Have You Been Creating Memorable Stories With Your Life?

Lately I love writing about creating memories.  The quality of your life is dependent on how you remember it. The quality of your life is a collection of stories interwoven together from a lifetime of memories. When you talk about the stories of your life are you feeling happy or content? Do your stories create sparks of joy? How about when you talk to yourself about your stories? Are you proud about your stories?

Sure you can stand around the water cooler on a Monday morning and talk about the BBQ or recommend what novel you are reading. But what about the stories that make your heart skip? What about the stories that tested your courage?

A friend of mine once gave me a plane ticket to fly to three cities in Europe. I landed in Zurich and was also allowed to fly to Sweden and Finland as well. It was a fabulous gift. I decided to include side trips to Italy and Estonia. A week before leaving, I took out my Let’s Go Europe book, highlighted a few choice youth hostels and took off. When I think back to that experience I’m amazed that in three weeks time I walked, took trains, ferries and flew to some incredible places.

I got lost in Italy at 1: AM searching for my youth hostel, shared my cigarettes with a Russian bus driver (I was the only customer) in Finland, and shared tea in Helsinki with a British art critique and an American improving lives of orphans in Russia. In Sweden I stayed on a 200 foot sailboat and went to a lingerie fashion show (poor me). My courage was tested a few times during that trip, but the memories will last a lifetime.

Staying in and experiencing the present moment is an amazing habit to find peace and even joy, but ultimately the overall quality of our life is governed by our memories and stories . This is your remembered self.

How do you remember yourself? Are you making life changes so that you think back upon your life with happiness and pleasure? What stores stand out in your memory? Are your glued to the Internet and television while the world passes you by?

Maybe it’s time to make new memories, and create a few new stories. There is a whole wide world to explore.

Reference:  Daniel Kahneman - TED - Ideas Worth Spreading

Stop Complaining, Whining Or Making Lame Excuses And Start Living

I have been working incredibly hard to make meaningful life changes for years. I have changed my fundamental relationship with money (I wanted to be a millionaire by 30).I have settled into two challenging careers and am content with both. I have struggled with back issues but have more or less come to terms with this. I’ve tried to build deeper and more loving ties with family and friends.

We all have life changes we want to make. The biggest life change I’ve made BY FAR is to appreciate the fact that I’ve been given the privilege to live on this blue planet, which slowly twirls around in the middle of an infinite universe. Every single day I think about this. Everything else is insignificant. Lots of money, a powerful career or fame will not bring you a deep joy or heartfelt appreciation. If you think they will you are either incredibly ignorant or our consumer driven society has continued to suck you in and spit you out.

Go take a look up at the sky. It’s going to rain whether you like it. It WILL be cloudy some days (unless you live in Arizona). There is absolutely no point in wishing otherwise. You are just wasting energy and your time hoping for a change that is beyond your control. Learn to enjoy the day and whatever the planet serves up.

The sun will rise and it will set (it only hides behind the clouds). This has not changed since the beginning of time. Enjoy this day because you will never, ever see it again. It is May 09 2010 today. At midnight this day will have passed….forever. Are you going to enjoy it? Or are you going to spend time complaining, whining or making lame excuses?

Sometimes I sit in traffic and fume after some asshole that has cut me off. If he is driving a big Mercedes SUV I may get judgmental and hope something bad happens to him…or her. But in the end these silly incidents don’t matter. I just let it go. What really matters is that I’ve been born onto this beautiful planet and have had a few years to share it with many extraordinary living beings. And even though we are seriously fucking it up with oil spills and raping the forests, I’m eternally grateful for my time here.

I look out at the sky from my car window. I picture this magnificent blue planet circling the sun with a trillion stars winking all around. I remember how damn lucky I am to experience this miracle surrounding me. I feel a deep felt joy. I hope you learn to as well.

Make a life change to enjoy every waking moment you have here. It won’t cost you a cent.

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Related posts:

Choose To Be Happy

Lead A More Meaningful, Peaceful And Happy Life

An Amazing Yet Simple Life Changing Lesson

I’ve taken a bit of a break from writing (for health reasons) but am back in the saddle (but writing from bed, so no real saddle), and would love to share a major life changing method. This method will now be the cornerstone for me (hopefully for you) and a perfect addition to the website tools. Ready?

Use a 6 x 4 Note card to break or create a new habit or goal

Once you have defined your goals using the tracker, choose one goal and write it down on an index card.

Writing your goal down on an index card and carrying it with you at all times creates a solid awareness of the change you want to make. This awareness of your goal will be strongly reinforced if you pull out the card many times during the day. Make yourself pay attention to your goal. It will remind you of how important the goal is to you. The statement on the card may be as simple as these examples.

• Get more exercise and be physically fit.
• Stop smoking, feel better and save money
• Be more loving

Getting more exercise doesn’t just mean just joining a gym. It means taking a walk. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Walking the dog. Riding the bike. The note card should be pulled out whenever you have the urge to fall back into a bad habit or routine.

Being more loving can apply to family members or the cashier at grocery store. Pull that note out and you are suddenly aware that you can be a more loving person. Who knows, it may even help you find love!

Once the behavior is now a habit, you just throw the note card away (or keep it for sentimental reasons).

So you don’t need an iPhone to make a major change. All you need is to take your time defining your goals and then a simple index card to create a steady awareness of that goal or habit.

I can’t think of a better method and it works great for me!

Related Posts:

How To Quit A Bad Habit Using An Index Card

How To Overcome Addiction

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5 Tips To Create Your Best Life For 2010

Happy belated Christmas and all the Best in the New Year!

You are about to find out my best life changing lessons not only from 2009 but also from hundreds books, blogs and tweets over the past few years. These methods are useful, helpful and are here to solve your problems.

• Defining your core values and living by them RIGHT NOW is possible. If you define freedom as a core value you can step out of worrying about the future and live in the present moment right away. Just stepping outside and looking up at the sky can be an amazing experience. These simple moments can bring perspective to what’s important really important to you. I take in the morning sky every day before hopping in the car. We live an amazing and free life if we choose to!
• Using an index card to create awareness of a new habit IS one of the best life changing tools you can use. Define your values you wish to live by and write down a goal on an index card. Carry that card with you and look at it 20 times a day if you have to. The message may be “Create healthier body “or “Am I being a loving person today?” These messages create a continuous awareness deep inside you. Look at that card often until you live your new habit every day.
• Live in the moment. Living in the moment and not dwelling in the past or future is one of the best life lessons I have learnt this past year. Living in the now will enrich each moment of your my life as worries fade away and you learn to enjoy the simpler things in life.
• Let go of money worries and live a life of freedom and happiness. Why cannot we be happy right now? Isn’t happiness just a choice? Isn’t happiness just a conscience decision? Of course it is. You can choose to be happy or miserable today. You can get up in the morning and embrace the new day or let your worries take over. Money has nothing to do with it. It’s all in the mind.
• Step out of your emotions, worries, fear and stress. Open your heart to living the best life you can right now. When you close your heart your mind closes and all kinds of worry creep in. Keeping an open heart gives your endless energy and allows you to be a loving person. It isn’t about an emotional love but choosing to be a loving person. When you choose this path people will choose to treat you with kindness and compassion as well! Isn`t this life you want to experience?

People! - Make One Freaking Life Change At A Time Please

Stop trying to change everything!

The problem is that most people get freaked out about ALL the life changes they wish to make AT ONE TIME. Lose weight, save money, find love, find balance, less stress and of course all the issue surroundings the environment.

Change one thing and make it stick!

I cut out bread at lunch. We have a fabulous deal at lunch and the bread is included. I decided to not have the empty calories of bread on my plate. Hey, I’m in good shape, quite healthy, but I have made a conscience decision to not include bread in my lunch. I eat enough carbohydrates at lunch, bread is unnecessary. Wow, what an exciting blog post – how I cut out freaking bread!

What is the point?

Most successful life changes are done one baby step at a time. When we try too much we can easily get overwhelmed, frustrated or discouraged. Decide what is most important to you and attack that with a passion. Take action! Love yourself! I know you can do it. You CAN make a serious life change. You ARE in the driver’s seat! Life IS too short. Let’s get going right now! Decide what change you can make right now. For me it’s less bread, less empty calories and a healthy weight loss. I’m happy with that.

You CAN do it! Let’s start…right now.

Related posts you might love

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There Is No Excuse For Not Living The Dream

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Here’s How To Make Life Changes

I created www.mylifechanges.com to help you make meaningful life changes. I can’t force you to make life changes. Only you can decide that. I have supplied a tool for you to use. I could become your personal coach but you probably can not afford a life coach. I hope you decide to make life changes today, because tragedy can strike at any time, and by then it may be far too late. This website will make you think. Thinking is good.

Decide who you are

First, you will need to decide who you are. Are you a parent, entrepreneur and athlete? Or are you a philosopher, businessman and wealth builder? Understanding your own big picture will set the frame for the next steps.

Decide what your core values are

Here are the top 5 core values (in order) people are seeking on www.mylifechanges.com: balance, achievement, commitment, love, and happiness. I don’t think it is necessary to list more then 5 core values. I also think that happiness is a very good core value to seek. Without happiness is life really much fun? Now you are ready to set goals according to who you are and what core values are meaningful to you.

Decide what your goals are

Take your most important core value and set a goal that will help you live accordingly to it. If your value is happiness, your goal may be to start the morning off with a smile. It’s simple but goals don’t have to be complicated to have a huge effect. Don’t set too many goals. It will be too difficult to reach a bunch at the same time. Kind of hard to quit smoking, lose weight and meditate all at the same time. You have taken perhaps the three most important steps in your life.

Track your changes

Use the color coded tracker to see how you are doing. I made the tracker as visual and simple as possible to make it easy for you and I. You are now on your way to making life changes. Congratulations!

Is it that simple? Yes it is. Why should it be complicated? You have a need, I supply a tool, you take action.

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Five Small Ways You Can Make Yourself Happy

Enjoy each and every moment life has to offer.

The most important rule in life is to live in the present moment. Letting of the past, future, and all your trivial worries will by far be the best change you can make. Stop whinnying. Please stop complaining. Appreciate each and every moment from now on. Love life. Never take anything for granted. Every moment you lose to your worries is a moment lost forever. This is how people with terminal illnesses think. Life is too short. Every moment is precious. Find your Zen, right now.

Don’t leave this life without following your dreams.

Don’t be afraid to take chances. Write that book, comic strip or screen play. Go to the job interview. Take action right now! Don’t delay your dreams any further. There is absolutely no reason why you can’t take the first step towards your dream life today. There is no excuse. And as you take action and stay in the moment, you will be shocked how staying in the now helps.

Shut your shallow ego up.

Shut your ego up right now. Your ego brings up all your past conditions and failures to the surface. You are a human being who can make a conscious choice today to drop your ego and find the love within yourself that is always there. You are a magnificent human being, never forget that. Shut your ego up right now and send it packing.Your ego only makes you feel afraid. Say goodbye to it today.  

Buy yourself a treat once in a while.

Buy yourself a present. There are a million articles out there blabbering about the evils of being materialistic. Most of this is pure bullshit. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself with a nice purchase for all your hard work. So buy that car, plasma TV, or night out. But don’t think you are a better person because of that new car. You aren’t. It’s a piece of metal on wheels. Just because you are driving it doesn’t make you better than Bob next door. So buy yourself a treat, but don’t identify yourself with it. Once you identify yourself with your stuff you become a shallow, ego filled and empty person. Enjoy your treat for what it is. No more no less. Oh yes and please make sure you can afford it. That always helps. Or else you start worrying again.

Have dinner with your close friends.

It has been proven that life’s happiest moments occur when you are with your good friends. Have a dinner party and drinks at least once a week. Laugh. Cry. Joke. Have deep and meaningful conversations. Love life with your best friends. Watch the stars together. It just doesn’t get any better than this.

So what makes you happy?

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