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 staringat the cracks and missing the rest of the wall. In other words, seeing the problems in our life without appreciatingwhat 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.
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.
The work week has begun and we are all on our own journeys. The quote above has two amazing points. The first one is just that. Our journeys are unique to us. When we see someone doing something that does not make sense to us, we must remember that their journey is different than ours. Where we are going and where we have been is very different from them and their life. Even if something seems to make no sense to us, if we consider that their experiences and thoughts may be the exact opposite, it could make perfect sense to them.
Keeping these facts in mind will allow us to forgo judgement and approach each other with compassion. Not everyone, dare I say not anyone, we cross paths with will have the same destination, the same beliefs or the same journey. We may even be heading towards the same destination, but are taking different paths. That is ok. That last fact is something very important to keep in mind. It is ok if someone’s journey takes a different path than our own. It is not only ok, it is what gives life its variety. If everyone’s journey and destination were exactly the same, life would be insanely boring. Even when we find ourselves seemingly sharing a journey with someone, know in reality it is just that our paths are crossing for that period of time.
The second point is perhaps the most important. When our paths do cross, we should do our best to encourage and lift each other up. How many times do we get a chance to share the journey of life with each other? It is not as many as you think. Even with those in our household, or those we see every day at work. There can be a million reasons why these paths may go their separate ways. People can get promoted. They can decide to pursue a different path in life. Sadly, they can also pass away. We can never be certain that our paths will cross again.
I can think of no better legacy to leave behind than to be remembered as someone who has positively impacted the lives of others. This does not have to be someone like a Mother Teresa who used her extreme love and compassion to care for some of the most neglected members of society. Although, there is always room for people like that. Positively impacting people can be as simple as always sharing a smile and encouraging word with those you come in contact with. How valuable are those two things when we are having a rough day? The gift of hope can be one of the most valuable gifts we can give.
When you cross paths with someone today, remember those two facts. First, their path and journey are different than yours. This holds true for everyone in your life. From strangers you meet for a moment, to those you live with. Our paths may cross for a little, or a long time, but our journeys are still our own. Second, remember to encourage everyone you cross paths with. You never know how hard their journey is, and you can never be sure you will cross paths with them again.
Just a reminder, no matter how tough life seems, it is not as tough as you!It won’t be easy, it may be rough, but if you just keep going you will get through. Feel free to read through the over 2000+posts on secret2anamazinglife.com to fill you with inspiration and motivation. We are always here to help. If there is a subject you would like us to discuss, leave it in the comments or send us a message.
We are here to believe in you and support you in your dreams!
This holiday season, the best gift you can give is to be the best gift! As we talked about last post, by expressing gratitude and genuine appreciation? Who would not want to hear why people think they are an awesome part of their life? The true gifts of the holiday are the times we share and the people we spend them with. Another great idea is to share happy memories you have while you are creating new ones. Maybe start a new enjoyable holiday tradition that will bring joy to all of those attending?
These are ways in which we can bring amazing gifts while being the best gift at the party. Make this holiday the best by giving others inner joy to carry with them not only during the holiday season, but all year long! This is what holidays should be all about. If you have any suggestions for adding joy and happiness to our holiday season, or fun holiday traditions you celebrate, please share them with us in the comments. In this way, you will be adding joy to those who read this blog in over 200 countries, celebrating a wide array of holidays. Here at secret2anamazinglife, we wish you and yours a safe, healthy and happy holiday season.
I like this question because it really makes us think. Are you confusing the two? Ok, that is a lot of questions. Let us take them one at a time. When we fail it is a verb. It is something we are doing. Therefore, we can continue to do it, or we can change. It is like when you hear people say, “I always am late.” or “I always start things and never finish them.” No, you always have been late. You have started things and not finished them. If you are not dead yet, and sense you are reading this I am going to assume you are not, then you have a chance to change. Let us not confuse an action with an identity. An action is something we do (verb) an identity is something we are (noun)
Many of us think of ourselves as failures because we have failed at certain things. This only becomes true if we have thrown in the towel on life and on chasing our dreams. Maybe you have even been a failure at something up to this point. I used to be a failure at being a good man. Relationships were not always my strong point. Now, I teach others on how to be an amazing friend and lover. How? I grew tired of the frustration of failing and realized it could drive me but it did not have to define me. I faced what I was failing at, and made it a point to turn it around. This didn’t happen overnight and it sure as hell was not a linear process. In fact, it is a lifetime journey of learning and practicing. Sometimes I still “fail” at being a good friend and lover, but I am no longer a “failure” in these aspects.
Let us take a look at the most storied example of this. Thomas Edison. Depending on what numbers you get, he either failed 1000 to 10,000 times to invent the light bulb before he got it right. How many times have you tried something more than 10 times before you gave up? I know that number is not too many for yours truly. He didn’t. He kept failing, but he never saw himself as a failure. At one point even telling a reporter, “I have not failed 10,000 times. I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways it will not work.” This represents the importance of our perception. Inky Johnson, one of my favorite speakers, has a quote that states, “Perception will always drive performance.” If Edison had perceived himself as a failure, do you think he would have continued to try? Of course we know the answer to that question would be ‘no’. How about you? Do you recognize that fail means “First attempt in learning?”
Remember to see failing as a verb in your life. It is actions, ones you can change. You are not a failure unless you decide to be. You can fail 1000 times such as Edison did and still come out victorious. It happened with the light bulb, why can’t it happen in your life? The antidote to failure is perseverance. I put that last line in italics because I wanted you to get it. As long as you are still working, you are not a failure. As long as you are willing to keep working until it works, you are not a failure. It may take encouragement. It may take inspiration. Do whatever it takes to keep fail as a verb and not a noun in your life.
In today’s world, it is easy to get discouraged. We know that there are negative influences at every turn. There of course is the nightly news. Turn that off. There is all the political division. Do not fall for that. There are different faiths convincing you they are right and everyone else is wrong. Love everyone anyway. News even comes to our phones. Turn off the notification.
Even if we take all of the measures to insulate ourselves from the pressures of life that may bring us down, it can still get through. We can witness it at the coffee shop. Coworkers can come up and inform us of it. Sometimes we can just feel discouraged and lacking hope. It is at this very moment we should do what the photo above suggests. It works 100% of the time. There is nothing that feels as good as knowing you helped make the world a little brighter for someone else. The opportunities are everywhere. People post their tough days on social media. There are charities to help at. This could be a food bank, a domestic violence shelter or a million other options. Even something as encouraging a server in a restaurant, like my lovely lady did today, or a retail setting can make their world a lot brighter.
Wisdom from one of my favorite philosophers. Winnie-the-Pooh touches on something very helpful here. When we are feeling discouraged, it can be tempting to just sit at home and wallow in our misery. Seeking out others in “our corner of the woods” that could use some encouragement is just what the doctor ordered. It not only gets us out of the house, which will help our emotional state in and of itself. “Motion equals emotion.” as Tony Robbins says. Yes, I just quoted both Winnie-the-Pooh and Tony Robbins to make the same point. That is just how my brain rolls. It will also give us a mission and an important reason for being. Two more ways to positively impact our emotional state before we encourage a single soul. When we do find those in “the woods” that need us, we will be helping them as much as they will be helping us.
Creating as many of these win/win situations as we can will rid our life of that terrible feeling of discouragement. Here is something that should be obvious, but since we are focused on feeling discouraged, I thought I should mention it. This works even if we are having a good day. When we encourage others, it will give our own emotional state a lift. This is true whether we are feeling down in the dumps, or even if we are walking on cloud nine. Encourage someone today! It will make someone’s day and may save yours!
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.
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?
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!
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 