MAKING EACH DAY COUNT: LIVING THE LIFE YOU DESIRE

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"The best way to predict the future is to create it". Peter Druker

I remember watching my brother and his wife one day when I was going through a difficult patch and thinking to myself, "you know life works so well for them, they really do have life nailed". Then it occurred to me that they have life nailed because they have made life work well for them.They are where they are because they have planned, set goals and then they have gone to work on their plans. The result is a pretty good life. So completely unbeknownst to them they taught me some valuable lessons on how to take your life in the direction that you want it to go. I say thank you.

Below are some of these valuable life lessons that they have taught me.

They plan and know their why.

They plan. They set goals and then they plan how they are going to accomplish those goals. Those goals have ranged from investment properties paid in full, to taking a years sabbatical to travel with their daughter, to  my sister- in-law having just completed her law degree and starting her articles.

They take action

 Once they have put a plan into place, they act upon it,and continue the necessary action with discipline and consistency until their goal is achieved. They know that a dream needs to be acted upon.

They are willing to pay the price.

They are willing to pay the necessary price to make their dream or goal a reality. Often our plans and dreams fall by the wayside as reality kicks in and we begin to realize that our dream life is not going to happen without some sacrifice and dedication. Lets be honest, very little if anything that is really worth having comes easy. It takes some sacrifice, work and discipline.

They make each day count

As they work towards their goals, they continue to make each day count. Enjoying life does not stop because they have a goal and are focused on making it happen. They still find pleasure in everyday life and make each day count.

I would like to end with a quote. When I told them that I would like to share the lessons that I had learned from them, I asked if they had an ultimate dream or goal in life for now? Here is their answer.

 "Not sure if  we have an ultimate dream or goal. If anything we just want to live a life that is full and interesting. My one insight into life has been that the vast majority of ones life is lived on the day to day and so we have sought to make that day to day as alive as possible".

Each on of us is unique with dreams unique and special to us. What is your most precious dream, and what price are you prepared to pay to make it a reality? My wish for you is that you live an extraordinary life.

KEEP PUSHING THROUGH

One of the most difficult lessons that I have had to learn is the importance of pushing through. You know that feeling you get, when you are working hard, doing the right things, and the results are yet to show? And this is where your vision for what you are striving for, and the power of your why, come very strongly into play.

Many dreams sadly die in their early stages because following our dreams is never easy. As you follow your dreams there will be setbacks and rejections time and time again. You set a goal, you work hard at it but the results are yet to show. You keep hearing that word, no, time and time again. Mentally this is a dangerous place to be for many of us, because we are now feeling defeated and vulnerable, doubting our ability, doubting that our dream and vision will ever come to fruition. We are now in danger of convincing ourselves that this is not working and throw in the towel. Perhaps when success is now only a stones throw away, if we had just kept going.

At this time we need to dig deep, deeper than we ever imagined and be prepared to hear one more no, and then another if necessary, and then another. Then, because we have kept going comes the yes, or the result, that we have been working so hard for.

So please don't give up. Speak to one more person. Try one more time. Hear one more no, but do not take it personally. Know that the yes you are looking for is there waiting for you, if you can just push through the no's and disappointment. As the legendary Gary Player said: "Achieving greatness is not meant to be easy". That is what makes it special. The same can be said about success and living your dreams. It goes to the small percentage who had the courage to push through, however difficult at the time.

Photo courtesy of Ashley Hall at Pearl Wanderings