“Think all you speak, but speak not all you think. Thoughts are your own; your words are so no more.”

“Think all you speak, but speak not all you think. Thoughts are your own; your words are so no more.”

—Patrick Delany, 18th Century Irish clergyman

Image from Unsplash by Kai Pilger

When and with whom have you learned the lesson, Silence is Golden?

Where and with whom have you learned, Loose Lips Sink Ships?

These days, it is not just the spoken word that can get us in trouble.
How many emails, texts, tweets, and posts do you put out each day?
How much time do you take before you speak or hit send?

Before you dig your own grave with your tongue or your digits, consider the wisdom in the acronym W.A.I.T. which stand for Why Am I Talking?.

Where would a few strategically placed reminders of this idea help you make sure your inner voice is not always expressed through your external speakers?

EXERCISE:

Select a close family member, friend, or colleague with whom your intention and efforts will make the biggest difference.

“Let each man exercise the art he knows.”

“Let each man exercise the art he knows.”

—Aristophanes, Ancient Greek Comic Playwright

The other day my wife and I were discussing a free app she has been using on her phone for over a year. Called Happy Color, it is a paint-by-color app with thousands of intricate designs and scenes to be completed.

When she completes an artistic effort, she often forwards it to friends and family or simply displays it in one of many digital albums.

A wonderful bonus of this artistic expression are the benefits her beautiful efforts have on her physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

EXERCISE:

What are some ways that you, too, express and exercise your own artistic talents?

How do your efforts benefit yourself and others in your personal and professional communities?

Please feel free to hit reply to this post and let me know about the art you exercise.

“People can’t jump on your bandwagon if it’s parked in the garage.”

“People can’t jump on your bandwagon if it’s parked in the garage.”

—Sam Horn, Intrigue Expert, Author, Communications Strategist

Image by Freekee, in the Public Domain

The term bandwagon first appeared in a book about P.T. Barnum, the famous circus promoter.

Back in the 1850s, a circus made a showy parade through town before they set up. The bright and ornamental wagons were always part of the parade, meant to attract villagers. Musicians were always included, so their arrival could be heard and seen for considerable distances.

What ideas, causes, missions, or purposes do you wish to share with the villagers in your personal and professional communities?

What are you currently doing to broadcast your energy and excitement so that others will climb aboard and join your parade?

EXERCISE:

Where are you still in the garage with your idea and vision? How can and will you strike up the band so that others can jump aboard?

The purpose of Art

“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off of our souls.”

—Pablo Picasso, 20th Century Spanish Painter

Image of a dusty ceiling fan

Image from Tripadvisor

Some weeks ago, a close friend came over to help me repair a ceiling fan. Given my limited handiness and my desire to not electrocute myself, I reached out for some coaching on the matter.

Beyond the repair, I was a bit embarrassed by the amount of dust that had accumulated on the blades and bulbs.

Unless cleaning your house from top to bottom brings you joy and you do it often, dust is bound to accumulate. In the same way, if we neglect our inner world, our souls can get a bit dusty as well.

Although most of us would not see ourselves as a Picasso, we all have an artist within us that can help wash off the dust of daily life.

One of my favorite art forms is cooking. Various foods and seasonings represent the spectrum of flavors for each meal.

EXERCISE:

Please reply to this post with your own form of artistic expression that helps you dust off your soul to lead a more beautiful life.

You are the Universe

“You are the universe, expressing itself as a human for a little while.”

—Eckart Tolle, American Motivational Author

Image of a nebula

Image from Unspash by NASA

I’ve had an insatiable desire to learn and discover how things work for as  long as I can remember. It led me into the field of science education, and an ongoing exploration of life and the mysteries of the universe.

I recently watched an episode of How the Universe Works on the topic of Space/Time.

More than 100 years ago, Albert Einstein postulated the idea of gravitational waves caused by any object exerting the force of gravity, including we humans! His theory, which has been recently confirmed, shows how all objects influence both space and time in the universal dance of the cosmos.

EXERCISE:

How can you more carefully examine your own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual qualities as a miraculous human, to more fully realize how the universe within you works?

The Most Important Thing You Wear

“Your expression is the most important thing you wear.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash

Putting our best foot forward, making a good first impression, and the general way we present ourselves to the world couldn’t be more important these days.

We know that people are judging us all the time. What you are wearing, literally? And what physical expressions are people observing about you?

Examining your current attitudes, moods, emotions, and feelings may provide some clues to how open and receptive people may be to you. This almost always impacts the success of our personal and professional relationships.

I tend to be a very serious person. My wife Wendy frequently asks me if I’m OK. When I say, “Yes, I am,” she often coaches me by saying, “Inform your face!”

EXERCISE:

How and in what ways can you become more aware of the expressions you wear in public? How can you use your expressions to enhance the personal and professional success you desire? A genuine smile is a great place to start.