What's Next?

First, I want to thank all of you who messaged me yesterday. The best part about being a writer is having people read your work and comment on it.

You all rock!

In a few hours, it will be a new year and I am making a new writing commitment.

Since I have been writing non-fiction for a long time, I want to try creative fiction.

Like stories. Being Irish (I Wish Princess- did you all get that?) I love stories.

My grandma came to this country during the Potato Famine but before she left the old sod, she kissed the Blarney Stone.

According to legend, one kiss placed on that rock bestows the person with the gift of eloquence.

I always had a suspicion that it was genetically imparted too since I have always loved words.

So, for 2016 I will be using this blog to write stories.

But not just any old story; I will be adding a touch of mystery.

Until tomorrow...

Thank You

Thank you for reading my blog this year.

As some of you may remember, this blog was a commitment for me to write daily.

And I did. Tomorrow will be my 365th post. Some posts I loved while some I just posted. :)

I chose to write about motivation and achieving goals because I have a sincere desire to see people succeed.

And guess what?

My blog was noticed. Yes, by you, my faithful readers, but also by a publisher.

I have been offered an opportunity to participate in a writer's workshop for 13 weeks with the purpose of preparing a manuscript for this publishing house.

Sweet.

So to avoid copyright issues (since my book will be on motivation) this blog  will take an entirely new direction.

2015 was a year where I showed my faithfulness in blogging daily, but 2016 will be a year to explore my creativity. Or craziness...

Stay tuned.

Going to the Life Story Doctor

Have you ever gone to the doctor because you had flu symptoms or perhaps a pulled muscle?

I'm sure you expected the doctor to diagnose the problem and give you a prescription.

In other words, you anticipated getting better.

So why are you so discouraged about your life story? If things aren't going well at the moment, why do you feel 'terminal?' As in 'The End' of all your hopes and dreams?

If you're sick, you can get well.

If your life story has taken a wrong turn, U-turn, or maybe no turn, that can change.

Here's your prescription:

Imagine complete fulfillment of your goals every 4 hours. 

Take on an empty mind that does not have any negativity in it.

May cause feelings of euphoria and hope.

No, you don't have to send me your co-pay. This is on the house.

Courage and all that it Contains

Did you ever play that game where you find words within a word?

For instance, how many words can you find in 'courage?'

I found about 20 but according to this handy-dandy word maker, there are 80 words within the word courage.

Word Maker

When I first thought of the word courage, I could see certain ideas that would be useful when writing your life story.

Courage contains 'rage' perhaps against fear and discouragement.

Courage contains 'cougar,' an animal whose survival depends on its ability to use all of its skills.

Courage also contains 'grace,' which is a nice reminder that all that we have has been gifted to us.

When writing your life story, remember courage and all that it holds for you.

Make your life story contain all your hopes and dreams.

One Big Idea Away From Success

Everyone is only one big idea away from success.

Think:

Light bulb

Wheel

Plane

Telephone

Penicillin

What's your big idea?

Think:

I will live an amazing successful life.

I will write my life story and accomplish my goals and dreams.

I will live each day in confidence.

Yep. Those ideas will do it for you.

The Day After...

The day after a holiday can be either a let-down or a push forward.

The let-down feeling can come if you view the day as mostly preparation with little interaction.

"What? I cooked for 8 straight hours and everyone was done eating in 20 minutes!"

"Do you know how much traffic I sat in to buy that toy that was just broken?"

A push forward is totally different.

"I loved hearing grandma's stories about growing up. She overcame a lot of obstacles and is my inspiration."

"I am so proud of my cousin. Last year, she told us she had a big work-related goal and she achieved it."

The holidays give us a lot. Sure, they involve cooking, shopping, and cleaning.

But they give us a glimpse in the lives of those we love.

We get to see their life stories being written-- year after year-- holiday after holiday.

Write yours.

Reason for the Season

With all of the ways to greet people this holiday season, let's not focus on differences, but on what each of us brings to our festivities.

Love.

Peace.

Joy.

And let's put these emotions at the forefront when writing our life stories.

Every day.

What If I'm Disappointed?

Maybe your life story isn't going as well as you would like.

Maybe you're disappointed that your dreams and goals seem so inaccessible.

Maybe you think this whole writing-your-amazing-life-story thing is a joke.

It isn't.

Disappointment is a result of wrong thinking.

When your thoughts and your actions are not the same, you feel discouraged.

But there is a way to fix this.

Change your thoughts which will change your actions.

That sounds so simple, yet most of us aren't completely convinced that our thoughts direct our lives.

Why not try it and find out for yourself?

You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Halfway or No Way?

Is half of something better than nothing at all?

That depends.

Some money is better than being completely broke but half of a roof on your house would be pointless.

In life, make choices that will bring you a 100% return.

Like writing your life story with full confidence.

Or using every available opportunity to achieve your goals.

Don't think about whether your glass is half full or half empty.

Live with a 100% mindset; anything less will leave you thirsty for more.

Do You Really Have it All?

The short answer is yes.

But- you say- where is the million dollars, my luxury car, and my European villa?

They are in the world.

Yes, I'm right about that. The money, car, and expensive home all exist somewhere in the world.

But- you say- I want those things in my world. Now.

Really?

Are they part of your life story?

The problem with looking at other's people's stuff is that it may not be right for you.

What if I told you that instead of the money, car, and home you will be getting worldwide fame, your personal plane, and an island of your own in the Pacific?

That sounds good too, doesn't it?

When writing your life story, be confident but don't box yourself into a set of preconceived ideas.

Dream your own dream and that dream will show up in your life in living color.

Life is Normal

Yes, life is normal, but sometimes we think we're in a movie.

We seem to expect outrageous difficulties, demonic friends, and one plot problem after another.

You are not Stephen King. Don't imagine the worst with every turn of the page-- or day.

Life is made up of normal events.

Say no to drama.

Write your life story and tell it like it really is.

Feelings or Facts?

How do write your life story? Are you relying on feelings or facts?

Feelings can be false while facts are based on truth.

Although your emotions make up a big part of your life, they can lead you in the wrong direction. That's because our feelings are a result of what we are thinking.

Do you 'feel' discouraged or somehow unworthy of living an amazing life?

That thought is in your mind only.

The fact is that you are alive here today for a reason.

Feelings can fool you; facts will lead you forward.

Whining to the Finish Line?

I bet you read that title twice.

I wrote "whining" not "winning."

Sure, the words look a bit alike at first glance, but their meanings are polar opposites.

Whine...

   "to complain, usually often and loudly"

Win...

   "to be successful and achieve victory"

When writing your life story, I suggest winning over whining.

Even though whining is easy to do, it turns your focus away from your goals. And let's face it, complaining doesn't move you forward.

A winning attitude means you are looking at the finish line with determination.

It's a 'no-matter-what' perspective that is very powerful.

Write your life story like the winner you are.

Did You...?

Did you have a good night's sleep?

Did you take your vitamins?

Did you feed your pets?

Did you do your laundry?

Did you think about your goals and dreams?

No?

You are more than a body that needs to be fed and rested; you are more than an employee, wife, husband, friend, or pet lover.

You are a unique human being placed on the Earth at this particular time to tell us your life story.

Did you get that?

Free Shipping!

If your Inbox is anything like mine, you are getting a lot of emails this time of year advertising sales and free shipping.

'Tis the season...

Retailers know that free shipping makes money. No, that's not an oxymoron; giving people something free is a great way to motivate them to take action.

Oh, by the way, did I ever mention that you have been given a unique set of skills, hopes, and dreams to write your amazing life story?

And, yes, that was completely free.

It's time to ship your story.

Coal and Regrets

Santa's coming.

We all want the presents in that great big bag of his, but let's not forget that he still hands out coal to those who were naughty.

Of course, that's not you or me.

But sadly, many of us will gift ourselves with coal of a different type.

As the year ends, are you holding onto regrets, disappointments, and even fears?

Consider those things to be coal in your stocking.

And coal is only good for one thing-- fuel.

May that 'coal' fuel your motivation to move forward into the life story that is yours.

Got a Change in Mind?

It's easy to change some things, like your hair style or the kind of car you drive.

Those things are physical and you can manipulate the physical world.

But what if you wanted to change your home or work environment and make it less stressful?

Or maybe you want to be more successful on the job or in a personal venture?

While these things do touch the physical world, a large part of this type of change begins in the mind.

Your thoughts about stress and success will bring about these desired changes.

Perspective plays a big role in changing things that are not wholly in the physical world.

Think about what you want changed, 'see' it happen in your mind and then watch it come to life.

Name It and Claim It

There is a psychological principle that states that once you name something, you own it.

Names make things familiar and take away the fear of the unknown.

Today, how about giving your life story a title?

How about The Amazing Life Story of (your name)?

Or how's this: The Extraordinary Adventures of (your name)?

Name your story.

You already own it.

Are You Waiting for Your Cue?

If you were an actor on stage, you may be waiting for the line that introduces you.

Maybe something like this:

And now, the forces of the Universe are properly aligned to give (your name) an amazing life of peace, prosperity, and success.

Then you enter amid applause and stand in the spotlight.

That isn't going to happen.

Here's why:

You do not need to wait for someone to tell you it's okay to live an amazing life.

You are already on stage in the spotlight.

Live like the star you are.

How Do You Walk?

Do you saunter down the street with a swagger?

Or do you plod along without purpose or passion?

Walk the walk of a successful and happy person.

Stand upright, put your shoulders back, and raise your head.

And walk confidently into the awesome destiny that awaits you.

What Did You Order?

Have you ever gone to McDonalds's and got a Whopper?

That will never happen.

Whoppers are not available --at any time-- in a McDonald's.

Sometimes things are not there but we may look for them anyway.

Like problems.

If your life is going along well, don't stop and conjure up potential problems.

And I bet you can imagine some 'whoppers' of problems.

Write your life story and don't see what's not there.

Half Full or Half Empty?

You have all been asked the question:

       Is the glass half full or half empty?

Apparently, this is to determine if you are an optimist or pessimist.

But I am asking you a different question:

       Do you want to enjoy a full glass?

You can.

The Universe has given you all that you need to succeed.

Stop trying to analyze if you have a lot or a little; you have it all.

Now, go out and write your life story.

Cheers!

The Last Horse-and-Buggy Salesman

Can you imagine what it felt like to be the last horse-and-buggy-salesman?

Do you think people drove past him in their new automobile and gave him a snarky wave?

Life is like that.

Sometimes we are afraid of moving forward and end up not moving at all.

Rev up your engines today and trust in a future, even if it's different.

Quit

The end of the year is fast approaching.

How are you doing with achieving your goals and writing your life story?

Are you still encountering any hindrances?

Sometimes we need to quit something in order to move forward.

It may be putting a stop to procrastination, fear, or discouragement.

Or maybe you have some time-draining activities in your life that need to go.

Today...stop...and think about what is slowing you down or preventing you from moving forward.

And put a stop to them.

Quickly and quietly.

Probability and Procrastination

The more you procrastinate, the less likely it will be that you achieve your goals.

Stop making excuses, (even really good ones!) and start moving toward what you want.

By taking a step forward, you will dramatically increase the odds of you writing your life story and achieving your goals and dreams.

Start now.

Zeno's Paradox

Zeno's Paradox states that when you are moving forward, you must arrive at the halfway stage before reaching your goal.

As an example, let's say you are walking to your car. Before you get there, you must be halfway there. At that point, you continue to move toward the car, but now you will reach a halfway point again.

And again. And again.

In Zeno's Paradox, you would travel, one-half, one-fourth, one-eighth, one-sixteenth...and so on.

Or, in other words, theoretically, you would never arrive at your car because you will always have to move halfway from point to point.

Well, that doesn't happen, does it? You have probably walked to your car perfectly fine this morning.

That's because Zeno's Paradox does not take into account an important factor: time.

Time is not made of indivisible moments.

Now is now. It cannot be divided.

And that's a very good thing.

When we move toward our goals, we are in 'now.'

And great things happen then.

So, go write your life story.

Now.

Busy vs. Productive

Are you getting things done and writing your life story?

Or are you just busy?

Have your written down your goals and dreams? These are the framework for writing your life story, similar to an author constructing a plot.

Writing things down helps to get things done. 

While actions begin with your thoughts, when you write something down, you transfer that thought to the physical realm, which is a step closer to completing it.

 You will make your life-- and your life story-- more productive when you stop being busy.

Like and Share

"Like" and "Share" are two responses for Facebook posts.

What kind of response do people have for your real life "posts?"

Is what you're doing and saying something to be liked and shared?

If not, you could change that.

Write your life story, for yourself and those around you.

Where's the Future?

Where is the future?

Is the future a 'better' time to fulfill your dreams and goals?

Is it best to wait for that future?

Or maybe the future is when you will have more time to write your life story?

Exactly when will that be?

Psst...here's a secret.

The future is here. From the time I started writing this blog post to this moment, the 'future' arrived.

Time moves forward every second.

Don't wait for the future to write your life story; do it now.

Today.

The Day After

The day after an event or a major holiday always seems to be a bit of let-down, doesn't it?

All the preparation and expectation seems to lead to a day or an event that is over too quickly.

That doesn't happen when writing your life story.

Each day is a page in your story.

Each day comes with the possibility of something exciting and amazing.

Look for the best in every day.

It's there.

When Something is Missing

There is an unmistakable void in our lives when something or someone is missing.

Perhaps you physically lost an object or a person you love is no longer around.

You can either look for what is lost or accept that it's gone.

If it's meant to be part of your life story, it will return, if not, don't seek to restore what should not be.

Writing your life story may require some hard choices but make acceptance and hope the main characters.