A truly successful leader in any business or organisational endeavour is exemplified in their ability to galvanise and engage the support of their greatest asset . . . people
Keith Ready

InspirEmail

InspirEmail No 211 - July 11th, 2011 - Five birds with good intentions
'Inspirational messages to refresh the spirit and boost the emotional bank account'

Five birds and good intentions

Five birds are sitting on a telephone wire. Two decide to fly south. How many are left?

Most people would say three. Actually, all five are left. You see, deciding to fly isn't the same as doing it.

If a bird really wants to go somewhere, it's got to point itself in the right direction, jump off the wire, flap its wings and keep flapping until it gets there. So it is with most things. Good intentions aren't enough . . . It's not what we want, say, or think that makes things happen; it's what we do.

I frequently think of writing thank-you, birthday, and congratulatory notes. Unfortunately, only a sad few of these good sentiments ever make it to paper. Still, if I don't look too closely, I can delude myself into thinking that based on my good thoughts I'm a gracious and grateful person. A truer and less admirable picture of my character is drawn by my actions.

In the end, we either do or don't do. We either make the time to do the things we want to and should do or we make excuses. As Alfred Adler said . . . 'Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.'

What do you want to do? Do you want to take a course, change your job, lose weight, make new friends, or spend more time with and appreciate more the ones you have?

What's stopping you from jumping off the wire and flapping your wings?

Written by Michael Josephson
To learn more about the work of Michael Josephson, please visit . . . Character Counts >>>

Featured Positive Inspirational Story

If you look like a duck . . .

There is a famous Italian saying that a good friend of mine, Ray, once told me, some years ago. It is something I have carried around, and I use on regular occasions. Ray was always impeccably dressed, spoke very well, but like myself came from a lower middle class . . . read more >>>

Live for now

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the power in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed nor can we erase a single word we've said for yesterday is gone!

The other day we shouldn't worry about is tomorrow with its impossible adversaries, its burden, its hopeful promise and poor performance.

Tomorrow is beyond our control and tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendour or behind a mask of clouds, however it will rise and until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow for it is yet unborn.

This leaves only one day - today. Any person can fight the battles of just one day, it is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people to despair, it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

InspirEmail

Five birds and good intentions

Featured Positive Inspirational Story

If you look like a duck . . .

Live for now

- Inspirational Quote -

I move forward in my life every day, even if it's only a tiny step, because I know that great things are accomplished with tiny moves, but nothing is accomplished by standing still Zig Ziglar

I move forward in my life every day, even if it's only a tiny step, because I know that great things are accomplished with tiny moves, but nothing is accomplished by standing still
Zig Ziglar