Ray’s Daily
January 21, 2020
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”
Jackie Chan
A friend and I were talking the other day about the difficulty he was having in getting his employees to be more caring to their fellow workers and others. I never found a magic answer to how to do that in my careers. What I did try to do was to behave in a positive and caring way to those around me and those who reported to me. I found that when I behaved in such a manner and expected others to do so as well good things happened.
You can’t dictate behavior change, but you can set standards that allow you to reward good behavior. But most importantly we must be good role models. It is not always easy to behave as we should but it is important that we do so. Recently Marc Chernoff wrote a piece on how could improve. I have excerpted some of his thoughts below.
Challenges to Improve Your Mental Strength (and Happiness)
Think a little less about managing your problems and a little more about managing your mindset. It’s time to challenge yourself to change the way you respond to life…
- When a new day begins, challenge yourself to smile genuinely and gratefully.
- When you don’t get what you want, challenge yourself to appreciate that there are lots of people in this world who will never have what you have right now.
- When you catch yourself thinking the grass is greener elsewhere, challenge yourself to water the grass you’re standing on.
- When there seems to be little hope, challenge yourself to find some.
- When you catch yourself overthinking things, challenge yourself to take a step forward instead.
- When you are completely uncertain about what the future will bring, challenge yourself to make the best and most positive use of the present.
- When others say your ideas are crazy, challenge yourself to do what feels right anyway, to not care if your goals seem crazy to others, and to remember that the crazy ideas are the ones that often have the greatest impact.
- When mistakes are made, challenge yourself to learn from them, laugh about them, and waste not a minute on past outcomes you can’t control.
- When you find yourself trying to control too much, and thus enjoying too little, challenge yourself to let go, relax, take a deep breath and appreciate “what is” for a while.
- When doing the wrong things is easier, challenge yourself to do the right thing, even if no one else will ever know—because YOU will know.
- When you meet someone new, challenge yourself to be patient with them, to pay attention to them, and to remember that everyone you meet has something important to teach you.
- When someone treats you poorly, challenge yourself to treat them with kindness and respect anyway – not because they are nice, but because you are (and then walk the other way if you must).
- When someone you meet is lost, challenge yourself to help them find their way.
- When a friend falls down, challenge yourself to be the first to extend a hand.
- When each day has ended, challenge yourself to appreciate that you have done your very best.
~~~
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”
Barbara De Angelis
~~~
The lawyer’s son wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, so he went to law school and graduated with honors. Then he went home to join his father’s firm. At the end of his first day at work, he rushed into his father’s office and said, “Father, father! In one day I broke the Smith case that you’ve been working on for so long!”
His father yelled, “You idiot! We’ve been living on the funding of that case for ten years!”
~~~
I have my standards. They may be low, but I have them.
Bette Midler
~~~
As he lay on his deathbed he spoke, “Sara, I want you should know before I die that Ginsburg the tailor owes me $200, and Morris the butcher owes me $50, and Klein next door owes me $300.”
His wife turned to the children and said, “What a wonderful man your father is. Even when he’s dying, he’s got the brains to realize who owes him money.”
The old man continued, “And Sara I want you to also know that I owe the landlord a hundred dollars.”
To which his wife cried, “Oh oh, now he’s getting delirious!”
~~~
If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t more people happy?
~~~
A very religious couple was touring the Holy Land during the Christmas season and decided it would be very meaningful to them to spend Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus. Arriving there, they searched high and low for a room, but none was available at any price. Finally, they pulled up in front of the Sheraton-Bethlehem and the husband got out of the car, telling his wife: “Stay here, sweetie.
Let me see if I can do something for us.” He approached the desk and the clerk told him there were no rooms. “Sorry, sir. It’s Christmas Eve, our busiest time.” No matter how much the man offered to pay, the clerk said he had nothing. Finally, the man told the clerk, “I bet if I told you my name was Joseph, that the woman waiting in the car was called Mary, and that she had a newborn infant, you’d find us a room.” “Well,” stammered the clerk, “I– I suppose so.” “Okay,” said the man. “I guarantee you, they’re not coming tonight, so we’ll take their room.”
~~~
“My doctor said I was paranoid… well, he didn’t actually say it, but I could tell he was thinking it.”
~~~
Bidding at a local auction was proceeding furiously when the auctioneer suddenly announced, “A gentleman in this room has lost a wallet containing $10,000. If it is returned, he will pay a reward of $2,000.”
There was a moment’s silence, and then from the back of the room came the cry, “Two thousand five hundred!”
~~~
“You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, “My God, you’re right! I never would’ve thought of that!”
Dave Barry.
~~~
A chap who frequently left the office to play golf instructed his secretary to tell all callers that he was away from his desk.
After he left the office, a member of his foursome forgot which course they were playing that day, and called for information.
The loyal girl would only reply that her boss was away from his desk.
“Just tell me, “the golfer persisted, “Is he twenty miles away from his desk, or thirty miles.”
~~~
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.”
Amelia Earhart
~~~
Ray Mitchell
Indianapolis, Indiana
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
Ray’s Daily has been sent for more than fifteen years to people who want to start their day on an upbeat. If you have system overload because of our daily clutter, let me know and I will send you the information via mental telepathy. If you have not been getting our daily you can request to be added by e-mailing me at raykiwsp@gmail.com. Back issues are posted at http://rays-daily,com/ currently there are more than 2000 readers from around the world.
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