From Notes from the Universe:

This note requires action.

Why not let today mark the beginning
of the absolute happiest, most memorable
time of your life?

The power is yours.  Do something.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I’m embarking on my best year ever.
I’m listening to Darren Hardy, publisher of Success magazine, on CD, and I’m developing a list of 13 things I want to work on over the next twelve months, based on advice from Benjamin Franklin. Work on one thing per week, and nothing else.

By doing this, I will work on that one thing 4 times a year, improving myself in that area in greater strides than if I tried to work on all the areas at once.

Here’s Mr. Franklin’s list:

• Temperance–Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation.
• Silence–Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
• Order–Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
• Resolution–Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
• Frugality–Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
• Industry–Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
• Sincerity–Use no harmful deceits; think innocently & justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly.
• Justice–Wrong none by doing injuries, or emitting the benefits that are your duty.
• Moderation–Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
• Cleanliness–Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths [sic], or habitation.
• Tranquility–Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents uncommon of unavoidable.
• Chastity–rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness [sic], weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
• Humility–Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

I’m still making my list, but I do know that this week I am working on focusing on the positive.  I have to do this because I tend to operate on the undropped shoe belief:  I brace myself for the worst.  Always.  I call it realism.

Truth: it’s

• defeatism.
• negativism.
• dark.
• faithless.
• hopeless.

The fact that I call it realism is a sad testament to my paradigm.
Done with that.

So I have a new blue and gold bracelet that I’ll be wearing for the next 7 days, and when I look at it, I’ll consider:

• Blue & gold=royal colors—>I am a child of the King.  A princess, you might say, although, really, I prefer Queen. But then I’d have to segue into fairytale ruminations about roles, and if I’m the Queen AND a child of the King, oh–that’s not good. And there I go again with the negative.  ha.
• I choose what I focus on.       I. choose.
• Realism = real, not negative.

My list, not in order:

• Romans 8: 28–Focus on what is good.  Week 1.
• Intimacy.
• Order, as per Ben Franklin.
• Tranquility, as per Ben Franklin.
• Acceptance.  week 2.
• Movement/body-consciousness
• Ephesians 4:29–speak no evil.
• Industry, as per Ben Franklin.
• Generosity: time/attention/etc.
• Resolution, as per Ben Franklin.
• Attention to what I ingest.
• Appreciation and praise.
• Frugality, as per Ben Franklin.

Yes, each area requires its own bracelet. I’m okay with that.

BTW: it’s okay to start such a list any day you choose.  Darren Hardy says to make NOW your turning point.
Care to join me?