If I ever do learn to cook (one day mom, I promise!), I'm starting with this thing.

It’s time for another Crock-Pot post (yes, I just made that up): sometimes I get hit with so many unrelated miscellaneous links, articles, and cool things to share that I decide to throw it all into a big stew and serve it up. Bon appetite!

Happy Thoughts – Delivered Daily

I’m a sucker for daily inspirational emails, quotes or thoughts. Three lists I’ve been enjoying lately:

• The Daily Love – “Wisdom with Style” (Quotes on love and happiness)
• Positive Quote of the Day (Short, simple email with a great thought to start each day)
• TUT – Notes from the Universe (funny, wise and widely-known list)

I particularly appreciated today’s TUT Note (thank you Ruth Ann for sharing it!):

“Of all the things that matter, Jenny, that really and truly matter, working more efficiently and getting more done, is not among them.

Chill,
The Universe

And, quite accidentally, Jenny, such an appreciation leads to greater efficiency and more productivity. Not that that really matters.”

Other great stuff around the web:

• Colin Wright’s eBook, How to be Remarkable (the Least You Need to Know). Incredibly well done with powerful advice – a must-read!
• Matt Cheuvront‘s Epiphany Moment video series (featuring yours truly)
• The full round-up of posts for Elisa Doucette’s February “All You Need is Love” series
• The reader comments on my Help a Reader Out: How Do You Make Decisions post: TONS of fantastic, insightful tips.
• My Dad’s Blog! I couldn’t be prouder. My dad and I take walks every Sunday and talk about life – I’m so excited that he’s now sharing all of his great stories, theories and art with the rest of the world!
• I signed-up for Formspring – ask me anything and I’ll answer (but keep it friendly and SFW, people!)
• There are lots more articles I find interesting (on writing, psychology, happiness, humor and more) on Delicious

My Policy on Book Reviews – and Live a Life You Love: Book Giveaway Winner

I’ve implemented a new policy on this blog for book reviews (on books that others send to me, not ones I choose myself). In the name of transparency, I’m sharing it with all of you:

1. I will only review books if I get two copies – one for me and one to give away to my readers; It’s no fun if I’m the only one getting a free book!
2. I will only agree to someone sending me a book in the first place if I find the description captivating. The book should meet at least one of the following criteria: useful/beneficial to me and my readers, related to topics I blog about, or fun/unique in some way.
3. I reserve the right to decide whether to write a blog post on the book until after reading it (at which point I can discern whether a majority of my readers will learn or benefit in some way).
4. Am I missing anything?

With that, I’m excited to announce that Clara is the winner of the Live a Life You Love book giveaway. Congrats, and thanks so much to everyone who commented to enter!

OK Go’s AWESOME New Music Video – This Too Shall Pass

I leave you with one final pick-me-up: OK Go’s new music video – it’s colorful, playful, creative, and just pure genius. (Plus – the contraptions remind me of the booby traps from The Goonies, one of my all time favorite movies.) Enjoy!

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“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.

Photo Courtesy of Andreas (Flickr)

I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal.

In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized.

If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I am fascinated by human potential. I absolutely believe that if we see the best in others, we bring out the best in others – and in ourselves.

How great does it feel when someone believes in you – and genuinely means it – even after barely meeting you? While there are exceptions (I don’t advocate blind trust, for example) – seeing the good in someone can be one of the most powerful gifts in the world. Give it freely.

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The Master of Living

The master in the art of living
draws no sharp distinction between
his work and his play,
his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body,
his information and his recreation,
his love and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which.

He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does,
leaving others to determine whether he is working or playing.
To him, he is always doing both.

—James A. Michener

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“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”

—Martha Graham, quoted by Agnes DeMille in Martha: The Life and Work of Martha Graham

Photo Courtesy of Jean-Francois Chenier (Flickr)

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The following two quotes are from a man named Christopher Morley (1890 – 1957), a U.S. author and journalist. Both struck me as powerful and worth reflection.

“There is only one success – to be able to spend your life in your own way.” -C. Morley

Lady in Red (Courtesy of jstrategy on Flickr)

“Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.” -C. Morley

And just to balance things out with a chuckle on the topic of individuality:

Are you spending your life in your own way, or living according to someone else’s?

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Do More, by John H. Rhoades
Excerpt from the book Be, Compiled by Kobi Yamada

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

Do more than exist,
Live.

Do more than touch,
Feel.

Do more than look,
Observe.

Do more than read,
Absorb.

Do more than hear,
Listen.

Do more than listen,
Understand.

Do more than think,
Ponder.

Do more than talk,
Say something.

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Which means more to you,
you or your renown?
Which brings more to you,
you or what you own?
I say what you gain
is more trouble than what you lose.

Love is the fruit of sacrifice.
Wealth is the fruit of generosity.

A contented man is never disappointed.
He who knows when to stop is preserved from peril,
only thus can you endure long.

—Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

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I owe this post to a wise, wise friend who shared with me the following advice:

When life gets crazy…lift the oars.

What does that mean? Stop trying so hard, fighting so much. Stop slogging through rocks, rapids and the chaos of your life with clenched jaws and fists. Let go. Relax. Take a break and let life happen for a little bit. Lift the damn oars.

Photo Credit: rosy_outlook (Flickr)

On a similar Zen-sounding water-friendly note, I also appreciate the following saying:

Don’t push the river.

The river is a-flowing, baby. You are along for the ride. Life happens. Enjoy it. Rapids? Have fun. Learn. Get stronger. Smile.

Got any other “keep you going” sayings? Please share! No quote too cheesy. Seriously. Try me.

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With the greatest leader above them,
people barely know one exists.

When a leader trusts no one,
no one trusts him.

The great leader speaks little.
He never speaks carelessly.
He works without self-interest
and leaves no trace.
When all is finished, the people say,
“We did it ourselves.”

-Lao-tzu, Tao Te Ching

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I read a truly outstanding and inspiring book this weekend called The Essential Wooden: A Lifetime of Lessons on Leaders and Leadership. As a UCLA grad, this book is near and dear to my heart. John Wooden, named by ESPN as the Greatest Coach of the 20th Century, is arguably one of the most effective leaders of our time. I felt it worth sharing some of his pearls of wisdom (excerpts from the book) with all of you:

• Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best you are capable of becoming.
• Failure to act is often the greatest failure of all.
• It is so easy to quit, to turn back, to give in. Never do so. Try again, and again. Try harder, smarter, but try again.
• The star of the team is the team, and not one individual
• If you’re not making some mistakes, you’re not doing anything – not trying to make things happen
• Prepare, plan, practice hard, and then execute without thought of failure.
• Perfection is impossible. Capitalizing on imperfection – mistakes – makes all the difference.
• Your opinion, if you are respected, will often carry more weight than your advice
• Saying bad things about others is a bad habit. For all the shortcomings I see in others, I keep in mind that my own failings are many.
• Listen with your eyes, not just your ears
• It takes less than one second to say thank you. The rewards last much longer.
• The more concerned we become over things we can’t control, the less we will do to improve those things we can control.
• The past is for reference, the future for dreamers; The present moment is where you create success.
• Seek those moments when you can offer a sincere compliment to those who don’t get many compliments.

From his father, Joshua Wooden:

• Be true to yourself.
• Help others.
• Make each day your masterpiece.
• Make friendship a fine art.
• Never try to be better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can be. You have control over that. Not the other.

And one final excerpt:

There is a choice you have to make,
In everything you do.
So keep in mind that in the end,
The choice you make, makes you.

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