1 Magical Moment!

Facing and Alleviating Your Fears

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In case you haven't done so, you can listen to the podcasts and watch the video that goes with this topic by going directly to www.FutureYouUniversity.com or by going here to watch the video and here to listen to the podcast (which is also available on iTunes).



I would suggest that you try to hit all 3 sources. Why? Because I did each one of these separately which means that each one will have a little bit different information shared. So, to get all that I have to offer with this topic, go and get it from all 3 sources. I think you'll be glad you did!

 

Here's the thing, friend - it's time to stop MAKING EXCUSES (we often try to "pretty them up" by calling them "reasons") and get on with the business of moving FORWARD with our plans - WHATEVER THEY MAY BE - that have yet to be completed.

 

Wouldn't you agree?

 

And, why wait until January 1st like everyone else? Why not get a start TODAY and get a "jump" by doing what you know you need to do NOW...not later?

 

 Oh, but you see, "later" is always "easier" for most people, right? "Later" means we don't really have to do anything NOW because - as you can see - we can always do it "later".

If that is how you have been living your life, let me ask you a very simple question: HOW'S THAT WORKING OUT FOR YOU?

As always, it always boils down to a CHOICE...you can either keep on doing what you have been doing (refer back to the question in the previous paragraph) OR, we can see that we need to do something different. Take that one step further - not only must we "see" that we need to do something different but - get ready for something simple here - we NEED TO DO something different.

"Many times the PROFOUND can be FOUND in the simple!" (yeah, that's one of my quotes).

So, listen, hopefully you've already written down the things that you are still "waiting" to do and, hopefully, you've been open and honest and have written down WHY you have still not done them. I'm guessing that it comes down to some form of FEAR. Most of the time we are AFRAID to reach out for success (or even a special trip at times) due to our fear of something. It may be that we are afraid that we don't have enough money to go on that trip or that we can't get off to go on that trip, OR it may be related to some sort of success that always seems to be out of reach.

FEAR.

Oh, it's real and it can keep you paralyzed and staying where you are for the rest of your life. Most of us are not comfortable staying there because we KNOW that there is something better. Oh sure, there are many people that are absolutely comfortable staying where they are - BUT THAT IS NOT YOU!

We're not comfortable staying there but, at the same time, we're not comfortable with stepping up/out and making a major change in our lives. Why? Because of fear. And, sad to say, many times the uncomfortable feeling that we have in staying where we don't want to be is MORE comfortable than what we feel when we think of moving forward.

The fear of the future can cause us to settle for the "comfort zone" of where we are -- even when we don't like where we are.

When you think about it, isn't that interesting? Dreams without ACTION pretty much amount to wishful thinking! Are you ready to stop with the EMPTY DREAMS? Are you ready - once and for all - to take ACTION?

Then here it is...FACE YOUR FEARS!

Simple. Yes, I know. But it IS simple. The hard part is deciding to STEP OUT and take ACTION!

The best way to face our fears is to move toward or even INTO our fears. The example I used in the podcast and the video on this is that of learning how to ride a bike. Think about it for a moment. Why did you even want to learn how to ride a bike in the first place?

BECAUSE YOU SAW OTHER PEOPLE DOING IT SUCCESSFULLY AND THEY WERE HAVING FUN!

And, you likely thought that it was going to be easy based on how easy the others made it look. Didn't you? Of course you did. But was it easy?

NO! It was hard and it was scary! Especially after you crashed and crashed again. Every time you crashed (and even before you crashed) you had to FACE THE FEAR based on your perception that it was worth it! You, too, wanted to have FUN riding that bike!

You actually stepped INTO that fear so that you could be successful at learning to ride that bike!

O.k. now, let that sink in for a minute. Doesn't that make sense? Doesn't that describe what you MUST do even now in order to achieve success at whatever it is that you are wanting to do?

That answer would be "YES!".

Then understand that, in order to ALLEVIATE your fears you must FACE and ATTACK THEM! You know that's true and you KNOW that it is something that you MUST do if you ever really and truly plan to move FORWARD with your plans and with your life!

Simple question: WILL YOU?

As always, it is up to you and only you.

It's your move.

And, as you contemplate that move, be sure to...

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

Mike


 

Are We There Yet?

Today is "Thankful Thursday"! I know you can come up with a few things in your life to be thankful for today, right? Do it and express it!

A car full of kids with their parents heading out on vacation with the car packed to the top with kids, suitcases, toys and even perhaps, a pet or two. Hey, if you have kids and have done this for ANY distance then you know and can relate to some of the phrases that I'm about to share.
"I need to go to the bathroom!" "He's touching me!" "I'm hot!" "Can we turn around and see what that dead thing was in the road?" (That's a personal one from one my own kids). And, here we go...
"Are we there yet?"

Put all of those phrases on "repeat often" and you have fun-filled, family-packed adventure!

Yet, for us as adults, it is imperative for us to be asking that same question and to be asking it often..."Are we there yet?" or better yet,"Am I there yet?"

One variation of this phrase that you often would here/will here from the backseat of the car would also be, "How much further?" And, yes, that is also extremely important for us to be asking ourselves as we move toward our goals and dreams.

Hey, listen - if you were going on a trip with no set destination in mind, how would you answer the questions, "Are we there yet?" or "How much further?" ? I do understand that some people take out on a trip with no real destination in mind but to just "go" and "end up where you end up". My guess is that they don't usually do this with kids on board!

In the same way, if you don't have any set goals or dreams and a way to determine and know when you have reached or achieved them then, how will you know how much further you have to go or even if you have already arrived?

Just as a family on a trip will likely have places along the way to use as "gauge points" (we'll spend the night in this town on the first night and then we should arrive by 4:00 p.m. the next day) we should also have such "gauge points" along the way to our goals and dreams.

Again, a simple and easy example to use is that of weight loss. Sometimes it's hard to stay focused on losing fifty pounds and it's easy to get discouraged. However, if we use five pounds at a time as our "gauge points" then it makes it a little easier to deal with "how much further" we have to go before we reach our goal.

Why? Because we can actually "see" that we are making progress!

What are YOUR "gauge points" that you are using to mark your progress or to even make you aware of the fact that you AREN'T making progress?

One of mine, for example, is getting back to doing a DAILY podcast and, now, a DAILY blog article. This is important for me to do so that I can get back to a DAILY ROUTINE of "getting back on track" with formulating and sharing my thoughts and ideas.

What about you? ARE YOU THERE YET? Will you know?

Keep moving forward and keep marking and measuring your progress and, as you do so, always be sure to...

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

Mike

Permanent Marker Dreams?

Hey! It's "Magical Monday"!!

Check out the podcast to hear my comments about what makes today "MAGICAL" - you'll be glad you did!

As we continue to talk about our goals and dreams I want to bring up the idea of HOW you write down these goals and dreams....do you write them down with "PERMANENT MARKER" or do you do as I do and use a "dry erase board"?

I mention in the podcast that one thing I like about that "name" is the middle word, "erase"!

Sure, you may also think about it as if you use ink or pencil to write these things down. The great thing about a pencil is the ERASER!

When I sit in my "war room" and look at my dry erase board where I write down my focus, plans, goals and dreams I have to acknowledge and realize that I have erased and started over many times.

Yet, I STILL am focused on the same thing....I've just had to take a different path from time to time and I'm still on the journey!

Sometimes there are roadblocks and set-backs but the key thing is to ask ourselves if we are determined enough or focused enough to "stay the course" and keep moving on toward that destination.

Don't get all worked up if you've had to adjust your time line for completion of your goals....the main thing to look at is this: AM I STILL MOVING TOWARD THOSE GOALS?

Check this out on a DAILY basis and ask yourself if you have made progress TODAY toward those goals and dreams. Even the old saying of "Two steps forward and one step back" will mean movement in the right direction.

Think about that fact. IT'S TRUE!

Don't be afraid to get the eraser out and don't be afraid to use that eraser on that dry erase board.

And, hey, if you've used permanent marker or ink -- don't be afraid to tear that up and start all over! We'll be talking about that tomorrow but, until then, be sure to...

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

Mike

On Your Mark, Get Set...GO!

On Your Mark...Get Set...GO!

It's time. I've been talking and planning on trying to get back to a more consistent schedule with my podcasts and it's finally time to stop talking and start talking.

Yeah. It's time to stop talking ABOUT it and start talking AS PART of it! Know what I mean?

So, beginning Monday, January 9, 2012, I am starting - once again - to get back to my DAILY, 5 minute podcast (daily being Monday - Friday).

What does tht mean as far as my blog?

What I plan to do is a "week in review" blog post where I give a summary of the podcasts topics for the past week instead of a blog entry every day about that particular day's topic.

My current job simply makes it hard to do both and I am recording podcasts 10-15 days in advance in order to do this -- BUT I AM DETERMINED TO GET BACK ON TRACK with my efforts!

Please let me hear from you as you listen to the podcast and/or read the blog.

Thanks!

And remember...

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

Mike

Another Year Passed...One Day At A Time

"Another Day Passed..."

Here we are again... the end of another year and the time that so many start looking back and examining the year gone by.

The other day I posted the following on my F.Y.U. fan page on Facebook - ‎"Think about this: Waiting until January 1st to make resolutions for the new year is like waiting until you run out of gas to begin looking for a gas station." - Mike Spillman

That kind of hits me right in the gut like many of you. Why? Because I have done the same thing many times before.

Isn't it time for a change in the way that many of us approach this?

Too many people look back over the past year with remorse and regret due to feeling like they have not accomplished all that they had originally planned. You know, back at the start of this very year that is coming to a close. Those "New Year's Resolutions".

The main title points out something that we might want to really focus on - this year has passed ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Hey, listen, I understand - I really do. I've made so many major plans and have set goals that I have STILL yet to reach and I have beat myself up about those many times before.

But, here's the deal: that hasn't helped me in any way that I can see so WHY keep doing the same thing?

INSTEAD of waiting until the end of the year to look back and determine whether it was "successful" based on whatever measuring stick we have decided to use - WHY NOT look back at the end of EACH and EVERY day to gauge our progress?

Hey, here's another simple comparison that we can make that many of us ALSO can relate to: KEEPING AN EYE ON OUR WEIGHT.

The time to see how you've done on your weight goals is NOT at the end of a 12 month period BUT in shorter increments - sometimes DAILY or even WEEKLY. At the very most - MONTHLY.

Hey, YOU know what happens if we don't, right? That weight will sneak up on us and - what - surprise us? Now, you know that you have to admit that this scenario is a bit funny. Seriously, WHY should we be surprised?

Do you realize that only two pounds a month will add 24 pounds to our weight? Hey, let's get really depressing while we're at it and lay that out over a 5-year period that will add on an extra 120 pounds!

WHAT?

So, you see, the time to check our progress on ANY goal/endeavor is NOT at the end of a year but each and every day, weekly or - at most - monthly BEFORE things get away from us.

Think about that as we come to the end of another calendar year.

Don't fret over the past year but decide now to approach this differently than we have before and let's see what happens.

Here's to your health, happiness and success in the coming year!

And, in the mean time...

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

Mike

Still Time to Sign Up for the FREE Class

Yes, there is still time to get signed up for this FREE 8-week course!!

What are YOU waiting for? PROCRASTINATION is a KILLER OF DREAMS and it may very well be what is holding you back from getting signed up for this course.

All excuses have been removed, have they not?

Oh sure, you can use the one about TIME... but I can't remove that one for you.

But, again, it is absolutely FREE and being offered TO you and FOR you.

Go to the website: http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com and register by clicking on the banner promoting the box and I will be getting the pertinant information to you.

8 Week FREE Teleconference Course

I will be starting a FREE 8-week course in March on

"Setting and Reaching Your Goals"

This class will be open ONLY to the FIRST 20 people that register by going to the link below:

http://www.futureyouuniversity.com/events/free-course.php

Once you have registered I will be sending you an e-mail with all the details as far as the date the class will start, time, call in number, etc. I will be asking your opinion on a couple of different possibilities on the night of the week as well as the time when I send out this e-mail.

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS FREE OPPORTUNITY!