Laugh More, Worry Less

Always remember this truth: There is PLENTY of time and occasion for worry and sadness in one's life. That's why it's so important to take advantage of the opportunities to "Laugh More and Worry Less"!

I'm typing this article on the same day that I recorded the podcast for this topic and it's also the same day that I found out that a friend of mine that graduated High School with me passed away from a long battle with cancer. I talk about that a little on the podcast and how it relates to this very thing.

There are ALWAYS things that come our way that we will not laugh about or feel joyful about. That, my friend, is simply the way life is for those that walk this path. 

However, there are PLENTY of opportunities to find reasons to laugh and smile!

Tell me friend, what is accomplished by worry? Oh listen, I understand about worry. I've had many nights where I didn't sleep well due to worry. It seemed that, no matter how hard I tried, my mind would not let go of the worry. You've been there, too, I'm sure. 

But, again, what is accomplished? Many things that we worry about are things that we have absolutely no control over and there are also many things that we worry about that never come to be. 

I can tell you one thing that IS accomplished with worry. It affects our health in a NEGATIVE way! That's right. Worry can (and often does) bring about ulcers along with a variety of other digestive problems. It can also cause depression and, as already discussed, many sleepless nights.

So, take the challenge friend! Take the time to FIND those things - each and every day - that can make you smile more, laugh more and, as a result, worry less! Hey, sometimes you even have to laugh at the things that normally might cause you to worry.

Life goes by too quickly and many times we miss the good things in life by worrying about others. Don't become so overtaken by the pressures of life that you forget how to laugh - and how to laugh more often!

If you have children at home, you can teach them this lesson by SHOWING them how this is done. That's right, they are watching YOU and YOU can show them that, even in the midst of the everyday struggles of life, you can still find a way and a reason to smile and laugh.

Yeah, it's THAT important!

Until next time, 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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"When the Going Gets Tough" - Part 2

"When the Going Gets Tough" - Part 2

As I continue with my thoughts on this topic of, "When the Going Gets Tough..." I do want to take just a moment and look at the thoughts we have already shared together to this point.

FIRST - The fact that things GET TOUGH is just a part of life! I'm sorry to burst your bubble if you didn't already know this but, if you've been lucky enough to live a "tough-free" life up to this point, then you need to prepare yourself because, sooner or later, THEY WILL GET TOUGH! Again, it's just a part of life and the "human experience".

SECOND - The ending part of this phrase, "When the going gets tough the tough get going." isn't always true for us, is it? Sure, we'd love it to be true any and every time we face touch challenges in our lives - but we just don't! And, because of that, many times we beat ourselves up with guilt because we feel week and inferior. Why? Because we are either trying to live up to someone else's expectations of us OR we are falling short of our own expectations in this area. Bottom line: we don't always handle things or face things the way we (or others) think that we should.

THIRD - We looked at one "ending" to this phrase by saying, "When the going gets tough you have to make some CHOICES!" And, in my book, you have only two choices - GIVE UP or GET UP. You can either roll up into a ball and give up OR you can keep fighting ahead with the attitude that you will NEVER, EVER GIVE UP! Hey, even that thought is kind of "rah rah", isn't it? I mean that thought is powerful but it doesn't always live up to the hype. I think it is because of the "image" we have in our minds associated with the idea of "never, ever giving up". But, regardless, the choice is your and you are currently following one of the two paths in your life. Which path are YOU following currently?

AND NOW FOR TODAY'S THOUGHTS - "When the going gets tough you probably need to make some CHANGES!"

This goes along with the "image" I mentioned in point 3 of this article that we often have in our minds when we think about the fact that we will NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

I applaud your decision to never give up! I SUPPORT your decision to never give up! It is a decision that we all MUST make IF we really ever plan to move forward and make any progress in any area of our lives.

But, if you find yourself continually in difficult situations and things aren't changing the way that you think that they should then, perhaps, you need to make a CHANGE in the way you are approaching/attacking the situation.

We'll talk more about this in the next part of this series but, for now, just consider the "image" of NEVER GIVING UP that you may have in your head.

Is it an image of just pounding away and hitting "the problem" full on - head on - repeatedly until it caves in to your might?

How's that working out for you? (And I say that with a little smile on my face, by the way.)

Maybe it's time we made a change in our approach.

Think about it and, until next time...

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

Mike

Old Man Worry - How Worry Impacts YOUR Life

Worry. We all do it. Question is - what does it accomplish?

Answer: NOTHING!

As we complete looking at the "Six Ghosts of Fear" as described by Napoleon Hill in his classic book, "Think & Grow Rich" he sums up the idea that "worry is a state of mind based upon fear".

Think about that and notice how true it really is - if we don't fear, we don't worry!

Worry can literally drive you crazy! How many of us have spent sleepless nights because we were worried about something? Ah, from the show of hands I see that it is pretty much all of us.

Is worry something that is out of our control? Is worry just a part of life that we must accept?

Yes and no. (Huh?)

I do believe that worry is somewhat of a natural occurrence in our lives - but I also believe that it is NOT something that we must just accept and it IS something that we CAN (and must) control.

Worry is an emotion that is born in our minds. That being so, remember that you CAN control your mind and your thoughts. Yes, it takes effort - but it CAN (and again, must) be done!

Mr. Hill goes through the list of the "Six Ghosts of Fear" and addresses the idea of worry with each one - pay close attention and learn by putting these thoughts into practice:

- The fear of POVERTY: make a decision to get along with whatever wealth you accumulate without worry!
- The fear of CRITICISM: make a decision to not worry about what others think, do or say!
- The fear of GETTING OLD: make a decision to accept it for the blessing it is which carries with it wisdom, self-control, and understanding not known to youth.
- The fear of GETTING SICK: make a decision to ignore "symptoms"! Do not allow every sniff and cough to cause you to worry - improve your positive mindset and move on.
- The fear of LOSING LOVE: by making a decision to get along without love if necessary.
- The fear of DEATH: make a decision to accept death as an inescapable event...and let that help you understand the importance of LIVING today!

Have you ever considered the impact that WORRY/FEAR in your life has on others? Think about it. It is a well-known fact that animals can sense fear in a human being. Isn't that interesting? Even bees sense fear and attack. If the animal/insect world can pick up on these feelings, do you not think that others around us can pick up on it as well? Don't you also think that it will have an IMPACT on them as well?

You've experienced this yourself, haven't you? Have you ever been around someone that "brought you down"? Sure you have! Their negative feelings, thoughts, words and general attitude had an impact on you - we actually battle this every day, don't we?

So, yes, worry is a hard one to handle - but we CAN handle and control it IF we determine in our minds to do so!

Don't allow WORRY to control your life. Instead, control worry so that you may LIVE YOUR LIFE!

And, as always, remember...

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

Mike

Wonderful Wednesday! - What's YOUR Specialty (part 2)

Good morning friends! (Hey, it's morning as I type this, o.k.?)

Yes, it is another WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY and, as always, it is within YOUR reach and YOUR power and YOUR capabilities to MAKE it so. Yes, you! So, what will you do with it - why not make it WONDERFUL?

In today's podcast I continue my discussion on chapter 5 of Napoleon Hill's classic, "Think & Grow Rich" - "Specialized Knowledge". I really focus in on one major point with this podcast when I share Mr. Hill's passage about this being a "Changed World". Remember, this was written right after the end of the Great Depression! He talked about the "changed world" that came about as a result of what our country had just endured.

IT'S THE SAME TODAY!

We live in a "changed world" - do we not? It is no longer "business as usual" and things have changed. How well do you handle change?

Some people are afraid of change - ANY change! Some people cringe at the very word (I know people like this). Yet, if you listen, you will hear many talking very excitedly about this change and the OPPORTUNITY that is available to those that will gladly embrace and act upon this change.

What about you?

Change is a part of life, is it not? We cannot run and hide from change. We cannot change the fact that change IS a fact of life. (Hey, that was pretty nifty, huh?)

So, we can either run and try to hid (it won't work, friend) OR we can accept it, study it and take advantage of the OPPORTUNITY that is available only during times of great change.

Break that down even further for yourself this morning. Let's forget about the "world climate" for a moment. Let's focus on your world. Are you going through changes? Job stress? Job loss? Relationship problems? Financial worry? Listen - whatever it is - YOU CAN AND WILL MAKE IT THROUGH! You MUST come to believe that and know that deep down inside. (This actually goes back to the chapter discussion on "autosuggestion").

Although you would rather not go through this change, it may be inevitable. And, that being the case - it is up to YOU to determine what you will do with it and how you will approach it. Yes, you. No one else. Sure, people like me can help by giving you some positive encouragement but it is even up to you as to what you allow this positive encouragement to do in your life. You can toss it aside and leave it or you can absorb it and try to apply it. So, yes, you see - it still is up to you.

Remember..."As long as their is breath, there is hope!"

You CAN do it!

And, as always....

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

Mike

Peace of Mind (in a world of chaos)

In today's podcast I share with you 3 specific things you can do that will help you gain PEACE even in a world that is full of chaos.

Can you relate?

I'm sure you can - we all struggle from time to time with people, events or things that tend to rob us of our peace. The result? A life full of turmoil - and that, my friend, is not the life that you, nor I wish for ourselves or our families.

Let's face it - OUR MIND IS A BATTLEFIELD! It's a common struggle for us all everyday - controlling (or patrolling) our minds to keep them as free as possible from the negative pollution that surrounds us.

George Washington said this about peace:

"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy."

Let's change that up just a little bit so that it will apply to what we are discussing today.

"There is nothing so likely to produce PEACE OF MIND as to be well prepared to meet the enemy."

So, the 1st step in gaining peace of mind is to IDENTIFY THE ENEMY! (worry? distrust? doubt?) What is it for you? Identify it so that you can...

2. Meet (and DEFEAT) that enemy! Do battle by filling your mind with right and positive things!

And, finally -

3. Give peace a chance! (Yeah, I know it's a song.) Give your mind a break and see what happens!

Yes, it IS possible - BELIEVE IT AND WORK/FIGHT FOR IT - to gain peace of mind in a chaotic world.

I shared the following item on the podcast and mentioned that I would include it in today's blog so that you can focus on it and absorb it a little better. The author is unknown - but it is really good stuff!

Symptoms of Inner Peace
A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experience
An unmistakable ability to enjoy the moment
A loss of interest in judging other people
A loss of interest in judging self
A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others
An inability to worry (this is a very serious symptom!)
Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation
Frequent acts of smiling
An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than to make them happen
An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

These are the kind of "symptoms" that are GOOD to have, wouldn't you agree!

Together, we can do even this ----

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

Mike