In the movie Home Alone, a child’s dream comes true when he thinks his annoying family has vanished into thin air. He is suddenly free to do whatever he wants. He stays up late, eats ice cream for dinner, watches movies that he’s not supposed to watch, messes up his big brother’s room, and tries out his dad’s deodorant and after-shave lotion. He has a wonderful time alone . . . for a few hours.
Then suddenly, the child comes to the realization that he’s just not having that much fun on his own. He misses the love of his family, and he longs for a chance to share his life with them again.
Have you ever wished that everyone would just leave you alone and stop bothering you? Have you ever longed to have everything to yourself, just for one day? Be careful what you wish for.
The truly good things in life are loving and giving. They far exceed material possessions, power, or prestige. Why is that? Have you considered why a simple hug from a friend when you need it the most can completely turn your day around? Have you experienced what it feels like to give to someone who really needs your help?
Your assignment today is to get out your notebook and recall two or three experiences you have had that involve loving and giving. Then journal for a few pages about how loving and giving bring extra meaning to your life. What are ways in which you can add larger portions of those two ingredients to every day?
DAY
52
“Life is a game—play to win.”
— Al Neuharth
Jo Ann trudged through life. Everything was a chore to her. There were very few things she enjoyed in her day, and her sour mood made that very clear. She believed that life was work—hard work—and the people surrounding her were idiots. Jo Ann felt that she would be successful if she played the martyr and grudgingly fixed everyone else’s mistakes. She knew how to do things right, and that was her claim to fame.
What is life to you? Is it a chore? Is it drudgery? Do you feel grumpy most days? Does it seem to you like the object of your existence is to get through life, not to enjoy it?
Today’s exercise will provide you with an alternate perception of life. Think of life as a game. Stop taking yourself so seriously and start having a little bit of fun. Think of the way you dive into strategies when you play a game. You get right into the action and react to what is going on around you with energy and vibrancy. You can be fearless and take a few risks, because it’s just a game. But you are never too reckless. You play to win.
Your task today is to play the game of life. Whenever you start to take yourself too seriously, stop and think of what you would do if you were simply playing a game. What is the next move you want to make? What would be the right move? How can you play to win?
Energize your day by turning your thoughts upside down. Try out a risky move that may be just the right strategy to bring you success. If it doesn’t work, no big deal. It’s just a game. Laugh at your failures and learn from them. Then get back on the board and try a new strategy. Life is a game—play to win.
DAY
53
“Man is born to live, not to prepare for life.”
— Boris Pasternak
You are born to live. That is a fairly obvious statement. However, many of us don’t do what we were born to do. We don’t live. Instead, we spend far too much time preparing for life. What exactly are we getting ready for? If we look around, we will find we’re in the midst of it already.
Imagine you are the winner of a luxurious train trip. You can take anyone you want with you, and the journey promises to be filled with loads of exciting sites, spectacular events, and a few surprises. The train is pulling away from the station, and rather than hopping on, you choose instead to rearrange your suitcase in the terminal. That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it?
Think about your life right now. Are you rearranging your suitcase, or are you getting on that train? Are you preparing for life, or are you living it?
Your assignment today is to take a page of your notebook and draw a line vertically down the center of the page. On the left side of the line, list at least five ways in which you are preparing for life instead of living it. On the right side of the page list strategies you might use to change what you’re doing. How can you stop preparing and start living? What can you do today, at this very minute, to change your inaction into action?
Life is a journey that is just too wonderful to pass up. Get on the train!
DAY
54
“Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt
As you navigate your road to success, you will come across roadblocks. We have mentioned them a few times already, and today we will talk about one particularly ominous one—individuals who make you feel inferior.
Do you have a boss, a coworker, a family member, or a friend who makes you feel like you are unworthy of having a successful life? Who is that person? It may be difficult to point them out, especially if they are someone you admire. Nevertheless, it is important to identify them. You must clearly label your roadblocks in order to find a way around them. Who makes you feel inferior?
Your assignment today is in two parts. First, write down who makes you feel inferior. List them by name. Then, write about what that individual does specifically to make you feel substandard. Do they make fun of you? Do they criticize your work? Do they ignore you? What actions do they take to make you feel bad?
The second part of your assignment is to take personal responsibility. You had a chance to complain about what they do to you in part one. Now, you must own up to the fact that you are allowing them to do it. You are giving them consent to make you feel bad. Open up your notebook again, and write about how you can change that. What can you do to take away their power? They cannot make you feel inferior without your consent. You know the truth, and you are in no way inferior to that person. Take responsibility for yourself and take back your power.
DAY
55
“The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
On Day 38 you worked on putting your words into action. You found out that it is often better to speak little and do much. Today, we will revisit that concept in a slightly different way. Actions almost always speak louder than words, and in fact, words will have a negative effect on your character if you don’t follow up with appropriate actions.
In the quote above, Ralph Waldo Emerson pokes fun at people who boast about themselves. They usually come across as untrustworthy, and we tend to question their behavior. You may know of someone who is a big talker. They sing their own praises whenever they get the chance, but they don’t actually do all the things they say they do. In fact, they are often missing in action when it’s time to do some real work.
Now for the tough question: are you one of those people? What do you talk about the most? Does it have anything to do with your reality? Do you talk about all of the wonderful trips you plan to take around the world, but the truth is you’ve really only taken one vacation, and it was two hours from home? Do you boast about what you would do if you ran the company, but you never take any concrete steps to become part of a management team? Do your actions match your words?