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gratitude

2008:A Year of Learning

Dec 31st, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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My biggest reflection on 2008 is on how much I learned. Here are my examples:

  • I released my first book
  • I decided to become a professional speaker
  • I decided to become a coach along with running treatment centers
  • I hired a coach to assist me in these new endeavors
  • I attended Jack Canfield’s Breakthrough to Success Seminar and enjoyed it so much that I attended the Advanced version two months later
  • I left the country for the first time in my life; by going to Canada and Germany

What a wonderful year. My family is healthy and happy, I feel a new motivation to grow and learn, my employees are wonderful, and my life is filled with joy. I am starting the new year filled with excitement and hope. How about you?

Tough Times/Hopeful Times

Dec 5th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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Every week I write an e-mail/newsletter called “Weekly Perspectives.” If you would like, you can sign up for it by following the link. I normally don’t use this as a blog post but I decided to today because this week’s e-mail is one I believe will resonate with many people. If you already receive the Weekly Perspective I apologize for the redundancy. If not feel free to sign up for it and enjoy this post!

Times are a little tough for many people right now. There is a constant barrage of fearful news and every time things seem to improve someone else pops up with another message of doom and gloom. Couple that with the propensity for depression this time of year and it could be a recipe for disastrous conditions.

Yet there are many people who are excited and filled with hope. What is the difference? What separates those for whom thoughts of panic and despair overshadow optimism and those who are able to transcend the dark and depressed fray?

Those who maintain a positive and hopeful outlook are people who give themselves things to look forward to. They maintain an attitude of gratitude and actively seek solutions. They remove themselves from the blame, shame, and justify mentality and take responsibility for their happiness.  This is easier than it seems.

·      Focus on gratitude daily, whether by writing a list or simply being aware

·      Any time you find yourself complaining, write down a solution to whatever it is you are complaining about

·      Verbally express your love for the people in your life

You can make the world a better place. All it takes is a shift in attitude. 

Weekly Gratitude

Nov 25th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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I can’t believe this is the last Gratitude post before Thanksgiving! Thank you again Tia for this wonderful idea. I would love to hear from any of you about those things you are grateful for, too! So, this week I am grateful….

  • For the unbridled enthusiasm of teenagers
  • For people who find hope in the most desperate of situations
  • For parenthood
  • For those who choose to find the good in people
  • For anyone who celebrates the opportunity to change every day!

Enjoy this Thanksgiving everyone. Share your love with everyone with whom you come in contact. Remember that your expression of good cheer makes a difference!

Wednesday Gratitude Post

Nov 19th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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Here is the latest installment of the Wednesday Gratitude post. This is such a wonderful thing to share, I hope you are enjoying it as well. Today I am grateful:

  • For so many ways to stay connected
  • For those who share their experience and wisdom
  • For laughter
  • For people who care more for their open mind than their ability to be “right”
  • For the awareness that change is good

‘Tis the season to be grateful, share with those you love!

Wednesday Gratitude

Nov 12th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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The Thanksgiving countdown continues! The more people we have expressing it, the more grateful the world in which we live……

This week I am grateful:

  • For the beauty of San Diego
  • for people who share their passion with the rest of the world
  • for autumn
  • for weddings that bring together friends
  • for connecting with people through laughter

I hope that many of you are sharing your lists. It’s a wonderful way to stay reminded of what’s important and to stay committed to living in an attitude of gratitude!

Weekly Gratitude

Nov 5th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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As we inch closer to Thanksgiving day, here is my latest gratitude installment. This is such a fun project, I can’t wait to continue it every year. Here are my five things this week:

  • That the election is over and our nation can move forward
  • That the collective will always prevails over petty bickering
  • That I am able to connect with so many people
  • That there is so much information available that can help people improve their lives
  • That all I have to do to gain perspective is look at what a beautiful world I live in

Final Thoughts on Germany

Nov 1st, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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The last night of our trip was spent in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is very different from a lot of the cities we visited in that it is very modern in terms of architecture.Frankfurt was severely damaged in World War II and rather than rebuild using a lot of the old architecture, its city leaders decided to create more of a modern city. It is definitely different, but pretty cool.

On our last night I decided to go for a run through Frankfurt. Our hotel was very close to the Main River so I headed in that direction. I love to run because I am able to think clearly and process different thoughts and feelings. On this particular night while running along the Main River with many other people I was overwhelmed with a sense of connection.

Looking across the river at the beautiful Frankfurt skyline I reflected on the previous two weeks. What did I learn? Who did I meet? How will this experience change me? What can I bring from this into my “normal” life? What from these experiences can I use to improve my relationships?

All of these questions are important and I don’t necessarily have a lot of answers yet. What I do know is this:

 

  • the world is much smaller than we think. Human beings, by nature, are interested in happiness, peace of mind, love, and security
  •  If we learn to close our f****ng mouths sometimes and not be so concerned with being superior or right, we may just learn something.
  • people all over the place want to be of service and help, we simply have to be open to their help (See a previous post entitled:Receiving Random Acts of Kindness.)
  • Finally, that Hugo Boss manufactures the coolest clothingAll in all it was a great trip. I am extremely grateful we took it and I am looking forward to any other new experiences coming my way. I hope you are as well.

 

Wednesday Gratitude

Oct 22nd, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
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As I said last week, I will be posting a list of things I am thankful for every Wednesday until Thanksgiving. Thank you Tia, again, this is a wonderful idea. Tonight I am sitting in Rothenburg, Germany, a very beautiful city, filled with gratitude. I am grateful:

  1. That I live in a time and in a country that hasn’t experienced the devastation that many places have
  2. That all over the world our men and women who serve our country hold their heads high with pride
  3. For bratwurst
  4. For the time I spend with my wife and daughter
  5. For the opportunity to make my world a little smaller

Viral Gratitude

Sep 11th, 2008
by Clint Stonebraker.
1 comment

We all have certain days or holidays that remind us of the importance of gratitude. I am not writing this to scold anyone with some self-righteous “it shouldn’t take a special day to make you grateful!” statement. I am, however, taking advantage of the opportunity to point out how important it is to share our gratitude with those we love.

Gratitude empowers. It galvanizes. When words of gratitude are spoken both the person sharing the feeling and the one receiving the message benefit. As a result of this strength, anybody else who comes in contact with either of these people is affected. They feel better and may not even know why. The more grateful people there are out and about will allow these feelings to spread like a virus.

The term “viral marketing” is very popular. It describes how one person’s opinion and the willingness to share that opinion has far-reaching effects. I challenge everyone to practice viral gratitude. If there is someone you are grateful for today, share it with them. Just one person. Ask them to share it with someone else. Don’t limit yourself to sharing your gratitude with a list that only you see. As this gratitude spreads, know that you have made the world a better place.

Is there a better way to honor today?

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