You may be breathing and so are “technically” alive, however, are you living?
Are you living the life you want?
Are you living your life as it could be?
Recently I wrote about a gentleman who survived a plane crash. In an instant his life perspective changed. He took stock of himself and then made the choices to become the person he wanted to be and live life on his terms.
If you are not where you want to be or at least headed in that direction, why not start now?
We are almost halfway through this new year. Take some time to look at your life; appreciate the good things in it. If you are not living the life you want, now is the time to take action. Your choices determine your life.
Changing things in your life requires only one Big step along with consistent little steps. The Big step is your choice; your decision to change. The little steps are what you do each day, each week, each month to implement the change. Let’s look at a few changes that can have a profound impact in your life.
Exercise: If the “proof is in the pudding,” this pudding is done. Research abounds on the physical benefits of exercise. If you are not exercising, add some form of it to your daily/weekly routine. Walk around the block, up stairs or park your car across the lot. Anything that will get you moving. Aside from the physical benefits, you will no doubt find that while you are exercising ideas come to you, solutions for problems become apparent and friendships flourish.
Financial Health: If you have too much month at the end of the money, you need to do several exercises to improve this condition. You could take a part time job, however, I think a better option is to start a home based business. With a home based business you can earn additional income as well as take advantage of significant tax benefits.
Also, look at how you are spending your money each month then make some better choices. Whether you are stopping for lattes at Starbucks or buying numerous meals/snacks at fast food restaurants, you are spending way more than you need to for those items. Skip the lattes and the snacks; you will be surprised how much you save. Look to Dave Ramsey, David Bach or someone similar to get your finances under control so that you are back in control of your life.
Sir Richard Branson is right:
“There is only one reason to be wealthy. It allows us to choose how we wish to spend our days.”
Personal Growth: Invest in yourself by reading books that will fill your mind with positive thoughts and ideas; listen to CDs and watch DVDs that do the same thing. Associate with people who lift you up rather than pull you down. If you don’t feel better when you are with someone, then don’t hang out with them.
You can be or do or have anything you want in life.
Your Life is your choice. Choose wisely.
Are you on course to reach your goals for the year?
Are you willing to make a course correction to achieve them?
Are you willing to make changes to gain control of your life?
If you are on course, how do you stay on course? What helps you?
Do you have a Bucket List? How are you doing with it?
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janet@janetcallaway.com
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Hello Janet
I can say I’m making those little steps to change my
life. Things aren’t all ways easy but if you sink to low
and don’t have the support you need it just gets worse.
But when you have the support you need it makes such
a difference.
One of my changes is my eating habits. My diet is more low
fat. I’ve made little changes for now like lit mayo,no salt eating
more veggies.
For the exercise i’m working on that. It is what I miss the most
walking the kids to school and picking them up in the afternoon.
I use to walk 4 miles 5 days a week now I can’t do it. So I’ve made
some little changes at home. We have stair to 2 bed rooms upstairs
so when I want the kids I walk up the stairs.
Financial Health I’m working on that now. I’m back on ebay selling
things and looking into some other things.
Hugs Bonnie
Bonnie, aloha. You are so right that support makes the all the difference. Because of the person you are, you have developed a fantastic network of supportive people.
Delighted to hear you are making those little steps, Bonnie, because that’s what will take you where you want to go. It is not one giant step rather it is a series of little ones take consistently.
Thx so much for sharing your journey. Best wishes for a wonderful weekend. Aloha. Janet
I loved this article, Janet!
I walk every day and I often discover great ideas and unique solutions come to me when I’m walking. Walking is a mindful experience and I am outside my mind, engaging my body. When I am not focusing too intently on a problem or challenge, I am free to consider possibilities that would otherwise not occur to me.
I am on course to achieve my goals, many of which are related to my blog. I am thrilled to be energized and engaged through networking with other bloggers and reading great articles such as this. Thank you for the inspiration!
Chrysta, aloha. Good to see you. Ironically, I was just over at Sam’s yellowbrickroad and saw you there. Chrysta, I am so delighted that you two connected; you will add much to each other’s lives.
Like you, Chrysta, I finally many “brilliant” thoughts come to me as I am walking or taking a shower. No doubt you are right that it is because those activities involve out bodies rather than our minds.
Congratulations on being on course to achieve your goals. Wasn’t Sam’s post a perfect tie in to helping you accomplish your goals of networking with other bloggers?
Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Thx so much for stopping by and commenting. Until next time, aloha. Janet
This is not only a great read, it is also a call to action! It reminded me that I am the only one who can make the changes I want in my life. I can’t remember who said «Be the change you want to see in the world», but that quote came to mind after reading this. Well done!
Lois, aloha. So good to see you here; it is always such a pleasure to greet first time visitors–especially when they like the post!
It is a call to action, Lois, because we are the only ones who can make changes in our lives. Unfortunately, you cannot hire someone to do your pushups for you.
Mahatma Gandhi is the one who said those wise words.
Lois, how’s your blog coming along? Best wishes for a terrific weekend. Aloha. Janet
Hi Janet!
This post of yours reminded me that it’s the middle of 2011 already! So, I reckon it’s a mid-year reflection post about taking stock of our lives. We still have 6 months to go before the year ends and we really need to brush up on some things that we have neglected and gear ourselves up as the year closes. Admittedly, there’s a tendency to slacken and find everything routine and quite boring sometimes.
I’m a Richard Branson fan and I’m glad you mentioned him in this post of yours. Such an amazing man and he’s truly living it!
Thanks for making me reflect about a number of things.
Have a great weekend!
Elmar, isn’t is amazing to think we are already have way through the year? Where does the time go?
Elmar, like you, I am a huge, huge fan of Richard Branson. The more I read, the more I like him as a person and as a businessman. Have you read his book “Business Stripped Bare?” It’s great.
FYI, the post I just published will finish off the reflection and getting set series. You will like it, Elmar. Until next time, aloha. Janet
Janet, I so needed this post to help me stop and reassess! Thank you! =)
This post came at an opportune time as I’ve already started considering some changes in my life, making a bit more time for what’s truly important to me. It was a tough decisions, but I’ve decided to revert to blogging once a week, so I can provide more quality to my post and comment replies.
Since I spend so much time writing and responding to comments, I can also free up a day to get my life back on track, value my personal development and for other projects I’ve put on hold! What an exciting feeling! =)
In terms of personal development, I found myself reading a fiction novel this past weekend, not because I felt like I had free time, but because I wanted to distract myself from a migraine… and it was such a wonderful feeling!! =) I hope with this change, I’ll be able to find time to read again! =)
Thanks for this beautiful reminder, Janet!! =)
Sam, aloha. Sounds like you are making some terrific changes. With the number of commenters you have and the depth of so many of the comments/replies, I can appreciate how it takes up an overwehlming amount of your time. If the purpose of your blog is to chronicle your reflections in Peru as well as to engage with others, Sam, I would say you can do it quite well in one blog post a week. Again, your comments section reads like several mini posts. Congratulations.
The more you gain control of your life, the better you will feel. With your love of reading and personal development, it is so important for you to make the time for it in your life. You will blossom and grow even more.
As a matter of fact, Sam, you already are as you prioritize what’s important to you.
Best wishes for a fantstic week. Hope you are enjoying radiant health. Until next time, my friend, aloha. Janet
Janet aloha. I love this question. I think all too often people don’t realize that they CAN live the lives of their dreams by design because they are far to busy making a living.
I have for a long time been the architect of my reality which starts with my dreams which I translate into achievable goals and which I then monitor, adjust and change as suits me.
I couldn’t think of any other way to live and in fact I live by one of my own favorite quotes which is to “Live the life you love and love the life you live”.
I hope that anybody reading this post who is not living the life they desire really takes to heart your excellent advice Janet and makes the changes starting today.
~Marcus
Marcus, aloha. As you know, we are in complete agreement on this topic. Your quote sums it up perfectly.
One of my favorite quotes that ties in with living the life you want is by Peter Drucker:
“The only way to predict the future is to create it.”
That says it, doesn’t it, Marcus? To live the life that you want, create the life that you want!
Best wishes for a magnificent week. Aloha. Janet
Hi, Janet,
above all, I like your idea of investing into personal growth. After all, that is what makes us develop and involves us to the full capacity of our lives. The future depends of what we are doing in the present, so we have the power to change ourselves to better. I try to stay on the course by constantly being motivated and trying to understand that the life I have is already perfect (meaning I appreciate it the way it is), but that even perfect can evolve into more perfect. That’s what makes me going!
Kristina, aloha. That you appreciate your life as it is, will take you a long way to getting you to where you want to go.
Kristina, I like the idea of perfect evolving into more perfect.
In fact, when people ask me how I am, rather than say “fine,” I always say perfect. That answer amazes and delights people as well as starts some great conversations.
Thx for stopping by, Kristina. Best wishes for a great day. Aloha Janet
Hi Janet,
thanks for sharing your insights. There are many reports from people who had near-death experiences and changed their lives radically after they decided (?) to come back. Chances are they realized that they lived someone else’s life. Well, and when you live someone else’s life, you are technically still living – as you note – because you’re breathing, but does it make you happy and fulfilled ?
That’s why I second you on the self-auditing questions you suggest – I would add that we should reflect whether we are pursuing our goals or other people’s goals. Some people probably don’t even set goals because they refuse to go after other people’s goals and don’t have the courage to set their own goals.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
Your post makes me think if “am i really living?”. There were times this year that I am bombarded with relationship problems where I lost the most important person in my life. But thanks be to God as he gives me strength to move and implement some positive changes in my life.
Great post!
Lisa from Guitar Made Easy
Lisa, aloha. So glad this post made you think and that, thankfully, you have found your strength in God.
Best wishes for a terrific week. Aloha. Janet