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Sean Stephenson wrote a book which is all about eliminating excuses from our lives and choosing a path of success and happiness.
His story is actually quite amazing...
When he was born doctors predicted he wouldn't survive past birth because of a rare bone disorder that stunted his growth and caused his bones to be extremely fragile. In fact, by the time he was 18 he had already broken over 200 bones.
Yes, two HUNDRED.
Despite these challenges and living an incredibly painful life, he made a choice early in life to stand for a positive empowering quality of life that has reached millions of people around the world, including Sir Richard Branson, President Clinton, and his Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
He's appeared on everything from The Oprah Show to You tube videos with millions of views. The Biography Channel did an hour feature on his life called, "Three Foot Giant." If you recall from something I shared a while back, I was exploring what it means to "Trust in God and tie your camel."
The thing is, every time I've heard anybody say it, it was said "Trust in God BUT tie your camel." And that strikes me as odd.
The reason is that our words are very powerful. The words we use are reflective of our unconscious choices (whether we like them or not).
So when we use the word "but" we are actually *limiting* our opportunities to succeed and be happy in life.
"I love him, but hate it when he leaves the toilet seat up."
"I love my job, but I wish I had more money."
The examples can go on forever. Unconsciously, the word "but" creates a separation between the two things we're talking about. This separation, this split, ultimately causes us some psychological stress internally (often unconscious).
In the examples above, it can show up as a frustration with the man, the toilet seat, the job, the money... or even all of them! It can lead us to unconsciously self-sabotage our efforts at success and happiness. Maybe not in huge ways, but at least in little ways.
We may not not even understand why we feel frustrated or "slightly agitated." This is the nature of feeling separate from things. It causes disharmony. Un-peace. Discontent.
That's why whenever possible, I use the word "and" to bridge things. For example:
"I love him AND look forward to connecting with him in ways that he understands why placing the toilet seat down is important to me."
"I love my job AND am making empowering choices to create more financial abundance in my life."
You'll notice I didn't just change the word "but" to "and" either. Simply using the word "and" literally orients my brain towards POSSIBILITY. Towards OPPORTUNITY.
Everything that follows "and" in those sentences orients towards positive empowered thinking.
"But" is a word that, by its very nature, is limiting. "But" actually orients our brains towards scarcity, limitation, and even fear.
"And" by its very nature is expanding and inclusive.
From now on, whenever you find yourself about to use the word "but" pause for a moment and ask yourself a simple question:
"What other words express my sentiments more positively?"
Chances are, you'll be able to find an "and" in there somewhere. God bless you, In Mary Help of Christians, I remain, Fr. Jim McKenna SDB Director
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Walking with the Church
Q. I suffer from depression and I find prayer difficult. I did not find church going very satisfactory. Could you give me some advice on how to pray more successfully? John A.John, from your letter I can see you have suffered a great deal. First of all I would like to assure you that all your searching for God, all your efforts to resume attendance at mass and all your work to help your widowed mother are forms of prayer. You are much closer to God than you ever realized. When you pray you do not have to use many words or indeed any words at all. Just sit or kneel quietly at home or whenever you have a free moment, make an act of faith in God's presence. Give Him time and the opportunity to work on you and He will do the rest. Peace be with you. You are in our prayers
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 The Power of Positive Doing
By BJ Gallagher
"Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be," Abraham Lincoln once wrote. I've long thought so, too. Happiness seems to be a habit as much as anything-a habit of attitude, a habit of responding to life, a habit of action.
I recall seeing a sign in a manager's office a number of years ago. It read:
"Happiness is available. Help yourself."
I loved the double meaning-"help yourself" as if a big bowl of happiness was sitting on his desk, like a bowl of jelly beans, and all you had to do was dip your hand in and help yourself-and "help yourself" as in "take action on your own behalf." It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite books, Happiness is a Choice, by Barry Neil Kaufman. Barry and his wife had a baby boy, their third child, who was diagnosed as autistic. At first, the couple was devastated-they thought their lives were ruined and their child doomed to a hopeless future. But once they worked through their initial reaction to the diagnosis, they made a huge choice: They decided to be happy. They said, "We can let this situation drag us into depression and self-pity, OR we can decide to love our child, make a nurturing family for him, and have a good life together. They chose the latter.
They rejected the advice of doctors who told them to put the child in an institution and move on with their lives. Instead, they completely redesigned their home and their lives to meet the needs of their autistic toddler. He couldn't meet them in their world, so they met him in his. They sat on the floor and played with him, mimicking his shrieks, whoops and wild gestures. Bit by bit, they were able to build rapport with their son, teach him new behaviors, and coax him further and further into normalcy.
The boy grew and thrived under his parents' unconditional love, patience, and teaching-it was a long, challenging process, but he graduated from high school, then college, with honors. And throughout those challenging years, Barry Neil Kaufman and his wife chose to be happy. They made it a habit.
How do you make happiness a habit? Simply choose it. Again and again. Habits are formed by repeating the same thing over and over again until it becomes the normal way you behave. Scientists tell us that if you repeat something consistently for 21 days, it will become a habit.
So if you want to really feel the Power of Positive Doing, start by making happiness your new habit.
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 Laughter the best medicine
SHIRLEY and MERCY
A mom was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him and she wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet was anxious to know that he was safe.
So, she had an idea of how to handle it. She asked a neighbor if she could follow him to school in the mornings from a distance, so he wouldn't notice her.
The neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as and so she agreed.
The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following Timmy as he walked to school with another girl from his neighborhood. She did this for the whole week.
As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed that the same lady was following them as she seemed to do this every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy, 'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?Do you know her?'
Timmy nonchalantly replied, 'Yeah, I know who she is.'
The little girl said, 'Well, who is she?'
'That's just Shirley Goodness,' Timmy replied, 'and her daughter Mercy.'
'Shirley Goodness? Who the heck is she and why is she following us? '
'Well,' Timmy explained, 'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, 'coz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, 'Shirley Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my life', so I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'
May Shirley Goodness and Mercy be with you today and always
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 THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARY'S
The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion.
Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: "O Mary, My Mother, keep me from mortal sin." Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practice this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady's help.
Our sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the many blessings and favors received through the recitation of the Three Hail Marys. Please continue to intercede for our family. Michelle Marie, NJ Thank you, dear Mother Mary for a peaceful and wonderful wedding. Doreen Ivy, NY Thank you, Mother Mary for generously blessing me and my family. Flynn. FL |
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In Closing
Dear devotees of Our Lady and Don Bosco,
If you have received a miracle through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother, we would like to hear from you. Email us at MaryShrine@aol.com.
Bookstore hours: Monday - Saturday - 10 am to 5 pm, Sundays: 12 - 4 pm
Weekday Masses: 12 noon. Confessions on weekdays begin at 11.30 am.
Sunday Masses: 11 am and 12.30 pm
Other activities: Day Retreats, Weekend retreats, Don Bosco Summer Camp, Eucharistic Adoration, Friday night Lenten Dinners, 50/50 raffle, 350 club, Rosary Madonna Statue. Rent Lomagno Hall, Rent our Banquet Hall.
MEMORIES
Remember a Loved One: Engrave plaques on Wall of Memories, adopt a Tree, Engrave blocks on Walk of Honor, All Souls, All year Candle lighting, Holiday (Christmas and Easter), Flowers, Schedule a Mass, Bell Chimes.
MASS INTENTIONS
To offer a mass intention, please write to
Fr. Jim McKenna SDB
174 Filors Lane,
Stony Point, NY 10980
mckennasdb@yahoo.com.
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PS:
Our ministry is only possible with your help.
Visit our website: www.marianshrine.org to donate.
Marian Shrine
174 Filors Lane, Stony Point, NY 10980
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