Sometimes we get what we need and not what we want..

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday, I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems and be decorated with intricate carvings. Everyone would see my beauty."

The second tree said, "Someday, I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of other world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."

Finally, the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens
and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time, and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. One came to the first tree and said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second tree, one of the other woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree. I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The a second tree was happy, because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened, because it knew that, if it was cut down, its dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need
anything special from my tree, so I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals, placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left
alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one filtered day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth, and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose, and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe.

The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said "Peace," and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets, and the crowd mocked the man who was carrying it.

Finally, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that, when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined.

Currently feeling: grateful

When you're depressed you experience a stream of negative thoughts. Often all you think about is what is wrong in your life, how you're not good enough, what is wrong with you, why things didn't work out for you. Perhaps a recent relationship ended and now all you can think about is that other person and how you may never meet someone again in your life. You may think that you're not worthy, that you will never be successful, that your life is hopeless and that things will never get better.

All those thoughts are negative thoughts - and as you can see - one negative thought, leads to another, then another, then another, until you have a stream of negative thoughts that puts you in a depressive state or causes you to just feel down and out.

Some of you may say: "I can't help it - that's the way I feel."  You only feel that way because you choose to keep those thoughts.

That's right - you choose to keep those thoughts.

So what can you do?

Eliminate those thoughts.
Change those negative thoughts.
Instead of thinking about all that is wrong - focus
on all that is right.
Think about all your positive qualities.
Think about why you can succeed.
Think about why you can meet someone new.
Think about why you can do something.

Focus on what you want to happen.

If your relationship ended - don't waste time and energy trying to get the other person back into your life. They don't want to be there - why would you want someone who doesn't want to be with you.

Focus on what you want - which is to be in a relationship with the right person - who wants to be with you.

If you lost your job - don't focus on getting your old job back. Focus on what you want now - which is to find a new job or find another way to make a living.

When you eliminate negative thoughts and focus on what you want you start to feel better - you begin to end depression, you get out of the dumps and you start moving forward.

Why?

Because your mind and subconscious mind have something new to work on - they have a new challenge and in the process you give them a new direction. Then you start attracting new opportunities and begin creating a new and positive life.

This is the process of eliminating depression. You eliminate depression by eliminating the negative thinking pattern that leads to depression and by
focusing on what you want.

How To Experience Joy and Happiness

Once you've identified and begun eliminating the negative thoughts that lead to your depressive state you can begin letting in joy - you can begin experiencing happiness.

The first step is to put an end to negative talk.

That means no more complaining, no more whining, no more gossip, do not say anything negative about anyone. This may be challenging but instead of negative talk - look
for the positive in every situation and everyone that you encounter.

Next - surround yourself with positive people.

If you have friends that only complain, or whine, and
are constantly negative - invite them home and challenge
them to only be positive. Anybody who insists on being
negative should leave. Think of it as a game - and
the survivor will receive joy and happiness as their reward.

Finally - choose to joyful,choose to be happy, choose to be nice. Smile more, laugh more, go out and act like a child.

Do something fun, engage in activities that are positive, that force you to do something different, that challenge you. Don't be a couch potato - force yourself to get out and be around positive, fun people. Everyday find something that is pleasant - appreciate those who are happy, appreciate all that is good in your life.

Why?

When you do what I've just outlined you push your mind into a new direction. You get your mind to focus on the positive, joyful and happy side of life. When this happens you ignite your subconscious - it's like super-charging your subconscious mind. You jump start it and your subconscious begins moving in a new direction - it now begins creating and attracting situations for you to experience joy and happiness while you create the
life you want.

... I got this from my friend's blog kimmy (miss you kimoi.. hope to see you soon). Bato bato sa langit ang tamaan wag magagalit.. hehehe..

"Kung hindi mo mahal and isang tao, wag ka nang magpakita ng motibo para mahalin ka nya.."

"Lahat naman ng tao sumeseryoso pag tinamaan ng pagmamahal. Yun nga lang, hindi lahat matibay para sa temptasyon."

"Gamitin ang puso para alagaan ang taong malapit sayo. Gamitin ang utak para alagaan ang sarili mo."

"Parang elevator lang yan eh, bakit mo pagsisiksikan ung sarili mo kung walang pwesto para sayo. Eh meron naman hagdan, ayaw mo lang pansinin."

"Kung maghihintay ka nang lalandi sayo, walang mangyayari sa buhay mo.. Dapat lumandi ka din."

"Hiwalayan na kung di ka na masaya. Walang gamot sa tanga kundi pagkukusa."

"Pag hindi ka mahal ng mahal mo wag ka magreklamo. Kasi may mga tao rin na di mo mahal pero mahal ka.. Kaya quits lang."

"Bakit ba ayaw matulog ng mga bata sa tanghali? alam ba nilang pag natuto silang umibig e hindi na sila makakatulog kahit gusto nila?

"Hindi lungkot o takot ang mahirap sa pag-iisa kundi ang pagtanggap na sa bilyon-bilyong tao sa mundo, wala man lang nakipaglaban upang makasama ka."

"Kung nagmahal ka ng taong di dapat at nasaktan ka, wag mong sisihin ang puso mo. Tumitibok lang yan para mag-supply ng dugo sa katawan mo. Ngayon, kung magaling ka sa anatomy at ang sisisihin mo naman ay ang hypothalamus mo na kumokontrol ng emotions mo, mali ka pa rin! Bakit? Utang na loob! Wag mong isisi sa body organs mo ang mga sama ng loob mo sa buhay! Tandaan mo: magiging masaya ka lang kung matututo kang tanggapin na hindi ang puso, utak, atay o bituka mo ang may kasalanan sa lahat ng nangyari sayo, kundi IKAW mismo!"