Author: CLFurlong

Image by @canva 

Image by @canva 

I have always been one to have information summed up in a quick and clear form, like lists, in order so I can gather and take the information quickly while also knowing it is reliable. That’s what lists are all about.

Keeping track of crucial elements in your life through the utilization of lists is a perfect way to help you also grow your memory, or feeble recollection.

Below I have a number of lists which have been found perfect to track achievements and ambition.

A List Of Goals

These should consist of all the items that you deem are necessary to truly respect yourself. They will be the list of things that you will want to complete in order to feel truly accomplished. Without such a list, you lose direction of where your life is heading, and we all need some inner guidance to focus on.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. —Zig Ziglar

A List Of Tasks

Tasks are all those milestones that lead up to a specific goal and completing these tasks would mean you have completed your goal. Depending on the size of your goal, you may have daily task lists, weekly tasks lists or a range of task lists.

Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best. —Theodore Isaac Rubin

A List Of Contacts

If you think you can do it all and this journey we call life all by yourself. You are wrong. However, at the same time, a flawed relationship can result in some unwanted outcomes as well. Finding friends and a partner can prove to be a challenge in this world. What I can guarantee you is; you will meet people who may inspire you. Truth be told, it can be arduous to forge strong friendship bonds, but having important acquaintances and becoming an important acquaintance is very much possible. This is where your list of contacts comes in. Having a list of your friends and family is important, but expected. Having a list of people you meet with skills and talents you may require assistance from, these should be in your contact list for future reference. You never know when you may need a lawyer, a programmer or a handyman. Make’s sense right?

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit. — Aristotle

A List Of Expenses

Money comes in and goes out. Knowing the in’s and out’s and understanding how and what you are spending your dollars on is one way to ensure you are being financially healthy. There are two types of expenses: those that are necessary, (bills, taxes, food) and those expenditures used for indulging some personal cravings.  By making lists of all the monthly expenses we are obligated to pay, we’ll have a clear overview with how much resources are there at our disposal. Without the list and self-control, we can lead ourselves into a state of financial suicide. Financial success is measured by the amount of wealth and without adequate spending tactics, you prevent its accumulation.

A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart. — Jonathan Swift

A List Of Useful Tools

Society today vastly depends on technology which is usually the vessels of our details and information. Having these just stored plainly on your technology such as a phone or computer means they can be lost. Useful tools can help avoid this problem and they also make the job easier when it comes to storing information. Using the right apps and tools can make up for our lack of skills in a particular area, or simply help us manage our daily life and work life in a more timely manner. The only problem is… there are so many tools and if you use them all you will forget which tool has what information. The key here is to have a list of your tools that you are using.

If you’re the type of person who has to fulfill your dreams, you’ve got to be resourceful to make sure you can do it. —Vin Diesel

A List Of Self Improvements

This is an important and personal one. We all have things we want to improve about ourselves and this is ok. With a healthy goal, we can overcome and grow into greater success. Think about yourself, make a list of all the things you would like to improve or change, (these are some examples) then consider how to implement those changes. But I am sure you will have your own. The list is there simply to remind you which improvement to prioritize, and build up your confidence after each completion. Refusing to change can either result in lack of confidence and depression, or becoming an overconfident and self-absorbed person that no one will tolerate for long; both of these traits will have impacts to your quest for a successful future.

The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead. — Jack Nicholson

A List Of Creative Ideas

Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower – these are important to write down and save to your list of creative ideas. You may not know how to complete this item at this point of time, but having it written down, will allow you to pick up the details and run when the time is right. Not sure what it is a creative idea? For an idea to be classified as creative, it needs to be new, it needs to make sense, and it needs to have some sort of use. Letting your good ideas slide is only a wasted potential that will put your progress in a halt.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Waldo Emerson

A List Of Future Plans

Similar to your first list of goals – having a list of future plans which can be both personal or just important things that are to occur in the future. These can all range from stating you want to get married, to stating you want to keep up with the current trends of technology. This list can and will grow, so be flexible with it.

The future is uncertain but the end is always near. – Jim Morrison

A List Of Contingency Plans

Be ready for when things don’t go as planned. This is all about developing a good plan B. To elaborate on this more you can read some further details and examples here: being prepared for the aftermath is always a good and necessary thing. Whether the contingency is for work, finances, life, medical or family related – these should be thought about and listed.

You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it. — Denzel Washington

The Bucket List

Like your goals – your bucket list should be the list which ultimately should cover your life from end to end of what you want to do, experience or encounter. Now, these wont necessarily require a task list, but this list should grow and be reflected upon regularly. It may change due to circumstances, but ticking these items off will vary through time and in seasons.

The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and for deeds left undone. — Harriet Beecher Stowe

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As you chase the lifestyle, pursue your passion and embark on a journey to be your dream, it is going to take time, effort and commitment. Or as some would call it. You will be required to have GRIT, be able to HUSTLE and you will need to PUSH through with persistence. But the more you move forward, sooner or later you will start to see things crack. Things will begin to happen the way you planned. It just requires you to be willing and ready.

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Failure is not something most people are prepared for. Failure has been a recurring topic throughout my blogs and the reason for that is, because it is the number one driver which is limiting you from getting from the results to success. The fear of failure is diminishing your confidence in succeeding. Aside from the improper planning and wrong decisions being made, here are some myths about taking action which may be stopping you from starting and thriving in the process.

You need to be a perfectionist

I can promise you that there is no one out there that knew it all, had all the answers or had everything accounted for before they took action. Sometimes we just need to stop making the excuses for not having it all ready and just start and take action.  Embrace the learning process along the way! For example:

Traci Des Jardins, a well-known chef, was trained by some of the best chefs and restaurateurs in the world. Traci launched her own restaurant Jardinière in San Francisco in 1997. When she expanded her restaurant empire, her biggest challenge was raising money. She had no formal training in business, so she leaned on a business partner to help her figure it out.

You need to have every detail planned out

Like the above, you don’t need to have all the details accounted for, however, the more details from the beginning can be insightful and help with decision-making, however, these details can delay us from every start.

 “When people do nothing but execute a plan, they lose the ability to innovate and adjust to the changing waters of business.” – Garrett Moon

There has to be the perfect time

There will never be the perfect time to take action. We may have an advantage or come out quicker due to circumstances, however, if you spend all the time waiting for the perfect moment, you will miss out altogether. As the perfect time does not exist. No matter what; thick or thin, push through and you will come through in the end.

You don’t have the time

If it isn’t the right time to start, maybe you feel you don’t have the time to actually commit. Now there is a thin line for this and it comes down to priorities. You will always have time, but it is how you prioritize your time.  Let’s not forget that there are plenty of successful and busy people out there who manage. For example, a CEO would know what it is like to work non-stop. Now if they decided to stop this kind of life for the sake of their own sanity, they could. It is possible to still manage a company, have a family and look after yourself. It is not about not having the time, it is about managing and prioritizing your time.

You need a lot of resources to begin

You think you need to have all the right resources in check before making the leap.  Like the common excuse “I need money to make money”. I get it, resources and money make things easier, they remove barriers and obstacles and they help whatever it is we are doing become that whole lot easier. But if you start whatever it is you want to do, if you take action and do it with the minimal, you will learn to adapt, to make do and to find ways to work around the lack of resources. In time, the resources will become available and you will have the option to apply these, but who knows, you may be happy and content with doing it the way you have managed all this time.

You need to control everything

When taking action and starting something new, we tend to become control freaks. We want to make sure we know the in’s and out’s of whatever it is we are doing. I get it, we want to make sure we have everything in order. But sometimes to have control and to have power, actions and tasks need to be delegated and segregated. Asking for help and having assistance highlights the importance of giving up control in order to build a successful dream, as it allows us not to rely on just one person – ourselves. Don’t get me wrong – self-motivation and determination will always get you far and maybe even further. But support, encouragement and even direction from a mentor, will also go a long way.

Many people struggle with making a start due to being clouded by the myths listed above. The best way to combat these is to commit to not falling into any of the above mentioned.

You can do it!

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The only person you will forever be stuck with for the entirety of your life will be you. So it is well worth your while to get to know yourself both inside and out. With this in mind, spending some quality me-time should and will mean you’d be unwinding, doing some deep thinking and rediscovering yourself. It sounds good, doesn’t it? But what if you find it difficult to find the space for yourself? Here are some tips to give you more time to recharge and thrive.

Wake Up Earlier

Waking up early can be the key to more than just happiness, it can be the start of something even greater. It allows for more time, for more activities, for better schedules and even healthier bodies. This does not mean being a night owl is worse off. It just means that if you utilize our morning strategically and with a well-rounded routine, you will be jumping out of bed and kick-starting your day at a whole new level. The best part is, you are kick-starting the day with ‘me time’, which you can;t get much more exciting than that.

A Date With Netflix

Sometime’s it can be good to just switch off your life and pause whats been going on and just have a date night in with yourself and Netflix (or the TV). Just you and the remote control, no-one else commenting on the plot or asking you to rewind a joke three times. Look, you may even end up falling asleep, but the point is, you are in control, you can relax and just wind down.

Tech Detox

Turning off the gadgets and gizmos for a period of time, will enable a distraction free zone – but it also enables you to focus on other things at hand. Who knows what you might do, learn or experience in a world without technology for a small period of time or even a day. We rely on them so much, that without them I wont be surprised if you will be a new and different person.

Distraction Free Working

Similar to the tech detox, eliminating all your distractions so you can focus will do you wonders. ‘Me time’ regardless if it is for business or pleasure, distractions can always decrease your ability to focus and get the results you are looking for. So eliminate these, then focus on your ‘me time’ by doing whatever it is you are doing and just see how productive you are. Noise cancelling headphones will help do the trick too.

Short Walks In Breaks

In a busy world, finding some ‘me time’ can be proven to be quite the challenge. But why not challenge yourself. When you have a chance to take a 10 minute walk, take it. This would be in your breaks at work or school. Take the time to just go for a stroll, stretch your legs and clear your mind. If you have more time, then go for a walk taking a different route each time. It’s like a mini adventure.

Airplane Mode For A Single Hour

Like the tech detox go into airplane mode. Turn your phone off or messages/calls off and sit back for an hour in peace. This includes emails and other notifications. If you’re not on call as a doctor or firefighter or similar, these notifications and incoming messages can wait. Whether you are doing this while you are trying to focus on a task, or simply just to have some real ‘me time’. Regardless, this will always make whatever it is more focused and productive.

Hobby Time

If you don’t have one – find one! Using your ‘me time’ wisely is so important as this can be limited due to being distracted doing life. Find a hobby that you can invest in, that gives you an experience. A good book, a musical instrument, video games, a sport or even some gardening. There are thousands more too. This time should be about focusing on your passions and dreams.

Read A Book Or Two

Like your hobby time – using your ‘me time’ as reading a book will benefit you in so many ways. Books are full of information, opinions, ideas and stories. Basically, they give your mind a chance to stretch and grow. They will make you think, dream and explore the what if’s of life. Reading can be slow and not that exciting when starting out, but once you have broken into a routine, this ‘me time’ will become a favorite I think.

Exercise

Don’t think of it as a punishment or a chore. Exercise is meant to be something you want to embrace and enjoy. Why? Well it is a step to healthy living, an important factor to anyone’s life. You can do exercise in so many ways, you can find a way that makes you feel comfortable and excited, or you can find something that will challenge you and really intensify the experience. Regardless, embracing this time to grow your mind sets and stretch your body limits will benefit you.

Alone Time / Me Time is meant to do the below:

• Reboot our brains
• Help us unwind
• Improve concentration
• Make us productive
• Self discovery
• Deep thinking
• Problem solving
• Relationship enhancement

If you want any of these, I challenge you to try out one of the above tips, or maybe you have your own you can try. Regardless, I challenge you to do at least on of these things a day. You will be thanking me for it later.

Let go of the meaningless. Keep the meaningful closer. Make efforts not to be swayed or distracted by jealousy or feelings of inadequacy, but instead look inward, practice mindfulness and self-love, and simplify your life. Focus on relationships and health and happiness instead of material possessions, professional or social ‘status,’ and income.

Take a few minutes and think about what makes you the happiest. Who do you feel your best around? What in your life is making you the most unhappy?

I’ve always been a dreamer. Since I was a child, I have had dreams to do, dreams to be and dreams to see. The beauty of it all, is as a child we are so innocent and dreaming is part of growing up. Even if the dreams are silly or unrealistic. Everything was simpler, easier and everything was an adventure as we were learning so much and so quickly.

But like anyone, as you continue to grow older, these dreams became more serious and more realistic. As we grow we become more aware of the environment and the implications of our actions. Although there is nothing wrong with that, our awareness of our actions and how it can affect our lives, can hold you back. Ironically, just when you become capable of reaching your dreams, you end up stop doing the something to achieve it.

You start to second guess it all, you start to wonder what if you had done this, or done that. If you are realizing that you are not happy with the decisions you have made, that you are not following your dreams or on the path to achieving them. There is still time to start fresh. You can start your journey today! Take action today!

Here are 3 tips that you can put into practice which can help you in reaching and living your dreams.

Who Cares What Others Think

When it comes to chasing and living your dreams, the key is not worrying about what others think. By nature we depend on other people and we tend to rely on what others have to say or think about the decisions we have to make. I get it. We all want to be liked and accepted. But like I noted in my recent blog:  (11 Ways You Can Be Awesome And Embrace It) It’s all about the confidence, the charisma and the happiness you have, all rolled into a single existence and how you can be awesome by living it and embracing it. (Your passion)

We work so hard to fit in and impress the society around us. We become so worried, concerned and confused by what people are thinking – so much that we focus more time on trying to be right for everyone, that we put no time into doing what is right for us. If you spent the same time and effort in living and making your dreams come true, forgetting what people think, you would be a lot further along the track than you thought.

You may not conform to the majority but it is your happiness that you are seeking… not theirs so why should you worry about not pleasing them.

Risks Are Important

Another major factor which is limiting you from going from here to there, from A to B or from the same to new; is the hesitation to work towards our dreams because we are too scared to take a risk and fail. Fear is so controlling, so demanding and can ruin opportunities. You need to understand – if we cannot even believe in ourselves, who else is going to? Or why should anyone else? Never let the fear of failure get into you.

Fall seven times, stand up eight. — Japanese Proverb

Failure is normal… you get upset about it but then you have to let it pass, stand up and try again. Remember that behind every failure is an opportunity for you to grow and be better and these can help you reach your dreams.

Focus On The Now & What You Can Control

Planning is crucial, as without it things can go wrong quickly. However, this does not mean we shouldn’t embrace and focus on the moments now. Focusing too much in the future can hold us back in trying out things that can make us live a meaningful present life.  Working hard for your goals and dreams and pushing yourself to your limits in order to make it in the future, can sometimes overwhelm and even suppress ‘the very moment’ situations which could actually bring you closer to your dreams. Life is all about taking chances, so take the challenge and hold on to your faith. Remember, the road towards fulfilling your dream is rough. Along with your journey, there will be roadblocks and if you live your life holding back you will never achieve the genuine happiness you are seeking for.

Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost

The best version of you should always be held high! Be confident and strong, don’t let the world to try and show you how to be the best, simply be it and let it show for itself!!!

Awesome. Is it a myth? Is it possible? Is it reachable? Is it normal? Is it already occurring? So many questions…

Awesomeness – what exactly is it and what does it take to be it?