Break free from the past. Do not let anything weigh you down. Instead, start each day anew.  
​
Be light on your feet.  Be carefree like a child.  Be happy.

We have been given the gift of time that marches ever forward towards a new day.  So rejoice in each sunrise, and make the most of every day. Go forth with an open heart, an open mind, and a renewed sense of hope for a better future.

We live in dynamic world. Things are changing around us at all times. Nothing remains the same forever, except almighty God.

In order to maintain some sense of control in our lives, we tend to like things that are constant and predictable. We find feelings of safety in patterns and routines. We like to talk about “averages” and “the norms” in life. It brings us comfort knowing what to expect in the near future.

But just as the world we live in is always changing, so are our individual lives. Almost everything about our lives is variable. For instance:

The amount of sleep we get on any given night
The amount of food we eat in a given day
The amount of physical activity in given day
The amount of money we earn in a given year
How we use our time in a given period
The number and size of goals we may accomplish in a given year
...And the list goes on and on.

Instead of focusing on the norms in life, take time to appreciate the variability that surrounds us in all aspects. Variability brings highs and lows, some of which are much more rare and extreme than the averages that we grow accustom to. Such extreme events are often called “black swans” because they are so rare. But it is in these extreme events that some truly miraculous things can happen. They may not happen often, but when they do, they are a force to be reckoned with.

So embrace the dynamic nature of life and the world in which we live. Celebrate the extreme events, and make the most of them. Know that change is good, and change is what keeps us forever young in the journey of life.

A "failure" is nothing more than a different outcome than what you or someone else was expecting. The outcome is not necessarily right or wrong, but simply different. In the big picture of life, any given outcome at any given moment is rather trivial if you really think about it.

If you have your priorities straight, you can move past whatever momentary failures you encounter. In fact, a "failure" can actually be a positive experience as long as you learn from it and use the knowledge gained to improve your life moving forward. Even better, use what you have learned to help others improve their lives.

Reconsider how you judge yourself and those around you for not meeting arbitrary expectations. Keep in mind that alternate outcomes may in fact be blessings in disguise. Be determined to turn so called "failures" into long term success stories.

I recently wrote about the virtues of a well traveled life. However, I wanted to expand upon the subject of destinations. Travel does not always have to involve some place far away. Local travel counts too...a bike ride to a local park, a day trip to the next county over, or a weekend getaway to a local city or campground. Such short jaunts can all prove to be therapeutic and make many great memories.

If at all possible, walk or ride your bike to your local destination, or when arriving at your destination. If you know me, you know that I frequently proclaim the virtues of daily exercise, and especially walking. Humans are built to move. We have muscles, joints, and tendons that need to be used on a regular basis to maintain system integrity. Movement brings us physical wellness, and can definitely contribute to our mental wellness.

A wonderful aspect of local travel is that it can be ultra simple. You don't need to worry about packing too much or too little, planning every detail, spending a bunch of money, etc. Instead, you can generally be care free about it.

So if you are not the away-from-home traveling kind, you don't want to spend a lot of money, or if the period in your life is not right for a far away trip, no worries. Local travel is an enjoyable and worthy alternative to more distant or exotic destinations. There are many places nearby to explore and enjoy.

A note on weather: No matter if the weather forecast calls for a chance of rain, or if the temperature may be above or below your normal comfort zone, get moving outside anyway. Spending a little time outdoors each day is good for the soul regardless of the weather. Keep things simple, get outside, and get going. You will be happier for it.

Remember when you were a child and your imagination would come alive when dreaming about some mystical, far away place you had never been? As an adult, do you recall how anticipation builds before embarking on a trip to a new location? No matter our age, travel can have a profound influence on the quality of our lives.

Just the mere act of thinking about, imagining, or planning some kind of trip can bring much happiness. During the trip, our cares and troubles fade away, as new experiences inundate our senses. Feelings of elation and relaxation soon set in. The journey transforms our state of mind for the better. And as an added bonus, we will forever have the memories to reflect upon long after the trip is over.

A life well travelled can definitely be an important component in a life well lived. Regardless of your age or condition, give yourself the freedom to dream about travel. Where do you want to go, and what do you want to see? What locations fill your mind with thoughts of joy and wonder?

Create a "To See" list. Start planning and start traveling. If you cannot physically get to a certain place right away, visit it via your imagination with maps, books, videos, and the like.

As I have written about before, atmospheres are powerful. So use travel to enrich your life by finding ones that you enjoy. Set upon new journeys, and embrace the magic of places and spaces.

Sometimes things grab you in life, and sometimes you grab them. Either way, you choose your own reality by deciding what you focus on.

In any given set of circumstances, a myriad of different realities exist in parallel. Which reality will you choose?

• Will you choose to focus on happiness or despair?
• Will you choose to spend time with people who inspire you, or people that bring you down?
• Will you choose to let go and be free, or be trapped by your past?
• Will you choose to take positive action, or be frustrated and mad?
• Will you choose inner peace, or feeling overwhelmed?
• Will you choose to find the seed of greater opportunity in an unfortunate situation, or will let yourself drown in negativity?

Cultivate a constant awareness of your state of mind. Always be on guard against the negative. Stand ready to focus on the positive.

Remember, a positive parallel reality exists in every situation, and you get to choose which reality is yours.

Whether positive or negative, we are heavily influenced by our immediate surroundings. We are complex, dynamic creatures that often mirror actions, thoughts, and emotions. Have you ever noticed how you behave around a certain group of people, and then behave differently around another group just minutes later? Have you ever noticed how you feel inspired in certain situations, but saddened in others? Have you ever had a specific smell or certain song evoke a strong emotion?

Our senses are continuously sending signals to our brain to process. What we see, touch, hear, taste, and smell have a direct affect on how we think and feel. Especially influential are the people that surround and interact with us. Our neural pathways are constantly firing to transmit data and adjust our state of being accordingly. Sometimes we are conscious of these changes to our state of being, while at other times the changes go unnoticed. Though be sure, changes are always taking place.

By grace, we have been endowed with logic and intuition. If we harness these powers, we can become more aware of how a certain atmosphere is influencing us. And if we have awareness, we can be proactive in either embracing the atmosphere if it is positive, or guarding against the atmosphere if it is negative.

We have many choices in life, and the atmospheres that we choose to inhabit will be some of the most important choices we make. They will affect our health, happiness, and overall well being. Hence, maintain constant awareness of your immediate surroundings, and especially the people therein. Empower yourself to make changes as needed to be your best self. Choose to reside in your optimal personal atmosphere (YOPA).

We are born with an innate desire to be happy and content. We all have a happy medium deep down inside. Even when we go through bouts of strife, anger, and pessimism in life, our bodies naturally nudge us back in a direction of contentment.

We continually seek out happiness and contentment in our daily lives whether we recognize it or not. Our subconscious mind is always working in the background. Even curmudgeons who appear to be miserable to everyone else, are seeking out happiness and contentment in their own unique ways.

Obviously, some make the process of finding daily happiness and contentment harder than it needs to be. Following are some suggestions to make it easier.

• Make your health a priority. A healthy mind and body is "step one" that cannot be skipped.
• Recognize that sometimes happiness and contentment are decisions of your will. You must simply decide that this will be your state of mind no matter what the world throws at you. Attitude is everything.
• Forgive yourself and others. Start anew. Read my previous blog post on the power of forgiveness entitled FORGIVE[N].
• Be grateful...for everything.
• Find something to look forward to each and every day. The morning of, or even better the night before, think about something positive that you are going to do that day. The practice of visualizing, anticipating, executing, and reflecting is powerful.
• Find joy in the little things. No matter how seemingly trivial, identify something that will bring you even the smallest amount of joy such as the smell of coffee, the warmth of sunshine, or the comforting words of a favorite book.
• Live a simple life. Step back from the overwhelming complexities, and leave the details to God. Realize that it is perfectly fine to just be yourself.
• Recognize that you, and only you, are responsible for your life...your health, your happiness, your outcomes. When you stop blaming others and realize that you hold the power of happiness within, life suddenly gets easier.
• Develop a relationship with God and work on your faith. With time comes greater understanding and inner peace.
• As a general rule, if something does not make you happy, do not do it very long. Temporary struggles do not have to become permanent realities.

Move in a direction that gives you ever increasing personal freedom...

The freedom to be
The freedom to think
The freedom to aspire
The freedom to act
The freedom to become
The freedom to do what you want, when you want, where you want, and with who you want

Indulgence in such freedom must be balanced with personal obligations, service to others, and the needs of society. However, be encouraged that one can indeed enjoy a large degree of freedom while still being a responsible and helpful person.

Much to the surprise of the masses, ever increasing personal freedom is a product of repeated introspection and personal discipline. As one grows in wisdom, one learns that rules in life are important. The right rules followed with discipline can in fact be extremely liberating.

Accordingly, evaluate the degree of personal freedom in your own life. Then move forward with discipline and confidence in a direction that gives you more. You will find a wellspring of happiness and inspiration along the way.

Successful people learn how to peacefully endure adverse conditions. This ability is a conditioned state of mind that must be practiced and acquired over time. One must learn to accept and be at peace with failure, criticism, rejection, and imperfection. Patient endurance brings wisdom, strength of mind, and strength of spirit.

Learn to recognize the array of feelings associated with adversarial conditions and conquer them with rational thinking. First and foremost, adverse conditions are temporary in nature. Objectively step back, observe, and see adversarial situations for what they are; simply temporary conditions that will not continue forever. They are like storm clouds in the sky. Winds may blow, thunder may roar, and lightning may strike, but eventually sunshine will appear after the storm blows through.

Second, such conditions are not nearly as influential on your overall life as you may momentarily think. If not controlled, our minds tend to ruminate and make much more of a situation than what the situation truly deserves. In the grand scheme of life, chances are whatever you are enduring now will be insignificant in the future. You will live to see another day and be stronger for it.

Third, such obstacles are necessary stepping stones in your quest for growth and success. There is not one single successful person in history who has been fortunate enough to avoid obstacles and adversaries. Even Jesus Christ had to endure enemies, naysayers, and tough conditions during his time on earth. So do not be surprised by adversarial situations in your life. Come to view each one as a learning experience that will make you a better person moving forward.

In summary, learning to find inner peace during challenging times is the hallmark of true leader, and a secret to long term success. Extinguishing negative thoughts and emotions is a skill that must be honed deliberately over time. Never give up, and remember that true peace lies within each of us. It is up to us to seek it out, remember how to return to it, and rejoice in it each and every time we do.

Traveling should be a good experience. Yes, there are various inconveniences that come along with traveling, but in general you can make traveling a happy experience if you so desire. Following are some tips to make your journey more enjoyable....

1. Travel light. This is the first and foremost rule so that you are not lugging around extra luggage and weight. For a practical strategy on packing lighter, see my separate article on this.
2. Dress comfortably. Wear what makes you comfortable and confident. Good shoes are paramount. (Note: the first two rules can be compared to taking a walk in the park. Would you rather wear comfy clothes and shoes while simply walking your dog, or wear a suit and dress shoes while pulling a fifty pound wagon and carrying a thirty pound back pack? You see my point.)
3. Plan out your trip in advance. A few minutes of basic planning pays off by making your trip less stressful. Look at a map, gather your tickets and hotel information, etc.
4. Avoid the rush, and leave in plenty of time. Arrive early at the airport early, leisurely stroll through baggage check and security, use the restroom, and chill at the gate. When you arrive early, you will be happier and more relaxed in general. Wether you choose to entertain yourself or get a little work done before you board is up to you. Same goes for driving to your destination.
5. Pack a snack. Having tasty food within reach is a basic human comfort.
6. Take a water bottle and stay hydrated. If flying, it will need to be empty before going through security, but then you can fill it afterwards. Most airports now have water bottle filling stations with filtered water.
7. Take stuff to entertain yourself. For me this is books, magazines, and my journal. For my wife it is books and movies on her tablet.
8. Listen to music that you like. It is as simple as plugging earphones into your smart phone or tablet now a days.
9. Reward yourself along the journey by doing something fun or buying something you've been wanting. For instance, when driving somewhere and arriving early, seek out that museum you've been wanting to go to. Or when flying, do a little shopping at the airport or a local specialty store.
10. Travel with people you enjoy spending time with. A good companion or fun group can make your trip a memorable adventure.

Remember that great experiences are more valuable than material things when it comes to human happiness. So turn your journeys into happy events that will enrich your life.

I must admit, I used to be the guy at the airport checking a large suitcase crammed full, while also lugging around a back pack and/or a heavy computer bag every where I went. All for a short business trip or weekend get-a-way. I spent hours packing and unpacking. I felt like I was traveling around with boat anchors tied to my ankles. As a result, travel was a strenuous and stressful event.

I have since learned from the errors of my ways, and now I take great pride in being a light, yet practical packer. I now travel light, happy, and free. Here is how to do it....

1. Use the smallest suitcase possible for your clothes and shoes
2. Take much, much less by packing smart
3. Take a single small backpack or other small bag for your electronics and other accessories

Now let's break this down and get into the details....

1. Use the smallest suitcase possible for your clothes and shoes

• Get an under-the-seat carry-on suitcase or the smallest carry-on suitcase you can find otherwise. This will force you to be creative when packing and take less stuff. It also makes maneuvering in and around during the trip much easier. The majority of my trips - business, leisure or otherwise - are made using the tiniest of carry-on suitcases.
• If a mini carry-on suitcase will not do it for a longer trip, use a normal size carry-on or a small suitcase meant to be checked.
• A mini carry-on suitcase is easier to actually carry-on and stow away. It gives you the option of putting it under your seat, or above in the overhead cargo bin. If you choose to store it in the overhead cargo bin, the mini-sized suitcase fits much better and is lighter to lift.
• Even if you plan to check your luggage at the airport, use a carry-on anyway if at all possible.
• When choosing a small suitcase, find a truly lightweight piece of luggage. There are weight differences between similar sized pieces of luggage. But trust me...lighter is better.

2. Take much, much less by packing smart

• Make a list of what you think you need. This will help you bring focus to necessities and reduce the stress of possibly forgetting something. Keep this list and refine it over time. I keep a generic packing list that I refer to everytime I pack for a trip. This makes the packing process straightforward, fast, and reliable.
• Realize that you probably will need only about half or even a quarter of what you think you will need, especially when it comes to clothes and shoes. So lay out what you think you should take, then remove as much as possible. Make it a game to see how little you can actually take. Over time, you will learn to get by with less and less.
• If it makes you feel better, you can always do laundry or use a cleaning service at your destination if you need to. Most hotels, resorts, houses, villas, and other destinations have guest laundry in some form or fashion.
• Also know that if really need or forget something, you can always buy it when you get there. Chances are the majority of your trips will be to destinations with shopping opportunities.
• Travel in a versatile pair of shoes that you can wear throughout your trip no matter what the occasion. Then pack a single additional pair only if necessary. For instance, when traveling for a short business trip, I travel in a comfortable pair of dress/casual shoes that can go with slacks or jeans. I then pack my running shoes for exercising or any casual excursions. For a vacation trip, I usually wear my running shoes, and pack a single pair of flip flops. A word of caution: shoes add weight and take up a lot of room so you must use self-control here.
• Pack versatile clothing like pants that you can wear with either a dress shirt or casual shirt, etc. I have found the more casual you can dress, the lighter you can pack and the more comfortable you will be during your journey. Focus on a single outfit for each day and accent as needed to fit the occasion. Avoid packing multiple outfits for each day at all costs.
• Minimize the size of your toiletry bag. Use the smallest one possible or even a quart sized plastic bag. Buy travel sized containers like toothpaste, a toothbrush, shaving cream, deodorant, etc. Do not take normal-sized anything if at all possible.
• Maximize space in your suitcase by packing a toiletry bag and shoes towards the bottom, and clothes throughout the rest of the area. By having the heavier items towards the bottom of the suitcase, it will not tip over as much when standing upright.
• Roll-up all of your clothes, from your pants and shirts to even small items like your undies. You will fit more in your suitcase and minimize wrinkling of clothes. I find it easiest to roll pants by folding in half (one leg over the other) and then rolling from the bottom up. For dress shirts, I lay them flat on the bed and fold the sleeves over the chest (like crossing your arms), then roll from the bottom. Once the shirt is rolled up, I sometimes then fold the roll in half so it fits better in the suitcase.
• Pack socks and other small items in the various nooks and crannies between your clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.

3. Take a single small backpack or other small bag for your electronics and other accessories

• Get yourself the smallest, most comfortable bag you can find for your electronics and accessories. You will carry this bag for the virtual duration of your trip, so keep it small and light. I personally find a small "day pack" back pack the most versatile and comfortable to travel with.
• Take only the absolute essentials for this particular trip...no need to take the charger for your laptop when you will only be using your iPad this trip. You get the concept.
• If you have a large traditional laptop computer, consider leaving it behind or buying a much smaller tablet computer. The day I switched from a traditional laptop to a smaller tablet computer, my business travel became a much more compact, lighter, and pleasurable experience.
• Upon arrival at your destination, you can unpack this bag as you see fit to free up space for your excursions.

​If you implement the three packing tips above, you are on your way to a much more enjoyable trip. Remember, happiness can be found not only at your destination, but along your journey.

"If you could put anything on a billboard, what would it be?" Tim Ferris often asks his guests some form of this question in his popular podcast. Tim's questioning of others has caused me to question myself. After much thought, my billboard would read...

FORGIVE[N]

...In big, bold letters against a simple back ground.

Why? Because forgiveness is truly powerful and transformational. When we forgive someone or some thing, we set ourselves free from anger and despair. We stop sabotaging ourselves internally, and we find peace. With a foundation of internal peace, we can then build ever increasing amounts of love and happiness into our lives.

To receive forgiveness from someone else is a gift that evokes great emotions. We are human and will therefore wrong others from time to time, whether intentional or unintentional. When we are forgiven by the other person, we again are set free emotionally, and often feel a great sense of relief from the internal chains of guilt and remorse. We are often overcome with strong feelings of thankfulness. Even more powerful than receiving forgiveness from another human being is asking for, and receiving, the grace of forgiveness from God.

If we want to live our lives to the fullest with the greatest degrees of peace, love, and happiness, we must learn to harness the power of forgiveness. Forgive others with humility and kindness, and freely accept the gift of forgiveness from others and from God. Simply forgive and be forgiven.

You are the captain of your own ship of life. You steer your life in ways that ultimately lead to a certain destination. A slight left turn here, a big right turn there, easy on the throttle now, then hard on the throttle at the right time...all of these maneuvers help you reach a given destination at a given time in life.

None of us has a magic wand that enables us to have everything we desire right here and now. However, we all have will power that can be harnessed and put to work along with dreams, visions, and goals. With sustained persistence, a clear vision, a positive attitude, we can eventually have the majority of what we want in life. Not absolutely everything, mind you, but certainly our fair share of health, happiness, and prosperity.

So learn to weather the temporary rough seas in life, and know that they are a nothing but a natural part of steering your ship to your desired destination. Have a clear vision of where you are going, be persistent, and remain positive and on course. Remember, you are The Captain.

One's life can be likened to an atom. An atom has a center, or nucleus, containing neutral and positively charged particles. Orbiting around the nucleus are electrons that are negatively charged. The electrons naturally balance the particles of the nucleus to make up a unique atom.

At the center of each of our unique lives is our inner self, our sole, our personal identity, our being, our center of consciousness. Surrounding our inner selves are the external facets of life such as our bodies, our actions and deeds, our work and vocations, our family and personal relationships, and so on. These facets of life are like electrons to an atom, and need to work in a way that bring harmony, peace, and balance.

The intuition of our soles guides us to know if the external facets of life are indeed properly balanced. We can feel if things are going right or going wrong in our lives. But, it is up to us to take charge (pun intended) and create the proper balance.

So evaluate the many facets of your life, heed your intuition, and make the necessary changes that will bring peace to your inner soul. You have a innate right to feel balanced, happy, and in control of your life. You need make "you" feel like the "real you" inside.

It has taken me 41 plus years to begin to fathom the concept of being at peace with a present situation even though it may not up to my ideals. I feel like I am finally starting to wrap my head around this important concept, with the key word being "starting"!

It is important to self esteem, success, and achievement to develop and hold yourself accountable to lofty ideals. Goals and high standards are important, especially since they drive you to be an ever better person.

However, life will not always be in perfect sync with your personal ideals. It is a fact of life. Sometimes life is messy, disfunctional, and generally chaotic. Such imperfect episodes of life are only temporary, and will eventually subside to a more peaceful and idealistic state. We must simply acknowledge the present and let it be. Be at peace with the natural state of "the here and now", without giving up hope and eagerness towards a more idealistic future.

During periods of personal strife, it is important to stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Take time to look around and acknowledge the little things in life that are going right. These "little things" can bring joy and contentment. Give thanks to God for what you do have, and bask in the divine providence that you have been blessed with. Celebrate that you have made it this far in life, and have gained the knowledge to know that things are not necessarily always perfect. Rejoice that you have hope for a better future and a burning inner desire to charge down the road of continual improvement.

Why do I write? First, because I want to help others. If I have benefitted from learning, experiencing, or doing something, I want to pass along that knowledge in hopes it may benefit someone else. I frequently pass along helpful hints verbally, but I can reach out to even more people by writing and sharing it.

Secondly, I want to leave a written legacy. When I am long gone from this earth, my writings may endure and benefit those in the future who I may not ever know. But by reading my musings, they may come to know me and hopefully be better for it. Maybe, or maybe not, but it is worth a shot.

And the icing on the cake is that writing comes natural for me, and it brings me much happiness. So with that, it's time to pick up my pen (or keyboard) again and get back to it.