Everyone likes a good routine. In fact, I am a big believer in keeping to a routine so that you have a sense of order and peace to your life. In fact, having these routines can help to keep your life on track, thus freeing up the mental awareness and vigor that keeps you going in those tough times. However, when you stick to your routines to often it is likely to reduce the chance of enjoying those new experiences that might have the ability to boost not only our energy but our overall mental awareness as well.

Fall is here and it is a good time to enjoy a new experience. You can use these new experiences to bring you back to the present and nurture your overall motivation in order to enjoy more positive emotions. Take a chance and get outside to refresh your life. Nature has a funny way opening our hearts and minds to what more is possible if we just keep our eye on the ball.

So, take this first week of Fall to try something new! It’s time to mix life up, even if just a little bit. It is time to create new memories, new experiences and a newly improved life…made just for you!!

Try using the two steps below to refresh and renew your life. And, like the shampoo bottle states, “wash, rinse, repeat!”

• Wash – Clean up your attitude and refresh your routine with a new experience this week.
  
• Rinse – Enjoy the new experience for what it is and notice how nice it feels to make a change in your ordinary routine.
  
• Repeat – Enjoy new experiences as needed.

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

Whenever you are looking for a fast, easy way to recharge your overall state happiness, simply take a walk. Take the time to visit God’s Creation and spend time with Mother Nature. There is a natural energy that accompanies the unique and soothing feeling of the world we live in.
But, can being in nature really make a difference?

There are several studies in the Journal of Environmental Psychology that have explained the positive effects that accompany spending time with nature. Personally, I believe that all Creation was designed to work together. We take the time to keep our world in the best shape that we can while nature itself helps to reset our psyche. So the answer to the question above is this: Yes, with the right attitude, simply being in the presence of nature will help us to connect or re-connect with us to our world. And believe me, it just does not get any easier than taking a walk in a park.

Simply put, when you take the time to spend in nature, even for just 30 minutes, will increase your feelings of energy and overall health. Additionally, spending time in nature will also leave you feeling more feeling and giving. The fact is you will thrive when you choose to stay linked to Mother Nature.

Best of all, Fall brings us a beautiful collage of colors that can excite the senses and make even he manliest of men see the world in a new and fresh way.

There are an endless number of ways we hold ourselves back from even slightly reaching our potential. We create all kinds of self-imposed limitations as to what is possible for us through our thoughts, intentions and beliefs.

It has been well documented that our belief system affects how we act and perform. Our beliefs even help in molding our life. When we believe something is possible, many times we will find a way to make it happen. When we choose not to believe it is possible we rarely even make the effort. It is pretty easy to feel that truth.

Now, imagine what life would be like if, instead of creating restrictions we created possibilities. We know that the mind cannot come up with a vision or goal that we are not capable of accomplishing. We just have to be willing to think big, or at least bigger, and take inspired action. Go ahead, give it a try.

• Take the time to identify your core beliefs and look at how they form your perceptions about life-relationships, finances, health, career, etc.
• Determine what beliefs are true and support you in living a fulfilled life. Then look for those that are actually based in fear and limit your potential.
• Then, explore what more you could complete if you were willing to let the beliefs that hold you back go. So, what is holding you back?

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

originally posted October 28, 2013

Let’s face it, there is only so much emotional stress you are capable of handling before you begin your temper begins to flair. The fact is that when your energy level is low it becomes even easier for you to give way to fear and negativity. I know that is the case for me.

When you make the choice to have positive daily routines in your life that strengthen your energy, you will find that your mood will be enhanced and stress levels lowered. All of this, of course, will help to refill your emotional reserves and have your ready for a great day. I believe it is very important to make a daily routine for yourself that will help you to provide more positive energy into every day.

Choose to experience how much smoother life becomes when you invest in yourself and make the choice to feel good. So, stop putting off your daily happiness and create your new routine today. One thing is for sure. When you take action in your own life, instead of sitting on the sidelines, you will feel stronger, more secure and ready to tackle another day. Hey, it’s football season!

• Start with daily exercise. Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of exercise can lift your spirits for up to 12 hours, and who wouldn’t want that? 
• Show gratitude for what you have. Showing gratitude helps to create positive emotions and thoughts that will strengthen your overall attitude, increase your motivation, and make you more resilient in your day to day dealings. 
• I put this one in just for me. Feel free to use it. When I need a lift I simply turn up the volume on my favorite radio station and sing out loud (thankfully I am in my car and nobody else can hear me). They say that music tames the savage beast. I believe that goes for the beast that lives within us as well. Listening to inspirational and upbeat music can quickly change your mood. It can also help to change your overall outlook on life at that moment. So TURN UP THE VOLUME and live!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

One of the great purposes in life is to be alive, to grow and bring more of your natural and even sometimes unnatural gifts into the world. As a child, you naturally explored your world. You reached for more and developed new skills, new strengths. Some of those skills came naturally while others took more work to achieve. As an adult, you need to be more deliberate about growth.

You are actually equipped to keep growing. It is your natural state. That is why if you stay too long where it feels painless and comfortable you start to feel a little bored by your life. Here is a simple reminder to assist you in keeping inspired, eager and involved in life.

Be willing to work outside of your comfort zone and experience what more is out there for you. Then, look for ways to expand the boundaries in your life. One of the ways I do this is by working on my fear of heights. Whenever I have a chance to grow, one step at a time, I will take that chance. It might not be easy, but it is always rewarding. Last, you will need to teach yourself to live in the state of mind that will strengthen and stimulate you to keep growing. 

• Find areas where you have chosen to stop growing and recognize where you feel excited to broaden your horizons.
• Commit to develop those areas and make the time to invest in your growth.
• Next, make a list of actions you agree to take for your growth.
• Then, get started. Remember, YOU CAN DO IT!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

re-posted from 11/18/2013

One thing I know from experience, carrying a grudge is a places a lot of stress and weight on my shoulders. How about you?

Just one simple thought of past pain and frustration triggers a physiological and psychological response that drags down energy like a lead balloon. This downward spiral affects everything you do and how you treat the people around you. There is one easy way to set yourself free from this draining cycle and move forward in a positive direction. That is forgiveness!

When you make the choice to turn the other cheek, you also choose to grow as a person. By letting go of the anger, frustration, bitterness and discontent that is weighing you down you are choosing to be free. Start today, begin to feel how life can be when you make the conscious choice to release those negative thought patterns and live renewed.

Trust me; there is great comfort in forgiveness!!

• Start by identifying just one of the areas from your past that is holding you back.
• Then, write down everything you believe you are gaining and/or losing by holding on to your resentment.
• Next, and I know this might not be easy, make the choice to release the past. Just let it go! It cannot be changed, but your future can. Make a new future for yourself today!
• Repeat as necessary until you are living a life free of resentment, hatred and anger. This might take time, but it will be worth the effort!
  

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself over and over again.”
― Joseph Campbell

I know I have covered this before, but your physical environment is many times a metaphor for your life. When you make the choice to have a cheerful, open, organized living space your life will reflect that as well. Likewise, when you allow your living space to become gloomy, cluttered, disorganized your life will also reflect that as well.

As it turns out, a messy environment acts much like physical weight – it drains not only your mental well-being, but your emotional energy as well. When you choose to be disorganized it stifles your creativity and your motivation.

By choosing to clean up your space you add a positive outlook to life that will boost your emotional energy and add new life to your creativity while at the same time increasing your motivation to get things done. Start today and experience how even the little changes in your environment can make a huge impact in your energy.

• Start by surveying your space and looking at how you want to expand it
• Then, keep it simple. Look for the easiest ways to make that happen. Small initial rewards give light to the end of the tunnel.
• It is very important to focus on one project at a time. Do not overwhelm yourself!
• Finally, you are done. Enjoy the new you!

Remember, life can ALWAYS BE BETTER!