Category: P365

The sooner we retain momentum, the sooner we can thrive. Momentum enables us to create and ensure a snowball effect but in a good way!

I’ve always been one to aspire further and higher than the day before. The urge and drive I have to move forward, higher, further, deeper and closer towards my goals, grows stronger each day as I apply daily discipline. This creates a new habit through willpower, which further proves to myself that I can and that I will conquer. In doing so, I am motivated more and more by the result.

I remember when I first started to run 10 km in a single session. It was only a 2 years ago I was completing my first 5 km. And less than a year before that I was barely surviving a 3 km run. The point is, the longer you push, the stronger you push and the deeper you push, soon enough you will GROW, and you will step out of the box you were held by and you will be released into a bigger box. This is called your comfort zone. Then you start again. Working day by day to move forward and closer to your goal.

The sooner you give up, the sooner you accept defeat.

My challenge to you is; before you start moving forward, why not take a moment to identify the next step it is you need to take. What will it require from you and what will you do about it? Sometimes, we can be so caught up in moving forward we miss what we are actually trying to achieve.

Regardless, each day is a chance to start fresh, start clean and a chance to start again. Will you be willing to take today as that chance? Are you up for it? 

Start now. Start where you are. Start with fear. Start with pain. Start with doubt. Start with hands shaking. Start with voice trembling but start. Start and don’t stop. Start where you are, with what you have. Just … start. —Ijeoma Umebinyuo

It is time for your to decide. Today is your chance at a fresh start. It is a chance to take on the new and forget the old. Whatever it is that is holding you back, it is time to shake it off. But in order to be rid of these things and to move forward, it is going to require you to make some tough and even harder choices.

You have the power and the ability to do amazing things, and it is all controlled with a simple YES or NO.

Will you continue to do what you are doing and avoid making the necessary decisions?

Or will you make the hard decision to make a stand and fight yourself to be the change you have been looking for and to take ownership of your life?

“My life didn’t please me, so I created my life.” ― Coco Chanel

It won’t be easy, but each day is a single step and it only takes a few steps to build momentum. So you need to decide. So I suggest you go cold turkey, you go serious and you start taking the required steps. In no time you will be looking back in awe to see how far you have come.

Just remember, that every mountain has a view at the top which makes the struggle and climbs well worth it.

Will you make the decision to change your life? The question I ask you is… how much do you want it?

How much do you want this change? As only you can make the decision and choose to fight overcoming it.

What will you decide?

I’m not trying to say that we are all not wise, but sometimes we think we are making a difference doing one thing when really all we are doing is exactly that; only thinking that we are. Being clever is great, but being wise will always supersede being clever.

If we spent more time focusing on fixing ourselves, trusting ourselves, believing in ourselves and learning to be confident, then we would have the characteristics to enable and equip us to change the world.

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself. – Rumi

Knowledge is knowing Tomato is a fruit Wisdom is not putting it in fruit salad –  Shwetabh Shekhar 

Cleverness/intelligence is the ability to solve a problem. Where, wisdom is the ability to know whether the problem needs to be solved, whether it’s the right problem, and whether it’s a problem at all.

Being able to solve the problem is always required, but knowing whether it is even required, will save you from doing something that wasn’t necessary.

We may have all the intelligence or cleverness in the world, therefore we think this will help change the world. When really you need to be the change you want to see in the world.

My challenge to you is; next time you think you are making a difference, changing the world or providing a solution. Ensure that there is a problem to solve. Sometimes, it is us that needs to change, adapt and understand.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” – Leo Tolstoy

The biggest struggle and the biggest challenge we face is that of ourselves. We are the decision makers, the dictators and the ones who are going drive us to our end. In any given moment, we are living in pursuit of something more. We are living to be more.

In primary school, we are striving to make it to the next grade, then in secondary school, we begin to pursue deeper results to land us into a college course, which should enable us to land into the career we have been convinced is our destiny and our ultimate goal. But soon enough, you will wake one morning and will realize, what you are chasing is never going to be living, but only static, as you will be always chasing and striving for the next thing.

Stop for a moment.

What about now. Think about the now. In order to land into the goal or the dream you need to be equipped, ready and enabled to do so. To do so, you need to have a clear and focused mind daily. If you are too focused on the future, how can you grow in the present to actually reach the future? Take a step back, slow it down and regroup your thoughts, regroup your plan and identify what you need to do in order to successfully move on to the next step.

I challenge you to sit down and write the truth about yourself: what you’re good at, what you’re bad at, what motivates you, what you enjoy doing, what you’re insecure about, what you despise and, most importantly, what you value.

Simply putting it all on paper can bring tremendous clarity regarding who you are and what you’re meant to be doing. Surprisingly or really “no surprise at all”, if you put 100% of your efforts into your strengths, and don’t look back. You will be who you are meant to be.

Change is always around the corner, ready to pounce at any time. Most of the time we run from the very thought of change. However, from time to time we will accept it and move on with it. When change does come, it is better to embrace, adapt and adjust to it, rather than trying to fight it. As constant change is here to stay. Continuous change is here to stay. 

Why embrace it?

You can meet somebody tomorrow who has better intentions for you than someone you’ve known forever. Time means nothing. Character does.

So at any given moment, your life can change for the better or the worse, however; if you embrace it, you will always be stretching yourself outside of your comfort zone, which means you will always come out that little wiser and brighter. Yes, there may be some lessons learned, or some trial and error, but you will be building your character, your wisdom and hey, you may even have some fun along the way.

So next time a little bit of change comes your way, jump on the change train, go for the ride and be ready for anything.

As one day it just might be the change you have been looking for your whole life.

There are two types of people. One who hopes and just hopes things will happen. The other takes action and makes things happen. Are you all hope or all action?

Hoping drains your energy. Action creates energy. – Robert Kiyosaki

Here are 8 points which point to what an energetic or a “take action” kind of person does:

1. Do meaningful work

They love what they do for a living. And, when you love what you do for a living, you simply have more energy. So, if you hate your job, now might be a good time to try to fix that.

2. Get enough Zzz’s

The most energetic people in the world sustain their levels of intensity by getting at least 7-to-8 hours of sleep every single night. I think this is debatable, as it will work differently for everyone.

3. Take specific rest and renewal

Elite athletes take a psychological break by “going somewhere else mentally.” What do you do? A tennis player, for example, might walk away after a set, playing with the strings on his tennis racket, while his opponent uses those few crucial seconds to stress out about what to do next.

4. Do what it takes to stay fully charged

Tom Rath said, there are three keys to energizing your work and life:

1. Energy (Eat well and sleep enough.)
2. Interactions (Surround yourself with the right people.)
3. Meaning (Do meaningful work that gives you a sense of purpose by focusing on how it benefits other people rather than just yourself.)

5. Eat well

6. Exercise regularly 

7. Practice mindfulness

8. Always learning

So what are you doing about it?

Sometimes in order to be a winner, we may just need to lose, to give us the motivation and drive to push further next time.

If you are failing, you’re actually progressing more than those you are choosing to stay comfortable. To fail is to learn and to grow, adapt and try again. To be comfortable is to remain the same, static and without growth. The problem is, in order to grow (regardless if you fail or not), one must take a risk and face the fear of vulnerability and put something on the line, even if it is your confidence. The best part of taking small steps and stretches from outside of your comfort zones is the safety net it provides around you. I am not suggesting you go jump outside of your comfort zone, to a degree that you are throwing yourself under a bus, but drip feeds your growth, slow and steady or at a rate, you can be comfortable with. Just don’t fall into the trap of becoming constant and being stuck in another comfort zone.

Seth Godin sum’s it up perfectly:

It’s not a race

Practicing gratitude is a powerful way to help stay enthusiastic in life, especially when it try’s to drown you. So even in the thick, the dark and the hard, here are 10 tips to help you stay enthusiastic, even when you are crazy busy.

“Every man is enthusiastic at times. One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years that makes a success out of his life.” — Edward B. Butler

Act Enthusiastic

Force yourself to act enthusiastic, and you’ll become more enthusiastic,” was Frank Bettgers’ number one rule. He challenged people to try this for just 30 days because this one change could easily revolutionize your life. He went on to become one of the most successful salesmen of his day and a best-selling self-help author.

Take 15 minutes a day to do something you love

If you can’t put fifteen minutes into doing what you love, you’re making an excuse. Try this yourself. Make a list of everything you love to do. What’s calling to you right now? No matter how busy you are, take 15 minutes to do something that gives you joy, and in the end, you should see your enthusiasm return.

Get enough sleep!

Learning and memory, metabolism and weight, cardiovascular health, and immune function all suffer when you don’t get enough sleep, and so does mood. Need I say no more…

Surround yourself with the enthused!

Enthusiasm is contagious. Follow it and share it.

Hopefully, some if not all of these enthusiastic tips will help you make your life that extra exciting!

*Article has been influenced by Lifehack.org

Another day. Another chance for Optimism. Are you pumped? Are you excited? Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you determined? Are you positive?

I know over and over, people tend to dread a new day and the grind of 9 to 5 or restless routine. But I have reminded you again and again, that if a new day is making you feel “unmotivated” then maybe you’re not doing the exciting thing you should be. Your passion or joy. 

If there is one thing, that will entice and reshape your perspective of any day, it is optimism. No, it may not be a natural state for some, but with the application, the right mindset and determination, you will be surprised where this positive stubbornness can take you. As per Brian Tracy’s quote; If you want success and happiness, then Optimism is the one quality that is more likely to be associated with this result.

In the case you are unfamiliar with ‘Optimism’, it goes a little something like this:  hopefulness and confidence about the future or the success of something.

So today as you walk into a new adventure, will you take hopefulness and confidence with the plan to conquer not only today but as the week progresses!

Set the level and set the bar, make today the new baseline for your tomorrow. So make sure you make it a good one!

Take hold of optimism and just see where you can go!

“Optimism is the one quality more associated with success and happiness than any other.”— Brian Tracy