We live in a goal-oriented world. We’re all chasing after the prize. We work hard to make money. We play to win.
And in the process of all this future-centered living, we lose sight of the only real treasure we can ever truly have–the pleasure of the present moment.
Joyful Springers forget the prize. They don’t care about the results of what they’re doing. They care about how much fun they’re having doing it.
The best actions in life are the ones that are results in and of themselves. If you love what you’re doing, you’ve achieved your goal. What else matters? Stop focusing so much on what you’re going to get in the future with all your effort. Be more focused on how you feel right now, and the amazing thing is that you’ll actually end up with more prizes as a result.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Muggins always deferred to her boisterous yellow lab friend, Buck, when they swam after sticks. She cared more about the fun of swimming than the end result of fetching the stick.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
The only thing we can see is what we’re looking at. Sounds obvious, right? So why, if we’re unhappy with where we are, do we keep looking at where we are? Why not look for a way out of where we are?
Joyful Springers face doorways. They know that they’re never limited to where they are in their life, and they turn their attention toward openings to something better.
You’re never as trapped as you think. There is always an opening to something better. If you don’t look toward the opening, though, you’ll never get through it. Get your attention off the unwanted place you’re in and on the possibility of where you want to go.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Muggins would stand in front of my parents' pantry door and talk until you opened the door and got a treat for her from the jar that was just inside the door. She trained us all very well.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Our minds can be our strongest asset. They can also be our greatest enemy. Our minds become our enemy when we use them to generate thoughts that create fear.
Some fear–like that created by a true life or death situation–is appropriate and useful. Most fear, though, isn’t helpful at all. It’s False Evidence Appearing Real. We look at events in our lives and spin imaginary scenarios from those events, guessing at what awful things could happen. These imaginary scenarios aren’t real, but we make them seem real with our thoughts.
Joyful Springers think warm, fuzzy thoughts. They don’t waste their mind power on thoughts that make them fearful. They choose thoughts that make them feel secure, strong, and happy.
Your mind is yours to control. You can choose your thoughts. Choose the ones that make you feel good, and you’ll find that life will bring you warm, fuzzy experiences to match your focus.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Muggins always had warm, fuzzy thoughts, even when I put stuffed animals on her head.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Mark Twain said, “Diligence is a good thing, but taking things easy is much more restful.” Wise fellow. Why make anything harder than it needs to be?
So how can we take life a little easier? We get in the easy frame of mind.
Joyful Springers position themselves for easy. They look for ways to make the best of every situation, and by doing so, they’re always in an easy frame of mind.
You are in control of how hard or easy your life is. Today, choose easy by looking for the fun and ease in every situation you’re in. You can let your life experiences control you … or you can control your life experiences by being in an easy frame of mind.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful CHOCOLATE LAB.
[Meet Harley. This adorable guy is Lee Linenberg's (Ollie and Murphy's momma) granddog. Thanks, Hurley, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer!]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Singer Toni Braxton said, “I’m not a diva. I’m a tadpole trying to be a frog.” The truth is we all feel like tadpoles at least some of the time. We feel small and vulnerable. We forget we have the huge power of divine energy inside of us.
Joyful Springers grow into their frogs. They know that they came from pure, positive energy, and they have access to that energy, which is the same powerful energy that creates worlds.
You are a powerful person, but your power isn’t in your efforts to control what’s going on around you. Your power lies within you, in your focus and thought. Own your power today.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Meet Mattie. This lovely old girl from New Bern, North Carolina, had a tough early life, but thanks to the great people at English Springer Rescue America and her great foster parents, she made her way to her current momma, Brenda, whose "100s of pictures" of Mattie attest to how much Mattie is loved. Thanks, Mattie, for being a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Although of course we want freedom and security at all times, sometimes the waters in our financial and personal lives get a bit deep. We start to feel like we’re on the verge of drowning in debt or projects or problems.
Joyful Springers keep their heads above water. No matter what’s going on, they find a way to do one little thing each day that keeps them on top of their troubles.
When you find yourself in deep water, you don’t have to find your way out right away. And you sure as heck don’t need to walk on water. All you need to do is what is in front of you to do today. Handle what you can handle now and don’t try to figure out how you’re going to get everything to work out. Just know that it will work out if you keep your focus on the solution instead of the problem.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Ducky has no trouble keeping her head above water when she swims, but she does squeak with the effort. She's a very noisy swimmer.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Sometimes the things we want seem way too big to achieve. They seem so big, in fact, that we don’t believe we can get them.
And the problem is that if we don’t believe we can get something, we can’t get it. Belief is essential to attaining dreams.
Joyful Springers never give up. They have unwavering belief in being able to have what they want, and they keep their enthusiastic focus on their desires.
You can be, do, or have anything you want. The universe, responding to the powerful law of attraction, has the ability to bring anything to you. But first, you MUST believe you can get it. Once you have that believe, never give up on it. Keep your focus on your desire, and be ready to take just a little inspired action. The power of your focus plus your action will create miracles.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Ducky was DETERMINED to get the huge stick (or rather, tree) that Tim threw into the river for her. She was NOT going to give up.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Sometimes it can feel like what we want is very far away. Though we used to have a clear vision of our dream, now we can barely see it. When this happens, we have to find a way to get our goal back in focus.
Joyful Springers peek through the slats. By looking for things to appreciate and things that feel good, they find the path of least resistance to get their focus back on what they want.
When a dream is a long time coming, your disappointment puts you out of vibrational sync with what you want. Appreciating and doing things that make you feel good help you get in vibrational alignment with your desires again. Once you’re in alignment, you can put your happy focus back on what you want and watch it appear in your life.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Murphy and Ollie are back. Lee Linenbergs boys work together to keep an eye on their domain. Thanks, Murphy and Ollie, for guest starring again on The Joyful Springer.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
Benjamin Franklin said, “If you can’t pay for a thing, don’t buy it. If you can’t get paid for it, don’t sell it. Do this, and you will have calm and drowsy nights, with all of the good business you have now and none of the bad.”
How’s that for simple economics?
Joyful Springers make way for drowsy. They spend only the money they have, and they put their energy into only enterprises that give them the “pay day” of joy and abundance. And they sleep peacefully each night.
When you live from where you are instead of overreaching yourself, you create a life of satisfaction and peace. This peace is what gives you the energy to expand into better and better places.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Ducky is happy with all her decisions, so she can be drowsy at will.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
When bad things happen, it’s natural to rail against whatever forces caused such tragedy. Anger and despair are understandable. The only problem with this reaction to life’s disasters is that the focus on the unpleasant past robs us of a pleasant future.
Joyful Springers adapt then thrive. They know that they can’t change what’s already happened but they can accept it, adjust to compensate for it, and then move on. They understand that focusing on what they still have instead of what they’ve lost is the fastest way to start having fun again.
You can’t always choose what’s happening to you, but you can always choose how you respond to it. If something in your life isn’t as you want it to be and you’re pushing against it, resisting it, know that in doing so you’re keeping yourself from the happiness you deserve. Tell yourself, “It is what it is.” Now ask yourself, “What can I make of it?” Claim your power and look ahead to better things coming your way.
… another wise tidbit from a joyful English Springer Spaniel.
[Meet Shakespeare, our extra special guest star today. Shakespeare’s story starts out pretty rough, but it ends just the way a Joyful Springer’s story should.
This seven-year old boy was hit by a car, and his family took him to the vet and asked to have Shakespeare put down because they didn’t have money to pay for his leg repair. The vet tech persuaded the family to sign Shakespeare over to the veterinary hospital and then contacted English Springer Rescue America (ESRA). ESRA paid for Shakespeare’s broken leg to be set and cast and also paid for heartworm treatment.
Unfortunately, because of complications, Shakespeare’s leg had to be amputated. But this hasn’t gotten Shakespeare down. You can tell from this picture that he’s standing proud, eager for what’s coming his way. Thank you, Shakespeare, for being a special Guest Star on The Joyful Springer. Your story inspires us all to find joy no matter what circumstances we find ourselves standing in.]
Would your dog like to be a Guest Star on The Joyful Springer? All dogs can fit the definition of a Joyful Springer. Click here to find out how to submit your photo.
