A Message for the New Year

Create a Masterpiece

Today, you awaken to a day in which you have the power to make and inspire change.

In fact, it is the ONLY day in which you have any power. You have no control over yesterday. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is a day you haven't even met, it is beyond our reach. Tomorrow is waiting to reveal itself depending on the actions of just one day... TODAY!

What will you do with today?

Will you continue just existing instead of truly living?

Will you finally break free from the victim mentality and take control of your life?

You have been blessed with immeasurable power to make positive changes in your life. Change things up today!

You will never convince me that we go through everything we go through just to end up where we were when we started. We are here to evolve... to refine and improve ourselves... to inspire and help others to do the same.

Today is a new day!

It's yours to shape. Create a masterpiece!

(c)Steve Maraboli
Life, the Truth, and Being Free Page 27

A life of happiness, peace and love

One Day at a Time

It seems everybody is really busy these days. I understand that at times the stresses of work and family make it easy to lose focus and make each day a blur. My life is not unlike yours. I too seem to have a mountain of work to move but only a spoon with which to dig. But I want to share with you a simple TRUTH that helps me accomplish what I need to do while at the same time never losing focus.

Although time seems to fly, it never travels faster than one day at a time. Each day is a new opportunity to live your life to the fullest. In each waking day, you will find scores of blessings and opportunities for positive change. Do not let your TODAY be stolen by the ghost of yesterday or the "To-Do" list of tomorrow!

Harness the power of today. Seize the blessings of today! Make something happen, enhance your life, make someone laugh, help a friend, love, love, love!

Choose to do it - TODAY!

Today is a new day!

(c)Steve Maraboli 
Life, the Truth, and Being Free Page 79

Christ in Christmas

Who am I?

I am your constant companion.

I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am completely at your command.

Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.

I am easily managed--you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great people and, alas, of all failures, as well.

Those who are great, I have made great.

Those who are failures, I have made failures.

I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a person. You may run me for profit or run me for ruin -- it makes no difference to me.

Take me, train me, be firm with me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Who am I?

I am habit!

©Steve Maraboli

www.abettertoday.com

The world is my church...

A Time to Take Action

We are at a pivotal point in our great history. The time has come to stop pointing fingers and to start changing lives. Indifference has plagued our society and blame has spread like the deadliest cancer. It's time to care; it's time to take responsibility; it's time to lead; it's time for a change; it's time to be true to our greatest self; it's time to stop blaming others -

Today Is A New Day!

Today is the day we take charge and LEAD by EXAMPLE!  

How could we condemn violence if we're violent? Think about it, at the base of nearly every fear we have, violence is found. It's simply not acceptable! It's never someone else's problem. Stop pointing and start acting! If you don't like to see violence, let no one see it in you.

Why do we allow ourselves to be both victims and perpetrators of hate? Hate should never be a tenant in our hearts. Let us learn from our children who have not yet been taught to hate.  Be quick to evict hate from the precious dwelling of your heart.  If you don't like to experience hate, find no hate within yourself.

We're born free; free to think, to grow, and to love. Why would we ever allow this God-given gift to be taken from us? How could we ever choose to take it from another? To be controlled is to be a slave. If you don't like to be controlled, never find yourself controlling anyone.

What good has impatience ever brought? It has only served as the mother of mistakes and the father of irritation. We need to learn and embrace patience. Patience is a holy key that will unlock the door to a more fulfilling life. Behind the blessed door of patience are found better parents, powerful teachers, great business men, wise masters, and a more compassionate world.  Think of the patience God has had for you and let it resonate to others. If you want a more patient world, let patience be your motto.

Would you like someone to disrespect your mother, father, son or daughter? Of course not, then why would we do it to someone else's? For some reason, we have begun to think ourselves more worthy of respect than others. Sometimes we confuse our social class with something that actually exists, our humanity. We must transcend the illusion that money or power has any bearing on our worthiness as children of God. We are all equal in the eyes of truth and love. It's simple, if you want the respect of others, you must give them respect.

A life of happiness, peace, and love is all within our grasp. I know the questions are plentiful, but the answers are simple - that's how God structured the universe. We each hold the key to A Better Today. What we must do is cure ourselves from the disease of blame and indifference and leap into the healthy arms of INTENT and ACTION.

BE the change you wish to see - you can do it!

Today Is A New Day!

©Steve Maraboli

Life, the Truth, and Being Free Page 128

How would your life be different if...

Life doesn't get easier or more forgiving...

I Want to Live My Life In Such a Way

Life Itself is Simple...

The Hero of Your Story

The Ego: A Celebration of You

So many writers and philosophers discuss the ego and often debate whether you should embrace it or "free" yourself from it. But how do we define the ego? Does it have to be self aggrandizement or selfishness or can it simply be a celebration and identification of self?

I love landscape art and photography. I am often left breathless by the beauty of this wonderful earth, from the amazing sunrise that explodes in a multicolor celebration of a new day to the serene sunset with its blissful whisper of the day's transition; from the majestic mountain ranges to the white sand beaches; from the powerful oceans to the beautiful fields of flowers. I love to see and celebrate all the beauty in this enchantingly hand-sculpted earth that God has blessed us with.

I know I'm not alone in this admiration of beauty. All over the world people have pictures and paintings in their homes of some of these earthly scenes. In museums, the work of artists who capture this beauty is prominently displayed and many people pay to see and admire their work.

So let me ask you this: if it is alright to recognize and celebrate the work of artists, if it's alright to celebrate something a human made, why would you not celebrate something God made? God made you. God hand sculpted you to fulfill a purpose here on this great earth. You are just as majestic as the mountains and just as beautiful as a field of flowers. I believe having an ego is simply recognizing and celebrating the work of God.

This doesn't mean you should be selfish. It doesn't mean you should consider yourself better than anyone else. It means you are an individual and it's ok to recognize that God made you as an individual with a purpose. Don't turn your back on that truth, embrace it and celebrate it!

Thank you for being you!

(c)Steve Maraboli

Life, the Truth, and Being Free Page 87

Your Opinion

Your Life

Dare to be!

When a new day begins, dare to smile gratefully.

 When there is darkness, dare to be the first to shine a light.

When there is injustice, dare to be the first to condemn it.

When something seems difficult, dare to do it anyway.

When life seems to beat you down, dare to fight back.

When there seems to be no hope, dare to find some.

When you're feeling tired, dare to keep going.

When times are tough, dare to be tougher.

When love hurts you, dare to love again.

When someone is hurting, dare to help them heal.

When another is lost, dare to help them find the way.

When a friend falls, dare to be the first to extend a hand.

When you cross paths with another, dare to make them smile.

When you feel great, dare to help someone else feel great too.

When the day has ended, dare to feel as you've done your best.

Dare to be the best you can-

At all times, Dare to be!

©Steve Maraboli

The Word "Seek"...