Situations will always arise, positive and negative. The situations don’t determine the outcome.
The choices you make, the way you decide to learn from every situation, your mindset ALWAYS determines the outcome, and not just in the short term. The long term effects of any situation are solely determined by what you decide to take from it.
So today, start with a positive mindset.
Be open to learning opportunities (aka struggles).
There are a lot of bite-sized inspirational talks, given by people from all walks of life (coaches, speakers, charity founders, teachers) and they are wonderful.
Some of my favorite quotes so far:
“You don’t choose your negative thoughts but you can choose not to listen to them”-Jay Glazer
“The best way to win the day is to win the moment. Moments turn into days, days into weeks and weeks into years.”-Doshia Woods
“Unshakeable confidence isn’t about the results. It’s about self awareness.”-David Nurse
“It’s not always the path of least resistance that gets you where you want to go, it’s the path that’s worth taking”-Sam Acho
“When we focus on honoring others as our mission in life, differences fade. Prejudice becomes a foreign concept.”- Miles McPherson
There are a LOT more. You should definitely check it out.
You most likely will find something there to help fuel you daily, and I guarantee it will make your Tuesday a little happier!
In his book, The Infinite Game, Simon Sinek discusses the ideas of constant improvement.
Too often, businesses (and individuals) look at this constant improvement in the form of procedures, policies, accolades, awards, etc.
There is absolutely nothing wrong woth all of that.
However, the true idea of constant improvement should come in the forms of improving teamwork, mindset, skills, connection with others, compassion and leadership.
These traits are more important because they drive us to create a better now, and to leave a better legacy fo the sake of our family, friends, customers, loved ones and communities. The accolades are achieved as a result of these things.
The great (and sometimes frustrating, depending on how you choose to look at it) thing about these intrinsic improvements (as opposed to accolades and awards) is that there is no “finish line.” The goal is to constantly improve, not to “arrive.”
So today, envision your life improving for the sake of improvement and any awards, goals or et cetera are just mile markers along the infinite game of life.
“Because, once we have overcome the defeats-and we always do-we are filled by a greater sense of euphoria and confidence. In the silence of our hearts, we know that we are proving ourselves worthy of the miracle of life.”-Paulo Coelho, Rio de janeiro, Novemebr 2002 (from the forward in The Alchemist)
I love this book!
I have read it a few times already and am re-reading again.
Such a simple, but moving story about following your soul’s purpose, especially when you aren’t even sure exactly what that purpose is. As long as you are doing things in life that light you up a bit, that make you feel antsy inside but also warmth, you are on the right track.
The key is to do something, anything that lights you up a bit inside. Follow the “omens” as Paulo describes them, and you will find happiness, in fact you will CREATE happiness, in your life.
I highly recommend this brief read (multiple times).
I loved the statement one of her patients made to her “Maybe happiness is sometimes.”
Too often, we humans think in absolutes and extremes.
I am happy or I am sad.
I am “all in” or I am doing nothing.
I am successful or I am a failure.
Life doesn’t work that way.
In fact:
————————————-The spectrum between extremes is long and beautiful—————————–
I believe that when we focus on the extremes, it gives us a reason to gravitate toward one end of that spectrum, and more often than not, it’s the side we want to be on.
The truth is, life is full of ups and downs, big wins, small failures, big failures, tiny victories, extreme jubilation, crippling depression, laughing out loud’s, chuckling very quietly’s, overwhelming fear, extreme confidence… and everything in between.
When we give too much power to the extremes in life, it renders our true existence powerless.
We need to realize that life is a conglomerate. And it is ok to be happy or victorious or depressed or successful SOMETIMES.
We can even substitute “sometimes” for “most times” on many of these things (and if we looked at our lives, we probably would realize we gravitate more toward the positive side than the negative) and that is truly O.K.
In fact, that is why we are alive.
So, today, try not to focus on extremes. Realize that being somewhere along the scale is where we are supposed to be that moment, and that we can tip the scales in the direction we choose.
We don’t have to be successful or happy all the time (in fact, if that is our goal, we are doomed for failure).
Realize, life is a journey and no matter where we are right now, we can choose to get back on the ride and enjoy ALL OF IT.
Taken from “Maybe You Should Talk To Someone” by Lori Gottlieb
The other day, I was driving with my son. It had been one of those days where I was lost in thought, thinking of what I needed to get done before Christmas.
He interrupted my thoughts to point out a house that was wonderfully decorated and lit up with Christmas lights.
It was an amazing sight. (Well, maybe not as amazing as our very own Christmas Llama on our front lawn, but still…)
The point is, our world at any given moment is what we choose to observe.
Our world is made up of what we bring with us.
If we are negative because of a crappy morning, the world is going to be dulled, less beautiful.
If we are in a soaring mood, we will notice the beauty all around.
The good news is we can choose what we bring with us.
We can decide to imbibe all the craziness that is social media, relish in nasty comments.
We can decide to fume over some slight that happened to us yesterday.
We can decide to listen to music that only makes us cry more.
We can decide to switch the playlist and listen to joy.
We can read beautiful poetry.
We can fuel our souls with good food, good company and positivity.
We can decide how beautiful our world will be today by bringing whatever amount of beauty we want with us on today’s journey.
“Because at the end of the day, love wins.” (Taken from Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb).
If you’ve had any bad days lately (pretty sure most of us have), the key to not carrying it over to the next day is to realize that one day doesn’t create a month or year or etc.
The key is to resize that after the 24 hours, that day is done.
Over-with.
Kaput.
The sun comes up again in the morning ($100 you are hearing Annie’s voice in your head now, bet your bottom dollar) and you get another chance at another day.
One way to push toward a better mañana is to end the day with love.
Stop and breathe. Be grateful that you had a day (even if it was “a day”), and find something to love about the day. Even if it is something incredibly small.
Then, take some time to tell someone you love them.
Finally, take some time to tell yourself that you are loved.
End the day with love, because the truth is LOVE AWAYS WINS.
I Read this today: “No matter what, you’ll never get today back”. Truth.
But I also think we can read that and think “we better make today amazing” and that’s not the best policy either.
I think the key is to know today whether an amazing day at work or a mediocre one at best, a day of sunshine, birds singing or stormy and cold. Today cannot be saved.
It must be savored.
So the best policy is to be fully IN it today. Be present, appreciate today for being today. Connect with others, give and receive some love and appreciate the fact that today is finite.
Your life is determined by which lens you choose to peer through.
Obstacles are a constant.
This year, you’ve probably had to navigate a course filled with them.
Number 1: realize that you’ve passed the test so far, you are still here 🙂
Number 2: look at every obstacle as an opportunity, because that is what an obstacle truly is: an opportunity for change/growth/different thinking/discomfort/improvement.
We can look at the obstacles placed in front of us and bemoan them to our (pessimist) heart’s content…
Or we can change our view point, switch out our lens and see the opportunities that lie hidden within.
Dissemination of Inspiration 