I’m one of those people that have way too many old clothes in their closet. Shirts from runs I did in the past. Shirts from places I’ve vacationed. They all seem to have memories attached to them. Maybe I’m just too sentimental?Regardless, we all have something difficult to part with
As the quote above says, one of the most difficult is an old version of ourselves. That is why moving on from an old relationship can be so hard. It is also why overcoming an addiction can be almost impossible. Tony Robbins has said one of the most powerful things to a person is their sense of identity.
This is why how we view things can be so vital to our success. If we say, “I am a procrastinator.” That is our identity. If, on the other hand, we say, “I’m a person who used to procrastinate, but now I’m ready to change!” That does not tie our actions to our identity. Just because you have always done this or that, does not mean you are doomedto repeat that action for eternity.
What old versions of you are you ready to let go of? Better yet, what new versions of who you are, will you be willing to give birth to?
It’s Monday. Often, a tough day for many of us. What we need is tools and strategies that can give us that extra boost we need. This can be a motivational Playlist, affirmations taped on our mirror, pictures of loved ones or anything else that works for you.
Ideally, these should be put together when we are in a good state. That way we can think more rationally. What is your motivational tools and strategies? Share with all of us so we may have more at our disposal
It is Saturday, the start of the weekend. For most of us, we are looking for relaxation and sleeping in. If we are feeling a little industrious, we may try to get caught up on all of the household chores we let slip during the week. These are all good options, but I caution you on leaving out one very important item.
A recent survey showed that 87% of people are unhappy at their job. It is easy to see why this happens. You start to get seniority, maybe save up some vacation and even invest in a retirement program. It is vital to remember that we were not born to wake up, paybills and die.No! We were meant to bring to the world the happiest, most joyous version of ourselves.
How can we do that while going to a job that sucks the life out of us? By pursuing and engaging in a passion project. You may be thinking, “I have too much on my plate now! I just want to relax.” The truth is complicated. Have you ever slept only to wake up still exhausted and uninspired? We need to stoke the fire in our soul.
Adding a project you are passionate about may seem like something that will only drain you further, but the opposite is true. Working on something you enjoy, something you’re excited about, will give you more energy. It will give you hope and something to look forward to. Who knows, you may even end up making it your career! Whether that happens or not, just having that joy is life-changing.
This weekend, what actions are you going to take to build both your life and your confidence? Remember, these don’t have to be completing a project, or achieving a goal, just taking actions to propel yourself forward. It is getting in the gym to get that workout done. It is spending time on that meal prep. It might not get you in shape, or help you drop that weight that day, but it will give you the confidence to keep going.
The week is drawing to a close. Our thoughts may be drifting on our plans for the weekend. The focus we started the week with may have been replaced by the countless fires that cropped up that needing attending to. We may have been lulled into distraction by the many entertainment options offered to us after a hard days work. It is at this very point that we need to take a step back, a deep breath and refocus. While work can demand a great deal of our attention during the week, we cannot sacrifice our quest for self-improvement, our desire to become the best version of ourselves and live a positive and rewarding life.
This picture reminds us of the cost of not remaining focused. While we may have said we were committed to eating healthy during the week, time may have us grabbing that Big Mac. Thinking we are spending 4 dollars, when really we are giving away a piece of our health. Same with binge watching Netflix for hours instead of completing that project. The stress of still having to do it, along with the knowledge that we are not as self-disciplined as we should be. Have we read, researched or even listened to something motivational and inspirational online or did we just scroll to see what betty and Jim happen to be posting on Social Media?
It is Thursday and a lot of us are starting to get warn out from the work week. I get that. Take some time for self-care and recharging the battery. We need that to give us the energy to push forward. What we cannot afford to do, is become slaves to the distractions that seek to deprive us of the rich and rewarding life that we all deserve. Take some time to relax and enjoy life. Just remember to keep working towards the bigger picture of the life we desire and deserve. Everything is better when you earn it.
Here at Secret2anamazinglife, we focus a lot on self-care. The reason being is that by taking care of ourselves, we put ourselves in the best position to take care of others and the world at large. In addition, by practicing self-care, we are far more likely to become the best version of who we are. This includes taking care of our physical bodies through diet and exercise. This gives us the energy and vitality to pursue our goals and dreams. It involves taking care of our minds. Keeping our intellect sharp, and constantly developing, will position us to grow and contribute more. There is one more area that we need to focus on. This area will not only give us energy like our physical body can, it will also help us reduce stress and increase inner peace. This will allow us to grow and develop and help safeguard our mind.
What is this area? This area is that our our soul, our spirit. It is important to take care of the fire that burns inside of you. There is no right or wrong way to do this. The only right is to do it. The only wrong thing is to not do it. For some of you, this may be rituals involving your faith. For others, it may be connecting with certain people. Some may find that spiritual connection in the woods. Some may find it in all of these. I would like to share one of the ways in which I refresh my spirit.
This past weekend I attended the Hunting Moon Pow Wow. For those of you who may not be familiar with what a pow wow is, allow me to explain. A pow wow is a gathering of Indigenous people that allows them to share traditions, celebrate their culture and honor their ancestors. It has a great sense of community and many people look forward to seeing each other at these events. There are drumming and dancing competitions as well as moments honoring veterans and an invocation blessing all of those in attendance. They used to have several where I live, but now are down to this one a year.
One of the best ways to really feed your soul is to do this with others. That is why many religions gather in groups. Being surrounded by others also looking to feed their soul only amplifies the effect it has on everyone. I am so lucky to be able to share this event with the love of my life, the beautiful Margie. Doing this together brings so much joy and happiness to my soul, it is hard to even convey it in words. Not only to a feel ‘spiritually refreshed’ for lack of a better description, but it strengthens the love I feel for her. We tend to meet and make friends with many new people. During grand entry, which is when the dancers enter the arena, we sat next to a very nice family and shared some stories. We also met a very helpful lady who runs a great charity. More about that next post. All in all, we left feeling very happy and also very full from the amazing food.
Today, make taking care of your spirit and your soul part of your routine. Whether that is reading from a spiritual book that speaks to you, attending gatherings of faith, prayer or meditation of your faith or a day at the beach or in the woods, take care of your spiritual side today. Without doing so, you will not be the best version of you. By doing so, you will be able to do everything better.
Today is Monday. It is a day of dread for many. Back to work after 2 days worth of freedom. The beginning of the workweek. Which, for many of us, includes spending a large amount of time at a place we don’t really enjoy, with people we also do not enjoy. Considering all of this, it is no wonder we start to get that feeling in the pit of our stomach on Sunday night, knowing what will happen once the sun rises. (or in my case, before the sun rises)
Here is the thing – Monday is no different than many other days. While it is true that it is the beginning of the workweek and having to wake up to an alarm, it is also the beginning of the opportunity to start earning money to put towards that vacation. It is also a chance for us to demonstrate our character and work ethic. When I say this, I am not talking about showing off, or sucking up to a boss or coworkers. No, I am talking about demonstrating our character to both ourselves and those whose opinions we value.
Every morning we overcome the temptation to throw the alarm clock across the room and bury ourselves further in the covers, we are demonstrating a certain amount of character and self-discipline. When we push ourselves to not only show up at work, but do a job that we are proud of, that gives us a self of pride. What does that pride do for us? It gives us a sense of self-confidence, which in turn will make the self-discipline easier in the future.
We would not be able to build our character, build our self-discipline and our sense of inner-pride without the challenge of Monday. It boils down to a change in perception. If we lived a life of sloth and convenience, which does sound tempting on occasion, we would be weak individuals unable to withstand the storms of life. Much like going to the gym to strengthen our bodies, waking up to Monday helps us to strengthen our mental and morale fiber.
Do not fear or dread Monday. Understand it is a chance to get better, to get stronger and to create the best version of you. It takes resistance to grow strength. That is as true when it comes to your character and self-discipline as it is for your body. Monday is not the scary villain, it is our personal trainer for our self-discipline and inner-strength. The payoff is not muscles, it is something more powerful. By using Monday, instead of letting it use us, we develop pride, self-confidence and the ability to rise above who we currently are.
Just a quick reminder on your Sunday, that you should make a point to be kind to the person in the mirror? How often do we give ourselves a compliment? When we do, does it feel awkward? If so, that is a sign that we need to do it more often!
Realizing that there are awesome things about us, and mentioning them to ourselves, does not make us arrogant. We seem to mention and discuss what is wrong with us and not working in our lives quite often. How does that make us feel?Try saying something good about yourself. Even though none of us are perfect, we all have some amazing things inside of us. Let’s appreciate a few today. 😃
I apologize in advance for two heavy posts in a row. Part of the reason we, at Secret2anamazinglife.com, exist is to give you new ways of thinking. Marcus Aurelius, whom we get the quote above from, has given us a lot of things to ponder. If you have read my book, The Beat Goes On, you will know how this quote was really brought home to me. If you have not read that amazing book, what are you waiting for? In all seriousness, I was faced with the possibility, and it turned out probability, that I would die while undergoing open-heart surgery.
When I share that story, people often compliment me on my perspective of the whole event. I hear things like, “I wonder if I would be the same way if I was faced with that situation?” Here is a fact to consider, you are facing that situation. Sure, nobody may be coming to saw your chest in half and slice and dice your heart, but we never know what is around the corner. When you were born, the hourglass was tipped over and the sand began to run out. Here is the tricky bit, we never know how much sand is on top.
While the above may sound a bit doom and gloom, it really isn’t. Every morning we put our feet on the floor, the sand is running from top to bottom. When we do things like assuming people know how we feel, or how much they mean to us, we could be doing them a great disservice. Marcus Aurelius was quite correct when he said, “You could die right now.” Not a very cheery outlook, but that does not make it any less true. In my case, I had an aneurism, which had it exploded, the game would have been over. I honestly had no symptoms. If it were not for a slightly related item, I would have never know until I fell over dead.
How much sand is in the top of your hourglass? When are you going to slip into the great beyond? How is it going to happen? If you answered anything but “I don’t know.” to these questions, you have a power unknown to most humans. Here is another thing to consider, the same holds true for everyone else you know. One day they could be here, the next they could be gone. Again, kind of morbid sounding, but true. This is why we should be living our life to the fullest each and every day. Do not be afraid to ask the deep questions. Do not be afraid to make yourself vulnerable and share those feelings. What if it was your last chance to do so? At one point, it will be.
It is my suggestion to take the quote above and make it a guide for the rest of your life. When I was looking at what could possibly be my end, I discovered what I thought was important was not at all what was in my heart. It is not about obtaining a certain level of success. It is certainly not about reaching a certain monetary or material level. I can only share what was important to me at that moment. When I realized I may only have a few months to live, it was about leaving people with the knowledge of how important and beautiful they were. This was true especially for my lovely lady and those closest to me. It was also true for all of you reading these posts. I wanted the world to know that each one of us has a gift and something beautiful worth sharing. Something that will be lost when we are gone. My focus was on creating lasting memories. Remember your last breath may be your next one, what will it be used to say? When you find yourself a little too focused on the material things that the world wants you to believe is important, think of this quote from Denzel Washington.
One of my favorite poets, thanks to Mr. Earl Nightingale. I love the point made here. Life is about what we can leave behind. Making a true difference in the world comes down to creating, or in this case planting, things that we may never benefit from, but that can make a great difference for generations to follow.
This week as we go about our work, let us keep this question in mind, “What are we planting?” Are there things that we are creating that we may never see the benefit of, that will make a difference to future generations? This is the importance of being a good parent. You may not live to see all of the wonderful things your children will do, but raising them right and giving them the tools to do so can change the world after you are gone. Knowing that what you are doing makes a difference, can give hope and inspiration to your day. I would love to hear what you are planting.
SECRET 2 AN AMAZING LIFE 