A quick reminder to create a balance in your life. We hear a lot about work/ life balance. We also hear a lot about how important it is to hustle, or grind. Then, we are also told how important it is to practice self-care and focus on creating joy in our life.
Which one of these is true? I believe they all are. You must have work life balance. That doesn’t always mean things will be 50/50. Some days you might have to work more. Some days are there to relax. Just make sure you have an ample supply of both.
Even on the days that have focused effort, make sure you are grateful and happy for how far you have come. You can both be satisfiedwith your life so far while still wanting more. Remember, without enough balance, anything just falls down. Life is the same way.
Last post we talked about sending out messages of love and encouragement. Many people asked the same question, “Neil, I would love to send out a message, but what do I say?“It seems we are not used to sending out messages like this. It may even seem awkward at first. With practice, it will become easier and your words will become more impactful.
Back to the original question. What do we say in a message of love and encouragement? A good start is to ask yourself what would make you happy to hear from a friend. A safe bet is always gratitude and appreciation. Telling someone how much they mean to you and why is one of the best messages you can deliver.
Above are some examples of inspiring messages you could send. These are just to get you thinking. They can be tailored to your specific person. Another fun idea is to reflect on a fun memory the two of you share. It could be a vacation you took together, a nice dinner you shared or simply a cup of coffee and conversation you enjoyed. Positively reflectingon that could be enjoyablefor both of you.
How about you? Do you have any suggestions on good messages to send? By sharing our ideas with each other we inspire a revolution of love and encouragement!
Isn’t it great when you receive some good news first thing in the morning? Maybe it is a phone call from a friend? A text from a loved one, or a greeting card in the mail? With modern technology, coupled with old-fashioned ideas, there are so many ways to send love.
Why bother sending love? In a world that seems to get crazier by the minute, sending someone some loving thoughts becomes a gift greater than ever. When you are sending thoughts to encourage, uplift and inspire someone, you are strengthening that relationship. Can you imagine how your life would change if you would send out one loving thought a day? That would be 365loving messages in a year!
Sending love can take a few seconds if it is a text, to a few minutes for a phone call or a greeting card. I suggest picking up a pack of cards and a book of stamps so you are prepared when the mood strikes. You will spend less then a half hour doing this in a week, yet you will drastically improve both your life and that of the recipient.
In my upcoming fourth book, I go into greater detail about how to do this and the benefits you will receive. I would love to hear about ways you send out love. Who knows, they may even make it into my next book! This week, try sending out at least one loving message a day of one kind or another. See the change it makes.
Today is international women’s day! Time to celebrate all of those amazing ladies in your life. It can be family, spouse,friends, best friends, soul friends or any special woman in your life. I have been blessed to surround myself with so many smart, creative and wonderful women who have made my life better. In going to take a second to celebrate just a few, but know there are so many more and i appreciate you all!
First, in the picture above is my mother. Mothers are so important it only makes sense to celebrate them as often as we can. My mother and I do a great many things together. We go for walks, coffee and do the occasional 5k. She also gives me feedback on my writing! I’m very grateful to have her.
There is of course Margie, the love of my life. I could, and have done an entire post about all of the amazing things she brings to my life. On top of that, she is an amazing mother herself. Choosing the right partner can make all of the difference in life. That is why I am soexcited to have her become Mrs.Neil next year!
Above are some truly amazing women. My sister Michelle! Margie’s daughter Siraya with whom she has started a business. My good friends Lisa, Sara,Jenny and my soul friend Shannon! All of which have added a lot to my life.
Special shout out to the wonderful women who read this blog. I would love to hear from you and where you are from. Feel free to show your pride in the comments below. Don’t forget to give appreciation to the women in your life today. I would suggest continuing it every day!
I love little messages that make a big difference. Here was the license plate on the car in front of me. What a great reminder to be kind. While we are driving, this can be a vital reminder.
What kind of small things can you think of that would make a big difference? Where are good places to place a message? What are some messages you can think of to share? I would love to hear all your answers in the comments below.
How many hours do you spend on video games in a week? How much time playing solitaire or doing crossword puzzles? What do you achieve by getting better at these? How about increasing your income? How about spending time to look better in comparison to others or for society at large? When you think about it, most of our lives are spent in one or more of these endeavors. While I am sure all of them have their redeeming qualities, we should be focused on winning a different game – the inner game.
What I mean by the inner game, is mastering our thoughts and our attitude. When you stop and think about it, life is truly an inner game. The quality of our life, is the quality of our thoughts and emotions. If you are someone who sees what is wrong in life and generally feels angry towards the world and you win the lottery what will happen? You will be rich and…angry. If you can maintain a positive attitude despite outside circumstances, you have true power. Life, or other people and circumstances, will not be able to bring you down.
As you can see, this is not a new thought. Controlling your mind means that you are taking back control of your life. Not being subject to the whim of outside circumstances. Life has it’s ups and downs. Your mind and emotions do not have to. This is a lifelong journey. Much like physical fitness, mental fitness requires daily maintenance. Unfortunately, you do not workout one time and stay in shape forever. Same with gaining control over your mind and emotions. We slip up and act and say things when we are angry that we later regret. Can you see how even doing that less would make your life better?
How can we improve the quality of our thoughts, and thus the quality of our life? There are many options. I am still learning some myself. One of them is to develop an attitude of gratitude. Finding reasons to be grateful even when it seems impossible to do so will make your life amazing. Finding the opportunities in challenges. Some people just see a pile of manure, some people see fertilizer. Next time your life seems like a pile of the stuff that comes out the backside of an animal, ask yourself, “How can I use this to grow from?” Countless musicians, authors and artists have used the worst pain in their lives to create some of their best work. Why can’t you do the same? Also, look for other meanings in life. We can find ourself looking for the worst on occasion. Begin to train your mind to look for the best!
All of these suggestions can dramatically improve the quality of your thoughts and your life. If you would like more ideas to improve your life, feel free to pick up one, or all, of my books! Just search “Neil Panosian” on Amazon. Feel free to share what makes the difference for you in your thoughts and emotions in the comments below.
It can be tough to remember that we are all awesome. It is the middle of the week and the grind might be starting to get to us, but do not let that stop you from looking in the mirror and seeing how amazing you are! There is something that is valuable in all of us. Some are good listeners. Others are good conversationalists. Many people have a great smile that is contagious. You could be smart. You could be funny. You could be a great cook or baker. Whatever it is that is awesome about you, do not let it go unnoticed. This is especially true when it comes to the person in the mirror.
In life, and in the world at large, it can be so easy to feel down about ourselves. We are in our own head 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is so important to make sure that it is a nice place to be. This can be done by reading something inspirational (hint, you are doing so right now), it can be doing something nice for someone else, but it should also include reminding ourselves how awesome we are. It works even better to have friends in our life that also remind us. It helps to be that person for others as well.
Everyone seems to be looking for the magic secret to their best life. Even the name of this website is Secret2anamazinglife.com. This may sound rather cliche, but success is really an inner game. The most powerful thing you can do is control your mind and control your emotions. That may sound simple on the surface, but it is far from easy. Most of us were not told this was even an option growing up. We were taught we were at the mercy of both our thoughts and emotions. That may be the case, but it is because we gave up that control to them.
A powerful and successful life is one were we can put our thoughts and emotions to work for us. The million dollar question is how do we get control over our thoughts and emotions? It is the small habits we do daily. It takes time. You have lived your whole life believing that outside circumstances determine how you feel and what you think. This does not have to be the case. Look at the items listed in the photo above. Doing any one of these can help you regain control over your life. Being present is something that is truly missing. We either are worried about the future, regretting the past, or just have our heads buried in our phones being distracted. Then we wake up one day wondering where all the time has went.
Try using the items as a daily checklist. See how many you can get in one day. Do not stress over getting themall, but try to see how many you can get. Being grateful is one of the ones I would suggest starting with. It makes a huge difference. It is impossible to experience a negative emotion while being grateful at the same time. That is a version of ‘addition by subtraction’. The more time you spend being grateful, the less time you will spend in a negative emotional state. One way you can start to take control over your emotional state.
I would love to know how you take control over your thoughts and feelings. Can you see the power in remaining calm when everything else is in chaos? Share your answers in the comments below.
I love this quote! People so worried about how we look in comparison to others, they forget how their uniqueness is what makes them beautiful. Think of the flowers. They all look different. Some are green, some red or some blue. Some people prefer one over another. It doesn’t reflect on the flower, just the feeling of the observer. Often the most beautiful bouquets are the ones made of a mix of different flowers.
Can you imagine if a daisy was sad because it didn’t look like a rose? It sounds silly, but that is exactly what we do when we compare ourselves to others. Just work on blooming and becoming the best version of ourselves. Shine in all of our unique goodness. That is what will make us amazing. Today remember that being authentically you makes you the most beautiful part of the bouquet!
As I write this it is Sunday afternoon. Monday is a tough day for many of us. The start of another work week. Back to the grind as they say. That is why the list above could be so handy. Ten things to be grateful for. I think reviewing these before bed and first thing after waking would be so helpful. Starting your day with a positive thought can make all of the difference.
Think about your actions in the morning. Is it a mad dash to get out the door? Even that, with a properly placed quote, or grateful reminder, can change our mindset we use to face the day. That is why I like those daily motivational calendars. You can peel off the paper to see the most inspiring thought. It sure is better than looking at social media or watching the news first thing in the morning. Find something that inspires you and has you fired up to live your dreams and chase your goals. This website is updated everyday, first thing in the morning. Feel free to subscribe and you will be greeted with inspiring thoughts 7 days a week!
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 