by Shauna Arthurs
We all want to lead full, happy lives...so why is it that so few of us do?
If it's time you took a good look at your own life and gave it an overhaul, don't wait another minute. Whether we like to admit it or not, the clock is ticking for each of us. Make each moment count by actually putting into place the practices which will bring you joy and rekindle the passion in your life. This has nothing to do with anyone else - it's all about YOU!
Following are some tips to help you make the most of each day and ensure you are living your life to the fullest. While they may not sound positive and easy, this is all about being EFFECTIVE. These few key areas are where you can put new practices into place and give yourself the gift of a happier, more satisfying life.
* GOALS: The trick here is to make them YOURS. Not what your Mom wants, nor what your guidance counselor told you was right for you...but what YOU want. Have you even thought about this lately? Many people have not thought about what they truly want in years. This is partially due to the vague notion that many carry around that says 'some day I'll have more time to figure it out and then I'll get what I want'.
This is NOT how it works...some day is NOW. Tomorrow will never come, and our time here is limited. You can either choose for this to be a depressing thought and turn away from it, or face it straight on and FREE YOURSELF.
Today is all we have - live it up! Dream with passion! PLAN to do things you love and which are fun...there is no time like the present!
* PRIORITIES: In these busy times, it is time we realize that we cannot do it all. We can CREATE everything we want - I firmly believe this - but we only have 24 hours in a day, and there will simply be things that slip through the cracks.
Therefore, the more we hone our focus and decide what our priorities are, the better we can live each day from that focus, and accomplish more of the things that matter to us as individuals. This is not goal-setting. Goals ARISE from this work, and allow you to accomplish those things that you wish to. This allows us to live each day with a strong sense of purpose, aliveness and joy.
The trick to living this way is two-fold: the first is to invest the time to look at your life overall and decide what you want it to be about. A good way to think about this is to look at the end of your life. Ask yourself what you will regret most if you don't change it? What do you want said about you when you're gone? What kind of a legacy would you like to leave? What will you wish you had done?
The second part ties your priorities and your goals together. The best two tips in this area I have heard in years are extremely simple:
1. Make a list every night of the five things you MUST accomplish tomorrow, and then DO THEM tomorrow, in the order of those you want to do least first.
2. Ask yourself each day: What can I do today that I'll be glad I did tomorrow? This one step is amazingly powerful, as you will see after a few days.
* VISION: How many times have you heard that you must visualize what you want in order to get it? Did you know that in studies with Olympic-caliber athletes, tests have shown that they performed just as well after visualizing themselves going through the motions with precision, as when they actually practiced physically? Additionally, in brain and muscle tests, all the same neurons in the brain and muscle fibers in the body were activated during intense visualization as during the actual athletic endeavor.
Amazing? YES! Use this to your advantage in your own life! Practice and improve your ability to clearly and precisely picture yourself being in the situations you wish to create. There are some guided meditations in the
Wealth Beyond Reason program that we have found to be very helpful with this process.
* HEALTH: This has been addressed in many places, but my two best tips are:
Eat less, and more often. Studies have shown that those who eat less actually survive longer, and with this happy, passionate life you are building you'll want to prolong it as mush as you can! Also, eating smaller amounts every 3-4 hours serves to boost your meatabolism and burn more fat...helping you to be healthier and have more energy. Think of your metabolism like a fire...consistently feed it in little amounts. If you starve it or smother it, the results will be less to your liking.
The second tip is to get moving, and do it consistently. This one thing, if you are not already doing it, will make a huge difference for you. Go for walks, take up new sports - do whatever you have to do to stay active, and enjoy increased energy and stamina, as well as more clarity in your thoughts.
* ROLE MODELS: Get some new ones. Look for people and situations that empower you, and remind you of the magnificence of the human spirit and what is possible. This lifts you out of your narrow, every day focus, and gives you a broader perspective. For inspiration in this regard, you may find our
Get Inspired! Course helpful.
There you have it...a few key ingredients to living a life with passion!
Of course there are more things you can do, however we have found that it's the fundamentals that need to be put in place for people to really feel energy, passion, happiness, and a sense of purpose.
Enjoy, and go create your dreams!
You can find more tips on creating your dreams and living with passion at
http://blog.breathingprosperity.com, and at
http://shaunatravels.wordpress.com.
About the Author
Shauna Arthurs is a writer/editor, Prosperity Coach, Internet Marketer and co-founder/owner of several web-based businesses, including
http:www.breathingprosperity.com.
