SWEAT MORE, BLEED LESS. ðŸĪš

The point of this quote should be obvious. In case it is not, let me expand on it. The more we prepare, the better we will be when faced with a challenge. This really holds true across all areas of life. If we save money, or work to create a good side-hustle, we will be prepared for any financial challenge that may arise. If we work on our health and fitness, we will be better prepared for a challenge in that arena. This came in handy for me when I needed immediate open-heart surgery. The doctor telling me, “If you hadn’t been in such good shape, we would not be having this conversation.” Some good food for thought there. Had I waited to take care of my health until I was told that I had a problem, you might not be reading this.

The common theme through all of these is that if you work on yourself, you will be better prepared to take on any challenge in life. One of the more interesting ones that many of us may not think of is our spirituality. Whatever your faith may be, even if that is faith in yourself, it needs to be fostered and grown. The more you do so, the more you will be ready to face life’s toughest challenges. Many times it is difficult to find the motivation to do what needs to be done in our lives. It is the work we put in when nobody is watching that not only allows us to face challenges, but to grow into the best version of ourselves.

Every second of training and preparation we do, is less damage we will incur when we face a challenge. Trust me when I tell you, face a challenge we all will. You never know when life will test you. The better prepared you are, the more likely you are to pass that test.

DO NOT DIE BEFORE YOU ARE BURIED ðŸ’€

I have always liked this quote by Ben Franklin. Yes, we are on an informal basis like that. Actually, Ol’ Ben was quite a party animal, but that is a post for a different day. What does he mean about Dying at twenty and not being buried until we are seventy five? Does that mean they leave us out long past our shelf life? No. What it means is that we stop living a life of purpose and passion and settle into a life of mediocrity. It is the “Wake up, pay bills and die.” mentality.

My fourth book will deal with this in depth. Until that wonderful piece of literature is published, let us have a brief discussion on the subject. Does life feel like a chore to you? Are you busy just trying to survive, or are you focused on thriving? Whether you are 18 or 80, the time is now to focus on living. Ask yourself, how many times a day does your soul feel on fire with the passion of life? Many people think this is an unrealistic goal. That, in itself, tells you how far removed from truly living they are.

It may be quite a high standard to walk around in a state of bliss, although there are those who manage. Your life should, and quite frankly must, contain moments of this. If not, you are not really living. As someone who works 45 hours a week at his day job, writes a daily blog, is working on his fourth book, hosts a podcast and is a DJ on Sunday, I can understand that quite often responsibilities can take up quite a bit of our lives. Sneaking in reasons to be full of passion is what makes life feel alive.

I recommend creating as many of these moments as you can. One of the best ways to do so is to be fully present. In a world where more of us stare at our phone than out in the world, this alone could make a huge difference. Spending some time in nature revives the soul in many ways as well. Having a purpose bigger than a paycheck is not only a good idea, it is vital to creating a rewarding and fulfilling life. Let us start living more, and let us start doing so today.

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2 THINGS WE SHOULD STRIVE FOR ðŸ’Š

In a world where everyone seems to be chasing something, why not put our focus on these two priceless items? Waking up and thinking about the potential in each day will have us feeling far more optimistic. All our dreams may not come true that day, but then again, they might? Something even better that we haven’t thought of may occur. We might face a tough day, but discover an unexpected blessing in the middle of it!

How about as we fall asleep at night? Doing so with peace in our hearts is a gift that cannot be overstated. It is, more often that not, our own thoughts that torment us. Knowing, even if we made mistakes, that we are working to do the best we can and will continue to do so, should give us peace. Filling our hearts with gratitude for both the day, and for all the good yet to come, can allow is to get the rest we need. If something is vexing us, journaling about it or getting it out in another fashion, until our mind is able to be still.

Forget all of the material objects often chased by the ignorant. It is the two ‘P’s that matter. That is potential and peace. These are far more valuable than anything you can purchase in a store. A soul excited about potential and a heart filled with peace are more precious than anything we can work for. Invest in these two items and everything in your life will fall into place.

THE SECRET TO MAKING IT THROUGH ANYTHING â™Ĩïļ

Life can really take us on a crazy ride sometimes! We can face some very difficult and interesting challenges. How do some people seem to keep going and some find it more difficult? A good deal of it breaks down to why they believe they are here. Maybe you are looking to take control of your health after years of neglect? This can be quite a difficult challenge. Especially the older we get. Maybe you want to fit into your jeans or look better at the beach. That may be enough to get you into the gym. When the doctor comes into the room and tells you that unless you make some changes, you are likely to suffer a heart attack, that will have you cleaning out the cabinets and walking to work.

It is not just the quest of improving ourselves in which a ‘why’ becomes helpful. Making through a challenge can often only be done with a strong ‘why’. The greatest example I can think of is a loss of a loved one. We may often feel like there is no way that we can see living our life without them. Knowing that there are others who both love us, and would feel the same about our loss, can keep us waking up every morning.

This is not to say that life will not be a struggle sometimes. That it can feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. What a strong ‘why’ can do, is help us carry that weight as we work on gaining the strength to be able to do so regularly. It is good to have one overarching ‘why’ in life, but we can have several others to keep us going.

In my own life, my ‘why’ is to positively impact the lives of millions of individuals around the globe. In my personal life, much of my ‘why’ revolves around being the best man for my beautiful lady, Margie. It is being a good example of how to treat your lady for anyone who is watching. It is living up to the standards that I have set for myself. Did I mention it is helpful to have many reasons to become all that you can be? How about you? Have you made sure you have enough, and strong enough, reasons for your life? Work on them today. They just might end up saving your life.

A NEW KIND OF WHY…

Recently, the lack of moral fiber of many at my day job has made me become disenfranchised with the whole establishment. Normally, this could make your life a little darker. In my case, it is actually quite liberating! It has providing me extra motivation to finish my fourth book. It has also given me a shove in the direction of something that makes better use of my talents. Like the knowledgeable bear above says, you cannot get where you are going, unless you walk away from where you are.

Instead of being disappointed, or even angry, at those running the show at my 9 to 5, I am so grateful. We can all get comfortable where we do not belong. It is often then that the universe has to make us uncomfortable to make us move. In the past, this has been hard for me to see. This time around, I can see it for what it truly is – a gift. Does this sound like I am looking at the situation through rose-colored glasses? Perhaps, but that decision is one that was advocated by one of the greatest minds in history.

Making the decision that the world is a friendly place has not only reduced my stress about many things, but has forced me to think more creatively. In this case, should I be using my energy on activities in my life that will make a greater difference? It is a reminder that the world doesn’t happen to me, but that it happens for me. By making my time at work less enjoyable, this person is reminding me to concentrate on where my focus should have been in the first place. Maybe that Einstein fellow was onto something after all.

Deciding that the world is a friendly place and that everything that occurs in your life can serve a positive purpose may sound like a positive thinking kind of way of looking at the world. In many ways it is, but that is kind of the point. You could complain that life gave you lemons, or you could start looking up a good lemonade recipe. In this case, I also got a post out of it! One that includes both Winnie-the-Pooh and Albert Einstein. How often does that happen?

YOU ARE GREAT EVERY MORNING! ðŸ‘

This post should have probably been posted yesterday, during our uplifting segment, but it works on any day. If you we look at this quote, we can certainly appreciate it as being true. We read countless stories about famous people who had great success only after overcoming a great amount of failure. In fact, I don’t recall many who had success without overcoming some kind of struggle.

If this is true of bands who live in poverty until that big hit, or actors who sleep on the couches of friends until their movie reaches the masses, why isn’t it true of you and I? Here is a little secret – it is true of us. Every life has its fair share of ups and downs. How many of each can vary, but life is filled with plenty of both. How we respond to either helps us define our character. We must remember that merely refusing to let life break us makes us great. We may stumble, we may fall, but that fact that we get up and keep going makes us great.

You may be in either an up or a down right now. Either way, we all have greatness inside of us. When we show up and continue the good fight, that is the definition of greatness. Keep this in mind – failure is not the opposite of success, it is a stepping stone on the way to it.

WHEN 99 SECONDS TURNS INTO 5 MINUTES ðŸ•‘

When does 99 seconds become 5 minutes? They do say time is relative. I once heard a quote that stated, “How long 3 minutes is depends on what side of the bathroom door you are on.” A better demonstration of the relativity of time I have yet to hear. In today’s post, the answer is that 99 seconds becomes 5 minutes when the gentleman making the video does not pay attention to time.

The gentleman is me, and the video is one from my YouTube channel (Neil Panosian – feel free to subscribe). In this video, I come some very interesting points. There is the discussion of what happens when you bring your work home with you and how bad that can be for your home life. It also covers some other tips for turning things around.

Yes, the video is a little longer than 99 seconds, but there is a lot of good information in it. Plus, you get a few moments with a future best-selling author. How can you go wrong? Click on the link below to watch the video. Don’t forget to give it a thumbs up and leave any comments you may have.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS POWER! ðŸ’Š

One of our greatest powers as human beings is the power to connect with others. There are so many people that come to mind when I say this. My friend Nick and I could talk, with interest, for hours. My friend Curtis, whom I miss since he moved away, always gave me great ideas. Of course my beautiful lady, Margie, fills me with joy as we connect on so many different levels. Each one of these people, along with so many others I could name, bring something unique and special into my life.

If you think about the people you connect with in your life, I am sure each one of them brings something unique and special. Some people spark ideas. Some of them offer encouragement. There are people that challenge you and hold you accountable to your standards. There are those wonderful souls that just fill your heart with joy by being in their presence. Every soul that we interact with is a gift. Even those who may be an arduous task to connect with, give our character strength. They may also help us practice patience and restraint.

Today, let us take a moment to think of all the ways connections benefit us and give thanks for all of the wonderful people that share life with us. In my upcoming fourth book, I have received feedback from many of the friends that I value and look forward to sharing that with you. The connection they share with me has only made my life better. They say when two people connect, a third is born. Meaning a connection, ideas and actions that neither person would come up with on their own. Connections bless our world more than we know. That us take a moment to be grateful for them today.

ASK A DIFFERENT QUESTION â“ïļ

It is Monday, let us do this week a little different. Normally, the reason we do things is for what we can get out of it. This is not always a monetary issue. We can get a feeling of accomplishment, such as when we clean the house. We can get a feeling of health and energy, like when we finish a good workout. It can even be more seemingly altruistic. Maybe we are doing it to get a good feeling, such as when we help another person. Depending on your motive, this can be a motivating way to move through life.

What I advocate we do this week, is ask ourselves this question, “Who is this going to help me become?” In the case of cleaning the house, will it help you become a more disciplined, less stressed, individual? Working out can leave you a healthier, more flexible and yes, less stressed, person. How about helping someone for no reason other than developing your character and becoming someone who can relate to others better?

This week, ask yourself “Who is this helping me become?” Even dragging yourself into work on a Monday morning when you really don’t feel like it can make you a person who is viewed as reliable. It can also make you someone you can be proud of. A person who takes care of their responsibilities even when they would rather not. It can also help you avoid things you shouldn’t do. Tempted by those doughnuts in the breakroom? Eating them will make you someone who gives into temptation and who does not put an accent on their health. What are your actions helping you become?

THE END, OR THE BEGINNING?ðŸĪ”

The end of the weekend is fast approaching. Too fast for many of us. Before we pick out a black mourning outfit to wear to work on Monday, let us remember that although we have left our 48 hours of freedom behind, we are starting something new. No, I am not talking about 120 hours in which we are in work mode. Although looking at the numbers, I do feel it should be a little more balanced. What it could be is the beginning of the most wonderful week of our lives. We never know what might await us in the coming days.

As you can see in the photo above, I recently returned from vacation with this beautiful lady. As the days get further away from being in the sunny Bahamas, I have 2 choices. I could lament the fact that it has been even longer since I have been laying on a beach after a breakfast buffet, or I can think that it is the beginning (and one week closer) to planning the next escape with my lovely lady. You may think this is splitting hairs, so to speak, and you may be right. Here is another truth – although both facts may be true, looking at them in different ways will give you entirely different feelings. Why not pick the one that makes you feel good?

Take the words of wisdom from the great Mr. Rogers. Every end is also a new beginning. We should work on fostering feelings of excitement for what is next in our lives. It will have us viewing life as we should, as one big adventure.