Sometimes people get angry when you try to help them. They may fight you and refuse your help. Sometimes, they will do the opposite of what you suggest out of spite. Do not take such responses from others personally. It is simply their human ego trying to stay "in control".

Yes, we humans sometimes try to convince ourselves that what we are doing is right, when deep down inside we know it is really wrong. We then attempt to prove to others that we know what is best, that we are strong, and that we do not need help. But if we are lucky, a good friend will kindly and persistently point out the truth to us and help us get back on the right track.

So be that friend to others. Be kind and persistent, even in the face of anger. Most importantly though, be ever so cognizant that a friend may be trying to help you.

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.

Learn to see and accept things for what they truly are. Focus on the facts. Take the emotion out of things.

A situation is what it is. If you want to more quickly overcome it in a positive manner, you first have to be objective. By objective, it is meant you must remove your feelings and opinions. You have to come to peace with the simple facts.

As you get better at this, you will start seeing possible solutions that you never did before. You will learn to be happy and centered no matter what the situation at hand. Your current situation is just one of billions of situations that occur in the world each day. The world will not stop turning just because it is a situation that momentarily affects you. Life will go on, someway, somehow.

Those who master objectivity come to view situations from afar, and in no way fear the situations or the facts. Such masters have an aura of peace around them. Others can often sense this peace and their calming presence.

1. Accept the facts and do not fear them
2. Detach emotionally to the greatest extent possible
3. Determine if it is in your best interest to take positive action, or just let it be
4. Do not let a situation overtake your life. Be happy no matter what. Choose your parallel reality (read more from my previous post on this subject by clicking the highlighted link).

The formula for enjoying much success and happiness in life...help other people! Yes, it is that simple. No matter what your situation or position in life, you can improve it by just helping other people. The more the better, but all it takes to start is one.

Make it your mission to serve other people...your family, your coworkers, your customers, your constituents, your team, and the list goes on. It will benefit both you and them in the long run. No doubt, there will be times when your good deeds will be misjudged and refuted, but carry on. Over time, good intentions will consistently triumph over ill will.

Combine a positive attitude of sincere service with persistence, and success will surely be found.

The power of words...

Words are indeed very powerful. Words can...
Uplift
Support
Hurt
Convey
Reinforce
....and the list goes on and on

Your word choices reinforce your thoughts, whether the words are true or false, positive or negative. Your thoughts directly influence your emotions and behaviors. Hence, the words you choose to speak, write, hear, and read will most definitely impact your life.

So why use debilitating words or allow them into your life? Instead, choose to speak, write, hear, and read only positive words that uplift yourself and others.

You have the power to choose the words you use. And you also have the power to choose the words you allow into your head. Be very selective, and choose your words wisely.

Humans are truly special beings. We have the awesome ability to create all kinds of things. We can think of something, envision it, plan it, and take action. With repeated effort, the figment of our imagination comes to be.

And to top it off, we are simply born with this creative ability. We did not have to work for it. We did not have to buy it. We did not have to get a degree in order to use it. Instead, our creativity is a God-given, innate ability harboring inside all of us.

No matter what it is you want to create in life, there are four general steps in the process (TEPA):

1. Think
2. Envision
3. Plan
4. Act

The first step is to take time to think about something. Everything begins with a thought, so we must therefore hold our thoughts sacred. Take time to nourish your thoughts and capture them before they move on.

The second step is to envision your thoughts. Develop a clear picture in your mind what your desired outcome looks like. Even go beyond and imagine what it feels like, smells like, tastes like, etc. The more detail you can add to your vision, the better.

The third step is to develop a plan of action. Start talking about it, writing about it, drawing it, conceptualizing it, etc. Personally, the process of manually putting ink to paper is the most useful for me. Holding an ink pen in my hand, drawing, outlining, and writing is when my visions begin to magically come to life. Once they are on paper, I know in my heart they are achievable with the proper action and persistence.

The fourth step is sometimes the hardest, but it is absolutely fundamental to making your thoughts become a reality. You must take action! Yes, you must take persistent, positive action according to your plan.

If you consistently repeat these four steps, you will create an abundant and exciting life for yourself. You will undoubtedly encounter obstacles along the way, but unwavering persistence will eventually cause the flowers of creativity to bloom into being. It is your gift to create what flowers you desire in your life.

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.

I often get asked by people, "What should I wear?" Unless the event host has explicitly stated a dress code, my steadfast rule is to always wear what makes you comfortable. Each occasion may call for a different set of clothes, but follow your instincts as to what will make you feel most comfortable in the particular setting.

However, my second and most important rule is to wear what makes you feel confident. If you feel both comfortable and confident in what you are wearing, you will be more outgoing and make the most out of an occasion. Everyone aspires to a certain self image, and your outfit needs to fit that image. Otherwise, you will not "show up" to an event like you should.

If you are wavering back and forth on what to wear, dress one level up from what you are thinking. This guideline has served me well over the years in most every occasion. Personally, I would rather be slightly over dressed than under dressed. If I arrive and feel over dressed, it is easy to remove a tie, take off a coat, unstuck a shirt, etc. if I need to.

Clothes do not make a person by any means. Though, right or wrong, people are judgmental creatures and they often "judge a book by its cover". This goes for judging others and ourselves. So the best approach is to dress comfortably and confidently, while letting your genuine personality shine through.

It is imperative that you make time to think. Yes...be deliberate, and set aside quiet time periods on a regular basis so you can simply think. Good thinking is key for improving your life and being your best self.

Making time to think leads to good thoughts. Good thoughts lead to positive actions. Positive actions lead to a great life!

When conducting a thinking session, there are no rules per se. You can focus on a specific topic, or think about anything and everything that comes to mind. Some sessions may be just a few minutes, while other sessions may be hours on end. You may find time to think while driving, sitting on your back porch, walking at the beach, while having your morning coffee, or just about anytime and anywhere you can find peace and inspiration. Each session will be different, but developing the habit of thinking is crucial.

Think about what is going good in your life. Think about what is going bad. Think about who/what you want to be, where you want to go, and how you would like to get there. Dream of the future. Reflect back and learn from the past. Be present in the moment. But foremost, know that you have the innate ability to think and therefore create your own unique life experience.

I find it useful to have a pen and paper with me during my thinking sessions. I write sentences, I jot down a few words, I make diagrams, I underline, I use exclamation points, and I capture whatever else flows out of me via ink. Other times, I capture my thoughts by typing on my iPad or computer. Sometimes though, I deliberately do not capture my thoughts, and instead let them float in and out freely. I find that the best ideas stick with me for a bit, which I can then write down at a later time. What can you do to make your thinking sessions a productive and enjoyable event?

To summarize...all great things begin with a thought, so you have to get your thinking right first. Develop the habit of quiet contemplation and use it as a foundation for ever improving your life.

"Never stop moving!" A true motto for living life to the fullest. Keep moving...

• For physical fitness
• For mental wellbeing
• For spiritual growth
• For longevity
• For happiness
• To serve others
• To improve, to do, and to be more
• To learn
• For just about everything in life...

Sometimes you must push forwards. Sometimes you must move backwards or sideways. Sometimes over or under. But always be steadily moving towards your long term goals, a better future, and a better you. For yourself, and for the sake of others, never stop moving!