Category: ENCOURAGE

Day #123: Time Spent

Today I want to be short and sweet and challenge you to think about how you spend your time. Are you doing any of these? But remember:

“When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen.” – Gurbaksh Chahal

  • Challenge the known and embrace the unknown. Accepting the known and resisting the unknown is a mistake. You should do exactly the opposite: challenge the known and embrace the unknown. Now is the time to take this kind of risk because you have less to lose and everything to gain. Great things happen to people who question the status quo.
  • Be brief. Contrary to school, in the work place there are few minimums. This is a nifty challenge: Here are guidelines: email—five sentences; presentations—tens slides and twenty minutes; report—one page.
  • Tell stories, do demos, and use pictures.  There is only one Steve Jobs, but if you want a shot at being the next Steve Jobs,learn to communicate using stories, demos, and pictures.
  • Live in the present, work for the future. The day after you start work, no one is going to care what school you went to, what your grade point average was, if you were captain of the football, robotics, or debate team, or who your parents are. All that matters is whether you deliver results or you don’t, so work hard to make your boss look good (see next).
  • Make your boss look good. Your job is to make your boss look good. The theory that you should make your boss look bad so that you can advance above him or her is flawed. Trying to do so will probably make you look disloyal to your boss and stupid to the rest of the organization.
  • Continue to learn. Learning is a process not an event, so you should never stop learning. Indeed, it gets easier to learn once you’re out of school because the relevance of what you need to learn becomes more obvious.
  • Obey the absolutes. When you were young, it was absolutely wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. When you enter the workforce, you will be tempted to think in relative terms. As you grow older, you will see that right and wrong seems to change from absolute to relative. This is wrong: right is right and wrong is wrong forever.
  • Enjoy your family and friends before they are gone. Nothing–not money, power, or fame–can replace your family and friends or bring them back once they are gone.

Day #122: You & Yourself

You were born to conquer the world. Born to change the world. Born for greatness and born to make a difference. You can’t always change the “what” you have to do, but you can always change the “why” or “how.” If you change your “why” or change your “how”, you can find your motivation, even for tasks you don’t normally want to do. The fastest thing you can change in any situation is you.

You can’t change somebody else, but you can change yourself in an instant. Even if you want to change somebody else, or to change the situation, your fastest path to change is to change yourself, whether that means how you see things or how you show up or how you choose to do things.

You are an inspiration.

It doesn’t matter what others are doing. It matters what YOU are doing. – Unknown

Sometimes we take ourselves for granted. We discredit our own accomplishments because “it was too easy” or you simply already did that and are now focused on a bigger goal. It happens. We always take for granted what we have when we are caught up in our day-to-day lives. But remember, while you are busy looking up at your next goal, someone else is looking up to you for something you have already accomplished. If you don’t think you are an inspiration, you are dead wrong.

Once you learn to break mindsets, you will unlock new levels of motivation and new levels of growth. A perfect example is exercise and pushing yourself to new limits! Even when it is tough, when it has been a long day, don’t make excuses. Just get out there, and just smash it!! You wont regret it!

Now remember so many times you have failed and so many times you have been frustrated at not making it to the next level, to the next chapter or the next goal! But that is just it… Your dream does not have an expiration date! It’s time to get back up, take a deep breath and get back out there!

Day #121: The Mind Game

How will you choose to drive your day. How will you let your mind drive the day? Will you choose the POSITIVE side or a NEGATIVE side?

It’s a simple choice really. But each decision will require work, hard work actually.

“A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” ― Ziad K. Abdelnour

If you choose to take the POSITIVE side, this requires you to think optimistically and spread joy and happiness around you. I guarantee  you, that if you make those around you feel good about themselves and happy, you will always be happy. But don’t get me wrong.. this will require some effort to keep your attitude and mind in the right place. Especially when the day goes south… will you cave and give into being negative, or will you choose to look on the bright side of things?

If you choose to take the NEGATIVE side, this means you wont be thinking of the positives, but being the critical one. When things get tough, rough and unfair, you wont look for the positives, but accept the negatives. Accepting the negatives, diminishes your mentality to look for solutions, it exercises your mind to lower yourself and your ability to comprehend the good things, even in the worst of situations. You can either choose to dwell on it or choose to fight it and find that light of happiness…

I choose POSITIVE.

What will you choose?

Day #120: You Are Growing

Day by day growing is what life is all about. We can never be perfect, but we can try to be, however in the fight to be it we need to learn through failures, mistakes and errors. Then we must improve from these each time. Without growth we are linear – which is pretty boring really. If you are doing the same thing, always and everyday with no additional value, no productivity increase, no out of the box thinking… how basic would our world be? How plain and (maybe simple) would it be?

Growth is excitement. When you are growing through challenges and learning something new, you will have a sense of accomplishment and acceptance, not just from the people around you, but also from yourself.

You will be happy with what you have done, how far you have come and you will see a glimpse of what is to come.

What about growth and goals?

Most people are certain they can push through the tough times, they can handle all the curve-balls life throws at them, they can deal with the stress and pain of the inevitable failures that lie ahead – until they find themselves in that exact position.

Regardless of whether we’re talking about career goals, life goals, relationship goals or any other goals we believe to hold meaning, they all require action to meet.

If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working for it. Don’t stop pushing ahead, no matter how difficult it may be. – Paul Hudson

Never give up on your dreams, but understand goals are only as rewarding as the journey required to attain them. It’s what we learn and experience along the way that shapes our realities and our souls.

If you give up on the things and individuals you believe hold meaning, then you are quite literally, giving up on yourself. Nothing could ever be sadder.

Never give up, never surrender – Galaxy Quest

Day #119: A Happy Secret

Everyone is always trying to find the secrets of life, to find new and better ways to get ahead, be happy and to be the success they have always wanted to be…

What if I told you, that there are some secrets to life which enabled you to have joy each and every day and to be simply happy. Here are 10 small life-hacks/routines, you can utilize to make your day that little extra exciting.

  1. Make time for yourself. Whether you need it or not, tell people you are busy. This is a legitimate excuse.

“In a world of distraction and competing demands, mental focus is a scarce yet precious commodity. If you want more of it, you will have to be intentional about getting it.” – Michael Hyatt

  1. Switch off from your BAU working mentality. Once you have shut down for the night. Stick to it. Whether it is LATE or EARLY. Take the time to refuel and refresh for the day ahead.
  2. Give yourself the permission to buy any book at any time – but only if you will read it. This is an investment to you so it is worth every penny.

Reading might be one of the most important things you can do to better yourself. It’s the wisdom of brilliant minds condensed down to a $20 and 2-day commitment

  1. Drop the windows, turn up the music and drive with a bounce. If people look at you – just smile and start dancing. Live a little…

“You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on earth.” – William W. Purkey

  1. Be the guy/girl who leaves a large tip on a napkin. You will never know what you have done directly for the person individually – but you will know it will make someones day. Pay the extra $10 and you could buy someones happiness in an instant. It’s the little things that count.
  2. Rest and get plenty of it. You know your limits, so stick to them. A lack of rest will lower sanity, productivity and attitude…
  3. Write down your thoughts. Whether it be 10 things you enjoyed, 10 things you didn’t. Write something big or something small. Write to a time limit, or write to a word count. Just write as it will help formulate cohesive thoughts.
  4. Create an uninterrupted routine for the first hour of the day. This will speed-stream your morning.

“Morning is an important time of day, because how you spend your morning can often tell you what kind of day you are going to have.” – Lemony Snicket, “The Blank Book”

Mornings are crucial – they dictate your attitude, your perceptions and your energy for the day. Give yourself the gift of a predictable, enjoyable, rejuvenating morning routine.

  1. Let lose your creative side and doodle. This is a great way to visualize your conscious and subconscious thoughts. Whip out a pen and give it a go.
  2. Quit and remove whatever doesn’t add value to your life. Bootstrap your life. Have the ability to simplify your life, eliminating the unnecessary so that the required and necessary can come alive.

Day #118: Make Them Count

I have always been a morning person, but I know it can be hard even on the best of days. But you still need to make them count!

However if you are not like me and you struggle with your mornings, then this is the blog for you!

If you’re trying to convince yourself to be more of a morning person, the below list will give you some wonderful ways you can enjoy the mornings so much, you may even want to get up earlier. The idea is to make the each morning count and make the most of them. This could be: relaxing moments with a good cup of coffee, spending a little time working on a creative hobby or just enjoying a few minutes of extra cuddle time with your pooch.

See below:

1. Set some time aside to journal or read a book. You could even blog.

2. Have a beautiful breakfast. Eggs, porridge, pancakes, bacon or even a smoothie. Have whatever you want. Who wouldn’t want this?

3. The morning hours can be an ideal time to get work done, especially when you have a wonderful work space. If you have a side hustle, or you are wanting to start one. Spend some time working on this.

4.  Afternoons can get long and evenings busy, so if you’re most productive in the AM make sure you set aside some time to do a favorite hobby that might otherwise get ignored. This can be anything from scrap-booking, working in your veggie garden or even painting.

5. Have leisurely mornings where you have coffee with your favorite people (friends/family).

6. Start your day off right with a morning routine of exercise, HITT, a jog, a run or even some yoga.

7. Make someone else’s day by writing a few notes while you’re sipping your coffee. 

8. Some mornings are just going to be hectic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fit in a stylish selfie or two.

9. Some mornings are just meant to be spent with our best friend. (puppy, kittens, guinea pig?)

10. Hydrating first thing in the morning will help you feel energized during the rest of the day. Adding lemon boosts your metabolism and keeps your skin clear. If you have trouble drinking enough water, try making flavored water to keep things more interesting.

11. Do some smart meal-planning. Having extra time in the morning means you can pack healthy lunches for the rest of the week so you don’t splurge on unhealthy meals.

These are just 11 random yet insightful ways you can spice up your morning, however there are plenty more, and I am sure you would have your own routines you love to live by. (feel free to share).

“If you want to have the time of your life, change how you use the time in your life.” ― Tim Fargo

The point is – if you struggle in the morning, why not make it morning which you want to be jumping out of bed for and make them count. However, if you are a regular here on my blog, you will know that if you love what you do then getting out of bed wont be a problem for you.

Day #117: You vs The World

The key message I have for you today is YOU vs THE WORLD.

Instead of spending your time trying to impress the people around you and the world we live in… the only person you should be trying to impress is yourself. Work on loving yourself first, understanding what makes you tick, what makes you happy and what you are good at. You will be the only person you will always be spending your time with – so it is better to learn to love yourself sooner than later.

The right people, the ones who belong in your life will soon enough come along for the right reasons, not because you were trying to be like someone else. Being yourself or not people will follow you, but being yourself is true to not only the people around you but firstly yourself. Be proud of who you are and what you have or can do.

You and only you are responsible for your fate. Life is no fun if you spend it hating yourself; this will limit any progress you hope to make. Always look on the bright-side of life.

Once your confidence is up, you will stop making the terrible mistake of comparing yourself to others. You will already be comfortable and happy with who you are.

The most important lesson you can teach yourself is how to accept and love yourself for you who you are, no matter what you’ve been through and what you’ve learned. Acceptance makes all the difference in your confidence and self-esteem.

Loving yourself in this world, will create an infectious aurora around you, so much that others will follow, but no matter who comes along, just know that no one will love you like you love yourself. Just don’t love yourself so much that you diminish the people around you.

Own yourself, your thoughts and your mind, and there’s nothing anyone can do or say that can take you away from you – Isamar Avery

Day #116: 3 Mistakes To Drop

Too many times and usually before we even notice, we tend to get in our own way. Mistakes or not; we are victims of our own creations of fears and limitations that hold us back, or hold us down. We may not do this intentionally. It’s just that we’re all doing the best we can in this beautiful, messy, complicated world.

There are so many circumstances or experiences that can get in the way of our growth which limit our creativity and our lives.

“Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here.” ~Marianne Williamson

Here are 3 mistakes we are commonly known to make – and what you can do about it:

Mistake #1: Not Taking Your Instincts Seriously

Have you ever said “I’m fine” when inside you were hurt or afraid? Or said “It’s not a big deal” when, in fact, it was consuming your every waking thought (and likely your dreams)? Yeah, don’t do that. It matters that you have a dream to start a business. It matters that you want more than what everyone else is settling for. It matters that you are upset or unsettled or craving expansion in your life.It matters because those things are signs that you are not on the right track, signs that something is out there calling your name, signs that you’re ready to discover and devour it.

And those signs should always be taken seriously. Listen to where your inner voice. It’s there for a reason.

Mistake #2: Not Creating Space for Growth

Growth requires space—actual physical space, as well as space in your schedule. If you think it’s selfish to create time for you—to chase a dream, to process an emotion, to rest and reconnect—you’re not seeing one very important fact: You can’t give to others what you don’t have, and you don’t have what you don’t take the time to give to yourself. Make the things that matter—such as self-care, compassion, and authenticity—priorities, and you’ll find you have the time and energy to create the life you visualize.

Mistake #3: Labeling Your Efforts

Any time you start something big or life-changing with labels like “not good enough” or “stupid,” you shut down your growth before you’ve even begun. Attitude is important! Because how can someone who is stupid or not good enough possibly do anything worthwhile? But you’re not stupid, and you efforts are good enough. You have to let go of the labels and approach your experience with an open mind and heart.

If you’re struggling with this one, hold on to one truth: Each and every person was born pure, whole, and open to growth and learning.

I want to leave you with these few questions:

  • What is holding you back? Actions, commitments?
  • What are your beliefs about yourself and what you can do? Are they positive or negative?
  • What things are holding you back from venturing into life? Is it the lack of action? The struggle of commitments?
Think about these, write them down on some paper and really understand the thoughts behind these. Look at it as a self investment activity.

Day #115: Chase It

The chase for happiness isn’t just about living a good life; it’s about believing you deserve the good life you’re living. What you put in is what you will get out of it. However, sometimes this will change based on timing and the context of the environment surrounding the change. Regardless, with your chin held high and a drive to deliver. You should and will always make it there in the end.

Keep in mind that no one in the world has ever been successful without a little bit of luck (or opportunity) – no one. Sometimes it is about being in the right place at the right time. Knowing the right person at the right time.

We’ve all heard the phrase “it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know”

So based on this little bit of luck and some hard work, there are some reasons why you deserve the good life:

  • You weren’t handed anything, you chased the dream.
  • You didn’t succeed at first, you failed and kept going.
  • You didn’t make excuses, you made sacrifices.
  • You didn’t get distracted, you never lost sight of the mark.
  • You didn’t just try it, you gave it your everything.
  • You didn’t content yourself with success, you became hungry for more.

When the above reasons don’t play out, this doesn’t mean it is game over. It means you need to:

  • Chase your dreams MORE
  • Keep going and try again
  • Make sacrifices
  • Stay focused
  • Deliver 110%
  • Continue to crave success

Soon enough your dreams will fall into place. Are you willing to take up the list and solider on?

I am too positive to be doubtful, too optimistic to be fearful and too determined to be defeated. – Hussein Nishah.

What are you doing to move forward?

Day #114: Everyday Happiness

Everyday I make sure I laugh. Laughter is a crucial element to any good day. Not only does it help bring happiness to the day, but it can also enlighten the people around you.

Laughter will generate a happiness like no other! So laugh daily! Laugh with your friends, family and loved ones!

Everyday use your imagination, as it has no age. Daily, I try to imagine something more, something better and something to come. Which brings me to DREAMS. These are forever. When you achieve one, there is always another! The best part about it is you can take action on your dreams today. You could wait till tomorrow, but why wait when you can start now.

Everyday is wonderful just because it is a new day. It is a new opportunity to enjoy life, to grow and to adventure on. Life will never be perfect, but why don’t you live like it is and you can do this by enjoying the wonders it brings!

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness. – Charles Spurgeon

On the topic of happiness and enjoying the day, here are 20 things you should think about as these may just be the reason you are hindering your happiness:

  1. Making Excuses
  2. Give Up Stress
  3. Remove Bad Habits
  4. Stop Making Hastily Decisions
  5. Give Up Regrets
  6. Give Up Resentments
  7. Stop Try To Control The Future
  8. Stop Being Irresponsible
  9. Stop Chasing The Wrong People
  10. Let Go Of Unresolved Relationships
  11. Stop Trying To Please Everybody
  12. Stop Limiting Yourself
  13. Give Up Disappointments
  14. Stop Feeling Misunderstood
  15. Be Yourself
  16. Stop Looking For The Easy Way Out
  17. Give Up Junk Food
  18. Stop Being Unsatisfied With Your Body
  19. Stop Worrying About Money
  20. Stop Hoarding – Give More