MHSBaccalaureate

Ceremony 

Diana GardnerJune 5, 2014

Today’s Talk

Bible Verse

Lessons Learned

Today’s Talk

Philippians 4:8  

“ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”   

In Other Words…

Dwell on the Positive

And this will bring you JOY.

  

 

Why ? Research SAYS

By studying the personalities of identical twins they've found that about 50 percent of our happiness -- or unhappiness -- can be traced to our genes.40 percent we can control with our daily thoughts and actions 10 percent is related to our life circumstances, such as where we live, how much money we have, our marital status, or looks

Think About That!

40 percent of our happiness  "is left for the intentional activities that we can choose to engage in -- the things that we do and think every day of our lives.”

Back to the Bible Philippians 4:8  

“ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”   

You can TAKE ACTION to change the way you feel, regardless of your life circumstances.

HOW do we Do This? What ARE those Intentional Activities?

Guess what’s written in the notes you took four years ago?

Some Words to Live By…

The Last Lecture (Oprah)

The Last Lecture Notes

Decide if you’re Tigger or Eeyore

***HAVE FUN!!! Decide early on if you are enthusiastic, energetic, curious, optimistic and have fun.

Never underestimate the importance of fun.  Choose to have fun.  Have fun while learning something hard.  Randy says, “I don’t know how to not have fun. I’m dying soon and I’m choosing to have fun today, tomorrow, and every other day I have left.”

@1000awesome

Whatever is TRUE: AttitudeBy dwelling on what he called “awesome things” he put himself in a better mood. Sometimes it's easy to forget the things that make us smile. Sometimes it's tempting to feel the world is falling apart. But awesome things are all around us:

•Hitting a bunch of green lights in a row on the Bypass•Breadstick Tuesday (well, it used to be that way)•Waking up and realizing it's Saturday•Being the first table called up to the dinner buffet at a wedding•When the cashier opens a new lane at the grocery store

@1000awesome

Whatever is TRUE:  Attitude

Having a great attitude is a choice, in spite of a bad day or situation, it’s a choice to have faith that “this too shall pass.”

THERE ARE TIMES… Life is HARD.

 

You can’t change the cards that are dealt, just the way you play the hand.

Whatever is Noble, Right…

TIME - Are you spending your time on the right things?

 Randy said, “The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things?  Because time is all you have.”

Whatever is Noble, Right…

Put time into people.  Put the phones down. If you’re watching TV with your family or friends, put the phones down - be engaged with THAT moment. At the graduation parties - don’t be sitting around playing candy crush - that’s not what you’ll remember.

Stay connected with people. That takes time and effort but technology makes that more possible. Your parents need to hear from you. They are probably paying for your phones.  Pick up when they call.

Research Fact: Beware of Social Media ABC news just reported “Everyday Facebook use leads to declines in subjective well-being, both how happy you feel moment to moment and how satisfied you feel with your life," says Ethan Kross, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Michigan.

 Studies show that higher rates of Facebook lead to an overall decline in happiness amongst young adults.

Whatever is Noble, Right…AWARENESS. This includes being in the moment. Giving full attention to whatever is happening. 

Start noticing those things  - those 1000 awesome thing.

That moment coming up this Sunday when you are told to lift your tassel…Savor it.

*Treasure the moments you are about to have with friends and family who want to celebrate you.

Never Lose the Child-like Wonder

Practice Gratitude

***Research shows if you actually list one thing you are grateful for every night for three weeks, the chemistry of your brain literally changes to a ‘happier’ state equivalent to taking an antidepressant.

Show Gratitude The “Thank You” Note – You’ll have plenty of opportunities coming up to practice showing gratitude. Instead of thinking of the thank you’s as a chore, be thankful you have an occasion to write one.

Think about the people in your life who love and support you.  Count them as blessings. Thank them for what they’ve meant in your life.  

Whatever is right…

Whatever is Noble, Right…

AUTHENTICY. Live with Integrity.

-Tell the truth -Do the RIGHT thing - it will help you sleep at night. -Apologize (A good apology has 3 parts)•I’m sorry, •It was my fault•How do I make it right - (most skip that part)

Whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.”

Brick walls are there for a reason: they let us prove how badly we want things.

Don’t complain; just work harder.

Other Notes Be good at something: it makes you

valuable

Work hard … Be prepared: “luck” is where preparation meets opportunity

Find the best in everybody; no matter how you have to wait for them to show it

Other Notes

Loyalty is a two-way street

Ladies: When it comes to men who are romantically interested in you.  Completely ignore everything they say and pay attention to everything they do.

Other Notes

When you don’t get what you want, you learn from that experience.

Always Help Others Get a feedback loop; then listen to

it.

My Own Little Gems Be the bigger person (that’s hard sometimes)

My Own Little Gems Be the Light – We Have Enough Darkness Trust God. Do Your Best to Seek his Plan for

Your Life. Learn to be a Giver, rather than a Taker It’s not enough to be Smart. Have Initiative – Be a self starter and Follow through! Do what you say you are

going to do.

My Own Little Gems Sleep on it (before you send that letter) –

the bigger person probably wouldn’t send the letter.

It’s not enough to be Smart. Never stop Learning! Follow us on

Twitter @giantslibrary

You are Beginning a New Journey.

You are Beginning a New Journey.

"It's not about how to achieve your dreams. It's about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you." Randy Pausch

One More Look

Philippians 4:8  

“ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-

think about such things.”   

A negative mind will never give you a positive life.

The Good News is…

You are already well on your way to doing those things…

or you wouldn’t be here tonight.

…Think about Such ThingsPhilippians 4:8  

“ Finally, brothers, WHATEVER is true, WHATEVER is noble, WHATEVER I s right, WHATEVER is pure, WHATEVER is lovely, WHATEVER is admirable-

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.”   

To Help You Do This

See Bookmark

This weekend…Don’t just go through the motions. Stop and think to yourself, I want to remember THIS moment. And this one…and this one…Choose to find the JoyAnd whenever you are tempted to say ‘Whatever,’

Think of this Verse Congratulations Class of 2014!