JOURNEY INTO A BETTER FUTURE

KEY ASPECTS

  1. DAY 28 – KEY ASPECTS OF BEING HUMAN (THAT AFFECTS OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS) I now realize that I need to have a greater understanding about what affects my ability to have a better life. The more I know the more effective I will become in making my life better, contributing to other people having better lives and contributing to a clean and sustainable earth. About 1 minute
  2. DAY 29 – KEY ASPECT: HUMAN EVOLUTION I now realize that I will make a concerted effort to evolve over the coming years into a better human being. Generations after generations have been striving to make this a better world and those of us who are alive today have a responsibility to be part of humanity’s continual evolutionary march forward. About 2 minutes
  3. DAY 30 – KEY ASPECT: THOUGHTS AND THE POWER OF WORDS I now realize that my personal thoughts have a powerful influence over how I live my life and the collective thoughts of humanity have a powerful effect over what occurs in the world at large. About 3 minutes
  4. DAY 31 – KEY ASPECT: GETTING LOST IN THOSE SILENT WORDS I now realize that too often the words I say silently to myself seem so real that I get lost in them to the detriment of my ability to objectively consider other contrary ideas. The beneficial actions that I take along with the actions detrimental to a better life and better world occur because of years of constantly saying certain words silently to myself. About 3 minutes
  5. DAY 32 – KEY ASPECT: ACCURATE AND FACTUAL THOUGHTS I now realize that just because I have a thought does not mean that those silent words I say to myself are accurate, factual and beneficial to myself, my fellow human beings and to the earth. Without a factual foundation upon which we conduct personal and societal affairs our ability to find the best path forward will be left wanting. About 4 minutes
  6. DAY 33 – KEY ASPECT: LEAVING IMPORTANT FACTS OUT OF THE EQUATION I now realize that no human being can fully understand all of the underlying aspects of what occurs in life. Because of this I may leave important components out when making assessments about another human being, a particular group, an event or a specific situation. I have to learn as much as I can before coming to a perspective that may affect myself, my fellow human beings and planet earth. About 2 minutes
  7. DAY 34 – KEY ASPECT: ANTI-THOUGHTS I now realize that excessive negative thoughts that go beyond a simple disagreement about an ideology, an individual person or a specific group represents anti-thoughts about the subject of such thoughts. With this type of thinking people labeled as the “other” can become so despised that they are then considered the “enemy” even if it is not on the field of battle. About 3 minutes
  8. DAY 35 – KEY ASPECT: THE VERB TO BE AND GROUP IDENTIFICATION I now realize that the words I am/you are and we are/they are have a powerful influence over my beliefs about myself and my fellow human beings. Too often the verb to be creates problems by categorizing and separating human beings into people belonging to one’s “own” group and those who belong to the “other” group. The only I am and we are that unites the world is human. About 4 minutes
  9. DAY 36 – KEY ASPECT: BECOMING AFFECTED I now realize that past experiences have a profound effect on everyone’s life. This manifests itself in our ability to have a better life with fewer difficulties or a life that is more problematic. About 4 minutes
  10. DAY 37 – KEY ASPECT: THOUGHTS VERSUS FEELINGS I now realize that it is important to understand the difference between feelings and thoughts and the impact each word has. Being consciously aware that there is a distinction between using the word feel when I mean think can help me to become more analytical and better able to analyze my thoughts for their accuracy. About 3 minutes
  11. DAY 38 – KEY ASPECT: ONE’S FAMILY I now realize that family dynamics is of such extreme importance that it has a bearing on whether each member has an optimistic outlook on life or becomes disheartened. The family home needs to be a place where every person can believe they are safe, secure and know that he or she is loved, respected and valued. About 3 minutes
  12. DAY 39 – KEY ASPECT: THE HUMAN FAMILY I now realize that when we change our thinking about our fellow human beings from a specific group perspective to a human family perspective it makes everyone equally important and valuable. We thus make it more likely that human beings around the planet will become united in a collective effort to create a better world for all of humanity. About 3 minutes
  13. DAY 40 – KEY ASPECT: SELF-FOCUSED VERSUS ALTRUISM I now realize that human beings may often focus upon one ‘s own interests but we also have the capability to consider the interests of others as well. There is a significant difference between living our lives based on the I of my life versus the we of the human family. The more we incorporate the welfare of others and our planet into our thoughts and actions the better the world becomes for everyone. About 3 minutes
  14. DAY 41 – KEY ASPECT: INTOLERANCE VERSUS TOLERANCE I now realize that intolerance for differences in both what we believe and how we look is the barrier that keeps us separate and apart. The more acceptance we have for those who are not like oneself, the more we will remove the barriers that keep us apart and find that on the other side of that wall is a more cooperative and beneficial world for everyone. About 4 minutes
  15. DAY 42 – KEY ASPECT: EXCLUSION VERSUS INCLUSION I now realize that people who are excluded by others, no matter what the reason, is a form of non-acceptance. They do not welcome them into their lives with open arms. Inclusion of all of our fellow human beings into the human family is the path that humanity has to take if we are to become a more unified world. About 3 minutes
  16. DAY 43 – KEY ASPECT: EQUALITY AND FAIRNESS I now realize that when problems exist there is a minus sign attached to that situation since it prevents someone or some group of human beings from meeting the basic requirements for a better life. All of us need to work towards changing minus signs into plus signs in their personal and societal equation. A journey into an equally better future with more fairness requires plus and equal signs everywhere. About 3 minutes
  17. DAY 44 – KEY ASPECT: THE HUMAN PSYCHOLOGICAL BOX I now realize that one of the most difficult things any of us can do is break free from one’s own psychological box that each person puts themselves into. Allowing ourselves to venture away from what we have become accustomed to opens up a world of creative possibilities that can successfully address personal as well as our collective societal issues. About 2 minutes
  18. DAY 45 – KEY ASPECT: AN OPEN MIND (OBJECTIVITY) I now realize that when I am presented with a new idea or way of living life I need to approach it with an openness that allows me to become objective to its potential for being more beneficial for myself, my fellow human beings and planet earth than my present beliefs and actions. Anything less keeps me stuck where I am and not moving forward as best as I can. About 3 minutes
  19. DAY 46 – KEY ASPECT: SEEING LIFE REALISTICALLY I now realize that realistic thinking and realistic approaches will give us the ability to make this the last century for most human problems. About 2 minutes
  20. DAY 47 – KEY ASPECT: LIFE NOT TURNING OUT AS YOU WANT IT TO I now realize that when I become disappointed, frustrated, angry, anxious or fearful it is because of my thoughts that something in life has not turned out as I wanted it to in the past or may not turn out as I wish it to in the future. Becoming emotionally upset does not change what has already happened and does nothing to alter the future. The inability of human beings to live in peace and harmony with one another has its roots in becoming upset when something in life does not turn out as you want it to. About 4 minutes
  21. DAY 48 – KEY ASPECT: FINDING APPRECIATION I now realize that when I get annoyed at someone for not acting in a certain manner it is because at that moment I have put aside their better qualities. When I have become disheartened at something I have done it also is because I put aside my better qualities that I try to live my life by. Appreciating the best in myself and others is important for letting go of annoyance and is essential for personal enjoyment and happiness. About 3 minutes
  22. DAY 49 – KEY ASPECT: LOVING FEELINGS VERSUS LOVING ACTIONS I now realize that there is a significant difference between feelings and actions. The people I care about, love and want to spend more time with than other people deserve to be shown kindness, consideration and respect. In fact, every human being I encounter also deserves to be treated as well as I treat those whom I love. About 4 minutes
  23. DAY 50 – KEY ASPECT: EVERYONE MATTERS I now realize that all of us become part of the human family when we consider everyone just as important as we do the people we love and care about. Valuing every human being for just being human creates the underpinnings for a better world. About 2 minutes
  24. DAY 51 – KEY ASPECT: A BETTER LIFE PHILOSOPHY I now realize that most of the time I have been living my life wanting and striving for a better life for myself, others and planet earth. I can also see that most of my fellow human beings have many aspects of a “better life philosophy” at the heart of their belief systems even if we do not call it by this name. About 4 minutes
  25. DAY 52 – KEY ASPECT: IMMATURITY VERSUS MATURITY I now realize that growing up is not the same as growing into a mature person. Maturity has a direct correlation to being in tune with one’s thoughts and actions that contribute to making life better for oneself, others and the earth. The difference between immaturity and maturity is the difference between living one’s life in darkness and not seeing the entire picture or living one’s life in the brightest of lights and understanding the beautiful mosaic. About 3 minutes
  26. DAY 53 – KEY ASPECT: LISTENING AND SEEING IS NOT HEARING AND UNDERSTANDING I now realize that much of the disrespect and discord we have in this world is related to an inability to hear and understand what lies beneath the surface of our fellow human beings. Finding the maturity to hear and understand instead of just listening and seeing changes the discussions from solely advocating for one’s ideology and behavior into a search for the best way forward. About 2 minutes
  27. DAY 54 – KEY ASPECT: ACTING MATURE IN THE FACE OF IMMATURITY: WHEN THE OTHER PERSON ACTS IN A MANNER DETRIMENTAL TO A BETTER LIFE AND BETTER WORLD Thinking about my friend and her boyfriend I realize that everyone needs to transcend the immature actions of others by having a mature response. Maturity leads to harmonious interactions and relationships and helping someone to get back into that mode of thinking and behaving changes the dynamics of the situation. About 3 minutes
  28. DAY 55 – KEY ASPECT: ACTING MATURE IN THE FACE OF IMMATURITY: WHEN SOCIETAL ACTIONS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO A BETTER LIFE AND BETTER WORLD I now realize that getting caught up in the immaturity that pervades groups of people is contrary to my desire to live in a better world. I know that joining groups that hold anti-thoughts and hate people who are different than oneself does not make sense. I know that rationalizing poor behavior just because it comes from people who are like oneself does not make sense. My ability to act mature in the face of a large segment of society thinking and acting in a self- centered manner requires a steadfast ideology that incorporates the welfare of all of humanity. About 3 minutes
  29. DAY 56 – KEY ASPECT: THE SHORTSIGHTED VIEW OF THINKING SHORTSIGHTED: SHORT TERM VERSUS LONG TERM THINKING I now realize that quite often my thoughts and actions are based upon my perceptions and preoccupation of how I will benefit in the short term without taking into consideration the longer term consequences. It is possible and essential to think about and act in ways that are beneficial now while simultaneously doing it in a manner that also incorporates a better tomorrow. It is imperative that we leave future generations a better world. About 2 minutes
  30. DAY 57 – KEY ASPECT: FREEDOM VERSUS RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM I now realize that there is a significant difference between living life with the freedom to think and act as I wish to do versus living life with a higher responsibility than just to myself and the people I love. When we work together for a better future for all of humanity we are living life in a very responsible manner. About 2 minutes
  31. DAY 58 – KEY ASPECT: HABITS I now realize that there are all kinds of habits that human beings have. I understand that there are certain thought and behavior habits that are detrimental to a better life and a better world while other thought and behavior habits help to create a better life and better world. I am the only person that can decide which habits will be a part of my life. About 4 minutes
  32. DAY 59 – KEY ASPECT: THE HUMAN SPIRIT I now realize that there is something that lies within each and every human being that makes every person unique and who they are. From what a person gravitates towards and who they want to spend their time with, a person’s individual spirit is at work. When we show kindness, consideration and respect to others and when we care about the welfare of and come to the aid of our fellow human beings this is when we project the best of the human spirit onto the world. About 3 minutes
  33. DAY 60 – KEY ASPECT: TECHNOLOGY CHANGES THE WORLD I now realize that transformative technological advancements continually make life easier and better for people around the planet. Unfortunately, not every human being is able to take advantage of those breakthroughs. Humanity today can change that. Human beings today can take the insights and knowledge that will create a better world and use it in ways like no other generation ever did. About 2 minutes
  34. DAY 61 – KEY ASPECT: CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING TO LIFE I now realize that life cannot adjust itself to how I think and act but I have to adjust myself to what is occurring in the world. Becoming upset and distraught with something that is not my norm or the norm of society does not serve my best interests or society’s interests. I will find more calmness, peacefulness and inner harmony along with an ability to adequately deal with what comes my way when I can psychologically adjust myself to the new and different. About 4 minutes
  35. DAY 62 – KEY ASPECT: THE RIPPLE EFFECT: THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF LIFE (RAMIFICATIONS FOR HOW WE THINK, FEEL AND ACT) I now realize that every human being is creating ripples in the world based upon how they think and act. To create a better world each of us has to be cognizant of the words we say to others and the actions we take and how they ripple their way into the lives of our fellow human beings. About 3 minutes
  36. DAY 63 – KEY ASPECT: WISDOM WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME (IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW) I now realize that there were times when I should not have acted as I did when I was younger. The insights into what makes my life better was wanting then but as I have become older I have a better understanding of what constitutes a better life and how it can be created. “If only I had known then what I know now” I would have said different silent words to myself and thus acted in a manner that did not make my life more difficult and did not cause other people to have problems. About 2 minutes