MENTALLY STRONG & MORALLY DRIVEN

Mentally strong people have healthy habits. They manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that set them up for success in life. Check out these things that mentally strong people do to make their lives successful.

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves

Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.

2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power

They don’t allow others to control them, and they don’t give someone else power over them. They don’t say things like, “My boss makes me feel bad,” because they understand that they are in control over their own emotions and they have a choice in how they respond.

3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change

Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.

4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control

You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.

5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone

Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair, but can handle other people being upset if they didn’t make them happy.

6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks

They don’t take reckless or foolish risks, but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.

7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past

Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it. However, they don’t constantly relive bad experiences or fantasize about the glory days. Instead, they live for the present and plan for the future.

8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over

Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over. Instead, they move on and make better decisions in the future.

9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success

Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them. Instead, they recognize that success comes with hard work, and they are willing to work hard for their own chance at success.

10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure

Mentally strong people don’t view failure as a reason to give up. Instead, they use failure as an opportunity to grow and improve. They are willing to keep trying until they get it right.

11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time

Mentally strong people can tolerate being alone and they don’t fear silence. They aren’t afraid to be alone with their thoughts and they can use downtime to be productive. They enjoy their own company and aren’t dependent on others for companionship and entertainment all the time but instead can be happy alone.

12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything

Mentally strong people don’t feel entitled to things in life. They weren’t born with a mentality that others would take care of them or that the world must give them something. Instead, they look for opportunities based on their own merits.

13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results

Whether they are working on improving their health or getting a new business off the ground, mentally strong people don’t expect immediate results. Instead, they apply their skills and time to the best of their ability and understand that real change takes time.

A CHANGE OF HEART

 An older boy and his young friend were walking along a road which led through a field. They saw an old coat and a badly worn pair of men’s shoes by the roadside, and in the distance they saw the owner working in the field.

The younger boy suggested that they hide the shoes, conceal themselves, and watch the perplexity on the owner’s face when he returned.

The older boy thought that would not be so good. He said the owner must be a very poor man. So, after talking the matter over, at his suggestion, they concluded to try another experiment. Instead of hiding the shoes, they would put a silver dollar in each one and see what the owner did when he discovered the money. So that is what the young boy did.

Soon the man returned from the field, put on his coat, took off his work boots and slipped one foot into a shoe.  He felt something hard, took it out and found a silver dollar. Wonder and surprise shone upon his face. He looked at the dollar again and again, turned around and could see nobody, then proceeded to put on the other shoe; when to his great surprise he found another silver dollar. His feelings overcame him and he began to weep.  He knelt down and offered aloud a prayer of thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife being sick and helpless and his children - who were without bread.  He fervently thanked the Lord for this bounty from unknown hands and evoked the blessing of heaven upon those who gave him this needed help.

The boys remained hidden until he had gone. They had been touched by his prayer and felt something warm within their hearts. As they left to walk down the road, the older boy said to the other, “Don’t you have a good feeling?”  

(This story was told to Gordon B. Hinckley when he was a young boy by his father. I can feel the gratitude swell in the hearts of the "givers and the receiver" and a spirit of love that changed their lives.) Shared by Linda Sumner Urza for: onefineday11.blogspot.com

YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH!

THESE ARE TOUCHING WORDS THAT SHOOT STRAIGHT TO THE HEART! IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN BULLIED, THEN YOU MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PAIN DEPICTED IN THIS VIDEO. WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS, THAT THROUGH IT ALL, THERE'S A MIRACLE HAPPENING AND THAT THE MIRACLE IS YOU!

PARENTS CAN BECOME BULLIES TOO. DON'T TALK DOWN TO YOUR CHILDREN, IT DESTROYS SELF IMAGE AND DECREASES THEIR ABILITY TO RISE TO THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL.

INTEGRITY VS ENTITLEMENT

I grew up in the 50’s, graduated high school in the 60‘s and married in the 70’s.  Like most baby boomers, I came from hard working parents who considered it an insult to take hand outs and they certainly didn’t expect “something for nothing.”  

Counting my father, mother and siblings, the total of our family was eleven. My father had full time employment with a second job on the side and my mother worked six days a week (eight to ten hour days). My father was a mechanic during the day, did janitorial work in the evenings at the University and my mother was a chef. They worked their entire lives, well into their late 60's. They taught us that we could have anything in this life through hard work and with the incentive to improve our lives. It's the effort and desire to excel that brings on success.

We never had health insurance, dental insurance and certainly didn’t have monthly welfare checks coming to our address. We learned how to bandage our own wounds, wrap sprained ankles, gargle with salt water and pull out loose teeth with a pair of pliers. If my parents anticipated running out of money before the end of the month, they carefully budgeted and we made it through! There were great lessons in learning to manage our resources, which instilled a flawless sense of self worth (a valuable attribute that's disappearing from our culture). 

We always got a new pair of shoes when school started and if the soles wore out before our toes reached the end, we used duct tape to hold the shoe together. I was the youngest in the family and by the time the hand-me-downs got passed on to me, they were threads. Christmas time, we got one or two gifts, such as new underwear, a coat, or winter boots. We were just grateful for anything that was new and if there happened to be a toy, we were ecstatic! 

I don’t remember anyone suffering from depression. We were all too busy to be depressed. As kids, we learned how to mow lawns, clean houses, babysit, plant a garden, pull weeds, chop wood, deliver newspapers, shovel snow, cook, sew, etc., and we didn’t expect a dime for doing these chores. It was our contribution and we are better people today for having done so. We didn’t have a sense of entitlement for anything, we were taught to believe in ourselves and the ability to achieve our own level of excellence.

When I look at our society today, I am shocked at the "sense of entitlement" and the level of apathy that exists. There is a similar laziness that mimics the story of the 'Grasshopper and the Ant.' The ant worked tirelessly to store up for the winter, while the grasshopper ignorantly neglected his personal responsibilities. When winter came, the grasshopper realized that he had nothing and that's when he decided that he deserved to take the ants portion. The grasshopper's laziness had created weaknesses of irresponsible which manifested itself in rationalization, a sense of entitlement, deceit, and theft. He could have provided adequately for himself, but he chose to be less than what he was capable of becoming.

I would like my grandchildren to understand the integrity of their heritage and to follow in those footsteps. I want them to know that the generations before them built this country on the foundation of hard work and integrity. They were a heritage of people who lived the virtue of sacrifice by giving something good (their lives) to make something better (your lives). They were God loving people with patriotism beyond reproach and they are of those whom made this country great! Now, its up to you. Linda Sumner Urza, written for: onefineday11.blogspot.com

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

Yesterday, I was sitting in the Austin airport waiting for a flight home.  There was an announcement over the intercom that brought everyone to their feet.  Southwest Airlines made the announcement that 107 year old Veteran, Richard Overton, would be coming down the gateway to catch a flight to Washington, DC.  Today, Monday, November 11, 2013, he is attending a special ceremony honored by the President of the United States.  

The announcer requested that everyone stand and applaud Mr. Overton’s presence. The experience was overwhelming and emotional for me, as I watched a family member wheel Overton through the airport.  Everyone stood and applauded with great reception. This gentleman bowed his head to receive the admiration and respect of his fellow patriots. It was clear that even the younger generation of travelers understood that something of great value was happening.

Richard Arvine Overton served in World War II out of the respect he had for his country.  He saw many of his fellow soldiers fall in the line of duty and even more die over the following decades. Overton is believed to be the nation's oldest veteran. He was traveling to Washington, D.C., as part of “Honor Flight,” a nonprofit group that transports veterans free of charge to memorials dedicated to their service.

I will never forget the feeling of pride that I had, as I stood with my fellow Americans, in honor of one man’s commitment to protect his country.  The halls were filled with respect as he slowly passed by us and my heart was touched by the level of humility and integrity present.  

Today, may we remember our Veterans and all American Soldiers; it’s through their willingness to lay down their lives for freedom and democracy that we walk our streets in peace and harmony.  Without their watchful eye, this country would not find rest in a world filled with chaos.  Linda Sumner Urza, written for: onefineday11.blogspot.com