Day #163: The Morning Jump

It is Saturday today and I can probably say that most people will be jumping for joy in celebration that it is the end of the work week. It’s great to be able to appreciate a well deserved break, but let me ask you one thing:

Why is it that you are so happy for Saturday to be here? I mean yes obviously it is because you want to do something other that what you have been doing all week. You want to be able to enjoy your time doing the things you want to be doing. Right?

So why on earth are you not doing this everyday?

Oh but your usual response would be: I need to work in order to do this, or to pay for that. Yes you do, but why don’t you do something you actually enjoy, love and are passionate about?

But before we get into the debate of following your dreams and being the hero to yourself you have always wanted to be.

Lets take it back to something a little more basic. Setting a goal each day that will inspire you to jump out of bed.

For some this will be easy, but others not so easy. 

For me, it is the opportunity of each day, embracing it knowing that you can go into it giving it your best and the best part is, you finish the day knowing you did your best. Which would mean you will always have the best kind of day!

So my challenge to you today is; now that you are already awake, you have already missed the setting of your daily goal, but how about you plan for tomorrow. Plan what it is you are going to jump out of bed for? Then write it down. Capture your adventure, your achievements each day and then you can use this to reflect a little later. You will be surprised of how encouraging it can be.

Monday to Friday are the best kind of days. Saturday and Sunday, are just the same!

So remember!! 

Set a goal that makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning. – The Colour Run

Day #162: A Mountain of Three

Like climbing a mountain, it takes time to get to the top of your game. There is no quick win, other than to keep working towards your end goal each and everyday. 

Today I want to give you 3 quick, yet important quotes which you can dwell over and hopefully encourage and inspire you to keep on keeping on!

“The most dangerous risk of all – The risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later” – Randy Komisar

“The person that you will spend the most time with in your life is yourself, so you better try to make yourself as interesting as possible.” – Unknown

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing.. that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

These 3 quotes are important elements in your journey to success. Whether you like it or not, sometimes in order to get through to the top, we will need to go through the tough, but in the end you should be able to say it was worth the risk, you’re a better person because of it and that your daily diligence and persistence paid off.

So what will you do? Are you willing to apply these 3 points to your life?

Day #161: Adventure, Moments, Excitement

Life is full of adventure, full of moments and full of excitement. Life is also full of plenty of things which are the complete opposite of these as well… and when they come rushing down, do you know what you need to do? You just need to remember that life is full of adventures, it is full of moments and full of excitement and it will only be this if you let it be exactly that.

You see, you can choose to accept defeat, you can choose to worry yourself to sleep, or stress so much you don’t sleep at all. You can be fearful of tomorrow, or you can be scared of what is to come…

Or simply; you can be adaptive, strategic and positive and put each one of these times and obstacles into a bucket of either an adventure, a moment or excitement. Either way, regardless of how you categorize these ‘sections’ of your life, this will grow you, make you and create you into something bigger and better than before, even if it does take you a few years to even realize it.

Today I choose life. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain… To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices – today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. – Kevyn Aucoin

So don’t be such a spoil and think of the worst, or mope because you didn’t get to sleep in. Embrace the day and embrace its challenge as one day, you may just find yourself on the edge of life and you will remember the times you could have been or should have been and that you will never have a chance to rise up and be the superstar you are… again.

So why not be a superstar today and be the author of your own adventure, your own moments and your own excitement.

Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they’re making to win. Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that’s the difference. – Lou Holtz

Day #160: The Call Of Passion

Passion is a daily challenge to keep going no matter the result. For too long I hear people saying they will do this and conquer that, when really all they are doing is giving it there best shot for a small period of time and giving up as soon as they hit a wall. It is almost like an impulsive shopping spree!

People, you need to understand you are not perfect, (SURPRISE) and you never will be. In doing so, the things that you create and do, wont also be perfect.

I want to give you a friendly nudge that when you decide to embrace your passion and take ownership of it, you will not only enter a journey, but you will basically be jumping out of your known comfort bubble and into something new. Whats that? You don’t know what your passion is? Well why don’t you ask yourself a couple of simple questions…

1. What is it you do that you seem to lose all sense of time?

2. What are you naturally really good at, even if you are not spending hours and hours doing it?

3. What do you like to do in your free time?

These are some simple/basic questions you can use as a base to help prompt the locking down of your passion. If you are still unsure, you can contact us here and we will be more thank happy to help!

The real point I want to make today is… If you have decided to do something about your passion, don’t give up. Don’t start then finish. Stay consistent and stay true to yourself, even if it is a small dosage of effort each day. As the small steps will eventually create big enough footprints for others to notice.

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” — Neil Gaiman

Day #159: A Little Big Deal

Once again today is a fresh and new day, a day full of opportunity. Like always, it is the best kind of day. This week I’m going to be short and sweet and promptly remind you that today like any day is the day to set the tone for the rest of the week.  It’s the little things that make the big difference. 

Be ready for anything, be ready for the best to happen and be ready for the worst to happen. Regardless, have your mind in the game and switched on ready to take on whatever comes your way.

“ATTITUDE IS A LITTLE THING THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.” – WINSTON CHURCHILL

If this means taking an attitude check, then so be it. If you go into today with a lousy expectation and for the remainder of the week, you will automatically be looking for the worst, as your mind will have become accustomed to finding the negative. Hence why it is so crucial to have your attitude in the right place. This and your expectation will define the flow of the week. So make sure you have it in the right place.

Are you ready? 

With this all in mind, remember that each day is a new day to step it up. Each day you can show improvement, and work harder than you did the day before. This doesn’t mean to spend longer on whatever you are doing, it just means to be more receptive and focused. Applying lessons learned and skills adapted, ensuring your are really putting in your best.

Work harder than you think you did yesterday. – Unknown

Day #158: You Have To Do It – Keep Consistent

Remaining and keeping consistent is key in any race to becoming a better and stronger you. This year every time I go for a run I made a challenge to myself to do a 5 km run. Depending on my location, this could vary between indoors and outdoors, but whatever the case I aim to clock in  a minimum of four 5km runs in a week. 

Each run is unique. Sometimes after no prior exercise within the week, I go into the run with a 100% intention  to run and hit my 5 km mark. Sun, Rain, Day or Night I go for it, I push for it and I aim to conquer it each time.

Surprisingly, you will be amazed by the capability our minds and bodies have. Even after a long week, hard work and less sleep than normal, I still manage to make a mark on my running. I have been running for a 2 years and a half now, usually between 15 km to 30 km a week and from this I believe I have built a tolerance and consistent routine which has enabled my body to withstand this.

However, even when you are out of it for a week, having an inactive weeks, I always get nervous of what my runs would bring, thinking to myself that this could be quite the challenge and it is going to put some pressure on my mind and body. Like when you hit yourself with a hammer while nailing, the next time you go to hit, your hesitate as your body knows… there wail be pain. With almost 100% certainty, when I get out there it really is the opposite. Out of no where I manage to find all this energy, like adrenaline and I am able to just keep going, with no pain, no worry and no doubt!

Finally it hit me.

Before I even started to run, I was maybe second guessing the possibility of what I would achieve. When really my body wanted something more. When I am inconsistent and break my normal routine, my body becomes deprived of running, so when my body finally got another taste for it, it gets a rush. Which leads me to my further point. When you are training your mind to follow a habit, routine or to build consistency, actually keeping the consistency, regardless of the outcome is what will help you in the long run.

Let me remind you – spending a little but key time each day consistently over a long period of time, enables you to build a strong base slow and steady, but in the end it will surely enable you to win the race. 

Clearly it has for me, as out of know where, my body has clicked and said, ‘Let’s do this’.

Now this doesn’t only apply for exercise or running, it applies for anything and everything you are working for. If you blog like me, if you draw or create art, or whatever it may be. If you make a commitment to yourself, to your body and mind, you need to keep that promise and prove to yourself and convince your willpower that you have what it takes.

So next time:

  • When you don’t feel like doing it, this is the time you need to do it!
  • When you think you cannot do it, give it a go anyway!
  • When you have less time to do it, make time to do it later, or do a smaller effort of it, but regardless just do it!
  • When you feel too tired, do it anyway!
  • When you are scared, give it a go anyway!
  • When the weather or another object is prohibiting you to, then find a work around!
  • When you find there are excuses, don’t accept them and still do it!

Keep on keeping on!

Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve. – Mary Kay Ash

Day #157: The Best Time Is Now

Dreaming is sometimes the best way to escape reality and really identify what it is you want to be doing. We all have ambitions hidden away that we wish to pursue. The problem is, we struggle to take the first step necessary to achieve it. It may be the hardest action to do (taking the first step) but once you do, you will never regret it. The best time is now.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

Think of it like this… An investor views trees as investments. The best time to start investing was 20 years ago. The second best time to start investing is now. “It’s not timing the market, it’s time in the market.” Time in the market basically means the longer you have investments, the longer your investments have been growing and making you money. Hence, like your dreams, the sooner you start, the sooner you learn, the sooner you grow, and the sooner you will be thriving in the big wide world. INVEST IN YOURSELF. Start today.

Still not getting it?

Here are some more things you should do to successfully take the first step:

1. Believe in your dream

2. Visualize your dream

3. Expect a hard way ahead

4. Take one bite at a time

My challenge to you is to first identify what it is you want to do, then start to work through these 4 steps.

But seriously, the only real way to get your feet off the ground is to jump and just take the plunge.

Day #156: Success Is Allowed

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

Everyone and anyone can and should be successful and the only difference between the people who are and who are not is the simple choices we make each day. These will vary, however there are eight simple yet important traits which will fuel your success.

1. You need to stop keeping the entirety of your goals to yourself

Personally I find this one on the half-half side as I have found usually when you share your goals too early or even your end result, you automatically tell your mind that you have already achieved this and it can release the idea to your mind and limits your ability to work hard for it. I would advise, noting to someone rather than saying I am going to lose 25kgs, say I am working to lose weight this year. Regardless, this will vary per person but the point is to find one and stick to what works for you…

2. Stop expecting it all to just happen overnight

I think this one speaks for itself. It takes time and you should know this. It is going to take hard work and dedication to achieve your goals. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to be a lawyer, a teacher, a writer, or a coffee shop owner. The trials and tribulations are what make you feel successful when your dreams turn into reality.

3. Stop focusing on what isn’t working and look for the bright side!

When you are too busy focusing on the mistakes and setbacks that you are going to have to deal with and not seeing them as an opportunity to learn, you are only hurting yourself.

4. Listen to those in charge of you – your boss, parents etc…

They are where they are for a reason, so when they take the time to invest encouragement and wisdom to you, this is an opportunity that could change your life.

5. Don’t cram your schedule!

Do not keep your schedule so full that you don’t have time to think. Successful people make sure that there is time aside to eat, exercise, and unwind.

6. Don’t work to just earn, work to learn

Successful people are always looking for ways to get to the next step or stage. Instead of showing up to work to earn your hourly wage, show up as if you were learning how to run the place. Own what you do and make it fun, make it yours and do it proud.

7. Excuses will never help

Take responsibility for what you are doing, if you make a mistake or you are delayed for a deadline, don’t beat around the bush, but have a clear valid reason of why you are where you are.

8. Stop being shy of failure

Successful people will accept failure as another step closer to their success. You will fail, it is just life. But you will also have grand success. Sometimes we win sometimes we wont, but with the right skills, tools and willpower you will get there. Opportunity has many doors, you just need to keep knocking until the right one opens.

Day #155: Bucket of Proportionate Capacity

Time itself will never change, but how we utilize it will always change, based on what you decide to do. So do you have the courage to adapt to your capacity bucket of proportionate changes in life?

What even is your capacity bucket of proportionate changes?

As is our confidence, so is our capacity. – William Hazlitt

Basically it is both the mental / psychological and physical changes, pressure and intensity, in which you can handle, without spilling over your bucket. Think of it like this; you have a bucket full of water balancing on top of your head and depending on your day and what you experience, this bucket will walk with you, run with your do whatever it is you are doing. But the real trick is to manage this bucket while you do what you do and still allow it to NOT spill over. If it does, well there will be some uncomfortable moments, but there will also be some times where nothing really changes. The point is, whatever the outcome, the best thing you can do is pick it up and keep on keeping on.

The best part is, that next time this occurs you will have hopefully learned the mistakes from the first time, and this should technically deepen your bucket capacity. So if you continue to do this each day and everyday for the rest of your life, imagine by the time you settle down to retire. Imagine the wisdom, the experience and shear breadth of knowledge you should have accumulated. Most of all, imagine how deep and wide and strong and worthy your capacity bucket would be.

So how will you handle your capacity bucket today?

Day #154: The Challenge

The start of this year I set out to challenge myself to blog each day for 365 days. Why? Well for many reasons, but one of them is to challenge myself. Last year I did this successfully, however this year I wanted to challenge myself to step it up. Being able to control this obviously made it that easier however the hardest part is the daily consistency. But the consistency also is what made it easier as well. It became a routine and a part of my day – therefore it was never an inconvenience. 

The habit of embracing daily commitment is more like a quiet strength that cannot be shaken. As WH Murray said,

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness.”

When you set your sights on achieving your goal, it will take some kind of sacrifice. It’s up to you to decide if you’re willing to pay the price in order to give yourself a chance to realize the best possible outcome. The persistent people, the ones who are willing to pay the price, are able to visualize the light at the end of the tunnel.

The pain is worth the effort, and this enables them to keep going.

With this all in mind just because you might not have the brainpower or talents of someone else, does not mean you won’t have what it takes. More so it gives a you chance to demonstrate your hard work. Will Smith was asked about his secret to success and this is what he said:

“I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked.”

The real question I have for you today is to really challenge yourself to step it up. Pick something you do now, that you know you do well or enjoy. How can you take this and make it greater or expand it or take it to the next level? What is the challenge for you?