What if I didn’t listen to those who told me I couldn’t do it. People we trust, we love, and we count on often place their fears on to us. They’re well-intentioned, but they view our life through their prism. If we look at what they think is impossible or foolish to attempt and examine the potential good that can come from our effort, we’ll have all the motivation we need to attempt what others view as impossible. Don’t let anyone talk you out of trying. It’s your life.
what if
What If . . .
What if I did the things I know I should be doing? Wow, that question demands great responsibility from me. If I do the things I’m supposed to do, the people I live with, work with, and know can count on me. When I do what I am supposed to do, no matter how unpleasant or difficult, I make a big difference in my life and in the lives of those who surround me.
What If . . .
What if I quit settling for less than what I deserve? I was fortunate early on in my career a mentor took me aside and gave me sage advice. He said it a bit differently, but his meaning was clear. He said never settle for less than what you’re worth. I followed his advice. I was criticized by friends for being foolish and turning down job offers. I turned them down because I followed my mentor’s advice. Patience always paid off. Never settle for less than what you’re worth. You’ll feel good about yourself. And, others will respect you.
What If . . .
What if I weren’t so hard on myself? I think I’d take twenty pounds off my shoulders if I let go self critical dialogue. How about you? We can be our own worse critics. All we have to do is listen to our self-directed language. It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of being our personal critic, we can change and become our self appointed cheerleader. “Why did I do that” changes to “That was a nice try, you’ll do better next time.” You get the idea. I feel better already.
What If . . .
What if you asked yourself, “What am I passionate about?” How would you answer that question? When you think about this question, try to block out thoughts of complying with what other people think or what appears to be popular. Discover your inner passion. It’s inside you and waiting for you to discover it. When you discover it, flame its fire and turn it into a roaring blaze.
What If . . .
What if you could change something tomorrow regarding your life, what would it be? Give it some thought. Be creative and think outside the box. The only limits to place on your thinking is that your ideas have to be technologically feasible and you can do it tomorrow. If you really want to change, change! Don’t let excuses come through the door. Enter the no excuse zone.
What If . . .
What if you didn’t ask “How was school?” or “How was work?” Instead, you said, “Tell me about something good that happened to you at school (or work) today?” You’ll get a totally different response. You won’t get the shoulder shrug and “it was okay.” You’ll probably get a look that questions your sanity. LOL If you don’t get an answer, ask again, “C’mon, something good happened today and I want to hear all about it.” You are sending two messages, one, you’re deeply interested in what happened. And, two, you’re willing to listen and and ask follow up question to get a clearer picture of the event. The person sharing will feel good because he/she will be recalling something good in his/her life.
What If . . .
What if I could make everyone I meet today happy? That’s not going to happen. Happiness is an inside job. It’s up to me to find my happiness. The best I can do for others I meet is to share my portion of sunshine. I hope it’s enough to cause them to flip their happiness switch. In the end, it’s up them to flip the switch. As for me, I’ll sing, dance, and smile throughout my day. Bring your shine.
What If . . .
What if I gave up multi-tasking, would I feel better? All of us do it. We try to simultaneously juggle multiple tasks. It can be stressful keeping so many balls in the air. What if I did one task at a time, completed it, and moved on to the next task. I may feel like I am walking in slow motion, yet the opposite may be true. As we complete each task and move on to the next, we get a strong sense of accomplishment without adding excess stress.
What If . . .
What if I didn’t have my morning cup of coffee? Man, my day would be amiss. I take my morning cup of coffee for granted, much like I take the sun rising or setting. It’s that way with life. The things and people we love we often take for granted, as if they’d always be there. When we find out they’re not there our emotions range from disappointment to deep grieving. When I look at it this way, my heart has to overflow with gratitude for the things and people I love. It makes sense to appreciate the things and people I love each moment of my life.
