36525 days to live

Do you realize that your self-image a key determinant to your quality of life? You usually perform on the outside in a matter consistent with the picture you have of yourself on the inside.

I started using the visualization technique a couple of years ago. At first, I was very skeptical, but as I kept visualizing and working towards my goal, things started to happen at an accelerated pace. In consequence,  I started accomplishing my goals faster than I used to because of this technique.

As I became more successful with a few projects, it gave me the confidence to start bigger ones. It became like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

A few examples… going to the gym for me was the most boring activity I could imagine. Now I couldn’t imagine more than a few days without exercising. Saving money when I was younger was so hard for me to do. Now it has become a systematic habit for many years.

I could give you so many examples in many areas of my life where things seemingly impossible became a reality over time.

Practice visualizing yourself as you want to be, not as you may have been in the past. You can actually change your self-image permanently by repeatedly visualizing yourself as someone who is able to get things done.

Remember that it takes about twenty-one days of practice and repetition to form a new habit pattern. It has taken you your entire lifetime to become the person you are today, with the time management habits you have at this moment. It takes time and commitment to change. But once you do, it increases your self-image and self-confidence tremendously.

When developing the habits of time management, start in just one area where poor time management is holding you back. Don’t try to change everything at once. It will discourage you if you do. Change just one habit where you know that improvement could be very helpful to you.

Begin your new time management habit strongly. Never allow an exception once you have decided that you are going to become excellent with a specific behavior. Avoid self-indulgence ! Avoid procrastination !

I was talking with someone recently and she was asking me why I was spending soooo much time exercising at my age.

At my age???   I’m only 47.

I couldn’t believe the comment I was hearing. So I thought I would tell everyone why I invest so much time exercising.

Yes, I say it is an investment because I can get a reward for my efforts.

My reward?

The more I exercise, the more energy I have left for my other obligations and responsibilities.

The hour that I invest everyday doing different kinds of physical activities is actually paid back to me the same day in the form of additional energy. When I invest 1 hour a day exercising and it gives me 1 to 3 hours of additional energy. Wouldn’t you agree it is a good return for my investment in time. And this is only the immediate reward. Exercising regularly is supposed to provide additional benefits to our overall health and well being.

Some people say they don’t have time to exercise, I disagree. Even when we are extremely busy, it is possible to walk from one place to another, we can take the stairs instead of the elevator, we can do sit-ups or push-ups or even yoga positions in some quiet areas indoors or outdoors. Cleaning our house, mowing the lawn and washing the car are good physical activities.

Instead of seeing these chores as a burden, we should start looking at them as practical physical activities. We would kill two birds with one stone. On the walls at my Gym,they wrote a message saying that putting back our dumbells at their place after using them IS exercising. Usually, when we say that we don’t feel like doing something, it is because we are too tired or we find it too boring. When we are very motivated to do something, we figure out a way to do it.

The most difficult part is to make it a daily habit. If you stick with it for 4 to 6 weeks, you should be able to turn it into a regular habit just like flossing or brushing your teeth.

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Take good care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live.

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Did you ever try to predict the consequences of doing or not doing something? The potential consequences of any task or activity will determine what is really important to you. Your attitude towards time has an enormous impact on your behavior and your choices. People who have long-term views about their lives always seem to make much better decisions about their time and activities than people who give very little thought to the future.

In the movie “Scent Of a Woman” Al Pacino gave a powerful speech and at one point he said:

“Every time in my life, I always knew what to do, but I didn’t do it.”

 ”Do you know why?”

“Because it was too damned hard”

By definition, something that is important has long-term potential consequences. Something that is unimportant has few or no long-term potential consequences. Before starting on anything, you should always ask yourself,

“What are the potential consequences of doing or not doing this task?”

The clearer you are about your future intentions, the greater influence that clarity will have on what you do in the moment. If there is a task or activity with large potential positive consequences, make it a top priority and get started on it immediately.

Thinking continually about the potential consequences of your choices, decisions and behaviors is one of the very best ways to determine your true priorities in your personal life. Clarifying your priorities will take some of your time NOW but it could save of lot of time in the future.

We have control over our choices!

We don’t have control over the consequences of our choices!

Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then …

Wait to hear the answer.

“Many people walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart”

Eleanor Roosevelt

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“Oh my God, why is this happening to me?”

It is not what happens to us that counts. It is how we react to what happens to us, especially when we have unexpected problems of any kind. This is the philosophy of the Stoics from Ancient Greece.

What can we do to assure ourselves that our attitude will be the very best, under all circumstances?

Personally, what I find the most difficult when something bad happens to me is; how long will it take to get myself out of this mess? What I try to think when this happens:I was able to get out of trouble before and I should be able to get out of it this time too. With more life experience, of course.

I try to focus on the future and this gives me hope of better days ahead. It gives me the courage to go through what I have to go through. I have to admit it is not always easy, but most of the time, it’s possible.

Whatever challenges you face, focus on the future rather than on the past. Instead of worrying about who did what and who is to blame, focus on where you want to be and what you want to do. Get a clear mental image of your future, and then take whatever action you can to begin moving in that direction. Get your mind, your thoughts, and your mental images on the future.

I have so many examples of events that looked so bad at first glance, and then eventually I was able to see the good coming out from it. Sometimes it took me years to realize it.

Whenever you’re faced with a difficulty, focus on the solution rather than on the problem. Think and talk about the ideal solution to the obstacle, rather than wasting time brooding on the problem. Solutions are positive, whereas problems are negative. The instant that you begin thinking in terms of solutions, you become a positive and constructive human being.

Believe that something good is hidden within each difficulty or challenge.  The bigger the gift you have coming, the bigger the problem you will receive. The wonderful thing is that if you look for the gift, you will always find it.

Believe that whatever situation you are facing at the moment is exactly the right situation you need to ultimately be successful. This situation has been sent to you to help you learn something, to help you become better, to help you expand and grow.

But I hear you say: What if the problem can’t be solved?

The only answer I have for you is: What can’t be cured must be endured !

Otherwise, take some time to write out every detail of the problem, when you can figure out the real causes of the problem, it’s already half solved !

The 3 “P”s of my life are Passion, Patience and Persistence…

Passion for life is what gives me my purpose, drives me to learn, to discover, to be curious and keeps me working to master and improve my craft.

Patience and persistence are demonstrated when I turn the day-to day grind into something I really care about and don’t quit when life gets in the way, and guess what… it always does and always will.

What about you?

Did you do a reality check on your 3 “P”s recently?