Reflecting Back…

As 2011 winds its way down to the last few hours, I take this time to reflect back on what, for me, was a very fulfilling year in many ways.  A perfect year?  Not by a long shot, but one loaded with enough action and accomplishments to fill a…well, a blog post.

This is a necessary, and important, exercise to do, by the way.  Most of us, if you are like me, don’t take the time to look back and bask in our accomplishments.  As a constantly driven person, someone who is always looking for the next big opportunity (I get bored easily) and challenge, I tend to push myself to the point, at times, of exhaustion.  Taking a few moments (hopefully a few days) to go back and put a few asterisks next to your completed “to-do” list is an excellent way to end the year.

Before I twist my arm out of socket from so much back-patting, I must add that this post on reflection will be followed by a post on looking ahead: embracing another arduous list of things I’d like to accomplish in 2012.

2011 was a year of travel—personal and business. I was fortunate enough to have visited several new cities this year (Dublin), as well as returning to some of my favorites (Maui).  All in all, I logged over 30,000 air miles—wow, that’s a lot of recycled air, stale pretzels, and cramped leg space!

I traversed across this great country six times!  Over two Oceans!  With stops along the way at:

·         Las Vegas

·         Tampa

·         Phoenix

·         Boston

·         Newport, Rhode Island

·         Narragansett, Rhode Island

·         NYC!

·         Maui

·         Dublin

·         Letterkenny

·         Atlanta

·         Sacramento

·         Reno

I began the year not knowing my future with my current “day job,” and am ending this year with the hope of soon getting my second promotion.  It has been a very rewarding year career-wise—a good thing!

I am blessed to work at a job where I get to interact with and lead and mentor dozens of people each day.  I have creative freedom to use my triad of balance-mind, body, and spirit.

I was able to get my website back up and running (and looking better than ever) after over a year of idleness!  Besides this blog, I also started another called “Mike’sDaily…”

The hits from my YouTube Page, Facebook, Twitter, my blogs and website have resulted in millions of visitors this year.  Thanks to all for the continued and tremendous support!

I published my second book (my first is a young adult novel) this year and while the sales have not gone through the roof, they have been steady.

http://www.livelife365.com/Mike_s_Books.html

I produced another round of interesting and entertaining videos, along with another music video:

Along the way I’ve continued to cultivate a wonderful and solid relationship with my wife of almost twenty years, a son that just turned thirty (man, I’m/he’s OLD!), and my family and friends near by and Back East.

But mostly, I was able to help countless people change their lives for the better, lose weight and eat healthier, become motivated and inspired, and, hopefully, gave a few a good laughs along the way.

Reflecting back on 2011, it has been a pretty good year.  And while it has not all been roses and sunshine, it has been worth looking back on and taking a few moments to enjoy…and give myself a few pats on the back.

You should do the same.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

 

Post 9/11

In honor and in memory of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil ten years ago, I offer this video.  To quote Sir Winston Churchill, when standing up to Nazi Germany as they continuously bombed London night and day:

"Never, ever give up!"

peace,

Mike

Building Self-Confidence

What is confidence?  I checked out the definition and one of the reoccurring words used to describe confidence was “belief.”  Think about that.  What is belief but a conviction of one’s ideals?  You can even toss some faith into the mix.

How does one go about improving their self-confidence?  I’m, for the most part, a very self-confident person.  Hey, if I wasn’t then I bet there would be a good chance that no one would bother to watch any of my self-help videos, or read this blog.  But would you believe that, at times, I question my own self-confidence?  You bet I do!

The key to success is not in the questioning of one’s belief or confidence, but in the understanding that it is okay to do so.  And then know what it takes to build that confidence back.

·         SEE YOUR SUCCESS

One of the things I’ve practiced over the years is what I call Life Writing.  Basically this a version of goal setting, or writing down what I’d like to achieve over the course of a few weeks, months, and even years.  A few years ago I was in a rut with my career—I worked at home, telecommuting (which was a good gig for awhile), but only using a fraction of my experience.  I decided that I wanted to head back into the office, pursue a path that would eventually lead me back into managing people, rather than sitting at a desk at home banging on a keyboard by myself.  I literally wrote down what I needed to do to attain this goal, how I was to go about it, what short, mid, and long-terms goals I needed reach in order to succeed.  Now, less than 18 months later, I have moved up two levels into management, successfully realizing what I only dreamed (and wrote) about.  You can too!

·         RELIVE YOUR SUCCESS

We all have had some modicum of success in our lives, right?  Come on, close your eyes and let your imagination roam—see it now?  Of course you do.  Problem with most folks is they tend to remember to failures more than their successes.  Hey, we’re human!  Whenever I feel my confidence waning, I force my mind to remember a time when I was very successful, encouraging those images and sensations to the forefront of my being, and soon I am basking in my own personal love fest.  This is the time to toss the ego out the door.  There is nothing wrong with recalling past success to remind yourself that you not only can do the task before you, but HAVE done it, or something similar, many times over.

·         PRACTICE YOUR SUCCESS

Practice may not make perfect, but it sure goes a long way toward making you successful.  Sweat equity overcomes myriad other weaknesses.  The opposite of success is failure, but failing is not a bad thing.  Through failure you learn, get important feedback, and improve.  But you have to try and fail first, to be successful, leading to that all important self-confidence.  The best athletes are not always those blessed with the best physical gifts.  Often, they are the ones who work harder, practice longer, and want it more than the other person.  Hard work never hurt anyone; in fact, it just may be the key to improving your confidence.

·         BELIEVE IN YOUR SUCCESS

There’s a fine line between being overconfident and arrogant—believe me, I’ve walked that tightrope all my life.  But I’d rather have too much confidence than too little.  My father taught me at a very young age the power of motivation, of positive thinking, of believing that I could do just about anything I put my mind to.  And, being young and one who looked up to my old man, I believed him.  I’ve taken that belief in myself with me throughout my life, a life, by the way, filled with as much failure as success.  Don’t wait for someone else to believe in you, believe in yourself and success may be right around the corner.

Building self-confidence will not happen overnight—hey, most overnight successes struggled years and years before reaching the top.  But it is can be easier than you ever imagined.  All you have to do is See, Relive, Practice, and Believe.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

The Grind

Hey, what’s up?

Nothing, working.

Uh-huh…

Tell me about it.

Yup.

Why is it, whenever I ask someone at work how they’re doing, invariably their response is one of misery, fatigue, angst, depression, all delivered with equal parts whine and woe-is-me?  Okay, not everyone, perhaps, but way too many.  Are that many people that unhappy with their jobs?

The answers may surprise you, even during these economically challenging times.  If you asked many of the above folks if they didn’t have to work would they be toiling away at their jobs, what do you think their response would be?

Silly question, huh?  Anyone of us who does not HAVE to work wouldn’t, right?  Certainly not at a job that made you miserable.  But even if I won the lottery tomorrow, I would still wake each day with a choice: do nothing, or do “something.”

That “something” is what makes us who and what we are.  We all need to have that “something” that motivates and keeps us going.  The real lucky ones are those who love what they do—their “something” is SOMETHING they would literally do for nothing.

And that’s the key—finding that “something” that you really would do for nothing…only make it something that can pay the bills, at least a few of them.

Here’s a newsflash—life can be a grind, when you think about it.  Why would anyone think that their day-to-day jobs wouldn’t have some grind in them too?  Even movie stars and million-dollar athletes, at times, feel the grind of their chosen professions.

I suggest doing all you can do to eliminate the grind in your daily grind.  How?

·         choose to be positive

·         smile, laugh, spread the job

·         look for the good in all your tasks

·         look for the good in all your coworkers

·         take care of yourself by keeping your triad of balance fit

·         work hard, focusing on living in the moment

·         take pride in your job

·         help others

·         lower expectations when necessary

·         raise the bar when needed

·         leave your work at the job

·         then go home and forget about it

Most importantly, try to find a career, vocation, job, or profession that puts you in touch with your creativity, your bliss, what makes you happy, and what draws from you the wealth of desire and knowledge that drives you.  If your current job offers none of this, make it your quest to find one that does.

Even in these challenging economic times.  Why wait—life’s too short.

Think about it…

Until next time.

peace,

Mike

How to Deal With Life’s Imperfections

How’s this new year going for you?  Getting all those resolutions and goals figured out?  Or have you already given up, like a handful of folks do when confronted by a bump in the road along the path to achievement?

“Life is a series of one roadblock after another.”
                        ~ Mike Foster

Yes, life can be a constant thorn in ones side, or a blessing - it all depends on how you look at it.

Another thing you can say about life is that its one constant is change.  Our challenge is in overcoming adversity while embracing the change that will inevitably seek us.

Call them what you will - roadblocks, unwanted change, adversities, bumps in the road.  One thing that separates those who succeed in life and those who find excuses around every corner is the ability to adapt, to persevere, to overcome and embrace change and roadblocks as challenges to adapt to and not complain about.

What is your major roadblock standing in the way of your success?

The best way I’ve discovered in helping me deal with life’s imperfections and constant curveballs is by using laughter.  A favorite Zen saying of mine is:

"Nothing is left to you at this moment but to have a good laugh."

One of the things that separates us from all other life forms is our  ability to laugh in the face of some of the most dire situations, chuckle when all around us are freaking out, guffaw when life looks its darkest.  Like the old adage suggests: “when life gives you lemons make lemonade.”

This time of year millions of people, just like yourself, are making resolutions and setting goals to attain throughout the year.  Goals to lose weight, eat better, be more charitable, compassionate, kind.  I applaud anyone who strives to improve themselves, while also reminding anyone within earshot that goals and resolutions should not just be saved at year’s end or its beginning - set them and refine that as often as necessary, throughout the year and whenever you feel the need to improve yourself.

In summation, life is life is life.  It is up to you to make the best of  not only any bad or tough situation, but all the good ones too.  We may not be able to control a lot of what life tosses our way, but we can control how we react and deal with it.





* Have a laugh at life’s idiosyncratic impossibilities and seemingly unfair results.

* Look adversity in the face and dare to overcome it.

* Embrace not only every new year and opportunity to change for the better, but every day.

* Understand that there will be bumps in the road and challenges along the way…

* …and that you can control how you react to them, as well as your effort and energy in overcoming them.

Remember, sometimes you just gotta laugh at life.

But never, ever give up striving to do your best so that you live your life to its fullest.

Every day in every way.

Until next time...

peace,

Mike

Are You Levelheaded?

One of my biggest challenges these days is finding balance in my life.  Now, I know that sentence may mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people.  For me, though, striving for a more balanced life means finding enough time to do all of the myriad things I need to do in order to live the fulfilled, happy, healthy, successful, complete life I want.

I often talk about my triad of balance: that intricate juggling act of keeping my mind, body, and spirit smooth, clear, clean, and working on all cylinders.  That is another necessity that I must include as a vital part of my daily existence.

On of the best ways to attain all of the above is by living a levelheaded life.

What does being levelheaded mean to you?

* Do little upsets in your routine send you flying over the edge?

* Are you quick to anger when someone cuts you off in traffic?

* Once your mind is made up, are you inflexible to changing it?

* Do you see the big picture or only that part of the equation that works best for you?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then chances are you are not a levelheaded person most of the time. And while that is an opportunity on which you can focus, it doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person.  It shows that you are human.  We all, at times, express ourselves in ways that we wish we had not.  But, after all, as human beings we are prone to bouts of behavior that we rue.

What to do?


I suggest  that when the urge to react to life in a not-so-levelheaded manner presents itself that you take a breath, during which you contemplate and embrace your triad of balance, giving equal attention to what makes your mind complete, your body vibrant and happy, and your spirit fulfilled, and then react.  You will be surprised by how different your reaction to adverse situation will be once you take personal accountability on how that reaction affects others…and affects you.

The key to keeping your head while all others are losing theirs is to be on top of your emotions, which assists you with your reactions when adversity strikes.  As it will do more often that we want.

Compare yourself to a fine-tuned athlete, someone who has focused and worked for years honing their skill, refining their craft, and striving to be able to deal with any and all situations that present themselves during their sporting moments.  Life, if considered this way, as an ongoing sporting moment, one that needs to be reacted to with as much  of a level, calm, positive, and healthy head as one can muster, can better be dealt with.

By being prepared, by constantly working on balancing your triad, by staying sharp, in shape, spiritually aware and content, and by maintaining your sense of humor, you will be able to react and enjoy and embrace and deal with life better than you ever thought possible.

Levelheaded people enjoy life more, have better success, and live longer.  Look it up and think about it…

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Life’s Too Short…

Whenever I pick up a new book to read I am very happy, drunk with anticipation that this new venture into this writer’s mind will be a trip well worth the effort and investment.  As a book collector and bibliophile, I research which books I allow to intruded upon my precious allotment of time, so I am seldom displeased with my choice of reading, be it for pleasure or research.  But there are times when all that preparation and forethought does not work out and I find myself ensconced inside a bad read.  What do I do?  I sadly shake my head, offer a nod of apology to the author, who I know firsthand toiled at the keyboard for his or her art and passion, and put the book aside.  Why?

“Because life’s too short to read bad books.”
                                                                      ~ Mike Foster

In fact, when you think about the amount of time we are allowed to spend on this planet, alive, existing, doing that thing called living our lives, it is but a mere dust mote of time.  Time that should not be wasted.  Why?

Because life’s too short…to not do all the things you need and want to do to be all that you must to fulfill your time on earth.



Not to say that we should not kick back, stop and smell the flowers, chill out with friends and family doing nothing but enjoying the moment.  Of course not; all of the above are necessities in living one’s life completely, to it fullest.  Balancing one’s priorities with hobbies, relaxation, enjoyment, and all those things in between is part of the challenge of daily existence.

My point today is not to waste your time, or life, by doing anything that does not make you happy, more enriched, better, smarter, healthier, wealthier, more spiritual…fulfilled.  Why?

Because life’s too short to…(fill in the blank).

If you hate your job, leave it.  When I talk to people who appear miserable with their jobs, I tell them that I feel sorry for them that they have miserable lives.  They look at me, shocked, and say that their life is not miserable, only their jobs.  To that I say  to them:

“If you hate your job you in essence hate your life.  Change it.”

And not just a career that is making you unhappy, but any other aspect of your life.  If you don’t like where you live, or who you live with, think about it.  That is a major part of your days, your time on earth.  If it is not the situation that you want, you need to look into the whys and hows and ways to remedy said situation.  Easier said than done, yes, but ignoring a problem is not fixing it.


And ignoring our life is, well, a waste of a life.  After all, it’s your life, your time on earth, and the last thing anyone wants to do in their golden years is to look back ruefully at a life unfulfilled, wasted, and not the one that you envisioned living.  Think about it.

Life’s too short to…

Do anything that  you should not be doing that gets in the way of living your life to its fullest, every day in every way, 365.

I’d love to hear your comments on some of the things that  you feel are a waste of your life…and how you are trying to change them, and your life for the better.

Until next time…


peace,

Mike

The Cynical Optimist

Is your glass half-full?



Or is the grass always greener on the other side of the street? Do you feel that no matter what happens, as long as you try your hardest, do your best, be kind to others and think nice thoughts things will work out? Or do you feel that it doesn’t matter what you do, bad things, eventually, will happen to good people. Maybe you think that all politicians are crooks; bankers and lawyers too? And the government—they don’t really care about us, they are just hanging around taking kickbacks and creating scandals, right? Perhaps that’s being too…what? Cynical? Or am I being too optimistic? Jeez, I can’t win!

Maybe that’s it—we just can’t win!

That’s crazy, of course you can, you just have to keep on keeping on and put your nose to the grindstone. It will all work out in the end—time heals all wounds, right?

The heck with time: what about all the world’s problems—hunger, war, terrorism, racism, unaffordable health care, unemployment, corruption, apathy!

Okay, but what about the miracle of watching your child come into the world, the awesome naked beauty of a sunset, the natural sensation you get from laughing so hard that tears streak your cheeks?

Tears are right! I feel like crying whenever I think about not having a job, the cost of gasoline, the jokers in Washington (and Europe), and my child support payments!

Tears of joy for having the ability to earn a living, being able to afford to own a car that you can drive across this amazing country; the freedom to choose your leaders, vote for change, and the blessing given to you to have the opportunity to raise a child.

Man, talk about a cockeyed optimist!

Boy, what a negative cynic!

Who am I describing? Anyone you know? Or do the above diatribes hit closer to home?

Are you one of those people who believes that everyday brings with it the opportunity to do something incredible?

Or one that dreads waking up to another miserable twenty-fours of getting stepped on, tossed aside, paranoid that someone is going to do something bad to you?

Me? I like to think that good things will happen to me—and you too!—if I put a positive spin on everything in my life. In fact, I strongly believe that a good mental attitude, filled with positive energy and happy thoughts, goes a long way toward a healthy, happy, fulfilling life.

Yeah, but what about—

I know, I know, there is a lot of bad in the world, lots of heartache and pain; suffering. And there are often terrible and unavoidable pitfalls and horrors that befall each and every one of us, sometimes daily or weekly, but certainly several times throughout our lives.

Guess what? It’s called LIFE. And LIFE happens, with us out without us.

“Life is the definition of imperfection.”
- Mike Foster



You can’t have a gorgeous sunset without clouds, can’t put a roof over your head without cutting down some trees, and cannot live life without a few (or several) tough breaks occurring along the way.

The key to a successful, happy, healthy life is staring at you in the mirror every morning when you brush those choppers—you. I’m not saying turn your back on your problems, or ignore the atrocities that afflict millions of innocent human beings by just smiling at the new day and hoping for the best.

What I’m saying is we all have a choice, to either find that happiness, that hope that resides in all of us. Or embrace the darkness, the negativity, that cynicism that lives within us too.

And even if you are faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, have to deal with daily drudgery and setbacks; even if your life, or a loved one’s life, seems destined to turn into nothing but bad luck and heartache, you, too, have a choice.

Deal, cope, survive.

Smile, love, live.

Am I as hopeful and cheerful and optimistic as I can be all the time? No. Do I sometimes fall victim of feeling victimized, or think that the world, and my little slice of it, seems hopeless and a waste of time? Sometimes, but, thankfully, not very often.

The key, again, is right inside your head, your heart and soul. And embracing the wonderful paradox derived from living each moment, striving for the best possible existence, every day in every way.




Until next time…


peace,


Mike

Success Is In The Effort

Call me old-fashioned, but I enjoy a good sweat, getting my hands dirty and digging into a project; whatever that task or chore may be.  And my contentment is not a byproduct of merely completing a job or solving a problem, I also derive great pleasure in the doing, the effort.

What, you may ask, is old-fashioned about that?  Sadly, for many in today’s got-to-have-it-now world, plenty.

In a way, we are victims of our technological successes: email, instant messaging, texting, cell phones that connect us to every form of electronic media and communication…especially the Internet.  While these amazing innovations have made our lives somewhat easier than they used to be, in return they may have also created more problems than they’re worth.

Maybe it’s just me, my generation?  Or better put: my generation’s generation gap.

“Oh, these kids today!”  Every generation has adults offering up that lament, for as many diverse reasons as freckles on the sunburned face of a fair-haired teen.

But I see it all the time, from my perspective as a leader at my workplace, to observing my soon-to-be-college-graduated son.

What do I see?

An aversion to that age-old rite of passage in ones life when the youth of the day must pay their dues, start from the bottom and work for peanuts, with the hope and goal, through arduous effort and some luck, of getting somewhere.  Hopefully a well-paying job, a satisfying career, but mostly the gratifying feeling of accomplishing something that was worth rolling up those sleeves and breaking a sweat for.

Call is sweat equity or the school of hard knocks.  Or how about that good, old-fashioned sensation one derives from enjoying the journey, no matter how long it may be, despite how dire the odds may seem, pursuing a goal that you may or may not attain?

That’s what I mean by old-fashioned.  Because today’s generation looks at me like I suddenly sprouted a third eye in the middle of my face whenever I talk about not just the necessity of effort, but the satisfying feeling said effort brings.

Huh?

What?

Hold on, I’m getting a text…

Okay, what were you saying?

This:  No success gained without effort, real effort, is worth having.

And this: No successful individual got that way without first failing: more than likely several times!  You can look it up.

SUCCESS IS IN THE EFFORT



And if  you discover someone who somehow appears to have attained greatness unscathed…look again!  Somewhere in that so-called successful person’s past, or future, failure lurks.

AND THAT’S A GOOD THING!

Without failure we never learn.
Without failure we do not grow.
Without failure we do not try.
Without failure we do not succeed.

And without effort you will never fail, thus you will never succeed.

All I’m really saying here is:

HARD WORK NEVER HURT ANYONE.

And working hard at something that occupies your mind (and body) in a positive, creative, interesting, challenging, altruistic, humane, productive, and worthwhile way, is the only way you, or anyone, will every become successful.  Or fulfilled.  Or content.

Or, ultimately, happy.

Work is an integral part of life and without effort you are not alive, not living.

Roll up those sleeves, put your nose to the grindstone, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.  It will be worth the effort, in more ways that you can imagine.

Until next time…


peace,

Mike
livelife365.com

You Gotta Want It

What do the world’s most famous athletes, successful businessmen, high-powered politicians, space-traveling astronauts, working actors, creative artists, respected school teachers, and hard-working plumbers all have in common? They all desire to succeed more than they can bear to fail. To put it another way, they refuse to allow anything or anyone to stand in the way of achieving what they feel is their destiny.

What does this have to do with you? Why, everything, of course. Everything, that is, if you desire to change something about yourself, or have the urge to be something that you currently are not. No matter what your dreams or goals may be—to play left field for the Boston Red Sox or teach high school English—one commonality you must share with anyone who has ever achieved anything worthwhile in this life is the thirst to succeed. The need to overcome any obstacle in your way. But most of all:

YOU STILL GOTTA WANT IT



Just wanting something doesn’t mean your work is done, but it does mean that you have taken a giant step toward achieving your goal. This applies to anything you want, from needing the motivation to lose that extra weight you’ve been trying to lose for years, to finally getting around to figuring out why you detest your job, or your relationships, or your life. Not matter what it is you want to change about yourself or what mountain of opportunity you quest after, you have to want to do it significantly more than not wanting to do it.

I often ask myself what I can do better to help people attain their life goals. I have produced over 350 self-help videos at my website, livelife365.com, and while I have received thousands of encouraging comments and inspirational feedback from successful visitors sharing with me how my websites have helped change their lives for the better, I still want to help thousands (dare I say, millions?) more. One of the biggest roadblocks most people face along the path to success in any worthwhile endeavor is not how to start, but WANTING to start.

Most people know they have flaws, weaknesses, areas of concern that need to be improved. Though there seems to be an endless supply of informative venues to help most of us—from websites, books, videos, and television shows—none of them will ever work unless someone is ready to change.

I began livelife365.com with one goal in mind: To help as many people as I possibly could change their lives for the better. One of the first videos I produced was one of me sitting in my office, surrounded by books, talking about the significance of not only recognizing the need to change, but the vital importance of WANTING to change. I recently received a nice comment on that video, prompting me to watch it again, and, guess what? While a little longer than I would like it to be, the message was still strong…and important. So much so I was motivated to write this post and share that video with you in the hopes that it may be that one little push to give you the direction or desire you have been missing and looking for:

YOU GOTTA WANT IT



Personal development, self growth, achieving goals, pursuing your dreams, and changing your life for the better are never easy. It takes hard work, direction, patience, but most of all it takes desire and determination so strong that you refuse to allow anything or anyone to stand in the way of what it is you want to do.

YOU GOTTA WANT IT!

May you achieve all that you desire and deserve.



Until next time…



peace,


Mike

Change Is Good

The other day I dropped my favorite teacup, rendering it no longer a safe or viable receptacle for my daily consumption of my favorite beverage. To say that I was a tad upset is an understatement. I have had that green cup for years, thought of it as kind of a good luck charm, a talisman, if you will; it is even prominently displayed on this blog and in several of the videos on my video site. For one awful moment I thought: What am I going to do without my special mug? And then I shook my head and realized how ridiculous I sounded. Eventually I got over my dismay and as I often do, sat down and gave my little ordeal some additional thought. My conclusion was that change, even when it is thrust upon us or may seem bad or ill-timed, is a good thing.

“Things don’t change, we change.”~ Henry David Thoreau

But for many people, the prospect of change, especially major change, can seem daunting, downright scary, at times. This is a perfectly natural reaction. Why? Because most of us do not like being taken out of our comfort zones. We prefer the mundane routine to the new super new CHANGE because our routine is a familiar friend, something that while far from perfect is at least not full of surprises and new challenges. This is okay, unless your desire to do more with yourself and your life.

“If you are not changing, you are not living.” ~ Mike Foster

Unless we are testing ourselves, trying new things, removing that comfortable routine from our lives, we will never see our greater potential. The best bosses or managers or supervisors or leaders will often place their charges in challenging predicaments just to see how they react, to deem if they have what it takes to be all that they can be. Again, this is not a pleasant or even enjoyable exercise, but it is one that is necessary for self-growth, personal development, and living one’s life to its fullest.

“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” ~ William Shakespeare

The biggest tragedy is not to have failed or shunned change, but to never have tried. What if by playing it safe you missed out on your true calling in life? Or passed on your potential soul-mate? Change, for the better, is a good thing. But what about change that you are not ready for, or change that is forced upon you? I am one of those lemonade out of lemons guys, someone who is always viewing the glass as half-full. If change comes and you look at it in a negative light I guarantee that the results will be bad. The good news is that while we may not be able to control the changes headed our way, we can control how we deal with them. In this video, I talk about how I dealt with the loss of my special teacup and how I like to deal with other types of changes:

Change Is Good



You can’t turn on the TV these days without seeing and hearing about how messed up the world is: hunger, war, terrorism, obesity, poverty, global warming, genocide, and just plain uncontrollable anger. How can we change the world when the world’s problems seem so vast? The answer is to embrace change and change yourself, to look in the mirror and honestly assess your own individual problems and issues and areas of improvement. While we may not be able to overcome the seemingly insurmountable problems facing the world, by taking important steps in improving self, the world’s issues will be reduced by one.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no on thinks of changing himself.” ~ Tolstoy

One of the biggest fears facing many people is the fear of failure. When facing big life changes or just mini-changes that upset the balance of your world, fear of falling flat on your face, of making mistakes, of failure, is natural. The good news: Failure is okay! Why? Because when we fail we are at least trying, and from that effort comes results, feedback from which we can learn, improve, excel.

FAILING = FEEDBACK!

“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new.” ~ Albert Einstein

The other day I thought that my luck had changed in a negative way when I dropped my favorite teacup and was faced with an unexpected change. Instead, I discovered that change, unexpected or planned, big or small, is a good thing. It all depends on how you embrace it.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Is Life Worth Living?

The other day, I received an email from a recent visitor to this blog and my video site . I get my share of comments and feedback and welcome them in any form, especially from those seeking my advice or requesting a special video just for them. This particular email was from a young man in his late teens, a difficult time in a young man’s life, for sure, often fraught with confusion and questions. In his email, he questioned the purpose of living a healthy life, while denying oneself many of the excessive vices that we all are tempted by, when, in the end, we all are going to die anyway. I was so impressed with this young man’s letter, while equally moved emotionally by his confusion and need for some guidance, that I created this video:

Ask Mike: Is Life Worth Living?



My teenaged friend offers up a good point: Why, indeed, should we exercise, maintain a healthy weight, eschew excess, when we are all stamped with a termination date? The answer seems obvious, but it is not. I should know, for I have, in the past, abused alcohol, drugs, food, tobacco, and life. I have lived that unfulfilled life, that life with little or no purpose other than to sate one’s desires, to grab as much gusto as possible without care for the repercussions. And you know what? I didn’t like it, wasn't productive, and, most certainly, was not enjoying my life, nor living up to my potential.

Why? Because we are put here for a reason. I firmly believe that each one of us has a specific purpose that we must pursue throughout our lifetimes, be it a few years or ten decades. I also feel that to not do this is in essence wasting one’s life. It is not only vital to live your life to its fullest every day, seeking your true reason for being, but it is your obligation as a human being. It is what separates us from all other species that inhabit this planet.

Bringing me back to the letter that inspired this post:

Is Life Worth Living?

I say, yes, of course, it has to be, right? But for too many it just may not be. One of the motivating reasons behind livelife365.com , was the prospect of being able to reach as many people as possible, many of them questioning their purpose in life or needing assistance with weight loss or nutritional advice, and then being able to help them change their lives. Helping them see that their time on earth is valuable and precious. Helping them live life every day in every way.

I like to say that Your Life is a Novel; Make it a Good One. We all know the difference between reading a good book and a bad one. Our life, like a good novel, should be filled with so much purpose on every page that you can’t wait to see what happens next, while savoring what just transpired.

The French have an expression: Raison d‘etre. It simply means: Reason For Being.

Once you find your reason for being, whatever it is, you will find your answer to the question: Is Life Worth Living?

I look at the young man who wrote to me questioning his own reason for being as an inspiration, a reminder of what my raison d’etre is. I feel that I have been put on this earth to assist as many people as possible, helping them achieve their life goals along the road to self-development and self improvement. Whether with a laugh or a pat on the back, a self-deprecating anecdote or inspired moment from my past, I feel that it is my duty as a human being, my purpose, to help others improve their lives.

We only have one life, one chance to do something with our short time on earth, one opportunity that should never, ever be taken for granted or wasted. Am I saying life is all hard work and no fun? No, not at all, but life takes a lot of effort and sacrifice to be successful and fulfilled. The key is moderation and finding the balance, along with continuous self-study and research; oh, and don't forget to have some fun along the way. No one said it was easy, but I will say that if you work hard each day the benefits will far outweigh the effort.

Is Life Worth Living?


I hope I have answered that question in the most positive fashion. For more inspired self-help please continue to drop by this blog and visit my video site, livelife365.com. And also keep living your life, every day in every way.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Finding The Time

When was the last time you were bored? The last time you had a handful of precious, unaccounted for moments with which you had absolutely nothing planned to do? A gap of time when all of your tasks and chores and obligations were, miraculously, completed, finito, no longer looming over your head like your father at your bedroom door giving you the stink eye on a Saturday morning while the front lawn beckons to be mowed.

Me? I consider myself very lucky to never seem to have a dull day, strewn with large chunks of nothing-to-do time, peppered with bouts of ennui and salted with hours of endless emptiness. On the other hand, I sometimes find myself craving the simpler things in life, like lounging with a cold beverage by the ocean with no decision more pressing than where, oh, where will we dine tonight? Or holed up in a secluded cabin in the middle of nowhere with a hundred books I’ve been putting off and dying to read. But, alas, those scenarios only exist in my fantasy dreams and a few weeks a year during my much needed and very much appreciated vacation time.

Back to reality. I like to keep busy, enjoy it, actually. But it goes beyond that. You could say that I am driven to succeed, to accomplish as much as I can in the short amount of time we have on this earth. And while that's a good thing, it can present challenges. Of course, keeping ones balance amidst all the madness is a must, but finding the time to do all that needs to be done is equally, if not more, important.

“It is a vital necessity to do all the things that you have to do to be able to do all the things that you need to do.”

Walking and Talking with Mike: Finding The Time




I love a life filled with activity, of as many positive endeavors you can shake a stick at, especially those that enhance, improve, grow, shape, and drive you as a person. The key is finding the time to do as much of all this good stuff as humanly possible. Here are some tips:

* prioritize…then prioritize again
* multitask
* eliminate “empty” activities
* turn that boob tube off!
* learn to juggle
* don’t bite off more than you can chew
* practice patience
* at the end of the day, pat yourself on the back and…
*…write a new to-do list
* do it all over again

Remember, it’s good to be busy, but also just as important to find the balance to do other things unrelated to deadlines and pressures, tasks and chores, goals and obligations. I understand the importance of living a balanced life, but also the necessity of living a fulfilled one. The key is:

FINDING THE TIME


Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Inspiration Tuesday

Over the past few weeks I have been battling the blues a bit. Nothing major, just some kinks in the armor, some need for rebalancing, for getting my Triad of Balance in order. All it takes, for me at least, is to have one of my BIG THREE (Mind, Body, Spirit) out of whack and I get to feeling a bit off. But, like I said, nothing major, just need to take the car in for a tune-up, maybe just an oil change, and I should be good as new.

In the meantime, I did what I often suggest others should do: I watched some of my helpful videos. And, guess what? I actually started to feel little better--a good thing! I thought I'd share a few of them:

FOLLOW YOUR BLISS



I DON'T WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT TO DO, BUT...



THE MIRACLE OF TOMORROW



I hope these videos help you if you are having one of those days, or weeks, or, heaven forbid, months. When I find myself in a funk, I like to go back to basics, do a self-check, see what's working and what's not. Ultimately I discover it's something as simple as needing a good night's sleep or more exercise or better nutritional choices or maybe just a good laugh. And what helps me more often than not is posting something on one of my websites that will maybe help someone else who needs help...just like me.

Why? Because I have to.

Until next time...

peace,

Mike

Looking For Good In One Very Bad Year

I hadn’t planned on writing an end of the year post, certainly not while December was still in its early stages. But, more often than not, life gets in the way of many of our best laid plans. And, sad to say, death does too.

2008 has not been a good year. For me, personally, and for most of the world, it seems that this year is one for the books in terms of bad news.

My wife and I, like millions of others (dare I say, billions?), have seen our net worth reduced by numbers too large and ugly to put into print. Yet we both remain employed, still have the wherewithal to earn decent livings, and are thankful for that. But millions of others are unemployed, and from all the forecasts things will certainly get worse before they get better.

But even though those are big challenges to overcome, it’s only money, right? At least you have your health…right?

2008 has been a trying year health-wise for me. My left shoulder began acting up early in the year, to the point where it needed to be surgically repaired, and still is far from one hundred percent. Yet I am thankful that the rest of me is okay. But that’s just me. And it’s only a sore shoulder. Things could be worse.

What if that sore shoulder turned out to be something bigger? It’s not, but, again, that’s just me--I got lucky. Sadly, my brother and his new bride did not.

One of my best memories of this past year was being asked to participate in my brother‘s wedding. In a year often filled with gloom and doom, this joyous event was a nice respite from the darkness. Yet for all its happiness, that day had a foreboding shrouding the event. My new sister-in-law, a lovely bride and the sparkle in my brother’s eye, was sick. They pushed up their nuptials by several months to accommodate her illness. Life and its paradoxes. 2008, that dreadful, yet wonderful, year.

They remain deeply in love and are hanging in there, both doing all that they can to make the best of their situation, doing what we humans often do when facing adversity: persevere, deal and cope, live life.

Life.

And death.

The reason I am writing this post today is due to having to fly Back East in a few days to attend a funeral. My step-father, one of the kindest, nicest men I have had the pleasure to meet, and a wonderful companion for my mother over the past eleven years, succumbed to illness and age on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor invasion. This is significant given that he fought in that war, returned with a wound and a determination to live life to its fullest every day. Which he did for eighty-eight years. My entire family are better people for having known him. And my mom? She’s tough, a survivor. But recovering from losing your love, that person with whom you share your daily existence, takes time.

It will take well into next year, and possibly the next, to fully recover from the many loses felt during this trying year. And that is what this post is really about, what livelife365.com is all about.

Living your life
Every day
Every way
Not letting anyone (or anything)
Stand in your way.

In memory of my step-father, in honor of my mother, with love to my brother, his wife, and the rest of my family (especially my wife and my son [Happy Birthday, Kiddo!]), and to all those who lost someone or something dear to them during this troubling year, I offer you my latest song, "livelife365":

Now playing: livelife365

I hope this inspires you, as it does me, to live your life to its fullest every day. And while 2008 has not been one of the better years in recent memory, it has been a year in your life. Good or bad, it’s your life. Your year. And it should be remembered for that.

Until next time…

peace,

Mike

Health Update and a few Videos

Most of you know by now that I recently underwent surgery on my left shoulder to repair an impingement that was causing me a great deal of pain for a long time. The good news is, that while I am still limited in using my left arm, I am getting better every day. I am able to actually type for several minutes at a time without pain and look forward to the day when I can write some new posts. Soon, I hope!

While I am feeling lots better, my range of motion is still poor. I was just measured by my physical therapist and was at 110 degrees out of 180--not that good. In fact, it is much less than before my surgery. But the pain is better, much better. And the numbing, tingling sensation down my left arm and fingertips is mostly gone. All I need now is lots of physical therapy and time.

In the meantime, I would like to share a few more videos from my archives.

The three categories that personify livelife365.com and this blog are: HEALTHY LIVING, PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT, and ENTERTAINMENT. With that in mind, I have chosen videos that represent each category.

For your HEALTH:

Almonds: The Perfect Snack



Some INSPIRATION for your PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:

The Miracle of Tomorrow



And a little ENTERTAINMENT from this (exhausting and never-ending) political season:

Hillary Obama Monsta McCain Jam



As always, I appreciate your wonderful comments and feedback and look forward to the day when I can return the favor and add a few comments of my own.

Until next time...

peace,

Mike