Change Your Life Friday

2021 Restart, Reset, & Relaunch

29. Experience

Posted on July 19, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“What one has not experienced, one will never understand in print.” – Isadora Duncan

Last weekend at a resort in Phoenix Arizona several thousand people gathered together to celebrate their lives and inspire the lives of others. I was blessed to be a part of the planning and culmination of this event and could not be more proud of the results that were apparent throughout and after the weekend had passed. Part of my job in putting this event together was to get the word out to people so they would not miss out on the experience of being a part of something so big and beautiful. I recognized I can share a concept and an idea, I can do it with love and enthusiasm, but a concept will never have as much weight as an experience.

My life today is so much different than when I was younger, thanks to some very vivid experiences I have been graced with. These experiences gave me the ability to see how my choices were giving me a life I no longer wanted. When I look at my life in reverse, all of the great changes have taken place came as a result of some experience that opened a window of willingness to take action for a change. I often see people who are begging and pleading for a change and I do my best to tell them how the changes in my life have taken place. Sometimes, I feel so strongly about these things that I want to scream at the top of my lungs to help inspire someone but then, like this weekend, I am reminded if the words could help someone change then no one would have issues or problems.

I know today, life is what I make of it and the best I can do is help others get out in the world to have their own experiences. My life happens out in the world and the only way I can capitalize on that is by becoming a part of it as much as I can. The world is waiting for all of us when we step away from this page. With a little bit of action maybe this will be the Friday that you truly change your life.

Affirmation: A good life is not just a concept; today I will take the action to make it my actual experience.

Call to Action: This is the juice as my friend would say. Every week we share an idea that can inspire change. What this week calls for is going out and being that change and sharing with us the results. I know what my next step is and today I am going to choose to take it, the result will be an experience that I can build on to. The world is waiting for you.

19. Do What You Love

Posted on May 10, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

Do what you love, you will be better at it. It sounds pretty simple but you’d be surprised how many people don’t get this right away. -LL Cool J

One night last week I was down at the ballpark enjoying America’s past time. The home team was winning so I had a smile on my face. We were sitting in the bleachers and had some hot dogs; not too bad for 20 bucks. At our stadium they have a big 50/50 raffle that I tend to donate to, there are employees of the park that walk around the isles during the game and help sell tickets to raise money for their cause and also for the cause of one lucky winner. When the man came by this week I knew I recognized him but could not place him right away. He looked really happy and I realized that’s why I was having trouble placing him. It was an old roommate of mine and the whole time I lived with him he never looked happy. Sure he smiled, he was happy at times, but his overall demeanor was less than thrilled on a regular basis.

I was so taken back with his 180 degree personality shift I wasn’t really sure how to react. When he came back around later on in the game and I told him he looked really good and really happy. He replied, “That’s cause I love this job! I have always wanted to work for a baseball team.” He went on to tell me he wanted to work for another team eventually, but for 162 days a year he works at his dream job. He doesn’t have the position he hopes to have someday but he is very happy to have his entry-level job.

I think about how he looked when I lived with him and how he looked at his new job and at first thought I am amazed. When I took some time to think about what he said and the situation as a whole It really rang true what they say, “If you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life again.” I am following my dreams today which was not always the case and I am certainly not yet where I want to be but I have started to take the first steps to my dream, just as my old roommate has. My truth today is the same as his, I am doing what I always wanted to do and it makes me happy.

Affirmation: I am now willing to let my fears fall free me so that I can start to be who I always wanted to be.

Call to Action: I think it is very easy to get stuck in a situation that is “good enough” and never take that risk to follow our dreams. All dreams that are realized start with small steps and commitment to the path that it takes to get there. I know you have some dreams, maybe today is the day that you take the first step and feel some of the joy that comes with doing what you want.

14. Winner

Posted on April 4, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“The odd were against us, but we deserve to be where we are.” – Steve Gerrard

I was struck by an amazing thought the other day while I was out for a run on a beautiful afternoon. It came like a flash, and I was filled with this sense of duty and purpose, in that moment I was at perfect peace and was fully aware of the greatness of my life and experience. The thought that I had was simple and I know that I have had it before but like most things it would stay for a bit and then fade, as a result I would forget one of the most amazing things that truly can inspire me at any moment. The thought “I am truly blessed to be alive, the chances of me getting to be must be astronomical.” What I knew after thinking that was that I am grateful for this chance today and this experience and I want to make sure that I am showing that gratitude in every moment of my life.

For the past week or so I have been revisiting this idea, enjoying the feeling that comes when I think about how special I really am to have this chance to experience life and also how special everyone else is who has gotten their chance as well. As usual I wanted to look a bit deeper into what the odds really are, did I really hit the lottery already? Have I already been granted the greatest gift the universe can bestow. So I hit the internet up for some answers. First I would like to say that I have gambled in my life and I know that a 1 out of 100 chance is pretty poor odds. Furthermore my chances of winning the powerball seem so unlikely but they are around 1 in 175,223,510. Now my odds of being born at this time in history are about 1 in 6000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0000000, that is 100 zeros if you wanna count. I would call that the not a snowballs chance in hell number.

But here I am! Writing this to you and there you are. We are the winners! We are enjoying this thing called life. Life is filled with all sorts of experiences but it seems that when I take this idea of how fortunate I am into them, regardless of how they make me feel in a moment, I am still one of the biggest winners this world has ever known. It seems so easy to get down and live completely separated from gratitude for this gift, but constant recognition of this divine miracle seems to be an amazing way to connect to what is the real truth in this world; You are so special and amazing beyond measure, you make a 1 in a million chance seem like child’s play.

Affirmation: I am so blessed to be right here right now.

Call to Action: Take some time throughout the next several days to feel how special you are. With that feeling in mind how will you celebrate your victory?

12. Connecting

Posted on March 22, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Last weekend I had the chance to travel through several states and log many miles with a group of people in a van. Over the course of the weekend we were able to go through several stages of growth together since we all had a common goal on our journey. At the beginning of the trip it was a bit awkward because the group was comprised of 11 people who knew each other mostly as acquaintances. At some point everyone in the van started to get out of their shells through accepting the group and the role that we all had collectively as well as individually. The music inspired conversation which turned into jokes and joy for everyone involved. At some point we also came up with a chant made us smile and turned some heads which finished with the phrase, “No Regrets.” We continued to bond and by the time we returned it seemed that we didn’t want to part since our conversations continued to deepen throughout the journey.

Over the past several days since the trip we have all seemingly found reasons to get together and relive the moments that we shared on our trip and also make new memories together. I really feel that once we all started to let our guard down and talk about our lives honestly and from the heart our little community began to bond in a very beautiful way. The most interesting part to me when I look at this experience from the outside is how we all grew once we freed ourselves from judgement and accepted each other and our mission.

I think the lesson that I learned and that I want to share with you is that I find so much growth for myself through the times I spend with others. I also find that there is not much that is more inspirational than to see someone else grow and change in front of my eyes. When we left I am certain that we were all thinking about our goal for the trip but I feel that it was in the journey that we found the most growth. The only way that this can happen though is to get involved and take an active role in the lives that we have been given. I am so proud of my new crew that took that chance at being uncomfortable and put themselves in a position to show me once again that I am completed by the people that I surround myself with. Thank you all for being a part of my experience, I love my CYLfriday crew, No Regrets!

Affirmation: Today I embrace my journey. I make memories and connections with all who I come in contact with. I love the idea that all people can be old friends when I let them in.

Call To Action: Share with us a recent time that you have had deep meaningful conversation with someone other that a dear friend. When was the last time you were vulnerable, and the result was something unpredictable and beautiful?

11. Reach Out

Posted on March 14, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Don’t be afraid to talk, be afraid of staying quite.” – Eugene Lebid

I was talking to a friend the other day who proclaimed that her life was ruined, her future was hopeless, and she had no one to turn to. I quickly spouted off a list of family members and friends that could potentially help her. All of which were immediately rebutted with reasons why they could not or would not based on past interactions. I simply replied maybe this time it will be different.

I know the feelings of hopelessness and isolation. I have been in that same position where I cannot see the light. It usually takes another person to point out that there is hope and the light is very close. I often forget how many people are in this world that I can turn to. I forget that when I need help all I have to do is ask. I forget that I have been here before and it is always darkest before the dawn. By reaching out and being vulnerable, I have grown in many ways. The majority of this growth was ignited by some of the most unlikely people, or so I thought. It is a great joy to go from seemingly hopeless to seeing a world of light and possibilities.

I beg of you to reach out. Talk about what is bothering you. Share your struggles with us and may we help you bear the load. When we keep things bottled inside it only makes us sick. When we share we heal and learn that maybe other people have been in our same situation and can lead us to what helped them.

Affirmation: I am loved. I have someone I can share with. I am a part of a community. I can be there for my friends who need me.

Call to action: Share something with a friend or loved one that you decided to keep to yourself. Maybe they are waiting for your call now. You can leave a comment below about how this changed your life today, or email us directly if you don’t want to talk to any of your friends. changeyourlifefriday@gmail.com

10. Evolution

Posted on March 8, 2013 by changeyourlifefriday

“Love is a sacred reserve of energy; it is like the blood of spiritual evolution.” – Teilhard De Chardin

Over the last five years I have been conscious of my ever growing life, and specifically I have been an active member in my own personal evolution. I am fairly certain this process has been going on my entire life, but I also humbly acknowledge I have not always been a participant in the development.

Today I get to be engaged in my personal growth. My greatest growth has come in two forms. First when I realize something in my life that is an internal block to Love, and in response to this epiphany work to dissolve that block. This usually occurs when some “crisis” occurs. It might look like an end of a relationship or perhaps a financial problem. The other is when I actively find situations that take me out of my comfort zone, and makes me aggressively do some deep soul searching. One personal example is a meditation retreat I attended.

Inadvertently this week’s topic has elements of the last 3 weeks of CYLFriday. The fact is it takes a great deal of self-love and persistence to evolve in breaking down internal barriers, and seeking barriers that I may not be aware of. The process has been such a wonderful adventure I now find it important to pass it on to others. If I am able to take action to be a better me this is the best type of leadership I can give my fellow wonderer on this path called Life.

Affirmation: I draw from the sacred well of life to bring in the Love that helps me to evolve to a new outlook and new me.

Call to Action: You are an ever-evolving, ever-unfolding expression of love and life. Take some time to see where this growth has taken place recently, truly take the time to honor that growth and share it with the people around you. I know the best teachers that I have ever had in my life are the ones that knew and lived their passions. You are one of those teachers, head forth and find your students!

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.