Enthusiasm Counts

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 Enthusiasm Counts

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” I remember reading that in High School and thinking that’s a pretty good mantra, and I like to believe that I’ve been able to see enthusiasm in action both as an observer and as the source. It’s been the greatest asset in my toolbox for just about everything I’ve tried. For sure as a teacher it helps cross the chasm of knowledge and when it works, it’s magic. It has the power to make doubters into believers and slow movers into action heroes.

I used to think that I needed a cause to be enthusiastic about, but over time I came to believe that I could make any cause move faster and attain more by injecting the positive energy myself. I learned early that it’s contagious and becomes the source for great things or anything to come to be. We don’t have wait for it to happen. We can make it happen. In the words of best-selling author Jack Canfield who wrote Chicken Soup for the Soul: “ It’s the difference between ‘yes’ and ‘hell yes.’

I know I have a few “hell yes” moments to live and wake up every day wondering what will be the catalyst, and today the trigger was my reflection that, for many reasons, I’ve been becoming a better version of myself. However, I may be the only one that seems to notice. But that’s okay. Generating an enthusiastic mindset is healthy. I do it for me and you could do it for you. It makes a difference. Hell yes it does.

Final Thought: Without enthusiasm there can’t be love and without love there can’t be enthusiasm.

For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

 

Szenzone – Stories of life and the power to change yours – is sent via email by request and is published weekly or thereabouts. For back issues or to receive this publication directly please email [email protected]  © Gary Szenderski 2025 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and teaches at the University of California in Irvine. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change – if you or your company needs assistance contact Gary directly.  Gary resides in Southern California and welcomes your comments.

 

 

 

Image is Destiny

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                                                                                         Image is Destiny

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

Jack had walked two players in a row and the league’s number one hitter was at bat. He tried to concentrate on making good pitches without giving him anything to hit. Easy to say, but Jack’s fear was showing – all over his face and in his body language, he appeared defeated. And when he threw the pitch, he was.

And more…

There is a lot going on in today’s story or should I say, back story. Jack had been quite the big-league pitcher and always carried the swagger of a winner. His mental toughness, determination and competitive spirit was his calling card. It’s how he became an ace pitcher and Cy Young award winner. But the years and the losses began to pile up and he effectively lost his edge. It wasn’t like a switch that just went off, it was more like a slow leak where not only his pitching ability became diminished but his mental capacity to project confidence began to fail him too, which as it turns out was the true culprit in his demise.

Whatever we project as our identity can become our reality. When we feel bullish and strong it generates a complimentary reaction from those around us. Conversely, when we appear afraid like Jack we begin to move fast toward that fear until we prove that it’s real. We literally project the outcome we think about. So why don’t we all start thinking about our best possible scenario and let those thoughts lead us to our self-proclaimed destiny? Short answer: I don’t know.

What I do know is that all of us have the power to change our thoughts and hence to change our lives and yet we sometimes neglect to take advantage of this wonderful human characteristic because we secretly don’t think it works or we’re just unwilling or too tired to try. And of course, when unchecked, this doubt eventually can become a deep-seeded belief that limits us from having the life of our dreams. In our story Jack couldn’t muster the internal self-talk to overcome the situation. Had he been able to take a breath and reach down into his own psyche, he may have just as easily found the internal power source needed to hit the switch marked positive outcome and win the game.

Fortunately for the rest of us the game of life provides multiple opportunities to create positive change. The formula is simple. Imagine how we’d look and sound at the moment when our dreams come true. Hold that thought and begin to act as if it’s already happened and keep doing it until it does. What we project reflects who we are and what we believe and when we’re focused on believing in ourself – our dreams – people respond and so does the universe.

Final thought: Whatever we project to be, can be.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Stories of life and the power to change yours – is sent via email by request and is published weekly or thereabouts. For back issues or to receive this publication directly please email [email protected] © Gary Szenderski 2025 All Rights Reserved. Gary is an author, branding specialist and teaches at the University of California in Irvine. He specializes in helping people and organizations navigate change – if you or your company needs assistance contact Gary directly. Gary resides in Southern California and welcomes your comments.

Relationship Reboot

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Relationship Reboot
Fresh Starts Take Effort

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

Carl had not seen or talked to her in a while and wondered how she was doing. Would she answer his call? Probably, he thought, but just what memory would frame the next conversation was hard to predict and he knew it would determine the fate of their future. When she said she missed him, the door instinctively swung open.

And more…

As much as we try to maintain control over life’s moving parts, things change. New people and situations create new dynamics, including turmoil and stress and because we’re human we learn to adapt to change and sometimes, especially if we’re trying to create something positive, we come to understand that we need to embrace change. Carl, in our story had his doubts. His choices were to let it go or try to rekindle the relationship. He chose the latter, and in the simple act of making that choice he opened the door to a new opportunity and a fresh start.

We don’t have to accept what is. We can move from whatever spot were in toward a new, better spot. This is the power we have and often we fail to recognize that when it comes to relationships, we need to exert that power – cross the line, take a chance at rejection, and allow ourselves the vulnerability to fail. For Carl, it generated another chance and as so often happens, things work out better the second time around.

It’s a good idea to reflect on our relationships and remember how important they are to creating happiness. Also remember that whatever we may have invested in a relationship can still bear fruit, even if time has wedged itself into the equation. Old friends, lovers, family members, teammates and just about anybody that we have feelings for, or fond memories of, may be open to a new chapter of connection. They may be primed for a reboot, but somebody has to take the first step though. Taking a chance on failing can have its reward and like Carl’s effort it can turn a fond memory into the courage to try. That’s where new beginnings and even magic can happen.

Final thought: The strength of a relationship is based on the willingness of its members to remember why it was formed in the first place. From there any new destination is in play.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Mother’s Day

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Mother’s Day – This story has run on Mother’s Day a few times over the last couple of decades, but I love repeating it. If you’re a new reader of the Book of Szen I hope you like it and for those that have seen this story before, you’re seeing it again. Enjoy the day, and for those that are lucky enough to be with their mom, let her be with you too and for all of you mothers reading this, thanks for the love and I pray that your children never waste a drop.

 Moms are Forever

 My mother always encouraged me to do what I love. And the pursuit of that love took me to Los Angeles. The day I left town to make my move west, my last stop was to see mom. It’s hard to even write this because even though mom knew I must leave, she cried, watching through the window of the door, as I walked away to a life that she herself had wanted me to pursue. In honor of that and for all of the moms I know, I’d like to share an excerpt from the Book of Szen. I hope you like it.

Moms are something to behold. They can sense their children without ever actually seeing what the children are “up” to, and let the kids know that she knows, what they wouldn’t want her to know.  How they do that I don’t know they just do.

Moms, never leave their young, even after they leave her.  Moms are there every second and minute and year and lifetime for their children.  For their effort, Moms are given extra special stuff to enable them to survive.  Moms have extra sensitive hearing (for the absence of sound as well) that can cut through any noise filled clutter to hear their child’s voice.  To hear a cry or worse a scream sets them running to their child’s aid. Moms also have eyes in the back of their head.  And those eyes too can weep when they in secret observe their babies.  To watch a mom watch their child when neither knows they are being watched is to see human drama.  A drama that is a never-ending cycle where Moms endure countless tears and pain and grief, that can be just as easily erased with the slightest of smiles from their baby.

Being a mother, I think changes things for a woman.  Not just biologically, but psychologically and spiritually too. It’s not that they forget how to maintain their careers, or balance some combination of motherhood, wage earner, and mate.  It’s just that before any of those things that she may really want and cherish and need and deserve, can be enjoyed, there are the kids.  First and foremost, and forever.

Not being a mom, I can’t really know what they think.  Why they are the biggest dichotomy in the world for providing both pain and pleasure.  Why they never give up the battle to keep their child safe and happy, no matter what age or marital status. Why for each of us, our own Mother made real magic.

This Mother’s Day remember the magic.  Remember the mom that made you believe that anything was possible.  Made you believe in yourself.  And made you understand that life is more than simply living, it is creating.  Thank her for the chance to create your own destiny.  Thank her for being there, every day.

For me there are many Moms in my life that have made it extra special: The Mother of my sons, the Mothers of my Grandsons and my Mother, Momma Z. Mom, I’m living the life you always wanted me to.  You were right.  I do love it. I miss you. Happy Mother’s Day.

***********

 Today’s Szenippet: The main thing that mother’s want is for their children to be happy. So, what are you waiting for?

 

 

There’s Still Time

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There’s Still Time

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

That was the end of it. Carl had told his story so many times that he grew weary just thinking about it. Where had he gone so wrong that he could no longer imagine the future he once aspired to? Deep inside he knew the answer, and although it was painful, he accepted the truth. A new story would emerge.

And more…

English Victorian Novelist, George Eliot famously said: “It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” Within this quote and in the heart of Carl, from our story, lies the seeds of personal conviction. It’s a place where new ideas, opportunities, and fabulous stories begin. It exists at the intersection of hope and regret. And if we somehow find ourselves stuck, we need to look within for answers. There we will find that it’s the story of our own life’s journey that can move us from regret, towards hope. Carl figured it out when he accepted the truth that he wasn’t where he wanted to be, and in that instant, his new story began to take shape.

We all have a story. We have the one that got us to where we are. We have the one that explains why we didn’t get to where we wanted to be. And we have the one that still percolates within, which has yet to be finished. We tell ourselves that we’ll get there once x, y, and z happens and like it did for Carl, it can become wearisome self-talk and sometimes painful. If we’re holding on to the notion of a happy ending for our journey it’s important that we appreciate that where we are today is only the end of a chapter and whether we like it or not, it can’t be rewritten or re-lived. It can, however, provide important life-changing perspective on where we go from here.

When we think of today as a new starting point or maybe a launch pad we tap into a “what if” and “why not” mindset about our future. Anything becomes possible with a bold new story and even if we can’t control every aspect of it, we certainly can control what we think about it – what we think about ourselves. Best-selling author Jamie Kern Lima said it best. She wrote: “Where you are right now in your story matters less than the person you’re becoming in it.” Who we become next depends on who we want to be. There’s still time….

Final thought: When we ignore our ego and let our higher- self navigate life’s journey we discover that we’ve already arrived and it’s time to enjoy who we’ve become.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Choice & Change

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Choice & Change

The World’s Most Powerful Forces

Change creates the choices in our life, and choices create the changes. This is the essential law for living: Change and her sister Choice are in a constant and continuous motion of creation and the entire universe is the stage by how we can witness our impact on the process. Created in the image and likeness of our Creator, we are imbued with the power to choose and hence change the path and the impact of our lives. This is not a small tool in our toolbox of living, this is the most powerful tool we have to exactly create the world we seek – it’s a superpower.

 

The question is why don’t we recognize this power and what are we waiting for to make us happy that we can’t already create for ourselves? The answer is: fill in your own blank. Because we are a spiritual being having human experiences, we have to remind ourselves that this power is readily available, fully loaded, and is awaiting our command. We are in charge, and the more we attempt to manifest what makes us happy, the easier and more rewarding the process becomes. Like any other natural ability, talent, or muscle, if it goes unused it leads to atrophy. The key to reenergizing this ability to manifest is accessible through our inner voice. Our inner voice is our connection to our spirit-centered existence and the catalyst that provides the faith we need to achieve what we desire.

 

Children know this the second they are born and as poet Kurtis Lamkin has written: “Believing is all a child does for a living.” Giving control to what’s inside of us is essential to changing what’s outside of us.  Somewhere along our human path we forget that a vision, powered by faith, is what makes miracles happen. A child is exhausted at the end of every day because they follow their heart’s desire, and the universe delivers. They giggle and laugh and do it again the next day and the next and the next, and so can we; It’s our choice.

 

Final Thought: Choice is the power to change whether we initiate it or are reacting to change. Choices determine our lives. Choose wisely.

Lean into the Future

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Lean into the Future

A traditional tactic used in negotiation is to take two steps forward and then one step back. It gives the appearance of compromise, but if left to its own devises it eventually will have two-stepped its way into our world and will own some of it. Before we let that happen let’s take a closer look at the relationship between progress and its evil twin, regression.

Progress is advancing and regression is retreating. Knowing how to play one against the other is the key to creating positive change in our lives. When we’re in the moving forward mode we have eyes peeled on the horizon and can see the efforts of our attempt manifest as easily as is if our destiny was reading our mind. When we lean into our future we’re drawn by a new vision. And by keeping focused on that dream, we not only pick up speed we gain clarity and control. Conversely if we take our foot off the gas we could stall and become frustrated. Why would we do that? Because the pull of the status quo has history on its side and it will play out scenarios from our past where we previously gave up and subsequently, we were rewarded with a new “comfort zone,” a fancy name for a fixed mindset. These flashbacks can draw us into complacency and ennui.

To offset this alluring draw to stand pat, we need to use our vision to lead us. And to the degree that our vision can, it will in the process of becoming a reality, become the anchor for our new port of call. Arrival at our vision’s destination is a sign we’re on the right path. And as with any journey, it’s what we don’t know that makes it fun.

Final Thought:  Without movement there is no growth. To break from the binds of the status quo we need to create progress, and to avoid regression. Regression is a powerful buzz kill and it’s disguised as a comfort zone. Steer clear and have no fear.

Spot Removal

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Spot Removal

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

Myra could not have predicted the convergence of events that had the powers that be scratching their heads. She surmised that no one else could have seen this coming either. One decision after another had been scrutinized to the nth degree, and yet here they were, stuck in indecision, floundering, trapped in a mental cul-de-sac. Time was running out, fast.

And more…

I think it’s fair to say that we’ve all made decisions on something or someone important, and absolutely felt it was the very best move we could make at the time. We may have been bullish about a relationship or business venture or even the stock market and we charged ahead with enthusiasm and confidence that our decision would take us to a new and better place. But somewhere along the way things changed, and what we originally strived to achieve somehow failed to blossom, turning our dreams into dust. Failure, whether we see it coming or not, can be truly profound. And sometimes like Myra, we find ourselves stuck in a bad spot with time running out.

When unfortunate or unpredictable situations and circumstances surround us, we can sometimes fall into a “deer in the headlights” trance and find ourselves struggling to find a way out, stymied by events and unsure of what to do next. The unsureness of change, and the desire to remove ourselves from the situation we’re in, adds stress and clouds our thinking when what we need most is to be clear headed. If this ever happens, here are a couple of ideas on spot removal you might try:

– Stay focused on who you are, not where you are. By detaching our psyche from the situation, we can gain a better perspective on our options.

– Slow down. When we get stuck, we sometimes struggle as if we’ve fallen into quicksand, and we tend to make decisions without thinking. Taking a breath or two before we act can provide a moment of clarity we need.

– Believe in yourself. We’ve all been imbued with the power to change. And just because we’re in a bad spot now doesn’t mean a better spot isn’t right before us. Often, as they say, it’s darkest before the light.

Final Thought: Being in the right place at the right time is always on the table when it comes to life and the opportunities that unfold before us.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this
and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Whether Forecast

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Whether Forecast

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

The moment had arrived, and Marilyn was feeling uneasy. It was time to move on, but why? Yes, she wanted a better life, and yes, she needed a change and yes, the relationship was exciting, but it meant leaving her old life behind. This would change everything whether she was ready or not. When the door finally opened, she ran.

And more…

There is an old expression, be careful what you wish for, you may just get it. The reason this idiom has lasted so long is because it’s essentially true. In fact, the original saying is very old and comes from Aesop’s Fables: “Be Careful What You Wish For, Lest it Come True!” If we apply this to Marilyn’s story it seems like her wishes were all in alignment for her, but the price might just be too high, so she ran. The point is that all change has its implications and when we let our dreams lead the way they can sometimes take us to unfamiliar and uncomfortable moments. And when they do, it’s up to us to decide whether to accept the price or not.

Whenever the word “whether” gets into the conversation, there are usually some alternatives and choices involved. Whether sets the stage for choosing and sometimes those choices can be painful, or joyful, depending on whether we like the choice or not. The trick to having dreams and bringing them to life is to create dreams that accommodate what is most important to us. Actually, any really good wish should include some important components that we deem necessary for our happiness. Remember that our part in bringing our thoughts and ideas to life is often rather small. We just have to be clear about what we really want, move toward it, and the universe will conspire on our behalf to deliver it.

Marilyn while in the midst of stormy “whether”, experiencing her “either/or” mindset, felt forced to choose the past over the future. But it doesn’t have to be that way; both are possible. When we dream with a mindset that already includes what currently makes us happy, we are already winning, and so we might as well wish for EVERYTHING we want, whether we need it or not.

Final thought: Whatever we think, we can bring to life. This includes dreams that add to the life we already have. Think BIG. Live BIG, makes for a hopeful forecast.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com

Momentum Builder

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Momentum Builder

A Sixty-Word Short Story*:

Halfway through the fourth quarter, coach Kyle could see his team was struggling. Their body language was telling him that they needed a mental boost. Coach called timeout, huddled his team together, and said nothing. The players stood waiting for his instructions, but none came. When the whistle blew, he said. You know what you have to do; do it.

And more…

Momentum is a real thing. It’s an energy force and it’s easy to recognize when we see it in action. There are millions of ways that momentum can emerge and change the destinies of the teams we cheer for and against, the relationships we begin and unwind, and the speed in which we move or don’t move toward our dreams. So how does this process work? What can spark a change in momentum and the force with which we move toward or away from our desires? What is the common denominator for gaining or losing traction, for starting or waiting, for rising or falling? The short answer is…. wait for it…, wait for it …., time’s up.

If you guessed that it’s different for everyone, you’d be right. Coach knew this, so rather than try to inspire with a motivating pep talk, he merely opened the door and let each player decide for themselves what needed to be done – what they needed to do. Coach instinctively understood that the power of momentum is sparked from the inside. It’s not what we observe or see or touch, but rather how we feel about whatever it is that requires some action on our part. It’s the answer to the question: What needs to jumpstart our internal game clock to get us off of our butts and into the game of life?

When we create lists of things to be done, be it household chores, friends to call or visit, books to start or finish or bucket list items to tackle and enjoy we’re halfway there because we’ve at least identified the goal. The hard part is finding the time, the energy and motivation to begin the process. This is where momentum can be our friend. By taking even the slightest step in the direction of the goal, we activate the law of momentum. One step, even a baby step, begins to unleash the power provided by a willing Universe to move us ever closer to whatever dream we seek while dismantling whatever inertia that has been holding us back. It works every time, and we know it’s working because it feels like magic. And that’s because it is.

Final thought: “Every journey begins with the first step” is the first sentence in the operations manual of life.

* The Premise: Always 60 words. No more. No Less. For more stories like this and information about my books, please visit www.szenzone.com