Project 141: RELATIONSHIPS (Part 2..."The Worksheet")

 

It is absolutely necessary for you to read Part 1 BEFORE you get into this article. Get it? Got it? GOOD! I "set the table" for this continuation of those thoughts found in that article.

This part is going to be a little bit different than I had originally planned to incorporate into this section on "Relationships". I do that. My mind says, "Hey, let's delve into THIS a little more" and, next thing you know, I've started making my article longer than planned.

I did record a podcast yesterday that combines both parts 1 and 2 of this part on "Relationships". You can find that podcast HERE. 

Right off, let me emphasize that I am NOT an "expert relationship counselor" or anything like that. I have done quite a bit of marriage counseling from when I was in ministry and I also have 39 years of marriage that brings with it a lot of "first-hand" knowledge in this area.

Again, be sure to go back and read the first part of this series before going any further. This is simply another suggestion that you may want to take a look at and consider in the area of doing something to improve your relationship with your spouse. 

KEY THING TO CONSIDER: Should you go through the information for this "worksheet" by yourself or with your spouse? Here's what I suggest...

If your relationship is currently in a "contentious state" (problems) then I suggest that you do this on your own and be completely honest in all of your answers. Make sure you understand that this exercise is an "inward focusing" exercise. In other words, this is not something for you to do to "point fingers" at your spouse and play the "blame game". If you are not willing to look inwardly during this exercise then, friend, I suggest that you just move on and do some serious thinking about how serious you really are about your relationship.

Blunt, huh?

Now then, IF the two of you are working together on improving your relationship then, you may consider doing this together as long as you still understand that this is an inward-looking exercise and not something designed to "lash out" or try to hurt the other. 

So, here we go and I do suggest that you listen to the podcast on this as well. The verbal along with the written many times make things a little clearer and easier to understand.

Take a few minutes, get out a piece of paper and divide it into 3 columns. First, write down on the left hand side of your paper (1st column)  all of the things that you remember about your spouse that caused you to "fall in love" with them. Then, make a "middle column" and simply answer "yes" or no" to the question: Is this the same? Are those traits still there? (or however you want to word it). NOTICE: I did not say do you FEEL the same way about that...I asked if those traits were actually still there. BIG DIFFERENCE.  Then, make a 3rd column and answer the question if the "change" that has supposedly taken place is due to your spouse or you. In other words, IF there was a change, WHY was there a change?

 Here's an example I put together just to help you out. Make this YOURS and make sure it applies to YOUR situation and, again, MAKE SURE YOU ARE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF!

Let's just use the first entry as an example. In the example above, one of the traits that is listed as something that you "fell in love with" early on was the fact that they were "good looking". Great! Now then, in the 2nd column the question is asked, "Does this trait still exist" or "Is this still true?" The answer I listed - purely as an example - was, "Yes, but different". In other words, "Yes, they are still good looking but in a different way" which leads to column 3 asking, "If there IS a change then, What changed? Who changed? Why the change?" and the very simplistic answer I listed was, "AGE caused the change". 

I'm not trying to over simplify this but to simply give you some ideas. Your "reasons" as to the "why/who/what" may go much, much deeper and that's o.k. Use as much space as you need to write down what you honestly feel and think on this (and ALL of these areas). But, it is very important that you also look at yourself in this and also ask if YOU have changed in this same area as well. In other words, "Hey, have YOU looked in the mirror lately?" This is both PHYSICALLY (you've gotten older as well!) and also taking a look at who you really are on the inside (has your love matured over the years or are you still stuck on things such as "good looks"). 

The real "dig down deep" part of this worksheet is column 3. If you are filling this out by yourself, then say absolutely whatever you feel without worrying about hurting the other's feelings. If you do this, make sure that they DO NOT read this right now!

But, if you are going to do that then, friend, you MUST zero down and look inwardly and ask WHY you feel this way and you may want to do a LOT of "self-examination" on this and see what YOU need to change in this relationship. 

Bottom line: NEITHER OF YOU are the same person that you were when you first met. And, to be honest, you should be glad that you are not, IF you have matured and grown in your life. 

When you do this exercise, I suggest that you ask God to help you "see with new eyes" as you look at your spouse. In other words, sometimes people get fixated on how things "used to be" and, once again, as a reminder, NEITHER of you are the same person that you were before. It's easy for us to get critical of our mate due to things that have taken place over the years that also have impacted us as well. 

Let this worksheet be a GOOD thing in and for your life and relationship. If you approach it the way I suggest and, if you ask God to guide you and help you through the process, I believe it can do just that.

Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Project 141: RELATIONSHIPS

 

RELATIONSHIPS. They come in all "shapes and sizes", don't they? You have your relationship with your spouse, your parents, your in-laws, your kids, their spouses once they get older, your siblings, co-workers, your boss and just friends, in general. 

I will try to cover several of these areas over the next few blog articles but, as you can probably tell from the picture above, I'm going to start off talking about your relationship with your spouse. Yes, you can re-word that however you want and apply it however you want, but I think you get the idea.

That picture is actually the shadow of my wife and I from a couple of weeks ago when we were out on a day trip. We were actually taking a "selfie" with some beautiful scenery behind us when I noticed the shadow and decided I wanted to take a picture of that as well. 

We will have been married for 39 years toward the end of this coming May. Wow! She's getting old! Yeah, yeah, I know. Anyway, that's a long time to be with someone but, at the same time, her parents have been married for 70 years!!

Straight up...it has NOT been easy! There have been times over the years that both of us "got lazy" and took each other for granted. We have been separated on two different occasions (5 weeks was the longest) and were even on the brink of divorce during that longest period.

But, we are still here and, to be honest, we are STRONGER than ever before...but not by accident. It has taken determination, patience and, plain old WORK!

That is the purpose of talking about my "Project 141" application to this area of RELATIONSHIPS.

With the application of the idea behind "Project 141" be sure to do at least ONE (1) thing every day FOR (4) ONE (1) full year. Yes, every - single - day. At LEAST once a day!

Look at the graphic I put together a few years ago to get a few ideas of a few questions that you might want to consider...

Again, I know some of you would want to list "RELATIONSHIPS" in my list further up the list and that's o.k. Like I've already stated, I put them in this order for a reason and, as a way to recap, here's is my reasoning behind the order of this list.

In my opinion, your SPIRITUAL life/connection should always be #1 on your list. Want to know how to have better relationships? Check your "owners manual" (the Bible) for your directions. Want to improve your "PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT"? Again, check the "owners manual" which, if you go back and read, I pointed out over 3 articles on that specific area on this list. Why did I not put "relationships" in front of either of these. An improved spiritual life/connection will improve every area of your life. In my opinion, working on improving yourself (personal development) and your mind, mindset and attitude will do nothing but improve all of your relationships as well. 

Test me on this and see what you discover.

You CAN NOT take your relationships (ANY of them) for granted! I know it may sound corny but, yes, you need to treat your relationships as if they were a tender plant that needs your attention. Specifically, as we talk about your relationship with your spouse, you must take DAILY care and NEVER take it for granted. If you see this relationship starting to "wilt", don't wait! Let this be a "warning sign" to you that it is in need of some "nourishment" and get at it, friend!

A few years ago, I began writing little notes for my wife and leaving them around for her to find. Actually, this began when we were separated and I knew I had best figure out a way to get her attention and let her know how much I DID love her and how much I DID cherish her and NEED her.  Guess what? After a little while, she started leaving me notes as well.

This might be something that you consider doing for YOUR spouse. Get creative as WHERE to leave the note to surprise your spouse.

Let me emphasize this point. Yes, it's GREAT to leave notes like this but DO NOT allow these notes take the place of you VERBALLY telling your spouse that you love them. SAY the words, "I love you!" no matter how uncomfortable that may be for you at first --SAY IT!

Remember, CHANGE IS NOT EASY and, as "silly" as it may seem to some that are already in the habit of doing things such as this, if you are NOT used to doing so, it WILL take effort and discipline to do SOMETHING every single day!

Here's another suggestion for you if you are finding that you "don't feel" the same way that you used to when you first met. For one, understand that NEITHER of you are the same person that you were when you first met! THIS IS KEY! 

In my next article, I'm going to continue this discussion and share with you a suggested "work sheet" to really "break this down" (the idea stated in the last paragraph) and hopefully help you and your spouse strengthen your relationship.

Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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How Can I Help You?

I'm 100% serious when I ask the question, "How can I help you?" Sometimes we are afraid to ask such a question because we may be afraid that someone will take us up on that offer. In connection with this, if you haven't read the last article by now, be sure to do so because it "ties in" to what we are discussing in today's article.

As I've stated before, I don't know what you do or don't believe, but I'm going to share a verse from the Bible with you and, honestly, this verse applies regardless of what you do or don't believe. Hebrews 10:24 reads, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works..."

Let's take a closer look at the wording in this verse and see how it applies to us today again, regardless of what you do or don't believe. "And let us consider one another..." Bottom line - GET YOUR FOCUS OFF OF YOURSELF AND CONSIDER OTHERS.  This, alone, would greatly improve every relationship that exists in our world today! But, there's more in that this verse gives a REASON to do so: "...in order to stir up love and good works..."

Usually when we hear the phrase "stir up" we may have a different thought than what is expressed here. I know for myself, when I think of someone "stirring things up" it is usually with a negative connotation. You know what I mean, right? There are some people that just like to "stir up" trouble. But this is different! In this verse, we are encouraged and challenged to think about others and how we might be able to "stir up love and good works". WOW!

Does our world not need to hear this message today?

In a marriage relationship, if BOTH were focused on trying to figure out ways to "stir up" love and good works, or good things for them, what would that relationship be like? What about the workplace?

I'm sure you have heard this quote from John F. Kennedy many times before. If not, take a moment and notice what he said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

This is quite a different attitude than the one we see many people feel about our country today, is it not?

When we begin to ask (and mean it) the question, "How can I help you?" we will begin to see all of our relationships improve. Our marriages, our families, our work relationships, our communities, our nation and our world. 

Yes, it really IS that simple but, at the same time, it really IS that difficult. Why so difficult? We tend to be focused on ourselves and what WE want and what is good for ME!

Break the mold and step out considering others and see what begins to happen. 

And, again, I do mean it when I ask, "How can I help YOU?" Connect with me and let me know. And, as you do so, always be sure to...

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

Mike

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Mike's Quotes #15: The POWER of LOVE

Love. It's not what you say, it's what you DO and BECOME. Don't just utter the word, SHOW love - BE love - SHARE love. Always.  - Mike Spillman

We've talked about it before: TALK IS CHEAP!

I'm not sure that there is any word in the English language that is "thrown around" as carelessly as the word, "love". People (men AND women) use it as a bargaining tool to get what they want. They will also use the word as a way to manipulate others around them.

Adults will say the word to their children even though their actions say otherwise.

In my opinion, the word should never be used unless it is truly MEANT.

Yes, I know that we use the word "love" to describe everything from food to our pets. But, friend, you know what I'm talking about and you know that I am referring to love that denotes a feeling of commitment, trust and purpose.

Yes, I believe that this kind of love is something that you must BECOME. This may seem like an odd concept to some but, from my experience, this is true. This kind of love is something that I have had to go through a lot of life before I fully understood what it truly meant.

For those that you say are important to you in your life, your love should never be doubted or brought into question. You LIVE it, you BREATHE it, you SHOW and SHARE it and, yes, you BECOME it.

It took me about 58 years to get there but I am so glad that I had the opportunity to "arrive" at this point in my life. It is, indeed, the POWER of LOVE.

I'd love to get your feedback by going to my FaceBook page (link below) and leaving your comments. I'd greatly appreciate it and I thank you in advance.

Whatever you do, each and every day always be sure to...

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

Mike

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"Scrooge"

The word, "Scrooge", is in reference to Ebenezer Scrooge, the focal character in the story A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens. In the story, he is a "penny-pincher" and a miserable old man that detests the joy that those around him enjoy around Christmas time. 

The word, "scrooge", is used to describe those who are negative, stingy and miserable. In case you can't figure it out, it's not a compliment to be called a "scrooge". 

Life can be tough at times and, if one allows the negativity to overcome them, even the happiest and most joyful person can become a "scrooge".

Hey listen, for many, this time of the year isn't very enjoyable for them because they are going through it alone and they  miss a loved one that used to be around them during this time in the past. Others may struggle with what they DON'T have - especially if they have children at home - and they worry about how they will actually even have a Christmas for their children.

We could go on and on, couldn't we? Sure we could! There is ALWAYS plenty of negativity in the world around us. Always. 

I simply want to encourage you to not allow yourself to allow your heart to become "cold" and closed off to the love and joy that surrounds us each and every day. In the midst of all the things that may be wrong, do not forget that love and joy also abounds. It may be hard to find at times and it may require you to search for it  - especially if you are undergoing a struggle at the time.

But it's there. Allow your heart to remain open and absorb that love and joy. BE that love and joy to and for those around you!

Why?

Because YOU need it and WE (those around you) need you to continue to share the love and joy that you have within.

And, while I"m at it, "Merry Christmas!"

Until next time, whatever you do, please be sure to...

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

Mike
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"Misteltoe"

I'm assuming that, as you read this, you are aware and familiar with the tradition that goes along with the mistletoe plant. If not, here's a very quick synopsis: The folklore is that if you stand under a piece of mistletoe with someone, then the two must kiss. There is mistletoe that is hung where two can either purposely stand underneath or even do so accidentally.  Some people may also carry a piece of mistletoe with them and hold it over the head of someone that they would like to kiss. 

And, for whatever reason it seems to be  a part of Christmas traditions, at least in the United States. 

Now, like I state in the podcast, I'm not suggesting that you become a "kissing bandit" with what I'm about to say. Got it? 😏

Here is what I AM saying. Being reminded by the thought of mistletoe and the tradition that surrounds it, DO NOT wait until "special occasions" to tell those that you love, that you do. Don't wait for some "special occasion" to let someone know that you care.

Friend, time goes by quickly and, every day, there are those that regret the fact that they waited...and waited...and waited and then they waited too late. Many stand by the graves of those that they had planned to tell them how much they were loved. But, for whatever reason, they waited too long. 

So, that's it in a nutshell. Short and to the point.

Open up your heart - and your mouth - and share your love with those around you.

You'll be glad you did. (And so will they). 

Join me next time and, until then, whatever you do...

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

Mike

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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
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Rejoice!

I'm done with my series that was inspired by a poster full of really good phrases. If you didn't catch that, just go back for several articles (it starts HERE) and read through the last one.You will also find the website where you can even order that poster, if you'd like. No, I get nothing from that - just sharing something good with you. 

I really don't have a new "series" in mind at this point but, perhaps due to this being the "Holiday Season", I wanted to share THIS word with you for today's article...REJOICE!

Even if you find this and read it during the summer, it doesn't matter - the word applies each and every day.

I actually went ahead and looked up the definition of the word and thought I'd share it with you here:

verb (used without object), rejoiced, rejoicing.

   1. to be glad; take delight (often followed by in): to rejoice in another's happiness.

verb (used with object), rejoiced, rejoicing.

   2. to make joyful; gladden: a song to rejoice the heart.

So, to put it in other terms, the word "rejoice" means to be HAPPY and to MAKE HAPPY!

I don't know about you but, I like that. 

It's kind of like everything that I talk about here through Future You University. Apply these things to your life but don't keep them to yourself - SHARE THEM! 

Go back and read the last article on "Be AWESOME" and you'll see what I mean. I encourage you to not forget to BE awesome but to also share that encouragement with those around you. Let THEM know that they are, indeed, AWESOME,  just because of who they are. 

So it is with the idea of rejoicing or "being happy". YES, rejoice! YES, be happy! But, at the same time, be sure to share that with those around you so that they, too, can find what is needed to rejoice and be happy. 

Again, don't focus on what you don't have or on what is not "right" in your world. Instead, put your focus on what you DO have and on what is RIGHT in your world.

And then, REJOICE! 

As you think about that and incorporate that into your own life, also be sure to...

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

Mike

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Live, Laugh, Love

Here we go, continuing down the "list" of great phrases that I found on a poster a couple of weeks ago. I hope that you have been enjoying them but, more importantly, I hope that you have benefited from them and have been able to use them to help in your positive journey in a "sometimes negative" world.

LIVE 

I've heard people say (and sing) this thought: "Live like you were dying". Friend, the truth is, you ARE dying - WE'RE all dying so, what's holding us back from truly "living"?

I would suggest that the main reason is due to FEAR. Some would say that, perhaps, we fail to truly "live" due to DOUBT. Think about it for a moment...don't most of our doubts come from fear? 

We are afraid to live life to the full - to truly "let go" and experience and explore all that life has to offer. Fear of failure, fear of acceptance and even fear of the unknown.

Hey now, living in fear is not living at all! Keep growing, keep learning, keep stretching and keep on LIVING - truly living!

LAUGH 
I don't know about you but I LOVE watching those videos of babies and/or kids laughing uncontrollably. It's almost impossible not to end up laughing myself! Have you ever gotten so tickled and, because you were in a place that you weren't supposed to be laughing (like at church), you tried to hold it in? And your whole body was shaking even without an audible laugh? Did you have to excuse yourself before you exploded?

 Just like everything else, life is too short to go through it being a grump! 

I'm guess I'm just a bit odd in that I find humor in things that a lot of people don't even think about. I have to really be careful at times because I'm tempted to laugh at something that, if I were to actually do so, it would offend someone. Usually it's just that they would misunderstand and think I was being disrespectful. 

Truth is - I just like to laugh!

Don't lose your ability (and desire) to laugh! Sometimes that cares and concerns of life can overwhelm you to where you fail to see all of the fun things that surround us every day. 

Oh, and by the way, do a little research and you'll find that it's been proven that LAUGHING is actually GOOD for your health! 

(And friend, don't be afraid to laugh at yourself!) 

LOVE 
 Yes, one of the sure ways to get your heart broke is to love. But, one of the surest and best ways to experience all that love brings with it (part of TRULY living) is to open yourself up to the emotions that go along with it and,yes, to take the chance - the risk - of "getting hurt". 

Don't be afraid to love. Don't be afraid to open up and "be you" with others. Life is too short to live it alone and, for sure, to die alone. 

No, I'm not going to quote that line about loving. You know the one I'm talking about, right? The one that says something like, "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." Now do you know which one I'm talking about? Yeah. Not going to quote that one, o.k.? 😋

I hope this short article will help you to "let loose" a little and that you will LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE a little more each day.

Do it...you'll be glad you did!

And, as you do so, you will see that this is, indeed, one way to...

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

Mike

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What The World Needs Now...

Are the Best Things in Life REALLY Free? (Part 2)

If you have yet to do so, go back and read Part 1 of this current series so you can be "up to speed" on the emphasis and focus of this series.

 

Bottom line: As wonderful as the things listed in the graphic above really are - they are NOT free!

 

Each and every one of them require an INVESTMENT from you. It may involve an investment of time or an investment of emotion or risk or any number of things. And, quite often, it requires an investment of several - if not all - of the things that we could list. 

 

Yes, this applies even to something as what we may call "simple" like kisses. That's right, KISSES.

 

Let's start with adults and work our way back. If you are on a date and you try to give or get a kiss too soon, what will happen? Perhaps a slap across the face or, for sure, some sort of rejection. Why? THE INVESTMENT HAS NOT BEEN MADE! And, no, I'm not suggesting, "Hey baby, I bought you supper, you owe me a kiss!". I'm talking about an investment in interest and respect, for example.

 

If you are in a relationship (whether dating or married) then, for those kisses to actually MEAN something, there MUST be an investment as well. Too many lose that "spark" with those kisses over time because they have also ceased to make continued investment. Think about it...it's true.

 

Kisses don't always have to be a form of foreplay for some sexual adventure, right? Sometimes a kiss - a kiss with investment - can be as simple as a little kiss on the forehead that says, "Hang in there, it's going to be alright".

 

And oh, then there are those kisses that we give to those babies...our own kids OR grandbabies (or nieces and nephews). Even though that little baby may not know about it, there has been investment made on YOUR part in all of it (especially if it is your child or grandbaby).  If you don't agree, try kissing some baby that you've never seen before and see what the reaction of the parent(s) is(are).

 

FAMILY - I'm sure you have no problem at all agreeing that FAMILY requires investment. Family is not always easy and, to be honest, it's not always pleasant. Sometimes family hurts and causes pain. However, family is forever. I know, you may feel anything about family BUT that you want it to be "forever". I get that, I really do. Maybe I should rephrase what I said and change it to, "Family SHOULD BE forever." If that is to be so, it definitely requires an investment of your time, patience, love and understanding.

 

As far as your own family (your spouse and your children), here's some advice: INVEST EARLY AND OFTEN! You'll be glad you did.

 

SLEEP - Sleep? What? How does one invest in sleep? There are several ways for this to be done but, for one, when you live each day to the best of your ability, you should be able to lay your head on your pillow at night and sleep well with that knowledge. Yes, even when things don't turn out just right or the way that you wish...if you've done your best, let it go and sleep easy, friend.

 

If you are a believer, trust your God, turn your worries over to Him and sleep easy. Invest in that relationship as well!

 

And yes, you can even invest by the way that you treat your body. There's two ways to look at this part of the equation: 1. A good night's sleep will help keep you healthy and, 2. Being healthy will help you get a good night's sleep. Take care of yourself, try to improve your health and sleep better. In turn, you will feel better and actually BE better.

 

I'm purposely not going into more detail on these items so that YOU may "dig" into these things for yourself and for your own situation. My hope is that just bringing these things up might create a "spark" in and for your life in one (or all) of these areas.

 

They are all part of the investment that you make in the world in which you live.

 

Invest, get involved, be involved and experience the true return from your investment...a joyous life.

 

Until next time, always be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

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My Christmas Wish For You

Whether you live in the United States and celebrate Christmas or not, I have a special message for you. Even if you live in the United States and don't celebrate Christmas, this message is still for you.

 

Yes, this is a special time of the year when most people tend to be more thoughtful and helpful. They also seem to think about the blessings of their lives and they find ways to express that thanks. Time is often spent with friends and family with laughter and smiles as they spend this special time together.

 

Again, no matter where you live or what your situation, I have a special message - my Christmas wish for you - today.

 

On this day, I wish for you and your family the following:

 

JOY -May you find true happiness and joy in your life. May you not forget to notice and enjoy the "everyday" people in your life that bring you joy and happiness. Don't forget to notice the "little things" that surround you each and every day and then share that joy with those around you. By doing so, you will see joy and happiness returned to you.
 

PEACE - May you experience true peace in your life in the coming days and year. As you purposely set out to increase the joy and happiness in your life, may you also discover the peace that will accompany these. May you learn to worry less and enjoy peace more. May you find relationships renewed, strengthened and regained so that you will experience more peace - and less stress - in your life.

LOVE - As with peace, may you experience the joy and peace of love in your life. Too many take for granted those that surround them every day and, in so doing, they miss out on the benefits of love that is right before them every single day. Don't be afraid to forgive and to allow healing to take place in any relationship where this is needed. May you open your life up to allowing yourself to take the risk of love so that you may enjoy the benefits of love.

 

HOPE - "As long as there is breath, there is hope." May you never, ever lose hope, friend. My wish for you is that you never give up on your dreams and that you always reach for "more" in order to better yourself along the way. Never allow yourself to believe that things cannot improve in your life and for your life. Never lose sight of this as you open your life up to more joy, peace and love. Live hope daily.

 

This is my Christmas wish for each of you. Think of how our world can change by each one of us making the above list a part of our daily routine. Embrace it, apply it and share it with everyone around you and watch what happens.

 

It begins here with you and with me.

 

Until next time...

 

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

 

Mike

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A Great Way to Bless Someone's Life

As I type this, it is the 21st of December. That means that Christmas is "right around the corner" and it also means that there are many people around you (whether you realize it or not) that will struggle to provide any kind of Christmas for their children again this year.

 

This doesn't have to be about Christmas, however. It is a GREAT way to bless the lives of other people ANY time of the year. Keep that in mind and plan to incorporate this all through the year...I think it can become highly addictive!

 

But, for now, I want to focus on the few days that are left before Christmas and challenge and encourage you to JUMP ON BOARD and make some magic happen! I know I'm right when I say that many of us wish there were more ways to help others...well, here ya' go!

 

Take a $10 bill and PAY IT FORWARD!

 

Sure, by itself, that $10 bill may not be able to do a whole lot but, at the same time, in the hands of a person that is really struggling, it may do far more than you can imagine.

 

But, what IF you can easily multiply that $10 bill into an amount that is far beyond what you may imagine? Here are some simple ideas that I will share with you but I want to challenge you to brainstorm even more and come up with MORE ideas to make this EXTRAordinary!

 

1. FAMILY: Get each member of your immediate family to add $10 each and then find a family that would be blessed by this contribution. With all of these ideas, find such a family and bless their life.

 

2. FRIENDS: What if you could call 10 other friends and have them contribute $10 each? You can do this easy math, right? That little $10 bill turns into $100 very quickly. Do the math and find out what would happen if you got 20 friends involved...30 friends? Do you think this might make a difference in the life of someone? You might even consider helping more than one person or family, depending on how many people you get involved.

 

3. GROUPS or ORGANIZATIONS: Do you belong to a group or organization? Do you attend a Bible class at your church? How about a civic organization? What about your workplace? The list is endless and I want to encourage you to STEP UP, have fun, get excited about this idea and see what can happen!

 

Here's a couple of more ideas to make this fun:

 - Deliver this money yourself and see the joy and happiness on the face of the one(s) that you bless.

 - Send someone else to deliver this gift and remain anonymous.

 

MAIN POINT: Have fun with this and know that you can QUICKLY make a huge impact on the life of an individual or a family.

 

I just wanted to get this out there and share it with you as quickly as I could and, yes, I've done this myself.

 

GET YOUR FAMILY - ESPECIALLY YOUR CHILDREN - INVOLVED IN THIS and teach some valuable lessons on what it is to share and bless others.

 

Until next time, whatever you do...

 

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

 

Mike

H.O.P.E. Enjoy)

 (Please be sure to read the previous three articles in this series if you've not done so).

 

Well, here we are. In the United States, today is being celebrated as "Thanksgiving Day" and I hope you are with family and friends having a great time.

 

To close out this special "Thanksgiving Week" series, I wanted to encourage you to ENJOY life and all that it has to offer.

 

If you will consider and put into action the things that we have discussed in the past few articles then, by investing and opening yourself up to others, you will begin to enjoy life on a whole new level.

 

We all need to stop "stressing out" over everyone doing everything right all of the time or doing it the way WE want it done all of the time. (Yes, I know there are times that it is important.)

 

People are not perfect. YOU are not perfect! My guess is that, you want people to practice patience and forgiveness with you, right? Then, learn to practice and offer that same patience and forgiveness with those around you.

 

"Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31; The Bible)

 

So, friend, open up your heart to life and to others and live out your purpose in life...OTHERS! And, as you do so, ENJOY every minute of it

 

And, from my family to yours...

 





 

 

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H.O.P.E. (Purpose)

(If you've not done so, please read the previous two articles in this series...they are all connected!)

 

 

PURPOSE:

If you've read the previous two articles then, hopefully, you've figured out that your PURPOSE is PEOPLE.

 

That's right. Once you begin to allow yourself to open your heart and your life to others, you will begin to experience life as life was meant to be experienced...ALIVE and CONNECTED!

 

Many people struggle with their "purpose in life" and spend countless days, weeks and even years struggling with that thought. Some even spend countless dollars trying to discover this purpose. Hey, I just saved you lots of time and money!

 

YOUR PURPOSE IS PEOPLE!

 

We're all here together and we're all here for one another. We are all part of the HUMAN race (you ARE human, right?) and, that alone, connects us all.

 

When you close yourself off to others, you rob the world of who you are! You rob the world of your personality and everything else that you offer to this world.

 

Yes, I hear some of you saying, "But what about me? What about MY goals and what I am trying to achieve?" My guess is that you have heard this quote from Zig Ziglar before, haven't you?

 



"You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want,"

 

Just relax and care about others...serve others...be interested in others. Just relax and do that and see what happens in and for your life.

 

Some people call it "karma" and some use the phrase (good or bad), "What goes around, comes around."

 

Regardless of what you decide to call it, it's a true way of life and, friend, I want to encourage you to fulfill your PURPOSE for your life.

 

Even though I may not know you, I - for one - am glad that you are a part of this thing called the "human race".

 

Until next time...

 

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

 

Mike

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H.O.P.E. (Others)

 

If you've not done so, take a few minutes and read the last blog article which introduces the ideas that I had for this series. Read the article it self, as well, so that you can see how these all connect together.

 

OTHERS: 

Friend, we live in a world of PEOPLE. You just can't get around that fact, can you? Oh, I know, there are times that you may wish that it wasn't that way and you may even fantasize about being on some deserted island somewhere, completely isolated from people and all of the problems that go along with them.

 

But, you know what? It wouldn't be long before you began to MISS being around people! Why? Because we were MADE to be around and with other people! That's right, friend.

 

But, many times, we allow the frustrations with people to cause us to "close up" our hearts (see the last article) in order to protect ourselves. But, what actually happens when we attempt to do that, is that we actually hurt ourselves.

 

We become "less human" to some extent and life begins to take a downward spiral.

 

I want to encourage you to OPEN UP and APPRECIATE others! Remember, you are here for a reason and, along with YOU, your world (as well as the world as a whole) is made up of all kinds of different people with different talents, traits and personalities.

 

We're not all alike. AREN'T YOU GLAD?

 

Sure, you're not going to "click" with everyone but, at the same time, if you will allow yourself to "open up" to others, you will likely develop a new level of patience and understanding with those around you.

 

Finally, when you open yourself up to others you also SHARE YOURSELF with others and, friend, that's a good thing, too.

 

This is not just called a "race"...it's called the "HUMAN race".

 

Open up to others and share a part of who  YOU are. Not only will you be glad that you did, but the world will be glad that you did as well.

 

Until next time...

 

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

 

Mike

Future You University    "Like" FYU on Facebook!    Podcast on iTunes

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