Want to Absolutely Love Your Life?

Want to Absolutely Love Your Life? It’s always been important to me that what I do makes a difference. It’s not just something that I’d like to do; it’s more like a primal need that drives me. I am not satisfied with the status quo—which has been both a curse and a blessing at different times! One of the blessings is that I continually want to learn more and I regularly seek out opportunities to learn from those who have the results I want. The more I learn, the more I grow and the more I’ve got to give others. If you want something in life, go see some people who have what you want and ask them how they got it, then copy the steps they took to achieve it. So, if you want to be amongst the worlds most rich and famous, I can’t personally lay out the steps for you—not yet anyway! But if you want to live a life you love, grab a notebook and get ready for a few fast facts and tips on making the most of the living years!rnTip 1. rnParticipate fully in life and keep an open mind. It's one of the simplest habits you can form on the way to creating a life you love. Get out of your comfort zone. rnThe solution to every problem in your life lies outside of your comfort zone. If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get more of what you’ve always got. So take a step outside the box you live in and shake it up a little. Get uncomfortable. Never become stayed in your ways, reinvent yourself on a regular basis.rnTip 2. rnWrite stuff down. Keep a journal handy to record ideas, wise words, handy hints, concepts and goals. Sounds boring? But wait, you don’t even have to ever read it again! The act of writing it down allows your limbic system to absorb it better and engrains it into your nervous system. Did you know that we normally only retain 20 percent of what we hear but if we write it down, our retention rate immediately rises to 40-60 percent? And did you also know that if you were having fun while you learned it and you wrote it down; your retention rate can jump to a massive 80-90 percent? Involvement increases retention. Better retention means less errors and frustration and more time for fun. rnTip 3. rnHave more fun and laugh as often as you can and you will instantly love your life more. Laughter shrinks problems. In fact, it was discovered by Norman Cousins that laughter produces a chemical which even kills cancer. Plus if you take fun and laughter into your home and your workplace, everyone will benefit from it, and productivity will increase. rnTip 4. rnProgram your mind to notice and take advantage of opportunities that arise. The unconscious mind is an estimated 30,000 times more powerful than your conscious mind and is responsible for 95% of thoughts and actions you take. What does this mean to you? Well, I guess it means you are 30,000 times more capable than you think you are! Every second you’re alive, between 2-5 million bits of information is streaming into your body and mind through your 5 senses – unconsciously. These are filtered down to 5-9 individual bits you are aware of in any given second. It is estimated that we unconsciously walk past 2-3 opportunities per month that would make us a millionaire! rnTip 5. rnOnly 10% of the brain is responsible for your conscious mind. The mind is not the same thing as the brain. There are cells like those found in the brain throughout the whole body. In particular they are found concentrated in the lining of the stomach where there are over 90 billion neurons. It’s like a “second brain” and is what we commonly call our “gut” feeling. There are similar cells surrounding the heart. So there is literally a thinking system in our stomach and heart. The brain communicates to our conscious mind by thought but the stomach and heart communicate via emotions. So, as the song says, “Listen to your heart” and when you get a “gut feeling,” pay attention. But remember, the mind is not just the heart, or the gut, or the brain. Cells are throughout your whole body, so don’t ever think it’s illogical to get a tension headache, an anxiety stomach ache or for your child to have a mysterious illness that disappears within an hour of you giving them the day off school! Stop being so departmentalised and start looking at the big picture of you. Observe and notice what your mind, body, heart, soul and gut are telling you, they work in unison. rnTip 6. rnYour body is a magnificent creation. You need it to last the distance, so nurture it’s health and vitality. Take care of the whole package, not just bits of it. Eat healthy foods, drink lots of water and move your body! Get outdoors and exercise regularly. If you put garbage in it—you’ll get garbage out of it! rnTip 7. rnStand by your values always. Be proud of who you are. Compromise is appropriate in many instances, but never when it comes to your values. Those who step up and take a stand are respected and admired. Do not waver in this regard. You cannot be happy if what you do betrays your values, it will leave you feeling guilty and weak. rnTip 8. rnBe passionate about what you do, or more accurately, do what you are passionate about. Be clear about your own goals and intentions. No one else can motivate you, it must come from within. Others can inspire you, instruct, teach or advise you but in order for you to be motivated, you need to know the reasons you are committed—you need to be passionate. If the “why’s” are strong enough, you won’t just feel motivated, you will find the “how’s” as well. rnTip 9. rnCelebrate your life and be grateful for what you have. Celebrate yours and others achievements. Build up those around you with your words. Voice your pleasure and gratefulness daily. Say thank you to those who service you well. Compliment the waitress who provided good service and enjoy seeing her smile. Commend a co-worker on a job well done and watch their eyes light up. Greet a stranger like a friend, use eye contact and a warm smile and notice how it bounces right back at you. Happiness comes to those who live with an attitude of gratitude, who let go of guilt and resentment, who maintain a state of forgiveness towards self and others and who act with genuine love, caring and kindness towards their fellow man.