Archives for October 2012
10 Ways to Live Life with No Regrets
This article was inspired by a recent email we received:
Dear Marc and Angel,
I am a 38-year old college drop-out whose childhood dream was to become a psychologist like my grandfather. Right now, I am a librarian at a city library who moonlights on the side as a life coach. I enjoy my day job, but my life coaching gig is the work that really moves me – it gives me a chance to indirectly dabble in psychological counseling. This side gig has started to gain traction, and several of my recent clients have told me that I would have made a great medical psychologist.
But if I go back to college and get my degree, then go to graduate school, then complete my internship and dissertation, and finally begin my own legitimate psychologist/counseling practice, it will take me almost eight years from today. And, in eight years I will be 46 years old!
I’m trying to decide what I want to do. Do you have any thoughts or advice for me?
Sincerely,
An Inspired Reader
Our reply:
Dear Inspired Reader,
Sometimes asking the right question is the answer. Therefore, we have one for you:
In eight years from today, how old will you be if you don’t do it?
Sincerely,
Marc and Angel
As Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Of all the words of mice and men, the saddest are: “It might have been.”
Forget the past. Forget your age. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. At the end of it, let there be no excuses, no explanations, and no regrets.
Here are ten ideas to get you there…
- Wear your truth. – As long as you keep being YOU, as long as you keep staying true to yourself and the passions that move you, it doesn’t matter [Read more…]
12 Things You Should Know for Sure
Just a few things you should know. Because when you know better, you do better.
- The beginning is always the hardest. – Remember, being completely terrible at something is the first step to being pretty darn good at it. It just takes time and practice. In the end, it is the courage to continue that matters most. Read Getting Things Done.
- What’s right for you may be wrong for others, and vice versa. – It’s unreasonable to expect others to accept or consider your perspective if you’re not willing to do the same for them. So think for yourself, and allow others the privilege of doing so too. The truth is that the world isn’t really as it is, but as WE see it. And we all see it differently.
- When you try to change people, they usually remain the same. – But when you don’t try to change people – when you allow them the space to be as they are – they gradually change in the most beautiful way. Because what really changes is the way you see them.
- You have to decide for yourself. – Most of the time something is only awkward because of society’s preconceived idea that it is; don’t mindlessly [Read more…]
30 Simple Ways to Simplify Your Life
by Sam of Financial Upside
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more difficult. It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move swiftly in the opposite direction.” –E.F. Schumacher
A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. For me, it means getting rid of some of life’s complexities so you can spend more time with people you love and do more of the things you love. It means getting rid of the clutter, and eliminating all but the essential, so you are left with only that which gives you value.
The Short List
For the cynics who might say that the list of 30 ideas below is too long to be ‘simple,’ there are really only two steps to simplifying:
- Identify what’s most important to you.
- Eliminate everything else.
Of course, that advice is not terribly useful unless you can see some examples of how to apply this concept to different areas of your life; so I present to you…
The Long List
There can be no step-by-step guide to simplifying your life, but I’ve compiled an incomplete list of ideas that should help you move in the right direction. And of [Read more…]
9 Habits of Super Positive People
Life is full of positive experiences. Notice them. Notice the sun warming your skin, the small child learning to walk, and the smiling faces around you. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential by reveling in the beauty of these experiences, and letting them inspire you to be the most positive version of YOU.
What would happen if you approached each day intentionally, with a positive attitude? What would happen if you embraced life’s challenges with a smile on your face? What would happen if you surrounded yourself with people who made you better? What would happen if you paused long enough to appreciate it all?
Living a positive life is all about creating positive habits to help you focus on what truly matters. This is the secret of super positive people. Here are nine simple ideas to help you follow in their footsteps.
- Wake up every morning with the idea that something wonderful is possible today. – Smiling is a healing energy. Always find a reason to smile. It may not add years to your life but will surely add life to your years. A consistent positive attitude is the cheapest ‘fountain of youth.’ You’ve got to dance like there’s nobody watching, love like you’ll never be hurt, sing like there’s nobody listening, and live like it’s heaven on Earth. Read The How of Happiness.
- Celebrate your existence. – Your mind is the window through which you see the world. The way to make this the happiest day ever is to think, feel, walk, talk, give, and serve like you are the most fortunate person in the whole world. Open minded, open hearted, and open handed. Nothing more is needed. All is well… and so it is.
- Appreciate life’s perfect moments. – Your life isn’t perfect, but it does have perfect moments. Don’t let the little things get you down. You’ve got plenty of reasons to look up at the sky and say, “Thank you, I [Read more…]