Be Thankful for Every New Day

"Every new day is a day of new opportunity. Be thankful for every new day."
 - Mike Spillman

If you didn't see the dates on the articles or if you had no idea what time of the year it was when these articles were published, you MIGHT think it was November and we were about to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday as much as we have talked about "being thankful". 

 But listen, as I talked about in an earlier article this week, we MUST beware the "poison" of being ungrateful! Again, it is EASY to slip into that negative habit and we must all understand that we ALL have SO much for which to be thankful!

Once again I go back to one of my original quotes that I spoke in my very first podcast back on March 2, 2009..."As long as there is breath, there is HOPE!"

Every new day is a day of NEW OPPORTUNITY! As long as you are ALIVE and breathing friend, you have the OPPORTUNITY to change the direction of your life - that is a FACT!

What opportunity lies before you TODAY?

How exciting is it for you to consider that question? You are ALIVE, you have CHOICES that YOU can make! Breathe in the air that gives you life and look for that opportunity TODAY!

One other thing...it's also important to EXPRESS that thanks. That's right, say it out loud! You don't have to say it out loud to someone else but, even if you are alone, vocally expressing that thanks tends to "cement" that believe in your life.

I want to THANK YOU for taking the OPPORTUNITY to read today's message. I also want to encourage you to take advantage of the podcast and the video that goes along with today's topic. 

Would you do me a favor? Would you stop by my Facebook page and leave some feedback? I'd really love to hear from you. The link for that page as well as the links for the podcast and video can be found below.

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

YouTube   Live Debt Free!

People of Influence

 

In the United States, yesterday was celebrated as "Mothers Day" which, obviously, was a day dedicated to our Mothers and the influence they have had on our lives.

 

As in any situation, not all people can celebrate this influence due to the fact that some Mother's were not the positive and supportive influence that they should have been. However, sometimes even situations such as that can be turned around to where one can say, as I heard one man say about his Father,  "She taught me what kind of Mother NOT to be!".

 

Most of those that I saw post notices on social media were lifting their Moms up with praise for all that they had done for them during their life. That is the way it should be!

 

Next month, in June, we will celebrate Father's in the same way.

 

This got me to thinking about how many people actually influence our lives during the course of this journey on earth. There are many, are there not? And, as is the case with Mothers and Fathers, not all of them are the kind of influence that will direct us in a positive way.

 

I don't want to spend time on the negative. I don't want to spend time talking about the people in my life and yours that can influence us in a negative way. So, let's just assume that you and I are both smart enough to keep our eyes, ears and minds open to this and STAY AS FAR AWAY from such influence as possible.

 

Let's focus on those that have had a POSITIVE influence on our lives along the way.

 

Here is a great exercise for you to do on a continual basis that will help bring to mind such people in your life. Get out a piece of paper (or do this on your computer) and begin back as far as you can remember and think about those people that influenced you in a positive way and, you guessed it, WRITE THEM DOWN and also write down beside their name something that you remember about them. HOW did they influence you?

 

Why do I say do this on a continual basis? Well, for one, you may not can remember everyone at the same time. Your memory will be jogged just by beginning this process and, even when you aren't actively writing these things down, you will likely have a "flash memory" of someone else that you need to enter into this all-important listing.

 

Another reason that I say do this on a continual basis is to make note of those even now that are influencing your life in a positive way. Too often we just don't catch these moments of positive influence each day. However, by doing this exercise, our minds will be more open to recognizing and acknowledging these people. I would suggest getting into the habit of doing a daily journal (if you're not doing so already) and, as part of that daily entry, write down the names (and again the action) of a person that influenced you in a positive way during the day.

 

One final step to the exercise: If these people on your list are still alive, try to find a way to send them a nice thank you note and express to them how they influenced your life in a positive way. Notice I said send them a note. Emails and texts are nice but there is nothing like a hand written note that someone can hold on to and cherish. While you're at it, why not make a follow up phone call to make sure they received the note and take the opportunity to TELL them how they influenced your life.

 

The "Attitude of Gratitude"!

 

Who knows? There may be someone else reading this that will have YOU on THEIR list!

 

Be thankful for the positive influences in your life and express that thanks. And, as you go about this task, 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

Thankful Celebration!

Thankful Celebration!

That's right, we're still celebrating here - celebrating another day of livin' and another day of life!

And, on this "Thankful Thursday" I want to connect that celebration to the fact that each one of us has SO much for which to be thankful!

No, I don't want to hear your "yeah, but" lines ("Yeah, but, what about this or that..."). I know life is harder for some than for others BUT you still have some things in your life for which to be thankful!

Number one being - YOU ARE ALIVE! And, that being so, today is MAGICAL, WIDE OPEN and you have the opportunity to TURN YOUR DAY AROUND!

"As long as there is breath there is hope!"

I talked to my friend with cancer last night. He just recently found out that he had cancer and he was really quite worried about it and - like many - already had a "worse case scenario" played out in his head.

He's losing his hair and has lost about 20 pounds due to the fact that his appetite has really been messed up due to the chemotherapy treatments and, on top of that, he has diabetes which is really also going nuts with all of this going on!

But, guess what? When I was talking to him last night he had a smile on his face from ear to ear! I wasn't able to have an "in depth" conversation with him to dig deeper but one thing he said was something along the lines of, "You know, along with the bad there is some good!" - HELLO?

I mentioned to him that his attitude seemed to be better NOW than it was when he first found out that he had cancer and he replied, "Well, I don't even feel like I have cancer most of the time. And, besides, what are you going to do?" In other words, he was indicating that he had MADE A CHOICE of how he was going to allow his disease to have an impact on his life.

I love it when I have the chance to talk to people like this - what a great, powerful and positive example for the rest of us!

Now, does he ALWAYS have that attitude? He'd be the first to tell you that he doesn't, especially on those days when the chemotherapy takes a toll on his body. BUT, my guess is that his attitude is positive more than it is negative.

Here's the kicker... this guy tends to be one of the most negative people I know. That's right! There have been times in the past when I have had to dismiss myself from being around him just because of the negative poison that was continually spewing from his mouth.

Amazing, isn't it?

Perhaps - and this is only MY thought on this - the cancer has caused this friend to really notice what matters and what doesn't and to be THANKFUL for another day of life.

What about you? What about me?

Days come and days go. Time moves on regardless of your circumstances. It's the same for each of us - for ALL of us.

What we do with that time is a CHOICE.

Why not incorporate THANKFUL CELEBRATION into your day - starting right now - TODAY?

And, as you do so - this WILL become a part of your life...

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

Mike

Week of July 12th - special message and link

Special Message and Link for the Week of July 12th

I will be gone on vacation for the week and won't be able to do a DAILY blog....HOWEVER, never fear!

I recorded my podcasts for this week in advance so I REALLY want to encourage you to be sure to listen to them and the additional thoughts I have on the material that I'm about to share with you here. (You can either find me on iTunes - search Mike Spillman OR Future You University....OR on the main website - http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com - click the podcast tab).

For this week I will be sharing thoughts on "5 Things That Will Make You Happier" from an article that was sent to me way back in February by one of my listeners, Mark Clark (thanks, Mark!).

You can find the actual listing and article by going here if you'd like to have the list to look over for yourself: http://www.livescience.com/health/how-to-be-happy-100222.html

Also during this week I will share with you a listing of all 50 states and their order of "MOST HAPPY STATES". Where does YOUR state rank? (You can actually cheat and look at the link that is connected with the story listed in the previous paragraph).

Anyway, be sure to follow along with the podcast and take a look at the link above and do a personal check-up in your own life on these five things!

And, don't forget...each and every day be sure to...

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

Mike

A Salute To Our Veterans

A Salute To Our Veterans

Today's message is simply this:

THANK YOU!

A special "thank you" for all that have served and sacrificed to make our country great!

We have our freedoms because of you and your sacrifice and my hope and prayer is that we - as a nation - may always be thankful.

I am an American and, that being so, I believe that I live in the greatest country in the world. That greatness is built upon the sacrifice of many.

Thank a Veteran today!

What Makes YOUR Grass Green?

Fertilizer.
Plenty of watering.

No, no, no...that's not what I'm talking about!

In today's podcast I talk about two ideas:
1. Things don't always go as planned (the last blog entry and the podcast from Monday)
2. NEW isn't always better

The combination of those bring up the old saying, "The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence." And then there is the quote from Erma Bombeck that says, "The grass is always greener over the septic tank!"

It's easy for us to think that "others" have it better and that "other things" are better than our own - especially when things are not going as we had planned in our own lives.

Think about it - when are the times that you think that other people HAVE TO HAVE a better marriage than you? Isn't it when you are going through turmoil with your spouse? Is that what you had in mind when you got married? Of course it's not! Yet, most of us realize that those times will come and go IF we are dedicated to seeing it through. One reason affairs happen is due to what I call "the affair effect". Things aren't going well in your marriage. There are lots of arguments and disagreements. You find someone that lends you a shoulder to cry on and/or a listening ear. Wow! Someone that actually listens! And, you know what? They are attractive! Their hair is combed and they smell good! It seems that when you are with that person that everything else just doesn't matter - it's just you and them! They pay attention to YOU! They laugh at your jokes! Then it tends to go one step further and you kiss - WOW! - there are the fireworks that you remember having with your mate a long, long time ago, but THIS person really "lights your fire"! Secret meetings begin and the sex is unbelievable! Again, the world seems to stop when the two of you are together!

Hold the phone, chief. Have you ever stopped to consider the parameters on all of this? You are talking to and having an affair with someone without all of the distractions of everyday life! They listen to you? Do you think they would always have that "listening ear" when there are a hundred other things going on in your lives? No. And they are attractive! When do you usually see them? What if you were with them while they were taking care of your sick children and/or they were sick themselves? What if you saw them first thing in the morning and their hair was not all fixed up just for you? And, no, just because you spent the night with them and saw them in the morning is NOT the same thing! And, by the way, the "mind blowing sex" is once again due to... a) the newness of it all b) no distractions c) the thrill of the forbidden

So, get over yourself and realize that if you decided to jump into this all the way, leave your spouse and move in with this person that it will just be a matter of time before the exciting becomes routine - and then what?

When are the times that you think other peoples' homes are better than yours? Well, for one, isn't it when something is wrong with yours and it's going to cost you money to fix it? Again, not what you had in mind when you bought and fell in love with that house. It could also be when you have been in someone else's home and it looks so nice and clean and spacious! (Remember, they were expecting company - come back and see it unannounced! It's the same theory behind the "affair effect" mentioned above).

You see, the problems in our lives and, yes, even the people that bring some of the problems into our lives are the people and things that make us who we are! When we take off the "rose colored glasses" and see things as they really are, we often learn to appreciate even more those around us as well as the things that are around us.

Hey, the next time you think your house is not what you want or your car is not as fancy as you'd like - travel to a third world country for a short spell. I can promise you that you WILL come back with a whole new appreciation for what you DO have!

So, you see, the question, "What makes YOUR grass green?" is simply meant to help you focus on what makes you who you are. What is it - who is it - in your life that enriches your life? Helps you grow? Challenges you? Teaches you? Strengthens you? Helps you become a stronger and better you?

Think about that and be thankful for those things and people - yes, even when they don't always go as planned - that help make YOUR grass green!

And, as always -

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


Mike