Are you a finisher?

Do you have to complete everything you start?

Does the idea of something being unfinished cause you anxiety?

The compulsion to bring everything to a conclusion might be holding you back, especially when it comes to creative endeavors.

If you speak to any creative, whether they are an artist, musician, or writer, they’ll all tell you that they have many unfinished projects.

Yes, there are always exceptions that see every project through to completion, but the majority, if given the opportunity to confess truly, will show you vast amounts of unfinished work.

So why do they have so much unfinished work?

Because they’re not afraid to start.

When they feel inspiration strike, they act, without a clear path ahead.  Often uncertain of what will happen next, they put pen to paper, brush to canvas, and start.

But they know a secret that many don’t.

Each additional action they take leads them closer to more finished work.

They know that all the dabbling and scribbling, the trying and the failing strengthens their resolve to try some more.

So if you’re the kind of person who has to bring every project to conclusion, then good for you.

But every once in a while, see if you can quash the need to have everything wrapped up with a nice little bow and try a few different things, even if eventually you’ll leave them unfinished.

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One brush.

One color.

One pen.

One sheet of paper.

What can you produce with just your mind and a limited set of tools?

Art – Da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian man created with a limited set of tools.

Books – The Bible, Gita, Quran, and Torah have influenced billions of people, and all were created with a limited set of tools.

Buildings – The Pyramids and the Taj Mahal have stood the test of time and were created with a limited set of tools.

Better tools or more tools are very often not the answer.

In fact, the idea that you need better tools is usually either a form of procrastination or an excuse for not starting.

And, once you begin with what you have you will eventually learn what more you might need, but very rarely will more sophisticated tools help you get started.

So get started with as little as possible and remember your imagination is unlimited so don’t let a limited amount of tools hold you back.

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Have you ever been around a hot mic?

If you have, then you know the potential of being overheard.

If you’re wondering what a hot mic is, then let me help you out.

A hot mic is a microphone that’s on and is ready to broadcast or record.

So, how would you behave if you knew there was always a hot mic nearby?

Would it change what you said out loud?

How would you talk about people if you knew there might be a chance they’d find out what you said about them?

If you’re willing to say out loud what’s on your mind and are not concerned about the consequences, then you have nothing to fear from hot mics.

But if not, then be aware.

Technology is currently on a path where you can expect there to always be a hot mic nearby. And there’s no guarantee that what you discuss and say in private, will remain private.

So, if you’re already in the habit of speaking about things you wouldn’t mind being heard, then good for you. But if not, then now might be a good time to start.

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There’s a great way to failure-proof your life.

It takes years to perfect but if you work really hard at it you’ll soon become an expert.

So, are you ready to become an expert in failure proofing?

Are you willing to put in the time?

Are you ready to follow every instruction?

Are you ready to sacrifice your life in order to become failure-proof?

Are you ready to commit?

Don’t read on until you’re really ready to do so.

Ready.

Set.

Stop.

That’s right.

Stop.

Don’t move.

Not even a muscle.

Just stay right where you are.

I guarantee you’ll never fail.

Unless of course, you fall over, because then you’ve failed at being still.

Look, the reality is that if you’re human then failure is inevitable. However, the stories you create around failure are up to you.

Tripping and falling while walking is technically failing at walking, but you’d get back up and continue walking and probably wouldn’t think twice about it. That’s because, in your mind, the story you tell yourself about tripping while walking is that it’s just part of the process.

Well, so is failure in other parts of your life.

It’s just part of the process.

So don’t work on failure proofing.

Work on resilience.

Change your perspective of failure and see it as learning, as experience, and not as something that prevents you from trying.

Realize that attempting to failure proof your life is a fool’s errand, and is ultimately impossible.

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Look around you.

They’re all just like you.

Yes, colors, shapes, sizes, and even genders might differ, but deep down, they’re just like you.

Their concerns and fears.

Their needs and wants.

Their desires and discomforts.

Their insecurities.

Almost all are similar to yours.

Even the ones you put on a pedestal.

The ones you think are better than you.

The ones you disdain.

The ones you think you’re better than.

They’re just like you.

And just like you, none of them escape the emotions and feelings involved in being a human.

At times you might feel as though it’s only you experiencing a certain set of feelings, but know that many of those around you have probably also experienced similar emotions.

So as you go about your day undulating between waves of highs and lows, have grace and patience with all who are around you, because just like you, they’re in the same boat too.

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Have you discovered your calling?

If yes, then fantastic!

Know that there are very few people that find their calling early in life and if you’re one of them then appreciate the fact that you’re in a very distinct minority.

However, if you’re still on a journey of discovery then keep reading.

Keep in mind that a calling is not something you’re obligated to pursue, and many don’t due to their circumstances or because it’s not a priority for them.

You’ll know when you’ve found your calling because you’ll feel enthusiastic and alive when you’re doing it.

Money, recognition, nor time will be of importance to you because you’re operating in full alignment.

Finding your calling does require work, but not necessarily physical labor. It requires the work of attention and recognition.

You need to work at paying attention to subtle signals inside of you that will tell you when you’re close to your calling.

If you listen, you’ll find that your life will keep giving you clues to your calling, such as interests or ideas that keep showing up, or even dreams.

You’ll need to make space in your life if you really want to find your calling, but you’ll find that if you do, discovering your calling will be well worth the effort.

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Have you ever witnessed the power of incremental change?

Incremental change is a wonderful phenomenon; however, you must be vigilant because incremental change can work both for you and against you.

Incremental change requires your attention and patience.

A plane that is slightly off course will never reach its destination. But, one that’s constantly correcting by making small changes will eventually arrive at the desired location.

The challenge with incremental change is that you and those closest to you won’t see it happening since most people only tend to believe what they see. And this is when you need patience.

Incremental change is like the power of compound interest. If you work on yourself and have faith, one morning you’ll wake up and realize just how much you’ve changed.

Don’t undervalue the power of incremental change. Leverage it with intention to achieve the big goals in your life.

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What does it feel like to run an obstacle course?

Well, if you’re reading this, then you are a participant in the greatest obstacle course ever made.

It’s called life.

Many of the obstacles you encounter will be unique to you. Some will be real, and others will be manufactured by your own psychology.

And as long as you’re alive, the obstacles will never stop.

They will come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Some you will be able to manage with ease, and others will take more practice and time.

Occasionally, it might look as though your fellow participants have easier obstacles than you do, but that’s rarely true.

Unfortunately, there’s no real way to avoid obstacles, and you’ll find that if you try, there’ll be another waiting for you around the corner.

The faster you learn to face and deal with your obstacles head-on, the more skilled you’ll become at handling new obstacles in the future.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, keep in mind that life is going to provide you with plenty of obstacles to deal with, so there’s no need to burden yourself further by making up your own obstacles in your mind.

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Have you heard the phrase, looking at the world through rose-colored glasses?

Apparently, the origin of this phrase began during the Civil War when wounded soldiers battling depression were given rose-colored glasses as treatment in order to see things in a more positive light.

But this doesn’t just work on vision.

It can also work for your mind.

What you listen to, read, and watch all have an impact on how you see the world.

How would your days and nights be different if you intentionally book-ended them with good, positive, uplifting information, practices, and thoughts?

You can choose to do this not as an escape from reality, but as a decision to frame your own reality.

And who’s to say that the information you currently consume isn’t just someone else’s version of reality that you accept without validation?

Practice creating a rose-colored glasses regiment for your mind, and enjoy seeing your world through a more positive light.

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Have you ever played a game without rules?

A game where you make up the rules as you go along?

If you watch children play, you’ll see that they make up rules for games all the time. And very often they’ll change or make new ones as they go along.

But the most interesting thing is that when they do change the rules it’s usually in their favor.

You can do the same for yourself.

You don’t have to abide by all the rules that are presented to you.

You do have choices.

Learn to challenge rules, if not physically then at least in your head. Ask yourself why this rule exists.

Rules are often made to create some form of order, but they are at times also created to benefit one group over another.

Breaking rules can have consequences, but you’ll find that at times the consequences will actually be in your favor. Often if you push hard enough, you’ll learn about exceptions to the rules, so why not be that exception?

Your life is your game to play.

Learn to make your own rules when you can, because at least then you’ll know the rules will be in your best interest.

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You hear a lot about attention deficit, but what if you could have an abundance of attention?

What if you could conjure up a laser-like focus whenever you needed to?

What if you could be fully present in all that you do?

Well, now you can with the all-new Attention Abundance Trainer 9000.

In just 10 minutes a day, you too can have a stronger, longer attention span.

The solution is all-natural and requires no additional equipment or supplements.

All you need to do is practice for 30 days, and you find yourself being able to pay attention at a whole new level.

Does it sound too good to be true?

Maybe it is.

But what if it’s not?

In all seriousness, research has shown that you can indeed increase your attention, and here are three ways that you can practice – for as little as 10 minutes a day.

Purposely stop multitasking

Focused breathing mediation

Spend quiet, uninterrupted time in nature

Increasing your attention span can help you while studying and working, but even more important is that it can make you more present in your interactions with people.  And being more present will lead to creating deeper and more meaningful relationships, especially with your loved ones.

So make working on your attention a priority, and move from having a shallow, fleeting interaction with your world to a fuller, more vibrant relationship.

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What would your day look like if you agreed with everyone you interacted with?

If just for one day, all you said was, you’re right, or that’s a great idea.

And you did this by not just paying lip service but really taking the time to see the world through another person’s eyes.

I hope it’s apparent that I’m not recommending you make a drastic life-altering decision by unquestioningly agreeing with everyone you meet. What I am suggesting is being open-minded to alternative perspectives, even if just for one day.

Even if you decide not to agree, being open will give you a deeper understanding of how people around you think and what is important to them.

If you find just the thought of spending a day agreeing with others a little offensive, then that says a lot about you and perhaps even how people feel about you.

Try agreeing with people, even if not for a whole day. Look at it this way: you can always go back tomorrow and say that you gave it more thought, and if it gives you pleasure, then tell them you think they were wrong.

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Are you waiting for an easier day to come along?

A day so smooth that you glide right through it without experiencing any challenges?

Well, you’ll have to keep waiting,  because that day doesn’t exist.

And if you’re wondering, I can tell you with almost complete certainty that it doesn’t exist for anyone.

It might seem at times that some have it easier than you do, and you could be right. But others are thinking the same when they see you.

Everyone is experiencing their unique set of challenges and dealing with them accordingly.

I know I said easier days don’t come along, but that doesn’t mean you can’t change how you view your challenges.

You can begin by realizing that many of the challenges you face are temporary, and although they might seem huge in the moment, you know with some rational thinking that they will pass with time.

What I’m suggesting is that you learn to change your relationship with your challenges instead of fighting against them. This does not mean you take a passive position, just that you actively engage from a different viewpoint.

The truth is that in order to make your days easier, you have to work harder on yourself and not on the challenges you face.

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If you don’t ask.

If you don’t apply.

If you don’t act.

If you don’t take the first step.

You’ll never know.

You’ll never know.

That you could have succeeded.

That you could have won.

That it was yours for the taking.

That you were the right one for the job.

You’ll never know that you have greatness inside of you.

Don’t let your life be an endless series of ‘you’ll never know.’

Somewhere inside you, you already know.

You feel the call in your mind and the tug on your heart. And just as you’re about to take the first step, you stop.

This stopping is the precipice of, you’ll never know.

It’s at this point when you stop, and you rock back and forth between knowing and not knowing.

It’s here where you decide – if you’ll ever know.

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What is the realm of your reality?

Do you know that human eyes can only see a tiny spectrum of light and that a whole range of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible to us?

Do you know that the same applies to human hearing and sound?

Just because you can’t hear or see something doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. It doesn’t mean it’s not real.

So much of your reality and what you experience is not just limited to your physical limitations but is also tied to your belief system.

Now, you may not be capable of changing your physical characteristics, but you can change your beliefs.

You can learn to expand and shape your realm of reality.

Your perception of reality is malleable – some people are more aware of this than others. These people are the ones known as pioneers, visionaries, and luminaires.

If you feel constrained or limited by your current reality,  consider exploring a new version.

You don’t have to adopt all that you find but don’t forget you didn’t consciously embrace the one you have right now. It was passed on or taught to you by the environment you were born into.

Step out, hear and see what you’ve never experienced, and consider creating your own version of reality – one that exists to empower you.

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Do you accept every invitation you receive?

I’m going to guess that you don’t.

You probably evaluate each invitation and then prioritize based on your desire to attend and how much time you have.

What about when it comes to your thoughts?

Your subconscious serves you with thousands of thought invitations a day. And while you don’t have control over most of them, you can choose the ones you want to engage with.

With practice, you can learn to disengage from thoughts that create clouds of negativity and cause you discomfort.

You can pursue personally empowering thoughts.

You can practice by meditating, praying, or sitting silently for a few minutes. By taking some time to monitor your thoughts, you’ll come to realize just how many are being generated automatically.

If you choose to practice, you will quickly learn that your mind is not always serving you with what’s best for you and that you don’t have to accept every thought invitation it sends you.

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If you’ve ever been to a bar or club, you’re probably familiar with the term cover charge.

Essentially, the cover charge is the amount of money you pay for the privilege to enter the establishment.

However, have you ever considered the numerous cover charges you pay in life?

Consider the following cover charges.

The amount you pay to live in a particular type of neighborhood.

The amount of money you spend on clothes and other accessories so that you look and, perhaps more importantly, feel as though you belong.

The amount of money you spend entertaining or being entertained.

The amount of money you spend getting educated.

These are just some of the more obvious cover charges you pay throughout life.

The cover charge can be both time and money. However, ultimately, you’re always paying with your time.

I’m not suggesting you don’t pay the cover charge, especially if it adds value to your life.

What I am suggesting is that just be aware of the cover charge. And if you’re not enjoying the club, then stop paying to be there.

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What does the secret version of you look like?

How does it dress?

If it owned a car, what kind of car would it be?

Where would it live?

What kind of work (not job) would it be doing?

There’s a version of you inside your head that’s screaming to come to life. It’s banging on the walls of your brain at every opportunity it gets, and yet you keep silencing it.

You silence it because you don’t believe it can exist or fear what will happen if you set it free.

The secret version of you is who you were born to be.

It’s your soul’s wanting to express itself.

If you’ve been the kind of person that’s kept the secret version of yourself bottled up for a long time, then you’ll have to release it slowly into the world. Because if you make too many drastic changes at once, you’ll turn your current environment into chaos.

Do it slowly, gracefully, one small act at a time.

Write down the answers to the questions I’ve listed at the beginning of this post, and feel free to add any more that you think will help you. And then slowly start shedding this current version of you.

Let there be no more secret version of you. Let there only be you.

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When was the last time you were put in time-out?

When were you last told to stand in a corner for not behaving?

When was the last time you had your toys taken away because you misbehaved?

Are the lingering memories of the punishment you received as a child still dictating how you behave as an adult?

The tools used to control and discipline you as a child can have a lifelong impact on you if you let them. Just the fear of punishment can prevent you from fully expressing yourself.

Remember that many of the disciplinary actions taken towards you were to make life more convenient for those around you. Some of it might have been to protect you or teach you civilities for your benefit, but there was also a strong element of control.

There will always be consequences to your actions, but allowing how you were controlled in the past to cast a shadow over your future is no way to live. And don’t forget, sometimes being put in time out was an excellent price to pay for the fun you had misbehaving.

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Smile.

Did you do it?

I hope you did because it’s a great way to start your day. And it’s not just me telling you that smiling is good for you. Researchers have found that smiling can improve your mood, even if it’s a fake smile.

Smiling triggers chemicals in your brain to go to work, and these chemicals give you an overall sensation of feeling good.

They also found that smiling can make you look younger and even more attractive. 

Now, that’s not bad for just turning up the corners of your mouth.

Okay.

So now you’ve smiled by yourself and made yourself feel good, but now you can do it for other people too.

Smile at people while you’re out and about today.

You’ll make them feel good, too, because a smile is almost always greeted with a smile back. And yes, like anything else, there’s always a case when it doesn’t work, but let’s not focus on that.

Think of your smile as one of your superpowers. Use it generously on yourself and for the benefit of others too.

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