Expressing sincere and positive thoughts works like a gem.

When we express appreciation and love to our children, they respond to our suggestions much more constructively.

When we are expressive with our spouse, our relationships become more harmonious and loving.

When we appreciate our staff they respond with better performance.

When we appreciate our volunteer colleagues they get more committed to the cause.

When we express appreciation and love to our parents, they feel good about their contribution to your life.

What you can do today, do not postpone to tomorrow.

This is true for things of importance such as:

• expressing love and gratitude to near and dear ones
• doing things for people you care about
• saying "I am sorry" to someone you have hurt or forgiving someone who has hurt you
• doing a random act of kindness and giving.

Many of these things do not take too much time or, for the most part, too much effort.

What you need is desire!
Without desire:

There are a lot of things to do today -- as they are almost every day and every week and every year.

Everything will not get done.  Even if you tick everything on your list there will be others that will find themselves conveniently parked on your ever growing list.

So what is the solution? Three things:

On my way to Dubai from London, I was reading in the paper a story of a 13 year old girl attempting to commit suicide, because she wanted to donate her liver to her sick dad.  The mother reported that the daughter loved her dad even more than herself!

Now I do not encourage anyone to commit suicide for whatever reasons.  However I was amazed at the extent of the love displayed by the 13 year old.

How about you?  How much love do you express to your close ones in ordinary ways everyday?
 

Begin to love yourself, not from ego, but rather from a person who is loving and adds value.

Extend your love to close ones - your spouse/partner, children, parents, siblings.

Extend this attitude to one and all.

Once you form the habit of being loving it will become natural for you to continue this attitude.  If we all made this attempt we can do wonders.

Action Item: Do something loving today - or better still now - for example say I love you to your child/spouse/parent!

Last night, I stayed up the whole night in prayer.  I prayed for one and all, especially for those who are less advantaged.

It made me realize that we are all resilient and can do things that we don't normally do.

Usually, I do not stay awake for the whole night (only part of the night!).  Usually we give in a certain way.  Perhaps worth trying other creative ways of giving - giving "outside the box"!

For example give to your spouse/child/parent/colleague/employee in a way that you have never done before.