When Your Journey is Interrupted

DELAYS MAY TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED

I really don't like detours when I'm trying to get somewhere - do you?

For one, I think it is the uncertainty that I will actually be able to maneuver through the detour route and still get where it is that I want to go.

And, secondly, it is simply an interruption to my planned path on my journey and I just don't like it to change unexpectedly like that!

It's especially hard when this detour is not on a trip traveled in an automobile or some other mode of transportation, but it's a detour in your planned journey (path) for your life!

I've talked about this before in past blogs and podcasts. As a matter of fact, I've done several little "mini-series" on this topic off and on over the history of this blog - just go back through and see what you can find.

But, you know what? It's TOUGH to live it, isn't it? Yeah, you know, the old, "Easier said than done" scenario.

Many of you know that I lost my job back mid-August of 2010. Purely unexpected but, at the same time, not unwelcomed. I was already trying to "plan a route" to where I could do so financially while I pursued my dream of my seminars with my "Future You University" concept.

Well, here I am now at the end of July 2011 and not a whole lot has changed. Oh, I have made attempts to get my seminar started but, quite honestly, it was ill-timed and I was not financially prepared to do it in the way I had planned. Too, other opportunities that I have looked at to try to see us through in the mean time just hasn't worked out. I am starting a new "job" but it will likely be another month before I see any income from it which is not good news right now.

Because of all of this, I stopped doing my podcast after losing my job last August because I didn't know where I was going to be and when and I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with my daily schedule like before. I began it again earlier this year more for me than anything but discontinued it again because, quite honestly, I was having a hard time keeping MY OWN mental attitude where it needed to be.

Surprised?

Don't be! I don't think you'll ever find any situation (podcast or blog) where I said keeping a positive attitude even through tough times would be easy. Never. It's NOT!

But, I still have a choice. Give in, give up or GET UP and KEEP MOVING forward even though my path/journey has been redirected due to a detour.

Still easier said than done for sure.

So, I'm struggling big time! Financially, I'm lower than a pregnant ant's belly! And, on some days, the same can be said of my mental attitude. Yeah, that's right - I'm human.

Believe me, there have been days where I felt like giving up and, honestly, there are days that I DID give up temporarily.

That's the key. Make any such situations a TEMPORARY one.

Yes, I WILL still have my seminars but it will be later than I had planned since I had planned to be well involved in them at this point. But, I will continue on that path REGARDLESS of any detours that continue to come my way.

So, I encourage you to do the same. REGARDLESS.

I can - you can - WE can!

And, as you go along this detoured path...

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

Mike

Dream BIG and Do It TODAY!

Dream BIG and Do It TODAY!

I've been discussing the importance of rediscovering and following "the music" or your dreams. I get excited when I think about the feeling you will - notice I said WILL and not "might" - receive when you begin to uncover and rediscover what you once dreamed about and got excited about!

Again, it's so easy to allow "life" to clutter our world in such a way as to "cover up" those dreams and goals and to make it hard - if not impossible - to hear the music that use to make us smile, laugh and dance!

I was reminded once again last night of how natural "music" is to our lives. Our youngest son, Jordan, spent the weekend at his grandparents and, during that time, they kept their great-grandson for the day. Jordan plays the guitar and talked about how Cayden would immediately start smiling and dancing whenever he heard Jordan start playing the guitar.

IT'S A NATURAL THING!

And, even when talking about actual music, we sometimes forget what a joy it is to hear, smile and dance to the music once we become adults!

Let me ask you this: Do you do the "Bootie Shake" during my FUN FRIDAY podcast? If you don't know what I'm talking about, find any of my Friday podcasts and listen in - I do this each and every Friday as part of the podcast - we do the BOOTIE SHAKE! (Yes, I know "bootie" is not spelled correctly - that's part of the fun!). As part of the recording I play some "dance music" and encourage the listeners to stand up and "shake their BOOTIE" regardless of what others might think!

And, I know that many are afraid to do that - I'm not sure what they are afraid of, but we don't want people to look at us funny. But, I also know of some that have told me that they have done it, got some strange looks but loved it, did it anyway and smiled and laughed!

Somewhere down the line we have begun to give too much precedence to what OTHERS THINK and less significance to what MAKES US SMILE!

Please understand that I know we have a responsibility to others and that we cannot live a life of "if it feels good, do it" with complete disregard to anyone else. I think you know that's not what I'm suggesting so don't allow that thought to keep you from "hearing the message" for today!

LIVE AGAIN! LAUGH AGAIN! DREAM AGAIN!

Begin to follow that "rediscovered" dream and begin to hear that music once again that brings joy to your soul and see what happens.

I'd love to hear from you - your fears, your excitement, your anticipation - as you begin to "dream big and dream big TODAY".

And, all along the way be sure to...

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

Mike

Begin to Dream Again!

Begin to Dream Again!

Taking the main thought from yesterday's article - Can you still hear the music? Or, as I talk about on today's podcast, have you allowed the music (passion, drive, dream) to be buried by negative thoughts and influences to the point that it can no longer be heard and enjoyed?

It's easy for us to allow this to happen, so don't beat yourself up too much.

It's easy because it usually doesn't happen all at once but a little bit at a time and a little bit each and every day. Then, after a while, we have failed to even notice that the "music" is gone and, instead, we have replaced it with "noise".

Today I want to encourage you to DREAM AGAIN!

Here are the questions that I said we would address today - "If money were not an issue, what would you be doing right now?" - "Are you doing that right now - today?" - "If not, why not?"

Again, remember - IF MONEY WERE NOT AN ISSUE (because I know that's our first "objection" to this scenario and the first "reason/excuse" we use as to why we AREN'T living that life)!

Somewhere along the way we have lost our passion and our the joy of our dream (the "music") in our lives and for our lives. And we wonder why we often feel unhappy and unfulfilled?

Maybe it was the idea that we had to "get a real job" and give up on our dreams. Maybe it was the lure of something else that took us off course.

Whatever the reason, I want to encourage you to uncover that dream once again!

Now, I understand that you may not be able to make the living that you desire by that dream alone (but, then again, perhaps you could!), but I still want you to get excited about uncovering that "hidden treasure" that you have left out of your life for so long.

Have you ever discovered a box from your attic that contained some items from your childhood? Do you remember the excitement and child-like feeling that you had when you began to rediscover those items and the thoughts and feelings along with them? Do you remember the joy? The thrill? Did you begin talking and sharing with those there with you about what each item was and why you kept it? My guess is you were like a kid all over again!

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

Just the very fact that you decide to "uncover" and rediscover those dreams (the "music") that you once had will excite you - IF you will allow yourself this joy and pleasure!

Beware of the negative talk in your own mind as well as what may come from others. You may tell yourself, "Oh, just leave that alone - what good will it do to think about it again? You'll never be able to do it anyway, so why even think about it?"

DO IT ANYWAY!

I believe you will feel that same exhilaration that I described above in the scenario of opening a box from your youth.

Do this a little each and every day and feel some joy come back into your life. Feel some hope begin to show up as well. You may very well even discover (as well as your family and those around you) that you are a little happier and not as grumpy and negative as before!

Why? Because you have allowed yourself to "hear the music" or to dream once again!

And finally, one last suggestion - find a way to begin to incorporate these dreams back into your life once again. Just a little at a time begin to find ways to enjoy them in your life.

Perhaps it will be in the evenings or on the weekends...whatever and whenever - just do it and see what happens!

Hey, I'm excited for you!

And, as you do, let the "music move you" like it did once before!

And, hey friend, don't forget to...

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

Mike

What Are YOU Absorbing Today?

What Are YOU Absorbing Today?

Each and every day we absorb an unimaginable amount of information.

Some good. Some not so good. Some useful and much that is useless!

Some positive and some negative.

Here's the deal...although we may all be exposed to this almost overpowering amount of "data" for our minds, we can control what and how much we actually let in!

A lot of this has to do with what we are seeking, what we are wishing to include in our lives and what we are wanting to make a "permanent" part of our mind and mindset.

Permanent? Yes, permanent! Once it's "in there" it's "in there" for good!

If we don't have any focus or direction in and/or for our lives then it really doesn't matter to us what we do or don't let into our mind. We become a "human landfill" that is open for anyone and everyone to freely "dump" whatever they'd like into our lives and our minds.

Pretty picture, huh?

However, if we DO have focus and we are determined to keep out as much negativity from ever gaining access to our minds and attitudes, then we will likely be successful in this endeavor. Why? Because it is part of what we have "set out" to do and accomplish in our lives!

Here's the real kicker - even those that have no focus and have turned their minds into that "human landfill" likely once had passion and focus in their lives - they've just given up and given in!

When did they (you?) give up on following their (your?) dreams? When did they stop "listening" to that inner voice that kept them going with hope and promise?

WHAT HAPPENED?

In today's podcast I talk about the movie, "August Rush" starring Robin Williams. This movie came out in 2007 and I highly recommend it for your viewing if you have not seen it already. Even if you have, you might want to watch it again!

I had watched it once before and it was on again over the weekend. My son, Jordan and my wife were watching it so I sat down to watch what was left of the movie. It's really a powerful movie full of all kinds of "hidden treasures" for those that are seeking to follow their passions.

You can listen to the podcast for more, but let me get to the main thought and idea that I want to share today about this movie - would that be alright with you?

The main character in the movie is a boy of about 12 years old that is searching for his parents. His grandfather forged his mother's signature to "release papers" in the hospital which allowed him to be put up for adoption. His mother - a teenager at the time - was told by her father that the baby had died during childbirth. The father of the baby - the girl's boyfriend had been run off by her father "for her own good".

They were both deeply moved and involved in music and this boy - renamed "August Rush" by Robin Williams' character ("Wizard") - was very musically inclined and would say that the music would help him find his parents.

He heard music EVERYWHERE! He heard music in the busy traffic of the New York city streets! He heard music in the noise that he encountered as he walked those streets. Everything was music to this young boy's ears!

Again, for more details, listen to the podcast or just watch the movie (really, DO watch it!) or check out this Wikipedia article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_Rush , but at one point in the movie this boy and Robin Williams' character are looking up at the stars and Robin Williams asks the boy, "Where you do get it? (the music) Where does it come from?"

The answer? Something along the lines of, "I just hear it everywhere. It calls out to me!"

He "listened" to what led him - his passion, his life and, in his own belief - his future with his parents that he had never even seen.

Now, I'll be talking more about other thoughts I picked up on from the movie during the rest of this week, but just think about that one main thought and how POWERFUL it is and how POWERFUL it can be in our own lives!

What passion are YOU following? What is your LIFE'S PASSION? Direction? Path? Course?

What are YOU "hearing"? What are YOU absorbing?

Somewhere along the way many of us - if not MOST of us - have forgotten to listen to our dreams and to our heart's desire and we have given up and stopped listening!

That "inner voice" has been muffled by all of the other "noise" and other "voices" (usually negative) that we have allowed into our lives.

My guess is that for many of you, as you read these last couple of paragraphs, you maybe felt a slight "tug" from inside. Am I right?

It's that "inner voice" trying to get your attention once again. It's that passion that you have put away that is trying to come back to the surface!

Do you feel it?

DO NOT GIVE UP! Do NOT stop listening!

This was the whole point of the title - "What Are YOU Absorbing?" - are you absorbing the sounds and "vibes" (yes, I said "vibes") that can draw you, lead you to your destiny?

And, yes, I feel that strongly about it!

Or will you turn a deaf ear once again and follow the same, mindless path of so many?

Be sure to follow this blog and my podcast this week IF you want to start to listen once again. IF you want to start to dream once again. IF you want to start to LIVE once again.

Until then - and as you go through the day...

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

Mike

"Ask and..."

Ask and...

...it shall be given to you.

That's the first of the 3 parts of the concept we began talking about yesterday: "The Concept of A.S.K." , a Biblical concept which, I believe, can be applied to all areas of our lives and one that I believe can get us back "on track" to living the life of our dreams and our passion.

Yesterday we talked about raising the level of our expectation. But, the question is this: how do you know that your level of expectation NEEDS to be raised?

You have to ASK the right questions about your life and be willing to find the answers!

We should ALL be constantly asking ourselves questions about what we are doing and/or trying to accomplish in and with our lives so that we may stay "on course" or "on track" in this pursuit.

What questions should we be asking?

1. Why am I here? What is my PURPOSE for being on this earth? Hopefully you have come to realize that you are not here for you alone! We are all connected by those around us and the ever decreasing size of our world thanks to the technology that exists today.

Last week we talked about the fact that you are UNIQUELY you! There is NO ONE ELSE in the whole world like you! You leave a very unique "life fingerprint" on your world and the question we asked concerning this was, "What imprint are YOU leaving behind?".

It's pretty much the same question just worded differently.

2. What Am I Doing to Fulfill This Purpose? Once I understand what my purpose is (you may never come up with the complete answer and you will likely see the answer slowly unfold before you over the course of time) I must then ask myself the question of, "What am I doing about it?"

3. HOW Will I Fulfill or Continue to Fulfill This Purpose? This is the "what action is needed" part of the equation - WHAT DO I DO?

Are you serious about asking these questions? Will you spend the time necessary to adequately explore the possible answers to these powerful questions about your life?

4. Will I? This is likely the most important question that MUST be answered. You see, going through the process of discovering your purpose and what you must do to fulfill that purpose is a wonderful - and needed - thing in our lives. However, if we are not willing to actually DO something about it, it really doesn't amount to much, does it?

You see, the part of the "A.S.K. Concept" on this part is, "...and it will be given to you."

Do you expect it to just be dropped in your lap? I hope not! But many do!

The answers WILL be revealed to you IF you sincerely want to know the answers! You may ask, "Why would anyone ask a question that they don't want the answer to?" It happens all of the time and you likely even do it from time to time.

Sometimes the "action" of asking the questions pacifies us to the point of "feeling good" and thinking we have done all we need to do. Sure, we may be willing to ask the questions - but are we willing to really look for the answers?

And, then, when the answers are revealed are we willing to take ACTION with those answers?

"Ask and it WILL be given to you!" That's a promise for those that genuinely ask.

This is more difficult than one might think. It takes the willingness to be 100% honest with yourself and really look deep at who you are and why you're here and what you are or aren't doing about it. And then, the hardest part... the decision to take action on what you find.

I wish you success on this journey that we are discussing this week. Make no mistake, the journey will go far beyond this week, my friend! This journey will likely take you weeks and months if not years but, in my opinion, it is one we MUST all take if we are serious about living up to our potential and living a life of passion. This also will lead to living the life of your dreams.

And, as you travel this journey, always remember to...

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

Mike

Purpose + Passion

Wow! What a POWERFUL equation!

We've already talked about our PURPOSE in life and that each of us needs to understand that, indeed, we were put here on PURPOSE and FOR a purpose - not by accident!

We also have talked about how, generally speaking, we are all here for the same purpose - helping each other along the way. Service - doing for others without expecting something in return.

Yesterday we talked about how EXCITING our lives can be when, understanding this purpose, we begin to live our lives ON purpose! I hope that hasn't confused you with the way I've worded that. I expounded on it quite a bit in the podcast and in yesterday's blog entry so that, hopefully, you would follow what I was saying about that.

Bottom line is this: REGARDLESS of your job, your pay scale, your educational level and any other factors that you may want to throw in there - YOU have the ability TODAY to approach your day/life with the intention (on PURPOSE) of putting your PURPOSE (service) into place NOW!

This breathes new breath into each day, doesn't it? It should!

This can also bring a sense of FUN into our lives as we seek out ways to serve others and especially when we can do so without their knowing who was responsible.

Now, for some of you, the words "excitement" and "fun" seem like foreign words when used in conjunction to your work. But that no longer needs to be true!

Start an epidemic! YOU can be responsible for impacting YOUR workplace in a powerful and positive way and, in so doing, impact YOUR LIFE in the same way.

On PURPOSE and FULL of purpose!

So, what does this mean as far as your "specific" purpose in life.

I can't answer that for you. That's not a "cop out" - it's a fact.

You've read it and heard it many times before, though - follow your PASSION and try to find a way to have that PASSION serve as your life's work and the way to support you and your family financially.

But, again, even RIGHT NOW, you can bring a new passion to your work! You don't have to wait until you discover the ultimate way to make this happen in your life. It can begin - to some extent - in your life RIGHT NOW!

Try it, you'll like it and you'll like it a LOT!

Now, if you're already doing what you love - your passion - then add this ingredient of PURPOSE to the mix and see what happens.

As I mentioned in my podcast, there is nothing wrong with having great wealth for that great wealth can allow you to SERVE in a much larger way and on a larger scale than you could do without that wealth. WILL YOU? ARE YOU?

Yes, there are some that have wealth that focus all of their thoughts on themselves - but there are many out there that understand this "purpose" and are doing great things.

PURPOSE + PASSION is an unstoppable force for good!

Are you getting excited yet? I'm about to jump out of my skin here! I really am!

This quote that I used earlier in the week still rings in my ears. Consider it one more time with me today:

"One needs something to believe in, something for which one can have whole-hearted enthusiasm. One needs to feel that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this world." - HANNAH SENESH

Friend, once we begin to live our lives KNOWING that our life has meaning and that we are, indeed, NEEDED in this world - we are living a life of our dreams.

Purpose + Passion = Life Worth Living

Think about it. Begin living it and sharing it (your purpose) TODAY and, as you do so...

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

Mike