just because we say it is so.

Dealing with the changes that happen as a result of dementia is a steep learning curve that often requires us to alter course based on a situation. It often involves changing our own personalities and beliefs to accommodate the situation of the day. However, when we learn to deal, it makes for a much more harmonious encounter with family members and allows us to enjoy the days we have left without conflict. In the dementia world, peace over battle becomes a necessity rather than a desire.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

Mornings with Ron is now available on podcast at https://anchor.fm/morningswithron

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In a world where it is currently hard to determine what is true and what is not, it has become even more important to be individuals that are true to our word. It is also important for us to maintain our own acceptable level of integrity. In everything we do, we are measured on how we follow through on our commitments, how true we are to our given word and how we exemplify ourselves as leaders. At the end of the day, our integrity is everything and we are the ones that are in total control of it.

Throughout my career I have mostly been in account management positions where I was responsible for taking care of the company’s clients. In the course of that job I had to make promises regarding deliverables, ensure that contractural obligations were met and that clients needs were taken care of. To the client I was the company, so my ability to deliver on my promises consistently put my personal integrity at stake. As you can imagine this can cause a lot of pressure at times as you try to maneuver through large organizations. Yet, at other times it could be incredibly rewarding when you were able to line up all the necessary elements to deliver on the things that were promised. This is often mirrored in our personal lives.

Friendships, relationships and personal connections are all centered around the ability for us to portray a level of integrity in all our actions. Over the years I have encountered people who could not tell the truth if they tried. One lie becomes twenty, as the need to tell lies to cover previous lives increases. Rarely have I seen these individuals be successful in their personal or professional lives. Even if they are, it always catches with them at some point and the dominoes start to fall. Individuals with integrity are usually quick to spot these types of people and find a way to weed them out of our lives. That is if we believe in true integrity and honesty.

Living a true honest life with integrity is easy. If you are being true to yourself, you don’t need to exert all the energy that is required to live a life full of lies and deceit. It also means that you never have to apologize for who you are because you are living your life. An individuals integrity is like gold. If you have it the world is your oyster. If you lack it your life path is going to be a long lonely road.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

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For a long time I have been trying to figure out how to get my messages from morningswithron.com out to more people. The feedback I have gotten from all of you has motivated me to do more. Yet, some of the fears that I often write about find their way into my own life on occasion and I start to question whether or not I am even doing the right thing. I ask myself if I should just wait for the right opportunity to come my way or do I need to create that opportunity and just make it happen? The next logical step for me was a podcast.

Of course once you start down that path all the self doubt questions start to pour in. Will my voice be good enough? Not knowing what I am doing will anyone even want to listen to it? Will all the technology involved in creating them be too daunting to even get through the first episode? Where will I host it….and on and on and on. It is amazing when we try to do something good how much the doubt shows its face to try and stop you in your tracks.

Thank goodness for my brother who is savvy in all things podcast. He sat down with me and walked me through all the tools. The more we worked on it the more the doubts and fears seemed to subside. As it started to come to life the excitement started to build. By Sunday afternoon the first episode of morningswithron.com was born and now resides at:

anchor.fm/morningswithron

Through this process I reminded myself that opportunities don’t always come knocking. Often we have to create them ourselves and lay our fears and self doubts aside. I have said many times before that if you truly believe, nothing in your life is impossible and I just needed to have that little self reminder. I hope that you will listen, enjoy and thank you for continuing on this journey with me.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

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I am pleased to announce that morningswithron.com is now available on podcast.  Each week I will be sharing five of my previous messages post and you will have an opportunity to hear them in my own words, straight from the heart.  They are currently being distributed amongst all the podcast sites (iTunes, google, etc.) and for now you can access the first episode at anchor.fm/morningswithron.  Please bear with me as I learn the tools and cadence of a podcast and I hope you enjoy.

Ron

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How lucky are we that have or had parents and grandparents that have done exactly this for us? Those that have provided that safe haven that gives us a place to escape from the reality and pressure of the world. A place that allows us to travel back in time, relive moments of our childhood and just be one with the world.

I think about this every time I go home to my parents. They still live in the house that I grew up in and I often still sleep in the same room that was always mine. As I lay there at night falling asleep, I am transported to another time and place where things were simpler. I know that no matter what, that bed is always there for me, the front door is always open and there will always be a meal on the table for me should I need it.

Years ago, when I was in my poorer days, there were times when I would go days without eating simply because I did not have the money. When my parents found out about this, you can imagine how that went over. Every time I would go home they would have me go “grocery shopping” in their pantry to ensure that I was going home with food in my cupboards. Every time I am home visiting them and go into that pantry I think about that and know that is one of the many reasons that I have such a compassion for doing for them and others today.

There are so many people that never get to experience the wonderful feeling of knowing that door is always open. For one reason or another they have been estranged from their families. Something they did when they were younger caused them to be exiled from their home. Or they just grew up and lost the need for their families and forgot the value family brings to their lives. However, there are so many where the families still mean the world to them. They understand the benefits of being in each other’s lives and sharing as they grow.

One of the reasons that I made “connecting the circle of life” one of the missions of this program was because I saw a need for ensuring that children always remember those that paved the way for us. I felt it was important for them to understand that our elders are to be honored and revered. We tend to forget the elderly in the time when they need us most. When we ensure that our door is always open as much as theirs is or was to us, it is only then that the safe haven we all desire will be available for all generations.

Have a great weekend and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

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If you ever wondered how I figure out what my message for the day is going to be I can tell you that many times it comes from one of you. Something you said, one of your posts, or a message you have sent triggers something inside of me that allows me to share with you on that particular day. This message was no exception.

When I look out into the world, I often question what has happened that we have become a society that is far quicker to judge each other rather than support and uplift. We seem to be able to find everything we can that is wrong with an individual, yet finding the good and recognizing it takes way too much effort. It’s as if we have become so perfect in our own minds that no one can even measure up to us. This is especially true in social media, where people can hide behind a screen and exert their wrath, often never even letting anyone know who they are.

The old adage about glass houses and stones reigns more true today than ever. Somehow we have lost the humility and humbleness that once defined us as a caring and compassionate society. Teachers will tell you children are getting more difficult to manage. Employers will tell you employees are getting more demanding while wanting to do less. It has become harder to get people together for the common good.

All is not doom and gloom. There still exists a compassionate population wanting to do good in the world and leave it a little better than we found it. People who care for each other and often for those that they don’t even know. Those who have the humility to know that we are all one people and none of us is perfect. We know that through our faults we become better persons and thereby set the example for others to do the same. I see it every day in this program.

When we learn to judge less, support more and have the love and compassion that defines a truly great generation, it is only then that subsequent generations follow suit. It is also why it is so important for us to set the example, keep those stones in our pocket and support and uplift each other, rather than tear each other down. That is what makes a great generation.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles today.

Ron

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This weekend I was thinking about just how powerful we are as individuals. As much is it doesn’t feel like it sometimes, we are the ones that are in total control of our life. Two simple words are all that we need to control our destiny, alter our life path and keep us on the track to achieving our goals. Those words are yes, and no. When you think about it, they are the true power to everything.

When we say yes, hopefully we have made a commitment, done our analysis and know that is the correct path we need to take. When we say no we understand that it isn’t the right path for us and that there must be alternatives. Where we sometimes get into trouble is when we say maybe and then let others sway a decision that may not have necessarily been the right decision for us.

When we truly understand the power of the words yes and no, we also understand the importance of not giving up that power to anyone else. Once we do the ability to control our own lives and its destiny go with them, which often leaves us with a life unfulfilled. I believe at the end of the day no one wants to give the power to control their life to someone else, we just sometimes lose sight of who we are and what we are capable of, while second guessing ourselves.

There have been many times over the years where I have been in a relationship with a person, job or situation where I forgot that I had the ultimate power to say yes or no. I let others make decisions for me and it rarely wound up in a good situation for me personally. It was only when I said enough was enough that I truly took the reigns of my life path and understood that I was responsible for my own satisfaction.

If you find yourself a little off course, sit down look in the mirror and say those two words to yourself out loud. Tell yourself that only you have the power to use those two words on things that affect your life and take back ownership of your life path. It is only when we truly believe that we have the ultimate power that we see that our life really does belong to us.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

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As we go through life we are often afforded the opportunity to collect things or moments that contribute to a full and satisfying life. Many people choose things because they believe that is what makes them happy. Others choose to collect moments that create memories that last a life time. At the end of the day which of those do you think make for a happier person?

I like gadgets and things as much as the next person. It is funny though the things that I choose to help fulfill my life. I buy clothes and wear them for years. I would bet there are shirts in my closet that I have had for 10 years. I also like the latest gadgets and things that add to my at home experience. However, I really believe that if material things were what I based my measure of happiness on in my life, there would definitely be something missing.

What works for me is to balance things with moments. People know that I love traveling, especially with friends. Those trips create moments and memories that I draw on when I need that little life pick me up. I can’t imagine a possession of mine filling that void for me. I would venture to say that anyone that solely relies on possessions for happiness would tell you that in reality something is missing.

At the end of the day a satisfying life is about balance. When we find the things that contribute to a full life and then find the right amount of those things that balance each other, it is only then that we are able to live a life that completes us. If you feel like your life may be a little off, think about all the things that make you happy and then determine if the balance of those things is lopsided. My guess is that once you bring them all into balance, you will start to live a more rewarding, satisfying harmonious life.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles.

Ron

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When I saw this quote, the first thing I thought of was how many times I have felt the need to explain to others my personal journey. However, no matter how hard I tried, they just did not get it. Often I would make alterations to my life course to try and please others, which often resulted in great dissatisfaction on my part. It was only when I realized that I did not need approval from others for my personal journey that I started to live life for myself.

So many times people get caught up in relationships, marriages and friendships where we basically sell our souls to ensure that others are satisfied. We often forgo our own ambitions, fail to follow our own dreams and thereby live someone else’s life rather than our own. What we forget is that we only get one chance at life. There are no do overs. That makes it incredibly important to make sure that we are living the life that nurtures our soul and not everyone else’s.

The first step to living a life that is true to who we are is understanding that others don’t need to understand or approve our journey. Those who wish to can be a part of it if they so choose, but they shouldn’t be able to choreograph our life to satisfy their own. Learning and understanding that gives us the freedom to be true to who we are and live a life that is fulfilling and rewarding.

The next time you find yourself going off your life path, evaluate what it is that is causing the deviation. If it is because of your own action, evaluate and course correct. If it is because we are allowing someone else to direct our life for us, take back your power and live the life that you deserve.

Have a great day and remember to be the reason someone smiles today.

Ron

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