DAY
2
“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
— J. K. Rowling
You shape your future every day through the choices you make. That’s sort of a hard one to swallow, isn’t it? It would be much easier to say you are a victim of circumstances. Then you don’t have to act. Your choices create your reality. They are far more important than aptitude or circumstance.
Say you have a boss who is constantly criticizing your work. They pick on you so much that you are starting to mistrust your ability to perform your job. You can choose to believe your boss, or you can trust yourself and leave the doubter in the dust. Think about how you respond to people who make you feel small. Why are you giving them power?
Does your level of education define you? Does it limit you? That, too, is a choice. You may not think you’re smart enough to earn a degree or apply for a better job. Is that really true, or did you choose not to do the work? There are a million ways to add to your abilities, and they don’t all come with huge price tags or scary entrance exams. Have you thought about seeking a mentor or applying for an apprenticeship? Have you even explored your talents to find out where your aptitudes lie?
Today, your assignment is to observe your choices. Look at every decision you make, from the food you eat to the time you spend on various tasks, to the people you choose to hang out with. Are you making choices that limit you or choices that nurture you?
DAY
3
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.”
— Goethe
A couple of days ago, you started a notebook of dreams. How is that going? Have you written anything down yet? If you haven’t, what are you waiting for? Get busy! You are not going to change by just reading this book. If you have been working on your dream notebook, pat yourself on the back. Good job! You are taking that first step in faith.
Today’s lesson is about boldness. It’s a wonderful word that means to have courage, to plunge forward even when there is risk involved. To be bold also means to be clear or distinct. Bold type is stronger. It stands out.
Be bold about your dreams. Take risks. There is genius in being bold, because it is the opposite of being shy and uneasy. It shows direction and commitment. You can either apologize for your life, or you can step up to the plate and go for it. What do you have to lose? A boring and unfulfilling life?
You don’t have to even believe in yourself to be bold. It’s like standing on the high dive for the first time. You don’t have to know what it’s going to feel like to plunge into that cold water. You just have to dive off.
Your assignment today is to look at some of your dreams. Pick one. What can you do to boldly go in the direction of that dream? Is there a clear and distinct move you can make today that will start to hurl you toward that goal? Would it really be so scary? What first step can you take in faith? The results may be magical.
DAY
4
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”
— Scott Adams
You are a powerful being. Do you realize the immense authority you have at this very moment to influence the world?
If you are skeptical of this fact, now is the time to test it. Your assignment today (and every day forward if you choose) is to do at least one nice thing for someone else. It can be nothing bigger than offering a smile and a hand to an elderly woman in the grocery store or not honking at the guy who cuts you off in traffic. You have no idea of the ripple effect you set in motion when you scatter small acts of kindness around. They change the people you touch, and they change you.
There are two rules to keep in mind when carrying out this assignment. One, you have to be sincere. Don’t compliment someone on their bad haircut and then make fun of them behind their back. You must be honest and sincere when carrying out each act of kindness.
The second rule is you must not expect a single thing in return. Try not to take credit for the act. Anonymous acts of kindness are the best. Don’t worry about getting praise for your actions. You will be rewarded by a jolt of excitement and happiness when you carry out your good deed unnoticed. Don’t believe it? Try it, and see how you feel.
Here is a little secret: acts of kindness are not completely selfless. The ripple reverses itself, and you will begin to feel good from the inside out.
DAY
5
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved.”
— Winston Churchill
Destiny carries with it an unfortunate connotation. It sounds pre-determined, unchangeable, and inactive. Some people tend to think of destiny in the same way the main character sees her fate in the opera Carmen. She reads in the tarot cards that she’s going to die, and what happens? She dies. Not a darn thing she can do about it. It’s her destiny.
That’s not reality. What you choose to do every single minute of every single day shapes your destiny. Don’t sit around like Carmen in front of the bull ring waiting for destiny to come upon you. Choose your destiny before it chooses you.
Winston Churchill said destiny is a thing to be achieved because it takes real effort to fulfill your destiny. You can’t sit around waiting for destiny to show up. You must act. It’s time to own up to what is going on in your life today. What are you doing to steer the boat? Did you throw your life into cruise control a long time ago, or are you actively pointing yourself in the direction you want to travel?
Your assignment today is to take one step toward achieving your destiny. Chart your course. Look at your list of dreams and pick one thing you want to achieve by the end of this year. Congratulations! You have a destination and a timeframe. Now, what can you do to launch your journey? Is it compiling a list of recruiters to call? Is it getting on the Internet to search for a long-lost friend? You don’t have to reach your destination today. Just start the journey. Soon your destiny will be clear.
DAY
6
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”
— Anatole France
You are destined to do great things in your life. It is okay to believe that. It’s true. In order to accomplish great things you must start small and think big. Allow yourself to imagine the impossible. You may start with a phrase like, “I would like a job I enjoy going to every day.” That’s a great dream. Now go bigger. Try something like, “I would like to be an influential person.”
Feel free to get specific and maybe even be a little selfish. No one will see this homework assignment but you. “I would like to travel the world” or “I would like to be a millionaire” is perfectly acceptable, if it is your dream. Nothing is too big, too silly, or too ridiculous. What can you imagine if you have no rules or boundaries? Add to your dream list whenever you can, and read through your dreams every day. Don’t forget them.