If you blame the government for your situation, you give them the power over your life. When you say your friend is to blame for your lack of success, you are acknowledging the significant influence they have on you.
When you take personal responsibility for where you are going, you give yourself the power to get there. Now get going!
Everything begins in the mind and with a thought. It is the kernel, the seed, the beginning. From there, anything can happen.
Your body responds to the thoughts in your mind. Even when you don’t think you have thought, you have. You don’t think through how to walk across the room. You just see yourself over there and off you go!
Start with a thought and it can take you anywhere.
And do not be concerned if few people see your destination. It always starts with one person and their vision. Airplanes are ubiquitous today, but 200 years ago flying was a wild idea. Even 120 years ago, only a few people could see it happening. Then, once the first flight occurred in Kitty Hawk, in 1903, more people believed and saw the potential.
Now, so many of us benefit from the power of that original thought by someone who was dreaming of a better world.
Use the power of thought to start changing your life. Reimagine your corner of the world and begin.
Following on from the last few days, I’m combining retirement thoughts with compounding. The power of compounding is quite incredible.
I read an article recently about setting aside almost $3,000 for a child when they are born. This money could come from parents, grandparents, uncles and aunties or even from crowdfunding, I suppose.
The idea was that you could put that $3,000 into a low cost S&P 500 index fund and just let it sit there for 65 years. You would not take any out, nor would you need to put any more in. You would just let it roll over and compound.
Using the figures from the article, it noted the S&P had delivered an average annual return of between 10% and 11% in its nearly 100 years of existence. If it continued to average that rate, or even a little less (9.5%), the account would be worth over $1m by their 65th birthday.
This is more than 90% of what people would have in their retirement savings. By doing this one thing, during pregnancy or within the year after their birth, you would set them up for retirement. Regardless how their financial habits developed, they could always count on their $1m retirement fund when they turned 65.
The power of compounding is compelling.
This is where we are headed. The internet, when allowed to be used openly, is a great place to build understanding. The masses have power that they are only beginning to realise.
The ability to organise, persuade, speak to and learn from large groups of people has become much easier. Combining the mobile phone, the internet and some curiosity, should create a fascinating mix.
The current mix is in Clubhouse, which I know I have mentioned here before. Anyone not taking complete opportunistic advantage of this simple yet powerful platform is missing out.
It’s new. It’s exciting. And, it’s free to use if you have an iPhone. The power it has given to the regular Joe is quite incredible. Few people have heard of the app and still fewer have jumped on it. He who hesitates is lost, or last in this case.
When you have the power to make groups, solve problems with the greatest minds, cross borders and build a better world, you should move quickly. Few times in life do all the stars align so that you can prosper. So when this happens, you need to strike.
The masses have power. What will they (you!) do with it.
It can be so easy to lie in bed. Just hit snooze and pull the covers over. Drift off and dream. But the power of waking up early can be immense. There is something magical in it.
I used to be a night person. In fact, I could go through the whole night. Some days it can be so easy to be reading, watching something or chatting and find yourself still going at 2 am.
The challenge is when you then need to get up at 5 am. Getting only 3 hours sleep can be tough. Not always on the first day, but certainly on the second or third day as it catches up to you.
So over the past five years I have shifted to waking up between 04:30 am and 06:30 am. While training for a couple of marathons last spring, it was always between 04:30 and 05:00. At the moment it is between 05:00 and 06:00.
It feels great to be up when it is so quiet. There are no disruptions. I feel I am ahead of my day. Getting a few things done, including a run and shower before waking the kids at 06:40, is a great feeling.
It can be a challenge at times. But the power of waking up early makes me feel alive!
Listening to the rain land rhythmically on the rooftops is like a serenade. If you’re dry, warm and comfortable, the sound of the rain can cleanse your soul.
I love hearing the rain fall and make that pitter-patter sound as it lands. There is something very base and refreshing about it. Even the air is a little different when it is raining. Getting cozy really helps.
Now I am not always that fond of being out in the rain. This is especially true when it is cold. Also when you are trying to do something outdoors and the rain isn’t helping.
Growing up on a farm, we had to use the weather to our advantage. You have to plant at the right time and cut hay during dry days. You don’t want to get your tractor stuck in the mud. Nor do you want to have rain on your hay before you bale it up and put it into storage. Wet hay is not good to have.
But I love a rain storm. Flashes of lightning illuminating the sky. Thunder rolling across the vast heavens above. Drops of rain pounding buildings and the ground. Storms always seemed too short. This just kept you wanting more.
Rain can cleanse your soul. Get absorbed by it and appreciate it’s primal power.
Life is a series of sprints wrapped inside a marathon. There are ups and downs, victories and challenges. If you build your endurance, you will survive and probably thrive as you move from one sprint to another.
Most people seem to notice the challenges ahead more than they celebrate the victories that loom in the past. Whatever you focus on will be your reality. So choose what you focus on carefully. You will have enough of your own challenges in life without adding anyone else’s to your list.
As you build your resilience and your endurance, you will gain additional confidence and personal power. With these attributes you will improve your rate of success. This will build your mental strength so that you can call on that when you need to endure difficult times.
Remember to get the flywheel of success working with you. It is much better than having the flywheel of doom working against you. Amazingly, you get to choose which one you have at your side, based on your focus and attitude. Bizarrely, too many people choose the later rather than the former.
I’ve never understood why someone would want to make a life full of challenges even more challenging.
Stay focused and build your endurance.
Nature is a law unto itself. It does what it wants and there aren’t any consequences for it. Nature is so natural. It’s lovely.
Nature is one of those things that many people simply refer to in the positive first. There is a lot of talk about getting outside, getting back to nature and being in the great outdoors.
When saying such things, I assume most people aren’t thinking about hurricanes, rattlesnakes and Great White sharks. They are more likely to be thinking about stopping to smell the beautiful roses, petting wild (but friendly) ponies and lovely hikes, in nice weather, on well maintained trails.
Nature can be stunning, fascinating and wonderful. It can also be harsh, severe and unyielding. Nature is not politically correct. It is territorial. It can be monitored and in some cases tamed. However it always remains wild and unpredictable.
Earth, wind, fire and water can cause untold damage and significant loss of life. Nature is not playing around. You may lull yourself into a false sense of security but to your own demise if you are not careful.
Nature is so natural. There is no hidden meaning, motive, pretence or shenanigans. It can give and take. You have been warned.
Yesterday I wrote about using the power of belief. I also suggested you write out strong, empowering words. These are some powerful words to get you started.
The following phrases are suggestions for you to use and build on. Thinking about it, when they were suggested yesterday, is one level. Thinking about them adds a higher level. Seeing some written will put you at an even higher level of probability that you will use this technique.
If you then go and write these out yourself, you will feel even more empowered by them and this technique. You can then create your own list of words and phrases that trigger you to feel brilliant, confident and unstoppable. Read your list twice a day, at a minimum.
I am delighted to be awake again. Today is going to be a great day. Every opportunity to do so, I will be the most positive and enthusiastic person I know. My mind is clear and focused. I am mentally strong, confident and powerful. I have accomplished incredible, enjoyable and wonderful things in my life so far.
My future looks exceptionally bright and prosperous. I have the ability, talent, skills, discipline and desire to achieve anything. I will make daily progress towards my goals while being grateful for my very fortunate life.
These are some powerful words to get you started. You will have to do your own pushups from here. I can lead the horse to water but I can’t make you drink. If you want real change in your life, start with something simple and highly effective like this. Then we can move on swiftly, with this daily habit established.
If you want to achieve something, start believing you can. Believe you can regardless of the hurdles ahead. Belief is a powerful thing, so use it to your advantage.
Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right.
Henry Ford
You get to choose your thoughts and design your life. You do this by telling yourself stories about what your life will be like. Use your imagination and dreams and describe the story of your life. And make sure you tell yourself only the good stories.
You will choose to believe something, good or bad, so why waste any time on thinking about things you don’t want to have or have happen?
If your thoughts tend in that direction, at any time, just say ‘Stop’ and think of something uplifting. Maybe you could think of ice cream in the summer or riding your bike as a kid.
Change your words and sentences to strong, supportive, positive words about your ever-improving future. And then believe, with time and action, that this story of your life will unfold.
You choose what to think and how to feel every second, of every minute, of every day. So choose wisely. Decide to make your thoughts empowering so you feel fabulous. Write some powerful and inspiring words on a piece of paper and keep that paper with you. Read it several times a day.
As your success builds and your belief continues to grow, you will realise that belief is a powerful thing.
