Tag: self improvement

DO YOU KNOW THIS PERSON 😏

I hesitated at choosing the title of this post. It sounds a bit too much like those scam videos we are all sent on social media. Speaking of the fine art of online communications, I am here to propose an idea. Stop your scrolling for a second and ponder the question above? Do you know anyone who is sunshine in human form? I’m sure we all do.

I’m going to mention a few, as I am grateful 🙏 enough to have many in my life. There is my mother. Always up for an adventure. This is especially true if it has to do with walking in nature. As you can see, it also could involve October fest too.

There is my friend Shannon. We have known each other for… well… let’s just say for a good number of years. 😉 We also shared a lot of walks in nature great conversations and an even better connection.

Raymon (far left) is another great example. Here he is with his wonderful wife, attending my recent charity book event. Raymon is someone who genuinely listens to understand and is a very thoughtful and caring person.

This list would not be complete without my lovely lady. Margie can turn a dark day sunny with just a smile. She always does more than that. The other day, when I was having a hard day, she room me out to lunch and made sure to put a smile back on my face. She really is my sunshine!

How about you? Is there someone in your life that can brighten even the darkest of days? Who are they? Maybe leave a little comment of appreciation on their social media. Take them out for lunch a cup of coffee or a walk in nature. Get around them and soak up the sun!

HOW THEY TREAT YOU

Today was a tough day at the day job. I had just finished what I was working on and one of my coworkers walked right through it and ruined it. This was despite the fact that I had a sign posted alerting passers-by that the section was temporarily closed. Assuming that she might be challenged when it came to literacy, I politely asked if next time she saw that sign, she could please walk around the area. In what can only be described as a very condescending time, she glared and said, “No.”

I was a bit dumbfounded as I have never treated this lady with anything but kindness and respect. I also was raised to respect everyone so her behavior was just not what I was used to. She even asked the boss later, “Why should I respect him?” Clearly, this young lady could benefit from reading my favorite book How to Win Friends and Influence People.

This is not a post about how poorly people treat one another, or how we should respect everyone. No, it is about a mistake I made following this interaction. It also is about having a system in place to address and correct that mistake.

First the mistake. I let this lady’s behavior really affect me. It rather upset my day. When the person who usually makes everyone else happy is unhappy, that didn’t help the overall vibe of the office for the day. This lady, in which should be no surprise, seemed not to care at all.

I know you should not let others control your emotional state. I even teach tools to that effect. You know what else I am? Human. That means in spite of all the knowledge I both have and teach, on occasion life will get the best of me. Especially when someone’s behavior is so out of line in catches me off guard.

Knowledge of tools for success is what saved me from the rest of this day. One of them is surrounding yourself with other people who are passionate about learning to improve themselves. Another one is to foster relationships that allow you both to share knowledge and feelings freely with each other.

To this end, I had several folks which included family, friends and more courteous coworkers, to remind me of what I already know. It is fatal to put the key to your happiness in someone else’s pocket. Life happens and we are all human. We will forget what we know and make mistakes. That is why it is important to surround ourselves with people who can give us that reminder of what is important and what we should be doing.

DON’T FORGET THIS TOOL AT YOUR DISPOSAL 🔨🪛🛠

Music is certainly something that can change our emotional state. You put your headphones 🎧 on at the gym to get fired up. You hear a song and think of someone you love, or even someone you miss. Often these moments happen by chance. We hear a song while driving in the car. A song is playing while we are shopping or eating in a restaurant.

Don’t forget, you can use this intentionally. In my first 2 books I advocate creating a happy Playlist. That is a collection of songs that put you in a positive mental state. That way when stress comes, all you have to do is push play and you have a little help getting back to a happier place.

If you haven’t read either of my first 2 books, or this idea is new to you, I suggest getting started on it today. Create a Playlist on your phone, your iPad or wherever else you can. Music is a great tool. Let us use it to our advantage!

AN EXCERPT FROM MY SECOND BOOK 📖

Below you will find a link to my Living the Dream with Neil Panosian podcast. If that link doesn’t work for you, feel free to find out wherever you stream your favorite podcasts. Don’t forget to subscribe so you will get the latest episodes as soon as they are released!

In this episode, you will hear a section from my second book, Living the Dream. It will be the secret to giving your life direction and accomplishing more in less time! Click below to listen right now!

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE EPISODE!

FIND WAYS THIS WEEKEND 🙏

One of the best, and most fulfilling things we can do is to find ways to help others. The great thing about that is the repercussions of doing so. You not only make the person you are helping feel good, you also feel good for doing so. As an effect of that, you make the world a brighter and better place for everyone. It is a no lose situation.

Even if you are too shy to help in person, there are so many things you can do virtually. From posting an encouraging comment on a friend’s social media page, to sharing a positive and inspiring post (take this one for example)

If we all do one little thing to help others, it will make a big impact. What are your ideas to help this weekend?

A MORNING MANTRA 🌄

This site is all about finding tools and strategies to set ourselves up to win at the game of life. To turn our lives from one of striving, to one of thriving.

I came across this little saying in one of the many positive pages I subscribe to on social media. Not only do I like the message, but I thought how powerful it could be as a daily morning mantra. Can you imagine having this printed out, hung on the bathroom mirror and reciting it out loud to yourself every morning? Can you imagine how that might impact and change your life? You don’t have to imagine! Print, or write, this out! Hang it on the mirror. Look yourself in the eyes and recite this every morning. Try it for 3 weeks and watch the magic happen!

LISTEN CORRECTLY 🎶

Today, take a pause from reacting to what others say. Instead, really work to understand them so instead you may respond intelligently. If you really listen to understand what the person is telling you, not only will you have a better chance of knowing what they are truly saying, but you will deepen that relationship.

This week, do not listen to reply, but listen to understand.

AND SO IT ENDS…

Today marks both the end of the Wisconsin State Fair that I enjoy so much, as well as my vacation. Next week I will be back with my nose to the grindstone, as they say.

In order not to feel down, I must switch my focus to what will begin. I’m joining a new gym, or two, since mine closed without warning. Work on my fourth book, which I am very excited about, will begin in earnest. There will be a return to healthy eating and delicious meals prepared by the love of my life.

There is more to look forward to, but shifting your focus to beginnings helps us all feel better about an end. Just a thought to dwell on today.

WATCH YOUR DIET THIS WEEKEND! 🥞

This is the last weekend of my vacation. I have not been eating the best, to put it eloquently. We should all keep an eye on our diet this weekend. As the picture above says, that is far more than just food or drink.

Diet is what we also put into our minds. This can be the depressing news show we are watching. It can be the inspiring book,or blog post, you are reading. Are you listening to someone complaining, or a great audiobook? How about what you put in your spirit? We may not help having to be stuck in traffic, but we can balance that with a walk in nature. Do something everyday that brings you peace.

Pau attention to your diet this weekend. Watch what you put in your body, but also in your mind and your spirit. I would love to hear some things you put in your diet to be healthy. These can be for you mind, body or spirit.

ARE YOU UNKNOWINGLY SPREADING THIS SICKNESS? 😷

As I make my way through the sea of humanity at the Wisconsin State Fair, I noticed a disturbing trend. That is the amount of negative and sarcastic t-shirts I see people wearing. I’m no fashion mogul, but I find this to be a terrible choice. Here is a sample of what I saw- “when it comes to your opinion, I don’t f#$king care” “you would do the world a favor if you were not here” and one gentleman proudly wearing a shirt (that did appear a size or 2 smaller than it should be) that said “straight out of Uranus” which,I guess, would make him a piece of… you get the idea.

I’m sure when these people purchased these shirts they may of chuckled. Can you imagine reading shirt after shirt with messages like this? I thought about the shirt that said “it would be better if you weren’t here“ All I could think of was how many people are waking around barely hanging on. Even reading such a message on a t-shirt could put them over the edge. Not to mention, having something on your shirt is really the equivalent of waking up and saying it to everyone who reads it. That can be sharing your uninspiring message with a lot of folks.

Here is another crazy thing I saw. Businesses who fill their stands and merchandise with sarcastic and negative items. There was a restaurant who’s shirts say “nobody cares. You suck.” What a great message to be associated with your brand. I’m sure to them is was a humorous and harmless saying on a t-shirt. I would wager some of these people also are asking, “Why is the world becoming such a negative place?”

One shirt with a negative saying may seem harmless enough. Perhaps it is, but filling the world with them seems to be a step in the wrong direction if you ask me. Many of us have days where we struggle just to keep our head above water. Reading messages meant to insult and bring us down at every turn can make that job even harder. Ask yourself this question next time you put that shirt on. What will it accomplish? Would you walk up to everyone you pass and say that to them? Would you want people to walk up and say it to you?