It Was Always You vs You!

By Shazad

“You have competition every day because you set such high standards for yourself that you have to go out every day and live up to that.”

Michael Jordan

Life is a competition they say. You have to WIN and beat everyone as the story goes. Second place is for losers according to some. It’s an “Us vs. Them” battle every day and we can’t lose. So much of this combative drama plays out in the world and we all feel its influence at some point in time but does it even make sense and is it at all true?

Like most people in their youth, I used to believe those lines about competition and winning by beating my peers and everyone else in society. I was totally buying into this notion of my life being some kind of ‘war’ for resources, attention, and such. As I grew older and became a man, these themes had less appeal to me. Now that I’m middle-aged I realize the true battles were not with others in the world - near or far, but with my own ideas, thoughts, and the previous versions of myself. I am not trying to outshine someone or conquer them. I’m actually just trying to be a better, more Awesome human being as I grow and learn more. My former self had youth, speed, and cleverness for assets. This evolving person that I accept myself to be is stronger, wiser, and more patient about things. I am not trying to ‘defeat’ people or things as much as I’m trying to grow throw life’s experiences and trials.

Only those people who don’t reflect, adjust, and improve their lives over time are the ‘losers’. You are clearly not one of those people because you are reading this blog and probably doing other things to make your life better.

Growing old is about improving and becoming better through the refinement of ideas. As I look back on my youth, I feel a little regret that I didn’t understand these ideas sooner. I would have changed my focus immediately to face my own flaws and ignorance so that I could conquer myself and the need to beat others to prove some point. It was never about them or the rest of the world. The competitive drama was really in my head and all I needed was within me. It’s the same for you. You are already a winner and have the blessings to level up your game, shine brighter, and live a better life once you accept the rules of winning on your own terms. Live Awesome!

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Wisdom, The Third Pillar of an Awesome Life

By Shazad

“Leave the past behind, let the grand design take care of the future, and instead only rightly guide the present to reverence and justice. Reverence so that you’ll love what you’ve been allotted, for nature brought you both to each other. Justice so that you’ll speak the truth freely and without evasion, and so that you’ll act only as the law and value of things require.” 

Marcus Aurelius

In the previous 2 posts, we discussed Health and Wealth in the truest sense. This post will talk about the third key ingredient for a fulfilling, happy, and Awesome Life and that’s called Wisdom. It is the key aspect to everything else in life including holistic Health and authentic Wealth. Wisdom teaches us WHY we should be doing or not doing something. The Why kind of questions leads to deep thinking and mindful behaviour. We begin to live intentionally and with purpose in all aspects of our lives whenever we apply Wisdom.

Look around you and consider if the world is behaving more wisely now or less than before. Consider how we can truly fix our problems and advance humanity by becoming wiser people and communities. With the passage of time, a person can and should become wiser but it’s not automatic or natural. Only through reflection on our life and study of the wise leaders who came before us can we become enlightened with age rather than merely a year older every time the Earth goes around the sun.

So how can you become wiser in your life? Here are a few ideas:

1. Read ancient wisdom from Stoicism to Chinese Taoism. Try to understand what the key themes and messages of all major religions are.

2. Study modern people and what they wrote about the challenges of life. How much do you have in common with such people and where is your life very different from theirs?

3. Look at your own life experiences and those of close family. What lessons can you learn to be a better human being, going forward?

To become intelligent, clever, and educated is good but to become wiser in each phase of your life is Awesome! May you always be blessed with increasing wisdom that guides you to your personal best in life!

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How Wealthy Are You?

By Shazad

“A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone.”

Henry David Thoreau

In today’s culture, like in the past, people are constantly seeking and even lusting after money, wealth, and power at all costs. Having more money, gold, or fame is the big target and even life goal for so many people. What does being rich or ‘wealthy’ really mean?

The dictionary definitions of being rich or wealthy involve having a lot of material possessions and currency to buy more. It’s all about physical stuff and having the power to acquire the finest things or go to the best places, eat the most decadent food, and wear luxury clothes. I think it’s really a state of mind and the concept of freedom is the most important part of it.

The truly wealthy people don’t have to worry about doing everything because of their material riches and many of us will never be as rich as a billionaire CEO or member of a royal family. We can still be wealthy in terms of what we are concerned with and have to do. If you lower your gaze from celebrity lifestyles and Internet influencers and instead focus on what you really want, you’ll find your personal ‘rich life’ as famous financial author, Ramit Sethi calls it, is quite achievable.

Do you just want to take a full month off for vacation each year? How about being able to hire a gardener to cut your lawn and trim your bushes/trees in summer? What about being able to get groceries delivered to you each week or, driving on the toll highway once in a while without worrying about the toll charges? It could be that “expensive” gym membership at $100/month that you dream of affording. It’s all within your reach if you make other adjustments. Many people stress out about the smallest things and think they need to make a Million dollars or more. Some think they need to accumulate $10 Million dollars minimum to retire in “comfort”. It would be comical if people weren’t so panicked about having and making money all the time!

Instead of trying to live like a big movie star or pop icon, imagine what your ideal life would look like. What is your ideal house/apartment and what kind of car would you really be happy to call a daily driver? Actually downsizing some of your assets and skipping some of your current indulgences can help you achieve your true wealth faster because you don’t actually want a gold Rolex Daytona watch or a custom Lamborghini Urus Performante SUV. You just want to have some weekly chores taken care of and need to skip worrying about ordering too many appetizers the next time you are out with the family. It’s those little things that you can achieve despite not having the wealth of Elon Musk or a Saudi prince. By really focusing on what you want to skip doing or handing over to someone else so you can enjoy life more, you become wealthier. You get the most valuable thing back. Your Time! Use it to live better and worry less about what you don’t have or what others are promoting.

Many people flex online using rental cars and fake friends to get you to pay attention or even buy their products. That’s how they are actually trying to get rich! You know better and don’t need all that noise in your life. You probably don’t want all the things they are promoting or bragging about. Live your own life at your own pace and on your own terms. That’s how you Live Awesome!

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How Purpose Leads to A Healthy and Long Life

By Ahsan

“The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain

Are you in search of the elixir of life? Something that would cause you to live a long, happy, and healthy life? Have you considered diet as one key aspect? What about regular exercise, fasting, or proper sleeping in a blacked-out room?

One thing you may not have realized is how having a clear purpose in life can help you live longer and better. A famous Japanese word is floating around the internet to capture this idea and it’s called “ikigai” pronounced as Icky-Guy. The Oxford English dictionary defines ikigai as "a motivating force; something or someone that gives a person a sense of purpose or a reason for living".

If living longer, happier, and healthier is your goal, then keep reading to find out what you can do. In this super short article, I will explain three reasons you might live longer if you have a significant motivation to get up each morning and live your best life.

The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”

Fyodor Dostoyevsky

One famous person who had a long life and a sense of purpose was the catholic nun, Mother Teresa. She started a relief mission to help the poorest of the poor in India and lived to be 87 years old! Good in terms of this purpose/life-long theory.

But what if you are not Catholic or not Mother Teresa? It doesn’t really matter. Just think about having a personal and vivid purpose in your own life. That’s better than trying to adopt someone else’s reason for living. You have to find your own reasons and mission in life. If you really concentrate and reflect on your life, there should be many ways to develop something that floats your boat. I’m sure you can find something that gives you strong reasons for getting out of your comfy bed and pajamas each morning. What is that for you?

“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it courageously.”

Steve Maraboli

Once you define your reason for being and living, you are on your way to living a fabulous, happy, healthy, and longer life, God Willing! That is my wish for you and myself. We must at least try, right? It’s better than just saying you are ‘trying to make it through the day’ or that ‘survival’ is your goal today. That’s just not enough for our minds to accept.

Let's start with the following belief: a purpose-driven life can positively impact both physical and mental well-being, potentially leading to a longer and more fulfilling life. Everyone is seeking these things and for some, it’s their purpose in life. This is the wrong way to pursue longevity and health.

Having a sense of purpose in life has been associated with various health and longevity benefits. Better health and longer life are a RESULT of living with a purpose. We need to pursue worthwhile goals and have a meaningful mission for our time on earth. While the exact mechanisms behind this phenomenon are still being researched, here are three reasons why having a purpose may contribute to living longer and being happier.

1. Reduced Stress: Individuals with a clear sense of purpose tend to experience lower levels of chronic stress. Temporary stress is still there but it doesn’t build up and become larger over time. Chronic stress can harm physical health, including increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Chronic stress is also a risk factor for mental health and emotional well-being so everyone needs a way to deal with this issue.

2. Healthier Lifestyle Choices: People with a strong sense of purpose often engage in healthy habits and make better decisions as a result. They are more likely to choose physical as and mental well-being over cheap thrills and risky behaviour. These better choices do significantly impact overall health and can lead to longevity.

3. Enhanced Resilience: Adversity is part of life. This is just a fact of being a human being. When people have a clear reason to get up in the morning and move toward their goals, they are more likely to persevere through tough times with a positive outlook. This determination can help to reduce mental health issues like depression and anxiety. As a result, such people also have better physical health and overall longevity.

So, there you go. I know I haven’t provided all the various studies or exact scientific reasoning, but I think you can still appreciate what I’m saying. I am totally sold on this concept of a purpose in life and I hope you are too.

The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose!

Think. Ponder deeply. Make a plan to act on this advice! That was the purpose of this post!

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Back To School and The Start of Something New

By Shazad

“Be willing to be a beginner every single morning.”

Meister Eckhart

It’s September and there’s great activity in the air. Many young and young-at-heart people are starting various levels of education this week or next. Most workers are back to work online or in the office after Summer Holidays. It’s an exciting time and I believe, the perfect time to start something new.

I always found it odd that most people wait until January 1st to begin the year. It’s the middle of Winter after all! The ideal time for a new start would be Spring Time or this moment we are in right now - back to school in September. Why not make your Life Transformation plans now if you haven’t already done so over the Summer? Why not take the necessary actions to execute your plan and start life-changing activities from today? You could technically start a new habit, an interesting hobby, or a business venture at any time. I think the momentum of September with the back-to-learning and back-to-work activities encourages people to make those decisions better than any other time in the year. Why not take advantage of all of this energy and all the discounts to do great things?!

You could experiment and try mini goals and habit changes over these next few weeks or months. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll have some experience so you can fine-tune your plans when January 1 does arrive. You’ll have such a head start over everyone else and won’t need as much motivation to keep going by starting ‘early’ in September. What have you got to lose?

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How Resilient Should You Be?

By Ahsan

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”

Helen Keller

Someone once said that “life is just one damn thing after another.” This sounds like Mark Twain, and it probably is. His comment is witty and dark but an accurate observation of this thing we call life.

Today, rather than focus on a rosy picture of life's beauty, let's look at its opposite. Life does and will present challenges, losses, and heartache.

And this can happen to the nicest people, let alone the most upright and decent folk among us. This is life. It is random and chaotic sometimes.

Some of us go through long periods of smooth sailing, but inevitably, big waves and powerful winds come to upset the journey.

And this is when you need to be resilient because the disruption does not last forever.

Adopting the quality of human resilience involves developing a mindset for mental strength. Resilience is a skill that comes from the right mindset. It is a switch in our brain that needs to be on 24/7.

Here are three ideas that will help you to achieve this:

Read about topics like stress management, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and how to regulate your emotions. Actually try some of the suggested practices like breathing techniques, meditation, journaling, and going for a walk in nature.

Look for stories about people who faced all odds and came out on top. There are stories in your family, your neighbours, and those facing fires, floods, or war somewhere in the world at this very moment. Be grateful that’s not you and think how they must be coping.

Run some scenarios and prepare for what you would do if you were in a jam. As the Navy Seals say, you don't rise to the challenge; you sink to the level of your preparation. Since you know the hard times come for everyone, what are you doing to prepare your mind, body, and environment? Are you taking care of yourself and eliminating clutter as well as noise in life? Are you taking notes, practicing some worst case scenario drills on paper, or checking your supplies to see everything can tolerate some kind of short term disruption?

What other ideas come to mind for you about being resilient?

Is this mindset useful for you? Is it worth contemplating? How do you rank yourself on a scale of 1-10? What ideas do you have to build this skill? What stories inspire you to be more resilient? Would this be one of the most essential skills you should possess and own? If you can, please share a story of resilience that inspires you or a strategy that makes you more resilient.

Resilience is a human quality and a superpower for those who practice it. Let that become a part of you.

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Minimal Living for Maximal Life

By Shazad

“We should be choosing what we keep ― not what we get rid of.”

Marie Kondo

I love to read about productivity and life-hacking. One popular form of that is the discussion around Minimalism and tidying up. Marie Condo is a very popular writer and promoter of clean and clutter-free living and her quote above really made an impact on my thinking recently.

Imagine if we spend the rest of our lives thinking of what is truly essential in life and discarding everything else. We could donate, gift, sell, or trash what is no longer essential.

How do we start? You could take a single large luggage bag - the kind you would check on a flight and could be loaded up to about 50 lbs. You would put all the that you absolutely must have, in the bag. Whatever doesn’t fit, you put on your “Get Rid Of” List. To start with more potential, imagine you have 2 large suitcases you can fill up and that is your absolute maximum. This can be a rigorous form of minimalism and may help you eliminate a lot of physical clutter in life. It could also be too intimidating for some to even think about.

Another more “gentle” approach is to think about everything you touch on a daily basis for an entire week. What are those things? Write down the names of those things and consider everything else a potential ‘extra’ you can live without. You may have to do this over a month or three to truly get a flavour of what you reach for over time. Everything else is probably best in someone else’s possession and out of your living space.

Try doing the same thing for your car, office, and any other space you spend time in. Just make notes of what you touch and all the things that just collect dust while staring at you for attention that you can’t give them.

Our thoughts, beliefs, and ideas also get ‘messy’ over time so it’s worth doing a mental audit each month on what suits your life and what can be discarded. Don’t just hold on to things because of dogma or because someone you respect said something 100 years ago. Find out what makes sense and prune any ‘weeds’ or bad thinking, biases, and superstitious beliefs.

The hardest thing to sort out is relationships. It’s no less ‘messy’ or stressful. Figure out the 10 most important people in your life that you are always engaged with. There are probably 20-50 other people you are related to or have casual friendships with. Who are the rest? These can be your Social Media ‘friends’ and acquaintances. Is it time to reduce that list to something more reasonable? Maybe you need to “mute” messages or unsubscribe from some people and media? How about just blocking some people from contacting you via normal channels like text, phone, or email? You wouldn’t just throw money around like it was free so don’t let everyone grab your time and attention daily. Guard time and attention like precious resources because they are! Even more valuable than money as you get older and have a family!

The benefits of living clutter-free with just the essentials are many.

Fewer things to worry about, insure, fix, maintain, and remember. This often means more fun, free time, savings in money, and happiness in life. So why not experiment and become a sort of minimalist on your terms? In a worst-case scenario, consider the cost in time and money to purchase, borrow, or even rebuild something that you gave away but find yourself suddenly in need of. Is that cost low, marginal, or very high? Many people find those costs to be nominal or barely noticeable in the grand scheme of things.

Of course, there will be the “Just In Case” or “Emergency” type of items you hope you never need or rarely need like a First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguisher, heavy winter coat, and car jumper cables. Many things in life are not like this treat them as everyday items taking up physical and mental space. Find out your “Can’t Live Without” list of items and get ready to fly through the rest of your life. You’ll be so happy once you know what’s really important in life and that way of life can take you very far!

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What Do You Do Between Dying And Living?

By Ahsan

“I don’t fear death, it must be like a long sleep.”

Katherine Hepburn

“O God, with Your name, I die and I live” is the Islamic prayer before falling asleep

Did you catch the mistake in the title of the article?

It's not a mistake.

It may not make sense because you believe you only die once. That's what we all think. But the other day, I woke up and had this epiphany that when we wake up, we wake up from a sort of death.

You might believe that you live every day and then die one day, which is a problem.

Recently, I got to play a game of golf with my high school buddy. It was a beautiful day. I had been looking forward to it all week.

I enjoyed myself immensely, and honestly, I took it in because I was thinking about genuinely living my day, not rushing through it, based on my recent epiphany that slumber is a sort of death.

My friend, on the other hand, was off. He was there in body, but he was not there, which is highly unusual for him. I asked him later what was up, and he said he did not like that course and its setup (narrow fairways and wicked hard undulating greens.)

What? "But you were golfing on a gorgeous sunny day on the Niagara Escarpment, with brand new clubs, an electric cart, with your buddy, and you were GOLFING!" I thought to myself.

That's the problem: we all know we will die one day, but we don't think it might come sooner or happen suddenly. And so, we live in our head and sometimes as busy fools and, to top it off, oblivious to the gift of life we live.

In a sense, a day is a lifetime but we don’t see it that way.

Because we know we will die someday in the distant future, we squander our life being busy, hurried, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, and not entirely satisfied with every moment we get to live.

You, too, might be under the mistaken impression that you will die one day, but what if you consider the state of sleep a sort of death that happens to all of us every night?

Isn't it true that when you fall asleep, you are gone in a sense, and isn't it a miracle every morning that you even wake up?

Not everyone gets to wake up to live the next day. You don't know if you will be here next year to enjoy that pre-booked trip or for that wedding you plan on attending. I am not trying to bum you out; I am trying to point out that each day we are given is a miracle!

Each day you live is a lifetime itself.

It is a "gift of a lifetime."

Are you treating it as the gift that it is?

You may not be here tomorrow.

Why are you so busy? What do you miss out on when you are annoyed by petty issues?

What good is it to be upset or sad about anything if life could end tomorrow?

Tomorrow may never come!

What do you get to do today with the gift of a lifetime⎯the "ultimate present?"

Here is the truth about life⎯Life Is Not A Rehearsal! Go Live Life To the Fullest Today!

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People are Like Cars

By Shazad

I love cars and also love humanity in general. Recently I started to see how people the automobile are so similar in many ways. Below are some observations.

Cars have a maximum lifetime of around 20 years.

A person has an average lifespan of around 80 years old.

Cars are brand new in the first year and need a break-in period for everything to settle as they are driven.

People are new at birth and need to develop to get to prime around 20 years old.

Most Cars reach 10-year mark and then major repairs start to occur to keep the car running. Note the 50% of car’s lifetime.

Most People reach their 40s and have various health issues come up that require one or more prescription medications. Note the 50% milestone in a human’s average lifetime.

Some cars completely fall apart and fail around the 10-15 year mark. This can be due to serious engine problems or rust on the chassis.

Some people become very ill and die around the 45-60 age due to illness or complications from a disease such as a heart, brain, or liver problem.

A handful of cars make it to the 20-year mark or higher with good engine performance and a smooth ride. They have lost some paint luster and have very minor creaks or none at all, when driving.

A small number of people make it to their 80s and beyond with full mental awareness and mobility to get around on their own.  They have some wrinkles and grey hair but don’t show any signs of serious illness or mental decline.

A few rare cars are celebrated for their longevity and honoured as driving legends by the people that experienced them. They go into car history books and have the highest market value at the end of their life compared to the beginning.

A few rare people are considered living legends by the people who knew them. They become the most valuable members of society and are celebrated as one of the GOATs (Greatest Of All Time) even after passing.

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What Should You Do With Your Life?

By Ahsan

“Life's like a road that you travel on
When there's one day here, and the next day gone
Sometimes you bend, sometimes you stand
Sometimes you turn your back to the wind

There's a world outside every darkened door
Where blues won't haunt you anymore
Where the brave are free and lovers soar
Come ride with me to the distant shore”

Tom Cochrane, “Life is a Highway”

I came across a discussion on the internet about a guy in his mid-30s asking what he should do with his life.

This is not an unusual question to ask at any point in one's life, but a good point to ponder for just about anyone.

Interestingly, the guy had a minimum-wage job, no significant other, no hobbies, did not get along with his family or have good friends.

So people offered their suggestions for this fellow.

What would you suggest?

Many people said he ought to have a life goal or purpose which would make all the difference.

Is having life goals the magic ticket?

I tend to agree, but what if you can't think of an inspiring vision for your life and are just in a hamster wheel with a view of a brick wall?

Here would be my advice: Recognize, Relax and Ride.

Recognize that you have a challenge or problem that needs a solution. In this case, finding fulfillment or direction for a "short, nasty and brutish" life is a challenge.

It would be best if you also recognized that your thinking about it is holding you back. You need to change your thinking about being stuck in the hamster wheel.

But how do you think differently? You are bored because your life is how it is, and you need to see a way forward to a more engaging life. You are stuck in the mud, and your wheels spin.

That is why you need to relax because good ideas do not come to you if you are tense and upset. You cannot clean up the streets when a storm is coming through.

When you relax, your mind often offers solutions to your challenges. It's a magical by-product of the relaxed mind to present wisdom and insight that creates a breakthrough. That's why some of your best ideas and solutions come to you after the storm passes and you do something relaxing, like taking a hot shower.

And so, life improves because you recognize your issue as something that comes from thinking about it. Rather than get more tense and upset, you say to yourself, it's my thinking generating the feeling of being rudderless and empty. I need to think differently. And so you call on the mind's mechanism of giving you wisdom by relaxing.

Having been offered a game plan from your inner wisdom, you need to ride the journey of life from there. Hop on your vehicle, strap in, and enjoy the scenery along the way!

We all deserve to enjoy the ride of life and have an easier time of it.

Hey, if you are like me, you will always ask: What do I do with my life? Until the next stop on our ride of life, we might invoke the simple idea: Recognize, Relax, Ride.

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How To Be A Superuser

By Shazad

(R)ead/(W)rite/(E)xecute

In a computer system, there are certain permissions that are given to users and files for administrative purposes. A Superuser is a user that has complete control over the entire system. This type of user has the ability to carry out any action they desire. Whether a Superuser is a valuable asset to the system, like an Administrator, or a harmful actor, like a Cyber Criminal, depends on their actions.

Do you have proficiency in multiple languages? Are you skilled in writing in both short and long forms? Can you create visual and audio media, or produce short videos? Do you possess the ability to make autonomous decisions? Can you allocate your time each day as you see fit? If your answer is yes to these questions, then you have been granted Superuser privileges in this world. Congratulations, you now hold immense power!

Utilize your literacy skills and ability to articulate ideas to effect positive change within the various systems that make up our world. Empower yourself to take action towards this goal.

The ability to READ means you can explore the world of literature and immerse yourself in great books. Discover insightful ideas and delve into them through study.

WRITE your genuine thoughts whenever you share any form of creative work, such as creating videos, podcasts, pictures, or books.

EXECUTE on your life's purpose by taking the right actions every day. Allocating just one hour of personal time can help you make significant changes to both your own life and the world.

The system is full of all kinds of “users” but Not all of them are Super!

Now that you are aware of your potential, you can join the ranks of Superusers!

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How Much Time Do You Have Left?

By Ahsan

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Michael Altshuler

Ask yourself this question: If this was the last month of your life, would the thing bothering you today matter?

The human journey eventually ends. However, it is a journey full of wonder and joy, or it can be squandered in self-imposed misery. Our life journey and its quality in terms of how happy we experience it are influenced by many things, including one very non-obvious force: time.

I had the good fortune of listening to a podcast, Hidden Brain; the episode was titled "The Best Years of Your Life." This gem of an episode features Laura L. Carstensen, Professor of Psychology, Director of Stanford Center on Longevity. She had a life-altering situation at age 21 that left her in the hospital with a bleak outlook.

In short, she began to see life differently in the sense of what to put her attention to, life’s meaning, and preciousness. She went on to develop a career in psychology and academic research that continues to focus on time left in life and its impact on our mental well-being.

Everyone deserves to live a happy life and have an easier time of life. Keep reading to see how this can be achieved, and pop on the podcast if you have "time.”

You can check it out here: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/the-best-years-of-your-life/

If you are like me, you will undoubtedly remember one or two critical points from anything you read or hear.

What stood out for me is Professor Carstensen’s observations that younger people have a sense that they have all the time in the world. A sort of "time abundance" mentality.

After all, you have your whole life ahead of you when you are young.

Young people have dreams to fulfill, goals to achieve, friends to hang out with, robust health and energy levels, no significant aches or pains, and have the world as their oyster! They ought to be the happiest campers in the campsite.

And yet this is not necessarily so.

On the other hand, older people in their senior years of life, with fewer years left to live, seem happier and more cheerful. This may seem strange to a younger person by virtue of the paradox of aging: older people are getting closer to death, physically weaker, and have fewer levels of social engagement, especially as they retire and see their friends dying.

Surprisingly, psychological health is higher in older people than in younger people.

Why might that be?

It could be that younger people tend to be more anxious, thinking about the future, while older people seem to be more present, not thinking much about the future or the past.

As Professor Carstensen says, being present tends to be very good for mental health.

In short, your time horizons shape how you think. And how you think is how you feel.

So, what are the implications?

Here is an insight: tell your younger self to act old in this respect. Get your head out of your head and be present!. Continue to make future plans and take exciting detours on your journey because life is an oyster for you. Discover the pearls and collect them on a string to admire and adorn yourself with.

Life is not a rehearsal. Live your best life with the time you have left on this earth. Don’t wait to get older to chill out.

This may be why they say “youth is wasted on the young”.

Here is my simple advice to you and me. If you are young and know that time affects your outlook on life, you could be happier and enjoy your life more. If you are older, you should recall your wonder about being younger and adopt a sense of adventure for the next week and month.

You are here for a good time, not a long time.

So, “Get old while you are young and stay young when you are old.” >> Ahsan

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The Secret Ingredient You Are Not Using Enough

By Shazad

“Don't expect to be motivated every day to get out there and make things happen. You won't be. Don't count on motivation. Count on Discipline.” Jocko Willink

We’ve all been motivated by a poem, a speech, or a movie to go and start something. Perhaps it’s to accomplish something like getting in shape or maybe it was about starting an online business and growing it into a multi-million dollar company. Whatever it is, you are probably still dreaming about it or have stopped taking action on it. Why? You are lacking something very important. It’s the secret to success that keeps winners going after the adrenaline rush from that action movie has faded and the cheering of friends has stopped. That ‘secret’ ingredient is discipline. I’m going to share why this is the most important thing in the short run and long run if you want to be a high achiever or just be happy in family life.

Let’s start with a definition. Here’s one that I really like from Collins Dictionary and it’s not about punishment, fear, or mindless obedience to laws and rules.

“Discipline is the quality of being able to behave and work in a controlled way which involves obeying particular rules or standards. “

Discipline helps you stay focused on your goals

So why bother with Discipline as part of your success strategy in life? Because it’s the constant drumbeat that will drive you to keep moving forward each day. Fast or slow, tired or not, you use discipline to keep moving forward toward your goal. Without discipline, you get lost and have inconsistent behaviour. You will also lack in visible progress which will likely cause you to quit long before you really start to move towards your goal achievement.

Discipline helps you overcome obstacles and challenges

Stuff happens. Things go wrong and people get sick, lose money, or just get bored. Discipline is that inner drive that sounds like Sly Stallone yelling “Keep Moving Forward!” And “You’re Better than This!”. With the power of Rocky in your head, you are going to get past hurdles and you will go through walls, metaphorically.

“Discipline Equals Freedom” Jocko Willink

Discipline helps you become more efficient

So you accept that you need discipline but you have so much going on in your life and so much stuff to do. Here’s another reason why fully embracing a disciplined approach is going to save you. By striving for a goal with discipline, you have committed to a certain standard and set of rules in your life. Things that violate or don’t measure up to your standards for achievement get dropped. You stop doing useless things and low-value exercises. You worry less about the noise of the world and the many opinions on social media. You realize you have the ‘freedom’ to do what you need to do and stop giving your precious attention or time to other things that are known time wasters and just plain distractions trying to stop you from achieving your life goals. You become ruthless about your vision, your goal, and your daily routine to the point where you become efficient at doing what needs to be done. That other stuff just drops and is off your plate. This is how the elite performers get big WINS in life. They don’t worry about the minutia of every little thing. They stay focused on the main goals and steps to achieve them. Eyes on the Prize mindset.

The fact that you are reading this means you are at least interested in how to level up and go beyond motivational videos to fuel your progress. I hope you buy into the concept of Discipline as your secret and even your “Super Power” in life to achieve what you want to. All the greats have demonstrated this from sports to business and many other aspects of personal life. Use this power wisely and frequently to get what you want out of life and Live Awesome!

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How To Use Your Instincts and Gut Feelings

By Shazad

You have probably heard of the fuzzy concept of Intuition but what is it really? Intuition is the ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for concrete facts and measurable data. It’s a powerful tool that can help you make better decisions and live a more fulfilling life. It’s also the way to get unstuck when you are faced with a tough decision and the objective measurements don’t help you make a clear choice.

Why Use Intuition?

Intuition can help you tap into your experience and inner wisdom to make decisions that are aligned with your values and goals. It can also help you navigate complex situations with more than facts and data points. Having subjective reflection and personal connection to your environment can help in making important choices in life.

Ways to Harness the Power of Intuition

1. Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in what you are doing now. It can help you tune into your intuition and become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. This is a key part of self-awareness which is essential to your fulfillment in life.

2. Listen to your body: Your physical body can provide valuable clues about what’s going on inside your mind and heart. You should first have a healthy baseline idea of what you are like when you are calm, confident, rested, and positive about life. Pay attention to physical sensations like tension, butterflies in your stomach, or a racing heart that are deviations from your baseline. Why are you really feeling those things? Could these be related to a decision you need to make that you are struggling with or postponing? Get in touch with yourself and figure it out.

3. Keep a journal: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you process them more effectively and gain insights into your inner world. The act of taking notes frees up the mind and helps you review your ideas and options about something important. You can also have a reference for the future when something similar comes up and you need guidance from yourself on how to think about the situation.

4. Trust yourself: When it’s time to act, trusting yourself is key to harnessing the power of intuition. Believe in your ability to make good decisions and take action based on what feels right for you. You have years of experience making choices and many things have probably turned out good or even Awesome for you so have the confidence that you can do this!

I have a “gut feeling” [pun intended] that you will find at least one valuable tool in the advice above. Make some Awesome choices today. It can change your whole life!

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Why Smiling Is Worth Much More Than $45

By Ahsan

“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”

William Arthur Ward

In 1963, a graphic designer from Worcester, Massachusetts, was hired by an insurance company to come up with an image to boost employee morale. His name was Harvey Ross Ball. The design he created lives on to this day and is none other than the happy face ☺.

The story goes that it took him just 10 minutes to come up with the famous yellow smiley face.

Imagine an instant hit and an enduring impact created in the time it takes to boil an egg.

And so Harvey was paid for his work, a mere $45, but the rest is history. He created something he probably never imagined would become world-famous and valuable for our daily life :).

And this is the point of this story. If one person creates or does a thing, how far is its impact felt?

Let’s take a smile, for instance, or a good word you might give to someone.

Your act of smiling might lift someone's spirits. They might get through a tough day because you smiled at them.

The same might go for encouraging words you give your daughter or son. You never know what effect you might have when you do or say something.

In this sense, we are all potential creators, just like Harvey Ross Ball. The only thing is we did not get paid $45 or go down in history for making the epic happy face.

But then again, something we do or say might have a ripple effect that impacts others in a way we never imagined. How valuable is that?

Now that puts a smile on my face ☺. How about yours?

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Don't Be A Donkey - Get Unstuck!

By Shazad

Buridan's ass is a paradox about decision-making and moving forward in life. It describes a hypothetical situation where an ass or donkey that is both hungry and thirsty in the same proportion, is placed precisely midway between a stack of hay and a pail of water. The assumption is that the donkey will always go to whichever thing is closer and since both are equal distance, it dies of both hunger and thirst. The donkey simply can’t make up its mind about the hay or water.

We all know people who suffer unnecessarily and even freeze into a kind of analysis paralysis because they can’t make up their minds. It’s self-inflicted torture and pain that can be avoided. Each person just needs to figure out what they want the most and take action which can then be followed by the second choice or another choice later. In a worst-case scenario, just flip a coin and go with whatever comes up - Heads or Tails! There is no reason to be frozen or stuck in your life because time is like a forward-flowing river and we can’t just stand in it. We HAVE TO make decisions so we might as well get good at the process.

The best way to make decisions involves realizing some things and I’m sharing these below for your benefit:

First, what’s the worst that can happen if we make the wrong decision on food or drink or anything else? Buying this property or that other property? Going to this school or that school? Certain decisions are truly profound and life-changing so they need to be made very carefully. Many others like what to wear, what to eat, or what show to watch, etc… are low risk and just need a decision to be made.

Second, figure out if the other option in front of you disappears or is just delayed a little if you picked wrong. Can you recover quickly from what you might consider a wrong decision or is it a very big recovery effort in terms of time, money, or effort? This will make decision-making a little easier and less painful.

Third, create a life with fewer trivial decisions. Do this by deciding ahead of time on clothes to wear or food to eat so it’s automated. Save your mental energy for truly significant decisions each day so you are not drained by all the small decisions you made leading up to one or two big ones each day. Have a uniform of clothes you wear on weekdays, make the same 2 or 3 breakfast items each day, and say “NO” to most tv shows or social engagements that everyone else is doing. When you develop mental space for making decisions and are not cluttering your life with too many things to think about, you will make better decisions on the things that matter.

In the end, decide to live your own life on your terms and according to your values. Don’t worry about what others will think of you or be scared to make a ‘tragic’ decision. Your daily choices are probably not “Life or Death” issues so don’t be so stressed about them.

Most of life is “fixable” by choosing wisely again if a mistake has been made and you immediately start to correct course. Don’t worry so much about being embarrassed or your public image because you made a few wrong turns. What really matters is how hard you are trying to do the right things and fix mistakes when you realize what happened.

Choices are a part of life so ‘choose your own adventure’ and enjoy the ride. In many cases, things will work out as good or better than you thought!

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Why its' Better to be a Lark if you want to be Happy, Successful, and Pious

By Shazad

“The one who gets up early gets rewarded by God”

Polish Proverb

A recent study I read showed a connection between the wake/sleep patterns of humans and how successful as well as happy, they tend to be in life. The two camps or Chronotypes that can describe when we like to sleep and rise up are “Owls” and “Larks”. Those who like to stay up late and have energy mostly at night time but don’t like to get up early in the morning are called Owls. The people who like to go to bed earlier and wake up energized early in the morning are called Larks.

According to the study I read, the Larks tend to be disciplined and focused individuals who always strive to get things done right whereas an Owl personality might just want to get things over with however the task is complete. The Larks also tend to have the personal satisfaction levels high and it’s probably due to their spiritual beliefs and practices. The concept of a higher power and a purpose in life gives many people fulfillment in life. It’s no doubt that the Larks tend to be more successful human beings as a result compared to the Owl types. Having Discipline, Purpose, and Preparation are a winning combination for any personality.

Whether you like to scroll through YouTube and Netflix late at night (early morning?) or whether you like to sleep and rise with the sun, it’s worth considering what values you hold dear and where you are in terms of success, happiness, and piety. I hope you consider becoming more of a “morning person” if you aren’t already. It could change your life in all the right ways!

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Breaking the Four-Minute Mile: The Phenomenal Story of Dr. Roger Bannister

By Ahsan

"Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity."
Stephen Covey

What are the limits to your potential?

Can you do “that something” you always felt excited over but keep chickening out or putting off?

Why are you holding back or not even trying?

Maybe you don’t realize that you are good enough. You ARE strong enough, and just maybe, you could be breaking records like Dr. Bannister if only you tried hard enough!

The following story I came across is briefly mentioned in our book, Awesome Life:

Roger Bannister was born in Harrow, England, on March 23, 1929. As a young boy, Bannister

showed great athletic potential and went on to attend Oxford University, where he studied

medicine.

Throughout his time at university, Bannister continued pursuing his passion for running, becoming a dominant force in middle-distance running. However, one elusive goal had yet to be accomplished: breaking the four-minute mile.

At the time, the four-minute mile was considered an insurmountable barrier. Many believed that the human body simply could not run that fast. But Bannister was determined to prove them wrong.

On May 6, 1954, at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, Bannister lined up with two other runners to attempt to break the four-minute mile. Unfortunately, conditions were far from ideal, with strong winds and rain making for a challenging race.

But despite the odds, Bannister pushed himself to the limit, crossing the finish line in three minutes and 59.4 seconds. The crowd erupted into cheers as Bannister collapsed onto the track, exhausted but elated.

Bannister’s accomplishment was a watershed moment in the history of athletics. It proved that the limits of human potential were not fixed, and anything was possible with enough determination and hard work.

In the years following his historic achievement, Bannister continued to compete in and win numerous races, but it was his breaking of the four-minute mile that remained his most enduring legacy. He went on to pursue a career in medicine, becoming a respected neurologist and continuing to advocate for the importance of physical activity and fitness throughout his life.

Bannister passed away on March 3, 2018, but his legacy lives on as an inspiration to athletes and non-athletes alike, a reminder that anything is possible with the right mindset and a willingness to push oneself to new levels of performance.

Life is awesome and short. We are here, and then we are not. If you feel like there is a mountain you still need to climb, you should recall the story and accomplishments of Dr Roger Bannister. Imagine yourself beating your own 4-minute mile.

Start a 4 Minute Mile Challenge, personally or with a friend. If you like, you could start a 4 Minute Mile Challenge with a few friends or consider having a workplace challenge.

Feel free to post this entire article as an introduction to the concept: go ahead; I challenge you!

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Are you Blooming Yet?

By: Shazad

It’s full-on Spring time in North America and it’s been a beautiful May in many areas. Flowers are blooming, the air is fresh, the grass is lush green and the forests are full of life again. How are you doing? What’s your personal development and growth plan for this year?

Until and Unless you take action, you will still be stuck in the “Winter” of life and all the struggles of that season. All seasons in life have their lessons and benefits but we cannot stay longer in one stage longer than required. It doesn’t serve us and certainly doesn’t serve our families or society so make plans to grow this season!

Figure out what your personal growth plan for 2023 needs to be and how far along you are. Where do you need to make adjustments and what things are going well that you just need to do more of? How many flowers and trees in your garden will be a reflection of the ‘gardening’ efforts you engage in this year. Once you establish your ideal growth plan and steps, you’ll need to maintain the ‘garden’ so it doesn’t become a victim of disease, neglect, and preventable risk.

Guard your personal growth space and share it with your family for their benefit as well. Cultivate a better nature and mindset throughout the process and imagine what beautiful things you will grow into this year before they arrive. Use inspiration from your past growth and the development of people similar to you. No two blooms will be the same and that’s ok. The best thing is to make sure you participate in the resurgence of life and beauty with purpose happening all around you. Live Awesome!

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Make Room for Magical Moments

By Shazad

We all struggle with too much going on. So many people are always ‘too busy’ and have no time for the things that matter. The modern disease of so much to do and not enough time to do it all has spread everywhere. There is a cure worth considering.

Everyone needs to get real with what’s occupying all the hours of the day. Serious audits of who and what is sucking time away from us and filling up our calendars. Changing attitudes towards purpose-driven living can also help versus just going through the motions.

Magical moments come when we least expect it but there is a way to create more of them. Have space in your calendar. Stop being ‘busy’ all the time and say NO to more things so you can say YES! when it matters. We all know that we should live in the present moment. Few know how to do it. Saying NO to most things is a BIG part of that. What’s left in your calendar is what you should passionately pursue so you can thrive. Don’t let your whole calendar be filled up with other people’s agendas. Have your own plan for the days and life in general. Guard your time more than you do your assets or money.

When’s the last time you felt AWE in your day? When was the last time you paid attention to something beautiful like the spring blossoms in a forest or park. Have you been able to just focus on the new leaves and the smell of the blossoms on the tree? Have you enjoyed the feeling of new grass on your bare feet on a warm day? Try going to a beach and go at least knee deep in the lake or ocean to feel what that feels like. All of these are magical moments you are missing if you are just ‘keeping busy’ all day long. You are not only cheating yourself but your family of the moments they need to thrive. Take time off work or school and create some magical moments of your own this week. You won’t regret it!

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