Tomorrow is Monday. I know that does not thrill a lot of you. Here is the thing, even all we dread is filled with opportunity. The drive to work, even if it is in cold weather such as we are experiencing here, is ripe with potential. If you drive, you could listen to something inspiring. This could be your favorite motivational speaker, it could be a song that really gets you pumped up. It could be an audio book you really are interested in. My suggestion would be the Living the Dream with Neil Panosian podcast, but I might be biased.
Finding the opportunity in everything may sound a bit like ‘positive thinking’ fluff, but it is quite the opposite. Finding the opportunity in everything takes hard work. It is easy to just say, “Poor me. Why does this always happen to me?” and sulk. It takes guts and determination to ask, “How can I put this situation to work for me?” It also strengthens you. I present my recent trip to the dentist as a great example. To me, there are two people in the world. Those who like going to the dentist and normal people. I decided that I was going to use this as practice for maintaining a positive and courageous outlook. It was not easy, but focusing on learning about the procedure as well as the people performing it helped.
When we harness the ability to put all of life’s circumstances to work for us, instead of being victims to them, we control life instead of the other way around. It amplifies our successes and softens the blow of our defeats. Who would not want that? Life will be one continuous upward path to personal empowerment and improvement. It will also be a lot less stressful. Think of situations that you view as holding you back and ask yourself, “How can I put this to work for me?” You will be amazed at how this change in perspective can transform your life.
Today, in the United States, it is what they call ‘Black Friday’. One of the biggest shopping days of the year. In the past, it was marked with people acting crazy, some even resorting to violence, all in the name of getting a good price on a product. Luckily, that has improved slightly with the online shopping avenue.
Still, as you go out today, remember to be kind. To the workers. They are stressed with being so busy. They are also probably working long hours. There are people shopping who may be feeling sad about being unable to purchase what they really want for their loved ones. There will be people who are stressed because they are just trying to get through the day but it is taking longer than normal because of all the people out and about. Finally, there are people with heavy hearts facing the first holiday after losing a loved one.
You have the power to add a little joy to each of these people’s lives. Use that power today. Each bit of kindness makes the world a better place whether you see it or not.
On a day specific for being thankful, we may ask what the big deal is. If you haven’t made gratitude a part of your life, you may not appreciate the benefit. Gratitude makes changes quicker than any other thing I know. Here are just a few of the things that will improve in your life when you beginto focus on what you have to be grateful for.
This can be accomplished by designating as little as 5 minutes a day. This can be done on the way to work. Maybe on the way home? How about right before bed? That will give you some good dreams. If you do it first thing in the morning it will start your day off right. Use Thanksgiving as a day to start this habit for a better life today!
Tomorrow is my favorite holiday – Thanksgiving! It is a celebration of all we are grateful 🙏 for. We can get so fixated on what needs fixing in our lives, we can often overlook what is working.
Today, let’s take a second, at the very least, to look around and take stock of what IS working and what we have to be grateful for. If you were to spend 5 minutes a day on this activity, it will change your life. Living in gratitude has so many amazing benefits it would take another post to list. DON’T trust me on this one. Try it for yourself.
One of the many great lessons you can pull out of my third book is this one! When I was told I needed a risky open-heart surgery and that there was a chance I could either have a stroke or die, a lot goes through your mind. They did tell me that it would most likely be a mini-stroke, so nothing to worry about. I recall jokingly asking if there was a mini death that wasn’t much to worry about. That was all too accurate, but that is a story for a different post. If you can’t wait, feel free to read The Beat Goes On by yours truly.
I was given two months notice before the surgery would take place. What was I focused on? Was it making more money? Not at all. Improving my looks? Nope. What became most important was loving the people closest to me and enjoying every last drop of time I could with them. The closer the day came, the less I wanted to even spend time sleeping. Granted, there is not much of that in my life normally. When you know how much sand is left in the hourglass and are keenly aware that it is running out every second that passes, there is a sense of urgency that you otherwise don’t have.
Here is the truth, that is the situation for all of us. Normally, we don’t know how much sand is on top of the hourglass. It could be a week, it could be a decade or more. We don’t really know. Yet, the majority of us walk around as if we have an noncancelable contract with life. Not to be the bearer of bad news, but yours will end someday and we don’t know when.
I did end up briefly expiring. Again, that entire story is in the book. Obviously, I came back to join you all here on the website and type this blog. Hopefully, that wasn’t the sole reason I was brought back, but I digress. Having another chance to bring joy to the world, and extract it from life is quite a blessing. I had to undergo months of physical therapy to be able to get back to living life again. Let me tell you that not a single workout goes by that I am not reminded that even going to the gym is a blessing. Actually, all of life is. It is also a precious one that far too many of us take for granted. Today, you are the youngest you will ever be. Don’t waste it.
What a question to begin the week, I know. A few posts back, we wrote that everyone we meet can become our teacher, if only our minds are open to them. The same holds true for every situation. In fact, this is one of the great secrets that can get you through some of the worst situations you will face. Being able to take a step back and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” Will show you that everything in life can be made to serve us if we choose to make it do so.
Margie and I have a friend who has, what one might call, a slight anger problem. He is aware of it, and for a while confessed that he was unable to control it. When I mentioned that he had became his anger’s ‘bitch’ (when in Rome, you must speak as the Romans do) He pondered that for a moment and realized this was so. Being that he fostered a reputation as a tough guy, how could he be a slave to his emotions? Then, I asked him the million dollar question, “What do you think you could learn from your anger? What is it trying to teach you?” Ok, so that was two questions, but they are different versions of the same thing.
I am not exactly what lesson this unfortunately young lady is learning, but if she chooses to, she can learn one. The same with us. If we choose to, we can make any situation, good or bad, an opportunity to learn! The more we realize that we do not know, the smarter we actually are! As the great philosopher above said, “Only stupid people have all of the answers.”
As we plunge headfirst into the week ahead, let us strive to get knowledge out of every situation we can. It will not only reduce stress, but it will increase intelligence! Talk about a win/win! Can you think of any situation that you managed to turn into a lesson?
You see it everywhere, people taking selfies. This past weekend, Margie and I saw a little grandma at the diner we were at trying to capture herself in the best light. It can be tricky taking a picture of yourself. Finding just the right light and just the right angle. You want to both highlight your positives and hide your negatives. Margie informs me she takes dozens to find one she likes enough to send to me. I have given up on that a long time ago. After I send my picture, a message about being stuck with me usually follows.
That is why, when I saw this quote, I had to share it with all of you. In a world where we are obsessed with our image, how many of us invest in what really counts? You can make the outside look as good as you want, but if the inside is unattractive, you will be too. On this site we certainly recommend taking care of your physical appearance. Liking what you see in the mirror will have you feeling more confident and willing to try new things. Just as, actually more, important is taking care of the inside. Have you ever met someone who might not fit your usual definition of attraction, but because of their energy and personality, you can’t help but want to be around them? Happened to me when I first met this lady with bright pink hair. Ten years later, I find her the most beautiful person in the world.
How about you? If you could take a selfie of your soul, would you want to post it online? Would it be attractive? Are you compassionate towards others? How is your temper? Do you often do random acts of kindness? How is your level of inner peace? Next time you are trying to capture that perfect likeness of yourself, take a moment to think about how the inside looks.
Have you thought about this perspective? Everyone is our teacher. Tony Robbins once said, “Every life is either a warning or an example.” Both of those are teachers. Either teaching us what to do, or teaching us what not to do. Everyone has certain skills. When I was first starting to speak, I watched videos of speakers that I admired. Even virtually, they were my teachers. My lovely lady often teaches me the importance of taking time from a focus driven life to just relax and be silly. Some people are naturally friendly and good at making people feel good about themselves. Want to learn how to be that way? Watch and observe. Allow them to be your teacher.
I can hear you now, “Neil, what about that jerk that doesn’t use that magical device that let’s you know where they are turning? You know, a turn signal.” A personal pet peeve of mine. Yes, even these driving education impaired individuals can teach us something. That can be how important it is that we use our turn signal. It can be a lesson in how to control our rage. It can give us an unscheduled lesson in defensive driving. People who challenge us can often be our best teachers. They make us reach into our character and really strengthen some of those muscles we don’t often use. You know the ones, patience, calm, restraint?
When we view everyone we come across as our teacher, as they really are, it can be a lot easier to be accepting of others. This is true even for those who teach us in a manner that we would prefer they do not. Try it for yourself. Pick a few people each day and ask yourself, “What can I learn from this person?” You would be amazed at what you come up with. Even people who you have known your whole life. Everyone has their own skills and have made mistakes. Learn from them. Who are some of your favorite teachers?
Quite a while back, I did a video for my YouTube channel called Waking up in neutral. I will post a link at the end of this post if you would like to check that out. By the time you are done reading this, it may not be a bad idea.
What is the first thing you do in the morning? If you are like 90% of people reading this blog, you probably roll over and grab your phone. According to recent surveys, 74% of people use their phone as their alarm clock. That number jumps to 83% if you live in the United States. Here is the really scary stat. 80% of people grab their phone within 15 minutes of waking up. 62% grab it immediately after waking up. What do all of these numbers mean? It means that less than a half an hour after waking up, you are letting other people influence your day. What is the big deal about that? You never know if the influence is going to be good or bad.
Once we leave the safe confines of our humble abode, we start to relinquish control of our day. There are other drivers on the road. The road itself. How about the flow of traffic? Once we get to work, there is the mood that the boss and our coworkers are in. Could be good, could be not. The fact is that none of this is in our control and the odds that all of it will be perfect and positive are slim to none. Meaning, the start of our day is the one moment we have complete control over. Yet, as odd as this may seem, almost nobody starts their day with a purpose. They sort of ‘wake up with their gears in neutral’ and let the day happen to them.
One of the ways that we can start our day on a positive spin begins before we even get out of bed. After all, we could stub our toe on the corner of the bed and start a downward trend. Before our feet even hit the floor, we should come up with at least one thing we are grateful for. If this seems like a task that may not be possible for you first thing in the a.m., it would be a great idea to jot a few down the night before. That way, all you would have to do is read a few lines before getting out of bed.
That leads us to our second suggestion. Have a morning declaration. Declare to yourself, and any nosey neighbors, what kind of day you are determined to have. Here is one of my favorites – “Today I will foster my own inner peace and bring joy to others no matter what circumstances may arise.” or “Today I will either win or I will learn. Nothing will defeat me.” It is far more powerful if you say it out loud. It may seem silly at first, stick with it. Looking at yourself in the mirror with a smile as you repeat your morning mantra will have dramatic effects. If you are too self-conscious that your spouse will hear, run the shower. I am grateful that Margie is used to me talking to myself in the bathroom and does it not pay it much mind.
There is so much craziness and chaos in our lives, we owe it to ourselves to start our day out on a positive note. Above is two suggestions. You can start with these and develop ones that work for you. I enjoy some gratitude affirmations with my first cup of coffee in the morning. Oddly enough, Margie seems grateful after I have my first coffee in the morning as well. Please share with us your tips and tricks for starting your morning off the right way. The more suggestions we have, the more likely we are to have a great day!
Artificial Intelligence can be a rather scary thing. Elon Musk was asked what was the one thing that scared him about the future and he said it was the application of AI. Now, if something scares old Elon, that is something. He is not what I would consider a very emotional fellow. Many people think that AI is some crazy futuristic aspect that is years away. It isn’t. Have you ever used your phone to look up a certain topic and suddenly you are seeing ads for that topic popping up all over your social media? One evening Margie and I were having a conversation about a certain article of clothing I was looking at purchasing. Minutes later, as she was playing a game online, an ad for that very product popped up. This can seem creepy, and I guess it kind of is. It can also teach us about an aspect of our own intelligence and how we can make the most of it.
Let us kind of switch gears for a second and talk about the Law of Attraction. What is the Law of Attraction? Many people mistakenly think it is the theory that you think of something and it pops in your life. Not quite. Good thing too, because the majority of anyone’s thoughts tend to be negative. A quick definition I heard is that the Law of Attraction is the philosophy that energy precedes manifestation. It may sound like just another way of saying what we put forth earlier, but there is an important difference. One of the great tools and strategies to use in manifesting and attracting what we want in life is focus and attention. When we practice focusing on the positive things in our life and what is going right, say through gratitude, that tends to be what we notice. The more we do it, the more we notice it. That is not to say that we do not have, or notice, the negative aspects of life, we just do not focus on them. When you shift your focus, you shift what you feel. When it comes right down to it, what you feel is what you are living. This attraction thing works both ways, so be careful. What does any of this have to do with AI? Let us take a look.
There is a different type of AI to be found. Actual Intelligence. It can be found in a part of the brain called the reticular activating system, or RAS. Remember our crazy examples about the ads for things we were talking about suddenly popping up everywhere? That is kind of how the RAS works. It acts as a filter to bring to light what we focus on. If we are always telling people that our life is difficult and that things never go our way, our RAS is listening. The same way our smart phone listens to, and pays note of the things we search and do online.
I always use the example of when you buy a new car or outfit and you suddenly start seeing that car and outfit everywhere. The cars and outfits were always there, but they were not a priority to you or to your brain. Suddenly, your RAS realized that this was a priority. It was something that was ‘like’ something you now have. In the case of a new car or outfit, something we are usually emotionally charged about having. Fast forward a year. We don’t see that outfit or car as much. Why? It has become less emotionally important to us. Here is what is really important and worth considering. In both cases, reality itself did not change, but our reality changed. Again, everybody did not go out and buy the same car or outfit, but we did start seeing more of them. Why? Because that is what we focused on.
Remember, Artificial Intelligence will show us ads for want we are paying attention to, whether that is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. We can be shown ads for gym equipment and fitness routines, or candy and drug paraphernalia. Whatever we are looking up, thinking about and giving our attention to. Actual Intelligence and our Reticular Activating System will do the same thing in our life. Whether we are focused on how miserable our life is and how terrible we are being treated, or how much opportunities we have and how much we have to be grateful for.
If you think ads popping up for what you are talking about or searching online is scary, just remember the same thing is happening in your life. Both AIs are using the same principles. For reasons I cannot comprehend, it is easier for people to agree with the fact that big brother and the internet algorithm control what shows up in our life than the fact that our built in filter in our brain is doing the exact same thing. You are attracting the ads and content you see online. You are also attracting the people, circumstances, opportunities and feelings you are experiencing in life. Use the AI you have control of to create a better life for you and those you love.
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 