The Very Essence of FAITH

Don't forget! Today is "Turn-Around Tuesday"...Stop waiting and turn things around TODAY!

The word "faith" is described in the following way from dictionary.com - "1. confidence or trust in a person or thing, 2. belief that is not based on proof.

The Bible defines faith in the following way as described in Hebrews 11:1 - "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Many times in the arena of "positive thinking" or "personal development" we hear things said along the lines of, "If you can BELIEVE it, you can ACHIEVE it!". I think that Napoleon Hill was actually the one that first penned that phrase and, as a result of misquoting he has been "bashed' for thinking that all you have to do is believe.

NOT SO FAST! If you actually READ what Napoleon Hill wrote on the subject in his book, "Think and Grow Rich" (you should still be able to get a free copy by going here: http://www.freetgrbook.com/SeeYourSuccess ) you will find that he stresses the fact that ACTION must accompany this belief or you'll get nowhere. That word, "ACTION", makes a big difference doesn't it?

The hard part of really believing something - and I mean REALLY believing in something - is putting that belief (or FAITH) into ACTION. You know, the "if you really BELIEVE it - then DO it!" type of thing.

For example, kids seem to have TOTAL faith or believe that their mom or dad are going to take care of them no matter what. It seems to be true especially in the area of catching them no matter where you are in connection to where THEY are at the time! On one occasion one of our sons was standing on some steps on the back of one of my brother's house. I can't remember how old he was...he was walking and jabbering and was definitely a hand-full to keep up with. I think he was on the top of three steps when I caught sight of him. I was too far away to get to him and I actually thought my brother was as well and I could tell by looking at my son that he was about to jump without any worry at all as to if either of us would be there to catch him. And, you know what? I was right. He jumped. And you know what else? I don't know HOW he was able to do it but my older brother DID actually get there in time to catch him.

No worries. No problem. SOMEONE will catch me. End of discussion.

Take another look at that second definition given from the dictionary: "belief that is not based on proof". You see, FAITH is not based on proof! That would be called FACT! FACT is based on proof. If you KNOW that there is no way in the world that you will get hurt in ANY way then there in no FAITH demonstrated by making that jump.

From the Bible definition above we see FAITH described as something that is HOPED FOR based on EVIDENCE, but evidence that is not seen at the moment.

Huh?

Do you think it is possible for you to acquire a million dollars in your lifetime? That's not really that big of a feat over the period of a lifetime but just the IDEA of a million dollars causes some to doubt that it could actually happen to them!

Here's the deal - you may not can actually SEE the proof in YOUR life that it will happen, but friend, there is EVIDENCE all around us that DOES show PROOF that it CAN happen!

Is it possible for YOU - yes YOU - to succeed at whatever this passion is that you are following in and with your life? Sometimes it likely doesn't seem like it is possible but I can almost guarantee that you have already seen the EVIDENCE in the lives of others that causes you to KNOW - to have FAITH or a strong BELIEF - that it is not only POSSIBLE but that it WILL HAPPEN in your life even if you don't have the proof of that success.

"Why not me?"

Faith is powerful. Belief is powerful. However, the Bible also makes a very strong and powerful point to go along with those thoughts. Here it is, from James 2:20 (Good News Translation) - "You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?"

So, YES, believe in yourself and the possibilities but then GET UP OFF OF YOUR BUTT and put the ACTION behind that belief necessary to move you towards success!

And, as you do so, be sure to...

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

Mike

CHANGE: No Fault of Our Own

"CHANGE: No Fault of Our Own"

Hey listen, sometimes (like we discussed in the last article) we screw up and bring changes into our lives BECAUSE of something we have done, right?

And then, there are those changes that come into our lives at absolutely NO FAULT of our own. And, sometimes, these are the hardest changes to handle for many.

Before we get too far into this, let's look one more time at the four different categories that I've put together as to the different kinds of changes that we face in our lives:

TYPES OF CHANGES: (1)Those we voluntarily bring on ourselves... (2) those that we have no choice in but are not "against" us (change of seasons, life changes due to age, etc.)... (3) those that come at us DUE TO our actions and (4) those that come to us 100% involuntarily and at no fault of our own.

If you haven't done so, take a look at the changes that have taken place in your life over the past month and even the past year and see what category these changes would fit into...even get out a piece of paper and jot this stuff down. You may be surprised at what you find IF you are completely open and honest with yourself.

Now back to the topic for today: those changes that come into our lives at NO FAULT of our own.

Has your life ever changed due to the death of a loved one or a close friend? Obviously it was no fault of your own but the change impacted your life anyway, right?

Has your home ever been damaged or loss due to a flood or some sort of storm or fire? Again, this was no fault of your own bu the change came anyway.

Have you ever lost a job due to circumstances out of your control such as the company "downsizing" (what a "nice" word, huh?)?

Has change come into your life due to some health issue that has developed due to circumstances out of your control? I'm not talking about situations like this that developed due to you smoking or other unhealthy habits. I'm talking about something that you had NO control over at all. Perhaps it was due to a car accident that was caused by someone else. Maybe it was even just some freak health issue that was undetected all of your life up until this point.

Guess what... in all of these situations change comes REGARDLESS of who was or was not at fault.

Friend, I'm not trying to be the bearer of bad news but if you've not experienced such change in your life then know that you WILL if you live long enough.

This type of change is a part of living and it's not easy to handle for anyone.

May I offer a word of kindness to anyone that is still dealing with the changes that have come into your life due to some such incident? Hang in there! I KNOW from my own experiences that this type of situation can leave you with far more questions than answers and I want to encourage you to find some people that will support you an allow you to struggle while encouraging you at the same time.

One of the worse things a person can do with this type of change is to attempt to handle it all by themselves.

You see, we like to be able to pinpoint who is at fault when something goes wrong...that's just our human nature.

We may even shake our fist at God because we don't know who else to blame but, in the long run, that doesn't help us deal with this change either.

As I've said on the podcast and as the picture at the top of this article states, "The only constant in life is CHANGE!"

If you've experienced such change in your life could you be of assistance to someone else that is just now beginning such a journey? Could you be of help in listening because YOU understand in ways that those who have yet to go through such a change can't?

My wife and I have been through some rough times in our life in many ways (no, I'm not trying to get you to feel sorry for us) but these rough times have helped us to be able to understand and reach out to others in ways that we never could have without going through these changes in the first place.

Does that mean I'm glad the change happened in our life? NO! But, it does mean that I can use the experience to hopefully help someone else that is left bewildered by changes that come at absolutely no fault of their own.

Take a look around you. Who may need YOUR sympathy and understanding that only YOU can give because of change that has come into YOUR life at no fault of your own?

I can promise you that there are people around you each and every day that could use your insight into these difficult times.

Remember, we're in this thing called life TOGETHER!

I do hope that, in some small way, what I do through Future You University is of some help and comfort to all of you as we work our way through this thing called "life".

Think about it. Hang on. Help others.

And, even in the midst of these changes always remember to...

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

Mike

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

Ruts and Roadblocks

Ruts and Roadblocks

How would you like to see THAT scene before you as you try to make progress on a trip? If you DID come across this then you would obviously have to make some alternative plans in order to continue on your journey.

This major roadblock was caused by a mudslide - something completely out of our hands. It wasn't anything YOU caused and there wasn't anything YOU could do to prevent it from happening. But it DID happen and, because of that, if you were on a journey and encountered this road block then you would have to make some decisions regardless of how and why it happened.

Does that ever happen to you in your life? You do understand that I'm not talking about a boulder blocking an actual highway, right? But has your life ever met up with some sort of roadblock that you had no way to control or prevent? What did you do?

Let's talk about ruts for a moment. A lot of you have HEARD about ruts but I wonder how many of you have ever actually encountered ruts while driving. It could be a rut that has been made on a snow-covered road or it could be a rut that has been carved out in a mud-packed road. Either way, ruts can cause problems for the one trying to navigate down such a road!

You can stay in a rut but you really aren't deciding which direction your automobile will go - you just stay in the rut and follow the same path as others before you. If you give just a little effort to get out of the rut you will not have much success! The deeper the rut the harder it is to get OUT of that rut!

Now, let's again apply that to our actual lives. Sometimes we get in a rut that we have carved out ourselves, don't we? We've just fallen into going through the same motions day in and day out until we have carved out a nice little rut for ourselves.

Living IN a rut is really pretty easy! After a while you don't really have to give much thought to what you are doing - just stay in the rut and do the same thing today that you did yesterday and the day before and the day before that!

Maybe you've fallen into a rut that someone else (or several someones) have carved out. You have fallen into this rut and have given in to the "path of least resistance". "Hey, this is not so bad! I just follow the crowd and don't do anything different and I can just glide right along!"

Not a bad way to live if you want to live life like a robot.

So, what if you realize that you are in a rut and you don't WANT to stay in that rut? What then?

Ruts and roadblocks - they happen to all of us.

I shared with you on today's podcast that I feel that I have faced a roadblock and that I am in a rut RIGHT NOW! I have acknowledged that even a couple of weeks ago but it seems that I'm still here staring at that roadblock and trying to look out and over that rut.

Wow. You too?

So, how did we get here? You see, to me, this is the second most important thing we can do as far as "ruts and roadblocks" go. First, we must realize we are there and it's not where we want to be and then we must try to figure out how we got here!

Sometimes, with the roadblocks - as the example shared above - it really has nothing to do with us, it just happened! That's the way life is sometimes! We can either sit there in despair and just give up OR we can plan an alternate route so that we can continue on our journey!

But, there are SOME roadblocks that we have placed before ourselves. How did THAT happen? It's very important for us to take a close look at this and try to "pin-point" exactly HOW it happened so that we can now do the "opposite" in order to "undo" the roadblock.

This ain't easy! (Pardon my southern slant on that line.)

Chances are - and chances are really good - that it didn't happen overnight (with the "we put it there" variety of roadblock). And, that being so, our "pin-pointing" won't happen overnight either. We'll get back to this in a moment and combine it with the "rut problem" as well.

How do you get out of a rut? WITH A LOT OF EFFORT!

Anyone that has encountered a physical rut - especially a deep one - can tell you that it takes MAJOR effort to get out of (and stay out of) a rut! Remember, the deeper the rut the harder it is to get out OF that rut!

How deep is your rut? Have you caught this before it got too deep or will you need some major climbing gear just to peek over the top of your rut?

The same is true for ruts as it is for roadblocks - we MUST figure out how we got here!

How do we do that with ruts and roadblocks?

THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATION.

What is DIFFERENT now than it was before?

Has the joy, energy and happiness been sucked from your life? Why? How? When did it happen?

Go back in time and try to "pin-point" a time when you actually felt the way you think you want to feel now. When were you happy? When did you feel as if you had positive and powerful energy in your life?

Take a snapshot if you will of "then" and one of "now" - what's different?

Go through a process of elimination with both the rut and the roadblock and try to determine what changed in your life in such a way that caused you to follow that path that led you to where you are today.

Take how ever long it takes to try to figure it out. Write down what you find as you go along. You likely will find SEVERAL things that have changed and not just one!

We are going to talk more about this tomorrow and also we will talk about what we do once we pin-point the problem.

But know this, friend - YOU CAN OVERCOME THIS and you CAN get out of your rut and you CAN get around, over or through that roadblock whether you caused it or life just dumped it there.

YES, YOU CAN!

Know that. Believe that. Feel that.

And, as you go through your day...

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

Mike

Surviving Life's Adventure

Surviving Life's Adventure

Just like the roller coaster above, life has it's UPs and it has it's DOWNs!

When you really think about it, what I have said this week is definitely true - LIFE IS AN ADVENTURE!

It just seems to be "human nature" for us to like it/enjoy it when things are on the "up" swing, right? However, I don't know that I've ever met anyone that actually expressed a liking to life when it is in a "down" swing and doing so at break-neck speed.

Oh, I've read words from people that have said we need to do this, but I've never actually met one. Have you?

So, here's the focus for the day - you CAN survive life's adventure!

You DO HAVE the ability to survive the struggles as well as life's celebrations!

How do I know that? Simple. You're still here.

The fact that you are still here reading this blog shows that YOU have the ability to survive life's ups and downs even if it's not fun!

"As long as there is breath there is hope!" I came up with this quote over a year ago and it is as true today as it was then and it will continue to be true for the rest of time!

As long as you are alive and breathing there is HOPE for something to change. And YOU have the ability to put that change into action.

Are you going to tell me that you have never had to get creative in order to survive life's adventure? Sure you have! Hey, "McGyver" has nothing on you! You've had to learn how to juggle bills or juggle jobs or..... you can fill in this part, right?

Has it always been easy? NO!

But, remember, no adventure is "easy" - that's what makes it an adventure! The risk involved ensures that it is not going to be an easy task. Seriously, what would be the adventure if it was all easy?

Now, please understand that I KNOW it's easier for me to sit and type these words than to remember them when things get tough. But, I know this about myself as well. I CAN because I already HAVE!

That's right. Just like you (and everyone else) I have survived which tells me that I can do it again - regardless of what life throws at me. And, yes, some things may knock me for a bigger loop and make it harder to get back up on my feet....but I WILL get back up on my feet. I know I can and I know I will.

Why? Because I - like you - am a SURVIVOR of life's adventure!

Take a look back at your life - as painful as it may be - and just notice times in your life that you have pulled through and survived when, at the time, it seemed like it might be impossible to do so.

Yeah, see? You CAN do it. You've done it before and you can do it again.

So, what's there to be afraid of?

Indeed, life IS an adventure and it's an adventure that YOU can survive.

So... let's go!

And, as you do so...

"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