The Joy of GIVING

I remember well the time that my Mom tried to convince me that it was "more blessed to give than to receive". I don't remember my age but, based on where we were living it was sometime from 2nd grade or earlier and, at that stage in my life, I wasn't buying that idea. Not even close!

Now, obviously, as I have gotten older and have had children of my own, I absolutely DO understand and agree with that sentiment. I DO understand and believe that there is JOY in giving!

I'm not trying to brag when I say this (and, likely, many of you are the same way) but, I'd much rather GIVE someone a gift that really puts a smile on their face than RECEIVE a gift. Anytime. 

Here's the thing, friend. You don't have to go out and BUY someone a gift in order to GIVE and to receive JOY by doing so! Don't let the idea of "but I don't have any money" hold you back. Giving is not about money or what you can buy in a store. GIVING, at it's best and purest form, is about you sharing what you have the ability to share because you know it will help someone and/or make that person happy. 

It could be something as simple as time. Spending time with someone and just visiting and sharing the gift of YOU listening and enjoying the relationship that you have with that person. By the way, you don't even have to know the person for this to take place. I can promise you this - there are a LOT of people in your local nursing home that would love for someone - ANYONE - to just spend some time with them to brighten up their day. And, friend, that "someone" can be you. 

It could be a short, handwritten note that simply expresses appreciation or encouragement to someone. 

If you are continuously adding to your "positive mindset" then you have a LOT that can be shared. No, I'm not suggesting that you "preach" these thoughts and ideas to those around you and try to tell them that this is what THEY should be doing. But, rather, simply sharing your positive mindset as a way to uplift and encourage would be a gift worth sharing. 

What is it for you? What opportunity comes your way (maybe on a daily basis) to share and GIVE to those around you?

Think about it. And, try to get in the habit of doing so at other times besides this "special" time of the year. Make it a daily habit and see what happens to and for your life!

I am thankful that I have the opportunity to share this blog and podcast with you. I hope that it is a source of encouragement for you and to you and that it helps you in your daily activities. 

And, finally, never forget that YOU are a gift worth sharing. Think about it and share your talents and abilities with those around you and discover, as well, that there IS joy in giving!

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

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Do More Of...

Now, before I really get into the "meat" of this article, I feel that I need to do a little "disclaimer" on this - right here and right now.

You can't ALWAYS do "what makes you happy", nor should you. I know, I know. It sounds like I'm already talking just the opposite of what the title infers, but I'm not. 

We cannot live a life that is oblivious to those that are around us. We cannot live a life that is totally focused on SELF, though it seems that many in our world have and are attempting to do just that. 

One area that I really focus on with this is if you have children at home. I cringe when I hear someone say - while still having children at home (specifically younger children) - "It's MY time now! It's time for ME to take care of ME!"

I understand the feeling that may come at times but, friend, as long as you have those children at home  you have the responsibility to teach them, train them and raise them to be good, productive humans themselves.

Oh, I understand that it is not always easy and I know that it can get stressful and frustrating at times. But it IS a responsibility that you must fulfill. 

I hope this makes sense. I hope you understand WHAT I'm saying as well as WHY I'm saying it.

Here's another example: Someone may say that having more money than they know what to do with would make them happy. Cool. However, that same person CANNOT steal that money from everyone around them in order to make them happy.

Get it? Good!

Maybe we have all forgotten how to find the "little" things that can make us happy. Or, maybe we just have allowed ourselves to become so "busy" that we just have lost sight of those things that are around us every day that make us happy.

WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?

Being surrounded by your children? Your grandchildren? A quiet house? Time away? A walk? Reading? Traveling? Time with friends? Going to live events such as concerts or sporting events?

I don't know what it is for you, but remind yourself what it is that makes you happy. And then, if situations allow, DO MORE OF THAT!

Sure, even as a parent, there are ways that you can find and enjoy those quiet times and find some "alone time" in a way that will not neglect your family. You may have to get help from a spouse or a friend. You may simply have to steal those moments away as they come and not let them slip by.  But it CAN be done!

So many times people will say, "I'm just too busy! I can't find time to do those things that make me happy!". When, in reality, we have allowed ourselves to fill our lives up with "busy-work" that is not really necessary. Make sense?

When it gets down to it, we're often not as busy as we like to think, we're just not disciplined enough to prioritize things in our life and even allow some things to just simply go undone. 

When my three boys were at home, I LOVED being a Dad! I absolutely loved it, even when they became teens and there were the normal "issues" that come along with helping them develop. No, it wasn't always easy. Yes, there were times that I felt I was at my wits end. But, still...I loved being a Dad and I really miss those times. If you wish for a quiet house, be careful what you wish for. It WILL come and, often (like me), when it does, you wish it weren't so quiet.  

Now I get to enjoy being "Poppa" (grandpa) and I absolutely LOVE every time I get to spend a day or two with my "babies" when they come to visit. 

So, again, what is it for you? 

Listen to me...you need to find MORE than just one thing! For example, I love when my grandbabies come to visit but I cannot allow THAT to be the ONLY time that I find something happy! Know what I mean? It's up to me to find joy and happiness in things that take place EVERY single day.

Here's the kicker: Maybe instead of trying to FIND something that will make me happy, perhaps I can focus on DOING something that will bring happiness to someone else and - guess what? - in return I will likely find happiness myself. 

That's usually the way it works, friend. 

So, in the midst of "doing more of what makes you happy", perhaps more happiness will come when you do more to bring happiness to others. 

Think about it and, until next time, whatever you do...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

TODAY is AWESOME!

In today's podcast I share a clip that I recorded back on September 17, 2012. An advertisement had come on the radio station that my wife and I were listening to and it indicated that if you ordered the cable package being advertised TODAY that you could then have an "awesome tomorrow". 

Really?

All I have to do is order this particular cable package and I will have an AWESOME tomorrow?

Wow, that's easy, right? 

I close out each of my blog articles and my podcasts with the phrase, "Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)" - Yeah, go ahead and look...it's down there. And, I worded that phrase the way I did ON PURPOSE!

The idea is to be determined that your day will be awesome - and that YOU will be the one in charge of making it that way. It's not dependent on other people or other things - its up to YOU!

Yes, it IS possible to have an AWESOME day even when everything is not just right. Yes, it IS possible to have an AWESOME day even when other people don't treat you just right. It IS possible because YOU have determined for your day to be awesome REGARDLESS of the circumstances. 

Have you ever heard of, or maybe even noticed for yourself, people that seem to "have it all" but, yet, are still miserable? Believe me, even if you haven't noticed these people - THEY ARE OUT THERE! "Stuff" doesn't make one happy nor does it make life awesome. 

Think about it. Have you ever noticed children that are all excited about a new gift that they receive for their birthday or, maybe, for Christmas? And, have you also noticed that, many times, after a short period of time this same gift doesn't get much attention any more?  "NEW THINGS", whether it's a toy, a car, a house, a job, a boyfriend or girlfriend or spouse or even a locations aren't "new" for long. The "shiny" wears of and the "new smell" goes away while the "thrill and excitement" becomes harder and harder to keep up. 

Then what?

Many jump to a new "toy", a new car, house, job, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse and even location only to go through the process all over again...and again...and again.

Several years ago I spent some time with a family down in Mexico. Compared to what we have in America, this family didn't have much. Their hot water heater was a black, plastic barrel that sat on top of the roof to absorb heat from the sun. Their house was very small and have very few modern appliances. Yet, I noticed that they (and many other families that I met) were some of the happiest people that I had ever met. 

I don't know all of the reasons as to why they were so happy but, I do know this: THEY DIDN'T BASE THEIR HAPPINESS ON "STUFF"! Their days were awesome because they made a decision to live a life "full of awesome" and it was obvious to those of us from the States. 

And it caused me to take a look at my own life and how, many times, we base our happiness or our feeling of awesome on what we do or don't have. 

So, do you want YOUR day (and life) to be AWESOME? Then decide, right now, that you will MAKE it that way. Make a choice and choose "awesome". 

Easier said than done? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean that it should be ignored and not applied.

As always, if you haven't done so yet, you need to listen to the podcast on today's topic. Just click one of the links at the bottom of this article to do so. There is SO MUCH MORE information and additional thoughts that I share with you there that is not found in this article. 

If you listen by going to iTunes, please take a moment and leave a review - I thank you in advance! Also, be sure to stop by the FYU fan page on Facebook and let me know that you left that review AND to just say "hello" and let me know that you are benefiting from Future You University. 

As always, THANKS for joining me today and, please, share this with as many as possible and always be sure to keep moving forward, closer to your dream!

And, until next time, whatever you do,  be sure to...

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

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast son iTune   Podcast RSS feed

Beware the POISON of Being UNGRATEFUL

(NOTE: This topic marks podcast #800 for Future You University!)

 

As I type up this article (I just got done recording the podcast - be sure to check it out as well by clicking on one of the links below the article) it is December 1, 2016. The first day of the last month of this year!

 

Wow! That's hard to believe! I know that I always heard that, when you got older, time went by quicker and, though I know it really doesn't, I can say that I am experiencing this for sure. TIME seems to just "fly by" at this point in my life.

 

Just last week in the United States, we celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday, which is a day set aside for us to "give thanks" for all of our blessings. I think that is GREAT! I love that we have a national holiday set aside for this.

 

HOWEVER, I'm afraid that, sometimes, we seem to forget that being thankful is something that should take place each and every day of our lives. Giving thanks (Thanksgiving) should not be just a "day" but, rather, a lifestyle.

 

Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way: "Because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

 

Don't miss that point! EVERYTHING (all things) have contributed to bring us to where we are today - to make us who we are at this point in our life. EVERYTHING!

 

Now, listen, I understand that when you look at where you are or what your circumstances may be at this point that you may not feel too grateful or happy about your journey so far. But friend, DO NOT MISS THIS POINT! Regardless of whether things are the way you WISH they were or not - you are ALIVE - BREATHING - which means that there is HOPE for a brighter future! ("As long as there is breath, there is hope!).

 

Being thankful for what you have NOW doesn't mean that you don't plan, work and strive for something BETTER for your future! (Too many people get confused on this and MISS the point!). You CAN be thankful for all that you have today - yes, even that job that you may not even like. You can be THANKFUL for all that has brought you to this point and STILL plan and work for a brighter tomorrow. These two things are NOT exclusive of each other.

Notice what is said in this graphic:

Your gratitude TODAY impacts your mindset and attitude TODAY. It also impacts the mindset and attitude of those around you. Focus on this (being thankful) and see what begins to happen during your daily activities. Trust me, things we be different in every area of your life. Test me on this and see if I'm not right. (I'll tell you in advance, I am!).

Finally, TODAY is here NOW! Take advantage of your opportunities TODAY! Take advantage of your LIFE TODAY! Take advantage of every precious minute and moment of what is before you TODAY! Once gone, it is gone forever to never be reclaimed or relived. So, yes, friend - TODAY MATTERS! (Be sure to listen to the podcast and hear the story of a friend of mine that passed away two days before Thanksgiving last week).

I am thankful for YOU taking the time to read this blog article and also for listening to the podcast. I do appreciate you being a part of Future You University.

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

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes  Podcast RSS feed   

EXPERIENCE More

Have you read the previous two articles and/or listened to the previous two podcasts for this weeks' series? IF NOT, TAKE THE TIME TO DO IT NOW (and go ahead and listen to the podcast for today while there) so that you can get the full impact of today's article.

 

In this series I have challenged and encouraged you to HEAR more (by talking less) and to SEE more of the world that is around you each day. Today I will discuss briefly what the result of doing these things will be.

 

You will begin to EXPERIENCE LIFE more!

 

Don't we all really want that for our lives?

 

Listen, as we get older it does seem as if time goes by faster and faster! We cannot do ANYTHING to actually slow time down, but we CAN do something about how we EXPERIENCE each day of our life.

 

By HEARING more and speaking less and by SEEING more, we will discover and enjoy a world that we may never even knew existed before. We may find that the world is a much happier and promising place when we begin to hear and see the lives of those that are around us as each day goes by.

 

Do you want to do more than just "go through" life?  Do you wan to truly EXPERIENCE life?

 

Then friend, make the effort to follow the challenges that I have put before you in this series and see what happens. I think you'll be glad that you did.

 

I am excited for you as you discover a whole new world that is around you by doing these simple things.

 

Until next time, be sure to...

 

"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 Podcast RSS feed

SEE More

 

In my last article about the late Stuart Scott, I mentioned (once again) the need to "get your head out of your phone" and pay more attention to what is going on around you in your world.

 

This is something that I could literally talk about every day and it would be needed. After listening to the podcast that went along with that last article I mentioned, my wife mentioned how people don't even make eye contact when she is at the store. For the most part, we have become a society of individuals...we all live in our own little worlds and cocoons and we don't really want to reach out to or be touched by those that are around us every day.

 

What a sad way to go through life.

 

I chose the words "go through" on purpose because you cannot say that this is a way to "live" life, can you?

 

Going along with the idea from the last article on "HEAR More", I want to encourage (and challenge) you to SEE more as you go through each day.

 

As I've said before, life is passing us by each and every day. We can either be a part of it and get as much out of each day as is possible or we can continue to keep our heads in the sand and miss out on so many wonderful things that take place around us...right under our noses.

 

Be sure to listen to the very short podcast on today's topic (only around 2.5 minutes long) by clicking on one of the podcast links below and take on the challenge of "opening your eyes" and SEEING more as you go through your day.

 

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

 

"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      Podcast RSS feed

 

The Key to Happiness (Part 3)

"Money can't buy you happiness" to which many reply, "I'd sure like to find out for myself!"

First and foremost, before we go any further, MONEY is the same as our last discussion about PEOPLE...in and of itself, money cannot "make" us happy or sad. Once again, our happiness comes from within as a part of our outlook on life and who we are.

We can, once again, look to the many lottery winners that have ended up in worse financial shape than they were BEFORE they won that huge amount of money. It's almost as if they were "cursed" instead of "blessed" when they won. The reality is that they allowed the money to control them instead of them controlling the money.

Have you not seen "famous" (that's a relative term) people who are wealthy, talk about how their wealth has brought about many problems to their life? Have you not ever heard someone in this position talk about being bored because, once they have "attained it all", they felt that there was really nothing left?

Now, before I go on, let me just say that many that feel that way are very self-centered. Sad, but true. To have been blessed with the ability to achieve that kind of wealth and to be bored and feel that there is nothing left for them is, in my opinion, selfish.

What a GREAT opportunity to change the lives of many that cannot do for themselves. In other countries around the world, yes, but also in their own country! What a great opportunity for them to "step outside of themselves" and give fully of themselves for the good of others.

From what I have gathered over the years, that kind of life is no longer boring because it is now about OTHERS.

Hey, even King Solomon, considered to be one of the wealthiest people in history, discussed his thoughts that, in the overall scheme of life, everything is "vanity" or pointless (read Ecclesiastes, chapter 1 in the Old Testament for more on that). Money or wealth is not THE answer.

So, can money or wealth be the key to happiness, even in some small way?

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I mentioned the other day about this graphic that I had posted on the fan page on FB. Notice what it says: "The goal is not to get rich. The goal is to LIVE RICH." And, then, below that, I added the question: "What does 'living rich' mean to you?"
 

 

 "Riches" and/or "wealth" do not have to have anything to do with money. Some of the  wealthiest people on this earth do not have a very large bank account and, at the same time, some of the "poorest" people on this earth have some of the largest bank accounts.

 

Make sense?

 

So, looking at this last graphic, it IS possible to LIVE RICH and not have a lot of money just as it is to be "relationship-poor" with all the money in the world.

 

And, NO, one does not have to exist over the other. It just takes a person that can make sure that THEY have control over the money and not the other way around. When MONEY begins to control people, problems follow soon after.

 

There is NOTHING wrong with having lots of money. Much good can be done with that money. The problem comes if and when a person allows their money to control them instead of the other way around. And, at the same time, there is NOTHING wrong with not having much money at all. Some of the "wealthiest" people on earth are those who have invested in relationships and reap the harvest of having many "real" friends.

 

By the way, the Bible does NOT say that MONEY is the root of all evil. The Bible declares that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. There's a big difference there between the two concepts, friend.

 

Bottom line: You control your money or your money controls you.

 

So, in closing, it's not if you have a lot of money or not much at all. YOU are the one responsible for your ability to bless the lives of those around you and, in turn, bring about happiness (joy, contentment, pleasure) in your life.

 

Think about it and, as you do so, always be sure to...

 

"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 

Podcast RSS feed    See Small Investment EXPLODE!

 

 

The Key to Happiness (Part 2)

Have you taken the time to jot down your ideas on what we talked about in the last article? If not (and if you didn't read the last article) go back and spend a little time answering those questions. Doing so will help make this series personal and it will also allow you to apply these things to your own situation a lot more specifically.

ARE YOU HAPPY?

Again, if you've not done so, go back and read the last article for the introductory thoughts to what we will be talking about in this article.

DO NOT PLACE YOUR HAPPINESS IN THE HANDS OR LIVES OF OTHERS!

This is the main point for this article - PEOPLE can not make you happy. Let that soak in!

You may have found yourself saying (and you will hear others say it as well), "You make me so happy!" or "(Name of person) makes me SO happy!" And, on the other side, you may also say or hear, "You make me so mad!" or "(Name of person) makes me SO mad!"

I remember seeing a young man comment on a social media page, "I wish I could find the right girl to make me happy." I replied to this young man, "If that is what you are waiting for, you will be waiting a LONG time."

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Let me clarify a little. I know that many of you don't quite understand what I'm saying here because you may be thinking, "But my spouse/kids/grandchildren/friends DO make me happy!"

 

People can bring "feelings" of happiness to your life and people can add to the component of your life that brings about happiness but NO ONE PERSON can "make" you happy or unhappy.

 

Read that again - maybe slowly and maybe more than once - and let it sink in.

 

Let's notice a few things about this idea:

     1. If a person can "make" you happy, if they leave your life either by death or by choice, are you doomed to a life of unhappiness?

     2. Is it not unfair to put this much "responsibility" for OUR happiness on others?

     3. Your happiness - created by YOU - might very well bring joy into the lives of those around you which, in turn, may create even more feelings of joy and happiness into your OWN life!

 

Now for a quick "break down" of those three points, o.k.?

 

1. Yes, I do understand that others can bring about feelings of joy and even peace into your life. Yes, this DOES add to the overall component in your life that can add to your joy, pleasure and contentment (see definition for happiness in the last article). But you can NOT rely on those people to be responsible for your own happiness.

 

Have you ever been disappointed by any of these people? Have they ever frustrated you? Discouraged you? Brought about feelings of anger in you? The answer to all of those questions is very likely to be "YES!".  So, yes, they can have an impact upon our "feelings", but they cannot - and we should not expect them to - "make us" happy or unhappy.

 

And, yes, I DO understand that the loss (either by death or other means) of having someone in your life can be heart-breaking. I understand that this kind of loss can bring about much pain and despair. Again, they made up part of the overall component of your life that brought about joy, pleasure and contentment in your life. They were a PART of your happiness.

 

But also understand that you are NOT now confined to a life of misery and unhappiness. It may be difficult, but you can and will find other areas of your life that can help fill that void in your life that will bring joy, pleasure and contentment into your life.

 

2. It IS unfair to put the responsibility of your happiness on others. Many couples fight over this and even divorce over this very thing. "But you're supposed to make me happy!" whines one to the other.  Perhaps this disillusionment came from one promising the other, "I will ALWAYS make you happy!".

 

That's a nice thought but it's an impossible promise to keep. Easy to make, impossible to keep.

 

So, on either side, it is unfair to expect someone else to be responsible for your happiness and, friend, it is unfair and unrealistic for you to think that you are responsible for the happiness of another.

 

3. WE are responsible for our own happiness. Those that have joy, pleasure and contentment as a part of their life very likely will draw others to them. Yes, others can "feed off" of that contentment and joy and, in turn, increase their own levels of those feelings and emotions.

 

Happiness must come from within. True contentment can only come from YOU and what YOU hold in your heart. Make sense? True contentment understands that others WILL disappoint us and, yes, even frustrate us but that contentment will never allow that to DESTROY us.

 

Now, don't take this the wrong way, especially if you have lost a loved one in death. I'm not trying to be "cold-hearted" about this but, it still applies, even in that situation. Here it is: True contentment and happiness comes with the understanding that your worth and value is not dependent upon another person.

 

YOU are special and YOU hold the key to understanding your true value.

 

I know that it is painful at times but, friend, it is still true.

 

So, as you go about writing down your answers to the question, "What makes me happy?", don't write down the names of others. Maybe there are things ABOUT those people that bring about the feeling of joy and happiness but that person, alone, is not responsible for your happiness.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this article and, as always, I also want to encourage you to listen to the podcast (see the links below) and to also share both with as many people as possible. You just never know when what is read or said is exactly what someone needs on a particular day.

 

Until next time, be sure to...

 

"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 

Podcast RSS feed    See Small Investment EXPLODE!

 



 

The Key to Happiness Is...

The following is from the opening  of the United States Declaration of Independence:

 

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

 

Although this is from a document for the United States, the following statement applies to EVERYONE, regardless of where they live: "Happiness is NOT a guarantee, nor is it a right of life!"

 

One can PURSUE happiness (and, in the U.S.A., that pursuit IS a right) but that does not mean that one is guaranteed to find and possess happiness.

 

This "pursuit of happiness" is something that seems to occupy a lot of time in people's lives as well as occupying a lot of space in written material.

 

Dictionary.com defines "happiness" as:

     1. the quality or state of being happy;  2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.

 

This definition would cause us to have to look at the definition give for the word, "happy:

     1. delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing: to be happy to see a person.

     2. characterized by or indicative of pleasure, contentment, or joy: a happy mood; a happy frame of

         mind.

So, when considering your "pursuit of happiness", WHAT IS IT that you seek?  Is it "good fortune"? Pleasure? Contentment? Joy?

What does "happiness" mean to/for you?

There are many answers to that question but, for the most part, there is but ONE answer for YOU! Now, there may be more than one "answer" that comes to mind when you consider what this means for you but, I'm convinced, that even these other "answers" will still revolve around one central thought for you.

Why do I bring that part up? Simple. What others define as "happiness" may not be YOUR definition and it may not be what would make YOU happy.

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You see, too often, we find ourselves trying to "live up to" other people's ideas of happiness. Make sense? We observe others and we usually make an assumption about what it is that seems to make them happy.

 

Sometimes, those that we observe may not be as happy as we think they are! Or, if they ARE, indeed, happy, we may be completely wrong in our assumption of what it is that makes them happy.

 

HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO AS WE START THIS SERIES:

 

* I want to ask that you take the time to consider what all of this means for your life. Get out a piece of paper and jot down your thoughts so that you can come back to them later on.

 

* Specifically, would you consider yourself "happy"? Maybe even use a scale of 1 (miserable) - 10 (you couldn't be any happier!) and place yourself along that scale. I do understand that this may even change from day to the next but, overall, where would you place yourself on that scale?

 

* What do you think would make you even happier than you are now? Write it down.

 

* Do you think that most others that you know (in your circle of friends) are happier than you are?

 

* If so, what is it that you think makes them happy?

 

* Go to the FYU Fanpage on Facebook and share your thoughts and comments as we go through this series - but go ahead and start now!

 

Thanks and I look forward to sharing out thoughts together as we continue with this series on "Happiness".

 

Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

 

"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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The Other Side of Fear

I hope that, through this discussion over the past few articles and podcasts, you've come to realize how important it is to face, fight and move past fear so that you can move forward with your life.

 

Fear robs us of joy, peace and promise.

 

JOY:

By being paralyzed by fear, we often worry about things that never even happen. We've discussed that fact in the past few articles but it still can be a problem  When we fail to reach out and experience love and new experiences we miss out on many things that can bring joy to our lives.

Stop allowing fear to rob your life of joy!

 

PEACE:

Fear and worry cannot co-exist with peace. Guess what is on the "other side" of fear and worry? PEACE! When you stop fearing the worst, you begin to expect the best. When you stop wasting time with worry you begin to enjoy your time, filled with peace.

Stop allowing fear to rob your life of peace!

 

PROMISE:

Facing, fighting and removing fear from your life will allow you to step out into the hope of PROMISE. The promise of something better. The promise of life free from worry and full of joy and peace. The promise of enriched relationships in all areas of your life.

Remember, fear is a liar and there is no joy, peace hope or promise in a lie. Stop living (if you can call it that) a life full of fear and begin to LIVE LIFE as it was meant to be.

Stop allowing fear to rob your life of promise!

 

Here's the kicker: some of you - even as you read the last three paragraphs - are still doubting this to be true for you. You are still fearful with thoughts of, "That all sounds good, Mike, but what if this is not true for me?" That is FEAR speaking to you and through you, friend.

 

STOP LISTENING TO FEAR, STOP "LIVING" FEAR once and for all!

 

Just imagine what you will find on "the other side" of fear.

 

Take that step and find out, friend. You'll be glad that you did and those around you will be glad as well.

 

Thank you for spending this time with me. I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this series, especially with you putting your comments on the fan page on Facebook (click here or the link below).

 

Until next time, whatever you do, as you face, fight and conquer fear, be sure to...

"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 

Podcast RSS feed    * Get Paid to Advertise! * 

 

 

 

Move Up to the Front Row!

 

I don't know about you but I cannot look at this picture and not smile!

 

I also don't know if I've ever seen a more clear illustration than what is shown here. I LOVE THIS PICTURE and the graphic attached to it. Don't you?

 

Look at the progression that takes place from the first row to the third row. There's even a change from the first to the second row though not as dramatic as is shown in the third row.

 

LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED!

 

I love roller coasters and I love to ride on the front row! Now, understand this - I am afraid of heights and the slow trip up to the top terrifies me along with the pause at the very top before the "release" which sends the roller coaster plummet straight down.

 

But I LOVE the thrill that comes once that release takes place. At that point my fear of heights is gone and the thrill of the ride has taken over! (Be sure to LISTEN to the podcast so that you can hear the happiness in my voice as I talk about this).

 

Now, once in a while I have agreed to ride in the middle of the line of roller coaster cars because someone that was too afraid to ride in the front wanted to ride the roller coaster with me. BORING! I could have almost had a tray of food and drink set up in that car and not spilled anything.

 

It was safe and a person could walk away bragging that they rode that roller coaster!

 

Well, technically, they did but they did not experience all that the roller coaster had to offer. The experience that they had when they "rode" the roller coaster was NOTHING compared to what those on the FRONT ROW of the roller coaster experienced.

 

Apply that to life, friend. You may say that you are "living" life but are you experiencing all that life has to offer?

 

You see this even connects to what we've discussed in the previous two articles.

 

Are you - WILL YOU - allow yourself to truly live life and experience all the wonders that are offered by life when you do so?

 

It's up to you but, friend, look at that picture one more time and ask yourself, "Do I want to live and laugh like the ladies in the front row or do I want to sit and chat like the ladies in the third row?"

 

C'mon....let's get on the FRONT ROW and for the the ride of a lifetime!

 

And, as you enjoy that ride, always be sure to...

 

"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     Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

Happy?

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." - Abraham Lincoln

 

 

So, are YOU happy?

Look at what "Honest Abe" has to say about that topic. In other words, it's a CHOICE!

You want to be happy? Then get DETERMINED to be happy and get STUBBORN about being that way! Sounds odd, right?

Have you ever seen anyone that, from what you could see, seemed like that had every reason in the world to be on top of the world and yet acted as if they were miserable?

Yeah, me too.

I give an example on the podcast (click the link below) of a group of people that I had the privilege to spend time with a few years back that, from what you might think from what you could see, seemed as if they had every reason in the world to be down in the dumps and miserable. But, guess what?

THEY WERE SOME OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER MET!

It's your choice. YOUR choice. Your CHOICE.

So, as Bobby McFerrin sang at one time, "Why worry? Be happy!" :)

Get stubborn about it and enjoy!

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

"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     Podcast RSS feed

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Money & Happiness

Yes, I am continuing my thoughts on Bob Proctor's "The Science of Getting Rich" and, as before, I suggest you go back and read all of last week's blogs along with the one before this to catch up and get the "full picture" of this discussion.

These discussion points came after I watched a video of Mr. Proctor talking about this book. (Again, you can likely easily find a free e-book of it on line). In order to make this a little easier for you to follow, I'm going to highlight the points taken from Mr. Proctor in color and the rest are my own thoughts. Get it? Got it? GOOD!

Money was never intended to make us happy!
Since it doesn't matter whether we have $$ or not to be happy - WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE IT AND PLENTY OF IT!

Once again - just to clarify - the Bible DOES NOT say that money is the root of all evil. It actually says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. O.k., that's out of the way (again).

Too many people think, "Oh, if I only had more money, I'd be happy!" FALSE! If you are not happy now or if you have not LEARNED to be happy now then having more money won't change that. Oh, it likely WILL improve things for a while but, likely, you will end up right where you were before...broke and unhappy!

For the most part, money DOES NOT change a person - it AMPLIFIES who that person really is!

So, if money can't make us happy and wasn't INTENDED to make us happy, then what WILL it or CAN it do for us?

Money is meant to make us COMFORTABLE!     
   The more comfortable we are the more CREATIVE we become!  
   The more CREATIVE we are, the more SERVICE we can render!  
   The more SERVICE we render the more MONEY we will earn!

Comfortable! As worry-free as possible. At peace. Wow, THAT'S what we're talking about! Most people, when asked what is their greatest wish, financially, will say something along the lines of "not having to worry about bills!".

Having your bills taken care of as well as having your retirement taken care of. That's pretty cool, is it not? THEN to be able to reach out and help people and organizations that you've always had a desire to help in a bigger way than you had been able to do before. WOW!

Do you know/understand WHY we can become more "creative" when we become comfortable? It's really pretty simple. Have you ever been worried about your finances (or the lack thereof) to the point that you couldn't sleep or couldn't think of anything else and maybe even felt like you could hardly even breathe?

When you become paralyzed by fear like that, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE for you to be creative. All of your thoughts and all of your focus is on SURVIVAL!

When you relax - when you are able to relax and be comfortable - then your mind can also relax and do what it does best...THINK. And when your mind is allowed to think FREE OF WORRY you may find that you are, indeed, a very creative person. Hey, bottom line, you are beginning to live your life with a whole new mindset! Instead of focusing on the "oh, I can't do that because I can't afford it" you begin to see unlimited possibilities because you are no longer focusing on the price tag!

Follow the path of thought above...we become CREATIVE and then, the more creative we become, the more SERVICE we can render! Do I really need to explain this to you? I don't think that I do BUT, just in case, let me just say that, again, you begin to experience what is possible with a "worry free mindset".

And, then, guess what? (Well, I guess you don't have to guess since it's spelled out for you above!).

The more service you render the more money you earn! Can you begin to see how/why some people just seem to have money coming to them without much effort?  Go back and read the quote from Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich" where he describes this very thing. (It's in one of the earlier blog posts in this series).

It explains how, what I've heard from many others over the years, can be true when they say, "Making money is easy!"

Let me ask you this: how much do you need? How much do you REALLY need? Can you imagine having the ability to GIVE AWAY thousands and thousands of dollars because you already have way more than you really need?  DOES THAT THOUGHT EXCITE YOU AT ALL? It sure does me!

Money makes a BIG DIFFERENCE in all the important areas of our life!

There's really no need for me to comment on that last sentence. YOU figure out what it means for YOU and YOUR LIFE!

So, you see, it doesn't have to be money OR happiness. It can, indeed, be money AND happiness!

Thanks for joining me - I'd love to get your feedback below or at our Facebook fan page! Allow your mind to open up and absorb these thoughts and then take action on the possibilities for your life!

Until next time, be sure to...

"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     Podcast RSS feed