Change Your Life Friday

2021 Restart, Reset, & Relaunch

9. Persistance

Posted on March 1, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” -Zig Ziglar

Several years ago I found myself in a very dark place, the light of the world and the light in my eyes had seemingly faded to a mere dim. When I was at my lowest I finally reached out for help and the help was there. At the time this was a miracle, I truly thought I had burned all of my relationships to the ground. I know from experience that when you feel that something miraculous is taking place you are willing to do or say just about anything to maintain the grace that is being bestowed upon you. In that moment I made a commitment to never have to feel the same darkness again, no matter what was asked of me.

This commitment that I made so long ago has carried a great deal of weight in my life for the simple fact that I have stuck by it. I can say, without question, that since that moment no matter how bad things have been I have not felt as bad as I did just before I made the above vow. The first part of my statement was to never feel “the same darkness again” which I truly have little control over, the second part though, “no matter what”, I do have control over. I have found that without constant practice and striving for growth I quickly start to move backwards, feeling less connected to the world around me.

When I take the time every day to do just a little bit of work on myself, including inspiring others, things always seem to be just the way they are supposed to be. I know that without a persistent effort on my part to grow daily I will never become the person that I was brought to this world to be. I think Zig Ziglar really had it right because if I do not find a little bit of motivation each day, through reading, sharing, loving or caring I really start to stink.

Affirmation: I am responsible for my own growth and today I choose to be the best me I can be.

Call to Action: I think this one is easy. Just do something to motivate and inspire yourself or others today. Then do it again tomorrow, and the next day and the next. If you do it right this change your life Friday will be an amazing week. Take a chance; otherwise you may sit around stinking.

8. Leadership

Posted on February 22, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

In continuation of building our community of inspiration, please enjoy our second guest submission. This year, the last Friday of each month a guest writer will have their submission posted. If you have a thought, stance or story to share please send it to our email @ changeyourlifefriday@gmail.com If you feel called, please listen to the words of our second guest and lead us…

“A leader is a dealer in hope.” Napoleon Bonaparte

I feel like Napoleon, despite his politics, can teach us all an excellent lesson in leadership. For he was a man not even born a Frenchman but ended his rein as the Emperor of France, King of Italy, Mediator of the Swiss Confederation, and Protector of the Confederation of the Rhine, which stretched from Norway to Prussia to Spain.

He accomplished these feats by offering hope. His countrymen and even the people he conquered were in dire need of hope. He saw the need and he provided relief that situation demanded. He used hope as an instrument to motivate and lead individuals.

We must remember, he was not unique and his situation was not unique. He only had the passion needed to capitalize on such a situation. He had the self-confidence, determination, integrity and the emotional intelligence to accomplish his goals. He took the skills he possessed and turned them into hope for millions.

Once again we must remember, he is not unique in this area. We all have these gifts. It just depends on if we choose to utilize them or not. It has been proven,

LEADERS ARE NOT BORN; THEY ARE MADE.

Every one of us could be a leader if we simply make the decision to lead. We all have that power within us. We have the power to give hope, and there will always be followers seeking hope.

Affirmation: I have the power to lead and I have the capability of offering someone hope.

Call To Action: Never sell yourself short and think that you aren’t good enough to positively influence another human being. Find a person who is dying for hope and show them the way. We all have experiences that can help another person, do not let this go to waste. Live. Know. Show.

7. I Love Myself

Posted on February 15, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“The most powerful relationship you will ever have is the relationship you have with yourself.” –Steve Maraboli

Once a year our culture is reminded to put forth some effort in an expression of love to the people we care about with gifts, kind words and amazing gestures. I hope that all of our community was able to find someone else to share their love with, whether it was a friend or a lover, a parent or a child, maybe even a stranger. If you had this chance and were graced with the joy of another I think you got it right. The process of bringing the love we have within to the physical plane can quickly lift the giver and the receiver up in an instant.

That brings us to today; the day after all of the Valentines giving is gone. This seems to me to be the perfect time to give a little love back to ourselves. Actually it may be better served today to give yourself a lot of Love. I have often heard throughout my lifetime that is wrong to pat ourselves on the back or to put ourselves first. What I know today is that if I am not right with myself and I do not love the me that I see, I will not be able to love you or anyone else fully and completely.

So on this day after Valentines, I am going to spend some time reminding myself of all the good things that I do and all the good that I am. It is very easy to put ourselves down and most of us do it very often. Just as we shed those feelings about our partners yesterday let us shed those feelings about ourselves today.

Affirmation: I love who I am in this moment, exactly as I am, as I really am.

Call to Action: Make it a point to give yourself some love today. Write a note to yourself about how much you love those things that make you you. Put it somewhere that you can see it throughout the day as a reminder. Take this as a chance to woo yourself, you deserve it, and who knows you better than you?

6. Preparation

Posted on February 8, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” -Abraham Lincoln

Over the last 24 hours it seems every news break I heard on the radio was about a gigantic snow storm that is supposed to hit the East Coast today. The first half of each report talks about the magnitude of how powerful this force of nature could be and the second half of the stories seem to detail how everyone is preparing for the worst case scenario. I sure hope that everyone who is touched by this storm is safe and protected thanks to the ability for science to predict such a massive event, without such a warning some storms seem to be so devastating mostly due to a lack of preparation.

Throughout life it seems that most of the biggest storms that we face in our lives are ones that come out of nowhere as well. They deal out extreme pain due to a lack of preparation on how to cleanup the aftermath. When we lose friends or relationships, jobs or dreams, the most painful ones arrive without a chance to see them coming. It is hard to forecast anything in life since so much that goes happens, some would say all of it, is outside of our immediate control. What we do have control over is the how prepared we are to cope with the inevitable storms that come through.

When life is going well and everything seems to be just the way it is supposed to be I often find myself pulling back on the time that I spend trying to grow. I find myself getting lazy in relationships and responsibilities then seemingly out of the blue something painful comes my way and I am running around trying to pull everything back together. The truth is that the out of the blue moments come when I let up on the things that keep me connected to the universe and the people about it. I know today that storms can come at any time and if I am not doing something each day to grow I will find myself overwhelmed by the challenges that life has to offer me. I choose to grow today, to put in the time to get a bit better, understand a little more and prepare for the changes that life is bringing me.

Affirmation: I am working on myself today to be the best I can be tomorrow.

Call To Action: No matter what our circumstances are, today is the perfect day to grow. Find a place in your life where the leavey is a bit weak and do what you can to fortify it. Please share your experiences with us below.

5. Others

Posted on February 1, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being.” – Dalai Lama

Over the last two weeks I have been doing some readings from two different spiritual books. One talks about loving your enemy and the other talks about praying for someone for two weeks who you have bitterness towards. I thought that praying for someone that annoyed me and to love someone that is my adversary was a nice ideal to live up to, but not realistic.

Last Thursday I saw someone that I had not seen in months, since that last encounter, a person that is very close to me told me some disturbing information about this individual. A light bulb went off in my head, I knew this is where it had to start. During the last week, if I get a twinge in my stomach when I see or think about someone, I add them to my list. Writing this edition of CYLFriday, my list contains 12 people, including family, an ex-girlfriend, a bully from elementary school, and a bank. I have been specifically wishing health, prosperity, and happiness for these people.

I am not sure if these people are receiving the above things because I do not talk to most of them. I have noticed that I feel healthier; I have more joy and happiness throughout my day, and my pay checks today were bigger than they had been in months. Last week this was going to be an experiment, but in a short time I feel that this needs to be a lifelong practice.

Affirmation: I lift my brothers and sisters up in my mind and in my heart. Thank you life for the Good that others receive and thank you for the Good I receive.

Call to Action: Who is that person or institution that brings a knot to your stomach when you simply think of them? If you dare, think of three things that you want in your life, and wish these things for them. If you are brave, do this for 2 weeks and please report back what happens in your life.

4. Stand up

Posted on January 24, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

We have decided to get our community involved with our mission of inspiration in a new way. This year, the last Friday of each month a guest writer will have their submission posted. If you have a thought, stance or story to share please send it to our email @ changeyourlifefriday@gmail.com If you feel called, please listen to the words of our first guest this week and…

4. Stand Up

Speak Truths And Never Doubt yoUr Position……S.T.A.N.D. U.P.!
by Lalli

I think it’s harder to try to fit in
Than it is to be a martyr for what you truly believe

So persecute me in the name of free speech
Throw the rocks of your verbal abuse
Lash at my skin with the words from your lips
Because I respect your freedom to use them!

Don’t hold back your uncensored opinions
Let them fly from the deepest cavern hidden behind formality
Where in the name of being “proper” is the source to your restriction
I beg for you to release them!

We come into this world without expectation
Yet, we are met with nothing but expectations

Laugh in the face of conformity
Scald the tongue of its language
Crucify the image of expectation as a symbol
A symbol of independent rebellion
Since how is a person supposed to develop as an individual
If they are constantly held to the expectations of the masses
How is a child, unique with a talent to bless the world
Ever going to find it, if it’s raised as a drone
That means that Martin Luther King, Edgar Allen Poe, Ghandi, Jesus, the Joan of Arc
Bob Marley, even Helen Keller would never have lived within the scope of famous existence
They would have never created history
If they hadn’t learned how to turn their dreams into memories
To let the nay-sayers speak with kindling words that fueled their flame
They fought for what seemed unattainable
They stared into the eye of animosities driven fear
They didn’t cower afraid of their peers but they became references of inspiration

Hero’s

Who with each day flew higher
Thrusting wings flapped into footsteps of advancement through the freedom of self-expression
And anyone questioning whether you should S.T.A.N.D. U.P. for what they feel is right
Well I can think of one reason
That has more weight than many reasons equivalent to all the granules of sand on every beach and the ocean floor
Because every building will fall
Every star will fade
And although an end is inevitable it doesn’t change the impact its existence made
Live, today like you’ll never see another one
Like you won’t be able to take another breath
Quit looking for depth in the shallow end
Search underneath society’s Lilly-pad façade’s for the anchor of truth hiding out of sight
Be the phantom in the night riding a horseback guided by a lantern without a light
Listen to your hearts beat
Dance to the rhythm of your own drum
Follow your passions and have faith in the unique design of your snowflake
Trust the path in which you fall
Because you never know
You could quite possibly shine as the beacon of light that the people need
Just by being the person
you know you’re meant to be

Affirmation: Today I will stand up for what I know is my Truth, I walk fearlessly through this day and affirm what is Right.

Call To Action: This is an amazing day to feel what we know is true and stand for it. Today is not a day to play small to any situation whatsoever, in fact this is the perfect day to address and stand up in the face of your fears. By doing this you may experience some of your greatest freedoms and inspire others through your actions to stand up on their own. Get out there and see what kinda good you can do then come back and share it with our growing community. Thank you life!

3. Calling

Posted on January 18, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“In every community, there is work to be done. In every nation, there are wounds to heal. In every heart, there is power to do it.” –Marianne Williamson

A few nights ago I was graced with the opportunity to attend a talk put on by my local spiritual community featuring Marianne Williamson. This was the second time I had the chance to hear her share, the last time was 5 years ago. The first time was by chance yet thanks to her passion and the wisdom that came through in her words, I was inspired to look deeper into my role in this universe. My experience this week was similar but of course different thanks to the growth I have had since the last time I was present for her visit.

I think a few years ago I identified much more on what I was getting out of it and how positive inspiration could help my life. This time I felt more connected to what this gathering was doing for all of us that were present. I was surrounded by a full room of people that all shared a very similar goal and intention, one of love and a willingness to grow. It was a collective recognition that there is work to be done in our community and our nation and there are many people that want to find the best and most effective ways to do their part to work for the greatest good.

What I know about my part today has surely matured over the years. I know today that I have the ability to lift up and inspire my community through my own words and actions. I believe this is true for all of us, we all have this amazing ability to raise up and inspire those around us. I truly believe that once we can recognize this power within us, it is our obligation to get out in the world and use it. Each and every one of us have an infinite well of love that we can give to the world around us and as we do that the world around us will experience the same growth and change that we have felt and now recognize. I know this is true because in settings like the one I was in the other night there was a feeling of love amongst strangers that was full and alive. In those moments I was reminded how important it is to share my joy, love and inspiration with everyone I meet so we can all heal a little more. It is not enough for me anymore to wait for someone else to come into my experience to raise up my fellows and me, there is an opportunity in every interaction to do my part and share my inspiration with everyone around me. I feel this is our calling! Care to join me, I am ready to keep healing, how about you?

Affirmation: I am filled with infinite inspiration and infinite love. Today I will share from my infinite well with everyone that I meet.

Call To Action: If you know that this life we get to live is a blessing don’t keep it to yourself. Wear your heart on the outside and share it with everyone you meet today so that they can be reminded of this truth for themselves. I know how good it feels to embody my blessings and I also know how easy it is to forget them. Today get out there in the world and help your community remember that Love is free and it comes from a well that never dries up and from that well springs all that is beautiful and good in this world. Thank you life!!!

2. Relax

Posted on January 11, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Your mind will answer most questions if you learn to relax and wait for the answer.” –William S. Burroughs

It seems that powers much greater than myself have been doing their best to teach me and many others a lesson about relaxation. We are currently experiencing what is being deemed the worst flu season on record. Even I fell victim to this illness about 5 weeks ago. When I first felt the cold coming on I did what I usually do, get a healthy mantra, and try to power through, since I had so many things on my plate thanks to the full life I live. After a few days, I had the feeling that it wasn’t going away, so I took some medicine and lots of fluids as was earlier recommended to me, but I didn’t take the time to slow down and relax. The result of my conscious unwillingness to take it easy was an unconscious shut down of my body, I was weak, my head stuffy and I had no energy.As I look back over these weeks of sickness I can say that was exactly what I needed. A complete and utter lesson in humility to remind myself that if I slow down and relax once in awhile things will take care of themselves. I have gotten better and I am feeling healthy again plus at this point I have gained a little more perspective with which I have the choice to bring into other areas of my life.

On a regular basis I find myself trying to fix, prepare, and set things in just the right way, running myself raw and then looking back and wondering why my goals were not met and I am so exhausted. My goal when I first got sick was to get better, but I didn’t want to let go of the reigns that I hold on my experience, once I did I started to heal and actually enjoyed clearing off some of my plate. I can see clearly today how well this could work in many other aspects of my life, sometimes I just need to relax and see how the world can best use me instead of trying so hard to make the world mold to my ideals. So, at least for this day, I am going to be sure to take some time and relax, have a few extra breaths, look around at the majesty in which I live and let the universe do it’s magic, I think the result will be glorious.

Affirmation: As I sit back and relax the right answers and solutions become clearer.

Call To Action: Take a break, relax a bit. Practice the art of relaxing and see what the world has in store with a little extra time given to it’s process. Share with our community what you do to relax and recenter through your day, I know I can always use some new ideas.

1. Letting Go

Posted on January 4, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“You buy furniture. You tell yourself, this is the last sofa I will ever need in my life. Buy the sofa, then for a couple years you’re satisfied that no matter what goes wrong, at least you’ve got your sofa issue handled. Then the right set of dishes then, perfect bed. The drapes. The rug. Then you’re trapped in your lovely nest, and the things you used to own, now they own you.”

― Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club

The New Year is upon us and as a tradition many of us are making new years resolutions; some of us have already broken them.

Last year we shared about one of the contributors of CYLFriday getting rid of all of his personal belongings to depart on a trip around the world. I couldn’t help but be a tad jealous of his upcoming adventure, but what I am mostly jealous of; is the getting rid of all his belongings piece.

I moved to a new apartment as he left the country. When I moved I brought with me these boxes of junk into the garage of my current residence. My short lease is now up and it is time for me to move again. Those same boxes are still in my garage untouched the whole time I lived here. I also brought with me many articles of clothing that I didn’t take out to wear even once. I recently met with my prospective new roommates, for a sort of quasi interview, and one of my questions was concerning storage space. I was concerned about where these precious knick-knacks could be safely stored until the next time that I move; knowing full well they would continue to be untouched for the whole duration of my next lease. It has occurred to me that this junk is a burden on my life, literally. I have to consider it when looking for a place almost as if I had a pet. Is this new place junk friendly? Is there storage space? Is there a junk deposit required? I have to defend myself. I am not a hoarder by any means. I go through my closet and donate clothes at least once a year and regularly weed out some of the less important junk every-time I move (which happens to be about once a year for the past 4 years). This time I will not bring any unnecessary items with me.

Affirmation: I will let go of what I do not need in my life.

Call to Action: Think about what you really need in this world, when you look in your closet, when you are out shopping about to buy some of the merchandise that looked so shiny in that commercial. Please share below your new years resolutions, your progress on them so far. Or a way you can lighten the burden on yourself whether it by material, physical or emotional.

52. Change

Posted on December 27, 2012 by changeyourlifefriday

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

Over the course of the last year all sorts of remarkable things have taken place in my life, the lives of my friends and the lives of everyone else who has shared this time together. We are all different from who we were just one short year ago. In this I have seen the beginning of new lives for some and lives come to an end for others, I have seen people move away and others return to places they have been in the past, I have seen people accomplish some amazing goals and other start a path towards new ones. SO in total I have seen a great deal of change in the lives of the people around me. As I look at these changed lives there are some people who have gone out in the world and made these changes happen for themselves and others who sat back while the change happened to them.

When we started this website a year ago, our intention was to help inspire more people to go out and make those changes happen in their life. Through attention, affirmation, and practice we have seen our lives change and we wanted to share that blessing with as many people as we could. I truly believe that those of you who practice any of the weekly ideas have been able to experience similar change.

It is said that change is inevitable and I know that to be true. What I also know is that I can be in complete control of how changes affect me. Through doing this work and this practice over the past year there is no question my life has changed, I am a year older, I have had a host of incredible life experiences and I have grown to value some of the simpler things in life. I am not the same person that helped brainstorm how best to get our message to you. Today I am a man who in the process of trying to change the world around him, changed himself and as a result sees a completely different world through these eyes. Thanks for the change!

Affirmation: Today I am the change I want to see.

Call to Action: There are three days left in this year to become the person that you wanted to be on 1/1/12. What I know about this world is that grand and revolutionary change can happen in an instant if we are willing to put forth the effort, let go of those things that hold us back and take action. If there was one thing that you wanted to do this year that did not start, complete or follow through on, do it today. There is no better time than now to finish this year off perfectly. I know that it is possible, take a chance, and make a change!