Will You Vote? (You Vote Either Way)

Will You Vote?

You Vote Either Way - Indecision IS a Vote!

Let me throw this disclaimer out there again before I even get started on this article - this is NOT about politics. I'm using this whole political  theme due to the fact that our nation (the U.S.A.) is in an election year for President and it is something that is the center of just about every discussion that is being had at this time.

That being said, if you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the blog article from yesterday (as well as listen to the podcast) that served as the launch of this series for the week. 

Your "vote" is your choice that you make every day on how you want to live your life. And, don't be fooled friend, these choices made day by day DO determine the life that you will live!

Politically, there are always HUGE numbers of people that don't vote - for whatever reason. And, as the graphic above states, if you don't vote then you really don't have any right to complain. Oh, but people do anyway and, it's always interesting to hear their excuses (they call them "reasons") as to why they didn't vote. The decision - or choice - NOT to vote is a vote in and of itself. 

Oh sure, you still have a "right" to whine and complain if you don't vote but, friend, your whining and complaining is absolutely worthless and no one wants to hear it...except you!

So it is with how you "vote" on your life.

Some people actually approach life by not "voting".  Have you ever caught yourself saying something like this or have you heard someone say something like this: "Oh, I just take life as it comes. Whatever will be, will be."

I understand the basic idea behind such a thought but I've also seen people actually live their life this way. No plans, no direction, just "whatever will be, will be and whatever happens, happens".  In my opinion that is a "vote" that demonstrates that you don't really value your life and that you have decided to not make any effort to control, or contribute to, the direction of your life.

Friend, if that's how you choose to live your life then, yes, I acknowledge that it is your "right". But, stop your whining and complaining! Seriously.

To really get down to it, your "vote" for your life is far more powerful and has more direct impact than your vote in most political elections. Is it important to vote in a political election? YES! But please, hear what I'm saying. 

YOU have a DIRECT IMPACT on your life whether you choose TO "vote" or NOT to "vote". Either way, your life is greatly impacted! That's right, either way is a "vote" and a reflection of the true value that you put on your life and, likely, the lives of those loved ones around you.

The fact that you are reading this article is evidence that you have decided to "vote" in favor of doing something GOOD and POSITIVE for your life. It's just like how going for a walk or participating in any type of exercise is evidence that you have decided to "vote" in favor of doing something positive for your life in a physical way. 

And, friend, THIS "election" (what you have "elected" to do) comes about a lot more often than every four years - it happens every single day and, often, several times during the course of a day. 

So, WILL you vote? Sure you will. One way or the other, you WILL place your vote. The real question is, "HOW Will You Vote?" and that is the question that I will address on Thursday. Tomorrow I will address the topic, "What Decides or Sways Your Vote?". Why do YOU "vote" the way that you do for your life? Why do others "vote" the way that they do for their own lives?

Until then, 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 on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

THE Vote

Right off the start let me make sure that you understand - THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS! However, since we will be electing a new President in the United States in November of this year, it IS the central topic of conversation just about everywhere that you turn. 

So, since that is so, I thought I would use that prevailing thought as the foundation for our week of discussions for the blog and podcast. So, here's the plan for this week's topics:

TODAY: "THE Vote" 

Tuesday: "WILL You Vote?" (you vote either way...indecision IS a vote)
Wednesday - "What Decides/Sways Your Vote?"
Thursday - "How Will You Vote?" (What Will Your Vote Be?)
Friday - FUN FRIDAY (political humor or voting humor) 

As we go through this discussion today, when I talk about your "VOTE", what I'm talking about are your CHOICES that you make each day.  When you place a vote of any kind, you are making a DECISION about whatever the situation is...make sense?

If you are part of a group that is voting about a fund-raiser for that group, your vote is your way of stating what YOU think would be the best solution. It represents what YOU feel is the best route to take for the success of that effort.  

If you vote in a political election (for ANY office at ANY level), your vote (again) is your way of stating who YOU think would be the best person for that position. Your vote represents who YOU feel is the best person to successfully carry out the duties of that office.  

Now then, when it comes to you and your life, the choice - for the most part - is yours. 

When you place your "vote" for your day and your life, you are stating what YOU think would be the course for you to take to get the best results and your "vote" represents what route YOU feel is the best route to take to successfully live your life.

Once you get to the point that you are no longer under your parent's care, its up to you. And, for some, that is a bit overwhelming when that takes place. At this point, your parents are no longer there to correct your mistakes - it's all yours, baby!

And, hopefully, as you grow and mature and as you learn to suffer through the consequences of bad choices, you begin to make better choices...better "votes". 

"THE Vote" that we will be talking about this week is about YOUR decision that you make about the direction of your life, one day at a time, each and every day.  

A lot of people like to cry out, "But I don't have a choice!" when, in reality, you ALWAYS have a choice, and what you are doing, who you are with, etc. is evidence of those choices.  One of the examples that I use in today's podcast (see links below) is that of someone that absolutely HATES their job but says, "I have no choice! I HAVE to keep this job so that I can pay my bills."

You DO have a choice and you are making a choice every day that you work that job...even if you really do hate it. You have decided (a choice or decision that has been made) that, even though you hate that job, it is more important for you to have the money that comes from that job than to NOT have that job.  No matter how much you complain, you have made a decision - you have cast your "vote" - that, for whatever reason, you can't or won't look at the possibility of getting another and different job. You have decided or "voted" to stay with the job that you hate. 

Hey listen, I understand that. I really do. I'm just simply wanting to help you understand that it is still a choice and it is evidence of your "vote".  

In reality, it's easier to say, "I don't have a choice" because a person thinks that this removes the responsibility from themselves. That's what they think, but it is simply not true. You ALWAYS have a choice and you ALWAYS have a "vote" about the direction of your life. 

And, yes, I can hear some of you trying to argue with me even now. That's o.k....you're wanting to argue doesn't change the facts. (I'm smiling as I type that last sentence, so relax).

I'm going to stop there for today because this will be a nice flow into the next part of our discussion entitled, "WILL You Vote? (Indecision IS a Vote!)" 

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 on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

 

What WERE "The Good Old Days"?

Does this woman LOOK LIKE she's enjoying "The Good Old Days"????

Hey, listen, I'm not going to really write much on this for today's article - it's going to be mostly images to share with you with a few comments. HOWEVER, I really want to encourage you to LISTEN to the "FUN FRIDAY" podcast by going here for iTunes or here for the RSS feed. 

Yeah, THIS looks like a great way to end a long, hard day, right?

 EVERYONE has their own ideas about "the good old days"!

Who remembers these? Anyone want to REALLY go back to using them?

'Nuff said!

They really look like THEY are living it up, don't they?

And some are asking, "What's 'Snap, Crackle and Pop'?"

Here's how you know - YOU'RE LIVING THEM NOW!

That's right! The life you are living right now will be a time that you will look back on later in life and remember it as "the good old days".

Believe it or not!

 So, friends, ENJOY your days, weeks, months and years - time moves quickly and it can NEVER be reclaimed or relived. No matter how much you wish you could go back.

So, until next time, 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

Looking Back Can Be DECEPTIVE! (Part 2)

"Looking Back Can Be DECEPTIVE! (Part 2)"

 In my last article I began discussing the basic premise behind the title of this "mini-series" that will continue into the next article. If you haven't done so, go back and read the last article as well as listen to the podcast that goes along with it. The links for both iTunes and the RSS feed can be found at the bottom of this article. Take a moment and do that first so that you can be properly "set" for what we will continue with today.

The basic idea is this: Many times we can "look back" at a time period in our past and do so with fond memories when, actually, at the time, there was nothing going on that we would ever want to remember fondly. Get the point?

I want to share with you a PERFECT illustration of this that comes from the Bible and it is found in the Old Testament book of Exodus, chapter 14. Have you ever seen the old movie, "The Ten Commandments" with Charlton Heston in the leading role as Moses? A good part of the movie deals with the time period of when Moses was sent to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. They were enduring horrible conditions as slaves and God sent Moses to lead His people out of slavery and into freedom. In Exodus 14, we find that this large group had left their slavery and were on their way to freedom when Pharaoh changed his mind about letting them go and began to chase them down. As his army got closer to the group of Israelites, they thought they were trapped when they came upon the Red Sea. They saw no way out and began to moan and complain to Moses that he should have left them alone for (verse 12), "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness!" They were saying that, as horrible as it was, they would have rather STAYED in Egypt and live as slaves, in horrible conditions, that to die in freedom.

Of course, if you know the story (if you don't, just continue reading from verse 12) then you know that God delivered His people from that situation. But, the point is this: Even though they had been free for only a very short time, they were already "looking back", desiring to go back.

Why? Because they were AFRAID OF WHAT WAS BEFORE THEM! 

Is it possible that the same is true for you and me today? I mentioned in my last podcast that, many times, we find ourselves longing for the "good old days" during times of difficulty. Often, when we run into obstacles and experience "failure" we want to run back to those times that we remember fondly when, again, at the time, they may not have been so pleasant after all. 

Why? Because, in our own minds, it is easier (and we THINK it's "safer") to go back to what we knew (even if it wasn't so good - like the Israelites in slavery) than it is to face difficulty and the unknown of the future.  

May I share another verse from the Bible that addresses this point? I promise, I'm not going to get all "preachy" on you. Notice these words that you can find in the New Testament book of Luke 9:62 - "But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The idea presented here is exactly the same one that we discussed about the Israelites back in the book of Exodus. For Christians, Jesus Christ has "set us free" from the "slavery and bondage" of sin! We're free! So, why would anyone "look back" and desire the former life of slavery and bondage? Those that do so are not "fit" for the "kingdom of God" for they do not trust Jesus and the promise of a better future, just as the Israelites did not trust God and His promise to them of a better future. 

By the way, did you know that you can't plow a straight row if you are looking back? That's true whether you are plowing behind a horse or sitting behind the wheel of a tractor! 

In the same way, you cannot focus on your future and "take care of business" if you are always looking back. It just won't work and friend, remember, your past - whatever it is that keeps drawing your attention there - is likely not as "shiny" as it now appears! 

Hey listen, there are people that are set free from prison only to find that they feel "lost" now that they are "out on their own". And, because they find this new life difficult to adjust to, they will - at times - commit a crime just so they can go back to what they know. Yes, even though it is PRISON!

Whether you realize (or understand) this next point or not, it's still true. Most of the time, when you try to better yourself and make a move toward a better life, things get worse (or so it seems) before they get better. That's the truth, friend! We usually want things to be better overnight, instantly, at the snap of a finger but, truth be told, it doesn't quite work that way the majority of the time!

The question is this: Do you have what it takes to persevere and hang on through the tough times? I'll answer that for you, in case you aren't too sure - YES, YOU DO have what it takes! 

Stop looking back and longing for what is in the past! Your FUTURE is in FRONT of you - not behind you!

Always remember this, and I mean ALWAYS: Even if you take two steps forward and one step back, you are still making progress because you are still ONE STEP AHEAD of where you were before! That's right! Even if you get "slapped back, knocked back and/or kicked back" a step after you've moved forward - you are STILL ahead of where you were before you decided to TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR LIFE by moving FORWARD with and in your life!

And, by the way, this is also for those of you that have suffered through an abusive relationship in the past. STOP looking back thinking it wasn't as bad as you thought it was. Never! You keep moving forward with your life and DO NOT look back - you have been set FREE! I know I hit a nerve with some of you with that last part. That's o.k. and feel free to connect with me to share your thoughts, stories and comments. I will NEVER share anything with my audience unless you give me expressed consent to do so. If you need, I have a friend that went through an abusive relationship and she has her own blog that talks about some of these issues. Here's the link to that blog: https://reflectionsfrommykitchenwindow.wordpress.com/ - Her name is Donna and she is a life-long friend of me and my family and she has graciously agreed to let me share this link with you. Thanks, Donna!

Once again, 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 on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

Looking Back Can Be DECEPTIVE!

Looking Back Can Be Deceptive!

 No, you didn't accidentally stumble upon some sort of financial page - not even close! But I DO have a very good reason for having that chart posted up there. Read on and find out...

The above chart is for binary options but, at the same time, what I'm going to say would be true of any kind of options, commodities, stocks or any other type of asset that is traded. When one is trading these types of assets it is always important to have access to charts to show you how that particular asset has performed over a certain period of time. This should help you in determining what that asset may do in the future.

In trading binary options, charts become even MORE important since they deal on a much shorter time period than other traditional trading methods. Many times, with binary options, one can look back over a few hours and come up with a reasonable idea of what may be about to happen over the next 5, 10, 15 or even 30 minutes.  

In my "studies" of trading binary options I have turned to many videos from many different people suggesting the use of different strategies that might prove successful in this task. I have watched as many have shown a "still shot" (like what you see above) and point out where different winning trades would have occurred. Sometimes there will be a loss shown as well but, in my experience, they usually focus on the wins to try to get you to "buy into" their strategy. 

But, here is what I have learned along the way...what you "look back" at on these charts does not necessarily indicate what actually took place in "real time". 

When one is "in" a trade and it is "live", the price point that one enters the trade as well as the price point that one exits that trade is very important, just as it is in ANY type of trading (stocks, etc.). So, while one can "look back" and say, "This would have been a win!", it very well may have been a loss. 

How so? When one looks back at the past action of the charts, it is impossible to know exactly what COULD HAVE taken place based on the entry and exit on the trade. I know because I experienced this myself during some of my "demo trades" (practice trades). A trade that I lost looked perfect when looked back on an hour or so later. 

Everything is different while it is actually happening as opposed to what it seems when you look back. 

Make sense?

This caused me to think and realize that, many times, this is how it is with life!

Many times, when we "look back" on different time periods of our lives, we may "see" or remember things DIFFERENTLY than they actually were. And, sometimes, this "deceptive view" may cause us to want to go back when we need to keep moving FORWARD.

I remember one particular yard that we had when I was a kid. I thought it was HUGE! When I thought about all of the things that me and my brothers and sisters did in that yard, I had an image of a very BIG yard! However, years later, as an adult, I drove back by that house and yard and was surprised at how "normal" or even small it really was. My memory and my imagination had created something that wasn't actually so...it was DECEPTIVE.

We'll be going into this more over the next couple of blog articles (and podcasts - see links below) but, for now, I want you to start examining how this has been true in your own life and to try to be aware of anytime that this could have actually been harmful, IF you had decided to "go back" to that time in the past. 

I think this will be a very interesting and beneficial discussion and I hope you will plan to be back to be a part of this and that you will invite others to do so by sharing this with as many as possible.

Hey friend, 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