Be AWESOME!

Yeah, YOU! This closely ties in with the last blog article and podcast so, if you haven't read it yet, take a moment and do that. Go on. I'm waiting. 😏

Hear this loud and clear, friend - YOU ARE AWESOME! Don't forget that - don't EVER doubt and/or forget that!

Here's the #1 reason as to why this is true about you: You are the ONLY YOU that exists on the face of this wonderful planet called Earth! That's right - there is NO ONE ELSE LIKE YOU!

I don't care if you even have an "identical" twin - they are not you and are not uniquely you! (Um, think about this...do they have the same fingerprint as you? NOPE!)

Because this fact is true - You are, indeed, AWESOME!

No one else can do the things that you can do. No one else "brings to the table" the qualities and talents that you do. Why? Because NO ONE ELSE CAN!

Do you get that? Stop doubting that. Grab hold of this wonderful fact and let it cause you to stand strong and proud! No, I'm not telling you to get egotistical about all of this. This is not to give you a "big head". Get it?

However, you do need to take PRIDE in the fact that God created you to be uniquely YOU. That's right...out of the millions of people that have lived before, that live now and that will ever live - YOU are and will be the only YOU that will ever inhabit this Earth!

WOW!

You have the gift (that's right, YOU and your unique talents and abilities are a GIFT to you and to the world around you) to accomplish what no one else can accomplish. All because of the TRUE FACT that YOU are UNIQUELY YOU!

Now, get out there and don't forget to BE AWESOME!

"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

Believe in Yourself

I've shared the story with you already about how, several years back while on a motorcycle ride I came across three signs that all said the same thing - the EXACT same thing. What was the message on the signs? The same message that you see in the graphic above. 

Now, listen, when I see the SAME message on three different - and unrelated - signs, all on the same day, it kind of gets my attention!

And, it's the "next-to-last" phrase that is found on the poster that I have gotten the topics from for the last several articles (and podcasts). 

We live in a world where it is easy to begin to doubt yourself. Right? We have all likely experienced someone else (or SEVERAL "someone else's") that felt it was their right to tell us that we were worthless or less than what they thought they deserved. This could be true in personal relationships as well as the workplace. Many times children are abused by the constant negative and demeaning comments made to them by someone in their life.

And, it's also easy to "beat ourselves up" by repeating those same, negative remarks to ourselves. I've had people tell me, "I've been told that all of my life so, it must be true!"

Too, sometimes, we just begin to doubt ourselves because we have not been the "success" that we had envisioned for ourselves.

But, friend, listen...wherever you find yourself in all of this and whatever the reason for your self-doubt, hear me and hear me loud and clear. YOU ARE SOMEONE SPECIAL! (Be sure to read the next article and also be sure to listen to the podcast on that topic). 

You MUST begin the process of believing in yourself! I understand that it is very difficult for some people and, to be honest, it may actually require the help of a professional to get you past some of the verbal abuse that you may have endured. If so, seek it out and take advantage of this help. 

Hey listen, you may find this hard to believe but, even people like myself struggle with self-doubt. Yes. Me. 

However, I understand that I MUST believe in myself if I am going to keep moving forward in a positive mindset and positive lifestyle. I know that I MUST believe in myself if I am going to continue on toward my goals and dreams.

Will there be others that will try to deter me from this goal? OF COURSE! That will ALWAYS be true! Will my own mindset, at times, try to sabotage this process? Absolutely! That is why it is so important to do all that I can to continually absorb as much positive information as possible.

Take a few moments and listen to the podcast (see the two links below!) and BE ENCOURAGED!

Stop doubting yourself and take heart. You ARE someone in whom you can believe in and trust! Yes, YOU!

Until next time, friend, 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

Be Thankful

I originally planned on this article (and the accompanying podcast) to be published the day BEFORE Thanksgiving, but here we are, ON Thanksgiving Day in the United States. My guess is that most people in the U.S. that follow along will not likely do so today due to being with family. 

But, whenever it is that you get a chance to read this, the message remains the same - regardless of the day - BE THANKFUL!

Many follow a trend on social media where they post something for which they are thankful on each day of the month of November. The idea behind it being to expand our expressing of thanks beyond the one day on the calendar, Thanksgiving Day. 

Now, that being said, wouldn't also make sense to try to expand this beyond the one month if we TRULY wish to expand our awareness and expression of all for which we have to be thankful.

Do your best NOT to focus on what is "wrong" in your life and do all that you can to focus on what IS "right", instead. As the graphic above states, there is ALWAYS something that we can find, focus on, and express thanks for! It may take a while to discover it and it may not be as "big" as we thought it might be but, friend, it's there if you'll take the time to seriously look for it. 

Two of my three adult sons are deployed right now and will be away from their families for Thanksgiving AND Christmas. The oldest son is married and has three young children. The youngest little girl has been born since his departure - he has never met her in person. It's going to be very difficult for all of them over this Holiday Season. The same is true for my "middle" son who is also deployed. Although he doesn't have children at home, he does have a wife at home and they will be unable to spend the Holiday's together. 

It would be easy to become very discouraged and for them to all become very discouraged during this time. And, hey, let's be real here...it IS going to be very hard for them (and my wife and I as well). However, one thing that they DO have to be thankful for is our modern technology that allows them to "see" each other when they get to talk. That is such a HUGE blessing for all of them. Also, even though the Holiday's are here, it also marks the fact that the scheduled time for their return is even closer. 

You see, sometimes you have to really search to find that "something" in order to express thanks!

My youngest son, who got married about four months ago, hasn't spoken to my wife and I for several months now. We have no idea why and it is really painful. Put that on top of what I have already told you and you can see that, if I allowed it, this could be a pretty miserable time. But, even with this situation concerning my youngest son, I choose to be thankful for the fact that, as far as I know, he and his wife are safe and healthy and, the good Lord willing, there is still time and opportunity for things to be resolved. 

You want to hear more?? The date that Thanksgiving falls on this year is the same date that my Dad passed away three years ago. This time of the year is especially difficult for a LOT of people that deal with the loss of loved ones. We often overlook these people but the pain is real and many people suffer that pain in silence. The blessing (or "thing" to be thankful for) in this is that I will spend the day after Thanksgiving with my Mom as well as most of my brothers and sisters, their spouses and their children and grandchildren. 

I don't mean to "bring you down" in all of this. I guess I just want you to understand that I understand that it's not always easy to be thankful. But, friend, I want to encourage you to search and search and then search some more if necessary to find SOMETHING for which to be thankful. 

If nothing else, remember this: "As long as there is breath, there is hope!"

Whoever you are, wherever you are and whether or not Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in your part of the world, I wish you a blessed day in which you find a reason (or reasons) for which to express thanks. 

One final note: If you find that there are people attached to your reasons to be thankful, don't keep it to yourself. TELL THEM. Let them know and let them know why. Life is too short NOT to do so. Wouldn't you agree?

Now, to follow my own advice that I just gave, let me tell you that I am thankful for YOU. I thank you for making Future You University a part of your life. If you would, stop by the fan page on Facebook and say "hello". I'd love to hear from you. Either way, I'm thankful for you!

Until next time, friend, 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

Follow Your Dreams

You have likely heard something along these lines: "Follow your dreams or you will be fulfilling the dreams for someone else." Now, I know that's not an exact quote, but I think you get the idea.

Basically what is being said is this: You can either work on YOUR dreams or work for the dreams of someone else. Make YOUR dreams come true or stay busy making the dreams of someone else come true.

So, does that mean I quit working for someone else and pursue my dream?

Maybe, and maybe not.

What????

In my opinion, too many people get that kind of idea in their heads and end up living a miserable life while becoming discouraged along the way. Sure, there are SOME people that have taken that path that have done wonderful things and have been unbelievably successful. But, my guess is that, for every one of those, there are 100 that have suffered for making such a decision.

Perhaps YOU have been one of those people and it has caused you to "give up" on your dreams.  

DON'T!

It is very feasible, possible and realistic to pursue YOUR dreams while, yes, working for someone else. It has been done for years by thousands of people over time. 

Be THANKFUL (hey, that topic is coming up in the next article) that you have the ability to make a living and, perhaps, even set a little money back to be used to pursue your dream. What does it take and how long are you willing to work to make that dream become a reality?

Too many people become impatient in this process. Too many overestimate what they can do in the short term and underestimate what they can achieve in the long term. And, when they don't achieve what they have overestimated what they could do in the short term, they become frustrated and give up. 

What about you? Does this describe you?

Here's the thing, friend. Don't miss out on the JOURNEY while you keep working toward your "destination"! It has often been said that the journey IS the destination - or the "prize". 

Look around you! Find the good in every day, enjoy the journey along the way, keep your eyes on the goal and make progress - step by step - every single day. 

Thanks for allowing me to share with you today 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

Live, Laugh, Love

Here we go, continuing down the "list" of great phrases that I found on a poster a couple of weeks ago. I hope that you have been enjoying them but, more importantly, I hope that you have benefited from them and have been able to use them to help in your positive journey in a "sometimes negative" world.

LIVE 

I've heard people say (and sing) this thought: "Live like you were dying". Friend, the truth is, you ARE dying - WE'RE all dying so, what's holding us back from truly "living"?

I would suggest that the main reason is due to FEAR. Some would say that, perhaps, we fail to truly "live" due to DOUBT. Think about it for a moment...don't most of our doubts come from fear? 

We are afraid to live life to the full - to truly "let go" and experience and explore all that life has to offer. Fear of failure, fear of acceptance and even fear of the unknown.

Hey now, living in fear is not living at all! Keep growing, keep learning, keep stretching and keep on LIVING - truly living!

LAUGH 
I don't know about you but I LOVE watching those videos of babies and/or kids laughing uncontrollably. It's almost impossible not to end up laughing myself! Have you ever gotten so tickled and, because you were in a place that you weren't supposed to be laughing (like at church), you tried to hold it in? And your whole body was shaking even without an audible laugh? Did you have to excuse yourself before you exploded?

 Just like everything else, life is too short to go through it being a grump! 

I'm guess I'm just a bit odd in that I find humor in things that a lot of people don't even think about. I have to really be careful at times because I'm tempted to laugh at something that, if I were to actually do so, it would offend someone. Usually it's just that they would misunderstand and think I was being disrespectful. 

Truth is - I just like to laugh!

Don't lose your ability (and desire) to laugh! Sometimes that cares and concerns of life can overwhelm you to where you fail to see all of the fun things that surround us every day. 

Oh, and by the way, do a little research and you'll find that it's been proven that LAUGHING is actually GOOD for your health! 

(And friend, don't be afraid to laugh at yourself!) 

LOVE 
 Yes, one of the sure ways to get your heart broke is to love. But, one of the surest and best ways to experience all that love brings with it (part of TRULY living) is to open yourself up to the emotions that go along with it and,yes, to take the chance - the risk - of "getting hurt". 

Don't be afraid to love. Don't be afraid to open up and "be you" with others. Life is too short to live it alone and, for sure, to die alone. 

No, I'm not going to quote that line about loving. You know the one I'm talking about, right? The one that says something like, "It's better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all." Now do you know which one I'm talking about? Yeah. Not going to quote that one, o.k.? 😋

I hope this short article will help you to "let loose" a little and that you will LIVE, LAUGH & LOVE a little more each day.

Do it...you'll be glad you did!

And, as you do so, you will see that this is, indeed, one way 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