Author: CLFurlong

In this case let’s pretend it was a was a lucid dream. Everything you experienced, saw and felt in the dream was as if it was real.

Upon waking, you debate with yourself of how real reality was… and you convince yourself that no, you had not won 13 million dollars and you shouldn’t try to convince yourself that you had.

By now you are probably thinking…what does this have to do with anything?

Your living life doing whatever it is you do and in some moments; you question the what if’s, you question when will your dreams come true, you question when will things be better and you question when will you have all these things?

So let me ask you this: What Would You Do If Money Were No Object?

You want all these things, but most of the time (not always) we limit these things based on the object of money.

Money will make life easier and will work as an enabler – but remember behind the money is a person who can also enable. YOU

So let’s work backwards. Define your ultimate lifestyle, your dream living. Take away the dollars and define what your perfect everyday life would and should look like for the rest of your days.

What does it look like?

Well what is stopping you from working towards this? Don’t say money… 

There is always something you can do to work towards this goal and this dream. You just need to define it right and see it in the right perspective.

This is your chance to take a chance of being yourself and what you can do. Yes you may have some set backs, some tough times and some failures.
But once you have counteracted these, grown through these and conquered these. You will be better than ever and I will guarantee that you will be happier too.

That’s everybody is – somebody is interested in everything, anything you can be interested in, you will find others will. But it’s absolutely stupid to spend your time doing things you don’t like, in order to go on spending things you don’t like, doing things you don’t like and to teach our children to follow in the same track. – Alan Watts

Here’s your chance to take action…

I would love to hear and have you share what it is you do, or wish to do.
Even if you don’t believe it yet, I dare you to take a chance to share with me what it is you like to do.

Maybe you need to some encouragement?

• If you doubt your skills.
• If you doubt your hobbies.
• If you doubt your work.
• If you doubt what you are good at.
• If you doubt what you are going to do for the rest of your life.

A few times I have noted that your worst critic is yourself. Your worst enemy is yourself. Do you take an effort to put down or encourage yourself?

I mean let’s be honest, if you wouldn’t say it to someone else, then you shouldn’t be saying it to yourself.

Yes it is great to be tough and hard on ourselves, as this pushes us to do more and outside our comfort zones. However being too hard or tough on ourselves to the point in which we destroy any self-worth let alone motivation to progress further is not advocated!

Most people start off with little or low self-confidence, but as a result of their own efforts, they become bold and brave and outgoing. – Brian Tracy

Most of us will start off with little or very low-self confidence, however as noted above it is due to the result of OUR OWN EFFORTS that we become bold and brave and outgoing.

Yes our own efforts.

You need to get out there and push yourself. You need to believe in yourself.

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others too. You need to set the bar.

A recent video inspired by Dove has been making it’s self known across the internet. In the case you have missed it, I have posted a link below for your reference.
No matter how confident we are, we’re always our own harshest critics.‪#‎OneBeautifulThought‬ This campaign is focused towards women – but it is an eye opener for all!

Attract what you expect, reflect what you desire, become what you respect, mirror what you admire. – Unknown

1. Attract What You Expect
   This is all based on attitude. What you put in is what you will get out, especially in the sense of how you perceive the day. If you have a negative outlook towards the day, or to the things you have planned for the day, how do you expect these to play out? Try focusing on the positive things and situations, this way you wont be naturally drawn to negativity, or you wont have a focus towards it. But if you work your mind to be tuned to being positive this is what you will get. Even in the tough and hard moments you will see the positive in the situation.
2. Reflect What You Desire
   Be the person you want attracted into your life. Most people are wanting to attract certain people into their lives. However, due to their lifestyle, their habits, their personality and the everyday things they do, this does not attract that. Be and live what you desire for. Do it with integrity and do it confidently. 
3. Become What You Respect
   Look up to the people above you, to the people who have found success and you wish to aspire to be like. Study them, their books, how they think, how they live and work. Take your similar traits and work on blending and developing them with theirs. This will make you a better person in the sense of you will be stretching yourself to aspire further and it will give you a clear goal. However, remember to be YOU and not someone else.
4. Mirror What You Admire
   Take your habits, your daily do’s, your manners and your care for others and mirror that after the people who are doing the best of this and who are doing it well. Mirror the people who are doing great things, positive things and who you admire to be like. Let these traits reflect and of course let these things be known to others. If it is worth advocating and worth admiring, share it with others.

Regardless of the above 4 points – remember it is fine to find all these great qualities in people or things that you wish to have in your life, but do this and make it your own and ALWAYS BE YOU!

But fear not, as whenever something is coming your way, rather than trying to give up try to find ways to push further.

I understand that looking forward can seem overwhelming and I know that it can all seem a little too much.

But in time, in strength, effort and with a solid mind you will be pushing your way further than you could have imagined.

I know for me – When I look ahead and I can see a pile of work/tasks or challenges to complete. This is where I need to be positive about it.

Being Positive About It

• Look at the situation and redefine it though a positive perspective
• Smile about it – embrace the challenge
• Know your limits, but know you will grow too

“The only way to feel better about myself is to go out… and do it.” – Susan Jeffers

It will always seem impossible in the beginning, but that is because you have no idea of what it yet to come.

But soon enough you will see just how MORE THAN CAPABLE you are and you will feel even better about it once it is done.

“You roll out of bed everyday of your life regardless of if you are happy or not. Whether you love or hate what you’re doing, you still awake and do what you do. So why not roll out of bed and work towards your dreams, reach for a new goal this year. There is a clear path to what you want in life. So start by taking one step towards your goal and don’t look back!”– Chris Nowak

Regardless of where you are on the timeline of success and your journey to becoming your greatest. Remember you will always be the best if you give your best. As long you keep being that then you will continue to stretch and grow yourself.

The below video is a small yet powerful reminder that we are all on a journey and some of us have just started, while others are the ultimate professionals. 

Regardless, we should be encouraging those above and below us or even next to us to ensure they are going to continue to grow and confidently too with the support they need.

Where has it gone? What have you achieved? What are you yet to do?

Is life busy, is life overwhelming? Are you keeping up with what you have chosen to do for the year?

Education? Study? Working? Work? Family? Love?

We have so much going on, when and where can we breathe and reflect let alone let loose and live a little or just have some me time?

Well if it helps – just remember you are not the only one with all these things going on – so don’t think for one second that you have it tougher than someone else. As there will always be someone else who is going through more and worse than you.

With this said though – you are allowed to feel overwhelmed; for if you are feeling overwhelmed, the positive way to view this is that it is your body and mind telling you that you are growing. You have reached a new point outside your bubble of comfort and you are feeling it! Like all the hard work you do at the gym, (you better be going) the next day is when you feel the growth… the good pain.

This overwhelming time may be stressful, full of pressure and scary… but it is growing you and you will get through it.

You have before and you will again.

“Hard work begins when you deal with the things that you’d rather not deal with: fear of failure, fear of standing out, fear of rejection. Hard work is about training yourself to leap over this barrier, tunnel under that barrier, drive through the other barrier. And then, to do it again the next day.” – Seth Godin

My trick towards taking on a full on week, a full load of work or in any case to be honest, is to have a regular routine.

The best way I stay honest, dedicated and motivated is by setting aside the time in my week to do my regulars, making a routine. We are all creatures of habit, some more than others, but we all tend to work better with a set schedule as it is a sense of security.

You can have one big routine, or you can have multiple routines in a day. Regardless, build a consistent schedule and create your routine down to the details. Yes that includes, the meals you make for breakfast, lunch and dinner, to the times you commute to work, to the music types you listen to at certain times. The list goes on…

Build and create your own, make it a shadow of your existence and make it automated by doing it regularly – soon enough it will come second nature.

With this all in mind I guess the most important thing is to take a break once in a while. Even if this means 30 mins out of a busy day. A BREAK is a BREAK.

As taking a breather will do these 5 things:

• Give yourself a perspective on what really matters
• Lower overall stress levels
• Raise self-awareness
• Focus on the present
• Reduce Negative Emotions

How will you plan your day?

Below I have collated the top 8 questions that reignite your thinking to figuring out what you want to do with your life.

1. What did you dream of becoming when you were a child?
2. Where do you spend your free time?
3. Listen to your mind wander – What does it really wish it could be doing?
4. What is an activity you do that makes you feel so happy, that when you do it, the time flies by?
5. What type of activities, events, shows, books, media and even people are you attracted to?
6. Letting go of the past – if you let go of any limitations you have placed upon yourself, what would you do?
7. What does success really mean to you? Define your perfect life…
8. You can have any exact amount of money for the rest of your life. How much would you take and how would you use it?

So from the above – have you found yourself closer to identifying what it is you want to do?

With this all in mind keep in mind your goals.

Goals are one of the most important parts of any journey, they set the tone for your mission. Goals provide clarity when times get tough. They reinforce why you are doing, whatever it is you are choosing to do. Setting goals and visiting them often will keep you motivated.

Here is a small thought for you:

Share this with someone else and have them subscribe today: http://eepurl.com/bLfqAb 

It means that today is the DAY to be AWESOME. Start this shorter week with a positive mind and attitude and see the rest flow through!

Today I have some prompts to ask yourself if your on the right path and its even more crucial to ask yourself at the start of the week. 

Take a moment to ask and think about the below points and how they apply to your life and if you fit in with these or maybe you don’t.

Regardless – these points are some of the common traits in which people determine if they are on the right path, journey towards their goals and dreams.

But before you do read these, remember:

If we all try to excel in our individual capacities, the world around us excels too. – Unknown

Read them you like this:

How do you know you are on the right path in your life?

• You begin to believe that there is more to life than keeping your CV updated.
• You don’t mind selling sandwiches but you are no longer a slave to society and its work demand.
• You practice what you preach others.
• You stand up for yourself and do not allow anyone to treat you like a doormat.
• You just pick up the phone and talk instead of waiting for someone to be online.
• You realize that smartphones won’t make you smarter.
• You don’t depend on strangers for your own happiness.
• You tell your inner voice that questions your ability to pursue your dreams to ‘Shut Up’.
• You have found at least a person who would cry if you died.
• When you actually want to wake up in the morning over sleeping for ‘5 more minutes’
• When struggle makes you optimistic and not upset
• When you are not worried about future
• When you feel completely happy and satisfied while going to bed. No matter how exhausted you are
• And most importantly….

WHEN YOU HAVE NO REGRETS!!

So how did you go? Do you think you make the cut?

If you have a favorite one – I challenge you to share it!

I have two:

1. When you feel completely happy and satisfied while going to bed. No matter how exhausted you are.
2. When struggle makes you optimistic and not upset.

Share yours!

If you want results, you need to apply some action and keep momentum.

A parked car will never move – so stop sitting around procrastinating, making excuses to move and get up and start.

If you want some results, I can promise you some if you follow a small formula. Guaranteed.

But you have to be willing to take action and be willing to actually apply the formula. Let me say that again.

YOU NEED TO APPLY THE FORMULA

Your results will come from your motivation. 

Motivation = Habits + Willpower

Look at it as discipline. Applying discipline each day for a long period of time is a like compound interest.

Compound Interest: Assume you have $100 invested, and you earn 5% interest in year zero (that's what it's called in finance). You now have $105, which earns 5% interest in year one. Simply stated, compound interest is where your previous interest earnings are allowed to earn interest as well. (See Image)

If you apply daily discipline and create a new habit through willpower to prove to yourself that you even can – then you will be motivated more and more by the result.

Which will surely lead to results in which I believe is success.

Forming habits can be hard or really, really simple. It is all about limits, quotas and challenges.

Setting yourself a daily quota to do something will enable you to more likely stay dedicated.

Examples: “Do 20 math exercises a day”, “Read a textbook chapter a day”, “Write 500 words a day”.

Make this a priority for each day for 365 days.

Then you need to just evaluate what this can do for you. Remember make sure you pick something realistic.

I say keep it smaller to enable consistency.

Now you want to take whatever it is and calculate the development of this daily discipline.

I see huge advantages in setting non-ambitious quotas like this: work will pile up in a good way.

• If you do 20 math problems a day, for example, after 1 month you’re 600 problems smarter.
• If you read a textbook chapter a day, after 2 weeks you read the entire book.
• If you write 500 words a day, after 2 months you end up with a full novel.

But lets strip this back even more. Take a look at the image below.

It compares where you end up if you improve by 1% every day for a year instead of going worse by 1% every day for a year.

How about sticking this up on a wall or somewhere to remind you how this consistency will pay off.

Another way similar to the above is to increase what you do by a (x) amount each day.

So start with a baseline of 1 push up. Then increment daily by 1. The next day, do 2 and so on. So by the end of 1 year you will do 365 push ups on your final day. But think of the compounding. If you do not increment each day by 1, by the end of the year you have done 365 push ups. Those 365 might be more push ups you did than last year, so that isn’t bad.

BUT! If you increment by 1 each day for 365 days. By the end of the year you have done 66,795 push ups in a year.

Yes that’s right: 66,795 push ups

See my thinking? See my point?

• Imagine what you can do with this when you apply it to your strengths.
• Imagine what you can do when you apply it to your weaknesses.
• Imagine what you can do when you apply this to your personal financing, your mental capacity, your fitness (as mentioned above) and I am sure you can think of your own!

Are you as excited as I am?

Because 66,795 of whatever it is always going to be amazing!

Did you enjoy this post? Were you challenged? Yes? Then can I ask for a favor?
– Share this with one person you know who would be challenged, encouraged or motivated by this blog.