More From "The Board" - My 7 Daily Affirmations

7 Life-Changing,

Life-Directing,

Powerful

Daily Affirmations!

1. I am somebody SPECIAL!

2. I AM ABLE to accomplish GREAT things!

3. I AM ABLE to TOUCH and CHANGE many lives for the better!

4. I will not allow ANYONE to determine the size of my dreams!

THEY ARE MINE!

5. I AM A GIVER - not a taker!

6. I WILL take steps on this journey TODAY!

7. I CAN! I WILL! I MUST!

---------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I have these posted on my "Power Board" just as I do the other notes that I've shared with you over the past couple of articles. This one has not been up quite as long as the others but I did formulate these back on August 21, 2008 and I've had them posted ever since that time.

What I'm going to do is post a link from this blog for each one of these 7 steps. I have written and done podcasts on these affirmations on more than one occasion but, since I was doing a series on things that I have on my "Power Board" I wanted to also go ahead and share these with you.

I will be doing an updated podcast on this topic, so be sure to click either the HERE for the iTunes link or HERE for the RSS feed to hear my latest thoughts (and additions) to these powerful affirmations.

So, here they are, in order. Just click the link for each one and read the original article that I wrote on this topic...

1. I AM SOMEBODY SPECIAL! 

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-somebody-special.html

2. I AM ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS!

 http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-able-to-accomplish-great-things.html

3. I AM ABLE TO TOUCH AND CHANGE MANY LIVES FOR THE BETTER!

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-able-to-touch-and-change-many.html

4. I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DETERMINE THE SIZE OF MY DREAMS - THEY ARE MINE!

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-able-to-touch-and-change-many.html

5. I AM A GIVER - NOT A TAKER! (Part 1) 

 http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-giver-not-taker.html

   I AM A GIVER - NOT A TAKER! (Part 2 - on relationships)

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-am-giver-not-taker-part-2-on.html

6. I WILL TAKE STEPS ON THIS JOURNEY TODAY!

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-will-take-steps-on-this-journey-today.html

7. I CAN! I WILL! I MUST!

http://futureyouuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-can-i-will-i-must.html

Be sure to listen to the podcast on this to hear a "PLUS ONE" that I've added to this list just in the past couple of months. DO THESE DAILY - get in the habit! Yes, you may feel a little silly saying these things out loud, especially if there are others around. If that's the case, go where you can be by yourself and others can't hear you so that you can CONFIDENTLY and LOUDLY proclaim these affirmations in and for your life!

And, as always friend, whatever you do, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Formula for Success

FORMULA for SUCCESS 

You could say that this is "A" formula for success but, friend, I'd go so far as to say that this is THE formula for success.

I don't claim full responsibility for the statement you see in the graphic above. Yes, it is from my "power board" (see the last blog article) and it is in my handwriting and I did put those thoughts together. However, it is a combination of thoughts that I have read over the years from several different people...I just put it together in my own words.

This goes along closely with the blog article from yesterday in which this thought from Jim Rohn was shared: "The major key to your better future is you!"  

Again, it has to start with the understanding that it is totally up to and dependent upon YOU and your decisions (and actions). Now then, here we go - THIS is how you get "there"!

As asked yesterday, "Do you want a better future?" And, I'll ask this closely related question today: "Do you want to change your life?"

If either of these are a "YES!" (and we pretty much saw that the answer to the first question is always "YES"!) then understand that THIS process is how you get there. However, you should also understand that, as you look at this formula, there are still a lot of "how-to's" that you won't find here. That is where YOU come in. That is where YOUR ability to think and apply comes into place.

Let's break this down and look at it a little closer. Ready?

1. Change Your Beliefs and you Change Your Behaviors 

      So much of you having a "better future" and of "changing your life" begins with changing your beliefs. Actually, EVERY BIT OF THIS PROCESS begins with changing your beliefs. It's all about changing the way that you think!

     No, that doesn't mean that you have to change your core belief system about things such as God but, at the same time, it may mean that you DO change the way that you view things about what is and isn't pleasing to God.  Let me clarify. Many people have a deeply instilled belief that God does not want them to be wealthy or "rich". This deeply rooted belief hinders their mindset when that person decides that they want a better future. For one, please note that the Bible does NOT say that money is the root of all evil. Nope. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil. It goes on to say that this type of attitude towards money leads to greediness!

     I won't go into all that I could go into, but, again, this is just an example of some THINKING that may have to be changed and adapted. Bottom line on this part is that GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOU! Think about this: the more you have the more you can do and the more people you can help.

     But, the need to change your belief goes beyond this. For whatever reason, most people tend to believe that they don't DESERVE something better for their lives. That is another thought pattern that MUST be changed in order to move forward toward your better, changed life. 

     KNOW THIS: On all of these steps but, especially, on this first KEY step - it's not easy! This process takes a long time but you can still make progress as you CONTINUE to work on changing your beliefs. Remember, "change your beliefs and you change your behaviors" or, put another way: "Change the way you THINK and you begin to change the way you ACT!"

2. Change Your Behaviors and you Change Your Results

     Here's a very simple example that you can use to help see that this is true and applicable. It doesn't matter if it is someone playing golf, basketball, baseball, football, hockey or ANY sport - if they find themselves in a "slump" in some area of their game, they will examine what they ARE doing and likely find that they have slipped into some bad habit which has led to their poor results. They will then CHANGE THIS HABIT (change their behavior) and, eventually, this will lead to changed and better results.

     When you begin to change the way you THINK you begin to change the way you ACT. When you begin to change the way you ACT, you begin to change the RESULTS that you are getting!

     Apply that to ANY area of your life and you will find it to be true. Just improving your outlook and attitude will change the way you act and, as a result, change the way most people react toward you. And, as a direct result, this will usually lead to different (and better) results in our relationships and all things related to those improved relationships. 

     Make sense? Yes, again, this is something that takes effort and time, but you can begin that process TODAY, right where you are. I think it was Zig Ziglar that said, "You don't have to be great to start but you have to START in order to be great!"

3. Change Your Results and you Change Your Life

     This is really a "common sense" formula, isn't it? When you begin to change the way that you THINK, you begin to change the way that you ACT. When you begin to change the way that you ACT, you then begin to change your RESULTS. And, friend, when you change your RESULTS you absolutely begin to CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Please don't become discouraged when I tell you that this is a life-long process. It never ends and you never get to the point that you have "arrived" and can stop this process.  

Instead of becoming discouraged just simply understand that when you stop growing, YOU DIE! Life is a journey, right? Every day is a new day with new challenges and new experiences And, just when you think you have things "figured out" life can through you a "curve ball" and challenge everything you thought you had "figured out"!

But that's what makes living a JOY! Experiencing these things in your life let's you know that you are ALIVE and that you are a PART of this journey! I can't stress that enough. The ups and downs in life are a PART of  life but, you can change your mindset and thoughts to the point that you begin to handle your RESPONSE to these ups and downs in a better way.

Jack Canfield shares this formula along this line: E + R = O, which stands for EVENT + RESPONSE = OUTCOME. We all have "events" in our lives. These are the UPS and these are the DOWNS that we all experience. But, according to Mr. Canfield (and according to life's experiences) do you want to know what determines the OUTCOME of those "events" that we all experience? That's right, OUR response! How YOU respond to those events will determine your outcome.

All of these things work together but, friend, notice the word "work". It takes EFFORT and it takes a DECISION on your part.  

So, yeah...here we are again. It all comes down to YOU. 

You are the only one that can decide to start making the changes in this formula that can change and improve your life and the life of those that you love. No one else can do it for you and sitting around and complaining and whining will never accomplish anything. EVER.

I'll encourage you any way that I can, friend...so let's take this journey TOGETHER!

And, as you do so, whatever you do, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

 

YOU Are the Key!

Lessons From 'The Board' - Part 1

Not a very fancy graphic, is it? It's actually a little ugly, even!

That is a picture of a piece of paper that I have had posted to my "power board" since around 2003. Yeah, that long. What's a "power board"? Different people may call it by different names but, for me, this is one of the places where I post things like this - things that I need to SEE and NOTICE on a daily basis. 

Over the next few articles I will be sharing other such "notes" from my "power board".

However, let me suggest something different for you as far as WHERE to place it...especially this one. PUT IT ON YOUR MIRROR and read it out loud to yourself EVERY day as you look at yourself in that mirror.

This quote came from the late, great, Jim Rohn. I am so glad that I had the chance to hear him speak in person on several occasions before he passed away.  I LOVE just about anything and everything that is connected to Jim Rohn.

Let me ask you a question: Do you want a "better" future? Do you DESIRE a better future?

I would assume that you would say "yes" to that question. I'm not sure why anyone wouldn't say "yes" when asked that question. We ALL want something "better" for our future.

If you're not sure about how to answer that for fear that you may sound ungrateful or greedy, maybe I can ask another question that will clear that up quickly. Do you want something WORSE for your future? 

I didn't think so.

Now that we have that cleared up, let's get to the bottom line here: YOU.

That's right, Mr. Rohn gets right down to it in this quote...YOU are the MAJOR key in this desire and YOU are the MAJOR key in this becoming a reality. Sure, there are other factors that may be involved but, notice the word "MAJOR". You are the MAIN ingredient in this process.

There are many things that YOU can do or many ways that YOU have the ability to direct this course. I'm not going to address all of those in this article but, if you want a hint, go back and read as many of my articles as you can. Look up and read as many articles and books by people like Jim Rohn as you can.

Since YOU are THE MAJOR KEY to your better future then you need to realize that improving your mindset is one of the most important things that you can do. 

It starts there but it does not end there. It is a CONTINUAL process.

Follow me? It is a never-ending process that continues day after day. And, as you continue to fill your mind with this positive information, you will GROW and, in the process, become a better person.

And, friend, that enables ANOTHER process to take place. Join me in the next article and I'll share that process with you. You guessed it - from another posting that I have on my "power board". 

And, yeah, I've had it posted there since around 2003, as well. 

Until next time...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

"O.P.M. Wisdom" - This Sets Us Apart

"O.P.M. WISDOM - THIS SETS US APART"

 Since this article is connected to the last one, please take the time to go back and read part 1, if you haven't done so already.  If you don't, you'll have no idea what I'm talking about in this one, o.k.?

In this article I'm going to specifically address those that STILL refuse to accept the FACT that we can learn from "Other Peoples Mistakes" and insist that they HAVE to make the mistake in order to learn. That is about as far from the truth as you can get - and I'll prove it to you.

Do you wear a shock collar?

In case you're not sure what I'm talking about, let me explain. A shock collar is a device - a collar - that is placed on an animal (a dog, in my experience) to help train them. A wire is placed around whatever perimeter that the human decides upon which interacts with the shock collar. If the animal gets within a certain distance of the wire, the collar will begin to beep, which will serve as a warning to the animal as it becomes trained. If the animal continues along it's path even closer to the wire it will receive a shock which should cause the animal to stop and retreat.  The idea is that, after enough times of this shock, the animal will begin to "learn" where the boundaries are as they relate to the perimeter that has been set by the human.

And, you know what? IT WORKS! The dogs that I had in one particular situation did learn the boundaries and they stayed away from the perimeter that had been set. (And, yes, of course my three sons had to hold the collars in their hands to see what it was like for themselves. OUCH!).

So, an animal can be trained. An animal can develop a learned behavior. Some may argue that the animal has been able to "reason" and make a decision. But, an animal can NOT "reason" and make a decision. Let me tell you what I mean.

Yes, an animal can learn what to do or not do based on their own experience - the "SHOCK" that they get (or the treat that they receive) based on their behavior. However, that same animal does NOT have the ability to learn that behavior by setting back and observing other animals go through the process first. See what I mean?

As humans, we have been blessed with the unique ability to OBSERVE and REASON which then can lead to a decision without having to experience the action ourselves.

We have the ability to have "O.P.M. Wisdom"! We have the ability to OBSERVE, TAKE NOTES and MAKE A DECISION based on what other people do. We may observe an adverse result to what a person does and then decide that we do not to experience that same, adverse result. We may also observe a very positive and rewarding result that we desire. We watch, observe, take notes and decide that we want to follow that same path so that we, too, can experience the same positive results.

To insist that you can only learn by making YOUR OWN MISTAKES over and over again is to say that you are not any smarter than animals. There is truth in that statement.

To refuse the idea of "O.P.M. Wisdom" is to reject the unique ability that you have been given by your Creator! Friend, you DO have this ability and you CAN learn from others without having to make the same mistake yourself.

On the positive side, observe someone that you want to be like and do what they do.  Maybe it's someone that has a very good family life...learn how that happens from that person and then do what they do! Maybe they are successful in business - do what they do. WHATEVER IT IS, if they are successful and you wish for the same success, find out what they do and what they have done and do what they do and do what they have done. FOLLOW THEIR PATH!

And, doesn't it then make sense that, if someone exhibits what you DON'T want in your life, that you can STILL watch, observe, take notes so that you know what NOT to do?

Bottom line, it is still up to you. There are people every day that ignore the mistakes of their own past and also ignore the failures of others around them. They are doomed to fail UNLESS and UNTIL they decide to "wise up" and desire something better for their life.

Hey listen, it is one thing to whine and complain about why things always turn out wrong and then keep doing the same stupid things than it is for someone to realize that what they are doing DOES NOT WORK and dedicate themselves to POSITIVE change! It is the difference between a WHINER and a DOER!

What will you do?

Have you ever heard this phrase -  "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it." ? This if often attributed to Winston Churchill. Most, however, think that it came from what was written by George Santayana in The Life of Reason (1905): “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

You see, it's IMPOSSIBLE for me to go back and RELIVE history from 100 years ago. However, I can "watch" (study), take notes and make a decision based on the history that OTHERS lived and experienced.

Open your eyes. Pay attention. Watch. Observe. Take notes. Make a decision. And, take advantage of "O.P.M. Wisdom".

Until next time... Whatever you do, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

What Is "O.P.M. Wisdom"?

What IS "O.P.M. Wisdom"?

Depending on who you are and what your background or life experience is, will likely influence your guess on this one. Now, don't feel bad if you don't come up with ANYTHING on this one, o.k.? 

Perhaps the first thing that came to your mind when you saw the letters "O.P.M." was "Office of Personnel Management". I even saw a listing for "Office of Pest Management". So, in the area of "office" there could be any number of listings that go along with that.

Now, if you are one that has researched work-from-home opportunities or any type of entrepreneurial endeavors, then the idea of "Other People's Money" may be what came to mind.  And, yes, that might display some sort of wisdom - having the ability to grow your business using other people's money BUT...that is not what I'm going to be talking about today.

I'll get to that in a moment  but, first, I want to give a little background as to what it was that made me come up with that phrase and to also feel the need to share this information in this blog as well as on the podcast (see podcast links at bottom of article) that goes along with this same topic.

Let me start off by asking you this question: "How do you learn?" or "How do you think most people learn - beginning as a baby?"

For sure, much learning comes from trial and error, right? How does a baby learn to crawl and then walk? Trial and error. Some babies don't crawl, they "scoot". I've seen babies scoot like an inchworm and I've seen babies learn how to sit up and scoot along on their bottom...almost hopping!

But, basically, there's only one way to walk and that definitely takes place with trial and error. 

Did you ever learn how to ride a bicycle? If you did, do you remember that process? I do and I can say real quick that IT IS NOT FUN! Crashing was not (and still is not) fun! And, once you've crashed and felt the pain that came with it, it's HARD to get back on that bike and go at it again. But, apparently the MOTIVATION of being able to ride that bike like your brothers, sisters and/or friends was greater than the fear and, after a period of trial and error, you learned how to ride that bike.

But, is that the ONLY way that we learn? Of course not!

I have three adult sons and I remember the difference in the "learning curve" between the first one, the second one and the third one. The second one learned most things a lot quicker than the first one because he had someone to learn from (besides his parents) - his brother! And, the third one learned even quicker because he had TWO brothers to learn from.

Follow me so far? Good.

I have two brothers and three sisters while my wife has only one brother. Overall, I'd say I learned mostly positive things from my brothers and sisters and don't remember much of anything that I thought I needed to avoid in their actions. Now, my wife tells me that she would watch her older brother and figure out what NOT to do! He wasn't (and isn't) a bad person but he just got in a lot more trouble than she did. (Now, I do have to say that little sisters are quite sneaky!).  

So, here we go with the main point - ARE YOU READY?

Some people feel that the only way to LEARN anything - or to gain wisdom - is by trial and error. More or less, what they believe is that they may have to "crash and burn" over and over again before they finally "get it". Then, they learn and are wiser.

And, yes, that is ONE way to learn. A very painful way to learn, at times, but it is a way to learn.

However, I want to present another way to learn and gain wisdom - "O.P.M. WISDOM"  and the "O.P.M." stands for "Other People's MISTAKES". 

I told my Dad once that I guess I was one of those that had to learn lessons the hard way and he very gently told me that this was not true. He was the first to point out to me the value in learning from OTHER people's mistakes. 

Just in general, HISTORY is a prime example of how we can - and SHOULD - learn from the mistakes of the past. The problem is that too may people have no clue about history and, thus, many people (and societies) continue to repeat the same mistakes. 

What about YOU?

I can pretty much guarantee that YOU have learned more than you realize by observing "other peoples mistakes" and deciding to do something different than they did. 

That, my friend, is a WISE way to learn as much as possible. WATCH others. TAKE NOTE in their actions and the RESULTS (or lack thereof). By the way, they may be GOOD results or they may be BAD results, otherwise known as CONSEQUENCES. And then, finally, after watching and taking notice, you then make a DECISION.

That's "O.P.M. WISDOM".

Think about that and ask yourself if, perhaps, you need to pay more attention to this type of wisdom. Hey, listen, sometimes that means that you will actually have to do some RESEARCH as part of the process. In case you don't know, it's also called  DUE DILIGENCE (look it up if you don't know what that is). 

Now that I've given you this simple - but often neglected - "formula" for gaining wisdom, in my next article I will discuss what is actually said by those that reject this idea or that insist that the only way to learn or gain wisdom is through trial and error.

Send me some feedback to my Facebook Fan Page - I'd love to get your thoughts there and you can shoot me an e-mail at anytime. 

Pay attention and keep your eyes open, friend. Watch others as others watch you! (Oh yeah, there are others that are watching YOU as well.)

Until next time, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

What Makes YOU Come Alive?

I don't know about you but, I LOVE the words found in that graphic above! Hey, I get excited just reading it and thinking about what makes ME come alive.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

What makes YOU come alive? Do you know? Have you forgotten? Do you know but you've put it on the "back shelf" to let it gather dust?

WHY are you doing - or NOT doing - what you are doing?

A lot of questions, I know, but they are IMPORTANT questions that we need to ask ourselves on a regular basis. Not only is it important to ASK these questions but, friend, it is also important to come up with ANSWERS to these questions in and for our lives.

If you are not sure what makes you come alive then I want to suggest a FREE resource that may be of great help to you. I don't get anything for this, I just know it's good and I want to share it with you. Go to JackCanfield.com and sign up for the free course that is offered there. You can't miss it! Right now, it's THE main thing that you will see when you go to his page. It is the "10 Day Transformation" program that comes to your own e-mail and, if you follow through with it, I know (because I did it myself) that it will be of great help to you in this area.

Now, look closely at that quote in the graphic. Understand that, right off, it flies in the face of what you usually hear from many "experts" when discussing what one should do with their life...especially when considering a career. Most of these "experts" will tell you to find an area that is missing something and then FILL THAT VOID! Again, notice, this quote goes in the exact opposite direction.

I've heard it said many times that, if you want to truly be a success, find out what everyone else is doing and then DO THE OPPOSITE. As a matter of fact, I was listening to an audio by Earl Nightingale the other day and heard him say just that.

Listen, our world is full of "drones" and "robots". I'm not talking about actual machines here but, rather, those people that come in, punch the time clock, "do their job", punch the time clock again and then go home. Day in and day out. Week in and week out and, yes, year in and year out.

Please don't get me wrong. There is a need for people to do those jobs and to do them well. My Dad's generation did that as well. They all knew that they could do a job like this and they knew that, as long as they did their job reasonably well, they could count on staying with that company for 40 years or so and then  also retire from that same company.

Things have changed a lot since then. For one, companies are no longer that stable and they sure don't offer that kind of security to it's workers any longer.

Too, the mindset of many people have changed as well. Many - not all - are no longer satisfied to simply "do a job" like this. Instead, they want to enjoy what they are doing and feel that there is a PURPOSE to what they are doing. I, myself, tend to be more wired like that. I have done jobs that I did not enjoy but did them anyway because it was necessary. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do!

But many are looking to fulfill that saying that has been shared by many before: "Find a job that allows you to do what you love and you will never 'work' a day in your life!".

But, it's not always that easy.

HERE'S THE KEY POINT TO CONSIDER: What makes you come alive? What creates passion in and for your life? Is there a way to earn a living for yourself and your family while incorporating this into the mix?

Dig. Discover. Find the answer and then ACT upon it. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS SAY OR THINK! We're talking about you and YOUR family and YOUR life.

The world NEEDS those that are PASSIONATE about what they are doing. And, yes, it IS possible for someone to be passionate about doing what we may consider a "mundane" job. Their passion is different than yours, so don't knock them for doing so.

In other words, WHATEVER IT IS, do it and do it to the best of your ability. START DOING THAT RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE TODAY - regardless of the job! Do it with passion and, not only will YOU and your family be blessed, but you will touch and bless many lives along the way.

And that, my friend, is definitely something that we need more of on a daily basis and in big doses.

Until next time, always remember to..

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Old Dog. New Tricks. Possible?

"You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks" - TRUE or FALSE?

You have likely heard that old saying, right? And, maybe like the masses, you have accepted it as TRUTH without really questioning it's validity.

I say that you CAN teach an old dog new tricks! But only if ONE key factor is in place. 

And that ONE KEY FACTOR is "motivation". That's right, MOTIVATION. 

Yes, right now, specifically talking about dogs (or ANY pet), if the motivation is strong enough, it IS possible to teach that pet - regardless of age - a new trick. If, however, what you offer as motivation is not a strong enough motivation for that dog (pet), then, guess what? That dog will likely just lie there and give you a "I don't think so!" look. 

And, friend, the same is true for YOU or for anyone that you know - REGARDLESS OF AGE.

For a lot of us that are a little older (I'm 56), the challenge may be with technology. I don't know many that are MY age that have refused to learn how to use some of the new technology available but, I have to admit, I'm not as ready to learn some MORE "new" forms of social interaction as I have been in the past.  But, again, it depends on how strong the motivation is that is connected with the use of that technology.

For example, my mother is 83 years old. She does not own a computer or anything more technical than a "simple" cell phone. And, that's o.k. - don't get me wrong. I was visiting her recently and she was talking about how her younger brother - my Uncle Jerry - knew more about what was going on with her kids (my brothers and sisters) than she did. Why? Because he was connected to all of us through one of the social media sites. I don't really know for sure how much younger he is than my mom, but still, he is one that would be considered older - especially when it comes to technology. 

I don't know who talked him into getting connected the way that he is but, whatever it was, the "motivation" and "desire" was strong enough to get him to work past and through the learning curve along the way.

Maybe for you it's the same thing. Maybe it's just a way for you to keep up with family and friends. Maybe you need to be open to learning new things so that you can learn a new job skill or even have the ability to SEARCH for job opportunities or even just hobbies,  that you can't really access any other way. 

Whatever the reason, IF the "motivation/desire" is strong enough - YOU WILL. 

Perhaps this applies to you in other ways than with technology. Maybe you have some health issues that you need to address and, as a result, you don't have to learn a "new trick" BUT you really need to adapt to a NEW WAY of doing a lot of things. Like eating better or exercising more. It's not easy, especially if you haven't done either of those things in a long time. But again, IF your motivation is strong enough - YOU WILL. 

Let me share another graphic with you that features a quote  by C.S. Lewis...

Have you given up? Let me ask that same question again and put a different emphasis on it - "Have YOU given up?" YOU. Yes, I'm talking to and about YOU!

Hopefully you haven't bought into that lie that you can't "learn new tricks" or that you are too old to follow a new dream. Heck, maybe it's just continuing to follow an "OLD" dream that you've had for many years. YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD!

You know, this idea kind of goes along with my phrase, "As long as there is breath, there is hope."

I don't plan to die with ANY regrets but, at the same time, I hope that, on my death bed, there will STILL be some dreams that I have not yet had the chance to make a reality. I hope I ALWAYS have dreams ahead of me that are motivation enough to keep me moving forward.

Yep. That's just me. 

Now, what about YOU, you "old dog"? 

And, by the way, even if you are not "there" (old dog age) yet...keep this idea in your head and close to your heart and don't you EVER give up!

And, whatever you do, as always, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Buried or Planted?

A few weeks back, I posted this graphic on the Future You University fan page on Facebook and even stated that I thought I had found my next podcast topic. Well, I've done the podcast (see the links below for iTunes and the RSS feed) and now I'm doing the blog along the same topic.

Can you relate to what is stated in the graphic? I SURE CAN!

There have been those times in my life where it seemed that the only light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train! I can actually remember telling my wife once, years ago, that I had lost all hope. Thankfully, she reminded me that, without hope, what was there? (By the way, that's one of the reasons I came up with the phrase, "As long as there is breath, there is hope!").

You may feel that you are "buried" underneath so much "stuff" that you'll never be able to dig yourself out. It could be debt or any other results of poor choices and bad decisions. But, friend, pay attention to what is stated in that graphic...instead of "buried" you may be in a situation where you are actually "planted"!

Interestingly, you can't be planted WITHOUT being buried first. Don't let that discourage you...read on.

 Right now, as I type this article, it is Spring time in Arkansas. Trees have put on their leaves (for the most part), things are budding and blooming all over the place. Many have been planting their gardens and getting ready for the harvest of fresh vegetables or just to enjoy the beauty of certain varieties of flowers that they enjoy.

Let me ask you, "How do you PLANT a seed?". Do you just place it on top of the soil? Of course not! You BURY it in the soil. You dig a hole and place the seed down into that hole and then you cover that seed up with the soil! Proper planting requires that seed to be buried.

Have you ever watched a seed come up out of the soil? I remember doing the "plant a seed in a cup and watch it grow" thing when I was in elementary school. I, and my classmates, were amazed at how that seed was able to push UP through the soil to find daylight. As a matter of fact, our teacher even placed a cup on it's side to show us that the plant would STILL find it's way UP to the daylight.

That soil is much heavier than that little seedling, but the seedling pushes through anyway! The little seedling pushes up and through REGARDLESS of the fact that it has been planted.

Read this and remember this fact: "THERE IS PROMISE IN THE PLANTING!"

 So, listen, even if you feel you are buried, understand that being buried is part of the process of being planted. But know this - YOU will determine if you "push through" or not!

Some may just give up and not even try. Doing so pretty much guarantees that you will NOT reach "daylight" and fulfill your purpose. But, if you have HOPE and if you have FAITH and BELIEVE that, even though you cannot see it at the time, God has a special purpose for you and what you are going through at the time, then you WILL push up and through what it is that is holding you down for the moment.

YOU WILL!

It's up to you. So, the question to you, now, is: WHAT WILL YOU DO? 

I encourage you to push up with everything that you have until you reach "daylight" and that, even then, you continue to grow and flourish. The world NEEDS you to do so! And I'm here to tell you, you can do just that.

It all starts right here, right now....TODAY. Always remember that YOU decide the direction of your day and, one way to do so, is to always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed