Tag: encouragement

YOU’RE DOING GREAT!😃

On this site, we have focused a great deal on gratitude. For my money, there is nothing that will positively affect your life more intensely, or quicker, than developing an attitude of gratitude. Focusing on all of the amazing things that we do have in life will place us in a state of abundance quicker than anything else I know.

Today’s post is a little of the opposite. This may sound a bit funny after all of positives we listed in the paragraph above, but hear me out. Today is about focusing on all of the challenges we have in our lives. Not to leave us feeling overwhelmed. No. No. Understanding that we have kept going despite many things that would have stopped others. We may have stumbled. We may have fallen. We have not given up! Look in the mirror and realize that you have survived 100% of your worst days. Even the days that seemed the darkest.

Today, take some time to recognize how strong you are, even if it does not always feel like it. You have made it, despite feeling the urge to give up. You should be proud of yourself. We, at Secret2anamazinglife.com, are proud of you. By reading this blog post you are working to improve your life and add just that little bit more light. Now, go out into the world with your head held high! You may have a long way to go to be where you want to be, but you are a far way from where you used to be. More importantly, you are still here. Still striving. You are stronger than you think! Be proud of yourself.

WE CAN DO THIS! 💪

Do you like to argue? I am guessing if you are reading a site like this, the answer would be ‘no’. Generating more stress in your life is a very poor waste of energy. That is energy that you can spend in laughter, gratitude and inner peace. This seems pretty logical, and it really should be. Ask yourself, how many people get upset over things people like that they do not? Take the Pumpkin Spice craze. There is pumpkin spice lattes of course. There is also pumpkin spice creamer, ice cream, Little Debbie cakes and a million other items. I think pumpkin spice tastes awful. Most of the time it tastes fake and artificial to me. Do you know what I do when someone I am out with orders one? Do I feel compelled to tell them how much I dislike it? No. Why? if it brings them joy why would I ruin it?

This holds true with everything else in this list as well. Unlike pumpkin spice, I love avocado toast. Would I really want to hear about how ordering it is not a good value? Would I want to hear that it is not as healthy as some people say? How about how someone doesn’t like the taste of it? No. I just want to enjoy my damn avocado toast. This is really crazy when it comes to things people are fans of. Like teams, television shows or whatever else. If it is not the same as us, we usually tell them how ours is better and theirs is not. Oddly enough, this seems to happen in religion too. Have you ever heard someone say, “I know your team lost to my team today, but they played a great game?” If so, it doesn’t happen that often. How about this, “I know you belong to a different religion than me, but I admire how dedicated to your faith you are?” It doesn’t have to be that intense. Do you know what most of us would be better off saying when we come across someone who likes something we don’t? Not a damn thing. If it does not harm them or someone else, and it brings them joy, let them have it.

This also makes you a lot more pleasant to be around. If you wish to be a better liked friend, here is a two-fold secret to becoming one. First, when someone voices their admiration for something you don’t like, fight the urge to inform them of your distaste for it. Just try saying nothing. If they happen to mention liking something you do like, enthusiastically add to it. If you are keeping score at home, let us recap. Do not put down what you don’t like and be enthusiastic about what you do like.

Imagine the difference in being around someone who is constantly telling you how much your team sucks, or the television show you like sucks. How awful that flavor of ice cream you just ordered is. This would not be very enjoyable. Now, what if this person only spoke up to tell you how much they liked that movie that is your favorite or how they always dreamt about going to Fiji as well? (Ok, that last one is a personal favorite) How much more enjoyable would hanging out with this person be? Which one are you most of the time?

KEEP COLORING!🖍

I can’t help but really enjoy this quote. It reminds us that although we have made mistakes, we can still create a masterpiece. We may be broken in some, or even many, ways. This does not prevent us from creating a life that is a work of art. In fact, it just might help us do it even better! People who have broken, not only have an added aspect of credibility, they also have that real-life experience. They know what works. Not just in theory, but it real world application.

Would you rather get advice from someone who has read a book on a subject, or lived it? That is why I make a point to try out all of the suggestions we share here at Secret2anamazinglife. Often, what sounds good on paper, does not work in the real world. Remember, when you are feeling broken, that may very well be where your true beauty comes from!

A GREAT LESSON FROM FALL 🍂🍁

Everyone knows this time of year is tough for me. The Wisconsin State Fair, one of my favorite events, has ended. This also means my yearly 2 week vacation is also over. Cold weather is on its way. Every year I do my best to find inspiration.

This quote is very helpful. In life we all have those times when it feels like we are losing everything. It doesn’t have to be the end of summer. It can be when you need to go to both the dentist and the mechanic in the same week. Your relationship and your job could be falling apart at the same time.

Regardless of what the situation is, looking at the trees as they start to lose their leaves can remind us that although things can look bleak and dead, it can just be a phase of life. Just like a tree continues to grow in the winter, we can continue to grow in the winters of our life. Remember how the trees boom again and come back to life in spring. Often, we just need to hang on and make it through the season.

WEDNESDAY REMINDER 😃

This is a rather silly Wednesday reminder, but a necessary one. In life, we often have plenty of reasons not to smile. We need a few that will allow us to do so. We also need to remind ourselves how absolutely awesome we are. It is a job far too important to be left entirely up to others. I thought the quote above was a good one to start with. I encourage all of us to print it out, write it on a card, put it as the screensaver on our phone or some other way in which we will see it several times a day.

Go ahead and read it to yourself right now. If you are in a public place, feel free to read it under your breath, but still read it. How do you feel? Does a quirky little grin play across your face? Maybe a little laughter bubbles up inside your soul? Don’t we all deserve that feeling, and this reminder every day? It doesn’t have to be this exact quote. In fact, I would love to see some of your favorites. Post a great Wednesday reminder you like to share with yourself in the comments below!

KEEP FOCUSED 😃

Wednesday, the middle of the week. As we look to the second half of the week, there is a temptation to feel overwhelmed. The always seems to be more work at the end of the week. In order to stay focused and pushing forward, I suggest recognizing how far we have come.

This holds true not only for work, but family, friends and relationships. There often seems like such a mountain to climb in life, we may feel like giving up. It is so important to remember all the hard work we have put in up to that point. It is often that very thing that will allow us to persevere to the end

Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, whatever goal you are trying to achieve, don’t give up my friends. You may not be where you want to be, but you are a lot further than you were.

PAUSE AND APPRECIATE 🧘‍♀️

Many of us feel a mid-week slump. The stress of the work week is getting to us. Perhaps a lack of sleep is beginning to stack up. How do we counter these feelings? By pausing for a little Wednesday gratitude. Switching our focus from how tired and exhausted we may feel, to what we have to be grateful for will energize us and get us back in the game.

Gratitude can do many things. It will force us to breathe and bring us a moment of inner peace. That is very important in the middle of the week. It will also remind us of how amazing our life truly is. Even if it is just being able to read these words of encouragement and inspiration.

If you really want to have a bonus, pick one, or several, people and share gratitude with them. You could do this by telling them why you are grateful for them, or even asking what they are grateful for. Creating an atmosphere of gratitude will only improve your life as we finish out the week!

MAKE THIS DECISION ON TUESDAY

Make sure you declare to yourself first thing in the morning that it is going to be a good day. This works even better if you are looking in the mirror setting it out loud. It still works, however, if you say it out loud to yourself on your morning commute. It is also makes the other drivers wonder what you are up to.

Being our own cheerleader may seem awkward at first, but it shouldn’t. There is only one person you are with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and that is yourself. Make sure you are encouraging and a positive friend.

WORK ON YOUR SUPER POWER TODAY!🦸‍♂️🦸‍♀️

Do you ever find yourself getting discouraged at the state of the world today? I think we all can. With the wars, civil unrest, violence and general discord we see and hear about, it can be a bit difficult to remain positive. Yet, the more negative the world becomes, the easier it is for us to make a difference. Traits like love, kindness, compassion and encouragement become more special the less they appear. Some days, using them at all makes you a super power. Sharing a smile with a stranger is not only unexpected these days, it is shocking to many. A kind and encouraging word to someone working in a busy retail environment? Nothing short of a miracle!

You may be asking yourself how much of a difference you are really making. That is understandable. If we are putting forth effort to make everyone’s day a little brighter and we seem to be outnumbered by those who are determined to complain and bring everyone down, it can seem like we are not making a difference at all. The opposite is true. To illustrate how powerful being kind and loving to the world can be, please allow me to use an analogy. If you think of all the positivity you attempt to bring to the world as light, which is pretty close to accurate, this example will ring true with you. If you are in a bright room, or it is the middle of the day, and you turn on a lamp, how much of an impact does it have? Not much generally. Sometimes, you can’t even tell you turned a light on. Now, imagine being trapped in a cave, unless of course you are Closter phobic, then a dark bedroom would do. What happens if you even turn on a flashlight in that situation? It transforms the entire room! That is how kindness and compassion work in a negative world.

Next time you feel like your kindness is not making a difference, think of this example. When you feel like the world is becoming a very dark place, know that being a light will make an even greater impact. Here is one more thing to consider. How many dark rooms do you encounter? Meaning, how many negative environments do you find yourself in? It could be the gossip at work. It could be the stress of a busy retail location. How about a stressful situation at home? The darker the room, the greater impact your light will have. Kindness, love, compassion and encouragement are not only powerful, they are super powers! Develop yours today!

A QUICK REMINDER OF YOUR TOUGHNESS 💪

If you read the above statement, you will know it is true. You are here to read it. That’s not to say you haven’t been nicked and bruised by life, but you survived! You have made it through many things you thought you couldn’t. Whatever you are facing, know you can make it through!