Live the goodness

Life is difficult when you assume it to be so. Yet you never have to make that assumption.

Life is good when you allow it to be so. And you can always allow it to be.

It is not the situation itself that makes life one way or the other. It is the way you choose to view and to live the situation that makes all the difference.

Make the assumption that your life today is the very best it can possibly be. Then go out and prove that assumption true by the way you live.

Operate from a positive perspective and that will enable you to see the positive possibilities. Focus on visions of goodness and fulfillment, and the most valuable opportunities will fill your awareness.

You are immensely powerful, capable, and creative. See the goodness, be the goodness, live the goodness, and fill your life with the best possibilities.

— Ralph Marston

Goodness in what you have

Happiness is being where you want to be and doing what you want to be doing. As such, happiness requires nothing more than an adjustment in your attitude.

Wherever you may be, can quickly and easily be where you want to be. Whatever you’re doing, can immediately be what you want to be doing.

You’ll never be happy by wishing for what you don’t have. You can always be happy by accepting and seeing the goodness in what you do have.

It’s essential to have dreams and goals for the future, yet your dreams will not make you happy in the present. In fact, it is your happiness that will bring the reality of your dreams into the present.

What you have is what you have, so make the very most of it. Be happy, be thankful, and you’ll be living at your highest level of effectiveness.

See the goodness and the value in your very own experience of here and now. Be happy now, and in your happiness you’ll find and fulfill the best of who you are.

— Ralph Marston

Read more: http://greatday.com/#ixzz1SKmsEG5o

Find your way... a little bit of inspiration to kick off Memorial Day Weekend.

Don’t complain that something is blocking your path. Find a way over it, under it, around it or through.

Just because the work is difficult doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Find a way, and you’ll absolutely make it happen.

You can’t expect to be told exactly what steps will get you where you want to go. Find joy and sweet fulfillment in the fact that it’s up to you to find your own way.
Don’t waste your time crafting elaborate excuses or seeking the pity of others. Invest your precious time in finding a way forward.
You might think it would be nice if someone else were to cater to your every need and whim. Yet what your spirit truly desires is to find its own way, and deep inside you know that.
You were born to find your own unique way through life’s richness of possibilities. Your treasures await, so get going right now.
— Ralph Marston

Around Campus

I procrastinated for my Trends assignment, and ended up taking a bunch of the photos on campus, so I thought I'd share them here. Just people walking around campus in the morning :)












-Olivia

my favorite quote from our founder...

“Find what you love. Do what you love. Your dreams are your road map. Follow them to the top of the mountain. It’s the most amazing view.”

—	Tonian Hohberg, Founder & President of FIDM

there's an end to everything.

About two years ago, I made the decision to attend FIDM. What I can remember thinking then was how exciting and adventurous it would be to finally go to the school of my dreams, study what I love, and do what my heart was called to do. I never thought of actually being done with FIDM so quickly. I had no idea two years could flash by in a blink of an eye. All things I’ve gone through as a student here—lack of financial aid, threats of being kicked out, moving into an apartment with six others to afford rent, sacrificing food money to buy school supplies, dealing with doubts from family, and so many other predicaments—have tremendously strengthened me, emotionally and mentally. And although I struggled through those times, I’ve been blessed to have made it this far and I sincerely cannot be happier. Ask me if I would do it all over again… I would in a heartbeat.

Today, I took a walk through Grand Hope Park and just looking at the school already got me emotional. I don’t feel like I’m ready to leave yet. Of all the stress, frustration, and late-nighters, FIDM also gave me hope, assurance, and joy. It wasn’t always easy trying to make it on your own in the big city—especially when you don’t have anyone—but what I got and what I experienced, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. FIDM gave me a chance at self-discovery. I am much more certain of myself and my passion now than I have ever been.

Now to my loyal readers. I’d like to extend my gratitude to those who’s followed my journey through this blog for the last two years. Your comments, contributions, and questions have made this FIDM life that much more meaningful. Now that I’m winding down my last quarter, I am sad to say that there are only few blog entries left before The FIDM Life comes to a close. Until then, I urge you to think about your own college experience, what makes you happy… and enjoy every moment of it.

Xoxo,

FIDM Blog Girl

Reliable focus

Staying focused is a matter of reminding yourself. Can you find a way to remind yourself, again and again, of why you're doing what you do? Sure you can. There are plenty of ways to direct your attention back to your purpose when you feel it wandering off. The more intensely you can feel that purpose, and the more quickly you can call up that feeling, the more successfully you'll be able to stay focused. So do yourself a favor, and practice. Spend some quiet time, away from the distractions, and enjoy truly feeling the substance of your most treasured desires. As you do, make note of precisely how it feels, to you, to be connected in a positive way with those desires. Feel yourself living and experiencing the richness of life that will come from the fulfillment of your desires. Make that reason, that purpose, a palpable part of who you are. Then, when you return to the world of confusion and distraction, choose to call up those positive feelings. When you wish to improve your focus, learn to be the one who can reliably deliver it.

-- Ralph Marston

Brought to you by The Daily Motivator

words to live by

"I've never had a job. I've always had a passion. The fact of the matter is I have the same passion about business that I had when I started in 1968. And I think that's what it's about. If you can't get up in the morning and be excited about what you're doing then you better figure out something else. So, what's your passion? Stop and think about it."

--Michael Gould, President & CEO of Bloomingdales

"sink or swim"

my instructor said this line in class today and it completely spoke to me. believe it or not, it's not the first time i've heard it. it's the third instructor at fidm to say this. definitely words to live by. especially if you're living this fidm life. trust. short, to the point, and very true. what do they mean by "sink or swim"?

when you first come to fidm, you'll quickly realize just how overwhelming the work load is. first quarter is not too bad, but once those introductory classes are over, your 2nd, 3rd, 4th... and every quarter onward will seem more challenging that you'll feel there's not enough time in the week to finish all the you have to do. where does sinking or swimming come into play?

fidm will teach you all that you need to know -- as far as your specialized major. your ultimate source for knowledge, skills, and industry information surrounds you here at fidm. how you use it is completely up to you. i'm saying all this because there WILL be times when you feel like you don't know or have the answer to. instead of an FML moment, take a 'sink or swim' action. you absolutely will not survive if you don't stick it out! you'll DROWN. seriously -- you'll be thrown in to do things that you may not know how to do at first... but should you give up right away? if you do, you'll sink. if you work hard, fight through it, you'll swim. are you getting my point?

that's all for tonight. xoxo

reflecting on 2009

2009 was a year of growth for me. Some of the happiest, craziest, challenging, and most life-changing events took place this year and it’s hard to imagine how fast it all came and went. I moved to Los Angeles about 16 months ago and during the first 5 months of trying to find a job, I lived off of my college savings. That meant no money to buy clothes, barely enough to buy basic necessities, and very limited money for food. Most of my money went to paying the rent and paying bills. I started to feel so desperate and immensely depressed. I needed help but had no one to turn to. At one moment, I remember thinking, “How am I going to get through this?” I had $47 dollars to my name and rent was due the next month. I couldn’t help but feel like a complete failure. “Why am I here? Did I make the right decision when I gave up everything to come here? Is this dream really worth it? Why do I feel so alone?”

It was a slap of reality in the face, the kind of slap that gave me a chance at self-realization. In one year, I came from a self-entitled mindset, thinking I can conquer the world and do it all to realizing that no, it’s not going to be easy and things aren’t just going to be handed to me. I was challenged and tested and God brought me out of it. The emotional and financial stress came to a halt when I turned it all to my Heavenly Father. There is a God and yes, He is faithful. 2009 gave me a chance to live life differently. It was a year of coming out and growing up. So as I reflect back on 2009, I feel nothing but blessed and optimistic—because 2010 is going to be an amazing one.
But no pressure... ;)

Treasure the experience

Let go of the need to constantly keep score. Create value for its own sake and it will come much more easily and naturally.
There are great possibilities patiently waiting to happen for you. Yet any desire for superiority you may have will keep pushing those possibilities away.
All you could ever hope for is already connected to you. But you cannot see that connection when you're constantly focused on getting more.
Your obsessive attachment to getting the result you seek prevents that result from being fully realized. Put your focus on being instead of getting.
Good things happen as soon as you get past the need for them. Let life flow as it will, and it will flow in great abundance.
Get out of the way of your own authentic fulfillment. Sincerely treasure the experience, and there will be much more to treasure.

-- Ralph Marston

The Unconventional (& Daring) Job Hunt

Jobless university graduate David Rowe wears a sandwich board advertising his search for employment as he walks along Fleet Street in central London.

"Rowe was facing a tough market even before the downturn. Britain has seen explosive growth in the number of university and college students, but there has not necessarily been a comparable rise in graduate-level jobs.
Twenty years ago about 17 percent of 18-30 year-olds were in tertiary education against a figure of 43 percent in 2008, according to the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. The Higher Education Statistics Agency said about 220,000 graduates joined the job market in the 2007-2008 period."

Click here to read the full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090922/lf_nm_life/us_britain_jobseeker

city lights

"Find what you love. Do what you love.
Your dreams are your road map.
Follow them to the top of the mountain.
It's the most amazing view."

fashion awareness

"The smartest thing you can do once you're enrolled in a fashion college (or, ideally, even before you're enrolled) is to throw yourself wholeheartedly into your studies."
-- Fashion TV

So get in the books, go out to the shops, sit and people watch. Read, research, and observe. Know the history, the season, the tastemakers... Discover the it, the now, and the how...THIS IS IT.

TheFIDMLife

Ephesians 2:4-9

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

“The counselor at my high school told me that I won't get very far because I was poor and because I was Black…” Prince G. Daniels, 57, is an African-American destist and minister, who despite his experience with racism at a young age, fought through to become the successful man he is today.

Full bio to come later...

Real people, real stories, real inspirations...

Find your enthusiasm

"Bright, sparkling, delicious enthusiasm will get you going in a powerful, purposeful direction. Enthusiasm will keep you going strong even when nothing seems to be going your way."
- R. Marston

Beyond Distraction

Distractions only have the power that you give them. To avoid being overpowered by distractions, see them for what they are.
What is it that resonates with your passion and fires up your positive enthusiasm? Whatever it is, that's the thing to focus upon.

When something interrupts your focus, don't fight it. Simply notice it, quickly decide whether it is worth any more of your precious attention, and if not, peacefully let it go.
Don't get angry or resentful that the distraction happened, and don't become obsessed with something that really doesn't matter. Just take a deep breath, smile as you remember your purpose, and move on.

You don't have to be dragged this way and that by random events and circumstances. You can easily stay clearly focused on your dreams, your goals and your intentions.
Your thoughts are yours to choose, and your attention is yours to allocate. Decide to give your attention to those things that matter most, and move purposefully ahead no matter what.

-- R. Marston

Why

The way to know how is to know why. The way to find enough motivation, inspiration, commitment and strength is to know why.
Why do you seek what you seek? Why do you desire to reach the goals you have set?
There is a purpose within you that will push you to overcome every obstacle. When you truly feel that your efforts are connected to that purpose, those efforts will surely bring the desired results.
It's easy to imitate the dreams and aspirations of those around you, and to think you want what they want. But remember that you have your very own, unique dreams, and those are the dreams to follow.
Instead of frustration, you can experience joy. Instead of disappointment, you can know fulfillment.
It all comes from truly knowing why. Allow yourself to understand why, and whatever you can imagine will be yours to create.

-- Ralph Marston

rich and powerful

The strongest power has no need to show itself or to prove itself. It is quiet, calm, determined and unshakable.

Boastfulness is the surest sign of weakness and insecurity. True confidence has no need to speak of itself.

Authentic richness is endlessly generous. Anyone who has the need to appear rich suffers from a terribly painful poverty of the spirit.

How do you fill your life with richness and power? Honestly be yourself, and give freely of yourself.

Give up the fantasy of gaining benefit over others, for even if you could get it you would receive no real value from it. Instead, make it your business to promote, encourage, raise up, love and appreciate others at every opportunity.

Pretending to be rich and powerful is agonizing work that incessantly erodes your spirit. Being truly rich and powerful fulfills your deepest longings and brings you fully to life.

-- Ralph Marston (The Daily Motivator)