Excited By Life - Latest Comments

Re: A Guide To Personal Success And Happiness

Padraic Ó Maille. — Sun, 10 Aug 2014 04:50:36 -0000

Jim Rohn is one of my favourite writers and this summary of his iconic book is excellent. Every quotation pulls a punch. Many thanks Danny.

Re: The 100 Day Challenge Week One

Kevin Wulff — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 15:27:04 -0000

"We must learn to reawaken and keep
ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids, but by an infinite expectation of the
dawn, which does not forsake us in our soundest sleep. I know of no more
encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by
a conscious endeavor. It is something to be able to paint a particular picture,
or to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful, but it is far
more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere and medium through which we
look, which morally we can do. To affect the quality of the day, that is the
highest of arts. Every man is tasked to make his life, even in its details,
worthy of the contemplation of his most elevated and critical hour." from
Walden, chapter entitled Where I Lived, and What I Lived For," pp 64-65,
Walden, Civil Disobedience, and Other Writings, Norton Critical Edition, Third
Edition, W.W. Norton & Co., Ltd, (New York: 2008).
In addition, I'd like to thank you Danny for creating such a motivated starting place or continuing place. I am beginning retirement (as of February 1, 2014) and my wife and I have been struggling for some improvement in our daily structure. I believe I have stumbled upon this site, due to my love for Thoreau, and as Bokonon would say (in Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle) "There are no accidents." Or was it there are no mistakes? I guess that's my melding of Freud and Kurt Vonnegut.
Philosophically, and spiritually, I believe in compassion for all living things and my efforts for the past few years through my work as a mental health professional (trained in clinical psychology) and a citizen of Earth have been to decrease unnecessary human suffering. May I refer you to the Summer 1988 issue of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, wherein R.G.H. Siu proposed "Panetics: The Study of the Infliction of Suffering." This article is the outline for an entire scientific approach to examine the on-going infliction of suffering by many of us onto most all of us. He proposes the unit of experienced suffering to be a "dukkha," derived from the Pali word (language of the Buddha) meaning "suffering," and describes an intensity scale of suffering, 1-9, from "barely noticeable" to "unbearable, wanting to die." One dukkha is equivalent to the amount of suffering borne by a person with a moderate (intensity 3) toothache for 8 hours. Theoretically, every person on the planet could report the amount of suffering they personally experienced every day, and if that number, summed, increased or decreased on the following day, then we might have reason to suspect that "things' were "getting worse" or actually "improving."
To quote something else I used during my marriage ceremony 16 years ago this August:
"I've heard it said that the weight of the world's problems is enough to make this ball fall out to space -- that it ain't even worth it to live, with all that's going wrong. Well, let me just go down as sayin', I'm glad to be here, here with all the same pain and laughs everybody knows.
Some men think they're born to be King -- well, maybe that's true -- but I think passing love along was all we were born to do. (Taking my wife into my arms): I'm here to love you!
(some editing of what follows by me)
Love will build the Kingdom; Love will make the laws for this world to heed; You and I make life worth living right here, in each others' arms -- I'm here to love you!"
Thanks to the Doobie Brothers' song, and Michael McDonald's vocals on "Here to Love You."

Re: Victor Frankl Defines The Meaning Of Life

evererch — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 01:17:37 -0000

I wasn't questioning whether or not he meditated, I am referring to his point that meditation is not part of the answer: "Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct." My point is that 'right action' and 'right conduct' cannot be arrived at without meditating on what happens to be 'right conduct' or 'right action'. No matter his suffering or his circumstances, his advice, in my opinion, makes no sense. It is akin to saying that 'we must be as fit as possible but exercise has got nothing to do with becoming so'.

I agree with you that 'the fact that he found meaning in the depths of suffering, pain and death is amazing and worthy of our study' - yes, it is amazing and yes, it is worthy of our study. Yet, when I do so I find inconsistency and a lack of logic. Right is not conferred on his insight merely because of the appalling conditions in which that insight was generated.

Re: Get Your Mojo Back

Danny Sheehan | ExcitedByLife — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:42:52 -0000

Thanks for the clarification Jeanne. I believe successful people also have a kind of magnetism that attracts others to their cause - passion and focus in others is attractive.

Re: Victor Frankl Defines The Meaning Of Life

Danny Sheehan | ExcitedByLife — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 19:37:24 -0000

Victor Frankl wrote these words in the midst of suffering and death in a Nazi concentration camp. The fact that he found meaning in the depths of suffering, pain, and death is amazing and worthy of our study, regardless of if he meditated or not.

“If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be meaning in suffering.”
― Viktor E. Frankl

Re: Victor Frankl Defines The Meaning Of Life

evererch — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 08:44:09 -0000

How can one be involved with right action and right conduct without involving oneself in meditation? Viktor Frankl has started with unjustified assumptions which have led him into error concerning the very things he was attempting to clarify. Nae guid!

Re: Get Your Mojo Back

Jeanne Melanson — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 22:47:02 -0000

Interesting take on the meaning of Mojo. I was married to a Blues musicial for many years, and the Blues meaning of Mojo is ... well, more about sexual magnetism, shall we say.

But this is an interesting take too. I like the idea of the score cards, because I like tests that end up giving me in insight into myself. I will give this Mojo thing some serious thought. I don't think I have it. ;) Great article, Danny. I appreciate what you've put into it.

Re: The New Economics Of Happiness

laurirottmayer — Sat, 18 Jan 2014 08:08:57 -0000

This is a great post! I am a happy person and I believe, like Abraham Lincoln said, that you are just about as happy as you want to be. I love your suggestions about what helps a person to be happy. I'm going to check out the book you reference at the top. Thanks! :-)

Re: The Genius Within You

Rochelle Gordon — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 10:59:19 -0000

Finding your inner genius or purpose is so important and not always so easy to do. Life and personality needs get in the way. Glad you wrote this post.

Re: Going Green At Home

Andrea — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 13:19:43 -0000

Hi Danny. I used to have a veg garden and loved it! it was fun growing veggies with no chemicals; they always tasted much better than shop-bought ones. I love the giant water tank too, watering the garden was always a bug-bear of mine. Good luck with generating an income with the solar panels, shouldn't take long. Very admirable all you're doing. As you say, every bit helps. Regards, Andrea

Re: Must See Movie About Life Called About Time

anonymous — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 23:22:29 -0000

I saw the movie also and loved it.

Re: How To Stop Thinking Negatively

Carol Cunningham — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 03:58:34 -0000

Thank you so much for this blog post. As much as we know what to do, sometimes it just needs a concise way of putting it to make sense and be able to turn knowledge into action.

Re: Improve Your Brain Performance

Danny Sheehan | ExcitedByLife — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 23:25:27 -0000

Very true. I remember having a lot more focus and concentration in my younger years, although television was still a distraction.

Re: Improve Your Brain Performance

Judith Morgan — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 07:06:20 -0000

Danny, what a very useful article, thanks. I have shared it. Maintaining optimal brain performance is very important to me and your tips are helpful. I was speaking to a client yesterday about the inefficiencies of multi-tasking. I had suspected what you say but it is good to have it confirmed. I am 58 years old. When I worked in my early career, we sat down at 9 and got up at 5 and worked without distraction or music, or mobile telephones, texting, or the internet. I am sure we got more done but then, without computers, perhaps we needed to! Judith

Re: Bloggers To Follow| Passionate Blogger | Brankica U

Danny Sheehan | ExcitedByLife — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 22:49:25 -0000

Thanks for letting me know. Looks like she sold her domain. She now has these blogs http://fitchickcafe.com/ http://musclesandmarketing.... and http://brankicaunderwood.com

Re: The Cure For Procrastination

Rochelle Gordon — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:41:14 -0000

I must be procrastinating new by reading all of your blogs, having just discovered them on UBC. LOL. It's true! Help, I need a sponsor!

Re: Bloggers To Follow| Passionate Blogger | Brankica U

Rochelle Gordon — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:32:12 -0000

Hi Danny, It appears that the link to In Your Love Blog is not working. It took me to another page. I tried to search out Brankica U and her blog to no avail. Can you please send me the current link? Thanks much.

I am becoming a budding fan of yours. :-)

Re: Bloggers To Follow| Passionate Blogger | Brankica U

Rochelle Gordon — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:19:56 -0000

I am going to check out Brankica U’s blog and her e-book. Thanks for turning me on to her and it.

Re: Essential Spirituality

Rochelle Gordon — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 17:08:37 -0000

Great principles you have chosen.

Re: How To Keep Your Brain Healthy

Rochelle Gordon — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 14:56:55 -0000

Great Stuff. I could not agree more and practice it all as much as I can. I will check out the second books you mentioned.

Re: How To Keep Your Brain Healthy

amar naik — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:57:37 -0000

good list to begin with and be healthy. looking forward for the next series.

Regards
http://amarnaik.com/

Re: How To Keep Your Brain Healthy

Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:16:01 -0000

Good three for starters, there, Danny...
Looking forward to the rest of the list.

Re: The Cure For Procrastination

amar naik — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 09:22:21 -0000

nice article. i think the Seven Positive Habits can be used to solve other problems also.

regards,
Amar

Re: Life Begins at 50

Danny Sheehan | ExcitedByLife — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 20:58:05 -0000

I am almost 50 also and was dreading it until i read this book. Glad you found the tips from this book helpful.

Re: Life Begins at 50

Andrea — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 14:15:09 -0000

Hi Danny. I'm 50 this year (gulp! still haven't quite got my mind around that one) so I'm very pleased to read I'm only halfway through my life and have plenty of opportunities to explore new things. I particularly like your tip about solving someone else's problem, that's where opportunities lie. I hadn't really appreciated that before, but it's a fab idea. Thanks for sharing! Andrea