Make Each Day Count!

Twelve "Do's and Don'ts" For Living a Positive Life

1. Make Enthusiasm A Daily Habit!
2. Don't Allow Negative People to Determine Your Self-Worth!
3. Get Into The Habit of Talking to Yourself Affirmatively!
4. Get Into the Habit of Talking to Others With an Affirmative, Positive Vocabulary!
5. Don't Be a Grudge Collector!
6. Think Positive & Pleasing Thoughts!
7. Don't Brag - Let Your Actions Speak For You!
8. Get High on Doing Good!
9. Don't Get Sidetracked!
10. Wake Up Happy!
11. Find a POSITIVE Support Group!

12. Make Each Day Count!

The actual way this is worded is as follows: "Make Every Day and Every Evening the Best Possible - Once Spent, They're Gone Forever!"

Pretty sobering thought, isn't it?

However, it should also help us approach each day with more vitality - see #10: "Wake Up Happy!" for example.

I did this on the podcast and I want to do this exercise with you here, right now. Take out a pen and a piece of paper and fill in the blanks. Yes, it IS important for you to write this yourself and not just see it as I have typed it - this is for YOU, o.k.? Remember, write this out and fill in the blanks...

"Today is ___(day of the week - Thursday for me)___, ___(Date - February 18,2010 for me)__. This is the only, ___Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010___ there will ever be and, once it is gone, it is gone forever."

I don't know about you, but doing that really brings the point home to me! Too many times we get into the "rut mindset" that each day is the same over and over again (kind of like in the movie, "Groundhog Day") and that there is nothing really special or different between one day or another.

WRONG!

Each day is unique! Each day is different! Each day is special! Each day is YOURS to explore and enjoy to the fullest!

Yeah, I know, sometimes you just want to slap me, right? ;)

But, stating things in this way and saying them to yourself (daily affirmations) WILL help you begin to understand it, believe it and get excited about it!

Now, this may sound like a little thing to you, but when I take the time to notice it, I actually DO get excited! Here's what I'm talking about - the time that the sun sets!

You see, I absolutely HATE the time change in the fall when it gets darker earlier. If I let it (and I used to), I could really allow this to impact me in a very negative way - but I choose not to let it go that far anymore. However, I do not like it! So, when I watch the local weather and they give the forecast for the next day they always have listed at the bottom the time the sun will be setting. When I start seeing the time swing into the "later" category by only a minute (maybe two) each day - I HONESTLY GET EXCITED!

Why? Because I love the daylight longer in the afternoon and evenings!

But, you know what? This is also another wonderful example of how each day is different and unique!

Maybe you need to change up your routine a little bit just to help you break out of your rut! Are you one of those people that does everything EXACTLY the same way each day? If so, DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT!

Notice the people and the sounds around you each day! Pay attention to the different styles of clothing that people wear. Hey, look at their hair!

Aren't you glad we're not all the same?

Aren't you glad each day is not the same?

This is YOUR day!

Yes, I know there are obligations that you have. Yes, I know that you have a job (hopefully) that you must stay with until you're told it's o.k. to go home (what a way to live, right?). Yes, I know you have family obligations that you are committed to and love.

So, it's up to you to find ways to "wake up your senses" and celebrate the uniqueness of today!

It's also up to you to wake yourself up to the point of doing your BEST today in anything and everything that you do!

It's also up to you to wake yourself up to those that are around you and to smile and be a positive influence in their lives! It's up to you to do something nice for those with which you come into contact during the day! (Hey, it may be just smiling and saying hello).

It's up to you to enjoy your kids and see the blessing that they are in your life! It's up to you to realize and understand that this day will go by quickly so you must do all you can to squeeze as much joy out of it as you can.

I love the show, "The Amazing Race". Think about it - each day is just that for each one of us.

However, don't think of the "race" part as "who is going to win". Instead, think of how amazing today is and the "race" is you trying to beat the end of the day by getting as much joy and happiness out of it as is humanly possible.

SQUEEZE THE DAY!

Cute, huh?

And, as you do...

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

Mike

8 Week FREE Teleconference Course

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

"Setting and Reaching Your Goals"

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

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

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

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS FREE OPPORTUNITY!

Find a POSITIVE Support Group!

Twelve "Do's and Don'ts" For Living a Positive Life

1. Make Enthusiasm A Daily Habit!
2. Don't Allow Negative People to Determine Your Self-Worth!
3. Get Into The Habit of Talking to Yourself Affirmatively!
4. Get Into the Habit of Talking to Others With an Affirmative, Positive Vocabulary!
5. Don't Be a Grudge Collector!
6. Think Positive & Pleasing Thoughts!
7. Don't Brag - Let Your Actions Speak For You!
8. Get High on Doing Good!
9. Don't Get Sidetracked!
10. Wake Up Happy!

11. Find a POSITIVE Support Group!

We're just about to the end of our list of "Twelve Do's and Don'ts for a Positive Life" and I hope you have enjoyed my discussions on these topics along the way.

I have mentioned several times how the things that I share with you are some of the same things that you will find shared by any number of people in the field of personal development. Oh yes, they may say them in different ways and use charts and graphs, etc....but they are basically the same.

Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

It's neither, in my opinion. It's just proof that there are some BASICS that we must all follow in order to live a positive life!

I'm always amazed when I read a book or article or hear a speaker talk on these types of subjects how they say some of the same things I've been saying! Wow! They have heard my idea and use it too! ---- Hey, hang on a second - I'm kidding here, o.k.?

If I wanted to be egotistical I could think that. But it's just not true. What I have discovered is this: as I have listened and read over the years I have absorbed - not copied - some of the basic principles that were shared. I have absorbed them and have put them into practice (ACTION) in my own life and have found them to be true!

And, yes, just like anyone else, I use my own way of speaking and communicating to share these things with you. I use my own life experiences to help make them "come alive" for you as I share them with you.

Why am I saying all of this at the start of today's article? Because, again, I don't want you to get lost on the SIMPLICITY of so many of these things. Often, the simple things are the HARDEST things to accomplish!

One of the reasons is that, because we perceive it to be simple, we don't put the effort into it compared to what we might do if we thought it were difficult.

Also, bottom line - "simple" doesn't mean "easy".

For example... you want to be in better health and live longer? If you smoke - STOP SMOKING! Pretty simple, huh? It's true, isn't it? An easy "one step" solution, right?

Point made.

Take all of what I just said and apply it to today's topic: "Find a POSITIVE Support Group!".

"Ah, that's not necessary! I'm doing alright and don't really need this."

Again, don't let the simplicity fool you.

Go back and read, "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill and read the chapter on the Master Mind group. You see, again, LONG BEFORE I have ever suggested such, other great minds said it first! (Reminder: You can get a FREE copy of this great book at my website: http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com by clicking on the "products" tab and clicking on the banner. You do pay s/h - very small amount for a great book!)

Think even about this series of discussions by themselves. I told you that these came off of a pamphlet or brochure that I've had for over 30 years. So, whoever put these things down in print thought the same thing!

Likely the BEST way to do this would be to connect with a group of people locally so that you can all get together physically. There is just something powerful about the "energy" that can exist in a room when like-minded people are gathered together for a common good!

However, with today's technology it is possible to form such a group with people from all over the world!

I am even organizing such a group - yes, with a very specific topic/purpose in mind to start - beginning in March 2010. I am offering a FREE 8-week teleconference course on "Setting and Reaching Goals" - are you going to be a part of it?

Someone might say, "You're using this discussion to get people to come to your course?" - ABSOLUTELY! And I make no apologies for doing so.

It's FREE - no cost to you, so why SHOULDN'T I do all I can to encourage you to be a part of this? And, no, I won't spring some surprise cost on you. There won't be any hidden charges. You won't get a "skeleton course" and then be told that if you want more, pay a certain amount of money for a "full course".

Sorry, that's just not me. I see that WAY too much and I just won't do that and don't ever plan to do that.

Who knows - perhaps through this course you may find people fairly close to you (again, with technology, does it really matter how close they are to you geographically?) to start another support group.

KEY QUESTION: If you don't take advantage of such a FREE opportunity - what are you doing? Seriously, if you are unwilling to take advantage of something like this - please stop whining and complaining.

This if for those that are WANTING to move on in their lives toward their goals and dreams. Hey, I might learn something from you!

Go the the website (see address link earlier in the article) and click on the banner at the top of the home page. Register for the course and I will be sending you an e-mail with the specifics: starting date, night of the week, time, call in number, etc.

This is for YOU!

A couple of more things about this course - it's only open to the first 20 that sign up. However, if only 5 people take advantage of it, we'll go with the five! I'd rather have five that are ready to go for it than have 100 and 95 of them not really do much with the idea.

Also, it's scheduled for 8 weeks. If, at the end of the course, everyone wants to continue meeting and discussing different topics - I'm in for that too.

Anyway, whatever you do - FIND A POSITIVE SUPPORT GROUP and commit to it and those in the group.

Remember, TOGETHER we WILL make progress on our journey each and every day!

And, as we do, we want to remember to...

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

Mike

Wake Up Happy!

Twelve "Do's and Don'ts" For Living a Positive Life

1. Make Enthusiasm A Daily Habit!
2. Don't Allow Negative People to Determine Your Self-Worth!
3. Get Into The Habit of Talking to Yourself Affirmatively!
4. Get Into the Habit of Talking to Others With an Affirmative, Positive Vocabulary!
5. Don't Be a Grudge Collector!
6. Think Positive & Pleasing Thoughts!
7. Don't Brag - Let Your Actions Speak For You!
8. Get High on Doing Good!
9. Don't Get Sidetracked!

10. Wake Up Happy!

You've seen the posters or signs that say, "I'm allergic to morning", right? My sister used to have one of those and I believe it was actually true!

But, you know what? Even if you aren't a "morning person" you can still choose to wake up happy!

Just like everything else we talk about here - it is a choice....it is YOUR choice!

Now, again - this may seem over-simplified but the impact can not be emphasized enough!

You already know this to be true, don't you?

Have you ever gotten out of bed and stubbed your toe? Did it seem as if everything went downhill from there for the rest of the day?

How we START our day determines - to a large degree - how we LIVE our day!

Even if we start off with it not being quite as positive as we'd like (hey, sometimes things DO happen beyond our control, right?) we can STILL choose to change the direction that it is going.

Now, seriously...tell me which is better? Do you really ENJOY waking up in a bad mood? Do you really ENJOY starting your day off in such a negative way? Or do you prefer to wake up in a good, happy mood? Would you not much rather start your day off in a positive way?

Now, I'm not talking about that "fake happy" that gets under your skin to the point that you just want to slap someone! Yeah, you know the type I'm talking about, right? (And, yes, I'm grinning as I type that!).

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

You see, when we understand this philosophy then we CAN and WILL wake up happy!

My friend, Pat, had on her Facebook status yesterday something along the lines of, "When I hear people say that life is hard, I want to ask them, 'Compared to WHAT?' ".

EXACTLY! It is so easy for us to get into the bad habit of whining and complaining and saying such negative things that, sometimes, we don't even really consider what it is we are saying!

Life can be hard - and IS hard at some point in time - for everyone! That's right! That person that you look at and you think has no problems....THEY HAVE PROBLEMS, TOO!

Yes, there are some people that just seem to "float" above the everyday problems that face the rest of us. But, you know what? They have just learned a different and BETTER way on how to handle the everyday problems that DO face them as well.

Part of life is dealing with problems. The only person that has no problems is DEAD!

So, hey, guess what? If you are dealing with problems then you are ALIVE! So, CELEBRATE that fact and figure out how to approach those problems from a different - and better - angle.

That different and better approach is the one that comes from a positive mindset!

So - it's YOUR choice!

Why not choose to WAKE UP HAPPY!

You'll be glad you did (and so will those around you).

And, as you do...

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

Mike

"Don't Get Sidetracked!"

Twelve "Do's and Don'ts" For Living a Positive Life

1. Make Enthusiasm A Daily Habit!
2. Don't Allow Negative People to Determine Your Self-Worth!
3. Get Into The Habit of Talking to Yourself Affirmatively!
4. Get Into the Habit of Talking to Others With an Affirmative, Positive Vocabulary!
5. Don't Be a Grudge Collector!
6. Think Positive & Pleasing Thoughts!
7. Don't Brag - Let Your Actions Speak For You!
8. Get High on Doing Good!

9. Don't Get Sidetracked!

Actually, the original title that was on the brochure that I got these off of was, "Don't Give In To the Ads and Fads - Look for and Listen to The Truth!". But I decided to shorten it and get to the point!

There are SO many fads that come and go and, as I point out in today's podcast, we need to pay particular attention to the last half of that formula concerning these fads. They GO! And, many times they GO as quickly - if not quicker - than they came.

"New and Improved!"

Wow, how many times have we seen THAT one? The question I always have concerning "new and improved" is this: "So then, the old product wasn't as great as you were telling me after all?"

Hey listen, we must all continue to improve our lives and continue to "educate" ourselves in this area of personal development. We must all keep our minds open to new ways to do things that will make our productivity better.

BUT...

Be careful! Really examine that "thing" - the next "new and improved" that crosses your path and make sure it IS something that will actually help you on your journey toward your dreams and goals.

Could be something that might actually take you on an unprofitable detour or wrong route all together!

For those of you that have received my free report that is offered on my website (http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com ) you will find that it consists of only FIVE points.

Bottom line is this - it's really pretty basic when you break it all down. This is why I continually encourage you to not be fooled by the simplicity of some of these things.

When you take the time to study and read the materials from many different "personal development promoters" you will find them all pretty much saying the same thing. It's true! And, yes, I'm one of them!

However, we all have personal tastes as to how it impacts us and who can speak to our "hearts" and move us on to action. But, even though thoughts and ideas can be added on top of the basics, there are still some basics and I believe you find those in that free report!

I'm simply saying this - stay focused and keep moving forward toward your goals and dreams!

Many things will pop up that could distract you and get you sidetracked. Hey, many of these things can even stop you dead IN your tracks if you're not careful!

And, yes, you DO have the ability to discern - to tell the difference, to know - between them.

Keep moving, stay focused and you WILL make progress each and every day.

And, as always, remember...

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

Mike