Ten minutes and six steps to a meaningful, purposeful life

July 25, 2007 · Posted in Choices, Goals, Motivation, Self-help, Success, Time Management

Get up - Take a shower - Grab a bite - Kiss the kids and wife (or husband) – Catch the train, bus, car, (fill in the blank________) to work - Do your time - Rub elbows - Head home - Eat dinner (supper, if your from the south) - Spend a little time with the kids before their bedtime - Watch a little tv - Lights out - Maybe some bedroom hyjinks - Sleep - Repeat daily — weekends off for good behavior.

Sound familiar? Call it a rut or call it a grave — the only difference is the depth. But the question is “How can you change”? “How can you get out of this rut”? The answer is simple. Stop living accidentally — because that’s what you’re doing now. If you don’t have a purpose (clear and defined) and a plan (written) for your life, then everything you do is accidental and pretty much incidental. Life is happening all around you, but your not experiencing it; you’re just bumping into it from time to time.

So what’s the remedy? Give yourself ten minutes each day to change your life. Five minutes in the morning and five minutes at night.

Get up five minutes earlier (yes I’m aware that you need your sleep, but you won’t miss it) each morning for the purpose of preparing yourself and your mind for the coming day; a kind of “get your mind right” exercise. Find a quiet spot and:

1. Be thankful - take a minute ( no more) to reflect on:

your previous night’s rest, your health, your family, your career, etc
the opportunities of the coming day.

2. Prepare for the day - one minute

3. Self Motivate - one minute

yes talk to yourself. It is ok.
be positive, optimistic and happy. Stand tall, shoulders back and head held high. Your posture has a great influence on your mood.
remind yourself that everything that is happening is for your ultimate benefit. Realize that every event has two sides - a positive and a negative or an optimistic and pessimistic - you determine your point of view.

4. Decide to contribute value to other people’s lives - two minutes

Smile - it makes you feel good and it makes the other person feel better. It’s healthier for you and it’s a mood-setter, meaning it’s the first thing people notice when you meet. Your smile disarms and welcomes. It makes interaction easier.
Greet others - Hi, How are you doing?, What’s up?, or How ’bout it? (it’s a southern thing). This show others that you are willing and able to interact.
Compliment others - but only if you can genuinely offer a compliment. It makes people feel good and it makes you feel good to help others feel good.
Engage others - ask about them, their family or their interests. Everyone likes to talk about their interests and will be flattered that you remembered to ask about them.
Listen - give them your attention or don’t bother to engage them at all. Remember that you may need a shoulder to cry on sometime and this person could be a willing confidant.
Empathize - be willing to see and feel their situation. Laugh or cry with them - but be there to provide the support they need.
Help them - ask how you can help and then follow through.
Console - if there is nothing you can do then simply offer your consolation. If possible try to lift their spirits.

5. Review your day - three minutes

Acknowledge your accomplishments - Feel good about them.
Acknowledge your missed opportunities - Try to see how it could have been different.
Resolve to have a fresh start in the morning.

6. Wind down - two minutes

Give thanks for the day and the opportunities it provided.
Relax - consciously flex and relax your muscles slightly. This will allow you to see where you might be experiencing stress and then you can consciously relax these muscles allowing you to drift off to a peaceful sleep sooner.
Self talk - tell yourself that you are going to have a deep and restful nights sleep.
Visualize - in your mind’s eye, allow your dreams and goals to come into focus and see them as you continue to relax and drift off to sleep.

Commit to following this plan or one of your choosing for one month, then compare the differences in your life before and after. I have no doubt that you will be amazed and what you are capable of accomplishing.

Tags: meaningful+life, purposeful+life

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