Favorite Sources of Inspiration

Teaching My Brain

Painting by Myra Alibrando (my wife)

Before article, here is my Nature Narration audio. Click and play.

This world can be a kick in the head. Everyone has to deal with it. The good news is there is something we can do by initiating wisdom rather than always reacting.

This Has Worked for Me

Through the years I have developed better choices and habits making a noticeable difference in my life. One of those is the intentional building of a better environment, but it’s not what you think. We cannot live on another planet, and don't know of a single nation that does not have corruption. There are so many influences that we cannot change, probably most. Surprisingly, the one environment that literally influences us the most is also inescapable 24/7, and that is our own thinking. 

There are so many things that color our thinking, especially our desires which impact out values, but if we consciously work to elevate ourselves into a better individual that we secretly like and respect more, it changes our life. 

On these short articles I don't go too long but we can visit important topics frequently, like friends on break at work.

Three Things You Might Try

Here is a short list of some of my favorite sources of encouragement, change, and guidance.

1. Proverbs (in the Bible). There are 31 chapters which align nicely with 30 or 31 days every month. In my twenties, I knew for certain that I did not think correctly. If Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived, maybe he could help. I would read the chapter that matched the date. Example, on June 10 I would read Proverbs 10. Each chapter is filled with different ideas, more like memes, so I would choose one verse I thought could help me that day. I did this daily throughout my twenties and into my early thirties. 

2. Marking books for return visits. Hungry for truth and understanding, I drink in books that are speaking to me. To be able to go back to good parts, important ideas, or future reference, I underline, highlight, write in the margins and kind of interact. Fearing I will forget great things, I make it easy to quickly find what spoke to me before with every intention of returning until it becomes part of me. Naturally, I also do this with the Bible.

3. Audio Bible. When I wake up in the middle of the night, I often start thinking and can’t go back to sleep. To quiet my brain, I pop in my bluetooth earbuds so my wife can keep sleeping, and I listen to an audio Bible. Lots of free options. When I first did this, I listened to Leviticus to bore myself to sleep. Listening is different than thinking. It really works for me. I have now listened to all the books and still do this. The side-effect is hearing something unfamiliar. I perk up with some curiosity but the next morning, I look it up to see if I heard right. It keeps bringing me back to the Bible as a curious student and I sleep better.

Five of My Favorite Books

Here are a couple of my favorite books that have and continue to inspire and guide me, both heart and mind. These books are really marked up and I jump to those highlights and notes.

1. "Uprising" by Erwin Raphael McManus

2. "The Book that Transforms Nations" by Loren Cunningham

3. "Success Secrets of the Motivational Superstars" by Michael Jeffreys 

4. "Noah's Ark Uncovered" by Henri Nissen

5. "Wide Awake" by Erwin Raphael McManus

I’d be glad to answer questions about what I like about any of these books, or you can check them on Amazon.com and maybe I will quote other authors frequently.

Here’s one:

It is insanity to run from God and search for love. Erwin Raphael McManus

Those Old-Time Motivational Speakers

Also, you can’t go wrong reading from any of these classic motivational speakers from the early 20th century.

1. Dale Carnegie 1883-1955

2. Norman Vincent Peale 1898-1993

3. Napolean Hill 1883-1970

4. W Clement Stone 1902-2002

5. Zig Ziglar 1926-1995

They will challenge you while making you like them.

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God’s Advice

Change your environment, that is, change your brain. Make it a nice place to live.

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

The world is both horrific and beautiful. We can create a wonderful environment wherever we go and whatever is going on in the world, or our own life if we can learn to build our minds to be thinking beneficial thoughts. 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, - think about such things.  

Even God is telling us to be positive, and He is not naive.

There are ugly things in this world, that is real. However, just as real are many beautiful things. Both are real. God's advice . . . focus on the realities that are positive, and you can discover it is a surprisingly long list.

Deal with the problems head on when you can, but habitually focus on the positive.

I hope this helps. Have a great week.

Early next week I will start a thread (first time ever) so I can interact and ask you questions as I go forward. Hope you contribute something.