Dreaming

There is no limitation to dreaming since you are as great as your dream takes you.  Your dream is a revelation of your destiny.  By dreaming you are responding to God’s call to fulfill the purpose of you and your family’s life.  Remember though, unless you transform that dream into reality, you are just hallucinating.  Match the passion of your dream with the energy of your determined actions, and you have a powerful combination that turns that dream into living reality.

“How purposeful you are about your purposes in life establishes your real character.” – F, N, Baldeo

Inner Peace

Many times we become frustrated when things do not turn out the way we want them to. We need to enjoy that inner peace by letting such things be; to focus on things that we can change; to retreat to a place where we can regain that peace within our self, our family, and with those around us; and to surrender our frustrations to the Highest Power in prayer.

– F, N, Baldeo

Success

We all need to develop a spirit that is stronger than fear itself, so that when disappointment strikes we would remain confident that success is still within our reach. With courage and strength from the Almighty, we can accomplish anything we set our mind to do, realizing that the obstacles we go through are incomparable to the wisdom we gain from them.  Ellen White said, “We must learn to bear disappointment in a Christ-like manner, and the lesson taught by this will be of great importance to us.”  {RH, July 26, 1892 par. 6}  Let us replace discouragement with renewed strength and a desire to work harder to achieve more than we could ever imagine.

“The hallmark of true success is to conquer the apprehension of failure.”

– F, N, Baldeo

Self Improvement

The foundation for self-improvement is to educate yourself daily.  As you learn something new you grow wiser.  Experience is an excellent teacher, so expose yourself to opportunities to encounter new things.  Be ready to move away from your routine and to pursue areas of interest that may come up suddenly.  Be open to, and learn from the ideas and opinions of others.  Above all, consult the Master Teacher – Jesus Christ regularly.

"Anyone who stops learning is becoming old; anyone who keeps learning is staying young."  – F, N, Baldeo

Cheerfulness

Cheerfulness is seen as an acquired trait, a habit of one’s mind.  This means our thinking must be positive rather than negative, optimistic rather than pessimistic, affirmative rather than denigrating, and approving rather than condemning.  Such cheerful thoughts will positively affect our speech and hence our personality.  Good human relations in general are generated and fostered by such cheerfulness, and this can reduce many conflicts in all aspects of family life.  Ellen White states, “A cheerful spirit will promote the happiness of [your] family and in a very great degree improve [your] own health.” (AH 432.4)  The Bible sums it nicely, “A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance.” Proverbs 15:13 (NKJV)

Someone has said, Cheerfulness is infectious. Don't avoid catching it from someone else. Even better, become a "carrier" of it and infect someone else.

Victories

Our learning and growing process necessitates us walking through victories and defeats. Each step brings us closer to our goals as we gather wisdom from our experiences. Victories tell us what approaches we can use successfully for the future, and defeats teach us how to perform better next time.  The sure way to fail is to stand still and stagnate.  We need to let life be our classroom.  Ellen White puts it well, “Every day there are new battles to fight, and victories to be gained.  These victories are won by God’s power not ours.” (CE 236.2)  We must also remember the words of the Apostle Paul who said, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)

Enjoying Life

Life is made up of a series of moments.  Each moment is unique and holds a joy of its own.  The joys of the day start as soon as you wake up.  Appreciate the beauty of the dawn, Ecclesiastes 11:7 says: “Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.” Hear the birds harmonize in glorious melody.  Love the smile of your family and love ones. Take pleasure in the sweet aroma of the flowers around you.  Moments like these continue throughout your day. Be fully conscious of them. Celebrate these small joys that bring so much happiness in you and your family’s life.

A spotless character is a most precious achievement.  Without this pure virtue, none can rise to any honourable eminence.  But this noble aspirations and the love of righteousness are not inherited.  Character cannot be bought; it must be formed by unyielding efforts to resist temptation.  Ellen White advises, "The formation of character is the work of a lifetime, and it is for eternity." Child Guidance, p. 162.  It is the outgrowth of prayerful meditation united with a grand purpose.  The excellence of character that you possess must be the result of your own effort.  Wishing or dreaming will never make you great or good.  It is the wise improvement of your opportunities, the cultivation of your God-given talents that will make you the person that can be approved of God, and a blessing to your family and society.

"Small things in life help to construct one's character; the big things of life examine it."  - F. N. Baldeo 

Keeping Healthy

By taking care of yourself, you make your whole life better. Caring properly for yourself gives you the passion and energy to live life to its fullest.  Schedule some time every day for self-care. Meditation and relaxation nurtures your soul.  Exercise, eat right, and sleep well for both your physical and mental health. Caring for yourself let you be the best you can. Ellen White counsels, “God lays upon all human beings the duty of taking care of the soul temple.” Medical Ministry, p. 295.  The Message Bible reminds us in   Ephesians 4: 16, “... God wants us to grow up healthy.”

      "We most times only get the real value of good health when we loose it."          -   F. N. Baldeo