Create a Good Day
Archive for September, 2009
Stop watching time, and start using it
Sep 30th
There is no secret that time is moving forward. We can choose to sit and stare at our desks or tend to a thousand details, but whatever we choose, we are all limited, or granted the same 24 hours each and every day. The clock is ALWAYS ticking, and it comes down to us to make sure we optimize all the seconds in the day.
Why is it that some days blister by us, and why is it that others seem to never end?
My boss taught me a lot about mastering my time. The following is an excerpt from a session
“When it comes to time, we are all equals… so how is it that some people are able to accomplish so much more than others in a day? It all comes down to this simple fact; Ordinary people merely think of spending time while great people think of investing it. It is not the amount of time an individual has which determines his success, but how s/he chooses to use this time.”
Think about those bolded words. We spend our money, and by spending it goes. We spend it on clothes, we spend it on food, we spend on many things that usually show no reward.
We invest to garner a return. When we INVEST our time, use it productively and efficiently in the hopes that we can succeed from it. Use school as an example. It’s not spending time when we study because the benefits can be seen if do it well. Take the time to ensure that time is used as an investment to bigger and better things. When you’re making the decision to study or to go home and watch TV, think about your future. Think about how far you want to prosper. Think about whether or not taking the 2 hours to study can ultimate help in EARNING you a higher mark which can lead to a better job.
You will always garner a return that warrants the investment of time. Don’t forget to be smart with your time, because once the day ends, you’ve lost it and it’s gone….until the next morning.
Good night!
Scale your Stress
Sep 20th
I remember being at a leadership convention when I was in grade 8. I was president of my school and I guess it was a session for all leadership to attend. The speaker spoke about levels of stress and I had something stick with me that I never would have thought of.
I was used as an example for his session and he asked me : “What is something that could go wrong at a school event under your leadership?”
I answered: “I don’t know. Probably not having people come to our dance. That would be disappointing.”
He replied: “On a scale of 1 to 10 how would that rate”
I quickly thought about it and said “Man, I don’t know that’s probably about a 8 or 9, I would be pretty upset.” He asked me why it would be so high and I said that under my leadership, it would be unfortunate if no one supported.
“But your family would be ok, no?” he asked. Of course they would be I thought.
“You would still have your health no?” Of course I would.
“The why is a failed dance so high on your stress level”
Hm, I thought. He’s right. He went on to say how perspective shapes the basis of your life. In reality, a bad dance would be crappy, but is it the end of the world? So what you didn’t finish everything for your student meeting, what’s going to happen? Is it worth escalating the tension you put on yourself for something that in the grand scheme of things is so minuscule?
Put your stress on a scale. When a situation arises that gets your tense, think about the long term effects of it, and also think about other instances in your life. A school dance, in reality is a 1 or 2 in the bigger picture. My family would be fine, I would be healthy, and I know that somewhere someone has it worse than I do, so why would I complain about something so small? It makes no sense to raise things to a level of stress when they are simply not worth it.
Some would say being diagnosed with cancer would be just cause to rate a 8 or 9, but it was this lesson I learnt about scaling stress that caused me to be calm. I accepted it and went straight to beating it, not making excuses about it. Overall, it wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened, because my family, my friends, the people and things that mattered most to me were still there.
Exams, tests, meetings they are all big. But things are bigger. Stop and appreciate the good in your life, instead of always jumping to the bad. Scale your stress, give it a number. A realistic one that is warranted by the situation, not one that is driven by emotion.
Take a second to breathe when situations arise, I promise that breathe will garner a whole new perspective on your outlook in life.
Good Night!
Live life like you’re in the shower
Sep 15th
We’ve all been there before.
In our most private of entities, the shower, with our voices blaring so loud. Why? Because to us no one is listening. Our life in the shower is very different than our life outside. How many times do we find ourselves coming up with genius answers in the shower, when no one is listening. Too many times I find myself wishing I said something I did in the shower within the course of my day.Living our shower life differs so much from living our normal life, I say it again. What’s wrong with living your normal life like you are in the shower? What’s the difference? What’s the harm in stepping out and pretending that there is no one around you and just trusting yourself with the words you wish too say? There is no harm. Life is about taking your shots, and by living life like you’re in the shower you exude this confidence that can only take you further in life.
We all sing in the shower. You do it. I know it. Don’t deny because I can hear you singing right now. Use the shower as your warm up to your greater means, your daily life. Don’t let the pressures of having people around you force you to seclude your intelligence and wisdom from the world. You truly cannot progress in any facets of your soon to be successful life if you don’t start living life like you’re in the shower.
We’re on top of the world in the shower. We think brilliant thoughts, we hit the highest notes- the confidence is through the roof. Maybe it’s the soothing of the hot water on our bodies, or maybe it’s something about being secluded with nothing but your thoughts, but use what you think beyond the shower, and watch yourself grow.
Just don’t forget to use a towel.
It’s been a while between posts, and for that I apologize but I’m hoping to be more consistent from now. Thank you for the ongoing support.
With Love.
Turning to a new chapter in life
Sep 1st
This is usually the time where people pack and start venturing on new parts of their lives. September marks a time of return to school, and for a lot of people close to myself it’s a start of something new. I have a sister flying across the country tomorrow to start her undergraduate life, and another sister flying to Paris.
What’s so cool about life is that you have the opportunities to start new chapters in the book that is your life. What’s important when you embark on these journeys is that you have learned from the previous parts of your book. No book can be completed and understood unless it’s followed in order and you use the previous words and chapters to complete your own book.
It’s important that while we become nervous moving to different parts of the world, nervous because we are venturing into unfamiliar territories, we must be willing to accept it and make the most of it. Like a book, if you don’t anticipate and work with what it gives you, you will never be satisfied. So as you all start or continue your new journeys, remember that their is a reason it began in the first place. You are all on a path to enhance and better your lives, whether it be through school, through a new job, or any path you start walking.
You have proved to yourself that you are committed to progressing with life. You are on a pathway to success, and it is with the power of positive thinking, that you will get there. That element will allow you to find yourself and find your meaning. Getting from A to Z may seem like a road that is simple to clear, but if we stop and absorb what we learn from each step, we will surely be stronger by the end.
The best of luck goes out with you in your journey in life and if motivated, you can be anywhere you want to be.
Welcome back, and GOOD NIGHT!
