What Are YOU Driving?

What Are YOU Driving?

If you were driving the car you see pictured here, do you think you'd get noticed? Sure you would! Most people would be wanting to know how in the world you squeezed your body into that little bitty cartoon car!

In today's podcast I talk about how it seems that, when you purchase a certain type of automobile, you begin to notice how many of that same type of automobile you pass every day! Did they all of a sudden magically appear now that you own one of those types of automobile?

Of course not! They existed all along, didn't they? But YOUR focused changed because of what YOU were driving. Change your car and you will see the same thing happen again. At least that's the way it has been in my life and I don't think you and I are that much different from one another.

It's the same way with how we approach each and every day! It all depends on what you "drive" as to what you "see" and/or encounter during your day.

You've heard the phrase, "...got up on the wrong side of the bed", right? What does that mean? I never knew there was a "right" side and a "wrong" side, did you?

The idea behind that phrase is that the day did not start out very well for that person from the moment they rolled out of bed....must have been on the "wrong" side because if it had been on the "right" side then everything would be great! (Hey, if that's the way it worked I think once I discovered the "wrong" side, I'd make SURE I got up and out on the OTHER side every day!).

Whatever attitude you start off the day with will be the same attitude that you encounter from everyone and everything throughout your day. Haven't you noticed this already?

When you get up "on the wrong side of the bed" haven't you noticed how cranky your spouse and kids are? Shoot, even the cat and dog are kind of crabby! Then, as you go to work it seems that if EVERYONE got up on the wrong side of the bed! Hey, how did I miss that memo that today was "GET UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE BED DAY"?

But then, one morning you strike it lucky and actually get up on the RIGHT side of the bed! (Have you noticed that you never hear that phrase though?). All is good, the birds are singing, the sun is shining and your whole family is happy! The people at work are happy - your whole world is happy!

What changed?

YOU DID!

That's right. The people around you - your family, your co-workers, etc. - are the SAME people that are around you each and every day. They were there yesterday, they are here today and they will STILL be there tomorrow!

But, it's what you're "driving" that has made the difference! Just like the cars that you "suddenly" notice because of what you are driving, your focus for your day - what you will SEE and encounter in those around you - will be determined by what you "drive" for the day.

Actually, to be more accurate, instead of saying what YOU drive, it should be what drives you!

And, yes, as always, this IS a choice!

It's as if you can walk into your garage and choose whether you want to drive an old clunker OR the car of your dreams! YOU decide what you will "drive" each day (or what "drives" you) by your attitude that you begin with each and every day.

You know it's true, don't you? You've experienced it too many times for you NOT to know it's true.

So, what will it be for you today?

Though it's not always easy, I KNOW you'd much rather drive the car of your dreams today...the positive attitude that will direct your focus on the positive people and things all around you as you go through the day.

Right?

And as you do so be sure to...

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

Mike

Make ENTHUSIASM Your DAILY Habit!

Twelve "Do's and Don'ts" For a Positive Life

1. Make ENTHUSIASM Your DAILY Habit!

Today we start a new series of discussions - you can see the title at the top along with the first topic to be discussed. I do want to talk briefly about where this came from and how you very likely have had - or will have - similar instances in your life.

Sometime around 1978 or 1979 (yeah, think about that - 30/31 years ago!) someone gave me some sort of brochure and, this list of twelve things was part of the brochure. Apparently even then (either a Sr. in High School or a Freshman in college) there was something about it that "spoke" to me since I stuck it in a book and kept it.

Off and on over the years I would run across it, read it and put it back in the book but, for whatever reason, around 10 - 12 years ago I took it out, typed it up and framed it and now it sits in my office. Think about even that part - it has been sitting in my office for 10 - 12 years. Yes, I have scanned over it from time to time but it has not been until recently that I have really paid close attention to it again.

So, here's what I want you to consider about what I've shared. What/who has come into your life over the years that, at the time, may have had no known impact? Perhaps you have already experienced what I have described and have "found" or "rediscovered" something/someone that has been right in front of you for quite some time already!

Life prepares you for the right time and presents things such as this when you are ready to receive. I firmly believe that!

Perhaps this is one of the reasons our brain works in such a marvelous and miraculous way! When we read something, hear something - whatever - it's there and it's there forever. Now, as we get older it may take longer to go through all of our "files", but it is there! And, sometimes we remember something that we came across years before and only now accept it as something of value.

Be open. Be ready to receive!

Now, back to the point of the day - "Make ENTHUSIASM Your DAILY Habit!"

The choice is yours, my friend! How many times have you already heard me say that? No one else can do it for you - it is YOUR choice, YOUR decision!

I mentioned on the podcast that this paper also shared the information that the word "enthusiasm" comes from the words for "God" and "within". Now, you can take that or leave it - it's your choice - but I think that is pretty powerful!

When I think of "enthusiasm" I think of a "zest" for life! I think of a child that is opening a present on Christmas morning!

Each day should be like that for each of us! Yes, I think it sounds corny too when you hear that thing about each day being a gift and that is why it is called the "present" - but it IS true!

And, yes, I know that a lot of you out there have a hard time seeing today as NOTHING to get enthused about because of all of the problems in your life - BUT EVEN YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE AND ABILITY!

Yes, I also know that all of your problems won't disappear BUT you DO have the choice about how you approach today with whatever it brings!

Change your thinking and you can change your life!

You can change the way you look at things IN your life and, perhaps by doing so - will recall something from the past (like what I talked about at the first part of this entry) that will help you attack some of your problems today!

Hey, ever hear this one before? "As long as there is breath there is HOPE!" ? SURE YOU HAVE! And it is true, my friend! It IS true!

One way to make enthusiasm your daily habit is by doing exactly what you are doing right this moment! It is imperative that you fill your mind with as much positive energy and influence as possible and I'm glad I can be a part of that for you.

I'm glad the author of this list that I'm using used the words, "daily habit" - because it requires a daily approach in order for it to become a habit AND once it becomes a habit, it becomes second nature to us and a part of our life.

Think about it. It's YOUR choice. I hope you will CHOOSE to make enthusiasm your daily habit!

And, as you do, always remember...

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

Mike

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