R
ECHARGE
WITH ROSIE | 7-WEEK MOTIVATIONAL
By Fitness and Training Expert
Rosie Chee, BExSpSc
SMASHWORDS EDITION
* * * * * * *
PUBLISHED BY
Yung Wah Publications on Smashwords
Recharge with Rosie | 7-Week Motivational
Original Works [Written for WPM Women] Copyright © 2011 by Rosie Chee [Scott]
Smashwords Edition Copyright © 2011 by Rosie Chee
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Cover Design by Rosie Chee
Cover Image by Dan Ray
Author Image by Dan Ray
Formatted for Smashwords by Rosie Chee
Author’s Note
I just want to say thank you to all those who have been kind enough to write me and let me know that I inspire and motivate them. It’s because of you (some in particular) that I decided to put together this Motivational.
I was initially going to do a 3-Week Motivational because it takes three weeks to change and create new habits. However, regardless of how long it takes to change and create new habits, any time you start working on something new or get back into something you might have had a break from, despite your fervent passion when you begin, you can sometimes find it hard, falter, and be tempted to give in or let it go.
However, instead of a 3-Week Motivational, I have done a 7-Week Motivational. The number seven is significant in many ways throughout history re scripture, concepts, symbols, places, religion, etc. For example, God took seven days to create the world; there are seven days of the week; seven is often used to symbolize control. Personally, seven is a number that appears in my life in many ways, with circumstances and important events usually involving a degree of “seven”. Not only that, seven is the number associated with “perfection” - none of us will ever be perfect, but that does not mean that we cannot strive for it!
There is a new motivational for you to read on a daily basis over the next 49 days, to help keep your motivation levels high and inspire you onto great things! God Bless you as you start your journey. I wish you nothing but the best and success in your endeavours! Remember that fitness is not a “quick fix” but a lifestyle!
Thank you for your continued support and feedback. I hope to be able to continue to motivate and inspire you on your personal fitness journeys and throughout your life. After all, we cannot do it alone, and this is my way of “giving back” after having been blessed with all that I have. Here’s to the future and the pursuit of your dreams. May you never give up and always keep striding forward, reaching new heights and finding success wherever your path may take you! God has great things in store for us all! So keep the faith, believe in yourself, and remember that dreams do come true!
RECHARGE WITH ROSIE | 7-WEEK MOTIVATIONAL
Day 1 | Be Who You Were Meant To Be
Every experience we have becomes part of who we are, but how we choose to let those experiences affect us is our choice. The past is gone. Learn from it and move on. Although it may have helped shape us into the person that we are today, we are not what we were then and never will be again.
There is no point in living in a day already long gone, so quit putting yourself in a little box by trying to live consistently with your past and explaining every little action you take. Be you. Fully! In this moment. Independent of what others may or may not expect from you.
If you're not who you want to be, do something about it! Change. Become who you want to be and don't let anyone try and make you into something else! Your life is your own. Live it how you want to!
Quote for Reflection: “I'm in charge of my life. If there is an aspect of it that I am not happy with, I know that's up to me to take action.” - Summer Taylor
Day 2 | Are you a Dreamer or a Visionary?
A dreamer dreams, but that it all they do. They are content to simply dream and never act on them, afraid that if they pursue that dream they might lose what they already have, that things will change, but mostly because they either do not believe in themselves or they fear failure.
On the other hand, a visionary dreams, but they also act and do all they can to turn those dreams into a reality. They have a vision of the future and they are not content to just dream about it. They set goals and plan a journey towards the realization of their dreams, knowing that a dream is only the beginning of things, willing to take the risk and follow that dream wherever it may take them.
It’s good to have dreams. It’s even better to have dreams and pursue them!
Quote for Reflection: “Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.” - Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Day 3 | MAKE Life Happen!
Life doesn't go slow and if you're not careful, time will pass you by before you even know it. Therefore make the most of every day, take every chance and opportunity you are given, try and make a difference, risk whatever you are willing to make your life an experience you will never forget!
Not every opportunity we want we are going to be given in life, and sometimes if we want something, we have to create that opportunity ourselves! Those who know what they want take the risk and go after it, making it happen! Nothing happens by sitting still and hoping that it happens to you; you've got to make it happen! If you don't take the risk, you'll never know what could have been.
Make the most of your present, to create the best future for yourself! To get the greatest rewards, you have to take the greatest risks. Life is not about playing it safe and hoping that something good will happen! It's about making that something happen!
Quote for Reflection: “What is it you’re waiting for exactly? You see them on T.V., you hear them on the radio. They are not the elite. They are men and women just like you! They are the hungry, the doer's, the solutions to problems. Now run - run with those dreams and never look back.” - Cristopher Aldae
Day 4 | “Just pick it up and run with it”
Not everything happens as we expect it to. In fact, more often than not, it doesn’t. However, when life throws you something unexpected, "You just have to pick it up and run with it" (Gary Burtea, Remember the Titans), follow the play and see where it will take you. Everything happens for a reason, whether we see that reason at the time or not. Life is ever changing, evolving, and so should we be, always open to the endless possibilities and challenges that life throws at us.
Always move forward and accept all possibilities and challenges as something that could change your life in ways that you could never imagine, offering you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations. Live life with hope and see the journey for what it really is: Becoming the best you that you can possibly be!
Quote for Reflection: “The human spirit is stronger than anything that can happen to it.” - C. C. Scott
Day 5 | Risk to Succeed
Life is made on gambles and nothing is achieved without first taking a risk. Progress is not made without change, and closing one door opens up new opportunities and possibilities. No one ever got anywhere playing it safe. If you want something, the onus is on you to make it happen - and it will happen, if that's what's in God's plans for you, but you can't leave everything up to Him; He gives us our desires, passions, and dreams for a reason, and it's not to sit on them!
You do what you have to when you have to, and when things change, you adapt to ensure constant progress. Life is always moving and we move with it, running with the ball we are thrown. As long as you learn along the way, appreciate the beauty in life and see the experience for what it was, you'll be fine.
Keep moving forward - always forward! Big things come from big dreams and having the courage to risk pursuing those dreams! Sometimes we have to things we don't want to do in order to achieve the things we desire. Live life and don't just make it an experience!
Quote for Reflection: “Take some risks people, what’s the worst that can happen? You fail, the reward is greater if you succeed. And can you handle the failure? Of course you can if you’re mentally tough you can handle ANYTHING, yes anything” - John Smeton
Day 6 | Progress is a Process
Progress does not happen overnight; it is a process that takes time. If you’ve just started exercising or changing your nutrition with the awareness of bettering your health and fitness, kudos to you. Just remember, if you look to your fitness role models for inspiration and motivation, that even they started somewhere, that their results are the outcome of years of “refinement” and striving to improve their fitness and physique.
Set your goals, but don’t expect results now; don’t expect results if you do not have the burning flame of desire, the determined light of commitment and discipline, and not without a lot of sweat and a few tears. Fitness is not a “magic pill”, it is not a drink you take to get a “quick fix”; is it hard work and discipline. It is a lifestyle. As habits take time to form, so progress is a process, gradual, until one day you wake up and find yourself at the top of the mountain, ready to move onto the next slope.
Progress is never-ending, perpetually looking ahead at the next mountain, the journey sometimes easier, sometimes harder, but always a step up from the one you took before, you always better than you were before. Progress is a Process, much like the refinement of silver and gold.
Quote for Reflection: “While you may feel like you are a long way from the fulfillment of the thing for which you hope, remember that you are evolving; you are a dream in progress. Refuse to give up on your dream and instead learn to appreciate the process of “becoming.”” - T.D. Jakes
Day 7 | Believe in Yourself!
Your mind is your only limitation, and, at the same time, the most powerful tool you have at your disposal. Success starts - and ends - in your mind. If you think you can't, you've already lost, but if you think you can, then you most certainly will succeed. Belief is a powerful thing. Belief coupled with desire and action is even more powerful. After all, it all begins and ends with the mind. You must have faith and belief in yourself and your ability to accomplish your dreams!
Now go after your dreams, pursue life with a passion, and don't let anyone or anything stop you or tell you otherwise! No matter what, never give up, keep moving forwards, and always believe in yourself. You never know what you are truly capable of until you have to do it, but the strength to do what you have to in order to achieve your dreams is there, just waiting to be discovered (if it has not) or used.
Quote for Reflection: “Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you greater than any obstacle.” - Christian D. Larson
Day 8 | Obstacles for GROWTH
God never gives us more than He knows we can handle, and everything we go through is for a reason! Obstacles are there to test us; to see what we’re made of, what we’re capable of, by how we respond to them; to build, improve and mould our character, refining us; to make us more ready to fulfill our purpose in the world. They reveal how much we really want something, what we’re willing to sacrifice to achieve our goals and dreams. They should inspire determination and motivation to overcome, no matter what! So, stop making excuses today; have faith and look at any and all obstacles as a challenge, readying yourself to conquer them and grow!
Quote for Reflection: “Life is about improving yourself and overcoming obstacles. You will have obstacles. You will have failures, but they are so you learn to SUCCEED.” - Peter Haenga
Day 9 | Let No One Stop You from Pursuing Your Dreams!
How you live your life is ultimately up to you. Others may try and tell you what to do, and you may let them push you around, but in the end, the choice is yours and yours alone. There is always a choice. There are always consequences for every choice made, so listen to your instinct, that inner voice guiding you, and choose wisely. If it is in your heart to do something, then do it, and let no one stop you!
Quote for Reflection: “‘Cause if you're willing to go through all the battling you got to go through to get where you want to get, who's got the right to stop you? I mean maybe some of you guys got something you never finished, something you really want to do, something you never said to someone, something... and you're told no, even after you paid your dues? Who's got the right to tell you that, who? Nobody! It's your right to listen to your gut, it ain't nobody's right to say no after you earned the right to be where you want to be and do what you want to do!” - Rocky Balboa, Rocky Balboa
Day 10 | Do Your Part and God Will Do His
There’s only so much that you can do in the pursuit of your goals and dreams. We cannot do everything alone, and even if we think that we are doing everything alone, we are never doing it all alone. Do as much as you can, all that is possible by yourself, and if you have to ask for help, then ask for help.
Asking for help is not weakness, but acknowledging that the achievement of a goal or dream is not an individual accomplishment; that it is a team effort, even if that team only consists of you and God. If you do your part as best as you possibly can, trust that He will do His part as well. God helps those who help themselves, and sometimes what happens is far beyond anything that we can ever have imagined!
Quote for Reflection: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.” - King of Salem, The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
Day 11 | Forward or Backward?
You have a decision to make every day of your life: Are you going to go forward or backward? Every decision you make, every crossroads, every turning point, will determine in which direction you ultimately go. Those who know where they are going with confidence have faith in something greater than themselves, never hesitating to always do that which will always move them forward in life. Those who just wander aimlessly through life, or who allow themselves to never take risks because of fear, will forever stay stagnant or end up going backwards.
Do not let your fear rule you! Do not let it stop you from going out and taking the risk of chasing your dreams! Do not let it stop you from putting yourself out there and accepting the challenges that come! Believe in something bigger than yourself! Believe that there are forces in this world far beyond your imagining that can make all your risks worthwhile! Believe that you have the power to overcome your fear and walk away stronger for it!
Quote for Reflection: “F.E.A.R.: The way I see it, you have two options. F#** Everything And Run, or Face Everything And Recover…You have two paths to choose. One takes you back, and one forward. The forward one is usually the hardest, but the rewards can be better than you can imagine…Whatever it is that is holding you back, face it and recover. Fear is a human instinct that helps us survive. The day I began to thrive was when I let God take the wheel and began opening my eyes and ears to what is truly out in this world.” - Ben Booker
Day 12 | Don’t Quit!
Starting something is easy - easier than following it all the way through to the end, anyways. Some days can be harder than others. Sometimes you may wonder why you doing what you are doing, putting yourself through this, making the sacrifices you are. Even if you started off with a passion and a purpose, sometimes you can be close to giving up or feel that you might not have the strength and courage to see your mission to completion. Don’t despair. All is not lost. We all have those moments, when we doubt ourselves, what we are doing, wondering if it is the right thing. Just remember that “It's when things seem worst that you must not quit”!
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they
sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all
uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you
want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you
down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and
turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure
turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't
give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another
blow.
Often the goal is nearer than,
It
seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given
up,
When he might have captured the victor's cup,
And he
learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to
the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside
out-
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can
tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So
stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem
worst that you must not quit.
- Author Unknown
Day 13 | Never, ever EVER give up!
We all have bad moments. We all have bad days. We all have bad months. We all have bad times. It doesn’t matter who you are - somebody or nobody; we all have them. I know that you may feel complete and utter depression and despair during such times, but you need to move past that; you need to turn those thoughts and feelings around. The bad times don’t have to stop you; you don’t have to let them beat you down. Even the best and most successful have bad times, when they take a few steps backwards or get off the track, but the difference is that they pick themselves up and steer back on course, ploughing through those times and that which oppose them.
Quote for Reflection: “There will be days when you struggle, and it seems like nothing is going to go right, but that is okay. Just never give up! Realize everyone else goes through this, and not quitting is what separates the winners from the losers. Never, ever, EVER give up.” - Craig Ballantyne
Day 14 | The “Magic Secret”
There is no “magic secret” to achieving the body of your dreams or accomplishing your fitness goals, and no one knows it better than two-time Olympia Figure Champion, Nicole Wilkins! The “magic” is the desire deep within you to become something better, the determination to create greatness. The “secret” is hard work, discipline, commitment, and consistency! Results do not come without sweat and sometimes tears. They do not come without sacrifices. They do not come from taking a “pill” and leaving the rest to chance. If you are one of those who think that they do, then once you accept that they do not and stop looking for something that will “accomplish” your goals “for” you, then you will truly be on your way to making the progress that you want!
Quote for Reflection: “If you are searching for some magic secret, there isn't one. You get out what you put in.” - Nicole Wilkins
Day 15 | Be Yourself!
There is only one you in the world. Only one being with the unique make-up that you have. One in the entire existence of everything. Have you ever wondered why that was? Why there never has been and never will be anyone else exactly like you? It’s because God made you like that. He designed and created you to be unique. To be special. He created all of us thus. So that we would all work together and contribute to the whole, and in doing so, live the lives we were meant to lead. In that case, why bother trying to be someone else or something else that you are not. Instead, why not embrace who and what you are and be the best you that you can possibly be!
Quote for Reflection: “Life is about being yourself. Someone only you can be. Someone only you can understand. Someone that is unlike everyone else. Someone that doesn’t copy others to look the same. Someone who is extremely unique. Because you are you. Be original, be creative, be yourself.” - Unknown
Day 16 | 100% CONSISTENCY
If you’re not making the progress that you want, or getting the results you desire, I want you to ask yourself if you’re doing everything you possibly can to achieve them. I see too many complain that they’re not where they want to be, that nothing works for them, that they don’t have the time, that no one understands. In truth, those are just excuses.
If you are following the right training programme and nutrition plan designed and created specifically for you for your goals and needs, there is no reason for you not to get results. If you are consistent in your training and nutrition and don’t try to give everything a complete makeover, or go from one thing to another every week, there is no reason for you not to make progress. If you really want something, you make the time for it, no matter how busy you are or what commitments you have. If you feel like no one understands, take some time to sit back and observe the lives of other people, especially those individuals who are successful at what they do and still manage to achieve outside of their family or work environments, and you’ll notice that many of them face the same obstacles that you do, but instead of making excuses for why they cannot do something, they find a way to overcome their issues.
In the end, whether you succeed or not is just as much about what you don’t do as it is about what you do do. Think about it. If you’re not prepared to do what it takes to get to where you want or achieve the goals you desire, then you cannot expect to make the progress towards them or get the results that you seek.
Quote for Reflection: “If you’re serious about the goals you have set for yourself, you must not only set your standards high (well above your current level of development), you must then strive for 100% consistency in performing the actions that it’ll take to get there. It’s not enough to go to the gym “sometimes” or follow your nutritional plan “every now and then.” You must demand more from yourself if you want to go to the next level.” - Lonnie Ducote
Day 17 | It Takes Time
Transformations do not happen overnight, nor do they happen just because you want them to. They take time, effort, discipline, commitment, consistency, and a burning desire to make them happen. You can want it, but if you don’t take the necessary measures to do it, you will accomplish nothing. If you really want it, you will do what you have to, make the sacrifices that you must, and find a way to work through every obstacle placed in your path. It may take longer than you anticipated, or it might not. Either way, the end result, achieving what you set out to accomplish, makes it all worth it.
Quote for Reflection: “Be prepared to have to put in a lot of work to change your physique. This is not something that happens in weeks or months. Changes to your physique take months and years. It is extremely difficult and can beat you down. But if you are mentally strong enough and keep pushing through those physical and mental barriers, you will be amazed at what you can do when you are dedicated and consistent…but it takes TIME.” - Layne Norton
Day 18 | What You Already Have
Are you waiting for something to happen to you? For an opportunity to present itself to be able to put yourself out there? For someone to notice you and take the chance on you? If you are, sorry to disappoint, but life rarely happens like that. Sure, there are a lucky few for whom everything seems to happen “just like that”, but the reality is that such “success stories” are far and few between.
It’s not about waiting for something to happen, or an opportunity to present itself, but about doing the most with what you have and the opportunities that you have already been given. Do that and those “new” opportunities will appear, more likely that you will be “noticed”, and then you can make the best of those times to reach higher and strive further. As Bruce Barton said, “Most successful men have not achieved their distinction by having some new talent or opportunity presented to them. They have developed the opportunity that was at hand.”
Quote for Reflection: “The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence and educational advantages; the question is what he will do with the things HE HAS. The moment a young man bemoans his lack of opportunities and resolutely looks his conditions in the face, and resolves to change them, he lays the corner-stone of a solid and honorable success.” - Hamilton Wright Mabie
Day 19 | A Better Today for Tomorrow
You can’t change the life you’ve lived, but you can change the life you’re living. We all have a past and we all have regrets in our past. What is done is done and there is nothing we can do about it. What we can do is choose not to make decisions that are going to become regrets from today in tomorrow’s past. If we want that to happen, we must change how we see the past, understand what we did or where it went wrong, and ensure that we learn from it and move forward.
Quote for Reflection: “The beauty of life is, while we cannot undo what is done, we can see it, understand it, learn from it and change. So that every new moment is spent not in regret, guilt, fear or anger, but in wisdom, understanding and love.” - Jennifer Edwards
Day 20 | Courage
Don’t be the one who stands back and watches everything happen. Don’t be the one on the sidelines while everyone else takes the risks and wins. Don’t be the one who wanted to but never followed their dream. Instead, be the first one into the fray. Be the one who has the courage to risk everything for something greater. Be the one who is able to look back on life without regret, because you gave it your all in the pursuit of your dreams and achieved your life’s purpose.
Quote for Reflection: “It's easy to be brave... from a safe distance... Courage is given me to discover my life purpose and enable me to give myself to it.” - Kat Miller
Day 21 | Your Greatest Battle
You are always going to be surrounded by people who are going to disagree with your decisions and what you want to do, who attempt to hold you back from accomplishing your goals and achieving your true potential. There will always be those kinds of people. The thing is, it’s not them you have to worry about - it’s yourself. You. You are your own worst enemy. The greatest battle you will ever face is not that of you against others, but you against yourself. Against your mind, your thoughts, your expectations, your fears. You are truly the one thing that stands between yourself and success, between being a winner or a loser, between being “normal” and being everything you can possibly be.
You need to overcome your self doubts, your fears, your excuses - anything that might prevent you from going out there and doing what you want to and know you must. It’s time to listen to the smaller, quieter inner voice telling you that you can do it, that you do have what it takes, that nothing is impossible if you want it badly enough. Once you learn to accept yourself for who you are, with all your faults and flaws, and realize that you are only human, but that being human does not mean you cannot do great things, you will be able to accomplish more than you ever thought possible!
Quote for Reflection: “The greatest battle ever is the battle between you and yourself, defeating the monster within you.” - Maricel C. Dualan
Day 22 | Aim HIGH!
Have you ever wanted to do something, but talked yourself out of it by thinking that you couldn’t do it, or it was not possible for you? Was that something important to you, a feat desired to be achieved for you and you alone? Do you just “settle” for what you can already do, because it’s in a comfort zone and you’re afraid of what might happen if you step outside that zone and take the risk, afraid of failure perhaps?
Let me tell you right now that no matter who you are or wherever you are in your life, there is always something better out there for you, something better than “better”. Whatever it is that you think you cannot do - why not give it a try? Why not say “what the hell” and give it the best shot that you possibly can? Who knows, maybe it’ll be one of the best decisions you ever made in your life!
Always aim high in life - no matter what area of your life it is in. Aim high and give it your best. Always! Don’t leave yourself any room for doubt of regrets. You have only one life to live, so make it the best one you possibly can!
Quote for Reflection: “Why settle for Good when Better is available and BEST is achievable?” - Dr. Samuel Pipim
Day 23 | Make the Most of Opportunity
Make the most of the time you have. Do not put it off until tomorrow, because often that “tomorrow” turns into another tomorrow, which spirals along the same path. Even if you have plenty of time, don’t put off starting what you want to do and accomplish, because the longer you leave it, the faster time will creep up on you, and sometimes, if you leave it too late, you lose the time to achieve your goal forever. Some opportunities and chances are here and now. Some are a little later and have a small time leeway or delay. Others have a time limit in which you must get started in order to achieve it. No matter what it is, now rather than later is the best approach.
Quote for Reflection: “Remember how long you have been putting this off, how many times you have been given a period of grace by the gods and not used it. It is high time now for you to understand the universe of which you are a part, and the governor of that universe of whom you constitute an emanation: and that there is a limit circumscribed to your time - if you do not use it to clear away your clouds, it will be gone, and you will be gone, and the opportunity will not return." Marcus Aurelius
Day 24 | Control
There are many times in life when it does not go as we want, when someone does not act like they are “supposed” to, when circumstances force us to do something we may not like. That’s life and we cannot change it. What we can change is how we react to it. Our response can be positive or negative, and in turn create a ripple effect that can affect us long after we are aware of it. No matter what it is intended for, every situation can be used for good or bad; every situation can have a positive or negative impact on you and those around you. How you react to any given situation in life determines how it will ultimately affect you.
Quote for Reflection: “You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you.” - Brian Tracy
Day 25 | NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!
What would you dare to accomplish if you knew that the only possible outcome was success? What would you dare to do if you knew that you could not fail? What is your ultimate dream and what is holding you back from daring all to achieve it?
There is nothing wrong with reaching for the stars - in fact, I encourage it!
Impossible is nothing. There is almost always a way. So why not dream the ultimate dream? Why not set yourself the task of starting on the journey to accomplish that dream?
It may takes days, week, months, or even years to achieve that ultimate dream, but better to achieve it than to simply sit by and let time pass you by as you wish you could. After all, life is in the living, in the journey to that dream, in learning along the way and bettering yourself as you grow closer and closer to your destination.
Quote for Reflection: “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges, and trying to rise above them.” - Richard Branson
Day 26 | What is “Normal”?
What is “normal”? Is there a “normal?” If you want my honest opinion, I don’t think that there is. If there is, to be “normal” is to follow the crowd and be what others expect you to be, instead of following your heart and being the person that you were meant to be. In that case, you are allowing yourself to simply be, to “settle” in life, never to step out of your comfort zone and take risks, content to forever stay the same, never rising above the crowd, blending in so that no one knows you from the person next to you.
If that’s “normal”, then why be “normal”? What’s the appeal? Don’t you want to stand out and be different? Don’t you want to think for yourself and have your own ideals? Don’t you want to be in charge of your own destiny and set the wheels in motion for achieving those things “normal” people think are impossible? Wouldn’t you rather be a doer than a follower, a pioneer, someone whom others look up to, a positive role model to the masses of “normal”?
Everyone is unique. There is no one person like you in the entire world, who is, has been, or ever will be. You were not created “normal” and you are not intended to be “normal”. So stand out, be different, walk your own path, and just be you!
Quote for Reflection: “To be normal is the ideal of the unsuccessful.” - Carl Jung
Day 27 | Keep the Fire BURNING
We all start somewhere, no matter who we are. Some of us start earlier down the road than others, and some are well along the stages of their journey when they head off down another path that will become another mission. No matter who you are or where you have been, you can always start over, have before you that fresh slate, ready to write a new history for yourself.
We all have our own reasons for getting started, for wanting to achieve something, for pursuing a dream. We all have the initial desire and motivation that propels us into action. Sometimes though, it’s hard to keep that passion burning as brightly as it did when we first started out. When that happens, we need to remember why we started the journey, visualize the dream or goal we want to see made reality, seek out assistance and guidance, that someone else to walk beside you on your journey. We need to find what kicks us back into action, into wanting to push further, so that we do not stall or stop altogether.
After all, it’s great to get started, but it’s not enough just to start. We must continue on, moving forward, conquering and prevailing until we reach our destination!
Quote for Reflection: “Many people know how to light their fire to get started, but the hard part is figuring out what keeps it burning, day in and day out to hit the true level of success. Figure it out, and grab a hold of it like a life vest at a ship wreck!” - Ben Booker
Day 28 | An EXTRAordinary Life
How many of you want to stand out, someone others look up to and admire, wishing to emulate you, or be like you? How many of you are willing to put in the time and effort to stand out from the crowd, slogging through the sweat and tears with a discipline that draws admiration, to get the results that you want and many others only dream of having? It’s not enough to simply want and wish and dream. Whilst dreaming is a necessity in such endeavours, so is action. Without action, there is nothing.
To stand out, you need to be different. You need to walk your own path and dance to the beat of your own music. You need to do what works for you and not just what everyone does or says you should do. You need to be a leader, not a follower. You have to know what you want and just go after it and not stop until you get there!
Quote for Reflection: “To live an extraordinary life, you must resist an ordinary approach.” - Frank McKinney
Day 29 | The No-Win Situation
Ever been in a situation where you feel that no matter what you do, you can’t win, that every move you could make would lead to a loss and failure? I’m sure we’ve all been there - even the most successful people in life have most likely been there. The only difference between the successful people and those who just give up is their attitude, their approach to the situation. Sure, you could just accept that there’s “nothing” you can do. Or, you could realize that there is always something you can do - you just have to think outside the box. Look at the situation from a different perspective. Take time out to mull over ideas. Turn to the illogical and make it the only logical solution. If you look at the situation for long enough from many different angles, you’ll find the “win” in it.
Quote for Reflection: “Win a no-win situation by rewriting the rules.” - Harvey, Suits: Play the Man (Season 1, Episode 7)
Day 30 | Setting Realistic Goals
It’s great to dream. It’s great to have lofty goals and visions. Setting your sights high is something I highly encourage. It may not come true today or tomorrow, but if you’re willing to work hard and consistently towards making that dream a reality, then there is no reason why it cannot be done.
That said, sometimes we set our goals too high, by expecting too much at once, or having unrealistic expectations on what it will take to achieve that dream. It’s not that your goal is too high - it’s that you are not giving yourself enough time, not being realistic in what you actually need to do to reach your destination.
Not to worry - just adjust your course of action, the steps you need to take to get there, so that they are realistic. After all, it’s not always the endpoint that matters - more often than not, it’s the journey that matters most and gives us the tools that we need to conquer life.
Quote for Reflection: “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” - Confucius
Day 31 | Be REAL
No one is perfect. We all have flaws, no matter how hard we might try to hide them or pretend that we have none. Man is not without sin, and so we are all imperfect beings. And that’s ok. It’s ok to be imperfect; it’s ok to be flawed. And it’s ok to let others know about those flaws.
It is not the strong man who always appears to have everything in control, who never missteps, who has the “perfect” life, that people relate to. It is the humble man not afraid to let the world know when he struggles, who allows others into his world to share those experiences, and who then uses those experiences to help others deal with similar situations.
It’s through our struggles - most often brought on by flaws, or as a results of them - that we relate to others, that allow us to have compassion and understanding of another, that bring us together and cerate bonds of friendship and fellowship.
Quote for Reflection: “It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more 'manhood' to abide by thought-out principles rather than blind reflex. Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.” - Alex Karras
Day 32 | Live Your OWN Life
You are not the person others want you to be. You are not the person others tell you to be. You are not the person others think you should be. You are not the person next to you. You are not the person across the street. You are you and you alone. When you look in the mirror, you are looking at you, whether you recognize your reflection or not.
Many of us live our lives the way others want us to or think we should, never standing up for what we want ourselves. Living like this will ultimately lead to unhappiness, no matter how successful you may end up being, because success is not fulfilment. Success does not complete you. It does not give that sense of satisfaction if you are not doing it because you want to be doing it.
If you live for others, you will likely look back and regret that you did not take the stand and say “Enough is enough! I am sick of doing what everyone else thinks I should do. I’m sick of being the person others expect me to be. I am me. I have wants. I have dreams. And it’s about time I went after those dreams, whether you like it or not!”
Those who really matter will support you no matter what you do. They will accept you for who you are and not what you appear to be or give the illusion of. So make the decision today. If you have been living your life under the guise of what others will you to do and be, stop and take a moment to think about it, and ask yourself what it is that you want to be doing. Then go after it!
Quote for Reflection: “Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” - Steve Jobs
Day 33 | Be Yourself!
You are who you are and you should not be ashamed of that. For every person that does not like you, there is one who does. For every person who seeks to tear you down, there is one who wants only to build you up. Ignore the negativity in your life and seek to find the positivity. Gravitate towards it and you’ll find what you need gravitating towards you.
Quote for Reflection: “Have the courage to be yourself. Don’t be shy! You are who you are! Even if society doesn’t like it, you are you, so forget what others think and live your life! Do what you want, because life is what you make it, and your life is yours! Nobody else is going to live your life, so it’s up to you!” - Grace Voso
Day 34 | You Against Yourself
There are times in life when you have to compete, when you have to look at those around you and try to beat them, to be better than them. However, life is not all about that. It’s not all about being the best or having the best job or possessions or achievements. Life is about being the best you that you can be, the best you an individual, friend, partner, employee, etc. No matter who you are, where you are, or what you do, you should always be trying to give and do your best. That’s how you improve in life. That’s how you become better than you ever thought you could be!
Quote for Reflection: “I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.” - Ken Venturi
Day 35 | Have Faith
You have to believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities before you can achieve anything. Since everything starts in the mind, if you don’t, then you are just setting yourself up for disappointment, and if you think that you cannot, then you are setting yourself up for failure. And you do not want to fail. You want to be successful.
Quote for Reflection: “When you apply your faith in yourself, your faith in your fellow man, and your faith in God, the result is a positive course of action that when persistently followed will almost always lead to success. When you believe in your ideas and in your abilities, and you trust in the Infinite Intelligence of the universe, you know that your thoughts and deeds will ultimately lead to a successful conclusion. You cannot fail.” - Napoleon Hill
Day 36 | Responsibility and Circumstance
You can’t blame anyone else for what you put yourself through, for what you allow yourself to put up with, for not getting the results that you want. Life happens to everyone, no matter who they are. What makes the difference is that no everyone responds the same to what life throws at them.
Some deal with it well and go with the flow. Some fall apart and become complete messes. In the end, what you do is your decision. Your choice and yours alone. You cannot blame anyone else for what happens once you have made that decision.
If you want to change the outcome, then change the decision. It’s that simple. Change how you think. Change your perspective. Change to become what you want to be and see come to pass.
Quote for Reflection: “It is true that WE alone are responsible for the circumstances in our lives. No one else. We create the situations, good, bad or downright ugly. It's all in our thoughts, subconscious or otherwise, for thoughts become things...they become words and beliefs which lead to actions, which lead to REACTIONS by others, which if we look really closely end up being vicious patterns that WE perpetuate over and OVER again!!! Meditate. Change the inner dialogue.” - Jenna Stone
Day 37 | Change
Change is not a bad thing. Change is an opportunity for you to do something great. To discover what you are truly capable of. You should view change as a “door” - if you walk through it, you never know what might be on the other side or what might happen to you when you reach it, but you’ll never know if you don’t take the risk and open it, if you don’t cross the threshold. Life altering moments happen in that split instant decision to make a change, to go with a change, to open yourself up to change. Don’t be afraid of it. Instead, embrace it. You never know - it might be the best thing you ever did!
Quote for Reflection: “Don't be afraid of change. If you don't take a risk sometimes you will never know what you are capable of.” - Nicole Wilkins
Day 38 | Give It Your All
No matter what you are doing, whether it is a small task or one of ginormous proportions, always do your best. Always give it everything you have, the very best that you can in that moment. Even if you don’t feel like it, make an effort. My mother once commented that I “could be dying and no one would ever know, because you’d still be doing everything” - it’s an extreme example, yes, but illustrates that you can use every opportunity to make what you are doing mean something, whether you feel like it or not. Make everything you do count for something, no matter if you think it significant or not, because you never know just how much difference it can or will make in someone else’s life.
Quote for Reflection: “Give it all you've got because you never know if there's going to be a next time.” - Unknown
Day 39 | Conquering Yourself
It’s easy to beat someone else. It’s not so easy to beat yourself. You fight yourself on a daily basis, whether you are aware of it or not. You fight your instincts, your mind, your thoughts, and your heart. Some of us are just better at recognizing the battle than others. Whether you win or lose the fight is not what matters; what matters is that you overcome whatever it is that you know is going to hold you back, take you down, cause you to take a step backwards. Sometimes what you want and what you need or should have are two completely different things. You need to learn to know what is best for you and do it. Knowing and doing are not the same, and doing is much harder than knowing. You want to move forwards, be victorious, conquer your fears and detrimental desires, and say “Bring it on!”
Quote for Reflection: “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” - Aristotle
Day 40 | Life is an Experiment
Life is about making yourself better. It’s a continual process striving for perfection, even though perfection is impossible to attain. In the striving though, we can reach great heights, learn great things, and make a great difference. Life is about those heights, the learning, and that difference. We rarely get it right the first time - it’s a continual process of experimentation to find what works best specifically for us, the best path to take to reach our destination, the best way to touch others so that we can help them with our knowledge and experience.
Quote for Reflection: “Some things work, and some things don't. That's why we continually strive for perfection, looking to be even better every day.” - Lance Carter
Day 41 | The Difference Between “Doing” and “Wanting”
The difference between a “Doer” and a “Wanter” is that Doers do what they want, whilst Wanters want to do it, but have no desire to actually do anything about it. “Wanters” want to get what they want without having to do anything for it; they expect it to happen just like that, simply because it is their desire. Unfortunately, the majority of people are “Wanters” - always searching for the “magic” pill, the “quick fix” that is going to “make everything all right”. The sad truth is that they do not want to know that what they are looking for does not exist; that to achieve their goal they have to get off the couch and actually exert some effort, maybe sweat a little, go through a bit of pain; they want to reap the rewards without sowing any seed.
The other sad thing about “Wanters” is that they’re the ones critisizing the “Doers”, always seeking to belittle others, or hold them back and prevent them from doing what they are doing, simply because they do not want to see someone else succeed when they are not.
Don’t be a “Wanter”. Instead, be a “Doer” and set the example.
Quote for Reflection: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt
Day 42 | Actions and Words
It’s not what you say, but what you do that really matters. hat you say carries less weight than what you do. If your actions do not match up to your words, then your words mean little, if anything. Be aware that whilst others take note of your words, they pay even more attention to your actions, and if your actions do not live up to your words, then your words are as good as discarded. After all, it’s not “Do as I say and not what I do”, but should be, “Do as I say, because I say what I do”. Make sure your words mean something, carrying weight and power, and others know you as a living, breathing, walking example of what you say.
Quote for Reflection: “What you do is as important as what you say.” – Steven Traiger, Kyle XY
Day 43 | Making Dreams Come True
Dreaming is great. I encourage it. But don’t leave it there. Act on your dreams. Have a plan. Set that plan in motion. Be prepared to work hard. Be prepared to try multiple times if you don’t succeed the first time. Make allowances for experimentation. Make allowances for life. Let yourself adjust to the circumstances. Allow flexibility. Never stay static. Always see your dream in your mind and never let go. If you can do all that, then you can achieve your dream, no matter how long it takes!
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