Today marks a milestone on this site – 2000 posts. We are also on a 373 day streak! There is something that gives us cause for optimism. We started this blog in 2012. We reached 1000 posts in 2020. For those we don’t care to read and do math, that makes 8 years to reach 1000 posts. From 2020 to 2023 We have doubled that! It only took us 3 years to reach the second 1000 posts.
We have also increased engagement. We have more views,more comments and more guest posts. It is your ideas and feedback that keep this website exciting. It also helps a great deal if you share this motivation with your friends and neighbors. Help them improve their lives so you will be surrounded by happy, driven people.
With 2000 posts, there may be something you missed. We have shared a lot of great ideas in the past 11 years. I encourage you to take a look back and read, or reread, a lot of the great content here.
Once again, I thank you for being a part of this wonderful journey with me. I look forward to sharing and serving you all for years to come!😃
“Life has no meaning, life is an opportunity to create a meaning.” That is powerful stuff. Have you ever asked yourself, “What is it all for?” I am sure at some point in our lives, we have all asked that question. The ironic part is most of the time we ask it of others. Whether that be directly, as in asking a person what the meaning of life is, or searching for meaning in books, seminars and even blog posts and YouTube videos. The truth is the meaning of life is whatever we decide to make it.
That may seem a little scary to some of us. You mean there is no right answer written down somewhere? No book that will provide us the answers? No. What the meaning of our life is depends on what we decide we want it to be. Once we make that decision, there is a wealth of information to assist us in our endeavors. The secret is to not only decide on an empowering meaning for our life, but one that we are committed to emotionally.
In my own life, I decided the meaning of my life was to help others live a more positive and rewarding life using the tools and strategies I learned and have continued to learn. I do that by not only posting this blogs, but with my books, my YouTube videos and my Living the Dream with Neil Panosian podcast. The meaning of your life may be to bring joy and comfort to people through the creation of a special cake. It may be to pass along the healing power of creating art. It could be to be a good example to your children. It could be to correct social injustice. None of these are more noble than any other. In order to live a great life, you do not have to do great things, you just have to do everything with a great love.
There are many times when I hear such things as “Monday is hard.” Yes, it sure is. Having to leave one’s family and go to work can be a difficult decision. It can be a struggle. Especially if the weather is poor and we have not had enough sleep. How can we stay dedicated to our goals when it would be a lot easier to call in to work and stay in bed? How can we stay committed to our fitness goals when it is so easier to just eat that delicious pizza or tacos? We could do both, and anything else we are trying to accomplish by understanding one principle.
Not to ruin it for you, but the answer is in the quote from Jim Rohn up above. Hard work is well, by definition, hard. Saying no to staying in bed and sleeping is hard. Do you know what else is hard? Being fired for not working hard or not showing up. That is hard. Not having enough money to pay our bills is hard. Being embarrassed to seek help from family and friends just to get by. That’s hard. Having people think we are a loser because we can’t get out of bed. Thinking the same thing about ourselves. Those are hard.
Same holds true in our diet and fitness realm. Saying no to the free doughnuts in the breakroom, that is hard. Going to the gym in freezing weather when we could be tucked under the blanket? Quite hard. Doing it when you have a beautiful blonde to snuggle up to? Very hard. Trust me on that one. Do you know what else is hard? Having elevated blood sugar and cholesterol. Being at greater risk for heart attack and death. That is hard. Having more aches and pains and running out of breath. Hard. Possibly leaving your loved ones behind at an early age? That is not only hard for you, but for them as well.
We may think staying in bed or eating that doughnut is the ‘easy’ or ‘painless’ solution. It might be at the time. What we must realize is that everything has a cost. What may seem difficult in the moment, the pain of discipline, will make our life easier in the long run. What seems like ‘giving in’ or the easy solution, will cost us much more in the end. That is the pain of regret. As Mr. Rohn pointed out, discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons. Think of what pain you are suffering.
With a website called Secret2anamazinglife, I am asked countless times, “What is the secret to an amazing life?” It is not really one secret. In fact, none of this is secret. A little effort will open up to you a world that contains magic we were previously unaware of. I know this is hard to explain waiting at a red light, in line at a coffee shop and, believe it or not, once while attending to some business in a men’s room. In the world we live in, people want a quick answer. Some ‘magic pill’ that will turn their life around. We have good news and bad news on that subject.
First the bad news. In the big pharma based world we live in, there is no life-transforming pill. At best, there will be one that chemically alters you to be in an emotional state to better approach, or care less, about your problems. Drugs, alcohol and even food can be used to mask and compensate for the pain of life. Very inspiring so far, isn’t it? I told you there was good news. There is one thing that can radically transform your life, and do so quickly. How do I know? It worked in mine. That one thing is gratitude.
I know. I know. You have heard it a million times. Being grateful is the key to success. Oprah says it. Steve Jobs said it. Tony Robbins said it. How can just being thankful for everything you have it life, including the challenges, make such a difference? Look at the first photo in this post. Gratitude can affect many areas of our life. Here is what I am going to tell you about gratitude. Don’t believe me. Here is how I discovered the power of being grateful. I was challenged to do a gratitude journal for 30 days. I accepted the challenge with the intent I would show this person that it would not work for me. By the end of one week I felt something, but I didn’t know what it was. By the end of two weeks I was feeling happier and looking forward to life more, but it could have been a run of good luck. By the end of 30 days I was so happy that I was annoying myself.
What happened when I was in this divine state? I was in a terrible car accident. I went through the windshield and woke up in the hospital. It was as if the universe was either testing my resolve or showing me how powerful this gratitude thing could be. If you want to hear the whole story, I suggest reading my book, A Happy Life for Busy People. To say that being grateful helped me through one of the most trying times in my life would be an understatement.
Don’t take my word for it, or the science that gave us the facts above. Prove it to yourself. I am going to put forth the same challenge that was given to me. Keep a gratitude journal for 30 days. All this means is writing down at least 3 things you are grateful for everyday and why. You can do this in a spiral notebook. You do not have to tell a single soul you are doing it. Be prepared to be asked what changed in you though. By the end of 30 days, if done faithfully, you will know why I consider gratitude the ‘magic pill’ of life transformation. If you want to know more about the power of gratitude exercises, read my book, Living the Dream. I look forward to hearing from all of you who take up this challenge. If you are interested in picking up a copy of any of my books, just click the link below.
A few posts back, I shared a great insight I had received from my new friend and teacher CJ. As an example of how important surrounding yourself with the right people can be, I would like to share another amazing nugget of self-improvement gold I get from him. This tool is only four words long, but can transform your way of thinking and thus, your way of approaching life.
Four words to change your life? Really? Like many of the tools and strategies in my first two books, this one is customizable, but I am going to relay it to you the way CJ told me. He came across this idea of measuring his actions and patterns against four words that represented his values. The four words, or four H words, were honest, hungry, hone able and humble. When a challenge arises, he reviews it through the lens of these four words. Is he being honest? This could be honest with others, but what about being honest with himself? Honest about his motives? Honest about his intentions? Hungry is a good one. Les Brown says hunger is one of the most powerful forces in the human spirit. Napoleon Hill calls it ‘burning desire’, but it amounts to the same thing. You must passionately pursue that which you are chasing. This holds true not only for career and financial goals, but what about your relationships? If you are not continuously hungry for that love between you and your partner, the relationship is vulnerable. Hone-able technically not a word, but being able to hone ourselves and our skills is essential. A closed mind is never open to opportunities. Humble. That word is worth its weight in gold in a society where everyone is looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. Knowing that you do not know it all will allow you to learn more and be open to more.
I challenge you to use these four words this weekend. Ask yourself if you are living up to them in every area of your life. Where you are not, ask yourself how you can improve. Try this for the next 48 hours. Then what? Come up with your own four words. What core values would you like to represent? If you are having a hard time coming up with some, just ask yourself how you would like others to view you. When your name comes up, what would you like them to say? I would love to hear what you come up with.
Here is a story that was relayed to me that I would love to pass on to all of you. It is a prime example where you can go from being a victim, to being a miracle worker. I warn you that doing this is not easy or for the faint of heart. What I can promise you is that it will bring you boundless joy and help transform the world. Does that sound like I might be reaching for hyperbole? Hear my story and decide for yourself.
My friend was working at a dry cleaners. I am sure on an average day most transactions transpired like the picture above. Both parties smiling and things going smoothly. Maybe a lot of them are people complaining about the price of dry cleaning? I really don’t know as I have worked with the public, but never in a dry cleaning concern. What is certain is that if you work with the public for long enough, you are going to have a tough day. It is just such a day that our story takes place on.
An older customer came in looking to get a suit cleaned. “This is a very important suit. I need it cleaned very carefully and back in a timely fashion.” the woman stated. My friend informed her of the charges and the lady paid. My friend prepared the suit to be sent off to be cleaned. He marked it urgent and placed it ahead of the other garments that were to be sent out for the day. The next day he was expecting to see the suit come back. It did not. As expected the lady came it to retrieve her garment. My friend had to apologize and inform the older lady that it had not returned yet. “It is important I get that suit back on time young man.” she asserted once more. My friend promised her he would look into it.
The following day came, but the suit did not. The lady appeared before my friend and inquired about picking up the suit she had paid to get cleaned. When informed that is was not present, she became incensed. My friend told her he would call the location that cleaned the item himself and he could call her with an answer. “I’ll wait.” she informed him, becoming angrier by the minute. My friend picked up the phone and inquired about the nice suit he had sent to get cleaned. “Umm…that one, yeah we lost it.” the voice on the other end of the receiver told him. He glanced up at the elderly woman who was becoming impatient for an answer. “Can you find it?” he implored. “We will look and call you back.” He hung up. “Well, what did they say?” she pressed. He swallowed hard before giving his answer.
When informed the garment had been lost, he had expected her to be upset. What he did not expect was the rage and expletives that followed. She repeated how important this suit was and how she needed it back right away. Just then the phone rang and it was the warehouse. “Yeah, that suit is gone.” He was told unofficially that sometimes nicer items, such as this suit, had a way of disappearing. Could he really tell this lady who was already so upset that someone might have taken it? The man on the other end of the receiver suggested that my friend offer a coupon for the next time she wanted something cleaned. How that would work if you lost the first item is beyond me, but that answer is easy to give when you are not face to face with the customer.
Seeing how upset the woman was, my friend decided to take a different approach. He recalled a saying he once heard, “Hurt people hurt people.” He went over to the woman and said, “Ma’am, I understand you are upset about your suit being lost, and I don’t blame you. However, is everything alright?” Now, after being cussed out and screamed at, would you consider that customer’s feelings? Most of us would have to honestly answer ‘no’. My friend did and this is where the miracle occurred.
After my friend’s question, the woman broke down in tears. Between her sobbing, she explained the suit had belonged to her only son who had just passed away. His funeral was that weekend and she wanted him buried in his finest suit. Soon, my friend’s eyes were also filled with tears. He asked the lady if he could give her a hug. Suddenly, all of the vicious things, and expletive rants made sense. It wasn’t anger over a lost suit. No, it was the pain over the loss of an only son. After she had left, my friend called the owners of the dry cleaner and explained the situation. The contacted the woman. Although they were never able to find the suit, they gave her money to buy the best suit in town for her son as he was laid to rest.
The point of this story is that my friend took the time and effort to discover what the woman was hurting from. Instead of compounding the woman’s grief, he may have very well showed her, through his compassion, that others really do care. Suffering the loss of her only son was a grief he could not take away, but seeing a young man care so much for a stranger that was cursing him out, may have given her a little feeling of hope.
If we understand that it really is hurt people that hurt people, we can go from victim to being someone’s angel in time of need. Is that easy? No. Not taking someone’s insults personally and still showing enough compassion to inquire about their pain can change the world. Not only for them, but for the world at large. How about you? Are you able to brush off a personal attack and consider that person may just be expressing they are hurting? It doesn’t have to be a stranger. Think of how many times this happens in families, at the workplace or even between loving spouses. Understanding their anger may be coming from a place of pain will allow us to heal in a way we could not if we just feel like a victim.
Recently, Margie set up a coffee date with another couple. She has a knack for picking some good people. In the course of a very inspiring conversation, my new friend and teacher, CJ, said something I think will impact us all. What he said was not only profound, but will add to our lives. It is something we should all wake up to that will positively impact our lives.
We were discussing perspective and how it drives performance. He relayed something he had heard that he uses to help keep his life in proper perspective. Enough with the build up. What was it that CJ said that I think will be so impactful for us all? It was this simple question. “If you would only wake up with only what you were grateful for the night before, how much would you wake up with?” When I heard this, it struck me. How about you? When you think about all of the blessings we have that we do not take the time to stop and be grateful for, how many do they number? I don’t know about you, but they are near countless for me.
Let us look at a few quick examples to help drive the point home. There is, of course, the love of my life, Margie. There are times when we are not seeing eye to eye. We do our best to never go to bed that way, but sometimes it happens. When you and your special someone go to sleep, whether you are getting along or not, do you pause and take a moment to be grateful for them? We are talking about focused gratitude. What if you were to wake up and they were gone forever? How about throughout the course of a day? Margie gives me plenty of reasons to be grateful. Whether that is sending me silly messages about rockets while I am busy at work, or having a delicious home-cooked meal to come home to, there are always reasons to be grateful for. Because they happen so often, I have to be careful not to take them for granted.
The person you love is an easy example. There are others. What about where you live? It could not be in the neighborhood you desire. Your house could need lots of work, or maybe your rent or mortgage eats up most of your paycheck. It is easy to complain about those things, but what if you woke up homeless tomorrow? How about work? That’s a good one. Work is easy to complain about it. I am as guilty as anyone when it comes to that. Waking up early, time away from family, crazy bosses and coworkers. There are a million things to complain about. What if they told you tomorrow you were out of a job? Suddenly, all of those things you were complaining about you would be grateful to have in your life.
Ask yourself this question, “If you were to wake up with only the things you were grateful for the night before, what would you wake up with?” I think that is a powerful question that can not only change our perspective, but help us live a life filled with more gratitude and a lot less lack. I know that I am going to put this question to use in my life. How about you? Once again, shout out to CJ and Faith for a great time over coffee.
Today in the United States, we celebrate Independence Day. I imagine in Great Britain, they do not celebrate so much. Although this is certainly a national holiday, some of the principles should be celebrated and incorporated globally. Today, we are going to take a look at a few of these characteristics and look into what it means to truly be independent. These thoughts can be applied both politically and personally. We are going to take a look at both of them.
One of the main sticking points in the colonies declaring independence from our good friends overseas was “Taxation without representation.” Meaning, the people in jolly old England collected taxes from the colonists, but they did not have any say in how that money was spent. Our government is set up so every person who pays taxes has a representative in the government. The sad thing is that most of us do not ever have contact with this person. It is not that we are unable. It is that complaining is easier than looking up contact information. We should regularly share what is, and is not important to us with our elected representatives. On a personal level, we should always make our desires and what is important to us known to those who make decisions that affect our life as well. This includes our boss, our spouse and anyone who plays a roll in making decisions in our life. This is not to say we should be a fountain of complaint. Far from it. Just like in politics, when you are charming and persuasive, the results are a lot better. My suggestion is to read the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.
Another point of grievance was freedom of religion. Not all of the colonists wanted to belong to the great church of England. They wanted to be free to practice their religion, whatever that may be. Personally, I think this is a good thing to be able to do. As long as your belief does not bring harm to others, it is my belief that you should be able to practice whatever religion makes your spirit happy. I think laws based on specific religions or dogma do not belong in an independent country. Laws for common sense morality are a different story. Another important point to note is that laws cannot govern one’s heart. What you believe is a personal and spiritual process, not one that can be mandated by the state.
Speaking of personal, there is a way in which this can be applied to our personal lives. Just as the government has no right to tell you what religion you should practice, neither does your neighbor. As long as your religion is focused on bettering yourself and not causing harm to others, it does not matter in what form it takes. You may not have to agree with the ritual and beliefs of your neighbor, but you must respect them. That is part of being independence. You would not want them telling you what you must believe, therefore, you must not tell them what is right or wrong when it comes to their spiritual beliefs. That is one reason the ‘golden rule’ is the same in so many spiritual practices. We all are required to respect our neighbor, just as they should respect us. I think this is one thing that could use a great deal of attention in today’s world. Being independent is not only being free to believe and worship how you choose, but to allow others to do the same. That especially holds true for those who are different than we are.
Today is cause for celebration! At the beginning of the year, one of my resolutions was to have a blog everyday for the year. Do you know what today marks? The 365th day in a row I have posted. Some were long and detailed, some were short and sweet. For 365 days, there was a blog posted on this site. I did this for 2 very important reasons. First, you never know when you might need a bit of motivation or inspiration. I felt that I should consider that fact that every day people are facing struggles throughout the globe. We are followed in over 200 different countries. Surely, one of those people, in one of those countries, is having a tough day and could use a little lift.
The second reason I wanted to have a post for a year straight was to show some consistency. If people can see that you are dedicated to providing thoughtful content, they might be a bit more dedicated to reading it. That seemed like a fair trade. By posting everyday, I was also hoping we could continue to expand our secret2anamazinglife family. The more content I shared, and the more often I shared it, the more likely it was to reach people. My mission in life is to help as many people bring positive aspects to their lives as I can before my time here is done. Posting every morning would help accomplish that.
Like Eric Thomas says here, you can catapult a Monday win into a winning week, and then a winning month. That is one of the reasons you should not write off Monday. If you do, you will be setting yourself up for a week that is not winning. We have discussed the importance of consistent effort on this blog many times. You can’t have a week of consistent effort unless you start on Monday! This has transformed my way of thinking of Monday. Instead of an end to the joy of the weekend, it is a beginning of a winning week!
If you noticed in the title of this post, I did add “Kind of” to the celebrating. Why? Even though I have posted a blog for 365 days straight, the goal was to do one for the entire year. That goal was set on January first of this year. We are only a little over halfway for the year being complete. I am going to use this accomplishment to remind myself that posting everyday is possible. For the next 6 months, you will still have a post here every day. I look forward to serving you for the rest of the year. Please share your Monday wins with all of us.
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 