Tag: neil panosian

WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I DIED

I APOLOGIZE FOR LEAVING YOU GUYS WONDERING, BUT I MADE IT THROUGH THE OPEN HEART SURGERY! WELL, KIND OF. THERE WAS ACTUALLY A MOMENT COMING OUT OF IT THAT DID NOT GO SO WELL. ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS THAT WILL STICK WITH ME FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

I AM CURRENTLY WORKING ON A BOOK THAT WILL DETAIL MY ENTIRE JOURNEY THROUGH THIS MEDICAL ADVENTURE, BUT I’M GOING TO SHARE THE PIVOTAL MOMENT WITH YOU HERE. THAT WOULD BE THE MOMENT I ALMOST DIDN’T MAKE IT BACK.

WHILE HAVING MY HEART SLICED AND DICED, I OBVIOUSLY HAD TO BE ON A BREATHING TUBE. THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER POST SURGERY WAS A NURSE SCREAMING “YOU HAVE TO BREATHE NEIL!” I REMEMBER DOING SO WITH A TUBE STUCK DOWN MY THROAT WAS QUITE DIFFICULT. THIS VOICE CAME FROM MY RIGHT SIDE. FROM MY LEFT SIDE I HEARD A FEMALE VOICE SAY “JUST RELAX” THIS SEEMED MORE UP MY ALLEY.

AS SOON AS I STARTED TO RELAX THINGS WENT BLACK AND I FELT RELAXED. THIS WAS PROMPTLY INTERRUPTED BY THE NURSE ON MY RIGHT SCREAMING “WE NEED YOU TO BREATHE” IN WHICH CASE I COULD FEEL THE DISCOMFORT OF THE TUBE IN MY THROAT. THIS WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR SOME UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. FINALLY, THE NURSE ON THE RIGHT SAID “WE NEED YOU TO BREATHE DEEP IF YOU WANT THIS TUBE OUT!” NOW SHE WAS SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE.

I RECALL SUCKING ON AS THE TUBE SLID OUT. I THEN RECALL THE NURSE YELLING THEY NEEDED NARCAN. FADE TO BLACK.

I WOKE UP MOMENTS LATER BEING WHEELED DOWN A HALLWAY. “WHERE ARE WE GOING?” I ASKED. I WAS INFORMED I WAS GOING TO ICU TO RECOVER. THAT WAS PART TRUE. ICU – YES. RECOVERY- DIDN’T FEEL LIKE IT. THE NARCAN THEY GAVE ME TO BRING ME BACK IN THE OPERATING ROOM, SHUT DOWN THE RECEPTORS TO OPOIDS IN MY BRAIN. GOOD FOR AN ADDICT, NOT SO GOOD FOR SOMEONE JUST OUT OF HEART SURGERY.

THE EVENING OF MY SURGERY I LAID IN BED WITH 2, 12″ TUBES IN MY CHEST, WIRES COMING OUT OF MY CHEST, A CATHETER (WHICH IS ALWAYS HUMBLING) AND NO PAIN MEDICINE. OH, THEY TRIED GIVING ME SOME WHICH CAUSED ME TO GET SICK ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. CONSIDERING IN THE 48 HOURS LEADING UP TO THAT I HAD JUST CONSUMED WATER, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. PLUS, GETTING SICK WITH TUBES IN YOUR CHEST AND JUST BEING STITCHED UP IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ADVENTURE.

TALKING TO THE RESPIRATORY NURSE A FEW DAYS LATER, SHE INFORMED ME SHE WAS THE VOICE I HEARD YELLING ON MY RIGHT SIDE TO BREATHE AND THE ONE WHO REMOVED MY BREATHING TUBE. I THEN ASKED WHO WAS THE VOICE ON MY LEFT TELLING ME TO RELAX. I WAS INFORMED THERE WAS NO VOICE. YET, I RECALL HEARING IT CLEAR AS CAN BE. WHO THAT WAS WE WILL NEVER KNOW.

WHAT I WILL LEAVE FROM THIS EXPERIENCE IS THAT IF I CAN MAKE IT THROUGH OPEN HEART SURGERY WITHOUT PAIN PILLS, I CAN PRETTY MUCH DO ANYTHING. THANKS TO THE BRILLIANT WORK OF THE DOCTORS AND NURSES, I AM SO HERE AND EAGER TO BRING YOU EVERYTHING I CAN!

AS THE WEEK ENDS…

THE WEEK IS OVER. MOST OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEEKEND.  THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS WE SHOULD CARRY INTO THE WEEK WITH US. WE SHOULD CHERISH THE GREAT MEMORIES WITH LOVED ONES. WE SHOULD REMEMBER AND FEEL ALL THAT WE HAVE TO BE GRATEFUL FOR. WE SHOULD ALSO MAKE GOOD USE OF THE LESSONS WE LEARNED. WHAT WE SHOULD LEAVE BEHIND IS ALL THE NEGATIVITY. WHY HANG ON TO SOMETHING THAT WILL END UP WEIGHING US DONE? LEAVE THAT IN THE PAST.

AS FOR GOING BEAST MODE WHEN IT COMES TO HAPPINESS, IT CAN OFTEN TAKE THAT AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. DON’T BELIEVE ME? TRY TO GO 24 HOURS WITHOUT A SINGLE NEGATIVE THOUGHT. HOW FAR DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD GET? SOMETIMES THE EFFORT HAS TO COME BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR OWN MIND.

THIS WEEKEND, SEARCH FOR THE LIGHT AND LEAVE THE DARKNESS BEHIND!! GO BEAST MODE AND SHOW THE WORLD, AND YOURSELF THAT YOU DESERVE TO BE HAPPY!

NEW YEAR – NEW HABITS

HERE IS AN IDEA OF A FEW HABITS WE CAN SWAP OUT. I WOULDN’T APPROACH THIS AS “SACRIFICING SOMETHING”, MORE LIKE ADDING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. NEXT TIME YOU’RE TEMPTED TO PICK UP A QUICK BURGER ON THE WAY HOME, KEEP DRIVING AND MAKE YOURSELF A LITTLE SOMETHING HEALTHIER AT HOME. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME, BUT TRY IT AS OFTEN AS YOU CAN.

SO MANY OF OUR LIFESTYLE CHOICES ARE DOWN TO HABIT. IF WE CAN START NEW GOOD ONES, WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY HAVE LESS TIME FOR THE OLD BAD ONES.

THE MAGIC PHRASE

THERE ARE SO MANY PHRASES WE USE DAILY. WE TELL OUR SPOUSE AND THOSE WE CARE ABOUT THAT WE LOVE THEM. WE WISH OUR NEIGHBORS “GOOD MORNING” TO SHOW AND EXPRESS THAT WE WISH THEM WELL. WE SAY “THANK YOU” TO THOSE WHO HAVE ASSISTED US IN SOME FASHION. HOPEFULLY, WE DON’T RESPOND “OF COURSE” TO THOSE WHO THANK US, BUT THAT IS A STORY FOR ANOTHER DAY.

WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT IF THERE WERE A MAGIC PHRASE THAT WE COULD USE? A PHRASE THAT COULD BE USED WITH MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, IN MANY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. TO BE A TRULY MAGICAL PHRASE, IT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO FILL THEM WITH A FEELING OF JOY, SIGNIFICANCE  AND RESPECT AND ADMIRATION NOT ONLY FOR THE PERSON SAYING IT TO THEM, BUT FOR THEMSELVES AS WELL?

WELL THERE IS SUCH A MAGIC PHRASE AND I AM GOING TO SHARE IT WITH YOU. FEAR NOT, YOU DO NOT NEED A TOP HAT OR WAND TO USE THIS. WHEN YOU DO USE THIS PHRASE, MAGIC WILL BEGIN TO HAPPEN. YOU WILL FIND YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WILL GROW CLOSER. YOU WILL FIND PEOPLE ARE DRAWN TO YOU AND GENUINELY WANT TO BE AROUND YOU. YOU MAY EVEN FIND YOURSELF RECEIVING BETTER SERVICE.

WHAT IS THIS MAGIC PHRASE? THREE SIMPLE WORDS – “I APPRECIATE YOU” THINK OF WHAT THAT PHRASE MEANS. TO BE APPRECIATED MEANS THAT SOMEONE RECOGNIZES THE VALUE IN US AS A PERSON. IT MEANS THEY VALUE NOT ONLY WHAT WE BRING TO THE WORLD, BUT WHO WE ARE. SAY THIS GENUINELY TO YOUR SPOUSE WHEN YOU GET HOME. SIT ACROSS FROM THEM, LOOK THEM IN THE EYES AND SAY “I APPRECIATE YOU” TRY TO THINK OF THE THINGS YOU APPRECIATE ABOUT THEM BEFORE AND DURING THE ACT. WATCH THE EFFECT IT HAS. TRY IT ON YOUR FRIENDS, THE PERSON WHO HELPS YOU AT THE COFFEE SHOP AND ANYONE ELSE YOU APPRECIATE. YOU DON’T NEED TO EXPLAIN WHY, JUST TELL THEM THEY ARE APPRECIATED. I GUARANTEE YOUR LIFE WILL BE FILLED WITH MAGIC.

A QUICK REMINDER ON YOUR SECRET POWER

THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE POWER OF FOCUS. “WHATEVER THE MIND OF MAN CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, IT CAN ACHIEVE” WHAT ARE YOU FOCUSED ON? DO YOU BELIEVE IT WILL COME TRUE FOR YOU IN TIME?

I SUGGEST THAT WHILE WE WORK ON ACHIEVING ANY WORTHWHILE GOAL, WE ALSO WORK ON INCREASING OUR FOCUS AND BELIEF. BY DOING SO, THE ACHIEVEMENT WILL COME QUICKER AND WITH LESS EFFORT. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND DOING TO INCREASE FOCUS AND BELIEF? SHARE IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

DO YOU WANT TO BE AN INFLUENCER?

A LOT OF PEOPLE THESE DAYS HAVE THE GOAL OF BECOMING AN INFLUENCER. THEY SEE THE LAVISH LIFESTYLES OF PEOPLE LIKE THE KARDASHIANS, INTERNET MODELS AND GAMERS AND THINK, “WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE?”

LET US LOOK AT WHAT AN INFLUENCER ACTUALLY IS. SIMPLY DEFINED, IT IS A PERSON WITH A GROUP OF FOLLOWERS WITH WHOM THEY HOLD SWAY AND AFFECT THEIR CHOICES AND ACTIONS. THE STANDARD THOUGHT IS THE GREATER NUMBER OF FOLLOWERS, THE MORE OF A SUCCESSFUL INFLUENCER YOU ARE.

I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH THAT DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. I CERTAINLY WOULD SAY THAT QUALITY TRUMPS QUANTITY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK. I BELIEVE THE STRONGER YOUR INFLUENCE AND THE MORE POSITIVE AND INSPIRING IT IS, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOU ARE. IF YOU HAVE A MILLION FOLLOWERS, BUT WHAT YOU SAY HAS LITTLE, IF ANY, POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR LIVES, YOU ARE NOT A VERY INFLUENTIAL PART OF THEIR LIVES.

HERE IS A GREAT SECRET – YOU ARE ALREADY AN INFLUENCER! WHETHER YOU ARE A BOSS AT WORK, SOMEONE YOUR COWORKERS LOOK FORWARD TO INTERACTING WITH, A PARENT, A GREAT FRIEND OR EVEN JUST SOMEONE WHO HAS CONTACT WITH OTHERS (THAT SHOULD COVER EVERYONE) YOU ARE AN INFLUENCER. HERE IS THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU INFLUENCE AND IMPACT THEIR LIVES? DO YOU INSPIRE YOUR EMPLOYEES? DO YOU APPRECIATE YOUR COWORKERS? DO YOU ENCOURAGE AND MOTIVATE YOUR CHILDREN? DO YOU SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS? DO YOU SHOW KINDNESS AND COMPASSION TO STRANGERS AND THOSE YOU INTERACT WITH?

THINK OF HOW YOU INFLUENCE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE TODAY. EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, PLAN HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO IN THE COMING YEAR.

TIME’S UP! WHAT’S NEXT?

TIME’S UP! THAT’S IT! PUT DOWN YOUR PENCILS FOR 2021! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR. THERE MAY BE A MAD DASH TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING WE WANTED TO DO THIS YEAR, BUT TIME IS GROWING SHORT.

I SUGGEST ENDING THE YEAR ON A RIGHT NOTE. THINK OF HOW YOU WANT EVERYONE IN YOUR LIFE TO FEEL AS BOTH ONE YEAR ENDS AND ANOTHER BEGINS. MAKE SURE TO TELL THOSE YOU CARE ABOUT THAT… WELL.. YOU CARE ABOUT THEM. I JUST RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM MY DEAREST SOUL FRIEND AND IT MEANT THE WORLD TO ME. IT WOULD BE THE BEST IDEA TO MAKE THIS AN ONGOING PRACTICE. NOT JUST FOR THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT THE END OF THE MONTH, END OF THE WEEK MAYBE? THE SAD TRUTH IS WE NEVER KNOW WHEN THE END MAY COME AND WE WOULD HATE TO HAVE THE REGRET OF NOT HAVING SAID OR DONE THE RIGHT THING.

NOW LET’S LOOK FORWARD TO THE FUTURE! WHAT IS NEXT? FOR THIS BLOG, WE HAD A BIT OF A DOWN YEAR. ROUGHLY 15,000 VISITORS. THAT WAS DOWN FROM 32,000 LAST YEAR. WE STILL REACHED OVER 150 COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SOME WE HAD NOT REACHED BEFORE. STILL NO GREENLAND, BUT WE WILL GET THERE.

GOING FORWARD OUR FOCUS WILL BE ON ENGAGEMENT. THAT IS WHY, STARTING JANUARY 1ST, EVERY COMMENT ON EITHER THE BLOG, SOCIAL MEDIA POST OR YOUTUBE VIDEO (NEIL PANOSIAN IS THE CHANNEL) WILL GET YOU AN ENTRY FOR AN AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF ONE OF MY BOOKS. THAT INCLUDES A HAPPY LIFE FOR BUSY PEOPLE, LIVING THE DREAM AND SOON AN UPCOMING BOOK ON MY JOURNEY THROUGH OPEN HEART SURGERY.

SPEAKING OF VIDEOS, WE WILL HAVE ONE A WEEK IN THE COMING YEAR. THAT’S RIGHT, 52 NEW VIDEOS! THEY WILL BE SHARED IN THIS BLOG, BUT IF YOU WANT TO GET THEM EARLIER, GO TO THE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE. (AGAIN, THAT IS NEIL PANOSIAN) I LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING WITH YOU ALL A LOT MORE IN 2022! STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!!😀

ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT?

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE QUESTION I AM MOST OFTEN ASKED IS, “HOW DO YOU DO IT?” THIS CAN BE IN REFERENCE TO MAINTAINING A POSITIVE OUTLOOK, BEING ABLE TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES, HAVING A RELATIONSHIP THAT IS AMAZING AND ALWAYS GETTING BETTER OR A HOST OF OTHER THINGS.

THE ANSWER IS NOT A SECRET OR A SIMPLE HACK. IT IS WORK. NOW, I’VE DEVELOPED PROCESSES THAT ARE BOTH ENJOYABLE AND REQUIRE VERY LITTLE EFFORT, BUT THEY STILL REQUIRE YOU TO TAKE SOME ACTION. WHY WOULDN’T YOU? IT IS YOUR LIFE WE AT TAKING ABOUT HERE! A FEW SIMPLE TWEAKS TO YOUR EVERYDAY CAN HAVE HUGE IMPACTS ON THE OUTCOME OF YOUR LIFE.

THERE ARE LOTS OF FUN SECRETS YOU CAN EMPLOY TO TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE INTO ONE OF YOUR DREAMS AND THEY CAN ALL BE FOUND IN MY BOOKS, A HAPPY LIFE FOR BUSY PEOPLE, AND LIVING THE DREAM. A LINK TO THEM WILL BE AT THE END OF THIS POST. I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU WHAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL TOOLS I PERSONALLY USE IN THIS POST. I USE IT WHILE WORKING OUT, AT WORK ON OCCASION, IN THE CAR ON THE WAY TO WORK OR THE GROCERY STORE FOR THAT MATTER. I USE THIS TOOL WHEREVER I CAN FIT IT IN.

HERE IT IS – I LISTEN TO SOMETHING THAT WILL EITHER TEACH, MOTIVATE OR INSPIRE ME. I DO THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT HAS CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE. I HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO LEARN AND GROW THANKS TO AUDIO BOOKS. IT KEEPS MY MOOD AND VIBRATION HIGH ON DAYS WHEN I NEED A BOOST.

SOME PEOPLE TELL ME THEY DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS. LISTEN, EVERYONE HAS TIME. I HAVE 7 DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS IN INVOLVED IN. I STILL FIND TIME. IT IS USING WHAT TONY ROBBINS CALLS N.E.T. TIME MEANING “NO EXTRA TIME” YOU DO IT WHEN YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING ELSE. POP EARBUDS IN WHILE DOING DISHES. HAVE AN AUDIO BOOK IN THE CAR FOR YOUR TRIPS TO AND FROM WORK.

EVEN DOING THIS 5 DAYS A WEEK WILL CREATE A BIG CHANGE. ALL IT REQUIRES IS TO JUST PUSH PLAY. WHAT WE PUT IN OUR MIND IS WHAT MANIFESTS IN OUR LIFE. START FILLING IT WITH GREAT STUFF!

EVERY END IS A BEGINNING

WHAT A GREAT QUOTE FROM MITCH ALBOM, ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS. AS 2021 DRAWS TO A CLOSE WE ARE ALL EXCITED FOR THE NEW YEAR AND ALL THE POSSIBILITIES IT BRINGS. AS WELL WE SHOULD. NOBODY IS SAYING, “IT IS SO SAD THE OLD YEAR IS ENDING.”

I AM WONDERING, WHY DO WE NOT DO THE SAME IN OTHER AREAS OF OUR LIVES. SURE, SOME ARE FAR MORE DIFFICULT, BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT WE STILL HAVE THE OPTION ON WHERE WE PLACE OUR FOCUS. WE CAN MOURN THE END, OR GET EXCITED FOR WHAT IS NEXT. WE CAN FOCUS ON WHAT WE HAVE LOST, OR WHAT WE COULD POSSIBLY GAIN IN THE FUTURE.

MANY OF YOU WILL SAY THIS STILL DOES NOT CHANGE THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION. IN SOME WAYS, THIS IS CORRECT. IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT SOMETHING ENDED AND SOMETHING IS BEGINNING. WHAT IT DOES CHANGE IS HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT, HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES AND HOW WE FEEL ABOUT LIFE IN GENERAL. I WOULD ARGUE IMPROVING OUR FEELINGS ON ALL OF THOSE CATEGORIES WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO IMPROVING THE FACTS OF THE FUTURE.

THIS COMING YEAR, LET US ALL BE MORE RESOLUTE IN FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE, THAN THE NEGATIVE OR LOSS OF THE PAST AND POSSIBLY THE PRESENT.

IT’S THE LAST ONE!

WE ARE IN THE LAST WEEK OF THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR! CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW TIME FLIES? THIS WILL BE THE LAST TUESDAY OF 2021. WHILE SOME OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW YEAR AND NEW POSSIBILITIES, THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT.

WHEN YOU THINK OF THE FACT THAT WE WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER TUESDAY IN 2021 AGAIN, IT SOUNDS RATHER FINAL. MY SUGGESTION IS TO SQUEEZE EVERY LAST DROP OF LOVE, JOY AND HAPPINESS OUT OF IT. HOW? BY BEING PRESENT.

THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING BY MYSELF TO WORK WHEN I HAD ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WE ALL HAVE. I LOOKED AROUND TO DISCOVER I WAS ALMOST HALFWAY THERE! I SERIOUSLY WONDERED WHO DROVE THE FIRST HALF! DID I MENTION I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR?

WE SO OFTEN GET LOST IN OUR THOUGHTS OR OTHER DISTRACTIONS THAT WE MISS THE JOY OF LIFE AROUND US. WE ARE THINKING ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT DAY, SOMETHING THAT MIGHT BE TROUBLING US, OR EVEN WHAT WE ARE HAVING FOR DINNER. IN MY CASE, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IN 2 WEEKS I’LL BE UNDERGOING OPEN-HEART SURGERY. THE CRAZY PART IS THAT ALL OF THIS OVER-THINKING AND WORRY GETS US NOWHERE.

BEFORE WE KNOW IT, OUR LIFE, MUCH LIKE THE FIRST HALF OF MY COMMUTE, WILL HAVE PASSED US BY UNNOTICED AND UNAPPRECIATED. STARTING TODAY, LET US ENJOY THE LAST WEEK OF THE YEAR TO THE FULLEST. LET US BE TOTALLY PRESENT IN OUR LIVES. WHETHER THAT BE ENJOYING A GOOD CUP OF COFFEE WITH ALL OF OUR SENSES, LISTENING INTENSELY TO OUR PARTNER AND FRIENDS OR SIMPLY NOTICING THE BEAUTY ON OUR MORNING COMMUTE. DO NOT LET THIS WEEK, OR ANY OF YOUR LIFE, PASS BY WITHOUT BEING PRESENT IN IT.