February 2012 'Useletter'
Welcome to February! So much for slowing down, the year started with a bang and it just looks to get busier.
Firstly, I had some great exposure on a morning television breakfast show, called Expresso – click on the links to see the motivational messages. What is Wealth? & Wake up Positive! There will be more interviews in coming weeks, I will be posting the links on Facebook and the 'inspiringtheworld' page on You Tube.
December and January really have been enlightening months for me with many happenings resulting in me seeing life a bit differently. When we returned from our break in January, we landed at the the airport and immediately attended the funeral of my wife's best friend. We had just seen her 3 weeks ago. What a shock! What hurt the most, is that we were not there when it happened, we couldn't say goodbye, and we were not there to support her husband at the time. Couple this with my experience a month before, and I get the feeling someone is trying to give me a 'major' message here. Live life to the fullest!
On top of this, I recently read about a question that was posed to the Dalai Lama which has had me thinking seriously on what is important in life.
He was asked, “What thing about humanity surprises you the most?”
His answer was as follows, “Man!”
Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn't enjoy the present. As a result he doesn't live in the present or the future, but lives as if he’s never going to die, and then he dies having never really lived!
Wow! That literally says it all. As we are at the beginning of a new year I think this is a very powerful message we all need to follow, so that we can look back at 2012 in 11 months time and say, “Hey, I really lived this year.”
I would like to add a few 'Rules' to follow to make 2012 more fun.
1. Keep it simple
If you have seen me speak live, you know I am a KISS man (Keep It Simple, Stupid). I cannot believe how many people over-complicate their lives believing complex issues and solutions must be better than simple ones, just because they are complex! Huh? If you are run-down and over stressed, slow down! No pill or psychologist is going to change that hectic pace – it's up to you to slow down. If you want a different year this year to last year, then do things differently this year. You cannot behave the same as last year and expect different results!
2. Take responsibility
Accept that everything in your life happens because of you! Stop blaming your parents, the government, your dog and anyone else you can find. You will never be fulfilled or happy if you do this. Realise right now that YOU and YOU ALONE are responsible for your own happiness.
3. Be satisfied with what you have!
Count your blessings! What is it with the whole materialism issue? Are you really that gullible to believe everything the media tells you on television? Do you really think that a bigger car, the latest computer, or the newest moisturizer is going to make your problems go away? Wake up and be happy with who you are and what you have. It's simply a mind-set. Decide to be happy with what you have and who your are and suddenly you become a different person. Don't knock it until you have tried it. Think about this... have you met those people at work that are always happy and always joking? They are not particularly rich, or better off than anyone else, yet they seem to be content. Don't they just annoy you? It's time you took a deeper look and realise that beauty really does come from within. Part of beauty is contentment. If you are content, you radiate a different energy and attract different things.
4. Laugh at yourself
One of the greatest lessons in life I have learnt is to laugh at myself. If mates catch me out with a joke – I will laugh louder than them, because I was gullible enough to fall for it. We all make mistakes, we all get caught out every now and then – that's life. Learn to accept this and take yourself a little less seriously. Life does start becoming fun then... really!
5. Welcome everything that comes your way
What makes us disapprove of something? It's our preconceptions and our expectations in life due to conditioning. So how about trying to dispel all your preconceived ideas and not judge anything that comes your way? Instead welcome it and try look for the deeper meaning. In other words, keep an open mind in everything you do and stay away from expectations and other agendas. It calms you down and makes you appreciates many different and new aspects of life.
6. Stop being judgmental and learn to practice objectivity
Imagine everyone in this world would give every person they met a clean slate and not judge them at all? We would be living in paradise! No matter what you think of a person of another culture, race or creed – stop pre-judging and being prejudice. Give each person the same chance in life – and you might be very surprised. Never make decisions based on emotions, instead look at all the facts – your life will flow much smoother.
7. Open your whole self up to every experience
Many people has been hurt in love, then they never want to love again. They become weary and withdrawn in future relationships. This is so sad as this person misses out of experiencing love and life in the fullest, simply because of one bad experience. By opening yourself up to every experience, and giving off yourself 100% every time, you live a complete life in the moment.
8. Live in the moment
Yes there is the need to make calculated decisions on occasion – but to hold back and wait for a better or different opportunity, or to hold back because of fear and ignorance, denies you experiencing life to the nth degree. I mentioned this last year and someone retaliated on You Tube saying that this is they dumbest thing they heard. He mentioned that if he blew all his money tonight and drank himself to a stupor, he wouldn't be happier tomorrow. On that note let me say that I fully understand that some of us don't see the meaning of my messages in the same vein as others do. Thus let me clarify 'living in the moment.' By this I mean, experiencing the moment you are in now to the fullest, as in 100%. Be there in totally with your body, mind and spirit. Stop being distracted and thinking of other things while talking to your children, or your spouse – that's not living in the moment. When you are in a park – don't just look at the monument in front of you, but look at everything else around you, the trees, the people, the children playing, the roses, etc. That's living in the moment!
9. Practice 'ME' time
You need to relax on your own. You need to have a place where you can be quiet with yourself and by yourself. The mad rush of today's world is not good for you. You need a place to recharge your batteries. Whether it is a calmly decorated room in your home, or sitting on the side of a riverbed in the park. You need to allocate at least 10 minutes a day for yourself.
10. Be happy
If you are down, go stand in front of a mirror and smile at yourself – but from within! Guess what, it does cheer you up, even if it is only a little. Now practice this more and more until cheerfulness becomes part of who you are. Smile at people around you and feel the warmth returned.
11. Stop interfering!
Why is it that people always interfere in somebody else's business? They stick their noses into things that don't concern them. Yes, obviously if there is some criminal or cruel behaviour going on, then something has to be done. But most of the problems arise from people who simply stick their noses into other people's private business. Who are you to judge others for their interests which are different to yours? You are not above anybody else, so then why should you dictate how they must live? Rather accept that person for who they are and learn to live as friends and colleagues. Rather find out what makes them tick and learn to respect the differences between you. That's what makes us all unique.
12. Don't just forgive others, but yourself too!
Besides learning to forgive others, learn to forgive yourself. Granted, there is nothing more annoying that making a stupid mistake. But that's life, accept it and learn to laugh at yourself, it will make it much easier to get over it. Just remember, everyone makes mistakes, just try not make the same mistake twice!
13. Spend more time with the important people in your life.
Your spouse, your children, your family and friends – that's where true wealth lies. Make a promise this year to spend more quality time with family. Plane dates a few months ahead for socials with good friends and stick to them. If you don't the year will just run away with you.
I trust that these 13 tips give you some ideas on making 2012 a lot more fun and allowing you to make it the best year ever.