~ 20 SECRETS FOR LIVING AN OPTIMUM LIFE ~

I think most people would agree that we live in a time of lightning speed
changes. And with all of the economic uncertainty and the troubling social
and political times we are facing in the world , things can feel pretty darn
scary.

Let me share with you the 20 secrets for living an optimum life:

1. Strive to always remain optimistic - look on the brighter side of
things

2. Respect and treat others the way you would like to be Respected and
treated. Be caring, considerate and empathic to others

3. No matter what, make your health care a top priority. Always nourish
your emotional, physical and spiritual well-being

4. Value education, not only formal education but informal as well. Read
lots, be a good listener and attain knowledge

5. Each day, make time for prayer and forever seek God's guidance. Take
nothing for granted and maintain a grateful heart.

6. Pay homage to your ancestors and remember to respect elders. Also,
never get too busy to spend time with the elders in your life.

7. Constantly discover ways for self-improvement. Exercise
self-discipline, determination and appropriateness.

8. Be a visionary - live your dreams. Choose Faith over Fear

9. Avoid toxic and negative people. Surround yourself with people who are
hopeful, positive and possess a renewing spirit.

10. Maintain a "light-heart," for laughter is good for the soul and humor
is healing

11. Respect Mother Earth and do your part to preserve her beauty

12. Be charitable - share your time, wisdom and material possessions with
those who are in need. Take time to give back to your community

13. Employ integrity, courage, atonement and love throughout your entire
life. Remember to seek an understanding

14. Explore your creativity - sing, paint, sew, draw, dance, compose,
design etc., etc.

15. Be humble and be careful not to demonstrated arrogance and false pride

16. Don't allow anyone to take the "J" from your Joy

17. Seek the wisdom of others and keep an open mind and heart

18. Balance the use of technology in your life - take time out from all of
the electronic gadgetry

19. Find ways to help others in their quest for freedom, justice and
equality

20. Lastly, always give your Mom and Dad the respect they deserve.
Constantly show and express your love to them. Never forget that you
were created through love. Make every effort to establish and maintain a
healthy and nurturing relationship with them.

THE SEVEN DEADLY ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS ~

THE SEVEN DEADLY ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS by Chris Widener When traveling down the road it is always good to beware of roadblocks! You don't want to crash and burn do you? The same is true in our journey toward success. We need to beware of those things that will keep us from our destination! What are the most common? Here they are: 1. Fear. Fear is one of the worst enemies of success. When fear wraps its tentacles around you and keeps you in bondage, you will never be able to reach for your dreams. We must confront our fears, see them for what they are, toss them to the side, and pursue our dreams with relentless passion. Conquering fear and stepping forward to reach new lands and new ideas is what makes success possible. What are you afraid of today? What fear must you conquer to be able to achieve your dream? When you realize what it is, take an action that is diametrically opposed to that which you fear. This will confront and conquer the fear by giving you the first step in the right direction. 2. Lethargy. Quite frankly, what keeps most people from success is that they simply don't have the energy, or make the energy, to do what it takes to move to the next level. They get to a point that is comfortable and then they settle in for a nice, life-long nap! Don't get lethargic; get going! Force yourself to wake up from the slumber and move! 3. Lack of perseverance. Often times the race is lost because the race is not finished. Success is often just around the sharpest corner or the steepest hill. Persevere. Keep going. One more hill. One more corner! In real estate they say the three most important things are "location, location, location." In success the three most important things are "perseverance, perseverance, perseverance." 4. Pessimism. The saying is that you can achieve what you believe. Ask yourself what kinds of beliefs you hold. Are you an optimist or a pessimist? If you don't believe that you can achieve than you won't. Your pessimism will prove yourself right every time. You will find that you subconsciously undermine yourself. Develop your optimism. Look for ways to believe that you can achieve success. 5. Not taking responsibility. I am the chaplain for the local police department. The other day I went with an officer as he took two prisoners to court. Time after time the prisoners made excuses as to why they hadn't yet done what the judge had ordered (she didn't buy it, by the way). After dropping the prisoners off, I said to the officer that unsuccessful people and prisoners have the same bad habit - they won't accept responsibility for their lives. You are responsible. When you accept that, you are on the road to success. 6. Picking the wrong people to hang out with. We can easily become products of our environment. This is why it is essential to hang around people who will spur you on not hold you back! What about the people you have surrounded yourself with? Are they quality people who will encourage you and strengthen you in your quest for success? If not, move on! 7. No vision. Those who succeed always see their success months and years before they live it. They have the ability to look ahead, see the future, imagine the good that can and will come from their lives, families and work. To not have vision is a tremendous roadblock. Sit down and work on seeing the future - and  make it good!

 

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