James Smith’s Info Serv

Author: Anastasia Netri

When you hear the word “perfect”, what do you think of? Most definitions of perfect are something along the lines of “being entirely without fault or defect”. So many of us are walking around trying to be perfect in some way. We want the perfect job, the perfect partner, the perfect body, or the perfect child. I think there’s nothing wrong with wanting perfection. The trick is to change the definition of a “fault” or “defect”.

It’s almost amusing how we believe that we have faults or defects. How can a person ever grow without experiencing the range of human emotion? When we are trying something new, isn’t there a process we must go through in order to learn it? So, is it a defect inside us when we pick up a violin for the first time and it doesn’t sound very good? Of course not. The process is perfect, not just the end result. To say one must practice to be perfect is to say that where you are, learning what you are learning at this moment, is only a means to be perfect somewhere in the future. The more we put perfection out there in the future, the more we tend to stay in a state of dissatisfaction. The perfect future never seems to come.

I’ve never met anyone who says they have the perfect life. Have you? I know I’ve looked at somebody else and said they have the perfect life, but when I talk to them I hear another story. Everyone seems to always be chasing after something that will take all of their problems away. For most of us, we think it is more money. Even though people with money tell us over and over that it doesn’t make everything perfect, there is still this illusion that many of us carry around with us that life holds a place for us, somewhere, in which we will have no more challenges to overcome.
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Author: John Di Lemme

It is my personal opinion that there are two words that are the driving force behind your personally achieving your ultimate outcome and your WHY in Life. These two words are the most powerful words that you can and will ever speak to yourself about any situation - CAN” and “CAN’T” As I’ve said many times, “CAN” is a word of power; whereas, “CAN’T” is a word of retreat.

You have the power to decide if you wish to ACHIEVE or RETREAT, because when you speak victory words such as “I CAN”, you will attain whatever you set out to do regardless of what others are saying to you. In another article, I made reference to famous entrepreneurs such as Ray Kroc, Fred Astaire, Walt Disney and Dick Clark. I can attest to the fact that if you spoke with each of them individually, they would tell you that in the beginning of their journey the majority of people told them —-you CAN’T do that! Fortunately, they disregarded these statements and listened to their inner voice, who said, “Oh yes I CAN!”

The key in life is to realize the most important person who speaks to you every day is you on the inside! You need to review your WHY in Life and see if your are on track toward achieving your WHY, or are you on a detour because someone told you, “You CAN’T do that so stop dreaming and just forget about it!” As a personal mindset builder, you need to speak to your inner person and say to yourself, “Today I will take another productive stride!”
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Author: Robert Gerzon

Love is an infinite spiral. The wonderful thing about spending the rest of your life together is that you can continue rising to higher levels on love’s spiral.

After more than 20 years together my wife and I are both more passionately and spiritually in love with each other with each passing year. We continue to be amazed and grateful for the healing power of love and how it has transformed our lives. We’ve found there are two simple secrets to creating a dynamic, loving, lifelong relationship.

One: Choose love. Marry the “right person.” Choose someone who loves you for who you are, someone you love enough to have as your companion on life’s journey.

Two: Grow love. Make a commitment to grow in love as an individual and as a couple. Make a mutual pledge to keep increasing the love and decreasing the negatives in your relationship.

Some important ways you can increase the Love Ratio in your relationship:

Trust in the power of love. Don’t let fear interfere.

Always be honest and be yourself — your partner knows what’s really going on anyway.
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Author: Marilyn Schwader

I created The 7 C’s of Change model after I started seeing patterns in my life, and began to look at what might cause me to repeat harmful behavior.

First, there is Conscious Awareness, when our subconscious meets our conscious. This is that first inkling, when we hear an internal voice, or our body responds to something to get our attention. This is our intuition starting a dialogue with us. For many reasons, societal, cultural, or familial, we have moved away from following our intuition. But, in that moment of Conscious Awareness, we have a Choice to look at the message we are receiving and make a Change in the course of the event we are experiencing. If we are in tune with what’s happening, we will make the Change and the inkling goes away. If not, the Conscious Awareness elevates to Concern.

Concern is when the intuitive voice gets a little bit louder. We start to squirm a bit, and our body gets more agitated. Not choosing to change begins to be uncomfortable. Again, if we tune in to the intuitive signs and make the change, the troubling signs will disappear. However, most of us still ignore the Concerned feeling and choose to stay the course. Most often this is due to our logical brains telling us that following our intuition doesn’t “make sense.”

When we continue to ignore the signs, we reach the point of Critical Mass. Despite the dire sound of this stage, it is not the end of the process. If we choose to change the course of how we got to this point, the intuition is satisfied and it will stop sending the urgent messages. And yet, most of us continue to ignore the signs, even at this level of discomfort.
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I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry, how are you today?
‘H’lo, Mr Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus ‘admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.

‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?
‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?
‘No, Sir. Jus ‘admirin’ them peas.

‘Would you like to take some home?’ asked Mr Miller
‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?
‘All I got’s my prize marble here.
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