Many people today are struggling; some are discouraged, and others worry about what the future holds. When the joys in life seem distant, inspiration will help us become renewed. In Opening the Windows Within, author David W. Stanfield explores important aspects in our lives to help us move past our obstacles and difficulties to improve the chances of experiencing a more rewarding and harmonious life. With the emphasis directed toward self-improvement and enhancement, Opening the Windows Within offers glimpses into ourselves by examining characteristics of our being, including consciousness, emotion, and spirituality, and it helps us realign our sense of values and perspective. Stanfield conveys the idea that we need something more to sustain the passion in our lives-beyond the labor of our careers and the toil of daily responsibilities. He encourages us to pursue our interests, ambitions, and dreams because they often provide the enrichment we seek in life. Opening the Windows Within shows that when we elevate the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of our nature to a heightened level of maturity, we are better prepared to face any challenge that comes our way.

Opening the Windows Within

Inspiration and Insights to Elevate Our LivesBy David W. Stanfield

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2010 David W. Stanfield
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-6939-1

Contents

Introduction..................................................ixChapter 1. Lighting the Inner Flame...........................1Life..........................................................1Love..........................................................6Truth.........................................................10Hope..........................................................14Values........................................................18Chapter 2. The Essence of Emotions............................23Emotion.......................................................23Feeling.......................................................28Heart.........................................................32Well-Being....................................................35Energy........................................................41Chapter 3. Self-Identity and Empowerment......................46Learning......................................................46Perspective...................................................51Character.....................................................55Influences....................................................60Desire........................................................64Motivation....................................................67Chapter 4. The Most Magnificent Mind..........................71Thought.......................................................71Consciousness.................................................76Perception....................................................80Mind..........................................................83Intelligence..................................................88Competence....................................................93Chapter 5. Seeking Spiritual Significance.....................96Spirituality..................................................96Spiritual Warmth..............................................103Religious.....................................................105Philosophy....................................................112Reflection....................................................116Chapter 6. The Human Connection...............................121Communication.................................................121Relationships.................................................125Humanity......................................................128Nature........................................................133Patriotism....................................................136Society.......................................................139Afterword.....................................................144Sailing through Life..........................................145Sights and Sounds to Behold...................................146Greater Prosperity in Life....................................147

Chapter One

Lighting the Inner Flame

Life

We have arrived at the nature of who we are through our development during our lifetimes. The blended effect of all our qualities, experiences, and knowledge continues to be enhanced. Being human is a lifetime occupation.

When we have gained a broader perspective about what is most important in life, the small challenges we face along the way will amount to only slight interferences.

Self-reflection is a unique gift to mankind that allows us to see inside ourselves and become in tune with how we think and feel. When we have a better sense about who we are, we will make better decisions as we navigate our journey through life.

We pave the path before us as we set out upon our life's journey. In doing so, we fill many roles, such as surveyor, engineer, laborer, and diplomat. How well we have prepared ourselves will greatly determine how wonderful our journey is destined to be.

We have depended on others before us to hold the torches that light the path for our journey through life. We too must bear the torches for others so that they will avoid stumbling on their own journeys.

We face many obstacles as we make our way through life, but hardly anything we encounter couldn't be improved by having a pure conscience, sincere motives, and a positive outlook.

The fast-paced and busy lives we lead sometimes leave us with little time to contemplate. When we finally slow down, it is often just long enough to catch our breath so that we can keep going again. Wherever we may be in life, we should always allow time to draw upon refreshing and inspiring thoughts so that our lives may be lived more meaningfully and enjoyably.

As we reflect back on our own segment of time at what we have accomplished or what purpose we have served, will we feel fulfilled? Will we have achieved what was intended for us? Now is the time to ask these questions while the rest of our lives still await us.

Life's freedoms are truly experienced when our enthusiasm and aspirations are thriving and we have broken free from the shackles of anguish and discouragement.

We may pause at times in our lives to consider what more we could have done or what minutes we could have spared. Life only yields us so many minutes. When we have a strong devotion, ambitious endeavor, or worthwhile cause to tend to, we will ration our minutes more sparingly.

Every minute saved through focused effort, planning, and efficiency is a minute gained to spend according to our own choice.

Since we all need a sense of direction as we navigate through life, why not use the compass found in compassion?

It is easier to get where we are going in life when we maintain a clear focus, realistic vision, and have a sense of direction.

We must gain control of our better senses; otherwise, we will rely too heavily on our lesser senses while striving to meet life's opportunities and challenges.

When people elevate the emotional, spiritual, and intellectual aspects of their nature to a heightened level of maturity, they are better prepared to face any challenge that comes their way.

How remarkable the design is for each day with enough time provided to accomplish all the necessary labor and tasks that we can fit in and enough time for rest so that we can renew again.

Our lives become more enriched when we maintain balance. Strive every day to live, learn, love, labor, and laugh—and do these leisurely when possible.

A typical rosebush may have ten times as many thorns as it does flowers, but when we observe a rosebush, we usually focus more on the flowers. This is also a wonderful way to view life.

We go through life more graciously when we maintain a warm heart, a cool temper, and turn a cold shoulder toward anger.

The essence of life is ultimately reached when our emotions, senses, thoughts, and feelings have aligned with our spiritual nature and increase our awareness of who we are within.

For life to be fully appreciated, it has to be lived with the richness and fullness of human interaction and emotion.

We are each living through our own segment of time within the timeframe of all human existence. The space that we occupy is merely a speck in the entire universe.

It has been said that idle time is the devil's workshop. Perhaps this is so, but it is also God's workshop. In fact, it is whoever's workshop we decide it should be.

How can we realistically set out to solve the world's problems when many of our problems originate from our own way of thinking?

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