The few memories I have of Annapolis, MD, are not pleasant ones. Weeks
into our marriage, we attended a military funeral there of a cherished cousin
of my wife, Bobbi.
I’ve been seeing the city’s tourism theme, “Create Your Moment.” If my
crazy life should permit it, I would love to see Annapolis, MD again from the
different perspective of age (fifties compared to thirties) and circumstances
(a sad funeral to a happy vacation).
“Living in the
moment means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means
living your life consciously, aware that each moment you breathe is a gift.”
“We do not remember days, we remember
moments.”
(Cesare Pavese)
1. Spend quality time with loved ones: What’s
the point of success and living a good life if you can’t share it with anyone?
Quality time goes beyond simply being there. It means putting your phone down
and connecting with others. No one wants regrets
when they’re older.
There’s nothing more important to me than being there for the people you love.
Having a connection with someone that you can
truly be honest with allows you to open up and feel truly ‘real.’ Talking with a
friend makes it more likely I’ll stay on track with my commitments to myself.
“I don't think quantity time is as special as quality
time with your family.” (Reba McEntire)
2. Exercise: A brisk twenty minute
walk in the outdoor sunlight gets the blood flowing, and gives the mind a
change of scenery as well as improves self-esteem, moods, and creativity. One
can connect with the Almighty, other people, and nature.
A weekly routine of regular exercise of some kind helps
with the right kind of energy. It can be a life-changing move that helps you
feel better about who you are.
“Exercise: you don't have time not to.” (George A. Sheehan)
3. Come up with ideas: Each day come up with
at least ten ideas. When you exercise your creativity muscle daily, you
strengthen it. You clear up the mental clutter that gets stuck in your head.
You may even come up an idea that will make you money, or cause difference in
the world. I write out a plan for the day.
“A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go
further than a great idea that inspires no one.” (Mary Kay Ash)
4. Show gratitude: Whether you believe
in the Almighty (or not), experiencing gratitude for what you do have helps you
concentrate on the positive. This daily routine has allowed me to be my most
creative, efficient, and effective self.
It’s easy to get wrapped up in yourself. Make
sure to do something simple (and thoughtful) to show someone how important they
are to you. One of the greatest benefits of expressing appreciation is that it allows us
to see others more completely. The more appreciation we express.
The more we are getting out of ourselves the better off we
feel. Get on your knees, say thanks, and ask for help and guidance. I repeat
another simple sentence, “Love, serve, and remember. Remember what?
Remember to love and serve.”
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your life. It is an action word.
If one doesn’t consciously take time to be aware of all the things there
grateful for each day, it’s easy to slip back into negative thinking. Practice
gratitude and it will change how you see the world.
“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for
today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” (Melody Beattie)
5.
Get your day
ready the night before: If it takes you a bit of time to decide what to
wear in the morning, get the next day’s outfit ready as part of your bedtime
ritual. If you want to make positive eating decisions at lunch, take your time
to carefully prepare a healthy meal the night before that will carry you
through your day.
Nighttime affirmations put your mind in a
positive state right before you go to sleep. They give you a feeling of
confidence and clarity, while setting the tone for your next morning. A daily
action plan allows one to focus on what’s important.
Affirmations help you define your focus for the things you
want to see in your life. They keep you focused on your goals, desires, and
dreams. Most importantly, positive affirmations allow you to deliberately train your subconscious
mind.
“Life belongs to the living, and
he who lives must be prepared for changes.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
6.
Start your
day with lots of good stuff: Feeling groggy? No
matter how cold it might be, go outside to soak in some sunshine. The sun’s
rays will boost your mood, increase your alertness, strengthen your immunity
from sickness, and help you sleep better at night. Start your day with
calmness. Many successful people are early risers
Water helps cleanse and rehydrate a person. It
also helps me wake up. Up to 60% of the human body is water. Having a glass of water first
thing
in the morning helps you avoid health issues caused by dehydration.
Meditating (mindfulness) eleven minutes each
morning without fail can change your life. Just sit somewhere by yourself; focus
on the sound of your breathing; and focus on a point beyond yourself.
“My Morning Pages”
journal
helps clear my mind and clarify my goals. Writing on these private pages is
about everything that crosses my mind. They prioritize, the day at hand.
“The best things in life are unseen, that’s why we close
our eyes when we kiss, cry, and dream.” (Helen Keller)
7. Seek positive input: Inspiration is a
wonderful thing. Because you can’t expect to stay that way indefinitely; take fifteen
minutes to read a book, watch a video, or listen to a podcast that encourages
you. It will be a lot easier to have a good day if you fill your head with
positive thoughts. Imagine the day unfolding positively, and then go further
into the future, picturing where and who you want to be.
Positive thinking helps manage stress and
even improves your health. Meditating (mindfulness) eleven minutes each morning
without fail can change your life for the good. Just sit somewhere by yourself;
focus on the sound of your breathing; and focus on a point beyond yourself.
Spending your day
spreading gossip; will stress you out and make you unhappy. Give yourself the
goal of three positive compliments for every negative comment you make.
“You can't change how people treat you or what they say
about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.” (Nicky Gumbel)
8. Do the
important thing first:
Choose from the options below as you do one of these
tasks first.
The task …
ü With
the most urgent deadline
ü That
is the largest source of stress
ü That
will take the most time and energy
Avoid the temptation to check your email any more than
every few hours. Starting and stopping a task adds up in wasted time, and an
overwhelmed feeling.
“The two most important days in your life are the day
you are born, and the day you find out why.” (Mark Twain)
9.
Remind yourself of your why: If you find yourself
stressed to the point of wanting to scream, try these life savers:
ü Get
away somewhere that’s quiet, and your alone
ü Close
your eyes
ü Massage
your forehead
ü Breathe
deeply in and out five times
How does the activity your doing right now fit into the
overall master plan for your life? Remind yourself of why you’re there. Realize that the stress of this day will
be over with soon.[i]
“It's your life... why not fill
it with as much joy as possible?” (Bonnie St. John)
“You're going to come across people in your life who will say all
the right words at all the right times. But in the end, it's always their
actions you should judge them by. It's actions (not words) that matter.” (Nicholas Sparks)
[i] Sources used:
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