If you want excitement and passion, you must do all the things necessary to make that happen. Unless you plan a party, there is NO party. Sitting in your room dreaming or procrastinating, will never make anything happen. Only constructive and productive actions turn ideas into reality.
If you want to improve the quality of the relationships you currently have, increase love and understanding of the other, and things will improve instantly.
Being in service to others brings great meaning to one’s life. Do something today that Helps others. Whenever you give, it deepens your humanity.
GREATNESS IS NOT YOUR DESTINY – IT’S A CHOICE YOU HAVE TO MAKE!
Our human bodies are the vehicles in which we all move through this world. Some people take care of their bodies; some don’t.
How we move through the world varies – due to our upbringing, society, attitude, opportunities and what we consider important to accomplish.
Some follow their minds or hearts to decide what they should do next. Some develop artistic or athletic abilities. And some, sadly never use any of their gifts they were born with.
Our emotions tell us how we feel at any given moment. When you disconnect from your feelings, you will become depressed, lost, and have no energy to accomplish anything great.
For certain, all of us will be tossed about on a stormy ocean. Chaos will be in our lives. But know, that no storm lasts forever!
Know there are inspiration and hope is around us, but you must be open to it, for it will come from places you don’t expect.
I could never be where I am today without the help, encouragement or kindness of others.
One day, you will meet someone, who is currently drowning in their life. And your kind words or hugs could save their life. One person can make a difference.
You have so much good inside you, use it. Know there are wonderful people out there as well. Keep your heart and soul open, and you will attract them.
There are no accidents in life. Everyone you meet teaches you a lesson, some you like and some you won’t. People come into your life to help you grow. Some people you meet will be examples of how to live your life, and others are a warning of what not to do.
Finally, we all want the same things in life. We all want to be understood, loved and accepted. Don’t let language, religion, politics or nationality separate us. We are all part of one planet, one race, the HUMAN RACE.
Please give those you love a hug (we all need it) and I look forward to meeting you one day.
Perfection is the voice of our oppressor. People who told us as we grew up, that if we were not perfect – we would not be wanted or loved.
Life brings amazing surprises, once you let go of your need for Perfection.
Perfectionism lives in a feeling that you are never good enough, and when you live in that fear, you will never make choices that move you forward. You will miss your life! Actually we were never designed to be perfect.
Only through trial and error can you discover your possibilities.
As an acting coach, I encourage all my artists to show us their imperfection, their humanity on stage, because then, the audience will connect with you.
To succeed you must explore, try and be willing to be imperfect. When you attempt to do something new, of course you will not be great at. Because that’s not the point, it’s the effort that’s important, not the result.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t strive to be your very best. Of course, you do. But strive for being human, not perfect.
Trying to be “perfect” always causes frustration, unhappiness, sadness and eventually feeling like a failure.
You are now adults, and you can choose to let go of the need to perform or behave in a certain way for someone else’s approval. The world becomes a more interesting and fun place when you are free to be YOU. Once you realize this, you can begin to take yourself less seriously and have a lot more joy
“I believe that your imperfections is what makes you perfect.”
Do you want to accomplish more? Do you want to live a happier, more productive and meaningful life?
Now, I often speak about the importance of saying “YES”, but you also have to know when to say NO!
People who are not excited about the quality of their lives have not said “no” enough. Like…
NO – to people who are getting you involved in their drama, so you don’t have time to pursue your own life.
NO – to living in your comfort zones, which is slowly killing your soul every day.
NO – to situations that keep robbing you of your energy.
NO – to your past that doesn’t allow you to live in joy.
NO – to your limited ideas, that you have gotten from others.
NO – to society telling you how you should live your life!
The reason most people feel afraid to say no to others is that they feel they will lose their friend’s or families’ love and affection. Know that true friends and family love you for who you are.
To value yourself more, you must say NO to the things that are just not good for you. You need to create boundaries for yourself. You need to know what is non-negotiable for you. You need to fight with passion for what you want in your life, or you will automatically get what you don’t want.
Do the relationships you have to teach you to believe in yourself more? Does it make you grow? Toxic relationships will kill your talent and your spirit. So, ask yourself:
“Do I feel better or worse after having spent time with that person?”
If it’s worse, then you are letting them take away your power. You will lack energy, be lost, angry, confused and finally sad and depressed.
Knowing when and how to say NO, is one of the most important keys to a happy and meaningful life.
The reason the majority of people never fulfill their dreams or goals is that their basic human needs are not being met.
What does that mean?
Your body and soul are constantly trying to fulfill these visceral needs consciously or subconsciously. What are they?
1. Food And Water
Your body is always in survival mode, constantly monitoring and thinking about food and water – where and when to get it. If you didn’t know when you’ll have your next drink or meal, then that would become your primary goal. You would spend all your time in search of these things and you would not be able to focus on anything else!
2. Clothing And Shelter
What if you didn’t know where you were sleeping tonight? Could you really concentrate on the task at hand? One of the reasons that you feel calm right now, is you know where you are spending the night, and you have things to clothe yourself with. Making money also becomes your focus in order to acquire these basic things.
3. Sleep
You can’t live without sleep. Some people may think that sleep is a waste of time. But your body needs it. If you don’t get enough rest, it will destroy your focus and ambition.
4. To Love And Be Loved
We all need love – it is not a choice. You love it because you have to, not because you want to. Your body and mind are constantly trying to connect to others for love.
5. To Be Held And Touched
This is a need that starts from the day you are born. The first thing a doctor does when a baby is born is to put it on the mother’s chest because it needs to be held. Touch is the only sense a child cannot live without because being held and touched is crucial to survival. Are you getting your hugs today?
6. Acknowledging Your Pain
Pain is a messenger that demands your attention. If you feel sad, angry, empty or lost, you are not acknowledging your pain. What most people do is that they just pretend that it doesn’t exist, but your body stores all the pain and traumatic experiences you have had in your entire life. Without acknowledging and releasing those feelings, you cannot move on. It will make you sick and sad.
7. Being Needed
That is really what a family or community is about. A family structure is having the feeling that you are wanted and needed, and that you are stronger together than you can accomplish alone. Being in the right group can help you achieve almost anything.
8. Creating A Life Of Meaning
When you have meaning and purpose in your life, you get up in the morning with an energy that is unstoppable. If you don’t know your purpose, then you are just aimlessly wandering around and you feel weak. The more meaningful your life is, the happier you will be.
9. Optimism
We are all born wanting to be happy. An optimist sees possibilities and finds hope in the most difficult of times. Hope makes you believe that everything is possible. Having a dream is not special. What is special, is the person who sees the possibilities in their dreams.
10. Love And Trust Yourself
When you love and trust yourself, you connect to your instincts and follow the messages of your heart. You must learn to love yourself and appreciate everything you have to offer. When you learn to trust yourself, you will know how to live THE DREAM!
Realize that these ten human needs are constantly working to fulfill themselves. When you satisfy these needs, you can focus your energy, power and talent towards your goals.
Excerpt from Bernard’s book “Stop Acting – Start Living”