we had a really good rehearsal yesterday everybody seemed to know what they were
everybody seemed to know what they were
everybody seemed to know what they were doing
doing
doing I had practiced and practiced and I got
I had practiced and practiced and I got
I had practiced and practiced and I got up here and I mumbled two or three lines
up here and I mumbled two or three lines
up here and I mumbled two or three lines of what I had prepared and then I went
of what I had prepared and then I went
of what I had prepared and then I went blank so after thinking about it for a
blank so after thinking about it for a
blank so after thinking about it for a minute I had this brainstorm
minute I had this brainstorm
minute I had this brainstorm I’ll just improvise and I got about five
I’ll just improvise and I got about five
I’ll just improvise and I got about five sentences into that so I says well the
sentences into that so I says well the
sentences into that so I says well the poor third choice is to read what I put
poor third choice is to read what I put
poor third choice is to read what I put together
together
together so here it is hi I’d like to talk to you
so here it is hi I’d like to talk to you
so here it is hi I’d like to talk to you today about gratitude my first 25 years
today about gratitude my first 25 years
today about gratitude my first 25 years I thought anger and depression was as
I thought anger and depression was as
I thought anger and depression was as natural as being cold or hungry my
natural as being cold or hungry my
natural as being cold or hungry my strategy for avoiding anger was don’t
strategy for avoiding anger was don’t
strategy for avoiding anger was don’t drive during rush hour avoid my
drive during rush hour avoid my
drive during rush hour avoid my mother-in-law and drink a lot of beer
mother-in-law and drink a lot of beer
mother-in-law and drink a lot of beer around my 25th birthday I had the good
around my 25th birthday I had the good
around my 25th birthday I had the good fortune to read Marcus Aurelius as
fortune to read Marcus Aurelius as
fortune to read Marcus Aurelius as meditations
meditations
meditations nothing happened well a lot of things
nothing happened well a lot of things
nothing happened well a lot of things happen but it was very subtle
happen but it was very subtle
happen but it was very subtle Marcus thought me that I might be able
Marcus thought me that I might be able
Marcus thought me that I might be able to learn how to get stuck in traffic
to learn how to get stuck in traffic
to learn how to get stuck in traffic without beating on a steering wheel and
without beating on a steering wheel and
without beating on a steering wheel and making a lot of unpleasant noises living
making a lot of unpleasant noises living
making a lot of unpleasant noises living mindfully is not a decision it’s a
mindfully is not a decision it’s a
mindfully is not a decision it’s a practice over the last 50 years I’ve
practice over the last 50 years I’ve
practice over the last 50 years I’ve developed some very supportive habits
developed some very supportive habits
developed some very supportive habits just about every day I study meditate
just about every day I study meditate
just about every day I study meditate read and act exercise also healthy food
read and act exercise also healthy food
read and act exercise also healthy food and interesting activities or help but
and interesting activities or help but
and interesting activities or help but far and away the most powerful tool I
far and away the most powerful tool I
far and away the most powerful tool I found was gratitude we react to our
found was gratitude we react to our
found was gratitude we react to our perception of things nothing is all dead
perception of things nothing is all dead
perception of things nothing is all dead sort through whatever’s going on and
sort through whatever’s going on and
sort through whatever’s going on and find something to be grateful for my
find something to be grateful for my
find something to be grateful for my grandfather had never had a tractor he
grandfather had never had a tractor he
grandfather had never had a tractor he hauled milk into the creamery and
hauled milk into the creamery and
hauled milk into the creamery and scanned Eva’s with a horse and buggy a
scanned Eva’s with a horse and buggy a
scanned Eva’s with a horse and buggy a horse and wagon and he didn’t even have
horse and wagon and he didn’t even have
horse and wagon and he didn’t even have lights till after 1939 when I was born
lights till after 1939 when I was born
lights till after 1939 when I was born the world has changed more in my
the world has changed more in my
the world has changed more in my lifetime than it did since the dawn of
lifetime than it did since the dawn of
lifetime than it did since the dawn of Agriculture ten thousand years ago
Agriculture ten thousand years ago
Agriculture ten thousand years ago we now live better than the kings in
we now live better than the kings in
we now live better than the kings in royalties in all of history but still
royalties in all of history but still
royalties in all of history but still over three billion people live in this
over three billion people live in this
over three billion people live in this world on less than two dollars and fifty
world on less than two dollars and fifty
world on less than two dollars and fifty cents a day
cents a day
cents a day here we are indoor plumbing electricity
here we are indoor plumbing electricity
here we are indoor plumbing electricity radios televisions computerized
radios televisions computerized
radios televisions computerized telephones in every Park almost every
telephones in every Park almost every
telephones in every Park almost every pocket in the last hundred years the
pocket in the last hundred years the
pocket in the last hundred years the life expectancy in the America has gone
life expectancy in the America has gone
life expectancy in the America has gone up by fifty percent that’s for both men
up by fifty percent that’s for both men
up by fifty percent that’s for both men and women by any by almost any measure
and women by any by almost any measure
and women by any by almost any measure we have more to be grateful for than any
we have more to be grateful for than any
we have more to be grateful for than any other generation in history it’s been
other generation in history it’s been
other generation in history it’s been the work of a lifetime training myself
the work of a lifetime training myself
the work of a lifetime training myself to remember that the instant my thought
to remember that the instant my thought
to remember that the instant my thought goes to poor me or why now or any other
goes to poor me or why now or any other
goes to poor me or why now or any other disharmonious thought I try to remember
disharmonious thought I try to remember
disharmonious thought I try to remember to look for a positive aspect of
to look for a positive aspect of
to look for a positive aspect of whatever’s going on turn on to it to
whatever’s going on turn on to it to
whatever’s going on turn on to it to turn on to some kind of grata or turn on
turn on to some kind of grata or turn on
turn on to some kind of grata or turn on to some kind of a gratitude grant thanks
to some kind of a gratitude grant thanks
to some kind of a gratitude grant thanks for my wife my kids my dog your cat
for my wife my kids my dog your cat
for my wife my kids my dog your cat extra money etc it’s really helpful to
extra money etc it’s really helpful to
extra money etc it’s really helpful to make this shift as quickly as possible
make this shift as quickly as possible
make this shift as quickly as possible creating gratitude is a skill like any
creating gratitude is a skill like any
creating gratitude is a skill like any skill practice brings improvement
skill practice brings improvement
skill practice brings improvement another way to look at difficulties and
another way to look at difficulties and
another way to look at difficulties and inconvenience is opportunity now I can
inconvenience is opportunity now I can
inconvenience is opportunity now I can practice my gratitude skills right here
practice my gratitude skills right here
practice my gratitude skills right here in this incident in this instant rough
in this incident in this instant rough
in this incident in this instant rough seas make strong sailors I can practice
seas make strong sailors I can practice
seas make strong sailors I can practice the piano whenever I have a keyboard but
the piano whenever I have a keyboard but
the piano whenever I have a keyboard but the only time I can practice creating
the only time I can practice creating
the only time I can practice creating gratitude under stress is when
gratitude under stress is when
gratitude under stress is when everything is wrong nothing ain’t right
everything is wrong nothing ain’t right
everything is wrong nothing ain’t right it’s a dynamic asset like running a
it’s a dynamic asset like running a
it’s a dynamic asset like running a six-minute mile if you don’t use it
six-minute mile if you don’t use it
six-minute mile if you don’t use it pretty soon you’re gonna lose it that’s
pretty soon you’re gonna lose it that’s
pretty soon you’re gonna lose it that’s why it’s important to be involved with
why it’s important to be involved with
why it’s important to be involved with others doing things that are sometimes
others doing things that are sometimes
others doing things that are sometimes very unpleasant the key ingredient is
very unpleasant the key ingredient is
very unpleasant the key ingredient is remembering this impatience or annoyance
remembering this impatience or annoyance
remembering this impatience or annoyance is a signal another opportunity to
is a signal another opportunity to
is a signal another opportunity to practice gratitude mild impatience can
practice gratitude mild impatience can
practice gratitude mild impatience can be transformed into a
be transformed into a
be transformed into a reflection on the brevity of life and
reflection on the brevity of life and
reflection on the brevity of life and what a foolish waste of time it is to be
what a foolish waste of time it is to be
what a foolish waste of time it is to be tense create the habit of recognizing
tense create the habit of recognizing
tense create the habit of recognizing disturbance as opportunity not a
disturbance as opportunity not a
disturbance as opportunity not a difficulty to get away from but a chance
difficulty to get away from but a chance
difficulty to get away from but a chance to grow and get resilient start a
to grow and get resilient start a
to grow and get resilient start a gratitude journal talk about it with
gratitude journal talk about it with
gratitude journal talk about it with your friends and family put up be
your friends and family put up be
your friends and family put up be grateful signs around your home and at
grateful signs around your home and at
grateful signs around your home and at work and your workplace in addition to
work and your workplace in addition to
work and your workplace in addition to gratitude I also try to reflect on how
gratitude I also try to reflect on how
gratitude I also try to reflect on how it would how would have acted 40 years
it would how would have acted 40 years
it would how would have acted 40 years ago last week I was almost late for a
ago last week I was almost late for a
ago last week I was almost late for a meeting and I couldn’t find my cell
meeting and I couldn’t find my cell
meeting and I couldn’t find my cell phone I left out loud when I thought
phone I left out loud when I thought
phone I left out loud when I thought about what a freak show that would have
about what a freak show that would have
about what a freak show that would have been young Dean kicking chairs and
been young Dean kicking chairs and
been young Dean kicking chairs and muttering about all his miseries which
muttering about all his miseries which
muttering about all his miseries which was a typical way I handled unpleasant
was a typical way I handled unpleasant
was a typical way I handled unpleasant situations was very unpleasant now I
situations was very unpleasant now I
situations was very unpleasant now I find it amusing to reflect now I find it
find it amusing to reflect now I find it
find it amusing to reflect now I find it amusing to reflect on Mahatma Gandhi
amusing to reflect on Mahatma Gandhi
amusing to reflect on Mahatma Gandhi said your beliefs become your thoughts
said your beliefs become your thoughts
said your beliefs become your thoughts your thoughts become your words your
your thoughts become your words your
your thoughts become your words your words become your actions your actions
words become your actions your actions
words become your actions your actions become your habits your habits become
become your habits your habits become
become your habits your habits become your values and your values become your
your values and your values become your
your values and your values become your destiny we can materially change our
destiny we can materially change our
destiny we can materially change our biology our biology with our thoughts
biology our biology with our thoughts
biology our biology with our thoughts it’s easy to see that when you’re
it’s easy to see that when you’re
it’s easy to see that when you’re startled by a lion but when we create an
startled by a lion but when we create an
startled by a lion but when we create an experience of impatience or annoyance we
experience of impatience or annoyance we
experience of impatience or annoyance we set off the same alarm bell but not
set off the same alarm bell but not
set off the same alarm bell but not quite as loud this low level stress
quite as loud this low level stress
quite as loud this low level stress takes its toll on our health and our
takes its toll on our health and our
takes its toll on our health and our happiness every single perception has an
happiness every single perception has an
happiness every single perception has an Associated biological impact scared out
Associated biological impact scared out
Associated biological impact scared out of my wits that gave me goosebumps the
of my wits that gave me goosebumps the
of my wits that gave me goosebumps the hair on my neck bristle anger fear and
hair on my neck bristle anger fear and
hair on my neck bristle anger fear and impatience wear us down and use up our
impatience wear us down and use up our
impatience wear us down and use up our lifeforce joy happiness and delight
lifeforce joy happiness and delight
lifeforce joy happiness and delight build us up and create energy
build us up and create energy
build us up and create energy I would guess I would guess that
I would guess I would guess that
I would guess I would guess that everyone in this room has been stressed
everyone in this room has been stressed
everyone in this room has been stressed or impatient in the last week or two
or impatient in the last week or two
or impatient in the last week or two that’s a small thing right just being
that’s a small thing right just being
that’s a small thing right just being just part of being human well it’s a
just part of being human well it’s a
just part of being human well it’s a very common thing but I’m not so sure
very common thing but I’m not so sure
very common thing but I’m not so sure it’s small we are an accumulation of
it’s small we are an accumulation of
it’s small we are an accumulation of thousands of small
thousands of small
thousands of small decisions and reactions the key
decisions and reactions the key
decisions and reactions the key ingredient is remembering this
ingredient is remembering this
ingredient is remembering this impatience or annoyance as a signal one
impatience or annoyance as a signal one
impatience or annoyance as a signal one more opportunity to practice gratitude
more opportunity to practice gratitude
more opportunity to practice gratitude and preparing for this book I watched
and preparing for this book I watched
and preparing for this book I watched some videos on mind over matter
some videos on mind over matter
some videos on mind over matter Amy Cuddy’s TED talk fake it till you
Amy Cuddy’s TED talk fake it till you
Amy Cuddy’s TED talk fake it till you become it has a very powerful message
become it has a very powerful message
become it has a very powerful message fake it until you become it practicing
fake it until you become it practicing
fake it until you become it practicing may seem difficult at first but keep at
may seem difficult at first but keep at
may seem difficult at first but keep at it eventually it will become easy being
it eventually it will become easy being
it eventually it will become easy being grateful will become a way of life for
grateful will become a way of life for
grateful will become a way of life for years Tony Robbins has been running
years Tony Robbins has been running
years Tony Robbins has been running seminars that include walking barefoot
seminars that include walking barefoot
seminars that include walking barefoot from 15 feet of red red-hot coals at one
from 15 feet of red red-hot coals at one
from 15 feet of red red-hot coals at one seminar he psyched up a really skeptical
seminar he psyched up a really skeptical
seminar he psyched up a really skeptical Oprah Winfrey and he was oh oh oh brah
Oprah Winfrey and he was oh oh oh brah
Oprah Winfrey and he was oh oh oh brah Oh brah and she was looking like a
Oh brah and she was looking like a
Oh brah and she was looking like a scared like a deer in the headlights and
scared like a deer in the headlights and
scared like a deer in the headlights and then she started Oprah and then she
then she started Oprah and then she
then she started Oprah and then she walked 15 feet through glowing coals I
walked 15 feet through glowing coals I
walked 15 feet through glowing coals I mean he could see her feet stepping on
mean he could see her feet stepping on
mean he could see her feet stepping on these rocks think about the implications
these rocks think about the implications
these rocks think about the implications of that thousands of people have created
of that thousands of people have created
of that thousands of people have created a mine state so powerful they can walk
a mine state so powerful they can walk
a mine state so powerful they can walk barefoot through glowing embers without
barefoot through glowing embers without
barefoot through glowing embers without getting burned and I get this really big
getting burned and I get this really big
getting burned and I get this really big I get this really big attitude when I
I get this really big attitude when I
I get this really big attitude when I come into the kitchen and the cat
come into the kitchen and the cat
come into the kitchen and the cat sitting on the cutting board chewing
sitting on the cutting board chewing
sitting on the cutting board chewing away at the chicken I’m preparing for
away at the chicken I’m preparing for
away at the chicken I’m preparing for dinner
dinner
dinner it was my carelessness not – it was my
it was my carelessness not – it was my
it was my carelessness not – it was my carelessness that allowed this situation
carelessness that allowed this situation
carelessness that allowed this situation what should I do blame myself blame the
what should I do blame myself blame the
what should I do blame myself blame the cat or give him a piece of chicken and
cat or give him a piece of chicken and
cat or give him a piece of chicken and laugh about my latest but not less
laugh about my latest but not less
laugh about my latest but not less stupidity in 2001
stupidity in 2001
stupidity in 2001 professor Irving curse hadn’t had to
professor Irving curse hadn’t had to
professor Irving curse hadn’t had to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to
invoke the Freedom of Information Act to
invoke the Freedom of Information Act to get the Food and Drug Administration to
get the Food and Drug Administration to
get the Food and Drug Administration to release the results of a group of drug
release the results of a group of drug
release the results of a group of drug trials the data showed that in more than
trials the data showed that in more than
trials the data showed that in more than half of the critical trials of the six
half of the critical trials of the six
half of the critical trials of the six leading antidepressant drugs
leading antidepressant drugs
leading antidepressant drugs did not outperform the placebos what an
did not outperform the placebos what an
did not outperform the placebos what an incredible demonstration the power of
incredible demonstration the power of
incredible demonstration the power of our thoughts to alter our biology we can
our thoughts to alter our biology we can
our thoughts to alter our biology we can create or eliminate disease with our
create or eliminate disease with our
create or eliminate disease with our minds many times I have read if you
minds many times I have read if you
minds many times I have read if you really want to learn something teach it
really want to learn something teach it
really want to learn something teach it over the last few months as I thought
over the last few months as I thought
over the last few months as I thought about today’s presentation I became a
about today’s presentation I became a
about today’s presentation I became a lot more aware of how often I allowed
lot more aware of how often I allowed
lot more aware of how often I allowed low level impatience and displeasure a
low level impatience and displeasure a
low level impatience and displeasure a voice in my head said if you want to
voice in my head said if you want to
voice in my head said if you want to teach about gratitude if you want to
teach about gratitude if you want to
teach about gratitude if you want to preach about gratitude you better really
preach about gratitude you better really
preach about gratitude you better really practice it and I have and I’ve seen a
practice it and I have and I’ve seen a
practice it and I have and I’ve seen a difference Napoleon Hill said every
difference Napoleon Hill said every
difference Napoleon Hill said every adversity has within it the seeds of an
adversity has within it the seeds of an
adversity has within it the seeds of an equal or greater advantage I’d like to
equal or greater advantage I’d like to
equal or greater advantage I’d like to encourage you to seek out the good in
encourage you to seek out the good in
encourage you to seek out the good in every situation you find yourself and
every situation you find yourself and
every situation you find yourself and practice being grateful it can really
practice being grateful it can really
practice being grateful it can really enhance your life thank you so that was
enhance your life thank you so that was
enhance your life thank you so that was the thing that took me two months and
the thing that took me two months and
the thing that took me two months and change and change and we changed it over
change and change and we changed it over
change and change and we changed it over change and everything else when I left
change and everything else when I left
change and everything else when I left here after this rehearsal I can’t even
here after this rehearsal I can’t even
here after this rehearsal I can’t even call it that on the way home I was this
call it that on the way home I was this
call it that on the way home I was this resolution gonna make up these cue cards
resolution gonna make up these cue cards
resolution gonna make up these cue cards like bill had he did such a great job
like bill had he did such a great job
like bill had he did such a great job all I have to do I had these cards and
all I have to do I had these cards and
all I have to do I had these cards and it’ll really go great and I wouldn’t
it’ll really go great and I wouldn’t
it’ll really go great and I wouldn’t have to think and I did that and I
have to think and I did that and I
have to think and I did that and I worked on that and by about if there
worked on that and by about if there
worked on that and by about if there were beard going to bed he got up early
were beard going to bed he got up early
were beard going to bed he got up early and I was taking a shower
and I was taking a shower
and I was taking a shower I just realized that’s not gonna happen
I just realized that’s not gonna happen
I just realized that’s not gonna happen wherever that blank was it’s still there
wherever that blank was it’s still there
wherever that blank was it’s still there so I figured well I got a couple hours
so I figured well I got a couple hours
so I figured well I got a couple hours to kill alright something else
to kill alright something else
to kill alright something else this is using gratitude skillfully this
this is using gratitude skillfully this
this is using gratitude skillfully this is in some kind of starry-eyed panacea
is in some kind of starry-eyed panacea
is in some kind of starry-eyed panacea that says everything is wonderful the
that says everything is wonderful the
that says everything is wonderful the world’s a messy place full of some full
world’s a messy place full of some full
world’s a messy place full of some full of surprises but we can learn how to
of surprises but we can learn how to
of surprises but we can learn how to skillfully navigate this unpredictable
skillfully navigate this unpredictable
skillfully navigate this unpredictable river of time if we we find ourselves in
river of time if we we find ourselves in
river of time if we we find ourselves in it doesn’t take knowledge fitness or
it doesn’t take knowledge fitness or
it doesn’t take knowledge fitness or wealth just be grateful
wealth just be grateful
wealth just be grateful that’s a really big just sort through
that’s a really big just sort through
that’s a really big just sort through whatever’s going on and find something
whatever’s going on and find something
whatever’s going on and find something to be grateful for if you can’t find
to be grateful for if you can’t find
to be grateful for if you can’t find something else would be grateful for so
something else would be grateful for so
something else would be grateful for so much of the unpleasantness we experience
much of the unpleasantness we experience
much of the unpleasantness we experience is has its roots in attention take a
is has its roots in attention take a
is has its roots in attention take a deep breath put this occurrence in a
deep breath put this occurrence in a
deep breath put this occurrence in a realistic perspective it’s not easy but
realistic perspective it’s not easy but
realistic perspective it’s not easy but it’s simple come into the present come
it’s simple come into the present come
it’s simple come into the present come into the present moment and be grateful
into the present moment and be grateful
into the present moment and be grateful most days over the past 50 years I have
most days over the past 50 years I have
most days over the past 50 years I have read the few a few passages from markers
read the few a few passages from markers
read the few a few passages from markers Marcus Aurelius meditations so I’ve been
Marcus Aurelius meditations so I’ve been
Marcus Aurelius meditations so I’ve been thinking about this for a long time we
thinking about this for a long time we
thinking about this for a long time we have this five-month old cat that moved
have this five-month old cat that moved
have this five-month old cat that moved in with us in June so about 6 o’clock
in with us in June so about 6 o’clock
in with us in June so about 6 o’clock this morning I’m writing and he’s laying
this morning I’m writing and he’s laying
this morning I’m writing and he’s laying on my lap purring the room is warm the
on my lap purring the room is warm the
on my lap purring the room is warm the coffee’s hot
coffee’s hot
coffee’s hot God’s in his heaven all as well then he
God’s in his heaven all as well then he
God’s in his heaven all as well then he rolls over and bites me I grit my teeth
rolls over and bites me I grit my teeth
rolls over and bites me I grit my teeth grab his cute little head fully
grab his cute little head fully
grab his cute little head fully intending to snap his neck and flip him
intending to snap his neck and flip him
intending to snap his neck and flip him across the room and then I remember I
across the room and then I remember I
across the room and then I remember I love him and he’s only being playful
love him and he’s only being playful
love him and he’s only being playful this whole little drama took place in a
this whole little drama took place in a
this whole little drama took place in a microsecond it was way less than half a
microsecond it was way less than half a
microsecond it was way less than half a second
gratitude is a skill a skillful a
gratitude is a skill a skillful a skilful maneuver this is the opportunity
skilful maneuver this is the opportunity
skilful maneuver this is the opportunity and the challenge of using gratitude as
and the challenge of using gratitude as
and the challenge of using gratitude as a skillfully as a skillful Manute to
a skillfully as a skillful Manute to
a skillfully as a skillful Manute to maneuver our way through this adventure
maneuver our way through this adventure
maneuver our way through this adventure of life here we are now something will
of life here we are now something will
of life here we are now something will happen next take the time and put any
happen next take the time and put any
happen next take the time and put any effort to become resilient use gratitude
effort to become resilient use gratitude
effort to become resilient use gratitude to skillfully manage the next thing life
to skillfully manage the next thing life
to skillfully manage the next thing life is good
is good
is good make the most of it thank you
make the most of it thank you
make the most of it thank you [Applause]
Thank You Dean so we need a minute or so
Thank You Dean so we need a minute or so for a mic change and then we’ll be out
for a mic change and then we’ll be out
for a mic change and then we’ll be out here with Sarah Sarah Albert and soils
here with Sarah Sarah Albert and soils
here with Sarah Sarah Albert and soils Andy
”
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