What is your definition of success?
I asked a middle aged man this question the other day. He told me that it was to earn enough to take care of the basic needs of his family and to make memories with them. My parents defined success as simply being able to stay afloat. My definition of success is being independent.
Everyone's definition of success is different. Everyone's definition of success changes. I have no doubt that I will define success as financial stability when I am middle aged.
Hopefully all that was obvious. Now here is the big question.
Does the success of others affect you in any way?
Do you feel that tinge of jealousy when scrolling through facebook, seeing how well your collegues have done for themselves. Are they more agressive? Do they compete with you? Does your family and significant other put pressure on you to get a real job, to earn more money, or to go back to school?
That would make me cringe. Don't let success be a bad word. Don't compare yourself to others, because you are successful, in your own way.
Today, create your own definition of success.
Showing posts with label Inspirational Exercises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspirational Exercises. Show all posts
Death
Everyone is going to die. Its obvious. People deal with it in different ways. There is a philosophy that says that our entire lives, the creation of government, the existence of technology, and even our hobbies are just preoccupations made to overt our attention from our own death. Someone out there created this philosphey in order to better grasp thier own death.
You are going to have to deal with death at some point. Either someone you love is going to die, someone you barely knew is going to die, or you are going to go through the frightening grasp with mortality that is dealing with your own eventual doom.
You deal with grief your own way. You can't do it wrong.
The thing that scares me most when someone I know dies is that I could have said one more thing, made one more memory for this person before they stopped making memories.
The way I am dealing with it is knowing that there is always time to change. Regret is only positive if it leads to change...
I am going to keep death in my mind, but not in a deleterious sort of way. I am going to remember that someday, all of this will end for someone. Maybe it will be someone I love, maybe it will be me. I am going to stop taking advantage of the time I have by making sure I tell the people I love that I love them now, instead of later.
Today, if you are like me, you will stop taking advantage of time.
Rest in Peace Uncle Troy
You are going to have to deal with death at some point. Either someone you love is going to die, someone you barely knew is going to die, or you are going to go through the frightening grasp with mortality that is dealing with your own eventual doom.
You deal with grief your own way. You can't do it wrong.
The thing that scares me most when someone I know dies is that I could have said one more thing, made one more memory for this person before they stopped making memories.
The way I am dealing with it is knowing that there is always time to change. Regret is only positive if it leads to change...
I am going to keep death in my mind, but not in a deleterious sort of way. I am going to remember that someday, all of this will end for someone. Maybe it will be someone I love, maybe it will be me. I am going to stop taking advantage of the time I have by making sure I tell the people I love that I love them now, instead of later.
Today, if you are like me, you will stop taking advantage of time.
Rest in Peace Uncle Troy
Be Brave
What is the bravest thing you can think of? Is it moving away from your friends and family for a job? Is it jumping out of a plane? For some people, these things aren't that scary. For me, public speaking and riding motorcycles isn't scary at all. However, the prospect of sticking up for myself is enough to make me want to hide under my covers. Does that make you laugh? Sure, for some its not big deal, but I find those confident self-assured people brave.
Today's exercise is pinpointing exactly what frightens you. Do a thought experiment. What is the worst that can happen? Remember that for other people, this is no big deal. Remember that there are things that you do that others would consider brave. These are the baby steps that will make you fearless. It may start with booking scuba diving lessons, but it may end with you learning how to fly.
Today's exercise is pinpointing exactly what frightens you. Do a thought experiment. What is the worst that can happen? Remember that for other people, this is no big deal. Remember that there are things that you do that others would consider brave. These are the baby steps that will make you fearless. It may start with booking scuba diving lessons, but it may end with you learning how to fly.
Work Vs. Play
Have you ever heard the phrase, "do what you love and you'll never have to work a day in your life?" Well, no one I ever cared about told that to me. My sensible family of meager beginnings told me to work hard for a living because life is hard. There is no getting by easy in this world. Everyone works as hard as they can, and what separates the good from the bad is not the will to work, but the ability to really do so.
What happened to me is probably what happened to most people. I have a job I am good at, but hobbies that define me.
So what do you do? What part of your life defines you? It is okay if it isn't your job, a vast majority of us have a 9-5 to pay off student loans and shelter for the people we love. What isn't okay is having nothing that defines you.
Today's goal is to do something. No, don't just do your job, do something that is meaningful to who you are.
What happened to me is probably what happened to most people. I have a job I am good at, but hobbies that define me.
So what do you do? What part of your life defines you? It is okay if it isn't your job, a vast majority of us have a 9-5 to pay off student loans and shelter for the people we love. What isn't okay is having nothing that defines you.
Today's goal is to do something. No, don't just do your job, do something that is meaningful to who you are.
Take Chances
Some people live in their comfort zones and lead wonderful lives. These people found a way to pay for a modest living with a job washing dishes, some live with their parents well into their 30's. Is that you? Well, I am not putting you down, there is nothing wrong with that lifestyle.
But doesn't it get boring? You don't want to look back on your life and wonder what you could have been, do you?
Today find an area of your life where you are comfortable, and take a chance to improve yourself. Challenge yourself to take the next step. Have you had the same job title for the last six years? Ask for new responsibilities. Are you afraid of starting that business? Go ahead and take that first step. Whats the worst that can happen?
But doesn't it get boring? You don't want to look back on your life and wonder what you could have been, do you?
Today find an area of your life where you are comfortable, and take a chance to improve yourself. Challenge yourself to take the next step. Have you had the same job title for the last six years? Ask for new responsibilities. Are you afraid of starting that business? Go ahead and take that first step. Whats the worst that can happen?
Appreciation
Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. - Volitaire.
Appreciation goes both ways. Sure, give honest, sincere, compliments to those you notice, but you also got to learn how to take a compliments. Appreciate your compliment. Don't shrug it off. Gracefully accept and take a moment to savor the love today.
Appreciation goes both ways. Sure, give honest, sincere, compliments to those you notice, but you also got to learn how to take a compliments. Appreciate your compliment. Don't shrug it off. Gracefully accept and take a moment to savor the love today.
Take a media fast
Do you ever get negative feedback? What about positive feedback? What about feedback that is just noise? It comes at us from everywhere, our friends, our family, the TV, the internet. We get so much information in our lives that sometimes even the sincere, the useful, the important things that mean the most to us just become noise. It ameliorates passion, love, and even self worth.
Does a strikingly beautiful woman cause you to appreciate your own unique beauty less? Does the latest news report about massive death tolls humble the memory of a lost loved one? Does a world full of buzzing make your own life seem less important?
So take a break. Maybe you will see some sort of difference.
Spend today avoiding stimulation. Avoid your daily newspaper, magazines, fiction, and chatter. Attack your responsibilities with focus, purpose, and drive. Maybe without all that noise, you can hear yourself better.
Does a strikingly beautiful woman cause you to appreciate your own unique beauty less? Does the latest news report about massive death tolls humble the memory of a lost loved one? Does a world full of buzzing make your own life seem less important?
So take a break. Maybe you will see some sort of difference.
Spend today avoiding stimulation. Avoid your daily newspaper, magazines, fiction, and chatter. Attack your responsibilities with focus, purpose, and drive. Maybe without all that noise, you can hear yourself better.
Out of site, out of mind
Today, make an effort to de-clutter your space. It will de-clutter your mind as well. Take a few bags of books, clothes, and knick knacks to your local Goodwill or Salvation Army. Clear off your desk at work. Also make an effort to spend some time outside. Take a stroll through your neighborhood and get inspired by the open spaces. I guarantee your racing thoughts will be a bit less speedy after today.
Toxicity
Surround yourself with healthy people, and you will become healthy too. Pushing the negativity out of your life includes pushing away negative people.
Accepting and enabling a toxic person is selfish. Don't put up with toxicity because you need that extra friend, that extra love. Have some self respect, and expel negative influences out of your life. It is hard, but change is never easy.
Love yourself Music
Music is powerful. It can make us laugh, cry, dance, sing, express the whole gamit of emotions. Need a pick me up? Create your own power playlist with music that makes you get up and go. Here is a selection of music that pumps me up.
Post in the comments what your fight song is! I'll add it to the list
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gayner
- I Have Confidence sung by Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music
- Lose Yourself by Eminem
- Video by India.Arie
- Unpretty by TLC
- I'm a Survivor by Destiny's Child
- Born This Way by Lady Gaga
Post in the comments what your fight song is! I'll add it to the list
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