Permission to Soar!

What is your wildest dream, your biggest goal, or the one thing you desire more than most anything else? As you watch the images of your dreams play out in your mind, be quick to grab hold of the way you feel. Don’t let go and give yourself permission to soar on the possibilities. Savor the way it makes you feel. Are you energized? You should be. Do you realize that you can “feel” this way any time you want?

If our dreams, goals, and aspirations make us feel so great then why aren’t we riding them more often? It’s time to conduct a quick assessment on where we are versus where we desire to be…or who we desire to become. Are you moving closer to your objectives? Some may answer “yes, but…” If your answer is the same or anything less, perhaps you’re not giving yourself permission to soar.

 

Think for a moment about the way you feel when your dreams are at the forefront of your mind. Our minds create an image that ignites passion which, in turn, stimulates a physical response that produces endorphins that bring about clarity and creativity. If you’re like me, the drive and passion are so intense during those moments that there’s nothing that can derail or prevent me from grabbing the next rung of the ladder to my objective, no matter what it takes. Something happens when the ideals of our dreams, goals, and desires line up with the mind, body, and spirit. That “something” is called synergy!

 

Synergy is the interaction of two or more substances, entities, or agents to produce an effect far greater than the sum of their distinctive parts. Simply put, synergy is power. It’s a power every one of us possesses. You can experience synergy anytime you wish. It’s true.

 

The source of synergy is imagination. Try this – go back to the opening paragraph and tap into the images that support your greatest desires. As soon as you “see” the images you begin the process of your own synergy. Now, rinse, lather, and repeat…and repeat…and repeat. It’s the way habits are formed. What better habit to form than one that’ll literally change the course of your life?

 

Synergy is limited only by our own ability to allow it to multiply. In other words, if we get out of our own way and open our minds to the fact that we can achieve anything we desire, our imaginations will be free to show us more than we can already imagine. It has been said that our subconscious cannot discern the difference between fact and fiction. By continually tapping into our imaginations we feed and convince our subconscious of the reality we desire. So why not have fun with this and convince it of where you want to go instead of where you are and who you wish to become rather than who you currently are? It’s the beginning of a path to greatness and is a law of nature that will work for any one of us.  

Until next time...
-G-

"You have the power to set the tone of your day through the choices you make and the thoughts that dominate your mind." 
~ G. Westfal

We're proud to announce Gary's next book, set to be released this summer. FEAR is a Thief is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative.

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 
If you'd like to receive a notification anytime Gary publishes a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit his Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator.

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime he publishes a new blog or provides updates. Please help Gary by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" his Facebook page. Let's push this deserving author to the top among the greats where he belongs.

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Happiness is in Your Hands

The meaning of life can be summed up in one simple yet profound word—happiness. Yet, it may surprise you to know that a rather small number of people consider themselves to be truly happy.

Scientific polls place the average percentage of happy people to be less than 20%. When asked about happiness most people will tell you they're "generally happy" while others will freely admit they seldom experience much happiness at all. Less than 20% confidently define their lives as fulfilling or flourishing. That's less than one in five! These basic stats raise the question: How do I become one of the 20-per centers?

Happiness is relative. In other words, it is personally defined. Yet, there are certain fundamentals that support a foundational premise that can help you find (and maintain) a state of happiness in your life. I've gathered a few of these simple principles you may wish to consider as you search for your own true version of happiness. These principles, along with many others, have worked well for me. And I suspect they will work for you as well.

Gratitude - Known as one of the most profound and powerful happiness boosters, gratitude will immerse your entire being with the goodness of life. Gratitude reveals the precious nature of life and the sincerities of mankind in a way that can often be awe-inspiring. Gratitude can make you happier. It can make you see life differently, and it can change your entire state of being.

Gratitude exercise - Every day think of three things you are grateful for. Do it for two weeks without skipping a day. At the end of two weeks determine whether or not you feel happier. My bet is that you surely will.

Passion - Each and every one of us is good at something. Operating in the lane of passion supports happiness and gives us a sense of accomplishment and contribution.

Passion exercise - Think about the best version of yourself and move toward that. Learn something, connect with someone, and act on something that supports your passion.

Time - Spending time with the right people speaks to our sense of belonging and our basic social nature. The happiest people are generally social and have strong relationships.

Time exercise - Interact with people. Discover the true value of human interaction with other like-minded people. If you tend to be more of a social introvert, try stepping outside your lane of familiarity and see the kinds of things being social can provide. Happiness is more contagious than unhappiness, so a bit of exposure may actually open up a whole new world for you.

Give - There's just no doubt about it, giving makes us happier than receiving. Giving creates a perpetuate cycle of happiness that's difficult to describe. Experience giving and you'll quickly know the power of this concept.

Giving exercise - Volunteer. Do something nice for someone as you discover a need. It can be the most selfless way of being selfish while creating a sense of personal joy that is difficult to top.

Savor - There's nothing wrong with savoring fond memories of the past or anticipating an exciting event. However, to truly tap into the strongest aspect of happiness, we should focus as much as we possibly can on the present moment. Doing so allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the magic of the moment as it unfolds before us. Savoring such moments are an important aspect to the basic tenets of happiness.

Savor exercise - Stop what you're doing right now and savor the things that are going on around you. Draw a deep breath and savor the fresh sense of life that enters your lungs. Listen to the sounds, savor the voices, the sights, the experiences and the power of right now. Smile knowing that these things are the essence of life and a true reason to be happy.

Avoid regrets - We all know the story of the person who lies on their deathbed looking back upon life with regrets. "I wish I had the courage to live life differently," "I wish I hadn't worked so hard," "I wish I had allowed myself to be happier," "I wish I had..." The last thing any of us want is for this scenario to play out in our own lives. But it will unless you realize that you have the power to be happy right now. You control your own state of happiness and it isn't as difficult as it may first appear.

So...smile, savor the goodness of life, and discover reasons to be happy. The power to do so is in your hands. 

Until next time...

-G-

"Happiness is an inside job."
~ William Arthur Ward

We're proud to announce Gary's next book, set to be released this summer. FEAR is a Thief is the first in a self-empowerment series that is written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.

Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers. 

Get your copy of Westfal's first novel Dream Operative.

Order your copy of these exciting novels today at Amazon.com.

For a comprehensive perspective on the diversity of Gary Westfal, please visit his website (www.gwestfal.com).
 
If you'd like to receive a notification anytime Gary publishes a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit his Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator.

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom left of the column. You'll be subscribed and will receive a notification anytime he publishes a new blog or provides updates. Please help Gary by recommending this blog to others and by "liking" his Facebook page. Let's push this deserving author to the top among the greats where he belongs.

Please help the author reach more people. If you enjoyed this article you can help by recommending it on Google by pressing the "g+1" button below...

Perspective

I met a man last night who had never before flown in an airplane until he had taken the bold step to do so a few days before to attend his sister's retirement. A generally quiet man of fifty-one years, he lives a simple life with his three dogs on the Chesapeake Bay and provides for himself through an honest days work in the construction business in Virginia.

I listened as he described the experience of his first flight. His childlike account of the experience gave me pause as I considered my own life and the many things I take for granted and consider normal or routine.
 
As he spoke, it occurred to me that the perspectives we have of life are as diverse as each and every one of us. Oftentimes, we see only one perspective and begin to consider it to be absolute, at least as it applies to our own lives. But when we take the bold step into the unknown, our eyes are opened to perspectives that reveal life in new and fresh and fascinating ways.

For this man the perspective was literal. For the first time in his life he saw the Earth's landscape from varying altitudes of flight from the window seat he occupied. He told me how amazed he was at the detail of the vast landscape of the eastern seaboard and went on to describe how he pressed his face against the window in childlike astonishment when he would see cars, buildings, trees, and waterways. He watched as the pilot retracted the flaps and set the aircraft aloft as the forces of gravity acted upon his body - physiological experiences he had never before encountered. He was present in a moment of sensory euphoria that allowed him to savor that moment, to capture details most of us take for granted when we fly.

Perspective can be literal, like the first-time experience on an airplane that opens the aperture of the eye and thus the mind. Or it can be figurative, like an attitude or alternative point of view, which also opens the mind. There's a lesson for all of us either way you consider it. The lesson is rather simple actually.

Open your mind to new perspectives!

If we allow but one perspective to dominate our lives, we remain hidden within the confines of our own decisions. The unknown remains hidden, the routine becomes the norm, and we rob ourselves of the fascination of personal growth. Stretch the limits of your imagination, set aside your fears and biases, a consider the freshness and fascination of a new perspective.

Until next time!

 

- G -

You must look within for insight, but look beyond for perspective. 
Dennis Waitley -

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Get your copy of my first novel Dream Operative. Visit my website (www.gwestfal.com) and order your copy today!

Receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Writer, Artist Educator

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column. You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream Operative. And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/

Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

Enjoy the Journey

Enjoy the Journey!

You’ve no doubt heard it many times, but having goals and aspirations is essential to the forward progression of life.  It’s true, because, without knowing where we’re headed, how would we ever know once we’ve arrived?  Or worse yet, how the heck would we even know the path it takes to get there?  Well, today’s blog is not so much about the destination as it is the journey.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard things like, “I hate this job” or “college sucks” from some of the very same people who later attest to how much that job or class meant, in retrospect, in building or shaping the outcome of their present, and most often, improved situation.  Ask most young military recruits who are caught up in the middle of initial basic training and they too will tell you just how "terrible" their situation is.  But ask them to look upon their training after they’ve successfully graduated and they’ll have story after story on how the experience left an indelible change on their lives, and oftentimes, literally transformed them into mature adulthood. 

All too often, we get so caught up in anticipating what’s next that we lose sight of what’s now.  If you think about it, the very things going on around us right now is the result of the actions we put in place to bring us to this moment.  Ignoring it is not only tragic; it robs us of the subtleties that are designed to keep us moving forward in a meaningful way.  In other words, don’t forget to stop and enjoy the journey! 

This blog is a reminder to enjoy the journey, or the now.  There’s so much happening in the journey that we can experience and truly savor.  Our experiences and reactions to the journey literally shape who we are as individuals.  If you have children, you have more than your share of examples right in front of you that serve to drive the point home to its core.  Our children change every single day.  Yet, it’s so easy to get used to the subtle changes taking place right before our very eyes that makes it all too easy to look past…until they do something so funny or spectacular that it gives us pause and reminds us just how perishable the journey is…just how delicate and important the moment is.

If you don’t have children, try something else that’ll serve as a reminder.  Sit and watch a sunset one evening.  As you watch the beauty of the changing colors cast upon the horizon as the sun sets, take note of the amount of time passing before your very eyes.  Here’s a wake-up call – it’s the last sunset you’ll ever see…today!  Tomorrow’s sunset isn’t a guarantee.  If you’re able to grasp that concept, the sun will seem to set so much faster than it normally would if you were to simply allow it to happen without savoring the experience. 

There are so many other things that can serve as a reminder to enjoy the journey.  Don't allow these important things to escape you without an attempt to enjoy them for everything they offer.  Look around on your drive to work instead of thinking about what's on the agenda once you get there.  The agenda and all the expectations of work will be there when you arrive.  Why waste your journey on thoughts that won't change a thing anyway?

Another important part of the journey is to pay attention to what it’s telling you about the direction of your life.  It’s in the journey where we make conscious adjustments to our future.  We base those decisions on the experiences provided to us inside the journey.  If we experience joy and satisfaction, we tend to view that positively and seek to perpetuate more by repeating the decisions it took to bring us to this point.  Conversely, if we tend not to really care too much for our circumstances, we choose to change them so we can enjoy a different journey in the future.  Every journey, however, good or not-so-good, provides insight we can use to make these adjustments.  So, my humble advice is to experience the journey for everything it provides. 

Our journey brings us to places and circumstances for a reason.  The reasons are as wide and varied as each of us are unique.  Suffice it to say, however, that each of our journeys are designed to shape us to become wiser, more aware individuals with the potential to make decisions that continually change the path of our journey.  The direction that journey takes is ultimately up to you alone to control.  I only hope you stop occasionally to enjoy the scenery that surrounds you along the way!

Until next time!

- G -

"Don't get so caught up in what tomorrow will bring that you fail to experience the joys of today."  - G. Westfal - 

If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new blog (currently about every two weeks), visit my Facebook page: G. Gary Westfal, Author

Once there, click on "Get Update via RSS" on the bottom of the left column.  You'll be subscribed and will receive notification whenever I publish a new blog or provide updates to my novel Dream State.  And help me by recommending this blog to others and "liking" my FB page.

Please visit my All American Warriors! bog at: http://allamericanwarriors.blogspot.com/ 

Please visit my website: www.gwestfal.com

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