Just for today - by Dale Carnegie

Good day, folks.

I was poking around some old notes and came across a goody from Dale Carnegie that, while written 50 years ago, is as important today as ever. As I have the blessing to speak to many people every day, it seems to me, in my humble opinion, that many people’s lives are filled with great intentions to do the right thing for themselves and others but for some reason, something “pops up” every day that required attention first. For many of those people, they live in a world of frustration, waiting to do that which they know they want to do but feel that they can’t for one reason or another (many of the reasons aren’t real). I think of some quotes from Michel de Montaigne:

“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened”

“Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know”

“He who fear will suffer, he already suffers from his fear”.

Anyway, on to the nugget from Dale Carnegie. Be well and create a great day, everyone! [Author note: An anonymous reader pointed out on December 29, 2014 that in fact the author of this nugget is Sybil F. Partridge.  I am grateful to the reader for pointing this out.]

Just for Today:

1. Just for today I will be happy. This assumes that what Abraham Lincoln said is true, that “most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” Happiness is from within; it is not a matter of externals.

2. Just for today, I will try to adjust myself to what is and not try to adjust everything to my own desires. I will take my family, my business and my luck as they come and fit myself to them.

3. Just for today I will take care of my body, I will exercise it, care for it, nourish it, not abuse it nor neglect it, so that it will be a perfect machine for my bidding.

4. Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind. I will learn something useful. I will not be a mental loafer. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

5. Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways. I will do somebody a good turn and not get found out. I will do at least two things I don’t want to do, as William James suggests, just for exercise.

6. Just for today, I will be agreeable. I will look as well as I can, dress as becomingly as possible, talk low, act courteously, be liberal with praise, criticize not at all, nor find fault with anything and not try to regulate nor improve anyone.

7. Just for today, I will try to live through this day only, not to tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime.

8. Just for today I will have a program. I will write down what I expect to do every hour. I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it. It will eliminate two pests; hurry and indecision.

9. Just for today, I will have a quiet half-hour all by myself and relax. In this half-hour sometimes I will think of God so as to get a little more perspective into my life.

10. Just for today, I will be unafraid, especially I will not be afraid to be happy, to enjoy what is beautiful, to love and to believe that those I love, love me.