Tag Archives: help others

Make A List

February 14, 2022 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

List– several related items or names are written or printed consecutively, typically one below the other.

Life is not a solo sport, and no matter how much you may try to stay disconnected from others, there will be those who will need you at some point. These people have been placed on your list of assignments for life, and how well you manage to provide them with the guidance and support they need will determine your actual success in life. You may not know some of the people on your list yet, but knowing that they exist may have you start looking for them. It begins with conscious awareness that people depend on you to give them a hand through the rough patches. It begins with n awareness of your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions today.

All People Have a List

There isn’t a person in the world who doesn’t have a list. Position and power don’t have much to do with it. Being human does. Some on our lists are easy to identify, they are our relatives, and of course, we care about them, but others who need us may not be all that evident Keep this in mind in your daily dealings with all people, are they on your list Do they need a thing from you Are they one o your assignments?

At the very least, you can try not to hinder others, who are doing their best to help their assignments. Please treat them with respect, regardless of social status, job titles, or current situation. Have empathy t t their list exists and needs them. Or perhaps they are on your list and require you to provide them with some critical elements of their existence, Either way, be kind to the plight of others.

Whose List Have You Been On?

In your life, there have been times you needed things from others. None of us is an island globally, and we are all connected. No matter how wealthy a person is or how well they have planned their lives, there are times they need somebody. Look back at y r whole life and honestly see the people who drifted into your life to give you a bump or boost at a particular time, Just when you needed it.

An encouraging word, a visit, support when you are down A friend who n er wavers or loved ones who have supplied unconditional love all your life I don’t know whose list you have been on, but I am positive that your name has been on a file or two in your life Be grateful for that, and appreciate what a great thing that is Your mission in life is critical to others, and you have quite a value.

Your List Gets You Thinking Positively

Sometimes we get stuck in our heads, thinking about selfish, harmful things. Your list and those who need you provide a natural break from negative thinking and push you toward being more positive. Whether you like it or not. It is just about impossible to do something kind, thoughtful, or supportive for another and not feel optimistic. The symbiotic relationship also works the other way. It is impossible not to feel good inside when someone does something for you. So the lesson is to look for those on your list who need you today and come through for them.

You may do this every day already, which is great, but becoming more aware of how you fit into the cosmic movement of life can be a powerful awareness—your actions matter. For yourself and for all of those who need you, it is also comforting to know you are listed on someone’s responsibility list if you should need it as well. Take heart today and think about how lucky you are to be involved in this life. Be conscious o your list and those in and around your life working to provide what is needed for others. It is happening all around you and noticing starts by looking at your thoughts, emotions, words, and actions and how they affect your list of personal assignments.

“Give not because people expect you to but because the world needs you to.” – Tokoda

“Is it always to be a winners-losers world, or can we keep everyone in the game?” – Robert Fulghum

“I wish for all of us the blindness of love that makes us see no faults in the other.” – Kamand Kojouri

Lifting Spirits

July 31, 2021 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

What lifts your spirits when life gets you down?

No matter how positive a person tries to be, there will always be times when a person feels down and needs to have their spirits lifted.

The cause could be a relationship that has ended, and you can’t sleep. You are in the stage where the space inside of you may seem like it will never be filled. It may be a job you lost or a car that just died. It could even be a personal loss of a loved one passing away, leaving you down, sad and lonely.

There are a million reasons that our spirits can get a little down in life. There is nothing wrong with that, but you should always have a few tricks up your sleeve to lift your spirits. These are the things that I do to lift my spirit when I am down.

Help Someone Else

Nothing lifts your spirit and gets you out of thinking about your problems better than doing something that helps someone else. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture that costs money and takes a lot of time. It simply has to be something that takes the focus off of you and your feelings and gets you looking more positively at the rest of the world.

Take someone somewhere, bake them a cake, visit for a cup of coffee or do whatever your heart tells you might help them. It is the effort that will lift you, and it is difficult for your spirit to be low when you are lifting someone else.

Start a New Project of some Kind

Focus is important when your spirit is feeling low. Getting your focus off of whatever is bringing you down is important to raise you back up. Starting a new project can get provide that shift in focus that starts to lift you.

I have done health projects that have worked to lift my spirit. The latest I did was the Couch to 5K running program, which I absolutely loved. It follows a running program until you get to the point you can run for five kilometers without stopping. It works, it is long-term, and it helped to lift me.

I think many of the blog projects I have done have helped lift me, and now I am just addicted to them. I recently heard that you should try to list 100 things that make you happy. If you can’t list 100, then you need to get out of your comfort zone. Getting your focus onto something positive can lift your spirits and lead to growth.

As long as you choose a project that you have an interest in and stick to it, anything will do, and that will lift your spirits.

Let Others Help You

Sometimes we are the hammer, and sometimes we are the nail. That sentence always reminds me about how life treats you.

It isn’t really good or bad as much as it is factual. Sometimes we are the one who willingly gives help to others and other times we require the kindness and help of others. Allow them to help you.

When I needed help, my pride got in the way, and I would loudly and even emphatically claim I was fine. Yet, I was not fine. I needed help to talk to someone or spend time with someone who cared about me.

If you are fortunate enough to have someone in your life that wants to help lift you, LET THEM! A friend reminded me that there is a time for all things, sometimes you have to be strong, and sometimes it is OK to need help. That is how life works.

Remember how good it feels to have someone care about you, and that will lift your spirit. How can it not?

Enjoy all the Little Things

Finding joy in the little things you encounter every day should be easy, but because they are simple things and we often overlook them, sometimes we forget about them completely, and the little things can lift your spirits.

Look at the weather. It doesn’t matter what it is, and really it is pretty awesome. Rain provides the fuel for growth, a feeling of relaxation, and comfort. The sound of rain on the grass or pattering off the roof provides relief. A sunny day in the spring has its own hope and possibility. Those days seem to be just daring you to try to feel bad, and the only way you can accomplish that feat is to ignore the bright sunshine in front of you.

The sky can provide some of the greatest simple things that can lift your spirit. In the day, look at a brilliant blue sky and notice the cloud formation. There is an endless feeling of hope and possibility up there, just waiting for you to notice it. Try it someday, no matter where you are. Look up at the sky and notice the color. It never fails to lift my spirit unless I forget to look.

At night the sky is transformed into a covering of stars. These provide you with hope and awe of a different kind, but it is no less powerful. The show that the night sky provides you is free, majestic, and powerful, yet many of us never even notice. This show is almost guaranteed to lift your spirit and make you feel better.

There are many other ways I am sure that could lift your spirit and make you feel better. I urge you to have a few on reserve because you may never know when your spirit needs a little lifting. Or, more importantly, when you may be needed to lift the spirit of someone else.

Feels Like Today ……………………………………..

Getting Better

March 4, 2021 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

Are you getting better or worse?

In every moment of your existence, you are getting better, or you are getting worse. Rarely does an individual linger on the same level? Your abilities, talents, and focus fluctuate like the stock market. The center of your consciousness will determine the determining factor of which way your stock is going. The things you place your thoughts, words, and actions on and about will assess your ability to achieve and value those things you accomplish. Look at where you are and what you are doing and ask the simple question: Is this making me better or worse?

Your Mind is Yours

When it comes to your thoughts, nobody controls them except for you. However, you have to be aware of what you are thinking and why you are thinking. We are all creatures of input. From the time we are born, we are looking for information that will allow us to thrive and enjoy life. Sometimes we get off track and let our thoughts drift to a focus on things that do not make us better or honor us at all. It is a simple list of the ideas that make a person better, and they are the thoughts that come from love. Gratitude, kindness, caring, acceptance, understanding, and the like will help you improve both your experience and the experience of those you interact with.

The thoughts to be avoided are all based on fear. Gossip, judgment, hate, anger, selfishness, greed, and all of these types of ideas take you down the path of a weaker mind. Your mind belongs to you, and what thoughts you choose to entertain is your decision alone. Taking responsibility for this is one of the first steps for mental improvement. Do not let the media, a teacher, a parent, a friend, or an institution make your choices of thought for you, or not improving will be the least of your worries. Be conscious of your options every moment, and you will be able to progress steadily to enjoying life more, and you will be able to help others as well. You can improve by being conscious about your thoughts every moment of every day.

You Only Have One Body

When we come into this life, we receive a body to go through this ride, and it seems that we are intent on abusing it until the day we die. How many people are killing themselves slowly with addictions, which also limit the enjoyment of life? Smoking, drinking, abusing drugs, problems around food, and unrealistic body image problems are all ways we consciously or unconsciously need to improve.

Your body is a gift that, when you’re young, you take for granted. It does incredible things in movement, jumping, throwing, and running. Yet, we seem intent on diminishing these skills from the start. All addictions begin with a choice that something in you missing and can only fill it by adding something to us because we feel we are just not good enough. Here is a secret that most people never hear. YOU are good enough. You are great, and no matter where you are today, you can improve and be a little bit better tomorrow.

If you have weight issues, do something to improve. Exercise, eat more consciously, or both. It is not easy, but anyone can do it. There are thousands of opportunities for life improvement, and they will only end the day you die. Make the most of your opportunities to improve your body and your physical experience of life. Be conscious of your thoughts, words, and actions in all of your physical activities. Are you getting better or getting worse? It can seem like a mountain to climb, but you can’t undo 30 years of poor choices in an afternoon, it takes a continual focus, and that can happen. Improve your physical self today. Take a small step on your journey to enjoying life more.

We are All Connected

What is spirituality? I define it as how we look at life and what it means to have this human experience. Why are we here? There are many people much smarter than me who have come up with great answers for this. Unfortunately, each of us has to answer this question on our own. Improving your spirituality a matter of answering this question for yourself every day. How do your thoughts, words, and actions help others on their path? Or do you prohibit the development of others? Your actions define the energy that you put into the world.

If you don’t believe it, look at your own experiences. If you spend time with someone who holds a negative view of the world and is always complaining, that negative charge can be felt and even transferred into your life. A person can do the same with a positive outlook. Their brighter outlook transfers into the lives of those they touch. What type of energy are you giving to the world? I think that at its core, that is what spirituality boils down to in your life. How you look at the world and your place in it. Are other people out to hurt you or help you? Are you here to hurt others or help them.

Your conscious thoughts, words, and actions determine if you are getting better or getting worse in this area. Choose to improve, and the world will improve as well.

Today you have a choice to improve and get better in all phases of your life or not. Nobody can control that choice unless you allow it, and in the end, when your life is slipping away, you will be the only one responsible for what you have done. Did you try to improve or allow other influences to determine what you did mentally, physically, and spiritually?

When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too. ~ Paulo Coelho

Give Them Kindness

February 19, 2021 Jonathan Hilton Leave a comment

One of the simplest treasures we can give to others is the gift of kindness. It cost no money to be kind, and it takes no talent. In fact, all you have to possess to practice kindness is a willing heart to undertake the action and actually be kind. Many are the person I have met who could benefit from putting the well-being of another, even in a small way, before the seemingly never-ending drama of their lives. Drop a pebble into the lake that is kind and watch the ripples flow from it. Who knows where they will eventually reach. Your conscious choice to show compassion for another may ripple throughout the world.

There is probably no better method for improving a person’s outlook on life than to experience a little kindness. All people deserve your kindness, and like most things in life, the more willingly this gift is given, the more easily it is received. Are you the kind one today?

Kindness is Contagious

One of the great things to see is that one act of kindness provides happiness that will be shared with someone else, one way or another. You can’t help it when someone is kind to you, and there is a feeling of warmth inside that you want to share with someone else. And most people do. Some people practice random acts of kindness and bring light to the world. Some people are just kind to others all of the time. It must be a wonderful way to live.

We can only be responsible for our behavior and choices and the example we set for other people to follow. Take control of your actions today and implement kindness into each interaction that comes your way. You will be amazed at how much difference it will make in your life and, of course, the lives of others that you come in contact with during the day. What is the alternative? To be selfish and self-centered, only concerned with yourself and how everything affects you? Let those things go and accept the chance to change the world in one small positive way, and it can be done just by treating the people you happen to come in contact with today with a conscious choice to be kind.

Kindness Defeats Mean

It is important to practice kindness with those who are unkind. They absolutely need it most. To be moving through your life and to consciously be unkind to others, a person must have experienced some awful things. Kindness can break through the darkness and bring light into those spaces where mean, desperation once resided. Some of the people I have cared about the most were tremendously unkind and callous to me. It took a while, but I had to forgive them because their life must be a miserable experience if they could treat other people with that kind of cruelty.

A mean person who does not practice kindness has probably forgotten how it feels when someone takes the time to be kind to them. Once they experience that, there is a chance that they will develop a more positive outlook and perhaps practice kindness toward others. Again it is important to stress that you can only be responsible for your actions. Others are responsible for theirs. If they choose to be mean, hateful, spiteful, and unhappy, that is their choice. Your choice is not to treat them like their condition is permanent. Kill ’em with kindness. That is all you can do.

Be Grateful

Look at your life and find the positives. I know there are many dark things and days in life. But there is always something good and positive too. Always. You have to find it, recognize it, and be grateful for it. Gratitude and kindness walk hand in hand in life. Even if many tough situations come your way, even though you feel defeated, sad, and worn out, do you want to live in a world where there is no kindness? Be angry for a time but then find forgiveness for those who hurt you, gratitude for what you learned, and the positive things in your life. And, of course, find a way to treat someone out there in your life with kindness. It is up to you to determine what kind of world you and your loved ones inhabit. If cold, harsh words and actions are all you have, your world will reflect a shiny, cold hardness right back at you.

Amazingly, the people who look for good tend to experience good. Kindness brings more kindness. Experiment today. Do something simple, like hold a door for someone, or let them go in front of you in line at the store. Watch how that small action affects people. They often, almost immediately, pass the gesture on to another in short order. Consciously thinking of others and their well-being first. That is the essence of kindness, you matter, and I see your value. Remember that when you are contemplating your behavior.

Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” – Jackie Chan

“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” – Harold S. Kushner

“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana

“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” – Andrew Iskander

“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams.

Jonathan Hilton Mind Connections