Month: August 2017

I love famous movie quotes and my favorite movie of all time was the 1987 movie Wall Street starring most notably Michael Douglas and Charlie Sheen.  I’ve watched it enough times to have memorized some of the lines and one of the most thought-provoking quotes in the movie was actually by actor Hal Holbrook.  Hal plays Charlie’s boss in the movie and just as Charlie begins engaging in some less-than-ethical business dealings, he delivers a valuable piece of advice to Charlie.  Hal says “Man looks into the abyss, there is nothing staring back at him.  At that moment, man finds his character, and that is what keeps him out of the abyss”.

That’s pretty deep and ultimately there are varying opinions regarding the meaning of the phrase.  In watching the movie, you understand that Charlie must ultimately be able to live with himself for his decisions, right or wrong.  That’s a great source of inspiration to me.  Each day we make decisions about things we do and things that we say.  When the crowd has died down and we are all alone, it’s the mental battle within each one of us, our conscience vs. our morals vs. our values, that must provide us with contentment.  When you look in the mirror, you see yourself as the world sees you, the outer you.  When you look into total darkness, there is no reflection and you are alone with your thoughts and feelings, the inner you.  I’m going to strive to make my decisions and my actions be those that I can live with and be proud of, not those that I regret or that I am ashamed of.

Research shows that the most pivotal part of your day is the morning.  It is at that time that the tone and direction for your day can best be established both mentally and physically.  Over the years, I have heard of many routines of others to ensure that their day stood the best chance for success.  Some attest to eating a good breakfast, getting a good cup of coffee, a morning exercise routine, prayer and meditation, and yoga just to name a few habits that many believe actually help them have a happier and more productive day.  I just finished an article that mentioned using the acronym PCO to serve as a reminder of three important mental attributes which can help you have the best chance for a successful day.

P = Purpose

C = Control

O = Optimism

Beginning your morning with a sense of purpose with goals in mind is a great way to maintain focus throughout the day.  Knowing what you want to accomplish before getting into your school or work routine can help you literally check off individual items of success from your mental to-do list.  What a rewarding feeling it is to be able to succeed in meeting those goals.  Furthermore, the accomplishments just serve as a catalyst to keep you going forward all day long.

Being in control of your thoughts, actions, and emotions throughout the day will also give you the best chance for success.  Remaining calm despite what obstacles and challenges the world presents allows you to use your mind at its peak performance not being manipulated by circumstances we generally cannot control.

Finally, the obvious.  Optimism, while sometimes difficult to embrace in a world that seems to be driven on the negative, can prove to be your best asset to fight off fatigue, exertion, anger, boredom, and many of the other negative feelings that are usually best at stealing a productive day from you.  Remaining positive and trying to see the good in all circumstances will empower you to press on and achieve your day’s goals.

I recently read an interesting list of healthy strategies found in author Tom Corley’s book Rich Habits – The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.  After reading through the list, I realized that they were not just for wealthy people or even for people that are trying to reach one person’s definition of wealth.  They are simply great strategies that will help everyone, regardless of economic status, and they apply to anyone seeking to be successful in whatever area of life they choose.  I am listing those strategies for you here:

1. Successful people form daily good habits and follow these good habits every single day.
2. Successful people set goals and create a plan to reach those goals.
3. Successful people devote time each day to self-improvement.
4. Successful people manage their consumption of food and engage in regular exercise.
5. Successful people foster, grow and improve their relationships with others every day.
6. Successful people do everything in moderation.  No extreme behaviors.
7. Successful people do not procrastinate and have a “Do It Now” mindset.
8. Successful people engage in rich thinking every day.  They are positive and enthusiastic.
9. Successful people pay themselves first by putting 10% of their salary into savings.
10. Successful people are the masters of their thoughts and emotions.

It certainly helps to have a list like this to look over and find where we fall short.  I am committing today to striving to improve on those things above that need more attention in my life.  Where do you see room for improvement in your life?

Robert Brault said it best when he said “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things”.  What a true statement.  In the fast-paced world we live in today, the significance of those little things is often overlooked as we glide through them, many times failing to even express our gratitude.  As we grow older, it becomes far easier to reflect back on those little things and realize just how important they were and how they deserved so much more attention.  Try to be conscious of everyday events as they are occurring – a conversation with a friend, an act of kindness shown toward you by others, or simply family time spent laughing and sharing.

Each day life is full of challenges and obstacles, some of our doing, others simply occur by chance.  Our reaction to those challenges and whatever consequences they bring can prevent a chain reaction leading to additional problems. Most importantly, how we react to failure is crucial in determining the next step in our path.  Admiral William McRaven said, “Know that life is not fair and you will fail often”.  He adds, “Failure can make you stronger”.  I think what he is getting at is that by allowing failure to paralyze us, we lose a second time.  In contrast, by using the failure to catapult us into a re-energized attitude and mentality of striving to correct and overcome the failure, we prepare ourselves for future success.  Don’t let failure or lack of success cripple you and prevent you from achieving the greatness that lies within your potential.  Step up and step out, refocused and prepared for success.  Take chances and don’t be afraid to fail.

Everything in life has a beginning, both good things and bad.  It’s at that very point that the outcome can be predicted and in most cases manipulated for the better.  Choosing to make those beginnings a point of focus is a conscious decision that each person can and should make.  Sure, there will be unforeseen mishaps and hurdles, but to the one that plans, prepares, and does the little things in the beginning, the path is easier and the road is straighter.  Choose today to make a new beginning and start taking control of your destiny and define your life instead of letting life define you.  Don’t settle for anything less.