Mon_12th_"Evergreen"

evergreen - a plant having foliage that persists and remains green throughout the year

The picture above is actually from my back yard. It's kind of interesting in that, it's not a holly "bush" but, more of a tree! I've never seen that before I moved to where I live now. I see a lot of these "holly TREES". Regardless, the main thing is that it is a picture of an "evergreen" plant.

Why am I talking about the word, "evergreen", for my blog and podcast topic? Good question.

I thought for the next few days leading up to Christmas I'd share thoughts based on a word that is often "connected" to this time of year. So, NOW when you see the word that is the topic for the day, you'll already have an idea of WHY that word is an actual TOPIC for discussion! 😁

So, why "evergreen"? Look again at the definition that I have right under the picture. An evergreen plant "remains green throughout the year". Even like now, when it's too cold for other "foliage" to remain green. All of the other plants and bushes have "lost" their foliage. It died. It fell off and is blowing around in someones yard. Sure, it will come back in the Spring but, for now, it's dead and gone. 

The evergreen plant "stands out" among all of the other dead trees and bushes that are around them. 

So, do you know where I'm "going with this" yet?

As corny as it sounds, I want to encourage YOU to be "evergreen". 

Yep. 

When everyone else has "withered and died" and the world around you looks dead, cold and stagnant, I want to encourage YOU to be the one that "stands out" and offers hope to  your life as well as to those around you. 

You see, when it comes to plants, it doesn't matter how much you water them or "take care of them". If they are outside in the elements, unless they are of the evergreen variety, they WILL lose their foliage and look dead. Even though a plant may not be evergreen, it CAN be kept "alive" by bringing it in and taking care of it indoors. Even then, it's hard work to help that plant survive.

So, here you go. I'm not going to discuss this a lot in this article. I want YOU to explore and discover for yourself what this means for you. But, you may be one of those people that, by your nature, you are "evergreen". You constantly offer hope and "life" in a cold, bleak and "dead" world. That just may be who you are. 

But, even if that doesn't describe you, I want to encourage you to PROTECT YOURSELF from the "elements" (the negativity that surrounds us everyday) and to WORK at "staying alive" (why did I just thin of the Bee Gees when I typed that?) even though most of the others around you have not. 

Now, run with that and have some fun with it!

Until next time, 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

The Gift of PEACE

I'm not sure that there is any greater gift that a person can give - either to themselves or others - than the gift of PEACE.

What does that mean for you and how do you go about accomplishing this in your life and in the lives of those around you?

I am convinced that one of the best ways (if not THE best way) to give yourself the gift of peace is to IMPROVE YOUR POSITIVE MINDSET. That's right...get rid of the negativity and the worry (as much as possible) and replace it with positivity and confidence. 

No, I'm not suggesting that you will be able to rid your life of EVERY single worry but I AM saying that increasing the positive influence in your life will help greatly diminish worry and it's "power" over your life. 

When you increase this level of positive influence in your life then, by it's very nature, you also spread that to those around you. Instead of worrying about jobs, being out of work or the politics that go on at the workplace, you are able to develop a sense of calm - and peace - by understanding that YOU actually have a lot more power over these things than you may have first thought. These things don't mean that it's "the end of the world". You begin to understand and apply the idea that "As long as there is breath, there is hope!". 

When YOU are calm and peaceful it becomes contagious. Those around you (family, friends) begin to "absorb" the "calm energy" that you exude and it helps bring a sense of peace to these other people around you. 

Another of the great ways to bring peace into your life and FOR your life is to do so financially. 

Money - or the lack of it - is one of the greatest stress generators in our lives today. It is responsible for more relationship problems than anything else. (Let me just throw in here before I move on...increasing your positive influence like we've been discussing can also help greatly in THIS area!). 

I mentioned in the podcast that goes along with today's article two sources to help guide you in this area. I suggested that you check out Dani Johnson and what she offers in this area by going to DaniJohnson.com . I also suggest that you check out Dave Ramsey at DaveRamsey.com . 

And, finally, by improving your positive mindset you have the ability to bring peace to yourself and your family (as well as friends and co-workers) by just becoming a better - more positive - person overall. Think about that. When ANYONE becomes less negative and more positive, THINGS ALWAYS IMPROVE!

Yeah, you know that's true!

Examine this for yourself. Get out a piece of paper and brainstorm this in the different areas of your life where you feel that peace is absent. What can YOU do to change that? 

And, friend, may you enjoy the "Gift of Peace" during this special time of the year.

Until next year, 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

A Special Message...

 

 

Greetings, friends!

My wife, Janan, and I want to take a moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas as we head to the start of another new year!

 

Regardless of what your situation is right now - whether good or "not-as-good-as-I'd-like-it-to-be" - I want to encourage you to focus and think about your BLESSINGS during this special time of the year.

 

Instead of spending time focusing on what you DON'T have or what you CAN'T give your children or what you HAVEN'T accomplished this year, I want you to focus on the OPPOSITE!

 

Think of all of the wonderful blessings that you DO have! (Make a list!)

Think of what you CAN and DO give your children! ("stuff" is not always as important as you think it is)

Think of what you HAVE accomplished this year! I can almost PROMISE you that you HAVE accomplished more than you realize. Take some time to discover those things in your life over the past year.

 

Please feel free to contact me if you have trouble discovering those blessings...I bet I can help you find some of them in your life even if you can't.

 

Thanks for your continued support - I never take that for granted.

 

Mike and Janan Spillman