To Busy to be Better?

The Greatest Disease attacking America is.....

APATHY

Apathy (also called impassivity or perfunctoriness) is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest in or concern about emotional, social, spiritual, philosophical and/or physical life.

It was just a few years ago that the economy in the United States and beyond was at one of its worst times in collective memory. We saw panic everyday of our lives in newspapers, television, conversations, housing crisis, bank misappropriations and the list could go on forever. After reading an email this morning about someone who was so busy that he was not able to take time out of his hectic schedule and dedicate time to examining his life I realized something; I had a greater appreciation for the economic crisis a few years ago than ever before!

I have been fortunate enough to be invested into peoples lives and all they experience for a long time now as my career. I have learned that it is always our own perceptions that make our life rewarding and frustrating. It is the way we see things because if we were not here to state the enjoyment we are experiencing then there would be no excitement. In the same manner if we were not present to express the frustrations then there would be no frustration. I love understanding the amount of control that each and every person really has on their entire life and all that it brings. As soon as I see the things in my life as opportunities for growth they become positives. As soon as I fall into blaming those same situations in my life, for challenging me too much or call them the cause of my issues, my frustration is pronounced. The only real remedy to building forward momentum in life is the unconditional acceptance of all that it brings.

This is a hard battle for all of us because we want things to "work out" "be right" "flow smoothly" but life does not always work that way. Now does it?

I hope not and that is scary to type right now but it is a realization I really appreciated this morning even more. The additional value I found in my search this morning for answers regarding our recent national finance crunch became clearer. Talking to people everyday of my life and helping them to examine their business which is always a reflection of who they are made me appreciate the spirit of brokenness. Reflecting on my daily schedule I can get a feel as each year passes of great years, average years and really tough years for each person I work with. I have noticed a few truths and one of the most obvious is that the good years and the bad years are not in alignment. What I mean to say is that I can talk to a dozen people on my right who are really struggling to find answers and solutions to the challenges they face and then I can find a dozen people on my left who are doing great and finding more success than ever before so what is the difference?

The difference is as always; THE INDIVIDUAL

Each one of us must learn to take responsibility for all that we have in our own lives. Our current circumstances both good and bad are simply a reflection of us and all that we have to offer to the world around us. I know that 2009 took a huge turn downward in the economy because I heard about it everywhere! I also know that new fortunes were birthed in 2009 by certain people who would not be bound by the negative status quo that was being so widely spread. People who did new things, built new companies and found gratitude for all that life brings them. These same people celebrated great reward in a popularized "depressed year" and we heard about it where?

I have noticed that good news is not seen as the primary source to sale newspapers or news programs or even the topic of most conversations. I have also noticed that fear is used regularly to motivate people into their next quick decision or golden goose chase. I realize that fear and negativity are celebrated but I know they are not the way to find success nor its rewards and yet we are surrounded by it. Perhaps this is the reason that more of our population enter into mediocrity with their lives as opposed to creating great things which would stand out. I am on anywhere from 60-100 calls per day with hundreds of emails exchanging thought and ideas for solutions to issues I am asked about by many I work with. It is regularly found by me that the more focused an individual is on overcoming and welcoming the next opportunity (Challenge, problem, issue) into their life the quicker they find the most positive outcome. It is with striking similarity that I find that the person who resents the opportunity (challenge, problem, issue) they are most recently faced with the longer this issue stays in their life dictating every thought and their reliving of it conversation after conversation with me. 

In the ten secrets to success we are taught that gratitude for EVERYTHING is part of success. In the Bible we were told to "count it all joy when we face trials of many kinds" this seems eerily familiar to the "unconditional acceptance of life and all that it brings" It seems to me that we must learn to celebrate the life we have and all that comes with it and it is in this celebration we will find success and reward. It does not matter what job or what circumstance you are in, the rules are the same and they apply to everyone. We have heard them and are all familiar with the concepts. As a matter of fact the moment that every human being hears these repeated truths we all have that feeling deep inside that we know they are truthful and then we often still struggle to apply them. Our faith that doing right and being right may just not be enough to get me where I want to go?

Where does this doubt come from?

What is going in our minds is what creates the substance of each of us and our lives are a reflection of those same thoughts and ideas. This takes me back to our surroundings and how important it is that we guard the door to our minds  and make sure not to accept the negativity of the major networks nor the ideas from the prognosticators of doom. I know it is critical for me to start each day in a foundation of belief in the positive. I listen to positive speakers every day, read and entertain positive thoughts every day. I have an understanding that any day where my energy is not on top of the world that I must begin to care for my mind because my life and what I think it holds is simply a reflection of me and my perceptions!

Jim Rohn is one of my favorite speakers and we lost him in 2009 but he stays present with me in every week of my life. Jim said while speaking to the kids one day 'Kids what happens to your health if you put sugar in your coffee?" The kids replied "You'll be ok." Jim said to the kids "What happens if you put arsenic in your coffee?' The kids replied "You'll be dead." Jim said again "What if your worst enemy puts sugar in your coffee?" the kids replied "You'll be ok." Jim asked again "What happens if your best friend puts arsenic in your coffee?" the kids replied "You'll be dead." Jim paused and said Kids Watch your Coffee. 

I know that I appreciate learning and being taught the secrets to live a more grateful life and it was this morning that I was reminded why the economic crisis of 2009 was such a great thing. It caused so many people to slow down and really question their safety, their fears, their reasoning. In essence it caused people to search for answers. It is when people are too busy making things happen that we should be worried because failure always follows ignorance. The only way to be ignorant is to stop searching for new truths. 2009 was a year of loss for one reason to me and that is because Jim Rohn passed away. He lived a life full of searching because he learned the secret to success. I am thankful for his life, his energy and his lessons he shared as a result of his search. 

I am also encouraged that the search of so many people in 2009 for real answers caused a rebound in economy and we see more possibilities for growth than ever before. Will we maintain this incredible search? or Slip into the comforts of mediocrity? Explore for yourself today and then share what you find with others. Take time to build a personal calendar that allows for you to be the best you deserve to become. I have attached an exercise that was done by Stephen Covey (another great contributor) and I encourage you to take time and reflect on what you want your life to stand for..

Make it count and be grateful today!

1.         Schedule a four-hour appointment with yourself. This may seem like a long time, but I have found it’s about right. It gives you the opportunity to disengage from the demands of day-to-day life and immerse yourself in the exercise. However, more than this amount of time might be difficult to sustain emotionally.

2.         Find a quiet place that is completely private. You will need a place where you won’t get distracted. I have found that I best connect to what’s important when I am in a beautiful, quiet spot outdoors. Movie soundtracks can also enhance the setting. Warning: find a place where you feel free to express your emotions. It is not unusual to cry or even weep.

3.         Make a list of those in your life who matter the most. Obviously, you will want to include your immediate family, but there are undoubtedly others as well.

4.         Now visualize your own funeral. 

I’d like you to imagine that you are about to attend one of the most important occasions of your life. It will be held in a room sufficiently large to seat all of your friends, your family, your business associates—anyone and everyone to whom you are important and who is important to you.
Can you see it?

The walls are draped with deep golden tapestries. The lighting is subdued, soft, casting a warm glow on the faces of your expectant guests. The chairs are handsomely upholstered in a golden fabric that matches the tapestries. The golden carpeting is deeply piled.

At the front of the room is a dais, and on the dais a large, beautifully decorated table with candles burning at either end.

On the table, in the center, is the object of everyone’s attention. A large, shining, ornate box. And in the box is … you! Stiff as the proverbial board.

Do you see yourself lying in the box, not a dry eye in the room?

Now, listen.”

5.         Write down what each person says. There are 4 speakers there. One from your family, friends, community, and work. Imagine that they have five minutes to speak. What did they most appreciate about you? What did your life mean to them? What impact did it have? What have they lost with your passing? Write these words down as though you were that person.

6.         Determine what would have to change in your life in order to create this outcome. Here’s the good news: you aren’t dead yet. You can still change the outcome. You can take the steps necessary to begin shaping these eulogies—and the outcome of your life—now. Do you need to make a phone call, rekindle a relationship, or be more intentional with those you love? Whatever is required, wouldn’t it be worth the effort?

7.         Use this as the motivation to create a written plan. A “life plan” may sound daunting, but it’s not. In fact, I believe you will find it to be one of the most inspiring experiences of your life. I have provided a step-by-step guide in another post, so I won’t repeat myself here. Suffice it to say that my purpose here is to motivate you to live your life intentionally, with purpose. A life plan will help you do that.