Learning To Live OR Waiting to Die?

Read the graphic and then read (or re-read) the title and ask yourself about BOTH of them, "Is that such an odd question?"

 

The fact is, friend, that it is NOT an odd question at all because many people are just "existing" and not truly living and loving life.

 

I don't know about you but I think that is just sad. And unnecessary.

 

Too many people have given up on their dreams long ago and have just "accepted" a life that is far less than what they had envisioned.

 

Did you know that TRAVEL is one of the most remembered and most enjoyed activities that individuals and families participate in? Special trips and vacations create LIFE-LONG memories that can bring smiles on faces for years and years into the future.

 

Yet, most people never travel or they have to save for years in order to do so. Oh, they may "travel" but it's usually to visit a relative somewhere. Know what I mean?

 

Let me ask you a question: In today's blog, would you rather me talk about DEATH or LIVING LIFE? Would you rather talk about FUNERALS or FUN?

 

Now those ARE odd questions!

 

A couple of years ago I was working in the life insurance industry. Don't anyone get all worked up with what I'm going to talk about because - right up front let me say that life insurance is INDEED a needed and valuable product that should be taken advantage of by ANYONE and EVERYONE that can do so! Get it? Got it? GOOD!

 

However, I struggled with it and didn't do very well. It just wasn't me, know what I mean? Information will tell you that, even though are many successful agents that sell life insurance, most people (even though they realize and understand that they DO need it) don't want to talk about it. Think about it, they will talking about DEATH and, more specifically, their OWN death and what will happen after they are gone. Necessary? ABSOLUTELY! But not much fun to talk about.

 

So, I will leave that to others to do that part of life - or the end of it!

 

Me? I'd rather talk about "living life" and "fun"!

 

My wife, Janan, and I have recently started a travel business selling travel packages that offer incredible deals. We are determined to help get people traveling and making those life-long memories NOW while they still can. We are determined to help get people out of the house and LIVING LIFE before they can no longer do so.

 

So let me direct you to the information for YOU to consider taking advantage of this. I thank you in advance for taking a look and sharing the information with others.

 

GO HERE to access our travel Facebook page. We have a special promotion going on for all those who "LIKE" this page between now and midnight CST on Thursday, July 31, 2014. For every 100 "likes" we will be giving away one trip. That's right, 1 trip for every 100 likes! NOTICE: You must ALSO leave a comment in order to be entered into the drawing. (You can also find a couple of videos that show just how big the savings can be!).

 

GO HERE to read up on our current special promotions. Besides the promotion that I just mentioned in the above paragraph, we also have a SPECIAL PROMOTION going on for anyone that becomes a customer between now and 9:00 p.m. CST on Thursday, July 31, 2014. Check out the even BIGGER BONUS for those that are in my FIRST FIVE customers during that time period! **You can also find out about our special "referral" promotions for those who purchase a package as well as those that don't purchase a package.

 

GO HERE to check out all of our products, read some testimonials as well as see how many businesses use these trips as incentives for their employees and also as appreciation for their customers.

 

Bottom line is this: IF you feel that you are not really "living life" then ask yourself what is it going to take to change that? Get real and get serious with yourself on this and remember, "As long as there is breath, there's hope!". Every day that you are alive is a day to be LIVED. Every day that you are alive is a day to LOVE and to BE LOVED.

 

Don't forget that and, contact me if you'd like to talk about it...I'll do what I can to help!

 

And, as always, as you go about each and every day "LIVING LIFE", be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

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Let it Go (Part 2)

Did you ever wear weights while training for some sport?

 

The idea behind this is for you to train while wearing weights around your ankles so that you get used to doing your task (mine was basketball) at full speed while having that extra weight strapped to your body. THEN, once game time came around and you took the weights off, you should be able to actually run faster and jump higher because you are doing so without the added weight.

 

The Bible, in talking about the life-long fight against sin, also uses this example in part in Hebrews 12:1 - "... let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us..."

 

You can also see this same concept with an airplane that needs the ability to lift or to stretch their fuel usage by ridding the plane of nonessential weight! You really see this dramatically played out in movies when they begin to throw out the non-essentials.

 

I've seen it played out in different movies with boats and even covered wagons in the old west when needing to spare their  horses from such a heavy load.

 

HERE'S THE POINT: When you rid your......automobile, airplane, boat, covered wagon or even YOURSELF.....of excess weight you can go faster, fly higher, have your fuel or even your horse last longer!

 

And, friend, so it is with those things that we just need to LET GO in our lives! (If you haven't done so, go back and read the last blog article as well as listen to the last podcast for the first part of this discussion).

 

Yes, it is difficult to let go and walk away from those things to which we have grown accustomed - especially when those things are PEOPLE.

 

However, what you will likely find over time is that you actually are beginning to live life again or, perhaps, for the very first time. You may even find yourself thinking and saying things like, "I never knew that life could be this good!"

 

Just as the Bible verse above expresses, life IS a race, but friend, it is NOT a sprint...it is a marathon. Any excess weight that you carry begins to burden you down the longer you participate in this race called life.

 

You hear me say daily (if you listen to the podcast) that "as long as there is breath, there is hope" and it applies in such a strong way with this topic.

 

Many, weighed down by those things that need to be left behind, have become so burdened down that they have lost sight and lost hope of what life really has to offer.

 

DO NOT GIVE UP and do NOT allow yourself to continue carrying those things which MUST be left behind.

 

So, let me put it this way: DON'T GIVE UP but, instead, GIVE IT (what needs to be left behind) UP so that YOU can GET UP and move on in your life and begin to LIVE LIFE!

 

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

 

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

 

Mike

 

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A View of Hope

"As long as there's breath, there's hope" - Mike Spillman

 

Yeah, that's one of mine and it does actually fit into what we are going to talk about today.

 

Re-read the words in the graphic above and think about it.

     1. Have you made mistakes?  (Yes)

     2. Have you ever failed at anything? (see #1)

     3. Have you ever done anything right? (Yes)

YOU ARE HUMAN!

 

Whether you tried and failed or failed because you didn't even try doesn't really matter. What matters is the fact that, since you are a human and you are alive, there is HOPE for a turn around and HOPE for a celebration of success!

 

Mistakes and failure are a part of life! There is no way around that fact. But, as has been mentioned several times in the last few blog articles and podcasts, what you DO following your failures is what matters most.

 

I FAIL!

 

I STRUGGLE!

 

I don't always do what I set out to do and I don't always do "it" successfully. That's a fact.

 

BUT...I still know that the very fact that I'm alive and breathing points to the fact that I still have the chance to change things and make them better. I still have the chance to LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES AND FAILURE and make positive progress from here on out.

 

Will I still make mistakes and fail at times? YES. Again, just a fact of being alive.

 

BUT...hopefully I will continue to improve on what I learn from each of these negative episodes and I will begin to experience them less and less.

 

As we talked about in the last article, let each one of those failures become a stepping stone on your way to success.

 

HOPE.

 

We all need it, we all must have it in order to continue on. Take a look, see it, feel it, know it, believe it, bask in it and be grateful for it.

 

Beautiful, isn't it?

 

It's there for you each and every day that you are alive.

 

Take that fact and use it to your advantage and, as you do so, be sure to...

 

 

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

 

Mike

 

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Choice Two: DESTROY

As always, if you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the past two articles that lead up to today's discussion. Also, be sure to listen to the podcasts that go along with these topics as well. (iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mike-spillmans-future-you/id423660739 or RSS feed: http://mikespillman.hipcast.com/rss/futureyouuniversity.xml )

de-stroy [dih-stroi] 

      verb (used with object)    1. to reduce (an object) to useless fragments, a useless form, or remains, as by rending, burning, or dissolving; injure beyond repair or renewal; demolish; ruin; annihilate. 2. to put an end to; extinguish.   3. to kill; slay.   4. to render ineffective or useless; nullify; neutralize; invalidate.   5. to defeat completely.  (from www.dictionary.com)

Wow! Take a moment and really look at this definition for the word, "destroy" and then attach it to  the words found in the graphic at the top of this article. I've already discussed, "When Bad Things Happen" and in the last article/podcast I talked about "Choice One: Define" and the need for all of us to understand that, as bad as something may be that takes place in our lives, it DOES NOT have to define us.

"Choice Two: Destroy" - When bad things happen it can define you or DESTROY you. Take a look at that definition again and apply it here. You and/or your LIFE would be that "object" talked about in the first definition. Bad things CAN reduce your life to useless fragments and cause it to be a "useless form".  But, how sad if we allow this to happen! I know that many of you may even feel that your life has been injured "beyond repair or renewal" and that it is nothing but "ruin" (need I go on?) - BUT IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THIS WAY!

Too many people in this world have allowed bad things to put an end to and even "extinguish" what once was a vibrant, productive life. Again, please understand that I am NOT making light of whatever it is you or someone you know may have gone through or may be going through even now. But, the fact is, it is important for me to do all that I can to encourage you and anyone/everyone else that either IS or WILL BE going through these potentially crippling "bad things".

"As long as there is breath, there is HOPE!"

Hey, listen, whether you want to believe this or not, Satan himself wants to do all he can to make your life miserable, insert doubt into your mind/life and absolutely DESTROY you!  In John 10:10, Jesus Himself says this about the devil (the "thief") and what He (Jesus) offers - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

A "bully" wants to kick you while you are down, right? We all know that (at least I assume that we all know that) and I want you to understand that Satan IS a bully and that he wants to kick you while you are down and to keep you down. Why? Well, I could go into a LONG discourse on all of this (but I won't!) but let me just tell you that he does not want you - or anyone else - giving glory to God or even BELIEVING in God for that matter.

Friend, PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP! Do not allow any "bad thing" in your life to defeat you completely (definition #5). You have so much more to offer, you have so much more LIFE to LIVE and you have so much more LOVE to share with others that are just waiting for it even now.

Please feel free to contact me at any time (mike@futureyouuniversity.com) if you would like to or need to discuss this further. Whatever you do - DO NOT GIVE UP!

Tomorrow we will look at the best option available when bad things happen - Choice Three: STRENGTHEN!" - and how you CAN actually come out stronger than before. A little "heads up" before we get there...it ain't going to be easy!

Stay strong, my friend and, whatever you do - where you go - be sure to...

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

Mike

 

 

 /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ Show Spelled

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?" - Part 2

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?"

(Part 2)

"TRULY LIVING INVOLVES RISK!"

Don't you just love that picture? That little mouse is about to take a risk! But, if you'll notice, he has PREPARED to take that risk (see his helmet?) and he (or maybe "she") has decided that the REWARD (the cheese) is worth the RISK (possible death!).

As the subtitle says, "TRULY LIVING INVOLVES RISK!".

But, are YOU willing to take the risk? If so, are you PREPARED for the risk? And, have you decided if the RISK is actually worth the REWARD?

Only you can answer these questions, right? But, I can try to give you some things to think about as you DO consider your answers.

First of all, I'm thinking that a life void of all risks would definitely fit into the category of "merely existing". What would you say?

You likely have seen this displayed with how some parents "over-protect" their kids. You've seen it, haven't you? I have watched (very uncomfortably, I might add) as some parents have "blocked the way" of their children even coming CLOSE to any possible "risk" as they tried to play.

But there was no playing to be done! Why? Because once all the risk was removed there was actually nothing to do. Think about that.

If you want to learn to ride a bike then understand this...there is RISK involved! There is the risk that you may fall over and crash. Actually, it's not a risk - it's pretty much a certainty. Some parents will not allow their child to entertain this risk and, by doing so, ROB them of the joy of peddling that bike with the wind blowing in their face.

It has been said that, by doing all that we can to eliminate germs around our kids, we have actually weakened our children's immune systems. They actually NEED some germs so that their body can build up a proper defense to them.

I was friends with a young lady when I was in college that, quite honestly, came from a different background than I did. I'm not a "fancy" person... never have been and I don't see myself ever becoming that way. What do I mean by "fancy"?

Now, before I share with you this example, please DO NOT be offended if you enjoy this type of scenario in your life. All I'm saying is this: it's not my style!

Anyway, she was describing to me her "dream house" and she was even "walking" me through the rooms of the house and describing how they were set up and how they looked in her mind. She told me of one room that have very nice furniture in it which consisted of a couple of nice chairs, a couch, coffee table and a few other things. Now, to me, she had already told me about her "living room" that had couches and chairs in it and I asked her what was the purpose of having another room so similar. If I remember right she called this second room a "sitting room" and I, being a bit sarcastic said, "So, what...you just are going to come in here and sit?" to which she replied, "Oh no! No one will sit on this furniture. It's really more to just look at!"

I wish I could tell you that I was polite and tactful but that would be stretching the truth a bit. Remember, I said I was sarcastic and, true to form, I simply laughed at her and told her that the thought of such a thing was just plain silly!

Now again, please don't be offended if you have a "sitting room" that no one is allowed to sit in but, to me, in my "non-fancy" world it just doesn't make much sense.

Why have furniture if no one is allowed to sit on it and use it?

To me, this is a perfect illustration of living a life without risk - you are merely existing. You are "here" but nothing is happening and you are not "using" your life for it's intended purpose.

Just look at that last sentence again and notice the words, "your life". We use the word, "life" to describe what we have as our existence on this earth yet, too many times, we miss the essence found in that word... LIFE!

Think about it as I share with you one other quote from the movie, "Tuck Everlasting" that I will use in my concluding thoughts on this topic in tomorrows thoughts...

"Don't be afraid of death, but rather be afraid of the unlived life."

Until then...

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

Mike

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?" (Part 1)

"Merely Existing OR Truly Living?"

(Part 1)

If you haven't done so, be sure to check out the video and/or audio version of today's thoughts because I want to do EVERYTHING I can to help you NEVER, EVER forget to LIVE each and every day that you have.

Why?

Because, once gone, the day is gone forever.

So, wouldn't you agree that it's time to start LIVING? Today?

In the movie, "Tuck Everlasting", the dad who has remained the same age for years after drinking from the "fountain of youth" has a discussion with the young lady who stumbled upon the family and their secret.

He talks about how people would flock to this "magic stream" so that they, too, could live forever. But, as he continues on, living forever is not all it's cracked up to be.

He tells the young lady that she will continue to grow and change and experience life as she goes through the different stages of her life and, eventually, she will die having LIVED a full life. This was something that he and his family had missed out on. Nothing ever changed. They never grew older and were limited in the experiences that they could actually participate in due to their immortality.

Here's the point friend: When you are ALIVE and GROWING you are also CHANGING and EXPERIENCING what life has to offer - both good AND bad!

You see, this goes hand in hand with the discussion that we had about "When the Going Gets Tough..." in my last series. Life is made up of good AND rough times, laughter AND tears.

Yes, it would be great (or so we think) to experience nothing but happiness. My guess is that we know not that for which we ask in thinking such a thought.

But, hey, we're human. I know I often wish the tough times would disappear.

But, even in the midst of those tough times, I MUST realize that it is PROOF that I am LIVING, GROWING and CHANGING due to the experiences that come with living a full life.

It's not always easy, is it?

Stop living afraid. Stop living a life of fear or a life that tries so hard to avoid any displeasure that it simply ceases to experience ANYTHING - including life itself.

Stop existing. Start living. Today.

Until next time...

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

Mike

Kickin' Some Rut-Butt!

Kickin' Some Rut-Butt!

"Rut-Butt", you ask?

Yes, "Rut-Butt" - that which needs to be KICKED in order for you to get your butt out of that rut! Catchy, right?

Yesterday I shared two different articles with you that gave some advice on what to do in order to get out of a rut. Both of them are very good and give a lot of wonderful advice! I really love the line (the bottom of page 2) in the article from askmen.com that says, "Stop training for the 100-meter dash and start training to be a long-distance runner if you want to get out of a rut."

Sometimes the fact that someone tells us that it's not going to be easy and/or (like the above quote) that it's not going to be an easy and/or quick fix might cause us to decide to stay where we are - in our "rut room". Hey, it's COMFORTABLE in our little "rut room".

WAKE UP!

Do you REALLY want to stay there? Do you REALLY feel that this is what your life is meant to be? Do you REALLY find peace, happiness and fulfillment there?

If you've got a pulse and the desire to LIVE and not just EXIST then your answer to those questions should be "NO!"

So, bottom line (this blog is going to be short - listen to the podcast) is this: isn't it time for you to get serious about this rut thing and get busy and KICK SOME RUT BUTT!

Only YOU can do it! Only YOU can decide that it's time to quit talking about it and that it's time to start "kickin' some rut butt" and taking names. (You didn't know that ruts have names? Sure they do - we give them all kinds of names - think about that and see if you can figure that one out).

So, begin by understanding and realizing that you are in a rut or have come up against a roadblock, figure out how/why you ended up here and then DO something to change it!

Go ahead. Stop waiting. Stop allowing yourself to be so "comfortable" in your "rut room" and begin the process of taking action TODAY!

Oh, and as you do that...

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

Mike

LIVING Your Best By GIVING Your Best!

LIVING Your Best By GIVING Your Best!

How have you done with the self-examination that has been a part of this short, 2-part discussion? If you're not sure what I'm talking about then be sure to go back and listen to the podcast from yesterday as well as today and also be sure to read the blog entry from yesterday on this topic.

Simply put, many of us get caught up in the negative influences that surround us and we end up giving anything BUT our best in many - if not all - areas of our life!

Now, remember that I have encouraged you to always listen to the podcast AND read the blog, right? Why? Because what I write here is many times similar - yet different - than what I discussed on the podcast. This will likely be the case today as my mind is running in a different direction this morning as I type this!

You see, here's the thing - when you really think about it, the reason many of us DON'T give our best - 100% - is due to the negative influences around us! Really think about it and see if you don't agree. At your job - what's the general attitude with those that you are around during the day? What kind of attitudes are exhibited about a good relationship with those that you spend time with? Do THEY have a good relationship or are they always griping and complaining about theirs?

I want to use the steps we just got through discussing in our recent series on making wise or stupid decisions and see if we can't apply these principles here as well.

First of all, let's consider the foundational principle of "mapping out our future" and determining what we want our lives to look like! This can ALSO apply in this situation!

Instead of griping and complaining and giving a sub-par performance (at work or in your relationships) why not look and consider what you'd LIKE it to look like? Picture it! Imagine it! Visualize it! And then, instead of listening and being influenced by the negative influences around you - LIVE IT! Decide NOW to go for what you WANT your life to be and not what you have SETTLED for your life to become! That's a BIG difference - wouldn't you say?

Step 1: WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO? - Wow, this plays a BIG role in this scenario as well! Just like we talked about in the discussion of making wise decisions the same is true for us in this situation - you WILL become like those that you spend your time with! If you are spending your time with people that whine, complain and put out "half-effort" at best then, guess what? That's what you will do as well!

Now, step back and look at this picture for a moment. Really, try to picture yourself actually stepping back from this environment and picture those people and the atmosphere that is prevalent - DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT? Do YOU want to become like one of THEM?

I hope not! But you WILL if you continue to allow this negative influence in your life!

Now, let's go to the same principle (who are you listening to?) in relation to those we spend time with in connection to our relationships. Is it the same group of people? If so, I can already tell you that all they do is gripe and complain about their spouses and/or their family. Am I right? I can tell you already that I am right about this!

How do I know? NEGATIVE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BE NEGATIVE!

Do you spend time with other people after work before going home? Why and who is it with? What kind of attitude do THEY have about their own relationship? What kind of advice might they give you concerning YOUR relationship?

Do you REALLY want to be taking advice or allowing this person to influence you in YOUR relationship? Again, I hope not!

You MUST shake these people off! I'm serious!

You CAN NOT allow these influences in your life! Yes, I know that if you work with them that you cannot totally separate yourself from them BUT you CAN limit the amount of "chit chat" time that you spend with them.

THIS IS A MUST!

Why should you allow others to determine your mindset and attitude toward your job and your family and/or other relationships?

If you have set out your map and you know where you want to go and you know what you want your life to look like then you MUST take control of your mindset!

Do not allow this negative influence to continue! You may want to try to change the subject and talk positive for a change - see what happens!

Instead of spending that time at the bar with that negative person who knows NOTHING about how to have a positive and healthy relationship - GO HOME and work on giving your best in that relationship!

You can only LIVE your best when you GIVE your best!

How can you feel good about your life otherwise? I don't believe you can! I know I don't feel good about my day if I feel like I have wasted it in any way - do you?

Now, let me once again clarify something that I said on the podcast that I don't want anyone to misunderstand. I suggested - and suggest here as well - that if you want your relationship with your spouse to improve - GIVE MORE! See what happens when you decide to give! ---- Here's the deal. Again, I KNOW that in some relationships one gives and gives and gives while the other does nothing but take. I understand that and I'm not talking about that type of situation - PLEASE HEAR ME ON THAT!

Here is what I mean though - for many of us in our lives and in all areas of our lives (work and home) we have become TAKERS and not GIVERS!

Do you remember one of my 7 Daily Affirmations being, "I am a GIVER not a TAKER!" ?

We have become a society that seems to think that everyone OWES us. And, with that thought in mind, we will sit back and wait to be served and then, MAYBE, we'll do something in return.

We have gotten this way in our jobs and we have gotten this way in our relationships and we MUST turn this around and become GIVERS instead of TAKERS!

LIVE your best by GIVING your best and you WILL BECOME your best!

Isn't that what we all are striving for with our lives?

Think about it. Put it into practice and...

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

Mike

Enjoy Life TODAY!

As we continue with our "Positive Alphabet" we stop off at the letter "e" and will spend a few minutes talking about the need to, "Enjoy Life TODAY!".

If you've listened to me for very long at all, you know that I am a firm believer in this principle -- TODAY IS ALL WE HAVE!

Think about this: "TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY!"

Also, consider this fact - Once that 24 hour period that we refer to as "tomorrow" arrives it then becomes "today".

So, for me, tomorrow really doesn't exist - all we have is TODAY!

And, it is up to each and every one of us to ENJOY and LIVE LIFE TODAY! Don't wait until tomorrow. Don't wait until this happens or that happens. Don't make your plans based on circumstances - you'll wait and waste your whole life away.

It's like a phrase I saw on a DVD the other day...I don't want to get to the end of my life and say, "I wish I had". I would much rather come to the end of my days and be able to gladly say, "I'm so glad I did!"

Don't you? Which would you choose? If you say that you don't want to have any regrets then understand that the way that you make that happen is by living and enjoying your life TODAY!

"Oh, but I have a stinky and terrible job!" (You can fill in whatever excuse that you want on this part).

SO WHAT? What does that have to do with your ability to "make it an AWESOME day"? Seriously! Think about it. Regardless of your job or circumstance, YOU have the ability to enjoy the day - it is up to you! I believe this 100% and have seen it manifested many times.

Last Thursday when I was in Springfield, MO. attending the "Get Motivated" Seminar on the campus of Missouri State University I noticed this principle being put into practice. There were nearly 10,000 people attending this seminar and, the most of them did not want to leave the arena during lunch. So, think about that...this is a smaller arena which means there are fewer food counters available. And, all at once, nearly 10,000 need to buy lunch!

Would YOU like to be behind the counter? Perhaps you would IF you were getting paid commission for every person that bought from you or from every order! That'd be great, wouldn't it? BUT, this is not the case the majority of time. Usually, regardless of the size of the crowd, that person behind the counter is getting paid the same each hour - the hourly wage.

Now, as much as I'd like to think that everyone attending that seminar was nice and polite as they ordered - I'm sure that just wasn't the case. When you get a crowd of people all "bunched up" all wanting the same thing and wanting it NOW....well, you get the picture!

As I stood in line, I just looked around and watched people. Some were smiling and laughing, some looked like they had been weened on a dill pickle and others look like they had been an extra in that "zombie movie". I then turned my attention to the people working behind the counter and I saw pretty much the same thing. In all fairness, I guess I really didn't see any of them frowning, but I could tell some of them were "rattled" by the crowd and that some were already tired and likely wishing that the day was over.

And then I noticed a young man named Chas!

Chas didn't seemed rattled or bothered by the crowd. As a matter of fact, if you had been standing beside me watching this young man you would have thought that Chas was getting $1 per person that he waited on!

He was smiling - not a fake smile, but a genuine, "I'm glad to be serving you" kind of smile - and greeting each person as they came to the counter.

Now, I noticed some of the other workers smiling too. However, what I noticed with some of them was that it was one that they "put on" as each customer came to the counter and "released" until the next person stepped up. I'm not faulting them! They were tired, rushed, pushed and demanded upon.

But there was something different about Chas!

I don't know his background. I don't know his circumstances. I would guess that Chas would not want to do this job for the rest of his life BUT this was the job that he had now and, by all appearances, he had decided to enjoy his life TODAY regardless!

And, for me, it was contagious. I cannot help but think that there were others that noticed this young man and had their spirits lifted by his smile and enthusiasm.

And, yes, I DID tell him what an excellent job he was doing - even though I was in a different line!

So, you see, it doesn't matter - it is all up to you. Really. It is. What will YOU do with your day?

It is up to you. You can either "fuss it away" or you can choose to...

"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

The FEAR of DEATH

Wow, what a lovely topic, huh?

Yet, again, this is something that many of us can relate to as we go through this journey called life. Before I go any further, think about that last sentence and look at the last word found in that sentence - LIFE!

First and foremost - let's stop focusing on death and start LIVING LIFE!

This discussion follows the listing of the "Six Ghosts of Fear" in chapter 15 of Napoleon Hill's classic book, "Think & Grow Rich" in which he discusses "How to Outwit the Six Ghosts of Fear". I state pretty clearly that I totally disagree with Mr. Hill's deductions in the discussion of the fear of death. You may totally agree with him, and that's o.k. too!

Mr. Hill's deduction in this section is that the fear of death arose from religion and the ideas about heaven and/or hell. Now, I know I'm simplifying this a great deal, but I do think this is the main point of his deduction. He goes on to suggest that with the advance of colleges and universities during the time of this writing (this is the 1937 version) that "higher learning" has pretty much done away with this type of thinking, thus pretty much ridding our society of this fear of death.

It is interesting to me that, after all these years, we are still plagued by that very fear. Sure, some of it has to do with misunderstandings of Christianity, for example. I remember as a young child hearing the "fire and brimstone" sermons that had me so afraid I didn't know what to do. However, as I have grown and matured and studied on my own I have no reason to be afraid. As a matter of fact, for me, I have no fear of death BECAUSE OF my beliefs!

I believe that the core root of this fear is the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN. We don't like the unknown. Are you afraid of the dark or do you know someone that is? Why does that fear exist? Again, the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN - we can't see what 's in the dark and that frightens us!

Actually, if you look back over many of the fears that we have looked at in this study you will find that many of them are tied into the FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

Let's take a quick look at this by starting with the FEAR OF POVERTY - we are afraid of what might happen if we slip into poverty (the fear of the unknown).

Even the FEAR OF CRITICISM can be tied in with the fear of the unknown. We may cease from acting a certain way or doing a certain thing or living a certain way because we fear what someone else MIGHT think or say to us. So, we just decide not to do something in hopes that we will be "safe" from any possible (unknown) criticism.

The same can also be said of the FEAR OF GETTING SICK. This, again, is the "what if" factor (a disguised version of the fear of the unknown). "What if" I get this disease or that disease? "What if" I catch this or that? This type of fear drives some to cease contact with all people and any circumstance that may involve germs. This sounds extreme (and it is) but it is all tied into the fear of the unknown.

And, yes, we can even tie the fear of the unknown to the FEAR OF LOSING LOVE. As was stated in the discussion of this fear, we can be in a perfectly HEALTHY relationship and allow the fear of losing that relationship to impact it to the point that we actually DO lose that relationship. Friend, ANYTHING that involves the future (is there anything that DOESN'T?) has the unknown attached to it! That's just part of life!

The FEAR OF SICKNESS is closely tied in with the FEAR OF DEATH and both of them, again, are connected to the fear of the unknown. Do I need to explain that fact with these two fears? No, I think you can follow through with that thought yourself.

We DON'T KNOW what lies on the other side of death. Mr. Hill even acknowledges that fact in this discussion. Different beliefs have different thoughts and ideas about the matter and you can study ancient civilizations and discover what they believed about what comes after death by even uncovering their graves. Even those of us who believe in a "life after death" it is still unknown in that we have never experienced it before and don't know what it may be like.

Death, itself, is an unknown. Sure, we can read or listen to accounts of those that have had the "near death" experiences but, until we experience it ourself, it is unknown to us.

So, what do we do? Should we just curl up and wait to die? It is inevitable, right?

The very fact that death is inevitable should help us realize that we need to get out and LIVE!

Tim McGraw had a very popular song a few years ago that talked about this very thing. The song is entitled, "Live Like You Were Dying" and it discusses the life of a man that received bad news from his doctor that due to some tumor or other cause his life would be coming to an end sooner than he had planned. I'm not going to post the words to the entire song (you can easily find the lyrics on line) but the main point of the song is the fact that the man decided to live life to the full and to also encourage each and every one of us to do the same - to LIVE like you were dying!

I do, however, want to include these few words toward the end of the song as we're encouraged to live....

Like tomorrow was a gift

And you got eternity to think about what you'd do with it.

An' what did you do with it?

An' what can I do with it?

An' what would I do with it?"

One change I'd make in that wording - TODAY is the gift because tomorrow may never come.

What will you do with TODAY?

Why not LIVE it with every ounce of your being? Why not LIVE it with NO REGRETS?

It's yours to live however you choose - what will YOU do with it?

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

Mike

ENJOY Your Age! (Regardless of What it Is!)

Wow, this whole "fear of getting old" thing really got me going this week, didn't it? For my "Thankful Thursday" podcast I went totally "Mike" on you with no input from Napoleon Hill's book, "Think & Grow Rich".

Why?

Well, for one, he didn't have that much to say about the topic (and I did) and, secondly, I just know that a lot of people use this "I'm too old" excuse as simply that - AN EXCUSE to cease living and blessing the lives of others!

Stop using this (or ANY) excuse and step out there and start living your life TODAY!

You know, sometimes fear can be a good thing! What? Sure it can! IF that fear drives us to productive ACTION - then it can serve as the "kick in the pants" that we may need.

Here's what I mean. For example, if "the fear of getting old" is in place because you fear not having enough money to survive then USE THAT FEAR to step out there and DO SOMETHING about it! You have the wisdom, experience and ability to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN in your life that you've never allowed yourself to do - why not now?

Here's something in my podcast that I challenged everyone to write down and say aloud each and every day - "I like ME and I like BEING me!" - yes, this means regardless of your age. Don't allow others to tell you who you are and how you should act, dress, talk, etc. based on THEIR expectations! YOU be YOU - regardless of your age. YOU have much to offer to the world - so share your life and all the experiences that have come in your life and share you love that has grown in your life because of the life that you have lived.

And, above all...

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

Mike