 There are no two ways about it – our minds need to interact with nature in order to function optimally. When you take a half hour walk outdoors you discover the antidote you may need to reduce anxiety levels, increase your quality of sleep, and boost your mood.
When you hear the birds chirping, see the sun reflect off a pond, or feel a gentle breeze blowing, you are releasing built up stresses and anxiety without realizing it. There are many theories as to the benefits from spending some time outdoors. Below are just a few. What other ones can you come up with?
Make it a habit to spend more time in nature. Exercise outside occasionally rather than the gym. Have lunch outdoors. Have a plant in your office, if allowed, or make your drive home go through a park or green space. Equally important is to give your time to others. By devoting your time and energy to a cause much bigger than yourself, you begin to realize the impact you can have. You are no longer focused on your own self-interest. Much like spending time with nature, when you give time to others (volunteering), you feel less time constrained and better able to complete many tasks and responsibilities. By giving time to others, as opposed to unwinding in front of the television, you actually feel less time inhibited. When you are more generous with your time you find yourself more productive and less rushed or stressed. Finally, it is important to travel often. Traveling stretches your horizon and enriches your commitment to lifelong learning. It also gives you an opportunity to disconnect from regular life. The relaxation one experiences when traveling is totally different than relaxing at home. And, we don’t mean traveling to a relative’s house or a place associated with work. It is important to experience new customs and gain a new perspective. When you travel, you begin to appreciate the things you take for granted. You also gain a stronger visualization of what you can create. Why not designate one weekend a month to get yourself out of your regular routines? Allow the ever-changing scenery of your life keep you inspired. There is so much more to your world than your everyday routine. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: "You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no results." ~gandhi
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 Positive thoughts lead to positive results. Being positive not only makes you happy and healthy, whoever is optimistic lives a more successful life. In order to develop and maintain being positive and optimistic, it requires both physical and mental exercise. Yes, a healthy exercise regime adds to your overall optimism.
When you commit to a positive and optimistic lifestyle, you must share positive energy. That is a non-negotiable with the universe. If you choose not to share, you are not becoming the person you are destined to be. Being optimistic is a choice. When you wake every morning, you choose to be grumpy or happy. Throughout the day how you react to any situation is totally up to you. You can live your life as if you are on a dreaded roller coaster or you can take those ups and downs as a thrill ride and make the best of it. Does being optimistic mean you won’t have bad days? No. You are going to have bad days, that’s a given. The key is to be realistic. You can’t always be upbeat, nor are you expected to. But as an optimist, you deal with the hard times and move on. Here are some tips on developing an optimistic mindset:
If you are tired of looking at the world in the same way, then that is a key to broaden your horizons and improve your life. When you embrace each day as the present it is, you begin to live a more exciting, balanced, and inquisitive life. We all have things we can learn from others, so when truly open minded, you implement those discoveries in your life. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: Every time you subtract negativity from your life, you make room for more positive energy.  The legendary Babe Ruth said, “It’s hard to be a person who never gives up.” Hard work does not necessarily guarantee success, but no success is possible without hard work. A great mantra to have is to be so good they can’t ignore you. How do you that?
First, work harder than you think you did yesterday. Always know there are going to be obstacles, doubters, and mistakes. But, with hard work there are no limits. As you work harder, make sure you minimize your need for instant gratification. Instant gratification is a habit where you forgo short-term hardships in order to gain short-term pleasure. Instant gratification may lead to long-term pain, procrastination, and self-sabotage. Instead, generate a habit of delayed gratification. Delayed gratification is where you forgo shot-term pleasure in order to gain significant long-term results and massive rewards in the future. You ignore temptations that may distract you. Know that as you minimize instant gratification, you may experience short-term pain and stress. Realize this is temporary. Soon gratification becomes satisfaction. By creating a habit of delayed gratification, you are strengthening your mind and shaping your character. Remember, your character is your brand. The result is increased willpower, self-discipline, and patience. These are all attributes found in successful entrepreneurs. Ask yourself the following:
In gaining delayed gratification it is important to become an active listener. Active listening is when the listener can restate or paraphrase what they have heard in their own words. This confirms the message heard was the message intended. Often people listen with the intent of responding. When this happens, the message is lost. Fully concentrate on what is being said rather than passively hearing the message. Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, and others over self. Active listening is a skill that can be acquired and developed with practice. It may be difficult to master at first and takes time and patience. A few tips to becoming an active listener:
When you create a habit of hard work and delayed gratification you begin to experience success. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: The word listen contains the same letters as the word silent. ~alfred brendel  Learning should not stop when traditional schooling ends. By actively seeking opportunities to increase your knowledge base you are actively searching for ways to improve your life. Education does not need to be formal. Odds are everyone you know has something to teach you. It is up to you to allow them to do so.
The concept, lifelong learning, was introduced in Denmark in 1971, but has been prevalent in society since Biblical times. Lifelong learning is the ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for personal or professional reasons. By definition, it engages social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development. A lifelong learner embraces self-sustainability rather than competition. Learning is ongoing and found everywhere. It is in our daily interactions, through social media, engrained into the media, and with technology, global within our own small world. The way we learn may be formal, informal, or self-directed. Research shows that self-learning is the most beneficial and sustainable. Confucius is credited with, “I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” By actively engaging in the learning process and making the commitment to implement what you learn, your journey of self-improvement begins. When you enhance your learning through rewarding yourself with a creative outlet, you are bringing into balance all the aspects of who you are and who you can become. Even if you are completely lacking in artistic talent and abilities, having a creative outlet of any sort can be very therapeutic. As you indulge yourself in self-expression your talents begin to build and multiply. Now, think of your favorite athlete, musician, or performer. What do they have that you may not have? Money? Talent? The correct answer is a coach. The most successful people in the world, even the Richard Branson's, Elizabeth Taylor's, and Gloria Vanderbilt's, all had a mentor. Remember, if you are the smartest or wealthiest person in your group, you need to change groups. By choosing to surround yourself with those who are doing well in the fields that interest you, you are setting yourself up for success. Allow yourself to be encouraged, inspired, and mentored by people much larger than yourself. Everyone needs and must have a mentor in order to produce the results they are looking to create. So, who is yours? Collectively, as a lifelong learner you are positioning yourself for remarkable outcomes. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it." ~steve jobs  The world is ripe with new opportunities and chances, it’s up to you whether or not you’re going to take them. Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now and A New Earth: Awakening to your Life’s Purpose theorizes, “When you become comfortable with uncertainty, infinite possibilities open up in your life.”
The entrepreneur looks for opportunities everywhere and pursues them with speed. Does this mean you need to be an entrepreneur in order to get ahead? No, but you do need to employ that entrepreneurial spirit in your daily life. Most opportunities are lost due to being unfocused with your goals or poorly defined priorities, often referred to as fuzzy thinking. Infinite opportunities can and do exist within nearly every situation, event, or happening. The search for an opportunity should be continuous and on-going in order to create significant results. Develop your entrepreneurial mindset to become aware of not only the obvious opportunities but also those hidden behind the day-to-day problems and issues. Don’t waste your time rummaging through volumes of useless information. Instead, focus on strategies to assist in gathering, evaluating, and applying to your vision and goals. Ask yourself:
When you open yourself to infinite possibilities, no idea is ever wasted. You begin to connect with your existing knowledge and the possibilities ahead. You become inspired, energized, and encouraged. As a Chinese proverb teaches, “the broader your net, the more fish you catch.” Instead of focusing on what could go wrong in the next few years, try looking at what could go right. Remember, it’s not about whether the glass is half full or half empty, it is about who is pouring the water. You are in charge of you. Plan ahead as if all your wildest dreams could and will come true. When you adopt this mindset you begin that journey to infinite possibilities. Start each day with positive affirmations. Throughout each day repeat those affirmations. End each day with gratitude and affirmations. Your life is in your hands and you must be the navigator of your journey. Enhance your personal skills, trust your choices, and do what you truly want to do. It does not matter how it affects your career, your family, or your personal life; as long as you are aligning yourself to succeed, you are doing the right thing. Here are affirmations to begin with. What other ones can you come up with?
And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: Just beyond the horizon of the so-called impossible is infinite possibility. ~bryant mcgill  A healthy lifestyle isn’t just about eating your veggies and regular exercise, true health means you are taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Failing to make time for self-care means failing to make time for your overall wellbeing.
Holistic is more of an approach than a treatment. Holistic means you focus on your entire whole being. Included is your mental and spiritual wellness. It is more of a lifestyle and bringing balancing into your life than it is being more of a hypochondriac. When you focus on your health and your lifestyle holistically, you begin to discover the benefits. These include:
Basically, when you are living your life holistically, you are giving your life permission to be in alignment. Think of an automobile that runs smoothly when the tires are balanced and the frontend is aligned. The same is true of your life. It is up to you to make sure there is alignment. And, the way is through holistic attention. One of the best ways to begin alignment is to give attention to the music you listen to. If you don’t listen to music, you should. Music has a massive effect on our mood. When you coordinate the music you listen to with the mood you would like to be in, you start to train your brain to engage in positive (or mellow) vibes as needed. Music therapy has been used by neurologists for decades as a way to treat conditions associated with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, strokes, and depression. With advanced neuro-imaging, researchers can now reveal that music therapy can help restore the loss of expressive language and improve movements and speech. Playing and listening to music requires coordinating muscle movements and developing an ear for timing. The Michael J. Fox Foundation has found that music is extremely powerful. The sound of music alone moves us physically and emotionally, often transporting us to a previous place and time. When you hear a certain type of music often your foot begins to tap, you being to hum, and in your mind you are singing along with the melody. Every person has rhythm and it is rhythm that produces holistic alignment. Make music a part of your daily life. When you exercise, work around the house, or meditate, have a playlist ready. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent  By Getting Moving, we are talking about how to improve your life looking through the lens of endorphins. Endorphins trigger a positive feeling in the body, similar to that of morphine. For example, the feeling that follows a workout or a run is often described as "euphoric" or a "runner's high." The result in a positive and energizing outlook on life.
Many studies show that people who exercise regularly benefit with a positive boost in mood and lower rates of depression. Pick a sport, a class, or an exercise regime that works for your body and then engage in it as often as possible. Medical science encourages us to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. So, how do you currently measure up to and what do you plan to do to improve? Improved self-esteem is a key psychological benefit of regular physical activity. When you exercise, your body releases chemicals, endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain. You feel stronger, happier, and you begin to experience an improvement in your quality of life. Hand-in-hand with beginning to move is to make friends with your body. This doesn't mean to use your body to make friends, rather become a friend to your own body. Instead of hating and punishing your body, try loving it; try listening to it. When something aches or you feel a pain, that is your body reacting to something you have done. Not only can this create physical pain but it also can produce emotional pain. Start by treating your body in a friendly manner. Try feeding it, exercising it, resting it, and nurturing it in a way that makes you feel at home inside of it. Two critically important things to start immediately are to improve your diet and get plenty of rest. Eliminating junk food and soda from your diet improves your quality of health and life. Start by substituting fruits and raw vegetables for those fries. Make sure you reduce your sodium intake. A good rule of thumb is to compare the amount of sodium to calories in what you eat. Ideally, these should be the same or less; sodium to calories. When you read the nutrition label, you are going to be surprised as to the amount of sodium that is found in "healthy" options. Get plenty of rest. It doesn't matter if you are an early riser or a night owl, the key is the proper amount of rest. Some entrepreneurs believe you must get up early and start working immediately. That is a great routine if your body clock is in sync with that. Never should we forfeit a good night's sleep to challenge our ability to achieve more. A strong, healthy sleep is like a solid foundation on which a home is built. You've got to have it! So, get moving with plenty of rest and treat your body as the best friend it is. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you  Your outer appearance dictates absolutely nothing about what kind of person you are. However, it does influence the way you feel. If you stay in your jammie's all day, you are going to be in more of a relaxed mode. Your focus and attention to detail may not be as great.
Everyone is different but when you are dressed for impact, you create an impact. When we present ourselves in a way that makes us feel confident, that confidence shines through in everything we do. Research shows that up to 55% of another person's perception of you is based on how you look. There is only one chance to make a first impression. Good or bad, that impression lasts. Although dressing and grooming is no guarantee of success, it does give you a competitive edge and helps to make a positive first impression. Dressing for success does not need to be expensive. Many consignment and thrift stores carry designer clothes at a fraction of the cost of many big box stores. And, dressing for success is not limited to the work environment. Even at home, dressing to impress impresses you and can create a more productive environment. Sloppy dressing often produces sloppy work and sloppy results. Many entrepreneurs contend that their success is in the way they dress. Even when traveling, many dress at least in what is considered business casual attire. Rarely are they caught in sweats, yoga pants, or gym shorts. Their mantra is to wear great clothes; "You never know who you are going to meet." The way you dress communicates who you are. Everything you do makes a statement. Many believe, "You can't judge a book by its cover," but book jacket and product packaging designers is a huge market and industry. Some people subscribe to the idea that you dress for the job you want, not the job you have. It is human nature to evaluate someone by the way they dress. Yes, this may be considered labeling, but it is also human nature. Clothes make a strong visual statement about how you see yourself. You might think you are expressing your individuality, but you could also be sending the message that you don't believe in you. Appropriate dress is also a way of expressing respect for the situation and the people in it. Equally important as the clothes you wear are the people you associate with. Personal Development Guru, Jim Rohn says you are "the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Think about that. Think about the people you associate with at work and outside of work. Get a pad and write down the five people you associate with the most at work and the five people you associate with most outside of work. Beside each name, write three qualities you admire most of each person and three things you find not as desirable. From this list, determine which of the qualities, or lack thereof, you find in yourself. Be Bold: Ask three to five people to anonymously do the same for you. How did you measure up? Are you being the person you thought you were? When we neglect our social lives, we neglect some of the best opportunities we have available for ongoing learning and growth. By making other people a priority and surrounding ourselves with those who challenge us, we make continuous expansion of our worldview a priority. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: You can have anything you want if you dress for it. -edith head  If you are receptive to other people’s suggestions and not set in your ways, then you are not only open to change, but flexible. Mahatma Gandhi taught, “be the change that you wish to see in the world.” It is natural to want things to be better and for things to be easier and calmer in our lives, but unless we open ourselves up for that transformation, it is never going to happen.
When you think of being receptive to change as being flexible, then one key word describes what you must do: stretch. Stretch your limits, stretch your intellect, stretch your emotions, and if necessary, stretch your wallet. Stretch is the most accurate word used to describe what people must do who want to be more flexible and respond to change more positively. Some people believe that if they never change and just stay in the same place they never fall behind. That is faulty thinking. Think of a car parked on the motorway. Do other cars pass it by? Does that car ever get anywhere? The same is true in life. Even if you move at the pace of a tortoise, you are moving forward and slowly accepting change. When you stretch yourself to take on new challenges that require new skills, you are becoming more flexible. You are also gaining the confidence necessary so when you hit a bump in the road (and you will), you can deal with it and move forward from it. The first step is to overcome irrational fears of change. Not only does this boost self-confidence, but it also aids in anticipating change. You become more proactive and more involved in the change process. Some people theorize that the only person who likes change is a baby. Well, isn’t a baby open to all possibilities? One cannot be unless they welcome change. In today’s world one should expect less stability and more change in their career and their life. Rare is it that someone today works 30 years for a corporation and receives that gold watch. Instead, it takes employing that entrepreneurial spirit in our daily lives to create that stability we are looking for. To survive and thrive, we must be flexible. And, the best way is to stretch yourself by taking on new challenges; getting out of your comfort zone. When you do start to get a “thrill” from being outside your comfort zone, you are starting to live your dreams without restraints. Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” challenges us to dream the dream. In the musical, the signature song tells us that when we dream the dream, hope is high and life worth living. One cannot begin to dream without restraints until they are honest about their dreams. Your dreams are yours. Your dreams are not your parents, your spouse’s, your family’s, or anyone who says, “you should do …” Your dreams are you. You are your dreams. Until you begin to live a life that journeys toward those dreams you are never going to live a life by your design. Along that journey, one of the first steps is to decide and believe. Preparation is key in both deciding and believing. Psychologist Dr. Murray Banks teaches, “if you can visualize it, if you can feel it, if you can taste it … you cannot NOT make it happen.” In order to achieve your dreams, they must become second nature. They must seem as natural as breathing or pouring that morning cup of coffee. Your dreams become part of you. Finally, when you dream without restraints, you know that mistakes are lessons. What others perceive as a mistake; you see as a learning opportunity. There is no excuse not to keep moving forward. You never give up. You are also aware of two certainties: First, FEAR is an acronym for False Expectations Appearing Real, and Second, the only way to fail is to give up. All failures occur when someone gives up. That is the only way to fail. Dream your dream. Record your wins along the way. Even the smallest wins return the largest dividends. It is 100% up to you. Only you can implement your dreams. Only you can dream your dreams. Only you can make your dreams come true. The world is waiting to see that you that you are dreaming. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. -thoreau  Jim Rohn suggests, “You are the average of the five people you most associate with.” Likewise, many Personal Development gurus teach that “if you’re the smartest person in your group, you need a new group.” The point is: surround yourself with people that not only accepts you for you, but also inspires you and challenges you to be the most complete person you can be.
It is true that you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your family. Family love should be unconditional, but that does not always apply to the people you choose to surround yourself with. Those conditions should be conditions that provide you with growth, challenges, and visions beyond what you currently have. This happens when you surround yourself with people who support you, coach you, and are a positive influence on you. So, how do you attract positive people into your life? First, believe in yourself. If you do not believe in you, then why should anyone else? People know whether or not you believe in yourself. Even the harshest and hardest façade can be broken. The great teacher and philosopher Dr. Seuss taught us at a very early age, “be who you are and say what you mean because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Acknowledge your strengths, your talents, your gifts, and engage in positive self-talk. Share with the world the real you. When you believe in yourself, you begin to follow your heart. When you are in alignment with your core beliefs you are guaranteed to attract positive, upbeat, and supportive people. Second, forgive openly and often. Grudges provide no benefit. Negative energy attracts negative people. Many media outlets, podcasts, and radio hosts thrive on negativity. It is what sells. However, the end result is destruction. The most effective way to counter negative energy is to begin by forgiving yourself for the mistakes you’ve made. Through forgiving yourself you are able to forgive others who may have betrayed you or hurt you. Everyone’s life experience is unique. Everyone’s degree of influence and positivity is unique. The more you forgive, the more you create a higher energy. This higher energy is what attracts supportive and loving people into your life. Third, like attracts like. Remember what Dr. Seuss taught; be who you are and those who matter don’t mind. It is the Law of the Universe that like attracts like. Think of yourself as a magnet. You attract those who are like you. They appreciate you for who you are, as they are like you. By nurturing a positive mindset you attract others to you. There is a caution! You always want to have someone in your circle who can challenge, mentor, and coach you. The more you stay focused on being you and the best you possible, the more positive people you attract into your life. Laughter, above all other, is the best medicine. It is physically impossible to be sad and negative when you are truly filled with laughter. Often we get caught up in prioritizing our work, school, gym, errands, etc., and we forget to prioritize those things that bring us joy. How about prioritizing a glass of wine and a night of ridiculous jokes and stories with friends and those you love? There is a reason it is called “happy hour.” Modern life inundates us with negative information; from the morning commute to the nightly news. It can be overwhelming. However, all of us have a weapon more powerful than any military or any spoken or written word: Laughter. And, the one thing we most often forget to do is laugh. So how do you introduce more laughter into your life? Let your mind go crazy and make a list of fun and crazy things to do. Here are some suggestions:
Laughter is physically, emotionally, and mentally good for you. Laughter keeps your happier. Laughter puts you in a better mood. And, laughter can make you live longer. So, get busy laughing. And, throughout your day remind yourself this is “My Moment to Succeed.” bartism: "To all the other dreamers out there, don't ever stop or let the world's negativity disenchant you or your spirit. If you surround yourself with love and the right people, anything is possible." adam green SIGN UP TODAY for your FREE e-course, #2weeks2lovinglife. Visit http://MyMomentToSucceed.com for more info and to register. |
bartbart is a nationally known, sought-after motivational speaker, author, blogger, personal coach, trainer, entrepreneur, and major advocate of the theatre community. 
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