Onions

I am not referring to the type that you eat, but rather a favorite analogy I use about making changes to your life.  Have you realized that the year is already 1/4 started?  How are your New Years commitments unfolding? 

I have encountered many people recently who are ready to make changes in their life, yet feel overwhelmed by the distance between them and the outcome.  It is important to have LONG TERM goals, which would be congruent to a DREAM.  The short term goals are just as important though. 

Picture an onion, with all its layers.  When you identify the issue at hand and the new behavior you wish to acquire, this is like peeling off the outer layer, the protective layer that most people do not eat.  That can often times seem like the hardest part, taking the first step, making the decision to take on the challenge of slicing the onion - which will might even appropriately bring you some tears of joy or pain of realization.  This would be your first step out of denial and into contemplation of change!  Congratulations! 

As we all know, peeling that outer layer of skin, is actually one of the easiest parts, because now comes the tricky task of getting through the remaining layers, which for some people there are multiple. 

Identify a behavior of your own, that you wish to change and match it with the behavior you would like to replace it with.  Now rather than focusing on the old habit, write down small steps that can lead you to this new behavior.  And only choose 1 for the week!!!  That larger LONG TERM goal is on your mind, but not your main focus right now.  It is simply your motivation to make the first SHORT TERM goal successful. 

Example: I interrupt people too much, I talk too much.
New behavior: Being a better listener.  (after all we were given 2 ears & 1 mouth!)

                                                         Action Plan!!!

First week: Clear your thoughts & opinions out of your mind when others are thinking.  Focus on repeating small parts of what they say.

Second week: Focus on asking more questions then making statements.  

Make a list of small skills such as these and then implement one each week or each day if you are a real go-getter!  If you can’t think of a lot, rotate them through.  Its going to take a week or so to start making this habit feel more natural and then a few more weeks before you don’t have to think about it anymore.  From there, you can set yourself a new challenge, taking this skill to another level or you can choose something new.  Good Luck!  Let me know how it goes....

What if I offered you $3 million?

If I offered you a penny/day which would double in value every day for a month or $3 million upfront, which would you take? 

Most of you know the answer...  Go ahead, take out a calculator, put in 0.01 and multiply by 2, 31 times = $10 million.
This principle applies to everything in life.  If you are trying to make changes in your life this year, rather than work in big chunk on certain days, or when you "feel like it".  Try doing a little every day.  30 minutes of reading positive material, 5 minutes of meditation, 10 minutes walking outside per day instead of 2 weeks at the gym for an hour & then quitting.  What ever it may be, you don't need to be drastic in your changes.  Eat one healthy meal a day instead of going on a strict, unrealistic diet for a month only to quit the next month. 
In the beginning the results are INVISIBLE, but over time they will start increasing at such a rapid rate it will surprise you!  Give it a try, stay committed & let me know how it goes!!!

1).01 x 2 = .02
2).02 x 2 = .04
3).04 x 2 = .08
4).08 x 2 = .16
5).16 x 2 = .32
6).32 x 2 = .64
7).64 x 2 = 1.28
8)1.28 x 2 = 2.56
9)2.56 x 2  = 5.12
10)5.12 x 2 = 10.24
11)10.24 x 2 = 20.48
12)20.48 x 2 = 40.96
13)40.96 x 2 = 81.92
14)81.92 x 2 = 163.84
15)163.84 x 2 = 327.68
16)327.68 x 2 = 655.36
17)655.36 x 2 = 1,310.72
18)1310.72 x 2 = 2,621.44
19)2621.44 x 2 = 5,242.88
20)5242.88 x 2 = 10,485.76
21)10485.76 x 2 = 20,971.52
22)20971.52 x 2 = 41,943.04
23)41942.04 x 2 = 83,886.08
24)83886.08 x 2 = 167,772.16
25)167772.16 x 2 = 335,544.32
26)335544.32 x 2 = 671,088.64
27)671088.64 x 2 = 1,342,177.28
28)1342177.28 x 2 = 2,684,354.56
29)2,684,354.56 x 2 = 5,368,709.12
30)5,368,709.12 x 2 = 10,737,418.24

Have you said hello to someone new today?

STORY:

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, 
I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.  His name was Kyle. 
 
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.  I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?  He must really be a nerd.

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.  As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.  They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.  His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him...  He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. 

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.  As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.' They really should get lives. 

He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'  There was a big smile on his face.   It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.  I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.  As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before..  He said he had gone to private school before now. 

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.  We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.  He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.  I asked him if he wanted to play a little football 
with my friends.   He said yes.  We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him. 

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!”  He just laughed and handed me half the books. 

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends..  When we were seniors we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.  He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.. 

Kyle was valedictorian of our class.   I teased him all the time about being a nerd.  He had to prepare a speech for graduation.  I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.  Graduation day, I saw Kyle.  He looked great.  He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.  He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous! 

Today was one of those days.  I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' 

 He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. 'Thanks,' he said. 

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began, 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends..... I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. 

I am going to tell you a story.' 

 I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the 
first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. 

 He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved.‘ My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable..' 

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. 

 I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. 

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. 

Never underestimate the power of your actions..
With one small gesture you can change a person's life. 

For better or for worse....

The Perspective of Life

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" "It was great, Dad". "Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked. "Oh yeah" said the son. "So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father. The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them." The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are." Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.