Month: August 2024

ENERGY GIVERS FOR YOU

It is hump day. The middle of the week and our energy might be starting to fade. One of my life quests is to find healthy sources of energy. In the life of a blog writer/author/DJ who also happens to work 50+ hours a week at his day job, sleep is rarely in smoke supply.

Imagine my excitement when I came across this list earlier this week. It was not only a great reminder of the many different healthy sources of energy, but the fact that energy depletion can be far more than physical. You can be depleted in one area and it can manifest itself as a physical lack of energy.

Take the example of studying for an exam. Nothing really physically taxing about that. Pushing a key on a keyboard, or turning the page of a book. You won’t strain a hamstring doing that. It will leave you mentally drained and you may very well need a nap after. Here’s what I find draining – political ads. Regardless of party, they are always like the chicken little “the sky is falling” theme. Sucks the life out of your soul after a while.

Next time you’re tired, before you grab a coffee or energy drink, make sure you try one of the items above. The source of your exhaustion could be mental, emotional, physical or even spiritual. Make sure to hydrate, grab a power nap, but maybe focus on gratitude and love as well.

Which one of the items on the list energizes you the most?

FOCUS IN THE CIRCLE 🔵

How many of us spend way too much time on things we cannot control? Lol at everything outside the circle in the photo above. Are there any that you spend too much time worried about? It does us little if any good. They are by definition, things beyond our control.

How about the things inside the circle? The things within our control. Far too many of us focus on these slightly, if at all. How about you? Are there any of the things in the circle you could spend more time focusing on?

Here is the crazy thing. If we spend a concerted effort improving the things within the circle, or more to the point within our control, the things on the outside of the circle will improve as well.

START IT OFF RIGHT!

Monday is tough for many of us. I usually average about 2.5 hours of sleep before a 9 hour work day. I would not recommend this. My point is, I understand the Monday blues. If you do start your week filled with dread and foreboding it will not set you up for victory.

We need to take a fresh look at Monday and what it provides. Would we rather stay at home in bed than go to work? Sure but instead of focusing on this, why not think of what our job does give us. Monday is the start of earning our rent or mortgage. Monday is the start of earning our ability to keep the lights on. There are so many things we earn. Don’t forget to include saving for vacation and gifts for those we love. How about a delicious meal out? Take a fresh look at Monday and all it gives us.

START THIS SUNDAY!

Remember that you do not have to reach the finish line with the first step. You can start wherever you are and build from there. It is the little victories along the way the will provide us with excitement and motivation to continue.

YOUR MASTERPIECE

I would love to hear everyone’s definition of what makes their life a masterpiece. There is, of course, no right or wrong answer. Each one of us, much like works of art, are special in their own way.

How about you? What makes your life a masterpiece? Each day we can add to that masterpiece in small and unique ways.

IN MY LIFE THIS HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE 🤔

This simple phrase has unlocked an entirely different life for me. This is not an exaggeration. It is not hyperbole. Wherever you are reading this, take a look at the people around you. If you are by yourself, imagine the people in your life. Most of them do not operate on this principle.

The majority of the world spends their time focused on influencing outside circumstances. How much control do you have over other people, places and things in your life? Limited at best. Energy spent on these endeavors is not well spent. Conversely, how much control do you have over you?

The man who wrote this spent part of his life in a concentration camp. In there, he had zero control of outside circumstances. He realized what he did have control of was his mind. It is the same with you and I. Our circumstances are not anywhere near as dire.

Think of it like this. You are driving in your car and you want to go to Walmart. Would you just keep driving straight and hope someone builds a Walmart in front of your car? As asinine as that sounds, that is what we are doing when we are wishing the boss would become better, our spouse would be more loving, the economy would get better.

Here’s a thought. Grab the steering wheel and drive to a Walmart. What I mean by that is to take control of your life and direct it where you want it to go.  Your boss sucks? Maybe they are motivating you to find a better job? Your spouse not as loving as you would like? They are providing you an opportunity to brush up on your own courting skills. The economy is a little tough? Work on creative spending and savings plans.

It is about the choice from going from a victim mentality to a victory mentality. Don’t wait for the waves to change direction. Adjust your rudder and sail and get there no matter what the waves are like. Conquer the ocean of life!

7 SIMPLE RULES FOR LIFE 7️⃣

We often make life more complicated than we need to. Incorporating as many of these 7 rules into our life on a daily basis will go a long way to living an amazing life. Things like making a point to smile more. Not only does it have a great effect on those around you, but studies show the simple act of smiling releases chemicals in your brain that make you happy as well!

How many of these 7 rules do you do in a daily basis? Which ones can you add to your daily routine to make your life more amazing?

SPEAK THIS UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE 👏

In a world that often seeks 15 minutes of fame, there is nothing better than to be universally well thought of. How can you do that when everyone speaks a different language? Everyone has different realities and experiences. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a language that everyone here could easily understand?

Great news! There is! It is called kindness. I don’t care what country you are from, or what dialect you speak, do a kind act and you will be well regarded. Doing selfless and kind acts is something that everyone can understand. Better yet, it is something everyone can do!

KEEP IT IN YOU 🌴

Today is the first day back to work after my 2 week vacation. The trick is to keep vacation in your head and heart while returning to work. It was my motivation to start writing. How can we live like we are on vacation?

I have not completely answered that vexing question. What I have come to understand is that detachment from our problems and the ability to compartmentalize our life is a valuable key. I’m not telling you to ignore your problems. That will not solve anything. The point is, neither will obsessing over them. Taking a required break is not only necessary, it is helpful.

Gratitude is another great tool to turn the life you have into the life you love. Realizing that you have more than you know can have you feeling like your life is a vacation.

I would love to hear your tools and strategies for keeping vacation with you after you return to work. Not only as a benefit of our readers, but I could use it on a personal level as well.