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   

The Importance of Asking "Why?"

In my last blog article, I discussed the thought of asking "WHY?" in every area of our lives. If you haven't read it, be sure to go back and read it.

In this article I want to expand on that thought and discuss the IMPORTANCE of doing just that....ASKING "WHY?". Or, in other words, "Why Ask Why?"

Here's one main thing to keep in mind when asking this question: You must be HONEST and TRUTHFUL in your answer!

Hey, listen, no one else even needs to know or hear your answer - only YOU! So, why in the world would you want to lie to yourself? (I'm not sure what the answer is on that but, the fact is, many people lie to themselves every single day. DON'T be one of those people.).

If you are SERIOUS about moving forward in your life and making improvement in your life, then this MUST be followed...you MUST be honest with yourself and with your answers. There is NO other way.

That's one reason it is so important to ask, "Why?" - it brings you face to face with the truth. And, yes, sometimes it is a brutal truth. But face it anyway.

Then, and only then, can you HONESTLY move forward from where you truly are. You see, not being truthful in your answer makes your whole life a life based on a lie. I know that you are wise enough to know that there is NO "firm foundation" when anything is built on a lie or lies.

Secondly, asking "Why?" also forces you to "re-focus" your attention on your PURPOSE in what you are doing - REGARDLESS of what it is that you are doing.

You can apply this following thought any way that you choose, but I believe we are here (our PURPOSE IN LIFE) to bless the lives of others in some way.

That's right, no matter what it is that you do (big or small), you have the opportunity to be a blessing in the life of someone else - and you may not even ever know about it!

And, finally, asking "Why?" brings you to your "starting point" or your "life location".

For example, if you plan to use a GPS to help you get to another location, you must first know where you are. Luckily, even if you are not sure where you are, your GPS device will TELL you where you are. Then, and only then, can you get adequate directions on how to get where you want to be.

Hmmmm...get the point?

If you give a "false reading" by telling yourself a "lie" in your answer to "Why?", then you will not be able to progress in the right - or correct - direction. Be true in this endeavor - no matter how brutal or painful it may be to admit the truth - so that you can move confidently in the direction of CHANGE for the BETTER.

You likely already knew these things. But, isn't that the way life is many times? We KNOW the answer and we actually KNOW what we need to do but it helps to have someone remind us of what we already know.

I hope that I have done that for you today. If so, I'd love to hear from you by either sending me an e-mail or connecting with me on the fan page on Facebook. You can also leave a comment below.

Thanks for you time today and, remember: 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    Podcast RSS feed   

WHY Do You Do WHAT You Do?

 

"Find & Keep/Protect Our JOY & PURPOSE For Our Lives!!

(SHARE & TEACH Family AND Others!!)

 

 

Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've taken the time to sit down and write a blog article! It's been almost 6 and 1/2 months to be exact!!

 

During that time, I've had the opportunity to do a lot of thinking and re-examining of my goals and dreams. And, you know what I have found?

 

I AM STILL "ON BOARD" FOR THE SAME GOALS AND DREAMS THAT I HAVE HAD FOR YEARS.

 

Now, I have to make some adjustments (more road blocks and detours as I've mentioned before) in order to "get back on track" and push further than I have in the past but...IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK!

 

The topic for this blog article (be sure to listen to the podcast here) came from a lot of the thinking that has taken place during these past 6+ months. The actual thought with this article is this:

 

WHY ARE YOU DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

 

Friend, it's important - VITAL - to ask this question about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that you are "connected to" in your life. That would be whether it's your job or ANY relationship that you have.

 

THAT'S RIGHT!

 

Perhaps you began working at your job because it was all that was available at the time and you had to "put food on the table". Hey, listen - there's no shame in that and I've been there several times in my life.

 

However, you need to ask yourself WHY you are still doing that job, if you still are. Maybe you've "moved up" in the ranks at that same job and are experiencing pride in that fact. COOL! But, if you're not...then WHY are you still at that same job?

 

Have you become bored and allowed yourself to get in a rut and "settle for less"?

 

What about your relationships in your life? Yes, I'm talking about friends, co-workers and even your spouse, if you are married.

 

Apply this thought to ALL of these relationships but I'm going to apply it to the one with your spouse. WHY are still married to that person?

 

*DISCLAIMER: I am NOT trying to start a war in your relationship! :) *

 

Here's what I mean: Go back and try to remember WHY you decided to ask that person to spend the rest of their life with you (or why you said "yes" when asked to do so). What was it about that person and how you felt that made you decide to make that commitment?

 

Now then, WHY are you STILL with that person? Maybe you need to re-discover that "why" and "re-ignite" that spark that made it all happen in the first place. Yes, even in relationships, we can become bored, take things for granted and even "settle for less" in what we put into that relationship.

 

Wouldn't you agree that it IS important to ask ourselves that all important question of, "WHY?"

 

May you re-discover your spark in all of these areas in your life. May it FUEL THE FIRE that you once had or may it IGNITE a fire that has never before existed.

 

MAKE IT HAPPEN!

 

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  

Something to Consider...What Would YOUR "Passion Life" Look Like?

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What I'm Working On...

Wow, it's been almost 4 months since my last blog! I knew I had taken a break from doing my blog and podcast, but I didn't realize it had been that long.

 

There are a few reasons for this break - most of them having to do with the podcast. For one (I had even mentioned this in one of my video-casts that I did early on this year) I felt that I didn't really need to keep doing the work on the blog and podcast if I wasn't getting any feedback. And, friend, I haven't gotten any feedback from anyone in a very long time.

 

I had planned to do four more podcasts to get me to #800 and have still yet to get that accomplished. This brings me to reason #2: My current internet connection will not allow me to upload my podcasts as I need to get this done.

 

So, I'm waiting for this and, I'm also wanting to make sure I have something of value to "say"/share once I get this current situation resolved.

 

I've been busy working and still trying to keep my focus on my goals and dreams. I've been juggling the same thing that many of you juggle: Doing what I need to do to get the bills paid while keeping focus on my joy and passion.

 

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY, IS IT?

 

Over the past 4 months I have come up with four or five topics (one can likely be combined with another) that I feel are important and relevant to all of those - like me - that continue to battle with and through this struggle.

 

Here's what I've been working on as far as topics that I plan to cover soon...

     * "WHY Are You Doing WHAT You Are Doing?"

     * "Don't Make Decisions Based on Just One Day!"

     * "The Poison of Being Ungrateful"

     * "Getting Out of the JOB Mindset" (Breaking Free!)

     * "Your JOY and PURPOSE" (May be combined with first topic or a continuation)

 

So, that's what I'm working on...what about YOU?

 

Don't ever STOP working on yourself and your goals and dreams...NEVER, EVER GIVE UP!

 

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

 

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

 

Mike

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