"Choose Responsibly!"

"CHOOSE RESPONSIBLY!"

Your first thought may be, "Choose carefully!", which is also very important to remember but, today, we are going to focus on the "responsibility" aspect of our choices.

When I chose the picture for today's blog article it made me think of the old "Let's Make a Deal" program with Monty Hall. (Yes, I know there is a remake on television right now but I prefer the original on ALL of these game shows).

There were CHOICES that the contestants had to make all through the program and it would come to the grand finale when the top contestants would CHOOSE their final prize (one of which was the GRAND PRIZE for the day). Door #1, Door #2 or Door #3?

I vividly remember yelling MY choice at the t.v. when I was a child but I'm sure YOU have NEVER done anything like that, right?

Now, think about this...how many times have YOU said (or heard someone else say) something like, "Oh, that's the one I WAS going to choose!" once it has been revealed that you picked the wrong door?

20/20 hindsight, right?

We can do that in just about any and every area of our lives, can't we? I know I can!

So, yes, not only is it important to CHOOSE CAREFULLY when it comes to the choices that we face every day but SPECIFICALLY when it comes to CHOOSING what we allow into our minds, but, even more importantly is the fact that we must choose RESPONSIBLY!

Why? Because, again, what we CHOOSE to allow into our mindset will not only impact US but it will also have an impact upon EACH and EVERY person that we come into contact with throughout each and every day. And this starts with those that are closest to you.

RESPONSIBILITY for CHOOSING what we allow into our minds.

Let that concept sink in a little and I'll continue this discussion tomorrow. But, until then...

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

Mike

www.MichaelSpillman.com

Just For TODAY!

"Four Ways to Make Sure Your New Year Is, Indeed, Happy!"

1. CHOOSE To Be Happy
2. Get Your PRIORITIES Straight!
3. Get Focused!

As we close out the discussion on "Four Ways to Make Sure Your New Year Is, Indeed, Happy!" we come to the "magical" part of the equation - are you ready? (Well, you've looked at the title already, right? So you already know what's coming!)

4. JUST FOR TODAY!

Now, again, please don't let the simplicity of this throw you off. Please don't dismiss this because of the simplicity.....Sometimes the PROFOUND can be FOUND in the simple!

You see, here's the thing - don't plan too far ahead in this choice of "happiness" - just do it for today! Too many times we get discouraged when we consider whether or not we can do something for a long period of time. "I'm not sure I can do this for a whole year!" or "I'm not sure I can do this for the next six months!"

But let me ask you this...do you think you can do the following JUST FOR TODAY?

- CHOOSE to be happy!

- Get your PRIORITIES straight!

- Get FOCUSED!

Just for today - think that's something you can do? Sure it is! JUST FOR TODAY!

Now, please understand - this doesn't mean that negative things won't happen to you and that "bad things" won't cross your path. It doesn't mean that all of the negative people and/or forces that normally come into your life will all disappear.

BUT...I do believe that I can promise you this: If you will do these things on a DAILY basis and focus ONLY on accomplishing them on a daily basis - you WILL be happy! You will be able to keep your focus and correct any distractions that have taken your focus away during THIS day before too much begins to take your attention away too far. See what I mean?

So, you see - this IS "do-able"!

Believe you can - KNOW you can!

And, as you go along this journey, never forget to...

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

Mike

CHOOSE To Be Happy!

"Four Ways to Make Sure Your New Year Is, Indeed, Happy!"

As we now head into the last few days of 2009, I want to put out some thoughts for you to consider as we approach another new year.

We often hear - and/or say - the phrase, "Happy New Year!" around this time of year and yet, so many people are unhappy year after year. Why? Is there anything that can change that mindset? I believe there is!

First of all, get out a piece of paper and write this down as a heading: "What would make me happy!" Now, just brainstorm and list anything that you can think of that you feel would bring happiness to YOUR life. Just go with it. Go on...do it. I'll still be here when you get done.

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Still waiting - go ahead, get finished THEN read on!

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Done? Now, look over that list and put a mark of some sort (check mark, circle, star, etc.) by all of those things that are "externals" - things, people, places, "stuff", etc.

Are you surprised at all how many of these items on your list are external items?

You see, too many times we expect other PEOPLE or THINGS to make us happy and, this will prove to be true again and again - we WILL be disappointed with those expectations. Sometimes it takes longer than others but, it WILL happen - we WILL be disappointed!

Yes, I understand that people can bring happiness into your life. We just spent a wonderful Christmas holiday with my wife's parents as well as her brother and his family and all of my kids and their wives - it was WONDERFUL and this brought happiness into my life!

But, you know what? I CHOSE to be happy! I could have griped about having to drive to my in-laws on Christmas day. I could have let the fact that we had to take a detour that put us an hour behind time ruin the day. I could have griped that it was crowded and noisy. And on and on and on it could go. See what I mean? I COULD have - but I chose NOT to! Instead, I CHOSE to be happy!

I have spent a little time down in Mexico - about 8 hours into the country away from the border and the real "American influence". The family that my son stayed with for about a month had a home that consisted of a kitchen and two bedrooms. Yes, they were blessed in that they had a few appliances in their kitchen but still it was not what we would consider "suitable" in our lives. They shared a court yard with about 4 or 5 other families which all shared one bathroom. The hot water heater for the bathroom was a black barrel which sat on top of the building so that the sun could heat up the water in the barrel.

And yet, these were some of the most contented and happiest people that I have ever met! Why? They CHOSE to be happy! For one, they didn't have all the distractions of the American idea of what happiness was (drive this kind of car, wear this kind of cologne, own this certain size house, wear this certain brand of clothing, etc.) although it was starting to creep in.

So, here's the thing, friend - you have a CHOICE to make! As we get ready to head into the new year I want to challenge you to CHOOSE to be happy REGARDLESS! That's right - REGARDLESS!

Be determined to find good - to be happy - in any situation...REGARDLESS!

This thought just came to me - the original version of the movie "Pollyanna" which was actually released on January 1, 1960 and starred Haley Mills as Pollyanna. I remember one scene where a group of the cooks, maids and Polly sat around and griped about the church service that they had just sat through. Each one of them had something negative to say about the service and about how much they hated it! Polly had a game that she liked to play called "The Happy Game"and one of the people sitting in the group said to her something along the lines of, "Well Miss Polly - let's see you use your 'Happy Game' on THIS one!' " Polly paused and thought for a moment and then said, "Well, we can all be happy that we don't have to go back until next week!"

I love that! Don't you?

And we can do the same each and every day of our lives by REFUSING to go with the negative and CHOOSING to go with the positive and, thus, CHOOSING to be happy!

Tomorrow: Point 2 of "Four Ways to Make Sure Your New Year Is, Indeed, Happy!"

Until then....

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

Mike

"Wonderful Wednesday" - "Reconnecting"

This is a group photo of the friends I discuss in today's podcast on "Reconnecting" - a few of those that I graduated with in 1978.

One thing I point out in the podcast is the fact that I did not call this "Reliving". Why? Well, for one - I don't WANT to relive those days when I was a teenager! Were they bad? No. Were they horrible. Absolutely not! BUT, I don't want to go back and "live again" those days. I've moved on! I enjoy my life and have enjoyed every "stage" that I have been through in my life.

However, I CAN - and do want to - "remember", or "bring to memory again" those people, places and events that brought joy to my life. And, that being true, I also want to "connect once again" to these special people.

Obviously, I don't want to reconnect with people that brought nothing but discontent and negativity into my life. Nope. Not going to happen. But that's the wonderful thing about memories - WE CAN CHOOSE! Isn't that great?

Oh, I know that there are times we will run into such people - it's unavoidable - BUT if you have your mind set on the positive things and you KNOW that it's YOUR choice and you REFUSE to allow someone else to have any control over your thoughts and feelings - then it will be alright!

What about you? Are there people with which you've lost contact? Are there people with which you need to reconnect? Why not try to find them. Or, if you know where they are - why not contact them and say "hello"?

If they brought joy and value into your life - why not take advantage of the time you have TODAY to add that joy and value to your day - TODAY?

I think you'll be glad you did.

Oh, and, by the way....THANKS, Greg (and his wife Wanda), Fonda, "Cricket" and Tammy!

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

Mike Spillman