Tag: encouragement

THE SUN IS COMING! 🌞

Here is a quick reminder that whatever you are going through will pass. The night always gives way to the dawn

Some nights may seem like they last forever, but the sun always rises. Hang in there. You can outlast the night!

2 WAYS TO STOP THE WORLD FROM GETTING YOU DOWN 🌎

The world can sure seem like a tough place these days. I say seem for a very important reason we will get to in just a little bit. Negative news seems to come at us from every corner. It is delivered on our phones, our laptops, the evening news and even at work in conversations with coworkers. In this country there is an election looming so I am sure we will all hear about how terrible the world is and how much worse it will get if we don’t vote for a specific candidate. It doesn’t even matter the party, the message is pretty much the same.

All of this can be pretty overwhelming. Even those of us who do our best to stay away from such things often can’t help but be subjected to them. It can leave you feeling a little less than hopeful about not only your life, but the state of the world in general. There are a few things to keep in mind, and two specific things you can do, to keep this from happening. At the very least, you will have it happen less often and it the feelings of despair will not last as long.

The first thing to keep in mind is that things are never as bad as you are lead to believe. Fear is what sells. Think of AI for example. Yes, there are many scary things that can be attached to it, but there are also miracles waiting to develop from it as well. Think of what it will mean to the world of medicine and the treatment of disease. We will be able to develop treatments and cures far quicker than we have ever been able to before. Technology has made personal communication more difficult, but it has also helped people stay in touch and find each other. Change is always a double edged sword. Knowing that there are both good and bad in everything will help balance things out. Knowing that you may be one of the few people thinking this way will also help put things in perspective. Most people who converse with you will just be repeating what they hear. This is often the fear and negativity we just mentioned.

What can you do when you are exposed to all of this? The answer is what kick-started this blog. The first thing you can do is to make sure you have enough positive influences around you. Here is a hint – you can never have enough. Subscribe to funny or inspiring pages on your social media. Subscribe to a wonderful daily motivational blog, such as secret2anamazinglife.com. That way you will be sure that each day motivation will come to you. There are free motivational apps for your phone. Make yourself a ‘happy playlist’ of songs that lift your spirits. Make sure to spend time with people who do the same.

Here is a lesson that I learned that caused me to start this blog in the first place. That is that you can either be part of the problem by complaining about how rotten the world is, or you can be part of the solution by making it better. The negativity of the world frustrated me, and still does on occasion. When it seems that the level of negativity seems to be growing out of control, I use that as motivation to increase the amount of positivity I bring to the world. If I am feeling this way, I imagine many others are feeling the same, if not worse. If my words and actions can make their life a little brighter, perhaps it will start a ripple and I will be doing my part to make the world a better place as a whole.

To recap, if you want to keep the world from bringing you down, make sure you have enough positive influences and become part of the solution. Bob Marley referred to complaints as ‘prayers to the devil’. I have to agree with Bob on this one. Sitting and complaining without acting only makes the situation worse. Ask yourself what you can do to help change things for the better. If you can’t come up with anything, go help someone else while you are thinking about it. I promise you will make the world better for two people if you do.

A NEW ADJECTIVE FOR US ALL 🫂

Here is a word that I would like to put in all of our vocabularies. The ability to embrace things about us that are not perfect, especially in today’s world, can be quite difficult. To do so and still be able to understand that we are still beautiful, wonderful and amazing people can be next to impossible. One thing that may make that easier is having a word to describe just that. “Flawsome” is something we should all be. We all have flaws, yet we are all rock stars at something too.

Flaws are not always the curse we see them as. When viewed by others, flaws can make us relatable. Often, having flaws gives us credibility. How much would you trust someone who tells you they are perfect at everything? I know I wouldn’t. When you own your flaws, and understand they do not make you less of a person, you make it more difficult for others to use them against you.

If there are two things I know about the people I love in my life, it is the fact they have flaws, and they are still totally awesome! Those two facts hold true about you as well. Do not let things about you that need improvement convince you that you are anything less than the beautiful soul you are. You, me, and the rest of the world are all “Flawsome”.

WHICH IS WORTH MORE? 💰

Today, we are going to discuss a very important subject – worth. In the world we live in, the value of certain things has slowly become eroded. If I were to ask you about the two objects in the photo above, which would you say is worth more, the diamond or the bottle of water? If you are a rational person, I would think you would choose the diamond. After all, with a diamond like that, you could buy many bottles of water. This is not the entire story.

It is our current situation that determines the value we place on certain things. If you were alone in the desert and someone offered you a diamond or a bottle of water, I am guessing you would choose the water. In the desert, you could die of thirst before you find someone to exchange your diamond for a bottle of water. If you had a diamond and you were dying of thirst in the desert, you would gladly exchange it for a bottle of water. In the desert, the diamond would be of little, to no use. The water bottle, however, could save your life.

Here is today’s point, the same is true with people. The value of individual life is nothing short of a sacred thing. Each one of us is valuable in our own way. Many people may appear more like a diamond, but their value is limited to a certain situation. Perhaps you find your boss a clueless and micromanaging fool. Yet, that person may be the most caring parent or grandparent. The server who provided terrible service to you at dinner last night? They might be the caring friend who is providing a lifeline to someone who is barely holding on. We do not always see the value of someone. That does not mean they do not have value. The same is true for us. Just because someone does not see your value does not mean you are not valuable.

In today’s crazy world, let us all remember that each one of us is extremely valuable. Someone’s inability to see your worth does not diminish it. The same holds true for others. Our inability to see the value in another person may just be that, our inability. We can’t see our boss at home with their grandchildren. We can’t hear that rude server offering words of hope and encouragement to their friend. As we go through life, let us understand each one of us, even those we cannot see, have a great amount of value. Let us all treat each other with that in mind.

YOU CAN, AND SHOULD, DO IT!😃

Today is an event that happens but once a year. I run a 5k. Let it be known that in no way am I a runner. Yes, I do go to the gym 3 days a week, but I look far more like the second picture than the first. My goal is always to run the 3.2 miles in less than 30 minutes. Depending on your fitness level, this could seem like nothing or an impossibility. With my asthma and over indulgence in pizza, it is at the edge of my ability. What it does do is give me a goal to push towards. I have yet to achieve it, but always try.

Here is the great thing about having this goal, and even about not achieving it. Forever am I realizing there are ways in which I can improve. Eat better, train better and find ways to improve my breathing. Still, pushing yourself can have such amazing benefits. I encourage all of us to try this. It does not have to even be something physical. It can be pushing ourselves to write 1000 words a day towards our new book. It can be forcing ourselves to clean for 30 minutes a day. Maybe reading a couple of pages every night.

Whatever seems at the edge of our ability to do, we should try to do that. It is the only way to expand and improve our life. If we constantly stay in our comfort zone, our life will not only fail to expand, but we will also never feel the pride that comes with accomplishing something we never thought we could.

I’LL TELL YOU A SECRET 🙊

My lovely lady is a big fan of Alice in Wonderland, so I thought I would use this quote. If memory serves, it was uttered to Alice by the Mad Hatter. The truth of this statement holds up in today’s world just as much as it does in the fairytale by Lewis Carroll.

We are all entirely bonkers in our own unique way. Me, you, the lady at the grocery store. It is those who are comfortable with their madness that truly make a difference in the world. Far too many of us hide our truth because we are afraid of the opinions of others. Do not let that stop you.

So many people think I am bonkers for trying to bring a little bit of light to a world that often seems consumed in darkness. They think my optimistic outlook is delusional. They may be right. However, I would much rather live in a world of joyous illusion than one of somber realism.

I encourage all of you to embrace that part of you that makes you unique. The part some may find entirely bonkers. I cannot say it enough, what the world needs more of is people brave enough to live in their truth. So be a little bonkers, all the great ones are.

DEFEAT IS A STATE OF MIND 🧠

Mr. Lee has given us some great thoughts to ponder in his lifetime. This might be one of the best. When we are defeated, that means we have given up. We have waved the white flag. There are times that all of us have felt this way. You have a day, week, or even longer, were you seem to have one thing after another go wrong. I have been there. I think we all have. If you stop and think about it, as long as we are willing to persevere, we are never defeated. Yes, we may be down and out on our luck, but we are not defeated so long as we are willing to get back up and try again.

Next time you feel like a problem has knocked you to the ground, try to keep this thought in mind. It might not be a bad idea to print it out and hang in on the bathroom mirror. Especially when you are having one of those runs of bad luck. Then you can confidently say to yourself, “This problem has knocked me down, but it has not defeated me as long as I am still trying.” There is honor in not giving up. If nobody else tell you, we are proud of you and the community at Secret2anamazinglife is proud of you.

Next time you are feeling defeated, just remember this quote from our good friend Bruce. Stand up straight and say to yourself, “Even though I am feeling defeated, I will not be defeated until I stop trying.” Refuse to let life’s challenges get the best of you! You got this!

WHO WOULD BUY A COPY? 🥸

Recently, I came across a story about the Mona Lisa, the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. A copy of the famous painting, made by one of da Vinci’s students, was discovered. It not only was better preserved, it revealed many of the details that had been lost in the original. If I gave you the option to own either one of these paintings, which one would you choose? The original, done by old Leo himself, or the copy done by his student? If you know anything about art, or the value of art, I am sure you will choose the original. Why? The copy is better preserved. It has more detail. Why is the original more valuable? Simple, it is an original.

You, my friends, are not much different than that famous painting. Sure, you might not be a 16th century woman, but you are far more valuable as an original. Keep this in mind as you make your way through a world bent on telling you who you should be. The only thing we should be working on becoming is the best version of ourselves.

This does not mean we ignore constructive criticism, or keep an open mind in regards to our character. What I mean is not to change yourself to conform to someone else’s definition of you. I remember hearing that Oprah was told she was far too empathetic to be in journalism. She cried whenever she reported on a fire because a family had lost their home. Had she listened and hardened her heart, she may have been able to become an anchor woman on the news. Instead, she leaned into who she was and became one of the most successful women in history. The world is filled with countless stories like this.

As we make our way through the week, and through life in general, let us be confident in who we are and work to be the best version of that. In doing so, you help give others permission to do the same. Never hide the gift of who you are from the world. It will help you attract the life and people that should be in your story.

THRIVE THURSDAY! 🥳

It is time to celebrate what is working in your life. It can often feel like the whole world is upside down, but there is always something that is working. Your entire life may feel like a dumpster fire, but maybe your dog likes you? You certainly have a way of reading these inspiring words. That means you either have a working computer, phone or access to one of those.

We can find ourselves focused on what is not working in our lives in an attempt to fix it. That is not entirely bad. What we must caution ourselves on, is staring at the cracks and missing the rest of the wall. In other words, seeing the problems in our life without appreciating what is working. Today, take a moment to acknowledge and give thanks for all that is right in your life. Share some with the rest of us if you feel so inspired.

YOU JUST MIGHT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MIRACLE 🙏

Have you ever been in a situation where you seem like you just can’t take any more? We all have. You are hoping for that miracle. It could be to land that job, to win the affection of that certain someone. It might be you are wishing for a miracle healing for yourself, or a loved one. Then, the job goes to someone else. The person you like ends up having feelings for the other gender. The doctor report comes back with more bad news. It can leave you with a feeling of hopelessness. You may find yourself asking questions like, “Why me?” You have been an upstanding individual. You have been treating everyone with kindness. Why is life so difficult for you. In some cases, you may even look at the good fortune of those who you feel may not be as enlightened as yourself and wonder how fair the universe is really being.

Sometimes we are delivered from the fires of life. That is easy to recognize as a miracle. When things go how we want them to, and when we want them to, it is indeed a miracle. If things always happened this way, we would have a life of ease. This may sound like quite the miracle, but it would make us one weak person. When we feel like instead of being delivered from the fire, we are being thrown in it, we might just being fireproofed. It is rarely fun, but resistance builds strength. This is as true in life as it is in the gym. When we go through the fires of life, we are being forged into a stronger and more resilient version of ourselves.

In life, we all want the quick miracle, the quick fix. We want the job. We want the love and the healing. When we don’t get it, we cease to believe in miracles. Worse yet, many of us begin to view the world as a cruel place. This can be very dangerous. Albert Einstein, one of the smartest people to exist, was asked what the most important question to ask was. His answer? “Is the Universe a friendly place?” The reason this is so important is because it will dictate our attitude and actions towards living our life. Shakespeare, a rather brilliant writer, also weighed in on the subject saying, “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” In other words, it is more about how we look at the situation than the fact themselves that determine if it is good or bad.