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How to Squeeze the Life Out of Life?

Several years ago the movie "Dead Poets Society" resurrected an obscure Latin phrase that most of us had forgotten: "Carpe Diem." It means, "Seize the Day." It is an exhortation to live life to the fullest, getting the most out of each day.

Isn't that what you want? Who wants to live a mediocre life? I sure don't! By nature we want our lives to be full of vim and vigor. Advertisers know this-they've built it into their slogans: Just Do It, Satisfy Your Thirst, Life Is A Journey-Enjoy the Ride-and so on.

Despite our desire for a full and meaningful life, most of us find ourselves so caught up in so many daily drudgeries that we simply don't have the time to CARPE DIEM. We've got place to go, people to see, things to do, and bills to pay. We want more for our lives but it just doesn't seem to be within our grasp.

Carpe Deim-a nice thought, eh? But how? How do we "Seize the Day?" How do we "Go for the Gusto?" How do we squeeze every ounce of life's joy out of each moment of our lives? These are questions the questions I want to help you answer in this e-book!

Discovering Your Purpose for Living!

Carpe Diem. Even though it's a Latin phrase it still has a ring of excitement about it. It means, "Seize the Day." It's an exhortation to live life to the fullest-to get the most out of each day. That's what we all want! We want to "go for the gusto" and squeeze the life out of life. Too bad we get caught floundering around with the daily drudgeries of our existence. We don't think that we have time to "Seize the Day."

How do we squeeze the life out of life? That's the question that has prompted this publication. This chapter will address the one central element that makes truly successful living a possibility. What is that element? It is the discovery of a worthwhile PURPOSE for our lives.

A PURPOSE FOR LIVING I've spent my life studying and trying to emulate those who live joyful and successful lives. Of those I've studied, I learned that that each possesses one universal trait. They have discovered a worthwhile purpose for their life. They know why they exist. This is true not only for successful individuals, but also for successful churches, businesses, civic organizations, and clubs. They all know WHY they exist.

Consider the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) :-( While certainly not a fan of the agency, one thing is certain: THEY KNOW THEIR PURPOSE. The 1976 IRS handbook states: "During a state of national emergency resulting from enemy attack, the essential functions of the Service will be as follows: assessing, collecting, and recording taxes." The bombs might be flying, but the folks down at the IRS will be doing what they've always done-taking our money. They know their purpose.

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE What is the chief, central, primary purpose for your life? I'm not asking what roles you fill or obligations you must satisfy. We all need to be good parents, faithful spouses, and ethical business people. I am asking about something deeper. As you fulfill you daily responsibilities what is the overarching purpose of your life?

Not sure? Here are some questions to get you thinking?

1) WHAT GIVE YOU PASSION? Napoleon Hill has said: "Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul; the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."

Take some time to examine your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. What are those things in life that when accomplished give you greater strength instead of shear exhaustion? What things renew you rather than drain you? What are you involved with that gives you the felling that you are contributing something of value to the world? By exploring your PASSIONS you will begin to uncover your PURPOSE.

Orison Swett Marden said "There's no grander sight in the world than that of a person fired with a great purpose, dominated by one unwavering aim." If this statement could describe any of us, then we would certainly be learning to "seize the day."

2) WHAT ARE YOUR RESOURCES-YOUR POTENTIAL? Listen to some of the "great" motivational experts and you'll hear them say that your potential is unlimited. Hogwash! At this point in my life their are certain things that are beyond my reach. For example, no matter how hard I work or how much I train, I don't have the potential to play basketball in the NBA. It's simply beyond my potential.

Nevertheless I do have some pretty terrific potential. So do you! The trick is to discover that potential. That's a key to discerning you our life's purpose. To begin identifying your potential start by asking yourselves these questions. Record your answers in your journal. (You are keeping a journal, aren't you?) ;-)

What unique God-given abilities do you possession? What experiences have provided you with special wisdom? What skills have you developed in you business or profession? What knowledge has gained while earning your education? What are your personal strengths of character?

3) WHAT ARE THE NEEDS AROUND ME?

The most successful person in modern history was a Catholic Nun named Mother Theresa. That sounds strange when you consider her lifestyle. She was a rather plain looking individual of small stature-not some leggy super-model. She was a poor in a world that values wealth--living in a one-room apartment with only a few pieces of furniture. Though she didn't fit any of our "success" stereotypes, I doubt that few would deny the achievements and value of her life. She was one of the most successful people to every live.

Leadership expert John Maxwell has written: "God's gift to me is my potential. My gift to God is what I do with that potential. I believe great leaders sense a 'higher calling'--one that lifts them above themselves. What a terrible waste of life to be climbing the ladder of success only to find when you read the top that you were leaning against the wrong building."

Mother Theresa's ladder was leaning against the right building. That's what made her successful. She looked around. She saw the tremendous need that existed in Calcutta. She knew that she had the potential to make a difference--one life at a time. Her heart was stirred. Her passions were energized. She devoted her life to make a difference. That's success in life!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER What gives you passion? What are your resources-your potential? What are the needs of the people around you? Answer these questions. Find out how each response intersect. When you do you will be on your way to discovering a worthwhile purpose for your life.

Developing An Exceptional Attitude

Norman Vincent Peale tells this story in his book, POWER OF THE PLUSFACTOR:

"Once walking through the twisted little streets of Kowloon in Hong Kong, I came upon a tattoo studio. In the window were displayed sample of the tattoos available. On the chest or arms you could have tattooed an anchor or flag or mermaid or whatever, But what struck me with force were three words that could be tattooed on one's flesh: BORN TO LOSE.

"I entered the shop in astonishment and, pointing to those words, asked the Chinese tattoo artist, 'Does anyone really have that terrible phrase, BORN TO LOSE, tattooed on his body?'

"He replied, 'Yes, sometimes.'

"'But,' I said, 'I just can't believe that anyone in his right mind would do that.'

"The Chinese man simply tapped his forehead and in broken English said, 'Before tattoo on body, tattoo on mind.'" (New York: Fawcett, 1988).

Our desire is to squeeze the life out of life. Fulfilling this desire is impossible, however, if the phrase BORN TO LOSE is tattooed on our minds. Once tattooed with this negative attitude our ability to live an energize life is tremendously decreased. The purpose of this article is to provide you with an easy and powerful plan for developing an exceptional attitude.

WHAT DETERMINES OUR ATTITUDE

Numerous factors play a part in determining our attitude. In this article I will deal with one: HOW WE THINK. William James said, "That which holds our attention determines our action." My experience dealing with people indicates that he is correct. The foundation for any attitude is the thought processes of the individual. All other factors (feeling, behaviors, circumstances, environment) are ultimately under the dominion of our thoughts.

This truth is illustrated a story told by Dr. Victor Frankel, one of the few survivors of Auschwitz. When asked how he survived in a place where tens of thousands had died, he said, "I always knew that my attitude was my choice. I could choose to despair or to be hopeful. But to be hopeful I needed to focus on something I wanted.

"I focused on my wife's hands. I wanted to hold them one more time. I wanted to look into her eyes one more time. I wanted to think that we could embrace again and be heart to heart one more time. That kept me alive second by second by second."

Frankel did not have more resource then the prisoners around him, nor were his circumstances less severe than others. The difference was where he focused his thoughts. His entire mental processes were centered on one single goal. That goal gave his a reason to survive and helped him develop an exceptional attitude.

HOW TO CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS

One of the most important things we need to understand as we strive to develop an exceptional attitude is that we are engaging in a process. It doesn't happen overnight. The unhealthy tattoos we attach to our mind are not easily removed. It take time and a healthy does of discipline. A fellow pastor and mentor suggested for me the following course of action.

EXPRESS FAITH

I was reminded of a powerful conviction I believe but, unfortunately, had seldom focused much attention on. I was reminded that God loved me--no strings attached. My mentor reminded me that I was created in God's image and redeemed from my faults by God's loving grace. My intentional and daily remembrances of this simple conviction have aided me tremendously in developing a positive attitude.

IDENTIFY GOALS

The second bit of advice shared by my mentor was that I begin a daily discipline of keeping a journal. It would be what Mark Vicotor Hansen has called a "Future Diary." In this journal I was instructed to record what I wanted out of live: desires, dreams, hopes, ambitions, and goals. By maintaining this daily journal (a Future Diary) you can become more disciplined at thinking more positive, life-enhancing thoughts.

ASSOCIATE WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE

My mentor next shared one of his favorite quotations. "You can't fly with the eagles if your too busy associating with the turkeys." In other words, I needed to surround myself daily with some positive thinking people. These people could come to me in the form of their books, personal development tapes, or by their actual presence. In any case, I needed to find and fly with the eagles--and spend less time with turkeys.

MAKE A PUBLIC DECLARATION

Finally I was challenge to make a commitment to certain trusted friends of my intention to develop an exceptional attitude. My mentor said that in so doing I would be requesting their support, submitting to their accountability, and encouraging them to join me on the journey. This has been the most rewarding aspect of this discipline.

CONCLUSION

The development of an exceptional attitude is an ongoing process in which I am still involved. I invite you to join me in this process so that together we can "Carpe Diem; Seize the Day."

What You Think is What Your Get!

"We can never succeed until we believe we'll succeed." -Keith DeGreen

"We become what we think about." -Earl Nightingale

In one of his skits, Flip Wilson (dressed like his famous female character Geraldine) would say, "What you see is what you get!" As entertaining as that statement might be, it's not exactly true. What we see does not always determine what we will get. On the contrary, what we think-what we believe and pursue with all our strength-is the single most important factor in determining our level of success, happiness, and joy in life.

That's the lesson taught by the example of Thomas Edison. Did you know that Edison failed in over six hundred experiments to create the electric light bulb before finally celebrating the joy of success? Over six hundred times Edison could see only darkness and failure, yet HE NEVER QUIT. He knew that the invention of the light bulb was inevitable-so he determined that he would be the person to invent it. His success was not determined by what he saw-but by what he thought.

"What YOU think is what you get!" This is one of life's greatest success secrets. Edison discovered it to be true. So have people like Armand Hamer, Mary Kay, William Randolph Hearst, George Washington Carver, Zig Ziglar, Earl Nightengale, Napoleon Hill, and Walt Disney. Study their writings. Read their biographies. These are people who learned to establish, reformulate, and forever ever amplify their life's goals based on their visions, hopes, and dreams.

In the biblical book of Proverbs we read, "Without a vision, people perish." Terrific counsel! So how do we develop a vision for our lives? I would like to offer one great suggestion that works for every successful person I know. Follow this suggestion and you will begin to develop a mental vision for your life that will give you strength, direction, and purpose.

Keep a Journal. Your journal should be different from a diary. In a diary we record at the end of the day our thoughts and reflections on the circumstances of our lives. A journal should begin at the other end of your waking hours. Use your journal to record your life in advance. Write down your hopes and dreams. Do it every day! Expand your dreams into goals that can move you step by step towards the fulfillment of your life's ambitions. Let your journal become your autobiography in progress.

Study after study of those who engage in such a process of visioning and goal setting reveals that these persons are immediately launched into the top 5% of successful people in America. Do you want to be one of the top 5% of money earners in your profession? Do you want to be in the top 5% of successful entrepreneurs? Do you want to feel better about your life than 95 out of 100 people you meet? If you do then you must begin thinking big dreams and setting meaningful goals. Rewrite, review, and reformulate them daily. If you begin this one solitary discipline it will revolutionize your life.

"Without a vision, people perish." Conversely, people with vision will thrive. Why? Because a vision provides hope! There is nothing like hope to get your mind and spirit moving in a positive.

Consider the study conducted on concentration camp survivors. What were the common characteristics of those who survived the torture and disease in the camps? Victor Frankl was a living answer to that question. He was a successful psychiatrist before the Nazis threw him into such a camp. "There is only one reason," he said in a speech, "why I am here today. What kept me alive were you. Others gave up hope. I dreamed. I dreamed that someday I would be here, telling you how I, Victor Frankl, had survived the Nazi concentration camps. I've never been here before, I've never seen any of you before, and I've never given this speech before. But in my dreams, in my dreams, I have stood before you and said these words a thousand times."

Remember that it is not what you see but what you think that determines what you get!

Dreaming Dreams and Watching The Come True!

Seize the Day. That's the inspiration behind this e-book! It is written with the hope that we will learn how to live life to the fullest.

One of the traits of the truly successful people in life--the people who live life to its fullest--is that they know how to set goals.

In some circles the concept of GOAL SETTING has received a bad rap. This is understandable--especially when you consider how so many has approached this discipline. When I began university studies nearly twenty years ago, I attended an orientation class in which a college administrator taught us about GOAL SETTING. When the class was finished I knew all about what I wanted--but nothing about how to get what I wanted. Isn't that the main objective of GOAL SETTING? Isn't the purpose of having goals to motivate us to do something?

The objective of this article is simple. I want to describe the anatomy of a GOAL in such a way that your GOAL SETTING activities will actually motivate you to do something.

DREAMS

The first step in developing workable GOALS is to take the time to dream big dreams. This is the time to explore what we WANT out of life. We do it all the time, don't we? We dream about the new job, the new car, the new house, the happy home, the healthy relationship with our spouse, etc.

The difference between these typical daydreams and what I writing about is simple. I am suggesting that the dreams that matter are the dreams your record. You will be engaging in a process called "Blue Sky Thinking." Get out your journal. Start recording your dreams. The sky's the limit! Challenge yourselves with the following statements/questions each day for the next several days. Record your responses--it may take several sheets each day. Dream big dreams.

1) If you were given $1,000,000.00 dollars today, what would you do with your life?

2) Write down everything you would like to do in your life.

3) Use your imagination to look down the road 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. Imagine the best-case scenario. What do you see? Where do you live? Where do you work? How do you look? Describe yourself in detail

This exercise in "Blue Sky Thinking" will help you begin to bring clarity to your dreams. This exercise can help you paint a powerful mental picture of what your life can look like. But this is only step one in the GOAL SETTING process.

A VISION/MISSION

The next step requires a convergence between your life's purpose and your dreams. (Get my prior articles. Put SEND FILE LIST in the BODY of an email. Mailto:sil-newsletter@oaknetpub.com). your life's purpose should serve as master over your dreams. For example, Mother Teresa may have dreamed to be a wealthy business executive--but that would have been a denial of her life's purpose. Take the time to evaluate your dream in light of your purpose. As you do you will begin to develop a clear VISION or MISSION for your life. Record that MISSION!

Here's an example:

The MISSION of my life is to learn, model, and teach the secrets of successful living.

GOALS

When you have your MISSION established (in writing) you are ready to start recording your GOALS. The objective of your GOALS, you must remember, is to help you do something--fulfill your lives PURPOSE and MISSION.

Goals are the thing I "want" and "need" that will help me fulfill my MISSION. To "learn...the secrets of successful living" I need to set a goal that will guide me to fulfill this objective. For example, one of my goals is as follows:

I will listen to six self-development audio programs during the next twelve months.

The same principle should guide all of your GOAL SETTING actions. Make sure you record your GOAL in writing. They need to be clear and specific. When record, review them regularly. In fact, use them to plan each year, month, week, and day.

CONCLUSION

We don't serve out GOALS! Our GOALS serve us. They guide us toward fulfilling our life's MISSION and PURPOSE. True Success-In-Life comes when we fulfill our PURPOSE--when we live our VISION. And that's what it means to "Carpe Diem."

What is the most difficult aspect of dealing with goals? It is actually achieving your desired objective (everyone say "duh!"). For example, suppose your goal is to "earn $1,000.00 profit each month working on the Internet." You've done it! You've set a goal. And then, like every motivational guru suggests, you review that goal daily. You visualize your success and what it would be like to put a $1,000.00 in your wallet each month. You dream big dreams and think big thoughts! Now what?

This article addresses the "now what" question. It is a brief primer on goal achievement.

REALISTIC AND SPECIFIC Our assumption is that you have a realistic and clearly defined. For example, your aim is not "to get some working on the Internet." You goal IS to "earn $1,000.00 profit each month working on the Internet." What's the next step?

SMALL STEPS The second step in goal achievement is to break your BIG goal into small steps. You've heard the old adage: "Yard by yard it hard, but inch by inch it's a cinch!" This is the "inch by inch" stage of the process. It's time to prepare a concrete plan of action to meet your goal. In the case of our stated goal, you plan of action might address the following factors:

1) What product or service will you sell? 2) What skills must you learn to do business on the Internet? 3) Will your product(s) be able to take advantage of the Internet's global connections? 4) Will you need a site on the Web? If so, where will you get that site? 5) What kind of support system and training is available? 6) How will you get leads for your business? 7) Is there a "one-stop shop" available to help with your marketing and promotional need? 8) What "price" must be paid and risks taken to achieve this goal (in terms of financial investment and labor)?

When you've answered these questions you'll be prepared to develop your personal "plan of action" to achieve your desired results.

TIME TO BEGIN When your "plan of action" has been created, you are ready to begin working. Select an exact date and time to begin your efforts. Many goals go unachieved because they are dream and planned, and yet the labor never begins. Choose a starting point--and start at that point!

EVALUATE YOUR PROGRESS As you strive toward achieving your goals and objective you may discover that certain aspects of your plan don't work, while others are proving incredibly productive. Be prepared to evaluate and redefine certain aspects of you plan. Remember, your central objective is not to work a plan, but achieve a goal. Be flexible enough to change your methods in order to fulfill your larger ambitions.

SELECT A FINISH DATE Set a date for the completion of your goal. For example, you might decide that your goal of earning $1,000.00 profit per month is realistically obtainable by Y2K. Establish this as your finish date.

When the finish date arrives you'll have two possibilities. First you might need to congratulate yourself for what you've accomplished. On the other hand, it is possible that your goal might not yet have been achieved. If the later is the case, don't quit. Revise your goal, rework your plan, set a new completion date, and keep working. Please remember that failure is not fatal, but quitting might as well be. Never, never quit!

SEVEN TIPS TO ACCOMPLISHING MORE EVERY DAY OF YOU LIFE!

After complaining that I had "too little time" to do all the things that "needed to be done," a mentor said:

"You have the same amount of time per day that everyone else has...24 hours. You don't need more time. What you need is the discipline to use the time you've got more wisely."

With this in mind, here are seven tips that have equipped me to accomplish more each day of my life. These tips will work for you too!

1) PLAN EACH DAY. The last thing you should do each evening (or the first thing you do in the morning) should be to create a "task list" for the upcoming day. Your list will help you set priorities and keep focused throughout the day. In addition to planning each day, I also suggest weekly, monthly, and yearly planning with your life's purpose statement and goals in hand. (If you need help developing your life's purpose and/or goals statement, see my five part series titled: CARPE DIEM: HOW TO SQUEEZE THE LIFE OUT OF LIFE by visiting <<http://www.allaboutsuccess.com/carpe1.htm>>)

2) ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE. One of life's greatest time wasters is a cluttered office or messy living space. How often have you wasted valuable time trying to find that memo, contract, your wallet, or even your car keys. Follow the old adage that says, "Everything has a place and everything should be in its place!" Get your life organized.

3) DON'T BE A MAIL PACK RAT! I recently visited a friend's office and noticed several piles of mail cluttering his desk. Instead of filing, responding to, or trashing these mailing, he instead seemed to simply sort through them every few days, shifting the stacks from one place to another on his desk. Avoid this time waster and you'll accomplish more each day.

4) UTILIZE ALL AVAILABLE TIME. How? Start by taking a book with you wherever you go. When you find yourself waiting--in the doctor's office, for an appointment to commence, or for your car to be repaired, try increasing your knowledge by reading that book. In addition, while driving your car, don't waste time listening to the "fluff" that fills the airwaves. Instead listen to teaching and/or motivational tapes in your car.

5) DEVELOP HEALTHY HABITS. The body needs adequate rest, proper nutrition, and energetic exercise to fight off fatigue and extend life. Give your body what it needs and your have the energy to accomplish much more with your life. Get adequate nights sleep. Eat a healthy diet. Exercise regularly. Your energy level will increase and you will reap the benefit by accomplishing more each day.

6) AVOID ENERGY STEALERS. Do you know people like that? Do you know individuals whose attitudes literally suck the life out of you? Then make it a practice to avoid any contact with these people that is not absolutely necessary.

7) BLOW UP YOUR TELEVISION. If you are not willing to part with your television completely (I'm not either) then we should at least learn which button turns the set off...and then develop the courage to use that button (often). Spend that time playing with your children, reading a book, or spending time with your spouse.

You only have 24 hour allotted each day. Use them wisely!

Valuing Values!

Carpe Diem: Seize the Day! Nice thought, eh? But how? How do we do it? How do we "Go for the Gusto?" How do we squeeze every ounce of life's joy out of each moment of our lives?

Today we explore our of values--our personal code of conduct.

The great philosopher Aristotle once had a startling insight into human nature that is extremely pertinent to this issue. He observed that all human action is ultimately aimed at one specific goal--to experience happiness. All of us are the same at this point. Everything we do is aimed at target--to be happy. We all strive to "squeeze the life out of life." We all innately strive to be happy! Aristotle, however, did not stop at this point. He went even further. He said that only the good could be happy and only the virtuous could be good. As such, all happiness in life is ultimately dependant upon the person's ability to establish and live by a certain code of healthy, life-enhancing values and virtues. The more virtuous the individual--the happier and more fulfilling their life!

This begs us to ask the question: How do we develop a health and life-enhancing code of conduct? Here are a few suggestions that I have found personally helpful!

1) DISCERNING YOUR CURRENT VALUES

You'll need to set a significant portion of time aside to explore your values (at least a few hours). Better yet, I suggest you take a personal retreat--perhaps a day--away from the "distractions" of life. Dedicate this time to the personal exploration of your life.

A. On a sheet of paper write at the top the statement: "I value..." Then, in a freestyle fashion, begin listing everything you consider important, valuable, and worthwhile in your life. My list looks like this:

I VALUE... God, family, church, community, courage, generosity, honesty, excellence, faith, compassion, collaboration, success, etc.

B. My "Values List" has nearly 100 different items. When your list begins to reach this level of volume, I suggest that it time for a second step. Begin to review your list. Whittle it down to around 20-25 items. Condense items on the list that seem repetitive. Delete those for which you are unable to develop a clear image in your mind. Remove those that really (n\upon reflection) don't seem to be a primary value statement for the way you live your life.

C. When your list has been condense to 20-25 items--choose 3-5 that seem central to you life. How? Ask yourself these questions:

Which of these values are the MOST IMPORTANT things I look for in others and/or expect from myself?

Which of these values reflect well upon my purpose and vision statements?

If I had to sacrifice all the other value items, keeping just one, which one would I keep?

After you have selected your first (central, primary, overarching value) conduct this process again to select a third or fourth!

2. JUDGING YOUR VALUES

In contemporary culture it has become common to suggest that all values are equal--that one persons personal code or value statements are no better or worse than another's. Not so! For a value to produce virtue, leading to goodness, and ultimately to happiness, it must be a healthy, life-enhancing value. As such, their must be some serious soul-searching evaluations and judgments over our value statements to see if they meet this criteria.

In addition to judging the health of a value statement, it will also be necessary to evaluate the worth we place on each value. Is it more healthy, for example, to value one's job above one's family, or one's family above one's job? Which should come first in a healthy values code, honesty or career advancement? Who would you rather call "friend," somebody with a high degree of integrity or the desire to obtain lots of money? You understand my point. All values are not equal! Some values are life enhancing--others are life limiting.

On what basis do you judge the worth and order of your value statements? I suggest that you discuss you value statements with somebody your trust and respect--perhaps a mentor, self-development coach, pastor, or trusted friend. They may be able to provide you some necessary and thoughtful feedback. I also suggest that this might be a time to begin to explore spiritual health and vitality. Your religious heritage might provide you some useful insight that will help you discern the relative health of your personal code of conduct.

3. VALUES ALIGNMENT

The next step is to examine your life in reference to you personal code of conduct. Is your life a reflection of the values to which you claim to adhere? If so, then your values might be said to be "perspirational." If not, then your values are said to be "aspirational."

If all your values are healthy and "perspirational," congratulations. You could no doubt testify to the truth that goodness and virtue lead to happiness and self-fulfillment. If you values are "aspirational," (not yet realized in our lives) then happiness will come in the process of bringing our lives into alignment with our values. No doubt this is the place where most of us find ourselves today.

At this point I suggest that you might want to return to the goals-setting exercise noted in an earlier article. Establish goals that are aimed at bringing your life into alignment with your values. For example, if you value good health but find yourself to be overweight, lethargic, and generally out of shape, then you might want to set goals and establish a agenda for better health. Exercise! Take nutritional supplements. Eat a healthier diet. As your practices begin to fall into alignment with your values, you will find your life to be more enjoyable and fulfilling.

3 THE ROLE OF GRACE

Theologian Thomas Oden has written:

"There is a hole in the standard shelf of books on self-help. This hole is waiting to be filled by the classical Christian teaching on grace."

What is the classical Christian teaching on grace? It begins with some rather disturbing news--but news, which we can all testify as being truthful. The news is simply this: "No matter how hard I try, I cannot live up to my own code of values--much less those established by an all-powerful and righteous God." What follows, however, is the blessing of grace. No matter how often or badly I fail, God still loves and accepts me--and gives me the strength to forgive myself and keep going.

I am proud to say that I have experienced that grace. I fail often. I made mistake daily. I can't live up to my own high standards. Nevertheless, I experience a great deal of satisfaction and joy in my life on a daily and growing basis. Why? Because I realize that God loves and forgives me.

God loves and is willing to forgive you too. Experiencing that grace is the first and greatest step toward CARPE DIEM--Squeezing the Life Out of Life.

CONCLUSION

Aristotle was right! The highest ambition in all our lifes is to experience fulfillment. We all strive to be happy. We all want to CARPE DIEM. These five articles were written to help you find that fulfillment. Discern you PURPOSE for living. Develop an ATTITUDE that makes you worth living with. Dream DREAMS and establish GOALS that make your dreams a reality. Develop a code of personal code of VALUES that will make you a better person. Experience the GRACE in life that comes from knowing God. This is a path toward CARPE DIEM.

Chancing the Arm!

On display at the St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland, is an ancient door with a rough, hewn, rectangular opening hacked in the center. Here's the story:

In 1492 two Irish families (the Ormonds and Kildares) were involved in a bitter feud. Besieged by Gerald Fitzgerald (the Earl of Kildares), Sir James Butler (the Earl of the Ormonds) and his followers took refuge in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The siege wore on for several weeks and Gerald Fitzgerald concluded that the feud was foolish. The two families worshipped the same God, lived in the same community, and attended the same church--yet they were engaged in a life or death battle. Fitzgerald went to the chapel door where the Ormands were held up. He called Sir James and promised on his honor that no harm would come him.

Sir James feared treachery and refused to respond. Fitzgerald grabbed a spear and hacked a hole in the door. Then he thrust his arm through it. In a moment his arm was grasped by Sir James and the feud ended. It was from this gesture that we get the expression "Chancing (risking) one's arm."

"Chancing the arm!" Such and act involves the possibility of great peril or tragedy. "Chance the arm" and somebody might cut it off. On the other hand, if you do nothing, you will probably battle yourself into oblivion. Some things that are worth the risk.

To be successful in any of life's ventures will demand that we cultivate the ability to take some risks in our lives. I learned these 18 years ago when I attended my Senior Prom with my date--the gorgeous captain of the cheerleading squad. No, I wasn't a jock or Mr. Popularity. How did I get such a date? Quite simply I took a chance. I asked the girl out and she said YES!

I learned an important lesson. If you want something you've got to go for it. There are no guarantees your dreams will come true if you go for them. But one thing is certain! Your dreams will never come true if you don't take a chance and risk something. No matter how you slice it, SUCCESS demands RISK. If you want to squeeze the life out of life, you must assume certain risks.

Jesus once taught that lesson in a parable. In his story a businessman left town, leaving his fortune in the care of three servants. The first servant had been given a $500,000.00 The second servant received $250,000.00. The third $100,00.00.

The first two servants took some risks with the money. Perhaps they join a Network Marketing company. Who knows? But one thing was certain. They took a risk and it paid off. They doubled their boss's money!

The third guy took no risks. Instead he buried the money in the ground. He was afraid of failure so he took no risks.

When the businessman returned he was so impressed by the first two's efforts that he made them partners in his corporation. Then the third man approached and said: "I knew you we a tough and shrewd businessman. I was afraid to take any risks with you money. I put it in a safe and protected it. Here is every dime you gave me!"

The boss replied: "You lazy bum! At the least you could have put the money in the bank to earn a little interest. Give the money to the man who has a million--you're fired. Get out of my site." The Jesus said: "The one who risks will always be given more. The man who is unwilling to risk will loose whatever he's got."

What do you want? Are you willing to take some risks to achieve your desired success?

Do you want to be a successful in Network Marketing? Then you've got to risk some rejection when you make your prospecting phone calls.

Do you want to be a successful Internet entrepreneur? Then you've got to risk a little capital to get you Website built and hosted by a reliable server.

Do you want to be a successful author? The you've got to WRITE your articles and risk rejection after you SUBMIT THEM.

Want to have a successful romantic relationship with somebody special? Then you've got to risk letting down your guard and being emotionally vulnerable.

What risks are you willing to take today to make all your tomorrows more successful?

Chance the arm!

Are You A Worry-Wart?

A recent survey by the Psychology Department of the University of Texas discovered that 15 percent of the US population would describe themselves as chronic worriers. Only 30 percent said that they never found "worry" to be a particular problem. That places the remaining 65 percent somewhere in the middle. Where do you fall along this spectrum?

It's natural for people to worry to some degree. In fact, it's even healthy. If you never worried you would lack the necessary motivation to work, earn an income, build your financial security, improve your marriage, or feed and protect your children. Worry (living with a certain degree of anxiety) is necessary if you want to experience SUCCESS IN LIFE.

Our problem comes when the anxiety becomes excessive, when we become a worry-wart. At this point our anxiety steals our energy and destroys our drive to succeed. It gives us headaches, backaches, eating disorders, and sleepless nights. It interferes with our jobs, our relationships, and our overall health. You can't squeeze the life out of life if your daily existence is debilitated by anxiety.

Are you a "worry-wart?" Wait a minute! Now I've given something else to worry about. Before you take a long walk on a short pier, please let me say that their is hope. You can be FREED from the destructive affects of anxiety.

The first thing you need to identify WHY you worry. Then you need to heed some simple advice for coping with your anxiety. (I am not a clinical psychologist. If the stress in your life is causing you to consider or practice self-destructive habits, please seek immediate professional help).

THE PERFECTIONIST Forgive me for sounding harsh, but if this is you it is high-time you get in through your thick-skull that mortal human beings are finite creatures who will never achieve perfection outside divine intervention. You will fail and fall from time-to-time. Get use to it. Learn to fall forward. Never, never quit.

THE HYPOCONDRIAC Do you know what it says on the hypochondriacs' tombstone? It says, "I told you I was sick!"

Listen, I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but I've dealt with tons of people who have made every headache a brain hemorrhage and every stomachache cancer. Eventually they might be right! To date they have always been wrong. They need to stop worrying about what might happen. How about you?

THE PEOPLE PLEASER One of the most liberating discoveries you can make in life is the knowledge that not everybody is going to like you. Stop trying to please everyone. You don't want to make enemies. You should never intentionally seek to alienate anyone. Serving others should still be your highest aim in life. Yet you must remember that your identity is not dependant on who likes you and who doesn't. Like yourself. That's enough!

Seven Tips to Spice Up Your Marriage!

Congratulate us! We recently celebrate ten years of "Success-in-Marriage." Notice our word SUCCESS. We've not just survived ten years of marriage (as a friend recently said of her relationship with her spouse). On the contrary, we have experience SUCCESS in our relationship. By success we mean greater intimacy, better understanding, increased patience, and quality communication.

If you want to squeeze the life out of life--you'll need to learn how to create healthy happy relationships, especially with your spouse.

What is our secret? It a cumulative thing! There are dozens of things we do daily excitement to add romance to our relationship. Here are our seven favorite tips to spicing up your marriage.

1) KEEP DATING. No, not other people! Keep dating your spouse. Hire a baby sitter. Get dressed up! Make special dinner reservations. Buy her flowers. Wear his favorite perfume. Approach each "date" with your spouse with the same desire to impress that you held in your heart on your first date.

2) WRITE LOVE NOTES. Leave them in the brief case, on the mirror, or taped on the computer monitor. Keep them mushy (and a little enticing if your sure nobody else will read them).

3) BACK RUBS. Need I say more?

4) GIVE "LOVE COUPONS." Here's an idea we've borrowed from some friends. Give a coupon redeemable for your mate's favorite activities: dinner in a particular restaurant, tickets to a favorite sporting event, etc. Be creative! If you are really daring give your spouse a "blank-check love coupon." Just be certain you are ready to pay-up when the coupon is redeemed.

5) CELEBRATE AN ANNUAL HONEYMOON. Think about it! Doesn't an annual honeymoon sound more fun than just another anniversary?

6) BREAKFAST IN BED. Make it! Serve it! Include a flower and love note!

7) KISS YOUR MATE. Don't be content with a simple little peck on the lips. Give your spouse at least 10 seconds of serious affection each day. Try it just before leaving for the office. You'll hardly be able to wait to get home!

Here's a bonus tip. Say the words "I LOVE YOU!" to your spouse every day--say it with passion and feeling.

FINAL WORDS:

So what can you do? Noted success authority Brian Tracy writes: "You can have anything you want in life if you first decide exactly what it is, and then do the things that others have done to achieve the same result."

Put another way, you can gain knowledge from the experience and expertise of others. You don't have the reinvent the wheel. If somebody knows what you need to know, then you need to find a way to get them to share their knowledge with you!