Tag: Motivation

LIFE IS A BLESSING… ACT LIKE IT

This points to a serious paradigm shift. Many people have been introduced to law of attraction principles. Many more have studied success strategies. They both, in their own way, advocate being something before you can achieve it. If you wish to be successful, act as a successful person would. If you start saying the things successful people do and doing the things successful people do, before long you are a success.

When it comes to health, this is even more important. When you change your identity to a healthy person,(big shift there) you begin to talk and act differently. Would a healthy person sit on the couch all day eating tacos and binge watching their favorite shows? Probably not. They would read articles about health. They would meal prep. They would make movement a part of their day.

This is easy to understand from a personal standpoint, but what about your life in general? It works in much the same fashion. If you believed life was a miracle, you would talk and act in a different way. If your life was a miracle, which we will get to in a moment, taking a moment for gratitude would be second nature. Having compassion for others would just be who you are. The meaningless drama? It wouldn’t bother you.

Your life is a miracle! The odds of a particular sperm reaching the egg first are greater than winning the lottery! We  all have certain medical issues, but considering the list of every human malady, having only the ones we do is a miracle.

Then there is the fact our life hasn’t ended. There used to be a show called 1000 ways to die. It highlighted, if I may use that term, unique and crazy ways people have went to the great beyond. If you have noticed how people drive these days, it is amazing we make it to the grocery store and back! The way our body can heal itself – miracle. The way chance meetings can turn into life-long friends – miracle. The fact the most beautiful woman in the world continues to love this crazy author despite myself – best miracle ever.

OK, so the last one was a little personal, but you get the picture. Life is a miracle. Try writing that very phrase down. “Life is a miracle.” Put it somewhere you will see it everyday. Try repeating it to yourself every morning and watch your life change. You will begin to appreciate and see miracles everywhere. Life is a miracle. It is about time we act like it.

JUST IMAGINE

We may all have different paths, but we share many of the same goals and aspirations. It is time to focus on those instead of the division that has been driving us apart. Ask yourself who benefits by having us divided? It does not make our streets safer. It does not help solve any issue we are facing. Quite the opposite. We need to work together to accomplish anything. Which is why governments are not usually good at solving issues. They are often stuck bickering with themselves about who is right. They ignore, or do not see the profit in, both sides being able to be right.

If we are to take any issue, there are many things that opposing sides have in common and can agree on. Instead of building a foundation of agreement and learning to compromise on differences, they reduce themselves to blaming each other. When the day is done, nothing gets solved. How can we begin to change this? First, vote for individuals focused more on results than political affiliation. Second, learn to practice these virtues ourselves. Learn to communicate and work with those with whom we may differ. Be an example for the youth. Serve as a beacon of hope in a world that desperately needs one.

Imagine how much we could solve if we all made an effort to respect and worked together? The fact that it may sound like a fantasy in today’s world should convey the sense of urgency that we should employ these tactics. To paraphrase a tree metaphor, the best time to start respecting each other and working together would be 20 years ago, the second best time is now. Someone has to take the first step. Someone has to make the first compromise, let that be us!

OVERWHELM THE WORLD 🌎

There are many people who are concerned about the world today. Rightfully so. The question often asked is what we can do to bring decency and humanity back to the world. It is a very good question that has many answers. The first are things we can do on a national level. We can speak with our vote. We can pay attention to laws that are up for debate and respond with the officials we elect.

If we truly want global change, the best way to do so is to start by acting locally. We can be an example for the change we wish to see in the world. This can include treating others in a manner in which we would like to see people treating each other. We can begin by creating loving and accepting communities. The more we do that, the more loving and accepting communities we will have on our planet. It may seem that working to create loving households and communities will not lead to global change, but it is the best way to do so. Inspire children. Show kindness to strangers. These are ways in which we can overwhelm the world with love and kindness.

When enough of us engage in behavior to enact this overwhelm, the world will be change. Start with where you are and what you have. The world will be changed by you making a difference in your family and your household.

A WASTED EMOTION

In a world where division is more common than ever, revenge is something we are starting to see more of. It may also be a result of lack of personal accountability. A lot of us may never meet face to face. There are a lot of people who are ‘keyboard warriors’. Saying hurtful and mean things they would not only be hesitant to say in person, but have little to no business saying in the first place. There are plenty of reasons to see something you do not like and just move past it. Feeling the need to put a sarcastic or mean comment on every social media post you don’t like is not only unnecessary, it drains your productive energy as well.

When you proceed to engage negatively it does not always impact the person you are engaging with, but it will always affect you. Going around trying to get back at people you disagree with or you feel have done you wrong will have you focused on what you perceive as wrong in the world. It will have you in a negative vibration state and may even prevent you from noticing many of the blessings that all of our lives contain. Instead, let those who are consumed by doing negative destroy themselves while you build a bigger and better life for yourself. Give all the energy to yourself and your life, not to their negative actions. You will get further and eventually life will come for them.

YOU TOO CAN BE A DIAMOND 💎

It is an interesting fact is that we all are made up of the same elements. 65% of which is oxygen, followed shortly behind with carbon at 18.5%. This alone should deter some of the racists and bigots, but I will leave that for a different day. What I want to talk about is the carbon. roughly 20% of all of us are made up of carbon which is pretty much what charcoal is made of. Before you start feeling like a worthless piece of coal, let’s look at what happens when that coal is put under heat and pressure. It transforms into a diamond!

Next time you feel like the heat is on in your life, or you feel the pressure starting to get to you, think of this piece of coal. Say to yourself, or out loud if you are daring, “Looks like my carbon is being turned into a diamond!” The longer we go through life, the more pressure and heat we will go through. If done right, we can transform into a diamond. If we are treated poorly, it can strengthen our resolve to treat others with compassion and kindness. When we are ignored, it can remind us to include others.

There is a cliche that the challenges of life should make us better and not bitter. The point of that is that we have a choice. Let us decide better. Let us decide to become a diamond. Remember to say to yourself, “This challenge is turning my carbon into a diamond.”

THE MEASURE OF A MAN (OR WOMAN)

I believe if Plato were alive today, he would have included both genders in this quote. I also believe his name would not have been Plato, but we shall move on. One of the reasons that he used the masculine in this quote is that women did not have as much power as they do now. Although, it is my humble opinion we could benefit with more women in powerful positions. I am sure most of you reading this would agree.

One of the things that I would advocate is using this quote for some self-reflection. How do you use your power? You might be thinking to yourself, “Neil, I do not really have any power.” This could not be further from the truth. Each one of us has a great deal of power that we let atrophy to a great deal. If we are parents, we have a great ability to inspire and lead our children by example. If we are in a relationship, we have the power to help nurture and grow with our partner. We have the power to make them feel valued and appreciated, or worthless and taken for granted. We actually have this power over almost everyone we meet. When your retail experience is taking longer than expected, do you berate and belittle the person behind the counter or do you thank them for their efforts despite the frustrating circumstances? Even if the service is poor, which does seem to be happening with a greater frequency, we never know the story behind what is going on. Perhaps they are dealing with a mental health issue. Maybe they were never properly taught how to deal with others?

When you smile at a stranger you are using your power. The same is true if you glare at them. When you support your hard-working spouse, that is using your power. When you work hard for your family, that is using your power. When you complain, sit around not doing much, that is also using your power. One is for the greater good, the other – not so much. If you have a skill, whether that is baking, inspiring others or even being a good listener, what do you do with that skill? That is how you are using your power!

Spend a few minutes today thinking about the powers you have. That could be the power to inspire. The power to help. The power to encourage. The power to positively influence. What ways can you start to use more of these powers? Are there ways you are failing to use your power? Worse, are there ways in which, unknowingly, you are negatively using your power? If we are honest, I think there are ways in which we can all use our power a little more and a little better. I would love to hear what you think.

REALIZE YOUR POWER!

Last post we spoke of what to do when feeling overwhelmed by the seemingly hopeless oppression of the masses by a few wealthy politicians. The answer was to remember you, as a small axe, can still fall the big tree of corruption. I failed to mention that this does not only go for politics. No, any large challenge in life that you face can be approached with the same mentality. One of the greatest challenges to adopting this mindset is the constant focus on the world outside of us. How can we change the hearts and minds of our leaders to care about the people without money lining their pockets? How can we only elect people who have the skills to lead us to a world of kindness and compassion?

The short, and somewhat uninspiring answer, is that we cannot. We do not have control over others, nor outside events. When we spend all of our energy focused on changing the current of the river, we get swept away in its current. That is not to say that we should shrug our shoulders and wait for life to take care of itself. What we should do is to focus on where our power really lies – in our own mind. Wish your spouse was more romantic? You can spend hours, days and years telling them that. Unless that partner is willing to change, it will not happen. It would be best to take matters into our own hand and use the power of our own mind. This could involve seeing the different ways in which our partner expresses romance that we may not see. It could be working on creating an atmosphere where being more romantic is both desired and rewarded.

We have power over our minds, not outside events. When we focus our energy on this, we realize that we can use the power of our minds to affect the outside events around us. We also come to the realization, if we haven’t already, that trying to control others and the world around us leads to frustration and resentment. Even if we manage to obtain the control in the short-term, it is fleeting and impossible to hold onto. Our real strength is in our ability to change our perception and meaning towards life. To change our approach. To understand our role in the situations that frustrate us, and if they are beyond repair, to have the moral strength to leave those situations. Use your power and focus your energy on where it will best serve you and the process of change.

BE THE SMALL AXE

Are you frustrated by the fact that out of touch politicians make decisions for the working class? It often amazes me to hear people who are so wealthy that they have never been to a grocery, some who don’t even know the meaning of the word ‘grocery’, tell me that grocery prices are not that bad. I suppose if you make millions of dollars a year, the fact that the price of coffee is up 15% and vegetables are up 40% would not phase you too much.

Looking at our own government here in the United States, I am not sure if any of them earn less than a million dollars. All of these folks are making decisions for you and I. That may all seem a bit overwhelming. It can also lead to a great deal of frustration and leave you feel like you are far too little to make much of a difference. Like walking in a forest of huge trees, you feel rather small.

As I was driving along pondering this, life provided the answer. A Bob Marley song, Small Axe, came on the radio. The chorus of which is “If you are a big tree, we are the small axe sharpened to cut you down.” No, Bob was not advocating deforestation. Jamaica, after all, is known as the land of wood and water. It is a Jamaican saying that even a small axe can take down a big tree.

In this metaphor the ‘big tree’ are established powerful oppressors and the ‘small axe’ is a united group of people working together to bring an end to that oppression. The word that jumped out at me is ‘sharpened’. Yes, a small axe can chop down a big tree. It can do so quicker and easier the sharper it is.

In this case, sharpening is being educated. It is being united in cause. It is having a strong and well-defined ‘why’. The point of this is not to feel overwhelmed when considering all the oppression in the world. No, remember the power of that small axe that is you. Remember to spend your effort sharpening that axe! Educate yourself. Unite with others and do not fear the large trees of corruption and oppression.

*no trees were harmed in the creation of this post. We do not advocate cutting down real trees

10 GOLDEN RULES FOR PEACE OF MIND

Inner peace. That is a goal I think all of us can get behind. Again, we tend to make this far more complicated and expensive than it needs to be. It would not hurt us to pick up and read a few books on the subject. All we really need to do is focus on the ten items listed above. Let us pick out just a few to see how they can positively affect our busy lives in this crazy world.

‘Respond, don’t react’ is a good place to start. With the ability to let the world know our thoughts at the push of a button, we can do a lot of damage before we even have all of the information. Even more importantly, we can do a lot of damage to ourselves. When we know we acted from emotion instead of our best nature, we lower our estimation of ourselves. Learn to pause and ask yourself empowering questions to go from reacting to responding. This will not only bring you more peace in the moment, it will give you more peace when you lay your head down that night.

‘Let go of what you cannot control’ is another one far too many people struggle with. Being filled with anger over what some politician did or worse said? Why? Sure it may affect our lives, but is it in our control to change? Telling everyone how terrible it is and walking around angry or depressed does not change the politician or what they said or did. Take actions that will help such as voting. Then work on creating change in your corner of the world. Sick of politicians that are speaking hate and division? Rather than letting it upset you, double your efforts on making others feel loved and accepted. It will not only make life more enjoyable, it will bring you greater peace.

‘Choose silence often’ is very important in a world where it seems there are things vying for our attention every minute of the day. When was the last time you just sat alone with your thoughts? With the advent of cell phones, even a few minutes alone in the restroom isn’t safe. Try turning your phone off and going for a walk in nature. Better yet, find a nice place in nature to sit in silence. You will then combine two of these tips at once. Double the peace.

‘Practice Gratitude’ is of course my favorite step to take towards inner peace. There is no more powerful emotion to develop that will change your life faster than gratitude. That should make you want to adopt this as soon as you can. Gratitude will not only increase your peace, it will increase your joy! It will turn your life into one that is magical. It may sound hard to believe for some of you unfamiliar with the attitude of gratitude. Let me assure you that this is not hype. When you learn to be grateful for everything in your life, the peaks and the valleys, life becomes a dream. We hear people say they are “Living the dream” all of the time. It is even the title of my second book! When you learn to be grateful, you will be truly living the dream.

Those are just a few of the steps listed here. Which one is your favorite? Is there another tool or strategy that you use to bring peace to your own life? I would love to hear about it!

SECRET OF HAPPINESS

Happiness is a multi-billion dollar business these days. Everyone is buying books, attending seminars and going on vacation looking to find that moment of bliss we all seek. The ironic thing about all this is that the solution, and the bliss, is a lot closer and a lot cheaper than we make it. When people look at the quote above, they mistakenly think developing a mindset like this will stifle the motivation to pursue a better life. That is not the case at all. When we appreciate what we have as we are pursuing something better, it fills our life with more joy and makes us more resilient to the challenges along the way.

Sadly, the way that most people learn to adopt this attitude is when what they have is taken away. If you are unhappy that you cannot get around as well as you used to, what happens when the ability to get around is taken away from you all together? Suddenly, you would love to have that ability back. You could be working on improving your ability to get around through exercise and stretching while reminding yourself “At least I have the ability to work on this.” Think of people who complain about going to work. On occasion I can be one of those people. One of the best ways to fall in love with your job is to face the prospect of losing it. If you lose it all together, you would be overjoyed to have to go to work again.

I do not wish that you would have to face anything being taken from your life. Although, if it does indeed make us more grateful it can be considered a blessing. To adopt this miracle mindset before that happens, use that magic and powerful word -gratitude. There are times I listen to people get truly irate over trivial things. You are consumed in anger because your neighbor’s dog uses your lawn like a public restroom. Sure, your neighbor should be more considerate, but to lose yourself in anger over it only serves to ruin your life not theirs. You think your life is tough and people treat you unfairly? Try going for a walk through a children’s cancer ward. These kids are barely starting life and are facing the prospect of it ending all too soon. Not to mention the ridiculous financial burden their families will be saddled with on top of their emotional burden. Then, tell me again how your neighbor’s dog is ruining your life.

You may think this as an extreme example, but the point is the life we live is the dream of far more than we can imagine. You have the ability to read this right now. That means you have access to the internet, not to mention the ability to read. Those two items alone would allow you to accomplish more than someone could have done in decades only a few years ago. Are you aware there are roughly 800 million people in the world who cannot read and write? Think of how much that will limit their opportunities and future?

Realizing how wonderful we truly have it will not cause us to sink into a world of lazy contentment. On the contrary. I find that when people adopt a grateful attitude and realize how many gifts they have in their life, they are more eager to develop and share them. How about you? Has this article inspired you to take a hard look at all you should be appreciating in your life? I hope it has.