7 Things That Require Your Attention

By Ahsan

Some people are lucky. They are born with the looks, the voice, or some athletic talent, and they become overnight sensations. But what about the rest of us?

How might we stack the odds in our favour to become successful? What must we bring to the table to get our piece of the pie?

Lucky for you, I have seven things for you to consider to make your life more awesome and successful.

Value time: Be the person who knows life is not a rehearsal. You only get to live this one life. Do smell the roses, but get busy living and doing. You can't expect things to happen or be easy. You must have a sense of urgency in everything you do and are after.

Put in the effort: Can you expect results without toil? Nothing comes easily in life; if it does, it is seldom appreciated. That's why a bit of hard times will make a person stronger. But you, and I do mean you, must take life seriously and do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.

Maintain a positive attitude: Get around positive people. Read positive books. Think like a winner. Be joyful. Avoid all the opposites you just read. Life will be topsy-turvy, but with a positive outlook, you give yourself a chance at success.

Choose a mentor wisely: If you want to bake a very tasty cake, you would do well to find an award-winning baker or your mother to show you the recipe. People try to reinvent the wheel and end up with too little in the way of good results. Find someone to show you the recipe they used to get what you want!

Immerse yourself: You have to live, breathe, eat, and dream about your goal every day. Go deep into the thing you are after. Look at the life of your favourite athlete. They were not casual about their practice routine, fundamental skill training, or anything in between. You must become obsessed if you want to reach the heights you should achieve. If others can do it, why not you?

Spend time in deeper thought: We are all too distracted. It's not just the phone in your hand but everything you must do or do in a day. There are so many demands on us, so little time and too many excuses. Carve out a few minutes before sleeping to ask yourself if you had a good day that showed you cared enough to do what you needed to move the needle towards your goals. Do the same when you wake up.

Don't waste mental energy: Too many people think about their past or future when they should focus on the present. Whoever said the past and the future don't exist is 100% right. You damage only yourself by dwelling on past events or the future when you could be enjoying the time you are in right now. What you think, you feel. Your emotions come from your thinking. So, make yourself a person who thinks well.

The least we can do is the most we should do. What on this list makes sense for you to adopt right away? Let's look it over and commit to doing whatever it takes to reach our goals and live the life we know we should live. We only have this one life, and how much of it is left?

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Try This To Change Your Life!

By Ahsan

So, how do you change your life? If you are like most people, your life is constantly changing, but that does not mean you are changing your life.

A person who wants to change their life is looking for different results; therefore, their inner desire becomes one of feeling like things ought to improve. But how do you change your life so that your technique gets you the change in results you want?

Simple. To change your life, you need to change your routines!

We all have routines, sometimes conscious and other times unconscious. The relevance is back to results and identifying areas where you want to see better results.

A student may want better grades.

A golfer may want straighter shots.

A health-minded person may want to lose weight and get strong.

A business owner may want more profits.

A chef may want more compliments.

Whatever your desire, you will generally get it by changing up your routine.

What must you do to achieve your desired result if you are health-minded?

Let’s focus on that for today as our example.

First and foremost, you would identify your goal to become healthy as a commitment backed up by a strong reason. Otherwise, you will need more will to carry through your plan.

Secondly, you would do well to follow a plan on how to eat for health and exercise to become more healthy.

Thirdly, you should get off to a good start if you change something in your routine that supports the above first two points.

Here is what that looks like:

Instead of reminding yourself to prioritize your goal of being healthy, you might start a new routine of doing your reminder as soon as you wake up and before you go to the bathroom. A simple way to do that would be to say, "I will do everything I can today to live with great health. I will eat only healthy food and I will spend 30 minutes exercising."

This is more than an affirmation. It sets your mind up with conscious awareness so that your thinking focuses on your goal. By making this the first thing you do before leaving your bed, you have set up a new routine.

Your second step is to do the thing—eat well and exercise. As for a routine change, this would include scheduling a fixed time to exercise and prepping healthy meals to last you two or three days.

Having routines makes you better because they foster your sense of organization, time management, setting priorities, and purpose in life. Having routines and changing them is a major key to living an awesome life. Not paying attention to your routines and changing them once in a while will lead to drifting the seas like a rudderless sailboat that goes wherever the wind blows.

You need friendly winds and a rudder to establish rock-solid routines!

Action steps for changing your routines:

1. Identify the area of life in which you want to see better results.

2. Create your Why and make it a big why you want the better results.

3. Change your timings and habits to foster the results you desire.

4. Follow a plan and start small. Get on a roll, and don't wimp out.

5. Check results once a week. If you are improving, keep going or change your sail and rudder.

6. Be your cheerleader. Celebrate and criticize in private with yourself. But never give up!

If you want to change your life, you will have to change your routines. When you do this and get results, your life will become more awesome, and you will make the most of the time you have left on this planet.

Remember this, too. Life is not a rehearsal so you may as well get at it.

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A Vision For Your Life

By Shazad

‘I've seen a lot of valleys, I've seen a lot of peaks

I've seen the bitter with the sweet, victory and defeat

Sometimes I fell, but a voice kept saying

"Son, stick to your vision, "‘

Stick to Your Vision, Song by Maestro Fresh Wes

There has been a lot of discussion and writing on the topic of vision, but it is worth reiterating. Vision is not just the ability to see but also the capacity to imagine a potential future and an ideal state of existence. This motivates us to make plans and take action to attain that desired outcome. Vision is crucial for humans to flourish in life because without it, we would simply go through the motions and exist without any purpose or direction.

“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”

Joel A. Barker

What does it mean to have a vision for your future and for your life?

Taking a moment to reflect on your current situation and envisioning where you want to be in the future is essential. This could be your ultimate goal in life, or it could be an aspiration for how you aim to feel, look, and live when you retire. It's crucial to have a clear and detailed vision of what you want to achieve. You can also have a vision for your relationships with your family, friends, and community, which should be a shared vision that everyone agrees upon. It's important to have discussions, define, and desire the vision you have chosen.

How does this help you?

Once you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve in life, you can create a plan to get there by breaking it down into smaller steps. It's important to do thorough research, study biographies of successful people who have similar goals, and use your own judgment to come up with a strategy to achieve your desired outcome. This process is not easy, but it's essential to motivate you to take consistent daily actions that will lead you toward your goal. People who have a clear direction and purpose in their lives are more likely to succeed than those who drift aimlessly without any particular aim or desired outcome. Like an archer who aims at a target and hits the bullseye, having a clear vision of what you want to achieve will help you stay focused and motivated toward reaching your desired outcome.

Why should you include others?

Having a shared vision within a company or a family is a unifying force that provides a common purpose and a desired outcome to strive for. When everyone is invested in the vision, it creates a sense of collaboration and motivates people to work towards achieving it. While some individuals may be more driven than others, everyone knows why they are there and how their efforts, time, or money contribute towards something greater than just existing or achieving quarterly profit goals. On the other hand, if a family or a group of people leave everyone to do their own thing, it could lead to a lack of direction and purpose. This approach may result in people wasting time figuring things out and causing damage along the way.

Life can often feel overwhelming, confusing, and stressful, even in the best of times. It's important to remember that having a clear vision for your life won't solve all of your problems and it may even create new ones. However, the purpose of creating and living according to your vision is not to become rigid or inflexible toward a single idea. Instead, it's about gaining clarity on the outcomes you want to achieve and being open to making adjustments along the way to turn your vision into a reality.

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All of Life is Human Transformation

By Shazad

“From now on, then, resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now, you are at the Olympic games, you cannot wait any longer, and that your progress is wrecked or preserved by a single day and a single event. This is how Socrates fulfilled himself by attending to nothing except reason in everything he encountered. And you, although you are not yet Socrates, should live as someone who at least wants to be Socrates.”

Epictetus

From the moment we are born as helpless little babies, suddenly taken out of our mother's womb, we begin to change. Each breath, each pulse of the heart, and each cry for attention contribute to our transformation into something new and hopefully better. All of life is a journey of constant transformation, which means that it involves a radical or dramatic change. Once you understand this, you will not only embrace life but also the challenges that come your way, because they are here to change you for the better, if you let them.

“Remember how long you’ve been putting this off, how many extensions the gods gave you, and you didn’t use them. At some point you have to recognize what the world it is that you belong to; what power rules it and from what source you spring; that there is a limit to the time assigned you, and if you don’t use it to free yourself it will be gone and will never return.”

Marcus Aurelius. Meditations.

The most important thing to understand is that life is a constant change, all the time, whether it is a small change or a dramatic moment, such as getting your driver's license, finishing a degree, getting married, or having a child. Whatever it is, it is happening to all of us, all the time, and it is powerful. Change is not always easy or comfortable, but it is necessary and required for our existence, as everything in nature is also going through various processes and transformations. We are all part of a dynamic cosmic system, so don't resist or ignore what's happening.

“Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”

Seneca. On The Shortness of Life

We have all experienced some level of discomfort or pain when it comes to change. Whether it's getting older, being stuck in traffic due to an accident, dealing with a crying baby waking up at night, and so on, it's not enjoyable, but it's a natural part of life. Fortunately, many of these changes are temporary and will eventually resolve or transform into a more manageable or less burdensome situation. By recognizing that some changes are fleeting or part of a mandatory phase that will pass by relatively quickly, you can find the resilience and patience to endure whatever the struggle of the moment is. Your baby won't always wake up every three hours at night, and the 14+ hour fast during Ramadan will only last for a maximum of 30 days once a year. You can use these experiences to appreciate how brief they are and consider how your life is improving for the better as you navigate through them. What is the struggle teaching you? How grateful are you going to be when this trial is over and you become more resistant to stress the next time you face it?

“If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.”

Seneca

Taking action and being responsible for your own life is crucial to undergoing a successful transformation journey. It means steering yourself towards new experiences that will challenge you, allowing you to grow and progress in your life. Waiting for change to happen on its own is not an option, as it will only lead to boredom and stagnation. Instead, by actively seeking out challenges and opportunities, and making conscious choices, you can shape your own destiny. Whether it's committing to a healthier lifestyle, reading and applying knowledge from books, or pursuing a side hustle or business venture, you are in control of your own transformation. Life itself is a journey, and each passing day presents an opportunity for growth and change. By embracing and shaping your personal transformation journey, you can become the best version of yourself. You can take your life to where you want it to be. You can be the change you want to see in the world!

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Reach For The Low Hanging Fruit!

By Shazad

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. The secret of your success is found in your daily routine.”

John C. Maxwell

You may have heard the phrase "Low Hanging Fruit," but did you know how important it is to create a successful life? This phrase reminds us that there are simple and easy things we can do to improve ourselves and move forward in life. So many times we think we have to do some nearly impossible or complicated things to get ahead in life in any meaningful way. That’s just not true! I will share three examples of low-hanging fruit that you can immediately use to make progress on your goals and feel better about your life.

“Every habit and capability is confirmed and grows in its corresponding actions, walking by walking, and running by running… therefore, if you want to do something, make a habit of it.”

Epictetus

First, if you want to improve your health but don't have the time or money for a gym membership, consider walking outside for 10 minutes after lunch and again after dinner. Take a comfortable stroll and enjoy the scenery. Daily walks have many health and mental benefits.

“Assemble your life… action by action. And be satisfied if each one achieves its goal… No one can keep that from happening…Action by action.”

Marcus Aurelius

Second, tidy up your room each day by putting away clothes you're not wearing, making your bed, and opening a window for fresh air. Cleaning up clutter and letting in fresh air can change the way you feel and think about a space. As a bonus, spend just 10 minutes each day tidying up any given room and see how it changes your life.

“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.”

Epictetus

Third, express gratitude by saying "Thank You" to someone you care about. Let them know you appreciate them and what they've done for you. This will make them feel good and give you a boost of positivity. Practicing gratitude daily can improve your outlook on life and give you the confidence to pursue your dreams.

“Well-being is realized by small steps but is truly no small thing.”

Zeno

There are many simple tasks and easy wins that I could have mentioned. If this post speaks to you, you might be thinking of some of your own right now. As humans, we love winning, so having some easy things to count as success each day motivates us to keep moving forward. Making sure you have accumulated a number of wins over days and weeks can make a big difference in how you view your progress. It will also add up like an investment portfolio if you keep contributing to it a little bit at a time. Don't forget about those big goals and difficult tasks you have to do. Just remember that they can often be broken down into smaller steps and easier tasks. Soon, you will be enjoying a nice fruit salad as you pursue the life of your dreams!

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Why You Should Become A Hybrid Person

By Shazad

“In the history of ideas, it's repeatedly happened that an idea, developed in one area for one purpose, finds an unexpected application elsewhere. Concepts developed purely for philosophy of mathematics turned out to be just what you needed to build a computer. Statistical formulae for understanding genetic change in biology are now applied in both economics and in programming.”

Patrick Grim

In our world today, we see many examples of hybrid technology, such as hybrid cars and hybrid plants. But, do people need to become hybrids too? And, if so, what does that mean and how can we achieve it as a lifestyle?

The term 'hybrid' can be defined in various ways, but for this discussion, let's use the following definition:

"something made by combining two or more elements"

or

"a mixture of two or more things combined into one."

We've seen this idea before, and in Europe, it was called a Renaissance Man. This refers to a person with a wide range of knowledge and skills combined into one life. Examples include Leonardo Da Vinci from Europe and Al-Buruni from Asia. These great polymaths had an interest in a variety of subjects through practical experimentation, discussion, and writing. Their wisdom ranged from Math and Science to Psychology, and Philosophy. They remind us that it is possible to be curious about multiple things and make significant progress in driving humanity forward.

In today's world of high-tech devices, super intelligent software, and always-connected devices, you might think that being a computer scientist or engineer is enough. However, that is far from the truth. All our technological and scientific achievements are meant to benefit humanity, so we need to better understand people, human nature, big questions about philosophy and faith, along with many other areas that are not hard sciences.

Every single person will need some level of technical knowledge to operate tools like a smartphone or a tablet. We will need even more skills to navigate society regarding what it means to live a good life and how technology can enable or hinder us in that pursuit.

Combining a variety of studies and wisdom from diverse areas of knowledge is how human beings of any age can become truly hybrid. It's a more satisfying way to live by combining a variety of knowledge and life experiences and weaving them together into a complete life. The future is coming fast, and the most awesome people are those who adopt the hybrid lifestyle. Will you be one of them?

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Can You Handle the Truth?

By Shazad

“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one ever was truly harmed. Harmed is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance.”

Marcus Aurelius

Most people live in a fantasy world where they expect things to happen a certain way. However, this delusional outlook often leads to disappointment and struggle. While people claim to value truth, they are often more concerned with confirming their biases or preconceived notions. This dishonesty can lead to damage to our character and even our soul.

Truth is a virtue, just like wisdom, courage, discipline, and justice. It is essential to be honest with ourselves and others. Being truthful doesn't mean being careless or naive, but rather living with self-awareness and adhering to our fundamental principles or beliefs.

To live an Awesome Life, we need to be faithful to our values in all situations. Lies about health, relationships, business or careers, and many other things are ruining our quality of life. We can turn this around and make everything much more enjoyable an simpler in the long run. We should strive to be truth seekers who can manage every situation by asking ourselves "What is right?" and following our moral compass.

This I know to be TRUE.

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Love & Relationships

By Shazad

“And of HIS Signs is that HE has created wives for you from among yourselves that you may find peace of mind in them, and HE has put love and tenderness between you. In that, surely, are Signs for a people who reflect.”

Holy Quran (30:22)

“HE it is Who created you from a single soul and made therefrom its mate, that he might find comfort in her. “

Holy Quran (7:190)

It's that time of the year again - February, the month of love, when people express their affection by exchanging gifts like flowers, chocolates, and other things. Love is a beautiful emotion that adds meaning to our lives and makes the world a better place. In this context, I would like to share some tips that can help improve relationships and enable us to fully embrace the gift of love for a long time.

The Happy Marriage Chapter is one of my favourites from the Awesome Life book. Ahsan and I talk about the divine purpose of marriage and relationships as well as how to manage the various situations that a romantic relationship challenges us with. It’s not an easy thing to find a Life Partner, marry them, and then stay married to them in a loving bond for decades. There’s many things that can be said on the topic and we certainly cover a lot in this chapter. I’m going to talk about 3 things you can focus on that will give you some WINS in the game of Love and keep you WINNING!

First, it’s all about love. Love yourself as a human being with great potential and responsibilities. Love your spouse for the same things and respect that they are a unique individual with their own identity and mindset. Love the fact that you are together now and find ways to keep giving love to each other over the long term, for as long as you both shall live.

Next, have faith in something bigger than you and pray together with your spouse. Make it a daily habit to give thanks to your Creator for your marriage and all the wonderful things it has produced. Ask God for help with things that are not working or simply not as good as you hoped they would be. Make sure there is always the love of God between the two of you, and your bond will be strengthened, God willing!

Thirdly, take care of yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally. Be your own person with hobbies and interests, and make sure being healthy is part of your daily routine. Individuals who care about their overall well-being are more likely to care about their spouse and the rest of the family too. When each spouse is fit, strong, and free from common lifestyle diseases, there are fewer stressors or obstacles in the relationship that need to be managed or resolved. Healthy people don’t argue, get sick, or grow apart as often as those with some kind of physical or emotional challenges, so keep an eye on yourself and your partner. There’s no downside to being an all-around healthy person with a great mindset and lots of energy for living. Who doesn’t want to be around that kind of person?

So now you know my three ways to be in a happy relationship and maintain that for the long run. There’s no "secret" or magic bullet approach, and other factors will be involved, but having some kind of blueprint for relationships along with a shared purpose is going to give couples a winning strategy to last the test of time while enjoying the journey. Like with any long and uncertain path, it’s the adventures along the way that make things worthwhile and not arriving at some ideal destination in our imagination. Wishing you lots of love, happiness, fulfillment, and exciting moments on your personal relationship voyage!

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Every Day Above Ground...

By Shazad

“Putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future. The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy, which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today. You are arranging what lies in Fortune’s control, and abandoning what lies in yours. What are you looking at? To what goal are you straining? The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately.”

Seneca. On The Shortness of Life

When someone asks me how I am, I often respond with “Another Day in Paradise”, “Awesome!”, or “Every Day Above Ground is a Good Day!” because that’s the kind of person I am. I’m not an extreme optimist or a person with permanent Rose Coloured Glasses I wear night and day. I’ve had my share of stress, struggle, and even suffering. What I’ve realized is that we get to keep on improving life as long as we are alive.

Each and every day that you and I are blessed with means that we have 24 hours to make things right, make them better or make a plan which enables our family to carry on living a better life.

My life is not perfect and is not turning out exactly as I expected it to be each and every year. Lots of twists and turns as well as happy surprises happen to me and I’m sure they happen to everyone. The way I look at life, I can learn patience and make myself more resilient to some of the challenges of each day. I can also appreciate how so many things work out each day and I’m probably just taking them for granted. There are so many times that things came together for me and I had little idea that I would experience such beautiful outcomes.

I see life as an adventurous journey that we are all trying to navigate. We may have only a compass, a paper map, and the landscape to look at but it can be enough. We can continue trying to make progress while avoiding falling into some deep pit that traps us forever. Appreciating every day and learning how to manage the events of the day is the best way I know to live simply because I am alive. This is the start of living Awesome each day.

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Why Time Investment Beats Time Management

By Shazad

“People are frugal guarding their personal property, but as soon as it comes to squandering time they are most wasteful of the one thing in which it is right to be stingy”

Seneca, On The Shortness Of Life

“Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen”

Epictetus, Discourses

Time is a valuable commodity that we all wish we had more of. However, managing it can be a daunting task. What if we considered time as a precious resource rather than an adversary to battle with every day? By doing so, we could use it effectively to prioritize our tasks, decide where to devote our attention, plant the right seeds, and take enough breaks to recharge. I will guide you on how to achieve all of these things.

The chapter on Time Investment in the Awesome Life book has some great lessons to learn from. If you want the detailed version, I recommend you read the whole chapter. The first thing you need to do every day is to identify your MCAs (Most Critical Activities). What are the 2 or 3 highly important tasks that you must accomplish today? This helps you to know where to focus your energy for today. Everything else can wait until you finish your MCAs or until the next day. You can either delay, delegate, or delete any task from today’s To-Do list that is not an MCA. This way, you will develop a laser-focused approach to what needs to be done. You basically say NO to everything else.

Action Steps:

1. Define your MCAs for each day or at least the Weekdays if you don’t want to do this on Weekends as well.

2. What can you Delegate, Delay, or Delete off your daily list of To-Dos?

3. The night before each day, create an MCA list for the next 24 hours

To make the most of your time each day, it is important to organize your short and medium-term activities. You need to think of your life as a series of projects like finishing a degree, getting married, going on a vacation, planning a birthday party, and so on. Next, you identify the project you are working on and what the steps are to reach the finish line. Now you can just focus on completing the daily tasks related to each project and achieve success.

Remember, you should not just keep yourself busy each day without a clear purpose. You need to actively work towards completing one or more projects by completing required daily tasks to move things forward. If you cannot work on an important project, delegate some tasks to someone who can help you move it to the next milestone.

Action Steps:

1. Write out all your projects for 2024.

2. Define the key milestones for each of these projects and the steps to achieve each milestone.

3. Write out your daily action plan to complete the required tasks for each project.

The third big idea is to "Do Less to Achieve More". Stop doing so much and always being "So Busy". Cut back on your socializing or social media use. Stop mindlessly scrolling the internet for deals or watching the latest TikTok videos. We have all done this at some point in time and it’s toxic if you keep doing this as an adult. Reduce your talk and text time with those friends who just want to grab your ear for 3 hours each day. Also, don't work all the time and obsess over every single detail in your life's projects or your daily MCAs. Relax… refine your habits and nature to worry less and focus more on what matters. Let some trivial things and unimportant tasks just slide… hopefully, into someone else's inbox or To-Do list. When you say "NO!" more often to people and things competing for your attention, you get your time and your life back! You get to decide how you run the day instead of 100 things driving you around just for fun and someone else's profit.

Realize that attention is a resource just like time and many companies want yours for their gain. Don't be so generous with either of these things. Protect them like Gold and Diamonds!

Action Steps:

1. Write a list of all the people and things vying for your attention each day.

2. Decide which items on your list can you immediately cut down to 50% of your time.

3. What things on your list do you look forward to and want to do more of if you had the time and attention?  

So now you know the 3 key steps to making 2024 the year you truly feel you are getting the RIGHT THINGS DONE and feeling Awesome at the end of each day. You will develop strong "NO!" muscles this year, and it will become comfortable very soon to just say this N-word as a default response. This means you'll be able to give a resounding "YES!" response to the remaining few things that make you want to fly high so you can Live Awesome!

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Where Does Inner Resolve Come From?

By Ahsan

“It's driven me before, and it seems to be the way
That everyone else gets around
But lately, I'm beginning to find that
When I drive myself, my light is found

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes, yeah
Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
I'll be there!”

“Drive” song lyrics by Incubus

Imagine heading on a long trip to see your favourite place and going by a gas-powered car. How attentive will you be to the fuel gauge in the first 100 kilometres if you start with a full tank?

You are probably not attentive at all, but after driving for a few hours, you will likely glance at the levels and start thinking about filling the tank at the next exit.

Life is like this in many ways. We have goals and aspirations filled with enthusiasm, determination, and resolve. But over time, our excitement and inner resolve start to tank!

So how does an awesome person like you keep their tank full and constantly monitored?

You must understand how inner resolve is influenced and what to do about it.

From a technical perspective, I will share a few points that matter to the concept of having and maintaining inner resolve, and then I will share a basic fact that you will be able to use so you never feel like your sails have no wind behind them.

But first, let's consider an essential goal that I believe all humans should focus on: optimizing health as we age!

I am sure you will agree that that is an understandable and relevant goal. But why is it important?

You cannot enjoy life without a healthy, pain-free, and functional body. If you have ever been struck with a basic flu or back spasm, you will quickly remember that.

Now that we have established a relevant and common goal that we all have and can relate to, let’s look at the technical contributors to inner resolve.

Personal values and beliefs: when you know what is important to you, your resolve strengthens based on your ethics, moral standards, and code of conduct.

Having real goals: Most people feel that having a goal is enough. A goal must to be a commitment with a major overriding purpose. Then, it's a true goal that your subconscious mind will continue to bring to life, even if you face obstacles or lack the motivation.

Belief in your ability to handle challenges: The more you develop this mental view of yourself, the more you will gain inner resolve. If you think you can or can’t, as the saying goes, you are 100% right. So think you can and you will!

Recalling failures and not remembering successes in your life: We all stumble and fail at some things and succeed at other things. If you focus only on the negatives that happened in your life, you will permanently retreat from your goals. If you think about how you succeeded in the past, you are more likely to get back up, dust yourself off, and mount the horse once again to charge forward!

Self awareness about current thoughts and feelings: Humans think. Thoughts we experience are predominantly random and slanted towards the negative which causes us anxiety. Just see what you are thinking right now...if you feel off or experiencing pessimism, rethink your thoughts and make conscious effort to change directions. This will pull you out of your head so you don’t get all caught up in your bad mental loops.📬

Here is my secret tip to make my inner resolve to optimize my body. Let me know if you like it.

I think about this in the following way: my body (and hence my health) is my most valuable asset. Nothing I own competes with this first-place position, not my money, property, or even Ferarri (if I had one).

If I ever lose my resolve to eat healthy and exercise to build my overall health, I must remind myself of this basic concept. There is nothing more valuable that I own than my body. Therefore, all the excuses to stay on track disappear instantly, and my tank returns to full.

So, what is the source of inner resolve? The answer lies in the explanations described above, but it all boils down to understanding why something you want to achieve, be, do or have matters in the first place. Be clear and direct about how you want to live the rest of your life.

If you don't clearly understand why it matters, you will fumble and hesitate through life. That’s when you start to look outside of yourself for someone or something to “motivate” you. Some kind of external coach to keep you on track and avoid crashing.

But you know this is not the way. You don’t need someone else telling you to do the things your soul knows you must do. Your inner resolve is the main driver with full control of the steering wheel. You have to get in the seat and buckle up. And now you have the keys to your new “car”, which is always fully charged to get you to your destination. Have an Awesome journey!

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Why Self-Confidence Is Key To Your Success In Life

By Ahsan

If you walk around with the thought that you are not good enough, you will never truly enjoy your life, let alone do well at the things you are trying to achieve.

The more self-confidence you have, the more self-confident you will be. It is a positive loop that grows ever bigger and stronger with time.

Harbouring doubts and fears will destroy your self-confidence, which must be a virus against which you inoculate yourself. Period!

Developing self-confidence is a gradual process that involves both mindset and behaviour.

Here are a few ways to enhance your self-confidence:

Set Challenges For Yourself

Do challenging things, and if those include goals, make them challenging goals.

I can easily floss my teeth every night. This may make me a dental hygiene winner, but it is not the kind of challenge I think will matter much.

Instead, let’s say you find yourself sedentary and getting lazier and unhealthy: challenge yourself to walk in the morning before going to work. Even if it's dark outside, cold, wet and windy. That's the kind of challenge that will build your self-confidence.

As you achieve these goals, gradually challenge yourself with more audacious challenges.

Engage Only In Positive Self-Talk

Use positive affirmations instead of negative self-chats. You are doing the talking, so control what you say to yourself.

Start saying, "I know I can," just like the little choo-choo train, instead of, "I think I can." Encourage yourself. No one else needs to do it.

Put out the garbage of self-limiting beliefs and visualize them in a bag the garbage collector throws into the back of the garbage truck. That is their value, and that is where they belong.

Picture this as vividly as you can. Heave ho!

Develop Awareness Of Your Thinking

Your mental approach to life should be more of I am a diamond in the rough than I am a piece of coal.

So, if an intruding thought comes into your mind, cancel it with the phrase, "I am a diamond in the rough." or “I’m a work in progress and greatness in the making!”

Dedicate time to thinking about your thinking. Your life is a reflection of your thinking. What you think translates into what you feel and the results you get.

Be a thinker who is self-aware of what you are thinking.

And here is a next-level secret tip:

Pray for success because God helps those who help themselves.

Dear friends, if I have convinced you that self-confidence is essential to living a more joyful life, do me a favour and share this article with your friends. They might say thanks to both of us.

Building self-confidence is an inside job. You have to do it. Be patient, but not surprised if your self-confidence skyrockets day by day.

Keep polishing yourself and celebrate the small victories along the way.

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The 3 Stories That Can Change Your Life

By Shazad

“Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity.” Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author

Life can be best understood when it is told through a story. It could be a brief one or a long and interesting journey, with many positive milestones along the way. Everyone can relate to things better when they are presented in the form of a story. Our lives are no different. In my opinion, there are at least three main stories that shape our lives and make us who we are today as well as influencing the person we will become. These stories have the power to transform us into happy, productive, loving members of society who change the world for the better.

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.”

Neil Gaiman

Our first story is shaped by our ideas, thoughts, and opinions about the world around us. It includes our perception of our home, city, or nation, as well as our general view of the world. These things have a significant impact on how we navigate through life and communicate with others, whether they are strangers or our loved ones.

Action Step: Write out your concept of the world in 2024. What are some words you would use to describe the current state of things and where we are headed? This exercise will tell you something about your point of view.

“We are, as a species, addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep, the mind stays up all night, telling itself stories.”

Jonathan Gottschall, The Storytelling Animal

The second story is rooted in the life experiences and customs of our parents. This story plays a crucial role in the first story since it is through this that we initially begin to comprehend the world and our position in it. As autonomous thinkers, we move beyond the story of our parents to shape our own, but we must recognize how profoundly their story influences our own.

Action Step: Write out what your parents told you about the world, what is important in life, and what you should do when you grow up. Don’t judge anything they have told you. Simply write it down on paper and look at it to understand where they are coming from and how much of their story has impacted your current worldview and understanding of your place in the world.

“Story, as it turns out, was crucial to our evolution -- more so than opposable thumbs. Opposable thumbs let us hang on; story told us what to hang on to.”

Lisa Cron, Wired for Story

The third major story that we should pay attention to is what the world is thinking and talking about at any given time. This story is constantly evolving and is shaped by various sources like mass media, governments, lobby groups, and marketing agencies. It is a powerful story because it is broadcasted through various mediums like TV, radio, and the internet. This story is actually a collection of different stories like the environment, geopolitics, culture, and economics. Society is continuously exposed to data, video clips, and talking heads about what we should be concerned about, who to vote for, and how to live our lives. Both our perspective of the world and that of our parents are heavily influenced by this third story, which changes over time because each generation is exposed to more media and advertising. The type of advertising, lobby groups, and media programming also change over time, which means that the same stories about war, politics, and the economy can be told differently.

Action Step: Write down what the top 3 stories or themes are that you are noticing from the various voices of the world. What are the 3 big ideas and who is the main promoter of each of them? What is your opinion of each story and has it changed in the last 12 months? Just make a note of these points to better understand yourself and where you think the world is going based on these stories.

“Every story I create, creates me. I write to create myself.”

Octavia E. Butler

A good story is irreplaceable but an even better story is one where we are not only the hero but also the wise mentor or counselor to the next generation of hero candidates. To live our best lives, we must be aware of the three most common stories we keep thinking about. This will help us navigate each chapter of our lives, understand who the main characters are, and where the reward can be found. Once you figure out the main plot of your life's story, you can truly live an Awesome Life!

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Goal Setting and Achieving the Awesome Way!

By Shazad

“And man will have nothing but what he strives for.”

The Holy Quran 53:40

“A man is what he thinks about all day long”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.”

Confucius

It’s that time of year again! The calendar says January 2024 and if you are reading this, that means you are still alive and able to sort out what you want to do, think about, and become this year. You have the power to make this year a success by setting and achieving meaningful goals and I’m going to tell you the 3 Step solution to finally making it happen!

Chapter 1 of the Awesome Life book is titled “Goals Make Us Awesome” and anyone who has read the book will realize the many ways this statement is true. I will present some key points about goals from the book which I hope encourages you to set and achieve your personal Awesome goals for 2024. We would also appreciate readers taking the time to read the entire book so you can be Awesome in all aspects of your life every single year! Share it with others who could be a little more Awesome too! :)

First, we all need a Purpose or Mission in life otherwise we are just coasting along or, floating like a rubber ducky in the ocean. Each of us has to decide at every stage in life, what am I doing?! What’s the point of getting up and going to school or work or to my business, etc..? Once you have strong reasons or the BIG WHY figured out, you can start figuring out the HOW steps along with the WHO, WHAT, WHERE, and WHEN related to your goals. Only those people truly fail who have no aim or goal in life because they never become the Awesome person they were supposed to be.

Awesome Step 1: Take some time this week and figure out your current Mission in life. Write down the Grand purpose you want to achieve in your life. Write out your goals in super 4K resolution and imagine how you will feel when you achieve each of them. Visualize them with surround sound, and all your other senses. Imagine being successful from the very start and pushing forward with confidence.

Second, we will all face struggles, limitations, and the dreaded resistance. You and I both need to toughen up and sort out our mindset if we are going to get any meaningful work done that drives our goals forward. Discipline, consistency, planning, and overcoming must be in your daily dictionary and headspace.

Awesome Step 2: Tell yourself you can and you will, God Willing, achieve your goals in life. You are only going to become more ‘polished’ like a diamond through the trials and hardships to come. You will bend sometimes but not break or quit. You got this!

Third, build a small or large network of like-minded people working on the same or similar goals as you have defined for 2024 and the rest of your life. Being part of a group of people working on the same things you are is the best way to find motivation, guidance, and success in achieving your goals. It makes a big difference if you hang around with Sea Hawks vs. pigeons or chickens. Your peers can make or break your goal attainment this year!

Awesome Step 3: Find your community of people doing what you want to do. If you can’t find them, build a community with at least 4 or 5 like-minded friends or relatives. Meet regularly and share lessons learned. Motivate each other and tell the stories of your success once a week or a few times a month. Celebrate all the milestones on your journey to your mutually shared goals. This may require you to cut ties or reduce exposure to those other people who don’t support you and have no goals of their own. That’s ok and it might hurt temporarily but you need to work on yourself while they sort out their own lives.

If you have ever tried to set and achieve goals in the past, you know how challenging it can be. But don’t let that discourage you! Remember, every journey starts with a single intentional step in the right direction. Success is within your reach, and it can be as easy as following the 3 Awesome Steps described above. You are capable of achieving anything you set your mind to. Keep pushing forward and never give up on your Awesome Goals! 🌟

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"Once More Into the Breach, Dear Friends, once More!"

By Shazad

Many people have had a challenging year, and many continue to do so. However, for those fortunate enough to be enjoying some peaceful holiday time with their family and friends in late December, it’s a time of calm, recovery, and reflection. As the start of January 2024 approaches, we will be called to return to work or business or simply, our daily routines with school, children, and chores. We will be asked to show up ready, motivated, and passionate about whatever we are engaged in, and we must comply for everyone’s benefit.

“In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger”

‘Once More unto the Breach, Dear Friends’ Speech from Henry V

If you have the time to step away from the frantic pace of a busy life and all the issues, it’s important to think about the year that has passed. What did you accomplish? How prepared are you for the new year and the rest of your life? What are you going to do differently and with more resolve, passion, and courage?

Now is the time to build your strength, make bold plans for a new year, and become the disciplined warrior you know you can be. You may not be going to an actual war (I sincerely hope you don’t), but you will still need to be focused, determined to win, and prepared to keep pushing your life forward throughout the new year. Just like a professional soldier does in actual combat.

Some days will feel like a battle. Maybe it will be many days in a row. Some of the difficulties you face may even leave you with a kind of “PTSD” or trauma from the experience. I wish I could say it won’t happen or that everything will be fine. The truth is that I don’t know, and nobody does. Only when you face what’s coming can you know where you stand and how you will manage the situation? Many people are so close to victory when they run out of stamina, patience, or both. Don’t let that happen to you. Exercise your body and mind so you can prepare for the longer, more complex challenges coming your way. Realize that some things you face will be quickly resolved but other things will require more sweat, energy, and time. Don’t despair and push on!

No one can predict what exactly happens next at work, in the family, in the economy, or life in general. What we know for sure is that things will keep evolving, and we must be ready to adapt and thrive in the face of constant change. Remember, you are capable of achieving great things in 2024. With the right mindset, you can overcome any obstacle that comes your way by fighting your way through the walls that stand in your way.

Stay strong, stay focused, and stay positive! You got this, Tiger!

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Are You Still On The Hunt For More In Life?

By Ahsan

“Surround yourself with relentless humans. People who plan in decades, but live in moments. Train like savages, but create like artists. Obsess in work, relax in life. People who know this is finite, and choose to play infinite games. Find people scaling mountains. Climb together.”

Zack Pogrob

I recently listened to an investment podcast, and the speaker referenced something that stayed with me. He said the journey is all that matters because the destination is the same for all of us…six feet underground.

One of the themes in life that is super critical to know is that life is not a rehearsal. We are here for a brief time, and then we are not here.

As the sun sets on 2023 and a new year begins, what are you doing with the same zest for life so that the new year continues your vision of an extraordinary life?

If life is not a rehearsal, shouldn’t it be awesome, as you define it?

What are you on the hunt for? More success in your career? More money to invest and spend? More love with your family or that particular person you adore? Better health and vitality? Owning a positive attitude? Getting things done right so the results start coming?

Let’s take some inspiration from the picture you see above. I had it generated by AI by asking for a Seahawk flying over the ocean with the sunset in the background.

The picture looks rather impressive.

As I was admiring it, it dawned on me that in nature, this bird is doing what it must do to survive: hunt before it gets dark or risk going hungry. Then, I realized I must remember this attitude because nature demands it.

My friends, the end of the year is like the sun's setting, and we are technically getting older and closer to the shared destination. That realization can either be a downer or a source of extreme motivation to keep hunting.

Lately, I find myself reflecting on the comments from the people I meet, like a lovely lady named Evelyn who is 82 years young and who was my pickleball partner. She kept saying we would win this when we were down 7 points during an exciting match we were trying to turn around. We eventually caught up and won the game! I thanked her for saying, "We can do this." She replied, with the most serious expression, "Never give up!"

Another recent instance was during a call with my mentor, who coached me on my business. I asked him why he kept working when he could enjoy his retirement and take it easy. He quickly responded that he enjoys what he does and wants to keep giving.

What an excellent attitude for me to adopt!

So here is the recap:

• Stay focused on the hunt as the sun is setting

• Our shared destination is inevitable. Let that motivate you to hunt!

• Take on a new attitude that is positive, and never give up on the hunt!

• Enjoy your life, and keep giving!

May the sun never set on you, and may your hunt be full of success, challenges, life lessons, and Awesome memories!

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The Power of Year End Reviews

By Shazad

“For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."

T.S. Eliot

It’s almost that time of year. The number of days is running out on the 2023 calendar and a new year is about to start. Rather than waiting until January 1st to do something, why not start now? Start an end-of-the-year review. What were you able to accomplish and what were you proud of this year? Where could you improve and what’s left unfinished in terms of your goals or projects? What are you doing to set up 2024 to be more successful than this year? Who are you going to enlist on your team to help you next year?

Start asking these and related questions about the year that is almost over and you’ll be ahead of most people when the new calendar year starts. You’ll also have a better feeling about where you are going next. All the best for an Awesome New Year!

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How To Achieve Your Goals In 2024

By Ahsan

“If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you.”

Les Brown

Everyone has goals, even if it’s to get to tomorrow and the day after that.

But what about achieving your bigger goals, like improving your health (getting rid of visceral fat), increasing your wealth (adding to your investments regularly), or getting your career in high gear (taking a course to get a higher-paying skill)?

All such goals you hope to achieve will only happen if you do something simple but often left out of the equation.

Any goal you ever achieved had a certain quality: those goals were commitments with a vital purpose behind them.

Any other goals you had were mere wishes. It's all a dream. It's something nice but not a serious commitment. Otherwise, you would have achieved it!

So here is what you might do if you are a committed sort of goal guy or gal:

State your Goal; declare it; own it, but make it a commitment. Just spend an hour with yourself and write down your Goal (read Commitment) in a notebook.

Now imagine the feeling you will have once you achieve this Commitment…I mean Goal.

Finally, determine the steps and the price you will pay to achieve this feeling from having genuinely committed to your Goal with a tremendous purpose.

Keep this simple.

You don't need an accountability partner. Because you are committed. You don't need to meditate, do affirmations, or do a firewalk! You don’t need to persevere. You don’t need to maintain motivation. You don’t need steps, check-ins or celebrations.

You will not need this because it will be automatically built into your intuitive way of being fueled by the energy of having a commitment that you are pursuing so you can feel awesome for having done what few people ever do.

All you need to do is raise your level of conscious awareness that what you are after comes from a commitment aligned with your purpose. Have that kind of thinking. Have that kind of discipline and make 2024 the year you finally know the power of having commitments, not dreams.

Need more motivation to achieve your goals in 2024? Here it is. Life is short. You only have so much time left on the planet. Your one-way ticket for departure could come anytime. So do what you can. Now!

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It's Always a Good Time for Human Transformation

By Shazad

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own . . .”

Epictetus

Life is challenging and constant change. There’s always something going on in our personal lives along with some big issue in the world if not a bunch of them. It seems like we never have enough time or preparation for what comes next. The best way to navigate is to transform and refine yourself on a daily basis.

Life has always been hard and humans have always faced uncertainty in a constantly changing world. This realization should help you understand that you and I are not in some strange period of time where ‘nothing like this has happened before’. We’re just like the past generations and we can make it through just like many of them did. It’s true our world is faster-paced than previous generations. It’s also true that the world is more interconnected today than ever before. The fundamental stresses and worries we have are the same as all humans have experienced in the past and the way forward is known to us. We need to be adaptable and continuously improving ourselves. I will offer some guidance on this below.

“Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.”

Seneca

The Role of Resilience

The first step is to be able to endure change without breaking. We need to understand how to navigate the winds of change and even use them to our advantage. By learning to stretch, regain balance, and even grow during hard times, we come out on top.

“Just as nature takes every obstacle, every impediment, and works around it—turns it to its purposes, incorporates it into itself—so, too, a rational being can turn each setback into raw material and use it to achieve its goal.”

Marcus Aurelius

Strategies for Transformation

To become the person we need to be and constantly adapt to change, we need to have some strategies we can work on each day.

Your Mindset is the first of these strategies. Cultivate a positive but realistic attitude about where you are in life and what’s happening around you. Focus on what is in your control and realize what is not in your control.

The next strategic tool is Self Care. Make it a point to check in with yourself on how you are doing mentally, physically, and spiritually each day. What’s working for you and what’s not? How can you dial up your well-being in each of these 3 things so you are at least an 8/10?

The third tool you need is a good Support Network which can include professional help, family and friends, mentors, and even the natural environment you live in. Make sure you regularly engage in discussions about the changes and what you are facing. Spend time in green spaces or in water to help you orient yourself to the big picture. Get professional coaching or take a course to help you move forward in life. You don’t have to do this alone and the most successful people as well as those moving the fastest in their transformation journey, have a network of people and environments so you should too!

The fourth and most powerful tool in your strategic journey is Goal Setting. Adapting and improving is an aspect of Human Transformation but you need to have some clear sense of where you are headed and what you need to become in the short term as well as over time. You will need to clearly identify milestones along the way which are the goals you plan to achieve so you know you are headed in the right direction at the correct pace. Once you do, you’ll have the confidence to move forward toward each goal and a clear reason that compels you to stay on course in your journey.

Life will never be easy, except looking back in time. We live in a world of constant and rapid change that doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. The only way to thrive is to move forward with some strategic tools and an understanding that we are all becoming the next and hopefully best person we can be, one day at a time. Happy Awesome Transformation to each of you!

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How Would Your Life Be If You Had No Negative Thoughts?

By Ahsan

"Negativity is an addiction to the bleak shadow that lingers around every human form--you can transfigure negativity by turning it toward the light of your soul."

John O'Donohue

Imagine what your life would be like if you had no negative thoughts! How would things be different for you?

What would your day-to-day experience of life look like?

Aside from being happy and enjoying peace of mind, what would it mean to the quality of the life you live¾the very finite life you take for granted? Life is not a rehearsal. Consider this: our enjoyment of living comes from the quality of our thinking. NOTHING else.

I have asked myself this question, and here is what comes to mind.

If I had no negative thoughts, I would enjoy three things at a different level than I do now.

My confidence would rise and rise. When we are in a positive state of mind, we sink more putts when we golf; we approach more people to make new friends with, and we enjoy more mental and physical health because our mental radar is receptive to ideas and actions that lead us to a stronger body and mind.

My peace of mind would flourish and grow. It is not possible to have peace of mind and hold negative thoughts. When our state of mind turns positive, and our thinking is positive, a feeling of ease and peace takes hold. The experience of life we feel, whether good or bad, comes from our thinking. Having positive and uplifting thoughts generates resilience towards the ebbs and flows of life. Life will not go your way, but your thinking about it can go your way.

My productivity and creativity would climb and blossom. The positive state of mind fosters good feelings and a can-do attitude. I love being productive when I focus and surprise myself with how much I get done in an hour. I also know that my creative projects never feel like work if I am optimistic. Time stands still, and I feel like I am having fun while I come up with ideas to improve the finished product I’m after.

Your mind is a powerful force. When you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will change.

But your mind is like a garden. No garden is weed-free. Weeds find their way into the garden not soon after you plucked the last one out. It stands to reason that you need to tend the garden and be constantly aware that you either have flowers blooming in your mind or weeds that need to be eliminated. Your awareness makes your garden and life the way it is. Your daily choices can make it beautiful and maintain that beauty over time.

It’s important to cultivate awareness that you are a thinking being. Design and the Designer of human beings put this thinking in you. Depending on your thinking, you may feel good or bad, positive or negative, at any moment in time. And now you know how to become enlightened. I consider myself to be an “Enlightened Gardner”. What about you?

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