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SPELL SUCCESS IN YOUR LIFE>
SPELL SUCCESS - ENJOY GIVING AND RECEIVING
Spell SUCCESS E-Zine, © 2004, Motivational Magic
by Peter Colwell
ISSUE 10
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Welcome to the "Spell SUCCESS"
e-newsletter, your free monthly dose of motivation! Thank
you for being a subscriber and reader. Please feel free to
forward this newsletter to family, friends, and colleagues
who are interested in self-improvement!
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
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"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking
creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."
LAO-TZU (604-531 B.C.)
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ENJOY GIVING AND RECEIVING
In this season of giving and receiving, I wanted to share
with you some lessons I learned from George Dawson’s
autobiography "Life is so Good," as well as some
thought-provoking ideas on giving and receiving from Steven
E, a health and wellness expert and author of the "Wake
Up...Live the Life You Love" series. Enjoy!
I recently had a chance to sit down and read the
heartwarming and well-told life story of George Dawson, a
man who spent the first 100 years of his life unable to
read. In "Life is So Good," Dawson recounts the unique
challenges and experiences of being illiterate for the
majority of his life, growing up on a Texas farm, where he
grew cotton and chopped cane, and how one small action of
another turned him on to a life of learning and education.
Despite his inability to read for almost a century, he
developed other skills, such as active listening and
creative storytelling – and an outstanding work ethic –
that helped him succeed in providing a good life for his
family. I learned a few important lessons from Dawson’s
remarkable life that can benefit us all:
1) Hard work is good for the soul -- There is no question
that developing the right attitude toward your work, which
can sometimes be overwhelming or overbearing, and engaging
yourself fully in honest work will build your character
like nothing else. Dale Carnegie once said that nothing
beats depression, loneliness, and worry than putting in an
honest day’s work. And I would add that working hard and
doing your best at any job helps build your confidence and
self-esteem.
2) Persistence is the best-kept secret to success –- At the
age of 101, Dawson notes that people come up to him and ask
for his secrets for longevity and good health. He replies:
"So many folks keep asking me why, at the age of 101, I
walk just fine without a cane, I eat what I please, I have
all my teeth, and my memory is fine. I even got a letter
from a little boy that said he was glad my brain still
works. Why is it that after all these years everybody wants
to listen to what I have to say now?" Judging from his life
story, the common ingredient was an attitude of
persistence, no matter the circumstances.
3) It is never too late to learn something new –- George
Dawson epitomizes this truth. If this man can learn to read
in his eleventh decade of life, surely we can start in a
new direction and have the courage to do something we’ve
never tried before!
4) What goes around does come around –- The saying is true
"Kindness gives birth to kindness." Dawson’s sacrifices
throughout his life were not in vain. When he least
expected it, an opportunity appeared that allowed him to go
to school and learn to read. His positive attitude and
willingness to learn opened a new door for him.
5) Our actions can inspire others –- Whether we realize it
or not, our actions can dramatically influence others.
Nothing is more inspiring than watching someone else DO
what you have dreamed of doing, and seeing that it is
POSSIBLE. Dawson has been an inspiration to many people,
encouraging them to believe in second chances.
(Life is So Good was published in 2000 by Random House,
Inc.)
GIVING AND SELF-LIBERATION
By Steven E
Giving is essential for your own liberation. It teaches you
about your inner quality of "letting go."
Several years ago, I was in search of my purpose in life
and my gift to the world. I decided to quit my job and
travel for six months. In the process of planning this
adventure, I decided to travel light. I gave away
everything I owned to friends and even strangers –- TV’s,
CDs, couches and paintings. I gave it all away and IT FELT
GREAT!! Letting go of material things in my life was
liberating. I was free!
Giving means offering love and kindness where it is needed.
The more we give in life, the more we will receive. Start
giving: more love, offer more kindness, and give
unconditionally. This is a magical world in which we live
and there is no shortage. If you are lacking anything in
your life, start giving what you feel you are lacking and
watch more and more come back into your life.
If you want more love, joy, or money in your life, you need
to give more love, joy, and money. The more you give, the
more you will receive. Train yourself to give silently.
Every time you pass people or come in contact with them,
silently wish them something you feel they can use, such as
peace, happiness, love, prosperity, health. By doing this,
you will become a silent angel, touching people wherever
you go.
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"Life is not in having and getting, but in being and
becoming."
MATTHEW ARNOLD (1822-1888)
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RECEIVING
By Steven E
Practice receiving. Accept help when others offer it.
Giving and receiving are the natural energies in our world
and in the universe.
For one month, practice receiving everything people offer
you. Just say, "Thank you," and you will be amazed at how
much people give you just because they want to give. I
receive about 99% of what people offer me and I have great
abundance. I know I am a giver, therefore I am a receiver.
I hear many people saying they need more money, a new car,
another house. But when someone offers them a piece of gum,
they say, "No." Well, I would say, "Yes," even though I
might not want the gum myself that minute. I would keep the
energy flowing and upon seeing a friend I might say, "Do
you want a piece of gum?" And he would say, "I have been
wanting a piece of gum all day."
Or, you might say, "Who cares about a silly piece of gum? I
want more money." But how are you going to accept more
money, if you can’t accept something as small as a piece of
gum? For one month, receive everything that is offered to
you and watch your life flourish with abundance.
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"The greatest good we can do for others is not just to
share our riches with them, but to help them reveal
theirs."
ZIG ZIGLAR
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LETTER FROM A READER
"I have read a lot of the books published by people you
reference, and this is by far the best book I have read. I
am not kidding or blowing smoke, the message is clear and
precise. Spell SUCCESS in Your Life is truly inspiring and
extremely well written!"
-- Christopher J. Remington, Merrill Lynch
CLOSING THOUGHTS
So remember: we can learn important lessons from giving and
receiving. Giving liberates us, makes us feel good about
ourselves, and helps others. Receiving creates abundance in
our lives, honors our right to embrace the good deeds of
others, and – let’s face it – is FUN! Practice doing both,
and enjoy the benefits!
See you next month,
Peter
Peter Colwell motivates others to motivate themselves!
Peter is an accomplished speaker and author of Spell
SUCCESS in Your Life, a popular motivational book that has
been published in seven languages worldwide. Peter delivers
keynote speeches, seminars, and workshops to corporations,
associations, and nonprofit groups. Peter can be reached at
peter@petercolwell.com or 301-370-2698. For more details
about his book and speeches, visit
http://www.PeterColwell.com.
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