But consider for a moment, that you have no choice.  No choice in education, lifestyle, career, family….no choice at all.  You are told what to do, how to do it and when to do it.  What must this even feel like!  Only imagining it makes my chest tight, my breathing shallow and my head light.

Luckily, we are FREE!  Free to make our own decisions, choose our own way and work as hard as we want so that we may be as successful as we dream!  I pray that your decision leads you to success and happiness.

Over the last two years my path has slowly branched off from the super-highway that is well paved and easy to travel.  I consider this Corporate America with seemingly secure salaries, health benefits and a retirement plan (don’t laugh…chances are your 401k is still tanking too).  As, President Truman said, “Recession is when your neighbor loses his job and Depression is when you lose yours”

My new path, the one I find invigorating and filled with excitement is entrepreneurialism.  Yes, it has more potholes and more switchbacks.  It doesn’t come with a paycheck every two weeks or that not-so-reliable health insurance.  But, for me it is like moving to a new city.  Knowing that it doesn’t matter what you did yesterday because you get to start over, make a new name for yourself.  Only today matters!  You know you will be lost for a while, but you will eventually make friends and the city will become home.

Entrepreneurs create jobs all the while pursuing their passion.  According to the Small Business Administration, small businesses represent 99.7% of all employment, pay 44% of the total U.S. private payroll and create more than half the private gross domestic product.  We fulfill the American dream!

And, great news, there has never been a better time to become an entrepreneur!  According to SUCCESS magazines July 2010 issue, at the beginning of the 20th century there were a mere 5,000 millionaires.  By 1950 there were 100,000; 1980-1 million; 1990- 2 million!  By the year 2000, that number had reached 7 million and today 10 million men and women are millionaires.  And, that number is expected to double in the next 10 years.  So, now is the time to “hitch your horse to a wagon”!

The team that I’m lucky enough to be a part of is breaking new ground with a proven success system, a life-changing product and an Executive team that will make your head spin!  Our leaders are the guys that have “been there, done that”.  I can’t speak highly enough of the people I get to work with and learn from daily.

If you are interested in hearing more about what our team is doing and what we stand for, email me at: ashleye@xgopro.com.

Time is our most precious commodity, once it’s gone we can never get it back.  What are you doing to make your time work for you?

But, consider this: the average life expectancy in 2008 was 68.9 for the entire world, in the US it was 78.4.  So, let’s say that you get lucky and live to be 80 years old.  When you’re 80 years old and facing the autumn of your life, what do you want to look back on as your accomplishments?  What legacy do you want to leave?  What do you want your children, your children’s children and their children to find when they search for you?

I want my family to find a great woman.  A woman who changed lives and lived to love.

I was taught by a great man that, “empty plates don’t feed people”.  This concept helped me to understand that I need to be the best me, in order to help others.  I need to raise the bar for those I love, rather than watch them struggle.  Not everyone is ready, and that’s okay.  However, I’ve found that most people, will do what you ask them to do if they love and respect you.  Most people will rise to the occasion when challenged.  The time will come, when the people around you realize that they want MORE.  More from life and more from themselves.

The unfortunate truth is that we are rarely challenged.  We live day to day, seemingly satisfied because we hold a false understanding of security.  We are happy because we are not pained with growth.  But, change and growth are part of life, and it’s true….it can be painful at times.  It may be painful because the ones you love don’t seek success, have no ambition or dreams of their own.  They become the crabs in the pot, pulling you down.

I believe that we are the most dynamic generation to date.  We are certainly the most informed, the most in touch and the most spoiled.  At times it is a curse rather than a blessing to be living now, with so many luxuries – technology, communication and commerce.  Sadly, this enables too many of the 25-35 year olds in this country to choose not to step into roles of leadership, of relationship development or even want to look beyond their 9-5 job to a real and growing marketplace.  The marketplace is ours to own!

During the Summer Surge Tour, Doug Wead pointed out that the air we breathe here in this country, at this time, is rare.  If you take even a brief look at world history, you will find that having the economic freedom and political liberty that we are so very blessed with today in the United States is seldom found.  And, when it is discovered it lasts only a short while before being snubbed out.

I cherish the final words which the great President Ronal Reagan left us with during his farewell address:

The past few days when I’ve been at that window upstairs, I’ve thought a bit of the “shining city upon a hill.” The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we’d call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free.

I’ve spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don’t know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That’s how I saw it and see it still.

I urge you, if you are reading this to consider your legacy.  I believe that our most valuable asset is who we are and what we have to offer the world.  Once you understand that concept, develop a passion, have a dream and a plan, you can break through any challenge.  Rise to the occasion and enjoy the view from the top!  If you are a REAL leader and you have a TRUE heart for others, you can show them the way too!!  What a legacy you will leave.

How about this one……do you believe in yourself?

For many of us, self belief is a foreign idea.  Something which we struggle with daily.  This isn’t surprising when you consider that only 3 in 100 people were raised in a home which encouraged positive personal development.  So, what does this mean?

Let me ask you another question.  What do you want from life?  It’s a silly question and you may think that what you want from life differs vastly from the next person.  Or, equally saddening, you may not even KNOW what you want from life.  However, if you really think about it, don’t we all want the same things?  Don’t we all WANT to be happy, successful, healthy and loved?  We’re all not so different after all.

The difference is what are YOU DOING to get these things?  And, wouldn’t you agree that in order to be happy, successful, healthy and loved YOU must DO something?  I think so.

Let’s go back a step though.  In order to ACT upon your desires, would you agree that you have to believe in yourself?  Believe that you are worth being happy, successful, healthy and loved?

In 1 Peter 3:3-4 it is written,

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I love that very last part….. “of great worth in God’s sight”.  I believe that God wants all of these things for us.  Who am I to argue with Him?!  So, my last question to you is this: Why wouldn’t you believe that you are worthy of these gifts?  YOU ARE!

Now you are only left to find the vehicle to drive yourself to accomplish these things!  It brings to mind a favorite inspirational poem of mine.  When I hunger for extra drive, I read this poem, Invictus by William Ernest Henley.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

I appreciate how when you improve one area of your life it often seeps into other areas as well.  A simple example of this is when you begin to get the right amount of sleep for your body on a regular basis.  You wake up in a better mood….therefore, your entire day is shaped differently.  My bodies premium sleep number is 8 hours.  If I get less I find myself anxious and irritated throughout the day.  If I get more, I am groggy during the mid-afternoon.

I find that these simple life patterns are of extreme importance.  They shape our attitude, our relationships, and not to be overly-dramatic but they really do shape who we are and how we function.

If I was a gambler I would put money on my belief that if you are unhappy with an area of your life you can, if you WANT, identify a cause (which is a behavior) that would help you improve this area.  Feeling lethargic?  Add 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise to your daily routine.  Feeling depressed?  Listen to 20 minutes of positive thinking tapes daily.  Relationship with your spouse not quite what it used to be?  Make an effort to change the way YOU treat that person and watch how they respond.

Of course, my suggestions are incomplete.  Every action does not cause the same reaction for everyone.   Thank goodness, there are hundreds of actions which you can tweak to find which one or which combination works best for you.  (I suggest using the process of elimination to find the best solution for your situation).

I tell you all of this to get to my final point……This last week (week 2) of living the paleo lifestyle, I noticed a 4.5 lb. weight loss.  Now, I know it doesn’t sound like much….and it’s not.  But, I have to consider it this way.  In the last week, my clothes fit better and my arms, legs and stomach have more muscle definition.  So, I’m chopping up my minimal weight loss to muscle increase!!  Which is awesome!

My pattern:  I workout, eat right and supplement consistently……I feel better about myself physically, therefore I have an improved attitude regarding my physical appearance and I’m more motivated than ever to keep working hard!

As I mentioned in, “It’s a Primal Thing” a couple of weeks ago…..I’m not changing anything except my “diet” while experimenting with this lifestyle.  My exercise routine remains the same.  My body tends to plateau after 2-3 weeks of the same routine, but below is the workout I have been using since beginning paleo.

• • 30-45 minutes of cardio at least four times a week (treadmill, elliptical or stair climber)
  • 45 minutes of weight training at least 4 times a week
  • I tend to “super set” each of my exercises in groups of two or three.
  • I always do four sets of each exercise: 15-12-10-8, increasing the weight as I decrease the reps

• • • Legs
      • Traditional squat
      • Standing calf raise
      • Leg extensions (machine)
      • Leg curls (machine)
      • Bench step up’s with free weights
      • Wide squat, toes out sumo with barbell

• • • Chest/Triceps
      • Incline chest press with dumbells
      • Assisted dip machine
      • Chest fly machine
      • Overhead cable extension
      • Traditional bench press
      • Tricep extension

• • • Back/Biceps
      • T-bar row
      • Hammer curls
      • Pull down back machine
      • “21’s”
      • Upright row
      • Concentration curls (on preacher curl bench)

• • • Shoulders
      • Arnold shoulder press
      • Dumbell lateral raise
      • Pushups
      • Rear deltoid cable pull
      
      

For anyone who knows me, you know that I love to eat.  I love to eat fancy, succulent meals just as much as I love to snack on junk food or indulge in a bowl of ice cream!  I was born in Georgia and my mom is a Southerner, so I was taught that when you’re entertaining guests….you eat, when you’re celebrating….you eat, when you’re grieving….you eat, when you’re stressed….you eat.  (Not to mention….when you’re hungry….you eat)!  Get the picture?

So, my week 1 major breakthrough came on day 4 when I completely stopped having hunger cravings!  I will forever celebrate, (with a big medium-rare steak) this day.  It will be marked on my annual calendar as the day that my mind overruled my stomach.

I know all of this probably sounds silly to those of you out there who can exercise a great deal of control when it comes to eating.  But, for someone who has never cut out bread, pasta, potatoes and rice from her diet….I’m feeling pretty strong, like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to!

I’ll confess though that the first three days were not easy.  I felt like I was always missing a huge part of my meals.  I would look longingly at the empty space on my plate where my large portion of carbs used to go…..and again, my belly would rumble it’s disapproval.  I was hungry between meals for the first few days and would open the pantry to a sea of “unapproved” foods, taunting me.  But, I stayed strong and  ave lived to tell the tale!

On a more serious note, the first thing I noticed was that when I was at the grocery store I was only shopping along the perimeter.  What I mean is, no aisle browsing.  There was rarely anything on my grocery list that I found down the center aisles of the store.  I spent most of my time in the produce and meat sections.  The benefits: less temptation buying, less time at the grocery store and less money spent on my overall grocery bill.  The downside to the lifestyle: I had to add an errand and stop at my local whole foods market in order to find some of the more specialized items on my shopping list this week.  Humorous side note…..I took the kids with me and Maegan, the more outspoken of the three immediately made a comment upon entering the store (and as loudly as possible i think) about how “funny it smells”.

If you are considering this lifestyle are are not sure where to start, there are hundreds of blogs, chat room discussions and websites with helpful information.  Many of them also offer recipes and meal plans to help you streamline your grocery planning and meal prep for a week.  I’ve decided to subscribe to one such website: www.paleoplan.com.  It is $9.99 a month, and I think well worth it for the amount of time it saved me the last two weeks.  The authors of this website plan 4 meals a day, with the recipes and a grocery list for each week.

I’ve found that after living this way for nine days though, that I’m not eating 4 meals a day.  I’m getting in about two meals a day, 3 on the days that I’m working out.  This is a nice break from the “7 small meals a day” plan which I previously subscribed to.  I find that this is MUCH less work and less time consuming.

Another thing I love about this plan….I don’t have to count calories!  Here’s the rule:  Eat when you’re hungry (from the approved foods list, of course), and eat until you’re satisfied.  The beautiful thing, I can eat until I’m completely full and still NOT have that after-dinner, lower belly bloating (ladies – you know what I mean).  I continue to supplement with XanGo daily multi-vitamins and anti-inflammatory juice along with a probiotic.

Physically, I haven’t lost any weight this week.  I’ve continued working out regularly, making it to the gym a total of 5 times.  However, by the end of the week, I noticed a slight difference in my cardio endurance and energy levels.

My final thoughts for this week are, if you’re thinking about giving this a shot, you CAN!    Yes, it’s important to live a healthy lifestyle.  However, this isn’t for everyone.  Everyones body is different – find what works for you, fits into your lifestyle and suits your tastes!  And, always remember: have FUN and be CONSISTENT!

A few weeks ago I had one of those moments….one of those, “darn!  I wish I would’ve done that differently” moments.  It’s the same feeling I get when I think back about my teenage years.  When my mother would tell me, “You’re going to wish you would have done that differently in a few years (always with a knowing smile in her voice)”.  And, of course I would usually chuckle and think to myself, “What does my mom know?!  She’s  completely out of touch.”

Now, as I near 30, I realize that what I’ve heard so many people tell me in the past is coming to fruition in my own life.  You know. I’m sure the majority of you have heard it or maybe you have even experienced it for yourself.  And….here it is…..when you reach 30 the weight just doesn’t come off the way it used to.

I’ve never been an “athletic person”.  I didn’t play sports as a child, I wasn’t involved in   competitive sports in high school and I was never involved in dance or gymnastics.  In fact, I’m a complete klutz so that wouldn’t have worked out very well for me anyways.

Fortunately, I was blessed with good genes.  As an adult, I’ve been able to skate by with infrequent workouts and a lax diet.  I did however begin working out more regularly and paying more attention to my health about 3 years ago.  Still, I’ll admit….it was half-hearted; with the exception of the two months leading up to my wedding.  During this time, I turned “it” up and reached my peak physical condition.  Otherwise, what was the need?  I could control my weight and my energy level was consistently good.  Why should I spend time working out when I could be doing more important things? Ha!

More recently, however, I’ve noticed that those extra couple of pounds aren’t coming off the way they used to….instead, they are settling right around my mid-section.  I’ve tried for the last several months to justify this extra weight…..I’m busy at work, I’m taking care of a family, I’m traveling quite a bit and it’s difficult to eat right….

Now, don’t hate me.  I have friends that say, “What are you complaining about?  You look great.”  But the bottom line is this; I just don’t look, or more importantly, feel the way I want to.  I know what my body can and SHOULD look like, and I’m just not okay with settling.

So, I broke my cardinal rule last week……(insert evil music here)……I stepped onto a scale at the gym.  I weighed in at 140.6 pounds.  Now, at the age of 28 I am weighing more than I ever have in my life.  Granted, I’m closer to 5’9” than I am 5’8”, and I have a naturally muscular build.  But again, these are not excuses.  “Wearing my weight well”, is not a phrase I like to hear.  Now, as a woman, I know better than to weigh myself, which is why it’s my “cardinal rule”.  I also know, It’s only accurate to weigh on a specific day every month, based on my cycle.   Which is why I have always judged my weight by how my jeans fit, it seems to be the best way for me.

Enough is enough is enough…..this is what I told myself last week when I decided to make a decision!!!

I hate the vicious cycle and I won’t be a victim to it…..feel fat, say I’m going to make a change, eat right for a couple of days, then back to my old ways, feel guilt……and it starts over again.

So, what am I doing differently this time?  THIS is what I’m excited to share.  I began researching how food is naturally intended to interact with the human body and ran into some very interesting articles.  I also have a couple of really great friends who encouraged me to look into what they are calling a “lifestyle”, not a diet.  It’s called Paleo, or the “Caveman Diet”.  Basically, you can eat when you’re hungry from a list of approved foods and you stop when you’re full.  The general rules are, no processed foods, no grains, no legumes, no dairy.  Pretty much….if you can kill it or grow it, you can eat it.  But you can’t eat it if you grow it and it requires cooking or processing.

According to wikipedia, “Paleolithic nutrition is based on the premise that modern humans are genetically adapted to the diet of their Paleolithic ancestors and that human genetics have scarcely changed since the dawn of agriculture, and therefore that an ideal diet for human health and well-being is one that resembles this ancestral diet”.

So, I’m going to give this “Paleo lifestyle” a shot.  I’ve done quite a bit of research and don’t see any reason NOT to give it a shot.  I’ve never cut grains completely out of my diet (because I love bread, noodles, rice, and everything else that isn’t on the plan), so this will be pretty interesting.  I’ve heard really positive feedback from several people and am really excited to get started!!

Week 1…..I’m on my way!

I love this term.  You hear it over and over again in sports, it is meant to motivate one to find their inner strength and use it to push themselves to success!  Recently, I travelled to Las Vegas for the XanGo Thrive Convention.  Without much free time at these events, it is tough to squeeze in a workout (which is often my only way to personally release stress and angst).  Luckily, my co-worker Whitney, brought a workout DVD from the Insanity series.  We plugged it into a laptop and did it right there in the hotel room……WOW!!  What a workout it was!  This was 40 minutes of pure sweat dripping, heart pounding cardio training.  The fitness guru leading the charge on this DVD is Shaun T, and the phrase you hear him using the most is “dig deep”.

This got me thinking.  What makes me dig deep when it comes to life, when it comes to driving myself towards success?  This is a term which I internally repeat, when I’m having a rough day or when I’m feeling overwhelmed.  This internal motivation is what I feel will ultimately push me to success when many people with the same choices or in the same circumstances may throw in the towel.

How would you define leadership?  What qualities would you identify in a leader of your choosing?

Before you go on…..quickly think of and write down at least 10 qualities which you look for in a leader.  Whether it be a political candidate, military leader, church leader, a CEO, etc.  Don’t spend more than 45 seconds on this exercise….write down what comes to mind first.

Here are the 10 that I came up with:

1. Driven
2. Honest
3. Positive Attitude
4. Communicates Clearly
5. Caring
6. Focused
7. Leads by Example
8. Work Ethic
9. Intelligent
10. Discernment

Now, take your list and determine which of the following three categories, each of the 10 qualities fall into: Skill, Attitude or Knowledge Based.

1. Driven – Attitude
2. Honest – Attitude
3. Positive Attitude – Attitude
4. Communicates Clearly – Skill
5. Caring – Attitude
6. Focused – Attitude
7. Leads by Example – Attitude
8. Work Ethic – Attitude
9. Intelligent – Knowledge
10. Discernment – Knowledge

So, here’s my point….of the 10 leadership qualities which I came up with 7 of 10 were determined by the individual’s attitude.  DIG DEEP, RIGHT?!  Why do we spend so much time learning a trade and perfecting the skills of that trade?  Yet, we so rarely spend time on our own attitude, developing ourselves and seeking personal growth?

My challenge to each one of you, is to pick up a new book this week.  Pick a book that will help shape you as a leader and DIG DEEP!

here today and gone tomorrow

a wave tossed in the ocean,

a vapor in the wind”

These are the first few lines of the chorus in one of my favorite church hymns.  I feel grounded and completely vulnerable when I sing this song.  Rightfully so.

Unfortunately, too many people  lose sight of what is truly important in life and dwell on their own fear, guilt and resentment.  But, Why?  What can we stand to benefit from focusing on these things?  Does filling our time with negativity, even if it is on a sub-conscious level bear fruit?

Yes, indeed we can and should learn from our mistakes.  Yes, we should seek to create a comfortable and safe environment for ourselves and loved ones.  Yes, we should learn to forgive and forget.  I agree that in order to achieve these things you sometimes experience fear, guilt and resentment; however, life is too short to allow these things to drive your actions and choices, therefore YOU!

When you stand on the beach, with your toes in the warm sand and look out at the vast ocean, how do you feel?  When you are sitting on a plane, as it takes off and you look out the window….the cars get smaller and smaller until they begin to resemble ants climbing on an ant hill, how does this make you feel?  These are the moments when I reflect on how small my problems truly are.

So, instead of dwelling on negativity we should seek to create positive circumstances for ourselves.  When you are behind on bills, don’t sell the recreational vehicle sitting in the garage or the antique which was passed down from your grandmother.  Create new income.  When you are in poor health, don’t resign to a life of illness.  Seek other means of remedy.  When you are just plain stuck in a rut, pull yourself out through self-improvement and development.  YOU are your own best asset, never forget this!

I understand that this is difficult for most people.  Sadly, we would rather hang on to this negativity as if it was a life raft.  Because for many people there is comfort and a false sense of safety in that which is familiar.

Recently, I had the privilege of seeing a man speak at a leadership seminar.  He is the founder of a successful MLM company in the current market.  He used the following analogy which resonated deeply within me.  I hope that you can also glean a new understanding of the human psyche from this as well.

“I have a 50 lb. chocolate labrador retriever who loves to play fetch.  So, I keep a big bucket of tennis balls on my back deck.  Last week I went out to play fetch with him.  I pulled one ball from the bucket and bounced it a couple of times on the deck….this got his attention.  His tail was wagging and he was ready to play!  I threw it out to the back yard, and he ran out to get it.  He picked it up and ran it back to me, dropping it at my feet.  I picked it up and threw it out again.  He ran, picked it up and brought it back.  But, this time after he dropped it, I picked it up and it was wet from his saliva.  I threw it out in the yard one more time.  This time it landed in the flower bed.  After rolling around in the dirt it was completely coated, and I was not about to touch this one again.  So, as he ran back up to the deck with the dirty ball in his mouth I drew another clean ball out from the bucket.  I bounced the new, clean ball a few times before throwing it out into the yard.  He took off running to retrieve the new ball.  However, when he got to the new ball he realized that he had a dilemma.  Of course he realized that he still had the dirty, slimy tennis ball in his mouth.  Unsure of what to do and not willing to give up the ball he already had, he laid down next to the new ball that was within reach”

For me, this story perfectly animates how we, as people approach a new situation.   I encourage you, if you have an opportunity presented to you, one which may positively impact your current circumstance, help you grow as a person or may just offer a new adventure in your life…..take it!  Let go of the life raft and get on board the rescue boat.  Leave the dirty tennis ball behind and pick up the new one.  Embrace life, because as the song goes:

“I am a flower quickly fading,

here today and gone tomorrow

a wave tossed in the ocean,

a vapor in the wind”

Who’s There?

- You

You Who?

- If you don’t know, then I certainly can’t tell you!

Yes, I did come up with that fantastically cheesy joke all by myself!  And, if you know me, you’ll appreciate that’s who I AM!  Hopefully at the very least it made you chuckle or put a smile on your face!

So, personal growth.  We hear the term all the time, and indeed we should.  But, what is it?, how do you achieve it?, and most importantly, is it worth your time?

Many of us have a different understanding or definition of what personal growth is.  I’m pretty lax in my definition: any activity, person or experience which assists you in growing as a person (self-awareness, self-knowledge, identity, identifying talents, potentials and dreams).  I surveyed my friends on Facebook, and the most comprehensive answer came from Derek Hansen:

“Personal Development is the action that is a result of a realization that life is not just happen-chance but a conscious decision. When one realizes that the life he lives is a result of his thoughts, habits and actions, he begins to work on the internal to achieve the external desired results. This is a conscious decision to work on the subconscious …”

I believe that we constantly are pursuing personal growth, even from a very early age.  Sometimes, especially as children, we don’t even realize it.  Consider a young pre-teen or teen, struggling to figure out who they are and where they fit in this world.  As adults though, I feel it is of the utmost importance to (as Derek would say) make a conscious decision to work on the subconscious.

Think back…when did you begin to “come into your own”?  What I mean by this is, at what time in your life did you truly begin to understand who you are, what you like, dislike, your drivers, your passions….when were you comfortable with who YOU are?  For some, that moment may not have come yet.  And, that’s OKAY!

Many external factors, which we often do not have control over, shape who we become.  I consider life a journey, a book if you will.  Each chapter being marked by a significant event or personal change.  By the end of my life, I hope to have a thousand chapters in my book and I pray that my book is a testimony to a life that was consistently being molded by positivity.

We may not always be in control of our circumstances, but we are all in charge of our attitudes 100% of the time.

Let’s do a quick gut check….

When was the last time you took responsibility for a failed project at work?  When was the last time that you laughed instead of cursed when you were stuck in traffic and running late?  When was the last time you retaliated with a smile against the person who upset you?  When was the last time something didn’t go the way you had expected or wished and instead of getting frustrated, you looked for the silver lining and made the best of what was offered?

Because we don’t control 100% of our circumstances, it is important to take the opportunity to create as many positive situations as possible.  It’s like preventive

health for your mind and soul.  There are many ways for us to develop ourselves, and guess what….it’s fun!  We have a choice to shape who we are.  I like to think that we can do and BE whatever we set our minds to.

A few great ways to do this:

• Surround yourself with positive people whom you wish to imitate
• Read positive books
• Listen to positive teachings and music
• Reflect on where you want to be and focus on positive goals

I’m sure that you have begun to see a pattern.  The pattern is this: what you put into your mind comes out through your actions.  Like your mother used to tell you, “you are what you eat”.  The same is true with what you put into your mind.  In fact more so.  I learned something interesting last week that I want to share with you and I would like you to consider.

I was at VideoPlus University and had the honor of hearing Darren Hardy speak.  Darren is the Publisher and Editorial Director of SUCCESS magazine and a leader in the realm of personal growth.  He is passionate about this subject and discussed something which I had not considered previously.  You will always hear people talk about the importance about blocking out negative in order to change your life for the positive.  In fact, it is the premise of many personal growth books; one classic example being, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Darren asked, “What is your brain’s primary function?”.  He went on to explain that the true primary function of our brain is to keep us alive, it is a “survival organ”.  This means that we are naturally wary of danger.  Our brain seeks any form of a threat, so that we may protect ourselves from it.

I thought to myself….this totally explains why I’m a newsaholic!  In today’s media driven society it is difficult to block out every negative influence.  With the world at our fingertips, on our mobile devices, in our cars, in our homes we have nearly instant access to negativity-on-demand!

This is why it is more important than ever to pour in the positive!  Each one of us are our own best tool, we need to stay sharp!  When we choose to develop who we are, we do indeed become our own best asset.

One of my greatest fears is the loss of personal freedoms.  The reason, is that personal freedom is at the root of all that is possible.  Without personal freedom you can not grow, you can not change.  Personal freedom means that we choose where we want to live, where we want to worship, what we say and most importantly what we make of ourselves.  This is why I will be forever indebted to our Founding Fathers, for having the foresight to place such emphasis on this, the basis of our Constitution.

Our forefathers took us from the monarchy of King George to freedom.  Others, thousands of miles away, in the name of freedom, took their people from the monarchy of the Czars to the shackles of Communism.   Even though we won the Cold War, because Communism could not withstand it’s own contradictions, there are people who are seeking to take us down the road of communism.  They are sacrificing our freedoms in the name of “social justice”.  This week France has just voted for socialism, even though they were on the road back to freedom.  It was a sad day for them, as it was for us on Sunday, March 20, 2010.

Perhaps today, freedom makes us hollow.  Perhaps, some have even lost site of it’s importance and take these freedoms from granted.  Many, are so naive and so arrogant as to think that our freedoms can not be taken away from us.  Even for those who still believe in them, they have been stripped down to a level of symbolism.  We are willing to abandon our freedoms for the sake of “security”.

Perhaps it is because we don’t understand that these freedoms are not just something that we may enjoy…it is something that we must be accountable to daily.  We may even need to prove ourselves worthy at times, through participation. Even when it is not comfortable for us to do so, even it forces us to take the unbeaten path, even it forces us to go into the unknown.

Be bold.  Go with tremendous knowledge.  Arm yourself with the know-how that it takes to discuss intelligently your beliefs with others.    Go with tremendous conviction.  These qualities will pour out of you, allow others to be touched by your passions.

So, even though it may be presumptuous for me to ask you to do so, because after all, who am I?  What have I done?  What have I accomplished?  Nothing really.  But, in order to be true to myself, I need to step out of my own comfort zone, take the risk of being misunderstood and dare to speak out in truth.